Phylogenetic, phylogeographic and divergence time analysis of Anopheles subpictus species complex using ITS2 and COI sequences

Objective:To address the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationship between different lineages of Anopheles(An.)subpictus species complex in most parts of the Asian continent by maximum utilization of Internal Transcriber Spacer 2(ITS2)and cytochrome C oxidase I(COI)sequences deposited at the GenBank.Methods:Seventy-five ITS2,210 COI and 26 concatenated sequences available in the NCBI database were used.Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian likelihood trees,whereas median-joining haplotype networks and time-scale divergence trees were generated for phylogeographic analysis.Genetic diversity indices and genetic differentiation were also calculated.Results:Two genetically divergent molecular forms of An.subpictus species complex corresponding to sibling species A and B are established.Species A evolved around 37-82 million years ago in Sri Lanka,India,and the Netherlands,and species B evolved around 22-79 million years ago in Sri Lanka,India,and Myanmar.Vietnam,Thailand,and Cambodia have two molecular forms:one is phylogenetically similar to species B.Other forms differ from species A and B and evolved recently in the above mentioned countries,Indonesia and the Philippines.Genetic subdivision among Sri Lanka,India,and the Netherlands is almost absent.A substantial genetic differentiation was obtained for some populations due to isolation by large geographical distances.Genetic diversity indices reveal the presence of a long-established stable mosquito population,at mutation-drift equilibrium,regardless of population fluctuations.Conclusions:An.subpictus species complex consists of more than two genetically divergent molecular forms.Species A is highly divergent from the rest.Sri Lanka and India contain only species A and B.

Molecular Evaluation of <i>Garcinia kola</i>Heckel Accessions Using RAPD Markers

The genetic relationships among twenty-five accessions of Garcinia kola using six Random Amplified Polymorphic (RAPD) primers were evaluated in this study. The highest volume of total genomic DNA (2218/μl) was recorded in ON4 from Ikare, while the highest DNA concentration of 1.93 gl was found in OS3 from Ilesa. The highest Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) and gene diversity of 93.77% and 0.94 respectively were revealed by primer OPO2 compared to other primers. The dendogram generated from Unweighted Pair Group with Mean Average (UPGMA) clustering delineated two groups, A and B, consisting of 21 and 4 accessions respectively. This study clearly showed the level of molecular diversity in the accessions and the information provided could be utilized for genetic improvement and conservation of Garcinia kola.

Polymorphisms of folate metabolism genes in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To evaluated the association of the risk factors and polymorphisms in MTHFR C677 T, MTHFR A1298 C, MTR A2756 G and MTRR A66 G genes.METHODS Patients with cirrhosis(n = 116), hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)(n = 71) and controls(n = 356) were included. Polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion and allelic discrimination technique real-time PCR techniques were used for analysis. MINITAB-14.0and SNPstats were utilized for statistical analysis. RESULTS Showed that age ≥ 46 years(OR = 10.31; 95%CI: 5.66-18.76; P < 0.001) and smoking(OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.28-0.78; P = 0.003) were associated with cirrhosis. Age ≥ 46 years(OR = 16.36; 95%CI: 6.68-40.05; P < 0.001) and alcohol habit(OR = 2.01; 95%CI: 1.03-3.89; P = 0.039) were associated with HCC. MTHFR A1298 C in codominant model(OR = 3.37; 95%CI: 1.52-7.50; P = 0.014), recessive model(OR = 3.04; 95%CI: 1.43-6.47; P = 0.0051) and additive model(OR = 1.71; 95%CI: 1.16-2.52; P = 0.0072) was associated with HCC, as well as MTR A2756 G in the additive model(OR = 1.68; 95%CI: 1.01-2.77; P = 0.047), and MTRR A66 G in the codominant model(OR = 3.26; 95%CI: 1.54-6.87; P < 0.001), dominant model(OR = 2.55; 95%CI: 1.24-5.25; P = 0.007) and overdominant model(OR = 3.05; 95%CI: 1.66-5.62; P < 0.001). MTR A2756 G in the additive model(OR = 1.54; 95%CI: 1.02-2.33; P = 0.042) and smokers who presented at least one polymorphic allele for MTRR A66G(OR = 1.71; 95%CI: 0.77-3.82; P = 0.0051) showed increased risk for cirrhosis. There was no association between clinical parameters and polymorphisms. CONCLUSION Age ≥ 46 years, alcohol habit and MTR A2756 G, MTHFR A1298 C and MTRR A66 G polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of HCC development; age ≥ 46 years, tobacco habit and the MTR A2756 G polymorphism are associated with cirrhosis.

Ganoderma(Ganodermataceae,Polyporales):Historical perspectives,recent advances,and future research in Sri Lanka

Ganoderma P.Karst.is a cosmopolitan and species-rich genus of mushrooms that can cause root and butt rot diseases on many woody tree species.Many members of this genus are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.Ganoderma species have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years for maintaining vivacity and longevity.Some Ganoderma species are well-known for being abundant sources of highly active bioactive substances like polysaccharides,proteins,steroids,and triterpenoids.The numerous metabolic processes of Ganoderma have been studied both in vitro and in vivo.However,it is debatable if Ganoderma is a nutritional supplement that promotes health,or a medication used for therapeutic purposes.Products made from Ganoderma have been marketed as potent food and medication supplements with positive health effects.Over the past three decades,the Ganoderma market has experienced significant growth,and hundreds of products are currently being offered on the market.However,in Sri Lanka,there hasn't been much research on Ganoderma.Hence,a comprehensive account of the historical perspective,recent advances,and future trends of Ganoderma research in Sri Lanka is provided in this review.Furthermore,this review aims to increase the research interest,evaluate the recent developments,and address the missing gaps in research on Ganoderma.

Biphasic taxonomic approaches for generic relatedness and phylogenetic relationships of Teichosporaceae

The placement of the dothideomycetous family Teichosporaceae has been controversial.Recent phylogenetic investigations have used a taxonomic lumping approach with the Floricolaceae and its genera have been synonymized under the earlier fam-ily name,Teichosporaceae.Intergeneric relationships were therefore obscure and proper generic delimitation was needed in upcoming studies.We here taxonomically revised the family Teichosporaceae based on both morphological and phylogenetic evidence.Teichosporaceae species have immersed or semi-immersed,erumpent to superficial,ostiolate ascomata,cellular or trabeculate pseudoparaphyses,cylindrical to oblong or sub-clavate asci and ellipsoid to oblong or fusiform,cylindric-fusiform or oblong to elliptical,ovoid to clavate,symmetric or asymmetric,initially hyaline or pale brown to dark brown or yellowish brown,1-3-septate or muriform ascospores.Asexual morphs are coelomycetous.Type or representative speci-mens of Teichosporaceae were loaned and fresh specimens were collected from China and Thailand.Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of a combined ITS,LSU,SSU,tef1-αand rpb2 dataset were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of taxa and examine monophyly of newly proposed genera.One new species(Floricola festucae),one new host record(Ramusculicola thailandica)and four new combinations(Aurantiascoma nephelii,A.quercus,Magnibotryascoma acaciae,M.melanommoides)are introduced.The broad genus concept of Teichospora is dismissed based on morphological dissimilarities and the monophyletic status of the proposed genera.We accept Asymmetrispora,Aurantiascoma,Floricola,Magnibotryascoma,Misturatosphaeria,Pseudoaurantiascoma,Pseudomisturatosphaeria,Ramusculicola and Teichospora as distinct genera in the Teichosporaceae.All recognized genera are phenotypically characterized and phylogenetically well-supported.The phylogenetic placements of three genera(Chaetomastia,Loculohypoxylon and Sinodidymella),which do not have molecular data cannot be conclusively clarified at present,but are still placed in Teichosporaceae for future studies.

Refined families of Dothideomycetes:orders and families incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes

Numerous new taxa and classifications of Dothideomycetes have been published following the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013.A recent publication by Honsanan et al.in 2020 expanded information of families in Dothideo-mycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae with modern classifications.In this paper,we provide a refined updated document on orders and families incertae sedis of Dothideomycetes.Each family is provided with an updated description,notes,including figures to represent the morphology,a list of accepted genera,and economic and ecological significances.We also provide phylogenetic trees for each order.In this study,31 orders which consist 50 families are assigned as orders incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes,and 41 families are treated as families incertae sedis due to lack of molecular or morphological evidence.The new order,Catinellales,and four new families,Catinellaceae,Morenoinaceae Neobuelliellaceae and Thyrinulaceae are introduced.Seven genera(Neobuelliella,Pseudomicrothyrium,Flagellostrigula,Swinscowia,Macroconstrictolumina,Pseudobogoriella,and Schummia)are introduced.Seven new species(Acrospermum urticae,Bogoriella complexoluminata,Dothiorella ostryae,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Macroconstrictolumina megalateralis,Patellaria microspora,and Pseu-domicrothyrium thailandicum)are introduced base on morphology and phylogeny,together with two new records/reports and five new collections from different families.Ninety new combinations are also provided in this paper.

What is a species in fungal plant pathogens?

Scientific names are crucial for communicating knowledge concerning fungi and fungus-like organisms.In plant pathology,they link information regarding biology,host range,distribution and potential risk to agriculture and food security.In the past,delimitation among pathogenic taxa was primarily based on morphological characteristics.Due to distinct species sharing overlapping characteristics,the morphological identification of species is often neither straightforward nor reliable.Hence,the phylogenetic species concept based on molecular phylogenetic reconstructions gained importance.The present opinion discusses what a fungal species is and how identification of species in plant pathology has changed over the past decades.In this context,host-specialization and species complexes are discussed.Furthermore,species concepts in plant pathology are examined using case studies from Bipolaris,Colletotrichum,Curvularia,Diaporthe,Diplodia,Meliola,Plasmopara,rust fungi and Trichoderma.Each entry contains a brief introduction to the genus,concepts used in species identification so far and the problems in describing a species followed by recommendations.The importance of correctly naming and identifying a species is addressed in the context of recent introductions,and we also discuss whether the introduction of new species in pathogenic genera has been overestimated.We also provide guidelines to be considered when introducing a new species in a plant pathogenic genus.

Freshwater Dothideomycetes

Freshwater Dothideomycetes are a highly diverse group of fungi,which are mostly saprobic in freshwater habitats world-wide.They are important decomposers of submerged woody debris and leaves in water.In this paper,we outline the genera of freshwater Dothideomycetes with notes and keys to species.Based on multigene analyses and morphology,we introduce nine new genera,viz.Aquimassariosphaeria,Aquatospora,Aquihelicascus,Fusiformiseptata,Neohelicascus,Neojahnula,Pseudojahnula,Purpureofaciens,Submersispora;33 new species,viz.Acrocalymma bipolare,Aquimassariosphaeria kun-mingensis,Aquatospora cylindrica,Aquihelicascus songkhlaensis,A.yunnanensis,Ascagilis submersa,A.thailandensis,Bambusicola aquatica,Caryospora submersa,Dictyocheirospora thailandica,Fusiformiseptata crocea,Helicosporium thai-landense,Hongkongmyces aquaticus,Lentistoma aquaticum,Lentithecium kunmingense,Lindgomyces aquaticus,Longipedi-cellata aquatica,Neohelicascus submersus,Neohelicomyces dehongensis,N.thailandicus,Neohelicosporium submersum,Nigrograna aquatica,Occultibambusa kunmingensis,Parabambusicola aquatica,Pseudoasteromassaria aquatica,Pseu-doastrosphaeriella aquatica,Pseudoxylomyces aquaticus,Purpureofaciens aquatica,Roussoella aquatica,Shrungabeeja aquatica,Submersispora variabilis,Tetraploa puzheheiensis,T.yunnanensis;16 new combinations,viz.Aquimassariospha-eria typhicola,Aquihelicascus thalassioideus,Ascagilis guttulaspora,A.queenslandica,A.seychellensis,A.sunyatsenii,Ernakulamia xishuangbannaensis,Neohelicascus aquaticus,N.chiangraiensis,N.egyptiacus,N.elaterascus,N.gallicus,N.unilocularis,N.uniseptatus,Neojahnula australiensis,Pseudojahnula potamophila;17 new geographical and habitat records,viz.Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis,Aquastroma magniostiolata,Caryospora aquatica,C.quercus,Dendryphiella vinosa,Ernakulamia cochinensis,Fissuroma neoaggregatum,Helicotruncatum palmigenum,Jahnula rostrata,Neorous-soella bambusae,N.leucaenae,Occultibambusa pustula,Paramonodictys solitarius,Pleopunctum pseudoellipsoideum,Pseudocapulatispora longiappendiculata,Seriascoma didymosporum,Shrungabeeja vadirajensis and ten new collections from China and Thailand,viz.Amniculicola guttulata,Aquaphila albicans,Berkleasmium latisporum,Clohesyomyces aquati-cus,Dictyocheirospora rotunda,Flabellascoma fusiforme,Pseudoastrosphaeriella bambusae,Pseudoxylomyces elegans,Tubeufia aquatica and T.cylindrothecia.Dendryphiella phitsanulokensis and Tubeufia roseohelicospora are synonymized with D.vinosa and T.tectonae,respectively.Six orders,43 families and 145 genera which belong to freshwater Dothideo-mycetes are reviewed.Of these,46 genera occur exclusively in freshwater habitats.A world map illustrates the distribution of freshwater Dothideomycetes.