Development of Ophiocordyceps sinensis through Plant-Mediated Interkingdom Host Colonization.
Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a well-known entomogenous and medicinal fungus. After its anamorphs parasitize the larvae of the genus Thitarodes, fruit-bodies may form to be used as medicine. However, its developmental mechanisms remain unknown. The distribution of O. sinensis was determined in different tissues of the Thitarodes larvae and the dominant plant species using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, respectively. We found that more fungal material was located in plants than in larvae, especially in Ranunculus tanguticus. A considerable amount was detected in larval intestinal-wall and plant roots. It is suggested that plants are the potential hosts of O. sinensis, which modifies our understanding of the life cycle of O. sinensis and indicates that the phytophagous larvae may become infected as they feed. Our research may contribute to the study of systematic evolution and population ecology of O. sinensis, elucidate its developmental mechanism and promote sustainable harvesting.
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China. leiwei2006@126.com.|Food and Health Engineering Research Center of State Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. leiwei2006@126.com.
Wei
W
Lei
Food and Health Engineering Research Center of State Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. zhanggr@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Guren
G
Zhang
Food and Health Engineering Research Center of State Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. p287931475@126.com.
Qingyun
Q
Peng
Food and Health Engineering Research Center of State Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. lsslx@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Xin
X
Liu
D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D031947:Ranunculus / Q000382:microbiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000235:genetics*
Ophiocordyceps sinensis; caterpillar; development; interkingdom colonization; plant