Whole Genome Sequencing and Annotation of Naematelia aurantialba (Basidiomycota, Edible-Medicinal Fungi)

Naematelia aurantialba is a rare edible fungus with both nutritional and medicinal values and especially rich in bioactive polysaccharides. However, due to the lack of genomic information, researches on the mining of active compounds, artificial breeding and cultivation, genetics, and molecular biology are limited. To facilitate the medicinal and food applications of N. aurantialba, we sequenced and analyzed the whole genome of N. aurantialba for the first time. The 21-Mb genome contained 15 contigs, and a total of 5860 protein-coding genes were predicted. The genome sequence shows that 296 genes are related to polysaccharide synthesis, including 15 genes related to nucleoside-activated sugar synthesis and 11 genes related to glucan synthesis. The genome also contains genes and gene clusters for the synthesis of other active substances, including terpenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive proteins. In addition, it was also found that N. aurantialba was more closely related to Naematelia encephala than to Tremella fuciformis. In short, this study provides a reference for molecular cognition of N. aurantialba and related researches.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny Reveal Two New Potential Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms of Thelephora from East Asia

The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes genus Thelephora has been understudied in subtropical ecosystems. Many species of Thelephora are important edible and medicinal fungi, with substantial economic value. Two new Thelephora species, T. grandinioides and T. wuliangshanensis spp. nov. are proposed here based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Thelephora grandinioides is characterized by laterally stipitate basidiocarps with a grandinoid hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of tubular and septated cystidia and subglobose to globose basidiospores measuring as 5.3–7.4 × 4–6.5 µm. Thelephora wuliangshanensis is characterized by infundibuliform basidiocarps, radially black striate on the pileus, a smooth, umber to coffee hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with thick-walled generative hyphae, and basidiospores that turn greenish grey to buff in 5% KOH. Phylogenetic analyses of rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and nuclear large subunit region (nrLSU) showed that the two new Thelephora are phylogenetically distinct: T. grandinioides is sister to T. aurantiotincta and T. sikkimensis, while T. wuliangshanensis is sister to a clade comprising T. austrosinensis and T. aurantiotincta with high support as well.

Morphology and molecular study of three new Cordycipitoid fungi and its related species collected from Jilin Province, northeast China

Cordyceps species are notable medicinal fungi in China, which are pathogenic on insects and exhibit high biodiversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, three new Cordyceps species, Cordyceps changchunensis and Cordyceps jingyuetanensis growing on pupae of Lepidoptera and Cordyceps changbaiensis growing on larvae of Lepidoptera, were found in Jilin Province, China and are described, based on morphological and ecological characteristics. These three new species are similar to the Cordyceps militaris group, but are distinctly distinguishable from the known species. Cordyceps changchunensis, characterised by its small and light yellow to orange stromata which is occasionally forked, covered with white mycelium at the base of stipe, globose to ovoid perithecia, is macroscopically similar to Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps changbaiensis is clearly discriminated from other Cordyceps species by its white to orange and branched stromata, clavate to cylindrical fertile apical portion, immersed and globose to ovoid perithecia. Moreover, unbranched, clavate and orange to light red stromata, almond-shaped to ovoid and immersed perithecia separate Cordyceps jingyuetanensis from other Cordyceps species. nrITS, nrLSU and EF-1α sequences were undertaken and phylogenetic trees, based on Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis showed that the three new species clustered with Cordyceps militaris, but formed individual clades, as well as confirmed the results of our morphological study.

Cordycepin and its nucleoside analogs for the treatment of systemic COVID-19 infection

: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a new coronavirus isolated from Wuhan, China. It is a global health emergency, and there is no effective antiviral therapeutics available to date. Continuous structural genomic insights of SARS-CoV-2 proteins provide a warranty for the development of rational-based antivirals. Nevertheless, a structure-based drug candidate with multiple therapeutic actions would be a practical choice of medication in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Cordycepin from medicinal fungi (Cordyceps spp.) and its nucleoside analogs targeting viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and human RNase L have potent antiviral activity against various human viruses with additional immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammation treatment is of pivotal importance and should be timely tailored to the individual patient along with antivirals. Our perspective on the combined antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of cordycepin and its analogs suggests them as new therapeutics in the treatment of systemic COVID-19 infection.

Mycochemical Analysis and Prediction of Pleurotus Tuber-Regium’s (Pleurotaceae) Pharmacological Activities, A Food and Medicinal Fungi from Gabon

Pharmaceutical activities of a fungus depend on its bioactive compounds composition. Pleurotus tuber-regium (paleotropical species) is a fungus used in Gabon and throughout tropical Africa for its culinary and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to predict the therapeutic potential of this species, in particular of its carpophore and its sclerotia, based on the main chemical groups highlighted during the chemical screening of aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts. Chemical screening revealed that the three extracts (aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic) prepared from the carpophore are rich in total polyphenols, alkaloids, coumarins and proanthocyanidins. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts are moderately rich in tannins and coumarins while the ethanolic extract is very rich in reducing sugars. About the sclerotia, the three extracts are rich in total polyphenols, alkaloids, reducing sugars and proanthocyanidins. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts are moderately rich in tannins, total flavonoids and coumarins. The dosage of phenolic compounds carried out on aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts confirmed the richness of this fungus in total polyphenols and proanthocyanidins, as well as its deficiency in flavonoids and tannins. The chemical groups thus identified in the carpophore and the sclerotium of P. tuber-regium allow to predict its antioxidant, antiallergic, antiplasmodial, anesthetic, analgesic, anticancer, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and ant-mutagenic activities.

Morphology and molecular study of three new Cordycipitoid fungi and its related species collected from Jilin Province, Northeast China

Cordyceps are notable medicinal fungi in China, which pathogenic on insects and with high biodiversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, three new Cordyceps species, Cordyceps changchunensis and Cordyceps jingyuetanensis grow on pupae of Lepidoptera, and Cordyceps changbaiensis grows on larvae of Lepidoptera, and one new record of Northeast China, Cordyceps taishanensis, are found in Jilin Province, China and detailed descriptions were obtained based on morphological and ecological characteristics. These three new species are similar to Cordyceps militaris group but distinctly distinguishable from known species. Cordyceps changchunensis, characterised by its small and light yellow to orange stromata that forks-like occasionally, covered with white mycelium at base of stipe, globose to ovoid perithecia, is macroscopically similar to Cordyceps militaris. Cordyceps changbaiensis clearly discriminated from other Cordyceps species by its white to orange and branched stromata, clavate to cylindrical fertile apical portion, immersed and globose to ovoid perithecia. Moreover, unbranched, clavate and orange to light red stromata, almond-shaped to ovoid and immersed perithecia differ Cordyceps jingyuetanensis from other Cordyceps species. ITS and nrLSU sequences are undertaken, and phylogenetic trees based on Maximum Likelihood analysis and Bayesian inference analysis confirmed the results of our morphological study. The phylogenetic result showed that the three new species gather with Cordyceps militaris but formed clades alone. Further analysis shows that the group of Cordyceps militaris mainly host on larvae of Lepidoptera.

Effects of Medicinal Fungi-Derived β-Glucan on Tumor Progression

β-Glucans have been studied in animal species, from earthworms to humans. They form a heterogenous group of glucose polymers found in fungi, plants, bacteria, and seaweed. β-Glucans have slowly emerged as an important target for the recognition of pathogens. In the current review, we highlight the major roles of mushroom-derived β-glucans on cancer progression.

Mycomedicine: A Unique Class of Natural Products with Potent Anti-tumour Bioactivities

Mycomedicine is a unique class of natural medicine that has been widely used in Asian countries for thousands of years. Modern mycomedicine consists of fruiting bodies, spores, or other tissues of medicinal fungi, as well as bioactive components extracted from them, including polysaccharides and, triterpenoids, etc. Since the discovery of the famous fungal extract, penicillin, by Alexander Fleming in the late 19th century, researchers have realised the significant antibiotic and other medicinal values of fungal extracts. As medicinal fungi and fungal metabolites can induce apoptosis or autophagy, enhance the immune response, and reduce metastatic potential, several types of mushrooms, such as Ganoderma lucidum and Grifola frondosa, have been extensively investigated, and anti-cancer drugs have been developed from their extracts. Although some studies have highlighted the anti-cancer properties of a single, specific mushroom, only limited reviews have summarised diverse medicinal fungi as mycomedicine. In this review, we not only list the structures and functions of pharmaceutically active components isolated from mycomedicine, but also summarise the mechanisms underlying the potent bioactivities of several representative mushrooms in the Kingdom Fungi against various types of tumour.