New species of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, an ubiquitous pathogen of ants from Thailand

Noppol Kobmoo; Suchada Mongkolsamrit; Taksadon Wutikhun; Kanoksri Tasanathai; Artit Khonsanit; Donnaya Thanakitpipattana; Janet Jennifer Luangsa-Ard

doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2014.10.008

New species of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, an ubiquitous pathogen of ants from Thailand

Fungal Biol. 2015 Jan;119(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.10.008. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Authors

Noppol Kobmoo¹, Suchada Mongkolsamrit², Taksadon Wutikhun³, Kanoksri Tasanathai², Artit Khonsanit², Donnaya Thanakitpipattana², Janet Jennifer Luangsa-Ard²

Affiliations

¹ Microbe Interaction Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Microbe Interaction Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
³ Technician Officer Institution, The National Nanotechnology Center, 130 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Klong Nueng, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.

PMID: 25601148
DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.10.008

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is an ubiquitous pathogen of ants with hidden phylogenetic diversity associated with host specificity. In this study, we describe two new species to this species complex: Ophiocordyceps septa and Ophiocordyceps rami. Both were found on unidentified ants of the genus Camponotus (C. sp.1 and C. sp2 respectively). Ophiocordyceps septa is very similar to Ophiocordyceps polyrhachis-furcata, Ophiocordyceps camponoti-leonardi, and Ophiocordyceps camponoti-saundersi (found respectively on the ants Polyrhachis furcata, Camponotus leonardi, and Camponotus saundersi) but differs in the size, the shape and the septation of the ascospores, while O. rami is clearly identifiable with macro-morphological features including multiple stromata similar to Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis on Camponotus gigas. A thorough morphological examination was also provided for O. polyrhachis-furcata, O. camponoti-leonardi, and O. camponoti saundersi, showing that the first was apparently distinguishable from the others by the absence of septation of the ascospores. A combined molecular phylogeny also supports O. septa and O. rami as distinct new species.

Keywords: Cryptic species; Host specificity; Molecular phylogenies; Species diversity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Ants / microbiology*
Cluster Analysis
DNA, Fungal / chemistry
DNA, Fungal / genetics
DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
Genes, rRNA
Hypocreales / classification*
Hypocreales / cytology
Hypocreales / genetics*
Hypocreales / isolation & purification
Microscopy
Molecular Sequence Data
Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / genetics
Phylogeny
RNA, Fungal / genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Thailand
Tubulin / genetics

Substances

DNA, Fungal
DNA, Ribosomal
Peptide Elongation Factor 1
RNA, Fungal
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
Tubulin

Associated data

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