Whole genome comparisons of ergot fungi reveals the divergence and evolution of species within the genus Claviceps are the result of varying mechanisms driving genome evolution and host range expansion

The genus Claviceps has been known for centuries as an economically important fungal genera for pharmacology and agricultural research. Only recently have researchers begun to unravel the evolutionary history of the genus, with origins in South America and classification of four distinct sections through ecological, morphological, and metabolic features (Claviceps sects. Citrinae, Paspalorum, Pusillae, and Claviceps). The first three sections are additionally characterized by narrow host range, while sect. Claviceps is considered evolutionarily more successful and adaptable as it has the largest host range and biogeographical distribution. However, the reasons for this success and adaptability remain unclear. Our study elucidates factors influencing adaptability by sequencing and annotating 50 Claviceps genomes, representing 21 species, for a comprehensive comparison of genome architecture and plasticity in relation to host range potential. Our results show the trajectory from specialized one-speed genomes (sects. Citrinae and Paspalorum) towards adaptive two-speed genomes (sects. Pusillae and Claviceps) through co-localization of transposable elements around predicted effectors and a putative loss of repeat-induced point mutation resulting in unconstrained tandem gene duplication coinciding with increased host range potential and speciation. Alterations of genomic architecture and plasticity can substantially influence and shape the evolutionary trajectory of fungal pathogens and their adaptability. Furthermore, our study provides a large increase in available genomic resources to propel future studies of Claviceps in pharmacology and agricultural research, as well as, research into deeper understanding of the evolution of adaptable plant pathogens.

Three-body correlations in mesonic-atom-like systems

Three-body correlations in three-body exotic atoms are studied with simple models that consist of three bosons interacting through a superposition of long- and short-range potentials. We discuss the correlations among particles by comparing the energy shifts given by precise three-body calculations and by the Deser-Trueman formula, in which the long- and short-range contributions are factorized. By varying the coupling of the short-range potential, we evaluate the ranges of the strength where the two-body correlations dominate and where the three-body correlations cannot be neglected.

An investigation of the appearance of a long range nuclear potential in ultra low energy nuclear synthesis

A new potential, the generalgeneralparticleparticletransfertransferpotentialpotential: so called “GPT” potential was represented in the previous paper which indicates a Yukawa-type potential for shorter range, but a 1/r^n1/rn-type potential for longer range where n=2n=2 includes the Efimov-like potential in the hadron system. In order to confirm the existence of a GPT potential, we investigate the possibility of Cs+2d\rightarrow→La reaction on the three-ion quasi-molecule CsD_22 which is covered by twelve Pd or a CsD_22Pd_{12}12-cluster, where the three-body bound states and wave functions for D-Cs-D molecular and d-Cs-d nuclear systems are calculated. We obtain an approximate E2-transition from the molecular states to the nuclear states. The transition ratio between the short range nuclear potential with the 1/r^21/r2-type long range potential and without long range potential is W_{i\rightarrow f}^{E2';L}/W_{i\rightarrow f}^{E2';S}\approx 10^8Wi→fE2′;L/Wi→fE2′;S≈108. If the reaction Cs+2D\rightarrow→La is experimentally observed, then the existence of the GPT potential could be confirmed.