Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America

MSA ABSTRACTS
Ishiguri, Maki*, Arima, Toshihide and Morinaga, Tsutomu. 562 Nanatsukacho,
Shobara-city, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan. tmorina@bio.hiroshima-pu.ac.jp.
Mechanism of fruiting body formation in Polyporus arcularius.
Polyporus arcularius is basidiomycetous fungus and there are many papers
inrespect to photo-induction of fruiting and nutritional aspects of mycelium. But,
there are no studies about the mechanism of fruiting body formation of this fungus.
Since Leonard (1971) showed that phenoloxidase (PO) was related to form
the fruiting body in Schizophyllum commune, there had been many papers about
PO of another mushrooms. But, it was not clear yet. We already reported about
the mutants that had not PO activity in Polyporus arcularius. These mutants were
called PO-TA-1 and PO-TA-2, respectively. PO-TA-1 and PO-TA-2 were
homokaryon and had the opposite mating type against to each other. Also, these
mutants were crossed with wild type homokaryon having an opposite mating type
and could make the fruiting body. But, after the crossing between these we could
not find. Namely, these homozygous PO-less dikaryon could not produce fruiting
body. Therefore, we did the cloning of this P.O. gene and sequenced. And,
now by using this clone, we tried northern analysis and RT-PCR after light irradiation.
poster
Jackson, Kimberland, Bashir, M.E. and Gunasekaran, M.* Dept. of Biology, Fisk
University, Nashville, TN 37208, USA. mguna@fisk.edu. An in situ assay for
glutathione reductase from permeabilized cells of Candida albicans.
A procedure is described which allows the rapid permeabilization of yeast
cells, Candida albicans for quantitative in situ assay of glutathione reductase
(GSSGR, EC 1.6.4.2) activity. GSSGR is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the reduction
of GSSG to reduced GSH using NADPH as an electron donor. It is a key enzyme
in the GSH-ascorbate cycle, which provides protection against oxidation
stress. Candida cells are permeabilized by incubation in buffer containing different
solvents: toluene, xylene, diethyl ether, ethanol and their combinations to examine
their effect on membrane permeability. In addition the effect of various
temperatures and time on permeablization was investigated. The results obtained
by in situ assay were compared with standard GSSGR assay carried out with cellfree
extracts. Based on the results we feel that the permeation method of in situ
assay is highly sensitive, specific and less time consuming. This procedure is
equally applicable to fresh and frozen samples. poster
Jacobson, David 1,3 *, Cornelia Boesl 2 , Shahana Sultana 2 , Till Roenneberg 2 ,
Martha Merrow 2 , Rachel Adams 3 , Jeremy Dettman 3 , Margarida Duarte 4 , Isabel
Marques 4 , Alexandra Ushakova 4 Patricia Carneiro 4 , Arnaldo Videira 4 , Laura
Navarro-Sampedro 5 , Maria Olmedo 5 , Luis M. Chorrochano 5 , Natvig, Donald O. 6 ,
and John Taylor 3 . 1 Dept. of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford,
California, USA, 2 Institute for Medical Psychology, University of Munich, Germany,
3 Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley
94720, USA, 4 Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal, 5 Departamento
de Genetica, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, 6 Dept. of Biology, University
of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM, USA. djjacob@stanford.edu. New findings
of Neurospora in Europe and comparisons of diversity in temperate
climates on continental scales.
Neurospora was previously considered primarily a tropical or subtropical
genus. However, recent field surveys found Neurospora occupying an entirely
new ecological niche under the bark of fire-damaged trees in dry and cold habitats
within a new geographic range, western North America, from New Mexico
(34°N) to Alaska (64°N) (Jacobson et al. 2004 Mycologia 96:55-74). Isolates
from these sites were composed predominantly (95%) of a single species, N. discreta,
heretofore the least common species of Neurospora collected. In 2003 and
2004, a multinational effort surveyed southern Europe for Neurospora after unusually
devastating wildfires. Neurospora was found from southern Portugal and
Spain (37°N) to Switzerland (46°N). Species collected included N. crassa, N.
discreta, N. sitophila, and N. tetrasperma. Although the latitude, climate and vegetation
are similar to western North America, species distribution and spatial dynamics
were quite different. Rather, these characteristics are more similar between
southern Europe and semitropical Florida, where four different species are
also present over very small spatial scales (Powell et al. 2003 Mycologia 95:809-
819). These differences in regional diversity will form the basis of testable hypotheses,
furthering the value of this model organism as a subject for studying
fungal ecology. poster
James, Timothy Y. 1 *, Vilgalys, Rytas J. 1 , Longcore, Joyce E. 2 , Mozley-Standridge,
Sharon E. 3 , and the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life Working Group.
1 Dept. of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA, 2 Dept. of Biol.
Sciences, U. Maine, Orono, ME 04469 USA, 3 Dept. of Plant Sciences, U. Georgia,
Athens, GA 30602 USA. tyj2@duke.edu. Early diverging lineages on the
fungal tree of life: novel endoparasitic clades of Chytridiomycota.
The basal branches on the fungal tree consist of a heterogeneous mix of taxa
possessing ancestral characters such as coenocytic hyphae, reproduction through
sporangia, and motile spores. How these basal taxa are related to each other and
to the major radiation of the terrestrial fungi (Dikaryofungi) is unclear. Among
these basal lineages are endoparasitic Chytridiomycetes with extremely reduced
morphology, such as Olpidium and Rozella. In this study we address the phylogenetic
arrangement of the basal lineages of Fungi and address the phylogenetic
28 Inoculum 56(4), August 2005
position of Olpidium and Rozella using molecular sequence data from six gene regions
(nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes, ATP6, EF1-alpha, RPB1, and RPB2).
Both the Zygomycota and Chytridiomycota appear paraphyletic in most analyses.
The Blastocladiales are highly diverged from the other four orders of Chytridiomycetes.
Olpidium and Rozella were recovered as separate lineages in the fungal
phylogeny, both distinct from previously sampled clades of chytrids. Rozella
spp. are well supported as the earliest diverging lineage in rDNA and
RPB1+RPB2 phylogenies. This placement of Rozella renders the Chytridiomycetes
paraphyletic. contributed presentation
Jeewon, Rajesh*, Yeung, Quin SY and Hyde, Kevin D. Dept. Ecology & Biodiversity,
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
rrjeewon@hku.hk. Molecular profiling and phylogenetic diversity of fungal
communities associated with pine needles.
Fungal communities undoubtedly contribute immensely to plants ecosystem.
This study investigates fungal diversity and succession from Pine needles
(Keteleeria fortunei, Pinus elliottii and Pinus massoniana) based on morphological
comparison coupled with a molecular approach based on DGGE and phylogenetics.
Morphological and culture dependent studies showed that about 80% of
fungi were anamorphic, with Trichoderma and Cladosporium being dominant.
Others include Bostrichonema, Gliocladium, Gliocephalotrichum and Paecilomyces.
Two hyphomycetes, Cancellidium pinicola and Thozetella pinicola,
new to science were also recorded. 40 different fungal operational taxonomic
units (OTU) recovered from DGGE bands were sequenced and analysed. Phylogenies
based on partial 18S rDNA sequences indicate that 32 are bitunicate ascomycetes,
4 are phylogenetically related to mitosporic Letiomycetes, 2 are members
of Trichocomaceae and another 2 belong to the Hypocreales and Lecanorales
(lichens) respectively. Most of these fungi have not been recovered from morphological
and cultural methodologies as well as from previous endophytic studies
reported elsewhere. It is highly possible that many of them are very important
in the decomposition process but are morphologically and culturally undetected.
These findings have important scientific implications in biodiversity and ecological
studies. poster
Jewell, Kelsea A.* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA.
jewell.kels@students.uwlax.edu. The possible biocontrol of pathogenic Candida
albicans using the killer yeast Candida glabrata Y55.
Candida albicans is responsible for both minor and serious mycoses, commonly
termed candidiasis. These infections are difficult to treat due both to the ineffective
nature of antifungal drugs and the emergence of resistant strains. It is increasingly
important to identify novel antifungal therapies. One area of possible
exploitation is killer yeasts. The term “killer yeasts” includes fungi in Ascomycota,
Basidiomycota, or deuteromycetes that produce extracellular fungicidal or
fungistatic toxins due to internal viral infections. We have performed a series of
competition experiments between several clinical isolates of C. albicans against a
killer strain of Candida glabrata. These experiments have been aimed at determining
the fungicidal and dimorphism-inhibiting ability of a killer Candida strain
against C. albicans. Killing activity was determined by plating killer strains in
lawns of C. albicans on media containing methylene blue dye. This dye is taken
up by the yeast and released upon cell death; killing activity is indicated by areas
of increased pigmentation. Killing activity was verified using the LIVE/DEAD
stain under epifluoresence microscopy. Inhibition of dimorphism is determined
by the changing total protein ratios of yeast and hyphal growth forms. Results indicate
that there is antagonism between various strains of C. albicans and C.
glabrata. contributed presentation
Johnson, Desirée*, Sung, Gi-Ho and Spatafora, Joseph W. Oregon State University,
Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. johnsode@onid.orst.edu.
Systematics of the genus Torrubiella.
Torrubiella is a genus of ~60 species of arthropod pathogenic fungi that primarily
includes pathogens of spiders and scale insects. It is characterized by the
production of superficial perithecia and the absence of a stroma. Like much of the
Clavcipitaceae, Torrubiella’s asci are cylindrical with thickened apices and ascospores
are filiform and either remain intact or disarticulate into partspores according
to species. The most common anamorphs linked to the genus include
Akanthomyces, Gibellula, Paecilomyces and Verticillium. The phylogenetic relationship
of Torrubiella to the rest of the Clavicipitaceae is poorly understood with
leading hypotheses suggesting a link between Torrubiella and species of Cordyceps
that produce superficial perithecia on poorly formed stroma (e.g., C. tuberculata).
Phylogenetic placement of Torrubiella and its relationship to other members
of the Clavicipitaceae were investigated via multigene phylogenetic analysis
of five gene regions including SSU nrDNA, LSU nrDNA, RPB1, RPB2 and tef
1-alpha. Taxon sampling included teleomorphic and anamorphic isolates and a
broad representation of the Clavicipitaceae. The monophyly of Torrubiella was
rejected with three main groups inferred by these analyses. The relationships of
Torrubiella, and its anamorphs, to Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae will be discussed.
poster
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