Kubátová Alena, Kunz Bernd, Hubka Vít
a Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University.
c Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences.
Mycoscience. 2024 Oct 10;65(6):260-269. doi: 10.47371/mycosci.2024.08.001. eCollection 2025.
The genus () includes entomopathogenic species known to infect a variety of insects and spiders. In this study, we present the first isolate of characterized by molecular methods, found on dead bodies of the common cave limoniid () in the subterranean spaces of southwestern Germany. In total, seven specimens exhibited distinctive morphological traits that, when compared with historical records, confirm their identification as -particularly noted for its affinity to dipteran hosts. Absent from culture collections and molecular repositories, this species has eluded detailed scientific documentation using modern methods. Our research bridges this knowledge gap, providing the first genetic identification barcodes of five genes, living culture, cultivation requirements, and an updated description. This overlooked fungus is phylogenetically most closely related to the species , , and some other species mostly associated with adult moths. It demonstrates a unique morphological signature with monoblastic phialides forming a layer on the surface of synnemata and produces long, cylindrical, chain-forming conidia. It prefers lower temperatures, exhibiting an inability to grow at 25 °C, coupled with notably slow growth in culture.
()属包括已知可感染多种昆虫和蜘蛛的昆虫病原物种。在本研究中,我们展示了首个通过分子方法鉴定的该属分离株,它发现于德国西南部地下空间中普通洞穴大蚊()的尸体上。总共七个标本呈现出独特的形态特征,与历史记录相比,证实它们被鉴定为——尤其以其对双翅目宿主的亲和力而闻名。由于未收录于培养物保藏中心和分子数据库,该物种一直未能通过现代方法进行详细的科学记录。我们的研究填补了这一知识空白,提供了五个基因的首个基因鉴定条形码、活体培养物、培养条件以及最新描述。这种被忽视的真菌在系统发育上与、和其他一些主要与成年蛾类相关的物种关系最为密切。它表现出独特的形态特征,单芽产孢细胞在分生孢子梗束表面形成一层,并产生长的、圆柱形的、链状分生孢子。它偏好较低温度,在25℃时无法生长,且在培养中生长明显缓慢。