9株鱼源鰤诺卡氏菌生物学特征和致病性比较

【背景】鰤诺卡氏菌(Nocardia seriolae)是一种革兰氏阳性好氧菌,易引起鲈形目鱼类结节病发生,近几年对大口黑鲈、杂交鳢等名优鱼类的危害越来越大。【目的】比较分析9株不同年份、不同地区患结节病的不同淡水鱼品种分离的鰤诺卡氏菌的种间同源关系、生长特性、致病性以及药物敏感性差异,为进一步研究制定相应的防控与治疗措施提供基础数据和科学依据。【方法】在9株试验菌生理生化实验鉴定结果基础上,采用16SrRNA基因序列比对、限制性片段长度多样性比较菌株间的同源性;扩增看家基因secA1基因序列进行不同来源菌株种内相似度比对;通过体外培养比较不同菌株的生长情况;人工注射感染分析9株试验菌对大口黑鲈的致病性差异;采用微量肉汤二倍稀释法测试9株试验菌对13种抗菌药物的最小抑菌浓度;运用PCR技术检测菌株携带毒力基因和耐药基因的情况。【结果】生理生化结果显示9株试验菌与鰤诺卡氏菌的基本理化特征相符;9株试验菌聚类分析聚为一类,种内相似度高,限制性片段长度多样性酶切图谱相同,生长特性无明显差异;9株试验菌对大口黑鲈致病性无显著差异,但毒力基因携带情况略有不同,其均携带mce1A、mig和pup基因,而dop和whiB3只在部分菌株检出;9株试验菌均对氟甲喹和氨苄西林耐药,除NS1外,都对磺胺间甲氧嘧啶耐药,对大部分抗菌药物敏感,主要携带blaTEM和sul1耐药基因。【结论】不同时间、不同地区及不同宿主分离的9株鰤诺卡氏菌在生物学特性、致病性和药物敏感性等方面无明显差异;同源性相近,提示华南地区感染淡水鱼的鰤诺卡氏菌可能为同一流行株型。研究结果为鰤诺卡氏菌的发病机制及防控技术的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

黑水虻肠道细菌抗菌筛选及其活性物质分子鉴定

【目的】从昆虫黑水虻分离的肠道细菌进行抗植物病原菌的拮抗菌筛选,对获得有拮抗活性的肠道细菌进行活性物质的分子鉴定。【方法】用稀释涂布法从水虻肠道中分离菌株,采用平板对峙法进行抗菌筛选,对有抗菌活性的菌株通过生理生化实验、16S rRNA鉴定和进化树分析确定其种属。参考已知脂肽合成关键基因设计引物,以拮抗菌总DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,对目的片段进行测序。【结果】通过抗菌筛选获得一株对水稻黄单胞菌以及小麦纹枯病病原菌等有很强抑制效果的水虻肠道细菌BSF-CL,经鉴定为枯草芽胞杆菌。脂肽合成关键基因PCR结果显示BSF-CL菌株具有脂肽Iturin和Surfactin合成的关键基因。推测BSF-CL很可能合成脂肽Iturin和Surfactin。【结论】从水虻肠道中分离出对水稻黄单胞菌有很强抑菌活性的菌株,分离菌被鉴定为一种枯草芽胞杆菌,通过活性物质的分子克隆鉴定初步推测其活性物质可能为脂肽Iturin和Surfactin。     

具有拮抗无乳链球菌能力乳杆菌的筛选及抑菌特性

目的从罗非鱼(Nile tilapia)肠道中筛选出具有抑菌作用的乳杆菌,测定其对无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)的抑菌效果,分析乳杆菌抑制无乳链球菌的有效成分,并利用分子生物学手段对筛选的乳杆菌菌种进行鉴定。方法采用双层平板法对具有抑制无乳链球菌的乳杆菌进行筛选,牛津杯法对抑菌效果进行测定,酶蛋白敏感性测定、热处理、有机酸处理等方法分析抑菌活性物质有效成分,16S rDNA分子标记对乳杆菌进行鉴定。结果从罗非鱼肠道中筛选出14株乳杆菌,其中菌株RS2对无乳链球菌具有明显的抑菌效果;不同蛋白酶种类、pH处理对乳杆菌无细胞培养液均有不同的影响,经80℃处理的乳杆菌无细胞培养液,其抑菌效果未显著改变(t=0.169 2,P=0.873 8)。此外,此株乳杆菌对猪霍乱沙门菌(Salmonella choleraesuis)、大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)、金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)和志贺菌(Shigella sp.)等病原菌具有良好的抑制作用。经鉴定,该乳杆菌为植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)。结论从罗非鱼肠道中分离得到的植物乳杆菌菌株RS2对无乳链球菌等致病菌具有一定的抑制作用,推断其抑菌有效成分为细菌素类物质。此项研究对开发抗生素替代产品,提高食品的品质具有一定价值。     

梨火疫病拮抗菌筛选及温室防效测定

【背景】梨火疫病是由梨火疫病菌(Erwinia amylovora)引起的细菌性病害,对苹果、梨、山楂等40余属220多种植物危害极大。近年来,与中国毗邻的中亚多国相继暴发梨火疫病。梨火疫病菌成为国内特别是对新疆地区的特高风险有害生物,梨火疫病已被中国农业农村部列入《一类农作物病虫害名录》。【目的】从新疆本土材料以及实验室现有菌株中进行梨火疫病菌拮抗菌株的筛选,为梨火疫病的防控奠定基础。【方法】采用平板对峙法从新疆香梨种植区土壤及实验室现有菌株中分离、筛选具有显著拮抗效果的菌株,通过生理生化特性分析和16SrRNA基因测序等方法对菌株进行初步鉴定,并采用牛津杯扩散法对抑菌效果进行复筛。利用两年生盆栽杜梨苗对拮抗菌进行温室内保护型和治疗型防效测定。【结果】筛选获得11株具有显著拮抗作用的菌株,均为革兰氏阳性菌。其中9株为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、2株为乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)。平板对峙实验结果表明贝莱斯芽胞杆菌(Bacillus velezensis) JE7、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum) LP1和植物乳杆菌LP2拮抗作用较强,其次为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌JE4。生理特性实验结果表明:JE4、JE7可在NaCl浓度为1%-7%时生长,JE4、JE7在pH 4.0-9.0时生长,LP1可在NaCl浓度为1%-9%时生长,在pH 5.0-9.0时生长良好。温室防效测定结果显示,贝莱斯芽胞杆菌JE4防效最佳,可达到73%以上。【结论】筛选获得一批梨火疫病拮抗菌,其中部分菌株在温室内防效显著并具有较强的盐碱耐受能力。     

小龙虾肠道产木聚糖酶细菌的分离与鉴定

【背景】小龙虾肠道微生物是小龙虾降解纤维素和半纤维素的主要驱动力。【目的】研究肠道内细菌的相对丰度,为揭示肠道微生物在小龙虾纤维素降解过程中的作用提供理论支撑。【方法】采用纯培养法从小龙虾肠道筛选产木聚糖酶细菌,并且对小龙虾肠道细菌进行16S高通量测序。【结果】形态学和16SrRNA基因分子鉴定表明,筛选到的4株产木聚糖酶细菌均属于芽孢杆菌科芽孢杆菌属;结合进一步的生理生化特征鉴定,结果为:菌株Z-3为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis),菌株Z-4为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillus velezensis),菌株Z-29为蜡状芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus),菌株Z-30为高地芽孢杆菌(Bacillus altitudinis);16S rRNA基因高通量测序结果表明:在属水平上,小龙虾肠道细菌主要是Candidatus Bacilloplasma、拟杆菌属、弧菌属、不动杆菌属、Dysgonomonas、Tyzzerella3、气单胞菌属和希瓦氏菌属细菌。【结论】小龙虾肠道内细菌资源丰富,且芽孢杆菌属细菌在木质纤维素降解过程中发挥一定功能。     

一株抗水稻纹枯病菌的解淀粉芽胞杆菌分离与鉴定

【目的】筛选对水稻纹枯病菌(Rhizoctonia solani)具有强拮抗作用的细菌菌株。【方法】用指示菌法筛选拮抗菌株;通过形态观察、生理生化实验、Biolog及16S rDNA序列分析鉴定目标菌株;利用平板双向培养法和滤纸片扩散法测定抑菌谱及拮抗性质。【结果】分离到一株高活力的水稻纹枯病菌拮抗菌株YB-3,该菌株属于解淀粉芽胞杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens);菌株YB-3对常见的14株病原真菌和7株细菌具有较强的拮抗作用,并发现其对亲缘关系较近的芽孢菌属有较强的拮抗作用;该菌株的抑制活性具有温度稳定、耐酸、但对蛋白酶敏感的特点。【结论】通过指示菌法筛选到一株对水稻纹枯病菌有强拮抗作用的解淀粉芽胞杆菌(B.amyloliquefaciens)YB-3,它具有广谱、高效的植物病原菌拮抗活性。     

一株鳢源鰤诺卡氏菌致病性与全基因组分析

【背景】鰤诺卡氏菌是一种典型的条件致病菌,感染鳢、鲈等多种名优鱼类,易造成存在机体损伤或免疫机能下降的鱼持续性感染,给水产养殖业造成了巨大损失。【目的】了解临床分离鳢源鰤诺卡氏菌对乌斑杂交鳢（斑鳢♀×乌鳢♂）的致病性,并从全基因组层面了解该病原菌的基因组和致病因子信息,为鰤诺卡氏菌后续病原学及鰤诺卡氏菌病防治技术和疫苗的开发研究提供有利的数据支撑。【方法】鰤诺卡氏菌NK201610020通过回归感染试验和发病鱼靶器官组织病理分析,了解鰤诺卡氏菌的毒力和病理特征。通过对试验菌进行全基因组测序和比较基因组学分析,挖掘该菌的基因组与毒力特征。【结果】回归感染试验结果显示,除1.5×10³组外,其余5个感染组致死率高达90%,LD₅₀为1.079×10³ CFU/mL,说明试验菌毒力较强。组织病理学观察到肝、脾、肾呈现严重的病理损伤,而且有肉芽肿结构形成。试验菌全基因组测序发现,全基因组大小为8294329bp,GC含量为68.10%,共预测到编码基因7812个。比较基因组学分析发现,不同地区不同宿主来源鰤诺卡氏菌在基因组基础特...     

鰤诺卡氏菌对大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞的侵染过程

【背景】鱼类诺卡氏菌病潜伏期和病程较长,感染率和死亡率较高,给水产养殖业带来较大的经济损失,其病原鰤诺卡氏菌(Nocardia seriolae)是胞内寄生菌,侵入细胞后引起慢性感染是主要的致病机制。【目的】构建鰤诺卡氏菌侵染大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)头肾巨噬细胞体外模型,观察鰤诺卡氏菌侵染巨噬细胞的过程并探究鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞的凋亡作用。【方法】采用密度梯度离心法分离巨噬细胞,通过特异性染色和PCR扩增巨噬细胞表达基因mpeg1对细胞进行鉴定,并通过CCK-8法和氧呼吸暴发活性测定检测巨噬细胞的活性;通过倒置荧光显微镜和流式细胞术观察侵染过程中细菌与细胞的形态与数量变化;通过双荧光流式细胞术检测、乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase, LDH)释放试验及线粒体膜电位检测,探究鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞的凋亡作用。【结果】从大口黑鲈头肾分离获得纯度高的巨噬细胞,经染色和PCR法鉴定为巨噬细胞;筛选出最优的体外培养条件为1640培养基+1%青霉素链霉素+1%胎牛血清。在脂多糖刺激后,巨噬细胞的氧呼吸暴发能力显著提高(P<0.05)。GFP-鰤诺卡氏菌侵染细胞2 h后细菌被细胞吞噬,4 h细胞变圆且贴壁率降低,6 h细菌大量繁殖并包围细胞,8 h后细胞大量死亡。凋亡相关实验结果表明,侵染初期巨噬细胞凋亡率增加,LDH释放增加,线粒体膜电位下降;随着侵染时间延长,细胞凋亡率下降、LDH释放量及线粒体膜电位下降减少,说明鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞起先促进后抑制凋亡的作用。【结论】通过密度梯度离心法成功分离大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞,并通过鰤诺卡氏菌侵染细胞后初步摸清鰤诺卡细菌在细胞水平的致病机理,建立了鰤诺卡氏菌侵染大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞的体外模型;证实了鰤诺卡氏菌可侵染巨噬细胞并抑制细胞凋亡,从而达到在巨噬细胞内存活,为进一步开展鰤诺卡氏菌与巨噬细胞相互作用并阐明鰤诺卡氏菌的致病机制奠定了研究基础。     

新疆棉花黄萎病菌拮抗细菌的分离、筛选与鉴定

【背景】棉花黄萎病是由大丽轮枝菌(Verticillium dahliae Kleb.)引起的一种世界性病害,近年来对该病害的生物防治因具有环境友好和人畜安全的特性而倍受关注。【目的】筛选棉花黄萎病高效拮抗细菌并对其进行鉴定,为棉花黄萎病的生物防治扩充菌种资源。【方法】采用稀释涂布平板法分离细菌,并进行拮抗细菌的初筛和复筛,通过形态特征、生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析对筛选到的细菌进行鉴定,确定其分类地位。【结果】初筛分离到535株对病原菌具有拮抗作用的细菌,并选取了108株拮抗细菌进行复筛,最终筛选到了4株优势拮抗细菌。通过形态观察、生理生化特征和16SrRNA基因序列分析,将菌株BHZ-29、SHT-15、SHZ-24和SMT-24分别鉴定为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillusvelezensis)、枯草芽孢杆菌斯皮兹仁亚种(Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii)、萎缩芽孢杆菌(Bacillus atrophaeus)和香草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus vanillea)。【结论】获得了4株高效拮抗细菌,并且首次报道了香草芽孢杆菌对棉花黄萎病菌具有抑制作用。     

香坊肠球菌和罗伊氏乳杆菌在无菌猪肠道中的定殖

【背景】已有研究表明,微生物在宿主肠道中的定殖受宿主、肠道环境、微生物物种特性和菌株来源等多个因素的影响。一般认为,来源于同类宿主的微生物菌株,在该类宿主肠道中具有定殖优势,但缺乏在物种和菌株水平上研究微生物自身特性在宿主肠道中定殖的研究报道。【目的】将不同来源(同类宿主肠道、非同类宿主肠道和非肠道环境)、具有不同生物学特性的3株香坊肠球菌(Enterococcus xiangfangensis)和4株罗伊氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus reuteri)对无菌猪肠道进行定殖,在物种和菌株2个水平上探究物种特性和菌株来源对宿主肠道定殖的偏好性,揭示影响微生物定殖效率的关键因素。【方法】在本项研究中,将从藏猪(Tibetan pigs)、小鼠(ob/ob mice)、食蟹猴(Macaca fascicularis)和发酵食品中分离得到的多株香坊肠球菌和罗伊氏乳杆菌,制成混合菌剂对无菌巴马香猪(Bama miniature pig)进行为期4周的饲喂,并通过实时荧光定量PCR方法检测这7株菌在无菌猪肠道中的定殖情况。【结果】在物种水平上,香坊肠球菌和罗伊氏乳杆菌在无菌猪体内具有相近的定殖细胞数目。但是在菌株水平上,小鼠来源的香坊肠球菌(EX-MS)和罗伊氏乳杆菌(LR-MS)定殖的细胞数目显著高于其他5株菌,表明小鼠来源的菌株具有定殖优势。在体外混合培养中,将3株香坊肠球菌和4株罗伊氏乳杆菌分别等比例混合培养72 h后,发现香坊肠球菌EX-MS菌株的细胞数目高于香坊肠球菌EX-MK和EX-PG菌株;在罗伊氏乳杆菌中,4株菌的细胞数目相近。7株菌相互作用表明,EX-MS菌株对EX-MK和EX-PG菌株均有明显的抑制作用,但对4株罗伊氏乳杆菌无抑制作用。【结论】本次定殖实验的结果表明,在物种水平上,香坊肠球菌和罗伊氏乳杆菌均具有在无菌猪肠道中良好的定殖能力;但在菌株水平上,小鼠来源的香坊肠球菌EX-MS菌株和罗伊氏乳杆菌LR-MS菌株具有定殖优势;同时发现,小鼠来源的香坊肠球菌EX-MS菌株通过抑制同物种的EX-PG和EX-MK菌株,获得了在宿主肠道中的定殖优势。     

The phylogenetic placement of Ostropales within Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota) revisited

Results of molecular studies regarding the phylogenetic placement of the order Ostropales and related taxa within Lecanoromycetes were thus far inconclusive. Some analyses placed the order as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, while others inferred a position nested within Lecanoromycetes. We assembled a data set of 101 species including sequences from nuLSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, and the nuclear protein-coding RPB1 for each species to examine the cause of incongruencies in previously published phylogenies. MP, minimum evolution, and Bayesian analyses were performed using the combined three-region data set and the single-gene data sets. The position of Ostropales nested in Lecanoromycetes is confirmed in all single-gene and concatenated analyses, and a placement as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes is significantly rejected using two independent methods of alternative topology testing. Acarosporales and related taxa (Acarosporaceae group) are basal in Lecanoromycetes. However, if the these basal taxa are excluded from the analyses, Ostropales appear to be sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, suggesting different ingroup rooting as the cause for deviating topologies in previously published phylogenies.     

Genome Analysis inNeurospora crassa;Cloning of Four Lociarginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) and Associated Chromosome Walking

We have cloned fourNeurospora crassagenes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include thearginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of theNeurosporagenome is covered in these walks.     

New species of Phaeoramularia, Pseudocercospora and Stenella from Western Ghats of India

Four new species of the hyphomycete genera Phaeoramularia viz. Ph. caesalpinae, Pseudocercospora viz., Ps. tiliacearum, Stenella, viz. S. argyreiae and S. grewiae occurring on Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae), Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae), Argyrea sp. Lour (Convolvulaceae) and Grewia sp. L. (Tiliaceae), respectively are described and illustrated here. All these fungi were collected from Western Ghats of India.     

The phylogenetic placement of the Leucogastrales, including Mycolevis siccigleba (Cribbeaceae), in the Albatrellaceae using morphological and molecular data

The morphology of many hypogeous fungi converges on a homogeneous reduced form, suggesting that disparate lineages are subject to a uniform selection pressure. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the morphology and infer the phylogeny of the Leucogastrales with Mycolevis siccigleba using a Bayesian methodology. A comprehensive morphological assessment was used for an a priori phylogenetic inference to guide the sequencing effort. All structures except spore ornamentation pointed to the Albatrellaceae as the most likely sister taxon. Polyporoletus sublividus, a close relative of Albatrellus, produces ornamented basidiospores with a similar structure to M. siccigleba basidiospores. The ITS from 30 taxa was used for the molecular phylogenetic analysis. P. sublividus was found sister to Mycolevis. Leucophleps spinispora and L. magnata formed a group sister to the Polyporoletus/Mycolevis group, whereas Leucogaster was polyphyletic with respect to the core of the Leucogastrales and sister to A. caeruleoporus. This relationship was expected as previously undescribed chlamydospores produced by members of Albatrellus had a similar morphology to the basidiospores of L. rubescens.     

下延叉蕨和芽胞叉蕨配子体发育的研究

利用光学显微镜详细观察了叉蕨属(Tectaria)下延叉蕨(Tectaria decurrens)和芽胞叉蕨(T.fauriei)的配子体发育过程,记录了配子体各发育阶段的特征。结果表明:(1)下延叉蕨和芽胞叉蕨的孢子均为单裂缝,具周壁,由周壁形成纹饰,孢子极面观椭圆形,赤道面观豆形或肾形。(2)孢子萌发方式为向心型。(3)原叶体发育方式为三叉蕨型。(4)成熟原叶体心脏形,两翼向斜上方扩展。(5)均具单细胞和多细胞毛状体,在丝状体或片状体阶段出现。研究认为,从配子体发育角度看,叉蕨属是较进化的陆生真蕨类;毛状体的类型、位置和出现时间等特征在叉蕨属种间存在差异,可作为该属种间分类的特征。     

Evolutionary relationships among aquatic anamorphs and teleomorphs: Lemonniera, Margaritispora, and Goniopila

The hypothesis that similar conidial morphologies in aquatic hyphomycetes are a result of convergent evolution was tested using molecular sequence data. Cladistic analyses were performed on partial sequences of 28S rDNA of seven species of Lemonniera, one species of Margaritispora and one species of Goniopila. Lemonniera has tetraradiate conidia with long arms, whereas Margaritispora and Goniopila have typically globose (isodiametric) conidia, with short conical protuberances in a stellate or quadrangular arrangement. Lemonniera and Margaritispora have phialidic conidiogenesis and both produce dark, minute sclerotia in culture whereas Goniopila has holoblastic conidiogenesis and does not produce sclerotia in culture. Goniopila produces a microconidial phialidic synanamorph in culture. All three genera have schizolytic conidial secession. Molecular analyses demonstrate that Lemonniera species are placed in two distinct clades: one within Leotiomycetes; the other within Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Margaritispora is placed with Lemonniera species within Leotiomycetes. Goniopila and Lemonniera pseudofloscula are placed within Dothideomycetes. No morphological character was entirely congruent with the molecular derived phylogeny. This suggests that for the group of species studied, conidial shape is not a reliable indicator of phylogeny but more likely the result of convergent evolution in response to the aquatic environment.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

A polysaccharide from Lichina pygmaea and L. confinis supports the recognition of Lichinomycetes

The lichen-forming order Lichinales, generally characterized by prototunicate asci and the development of thalli with cyanobacteria, has recently been recognized as a separate class of ascomycetes, Lichinomycetes, as a result of molecular phylogenetic studies. As alkali and water-soluble (F1SS) polysaccharides reflect phylogeny in other ascomycetes, a polysaccharide from Lichina pygmaea and L. confinis was purified and characterized to investigate whether these F1SS compounds in the Lichinomycetes were distinctive. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and chemical analyses revealed this as a galactomannan comprising a repeating unit consisting of an α-(1→6)-mannan backbone, mainly substituted by single α-galactofuranose residues at the O-2- or the O-2,4- positions linked to a small mannan core. With the exception of the trisubstituted mannopyranose residues previously described in polysaccharides from other lichens belonging to orders now placed in Lecanoromycetes, the structure of this galactomannan most closely resembles those found in several members of the Onygenales in Eurotiomycetes. Our polysaccharide data support molecular studies showing that Lichina species are remote from Lecanoromycetes as the galactofuranose residues are in the α-configuration. That the Lichinomycetes were part of an ancestral lichenized group can not be established from the present data because the extracted polysaccharide does not have the galactofuranose residue in the β configuration; however, the data does suggest that an ancestor of the Lichinomycetes contained a mannan and was part of an early radiation in the ascomycetes.     

Prosthecium species with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer

Data from microscopic morphology, single-spore cultures, and DNA analyses of teleomorphs and anamorphs support the recognition of five species of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer: P. acerinum sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. acerinum; P. acerophilum comb. nov., formerly known as Dictyoporthe acerophila; P. galeatum comb. nov., originally described as Massaria galeata; P. opalus sp. nov.; and P. pyriforme sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. pyriforme s. str. The morphology of both type specimens and freshly collected material was investigated. The teleomorphs have brown ellipsoidal ascospores with five distosepta and often a longitudinal distoseptum. The anamorphs of all species described here belong to Stegonsporium; their connection to the Prosthecium teleomorphs was demonstrated by morphology and DNA sequences of single spore cultures derived from both ascospores and conidia. The anamorphs and teleomorphs of all five Prosthecium species are described and illustrated by LM images, and a key to these species is provided. As perceived from this work, S. pyriforme is restricted to Europe and does not occur in North America, whereas S. acerinum is restricted to North America, not found in Europe. The host associations given in the literature are revised and evidence is provided that only A. opalus, A. pseudoplatanus, and A. saccharum are confirmed hosts of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of tef1, ITS rDNA, and partial nuLSU rDNA sequences confirm that the species with Stegonsporium anamorphs are closely related to P. ellipsosporum, the generic type species. Stilbospora macrosperma is confirmed as the anamorph of P. ellipsosporum by DNA data of single spore isolates obtained from both ascospores and conidia.