Two new species of Hirsutella (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Sordariomycetes) that are parasitic on lepidopteran insects from China

Hirsutella are globally distributed entomopathogenic fungi that offer important economic applications in biological control and biomedicine. Hirsutella was suppressed in favour of Ophiocordyceps affected by the ending of dual nomenclature for pleomorphic fungi in 2011. Currently, Hirsutella has been resurrected as a genus under Ophiocordycipitaceae. In this study, we introduce two new species of Hirsutella, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Hirsutella flava and H. kuankuoshuiensis are pathogenic on different species of larval Lepidoptera in China. Hirsutella flava primarily differs from related species by its awl-shaped base; long and narrow neck, 24–40.8 × 2.2–2.5 μm; long and narrow cymbiform or fusoid conidia, 6.5–10 × 2.1–4.3 μm. Hirsutella kuankuoshuiensis has two types of phialides and distinctive 9.9–12.6 × 2.7–4.5 μm, clavate or botuliform conidia. The distinctions amongst the new species and phylogenetic relationships with other Hirsutella species are discussed.

First cases of Recombinant Noroviruses in Cameroon

Noroviruses have been reported as being a common cause of acute gastroenteritis both in children and adults worldwide. Genotyping and nomenclature of noroviruses was based on the partial capsid gene of the ORF2. Due to frequent reported recombination activities in the ORF1/ORF2 junction, a new dual nomenclature has been proposed based on genotyping of two genes – the capsid and polymerase genes. This study identified recombinant noroviruses circulating in Cameroon between 2010 and 2013. RT-PCR –based methods, next generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used to genotype samples from hospitalized children. The combined RdRp/capsid dual genotype was determined for 19 GII strains including 5 RdRp genotypes (GII.P4, GII.P7, GII.P17, GII.P21, and GII.P31) and 5 capsid genotypes (GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.17). They had 17(89.5%) recombinants and 2 (112.5%) non recombinants. 17 were recombinants. The most prevalent noroviruses were GII.4 (76.5%) consisting of GII.4 Sydney [P31] (41.2%) and GII.4 Sydney [P4 New Orleans] (35.3%), followed by GII.6 [P7] (11.8%), GII.2 [P21] (5.9%) and GII.3 [P21] (5.9%). This is the first study of norovirus dual genotyping and recombinants in Cameroon. Recombination activity is high and contributes to ongoing evolution of circulating noroviruses in Cameroon.

From the Clinical Mycology Laboratory: New Species and Changes in Fungal Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Fungal taxonomy is the branch of mycology by which we classify and group fungi based on similarities or differences. Historically, this was done by morphologic characteristics and other phenotypic traits. However, with the advent of the molecular age in mycology, phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences has replaced these classic means for grouping related species. This, along with the abandonment of the dual nomenclature system, has led to a marked increase in the number of new species and reclassification of known species. Although these evaluations and changes are necessary to move the field forward, there is concern among medical mycologists that the rapidity by which fungal nomenclature is changing could cause confusion in the clinical literature. Thus, there is a proposal to allow medical mycologists to adopt changes in taxonomy and nomenclature at a slower pace. In this review, changes in the taxonomy and nomenclature of medically relevant fungi will be discussed along with the impact this may have on clinicians and patient care. Specific examples of changes and current controversies will also be given.

Fungal taxonomy and nomenclature

This chapter summarizes historical and modern approaches to fungal taxonomy, the current taxonomic standing of medically important fungi, and the implications for fungal nomenclature following the recent Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature, which prohibits dual nomenclature. Fungi comprise an entire kingdom, containing an estimated 1–10 million species. Traditionally, fungal identification was based on examination of morphological and phenotypic features, including the type of sexual spores they form and method of formation, and structural features of their asexual spores. Thus, many fungi have been described and named independently several times, based on either their sexual or asexual stages, resulting in a single genetic entity having multiple names. Recent molecular approaches to fungal identification have led to profound changes in fungal nomenclature and taxonomy. Certain phyla have now been disbanded, cryptic species have been identified via molecular approaches, and long-recognized species have been transferred to new genera, based on genotypic comparisons.

Fungal taxonomy and nomenclature

This chapter summarizes historical and modern approaches to fungal taxonomy, the current taxonomic standing of medically important fungi, and the implications for fungal nomenclature following the recent Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature, which prohibits dual nomenclature. Fungi comprise an entire kingdom, containing an estimated 1–10 million species. Traditionally, fungal identification was based on examination of morphological and phenotypic features, including the type of sexual spores they form, and method of formation, and structural features of their asexual spores. Thus, many fungi have been described and named independently several times based on either their sexual or asexual stages, resulting in a single genetic entity having multiple names. Recent molecular approaches to fungal identification have led to profound changes in fungal nomenclature and taxonomy. Certain phyla have now been disbanded, cryptic species have been identified via molecular approaches, and long-recognized species have been transferred to new genera based on genotypic comparisons.

JERUSALEM: A TALE OF A CITY

<p>World class cities are few and far between, sometimes referred to as ‘global cities’ or simply ‘world cities’. There are no more than a dozen metropolitan areas in the world that can claim this kind of global status. London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo sit at the top of this world city hierarchy. They have enormous concentrations of economic, political, and cultural clout – measured by such things as the number of corporate headquarters, the size of their stock exchanges, the presence of national and international political bodies, and their role in music, fashion, and other cultural activities. What would it take to make a city claimed by two nations and central to three religions “merely” a city, a place of difference and diversity in which contending ideas and citizenries can co-exist in benign yet creative ways? The intractable conflicts in the Middle East and the cycle of violence among Israelis and Palestinians are deeply embedded in historical struggles over national sovereignty and the right to territory. For this reason, questions about whose state will prevail in what physical location have defined the terms of conflict and negotiation. This also has meant that most proposed solutions to “the Middle East problem” have revolved around competing claims of nation-states, their rights to existence, and their physical and juridically-sanctioned relationships to each other. While true generally, this framing of the problem has been especially dominant in the case of Jerusalem, a city that is geographically and historically an overlay of spaces and artifacts that carry deep meaning for competing peoples and nations. The current struggles of Palestinians and Israelis to each claim this hallowed ground as their capital city has added yet another layer of complexity, conflict, and political division, all of which is reflected in the competing/dual nomenclature Al-Quds/Jerusalem used to refer to the city –as well as the violence and contestation that continues to accelerate unabated.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>K</strong><strong>e</strong><strong>y</strong><strong>w</strong><strong>o</strong><strong>r</strong><strong>d</strong><strong>s</strong>: two nations, three religions, Jerusalem</p>