Research Keyword: Cordycipitaceae

Mitochondrial genome characterization, evolution and intron dynamics of the entomopathogenic genus Cordyceps

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This research examined the genetic instruction manuals (mitochondrial DNA) of seven different Cordyceps fungal species. Scientists found that these fungi have varying amounts of genetic material, primarily due to differences in introns—sections that can be inserted or removed from genes. By comparing their genomes, researchers clarified how different Cordyceps species are related to each other evolutionarily, providing better tools for identifying and classifying these medically valuable fungi.

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Introducing a global database of entomopathogenic fungi and their host associations

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Scientists have created a global database called EntomoFun 1.0 that brings together information about fungi that naturally infect insects and other arthropods. The database contains nearly 1,800 records of different fungal species and the insects they infect, collected from scientific literature and museum specimens. This resource helps researchers understand where these fungi are found, which insects they target, and how they might be used for pest control or studied for their ecological importance.

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Chemical clues to infection: A pilot study on the differential secondary metabolite production during the life cycle of selected Cordyceps species

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This study examined two types of parasitic fungi (Cordyceps javanica and Cordyceps blackwelliae) that infect insects, comparing how they kill their hosts and what chemical compounds they produce during infection. Researchers found that each species uses different toxic molecules to infect insects, with C. javanica being more deadly and producing diverse compounds called beauveriolides. By analyzing infected insect corpses, scientists provided the first direct evidence that these toxic compounds are actually made during real infections, not just in laboratory cultures.

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Simplicillium sinense sp. nov., a novel potential pathogen of tinea faciei

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Researchers identified a new fungal species called Simplicillium sinense that caused a facial skin infection (tinea faciei) in a 46-year-old man with diabetes. The fungus was resistant to most common antifungal medications but responded well to terbinafine treatment. This is the first reported case of a Simplicillium infection causing facial ringworm, expanding our understanding of rare fungal pathogens.

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The Last of Them: Entomopathogenic Effect of Akanthomyces muscarius on the Scale Insect Pest Toumeyella parvicornis Under Laboratory Conditions, a Potential Biological Control Candidate

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Scientists tested a fungus called Akanthomyces muscarius as a natural way to control an invasive pest called the tortoise scale insect that damages stone pine trees in Europe. In laboratory experiments, the fungus effectively infected and killed these insects, showing much better results than commercial fungal products. This research suggests the fungus could be used as an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting pine trees in urban areas.

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