Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Agaricus albofoetidus, Agaricus aureoelephanti and Agaricus parviumbrus on soil, Fusarium ramsdenii from stem cankers of Araucaria cunninghamii, Keissleriella sporoboli from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Leptosphaerulina queenslandica and Pestalotiopsis chiaroscuro from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Serendipita petricolae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus petricola, Stagonospora tauntonensis from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Teratosphaeria carnegiei from leaves of Eucalyptus grandis × E. camaldulensis and Wongia ficherai from roots of Eragrostis curvula. Canada, Lulworthia fundyensis from intertidal wood and Newbrunswickomyces abietophilus (incl. Newbrunswickomyces gen. nov.) on buds of Abies balsamea. Czech Republic, Geosmithia funiculosa from a bark beetle gallery on Ulmus minor and Neoherpotrichiella juglandicola (incl. Neoherpotrichiella gen. nov.) from wood of Juglans regia. France, Aspergillus rouenensis and Neoacrodontium gallica (incl. Neoacrodontium gen. nov.) from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum feeding on Quercus wood, Endoradiciella communis (incl. Endoradiciella gen. nov.) endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum and Entoloma simulans on soil. India, Amanita konajensis on soil and Keithomyces indicus from soil. Israel, Microascus rothbergiorum from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Calonarius ligusticus on soil. Netherlands, Appendopyricularia juncicola (incl. Appendopyricularia gen. nov.), Eriospora juncicola and Tetraploa juncicola on dead culms of Juncus effusus, Gonatophragmium physciae on Physcia caesia and Paracosmospora physciae (incl. Paracosmospora gen. nov.) on Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium phragmitigenum on dead culm of Phragmites australis, Neochalara lolae on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Niesslia nieuwwulvenica on dead culm of undetermined Poaceae, Nothodevriesia narthecii (incl. Nothodevriesia gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum and Parastenospora pini (incl. Parastenospora gen. nov.) on dead twigs of Pinus sylvestris. Norway, Verticillium bjoernoeyanum from sand grains attached to a piece of driftwood on a sandy beach. Portugal, Collybiopsis cimrmanii on the base of living Quercus ilex and amongst dead leaves of Laurus and herbs. South Africa, Paraproliferophorum hyphaenes (incl. Paraproliferophorum gen. nov.) on living leaves of Hyphaene sp. and Saccothecium widdringtoniae on twigs of Widdringtonia wallichii. Spain, Cortinarius dryosalor on soil, Cyphellophora endoradicis endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum, Geoglossum lauri-silvae on soil, Leptographium gemmatum from fluvial sediments, Physalacria auricularioides from a dead twig of Castanea sativa, Terfezia bertae and Tuber davidlopezii in soil. Sweden, Alpova larskersii, Inocybe alpestris and Inocybe boreogodeyi on soil. Thailand, Russula banwatchanensis, Russula purpureoviridis and Russula lilacina on soil. Ukraine, Nectriella adonidis on overwintered stems of Adonis vernalis. USA, Microcyclus jacquiniae from living leaves of Jacquinia keyensis and Penicillium neoherquei from a minute mushroom sporocarp. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Boers J, Holdom D, et al. 2022. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435. Persoonia 48: 261-371. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.08.

Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe in Europe: expanded Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing unveil unexpected diversity in the Mediterranean.

Molecular phylogenies in the past decade have demonstrated that the described diversity of Cortinarius is still underestimated, especially outside continental and boreal ecoregions where the genus has been historically investigated. We tackled this issue by revisiting the so far unresolved subgenus Leprocybe, and focused on the largely unexplored Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 161 vouchered collections from Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, including 16 types, allowed for the delineation of 11 species in this lineage, three of them recognised as new to science and formally introduced as C. jimenezianus, C. selinolens and C. viridans spp. nov., respectively. Interestingly, the newly described species exhibit a strict Mediterranean distribution, and one of them is putatively endemic to the island of Cyprus, highlighting the remarkable potential of this neglected ecoregion to uncover further undescribed diversity of Cortinarius in the future. The present work also unveils 23 synonymies in this subgenus, as well as previously undetected crypticism within C. venetus. Next Generation Sequencing carried out on three old and contaminated holotypes, successfully decrypts their phylogenetic identity, including that of C. leproleptopus, finally settling the long-standing controversy over the taxonomic status of this species. A brief overview of each species in the subgenus is lastly provided and a key is proposed to facilitate the identification of presently known European taxa of Leprocybe in the field. Citation: Bidaud A, Loizides M, Armada F, et al. 2021. Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe in Europe: expanded Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing unveil unexpected diversity in the Mediterranean. Persoonia 46: 188-215. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.46.07.

Low prevalence of Cutibacterium acnes in prostatic tissue biopsies in a French hospital.

We evaluated the Cutibacterium acnes prevalence in prostatic biopsies and characterized the strains at a molecular level. 18 out of 36 biopsies (50%) were sterile after seven days in culture. C. acnes was observed in only two biopsies. Its prevalence was low (5.6%). Finally, the molecular characterization revealed diverse clusters including phylotypes IA1, IB and II.

Colistin interacts synergistically with echinocandins against Candida auris.

Antifungal combination is an interesting approach for the treatment of several fungal infections but there is currently little evidence to support combined therapy in Candida auris infections. The antibacterial colistin has recently been shown to interact synergistically with antifungals against Candida spp., including azole-resistant isolates. The current study evaluated the in vitro interaction between colistin and either caspofungin or micafungin against 15 C. auris isolates by a checkerboard methodology based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) reference method. Results were analysed by two approaches: calculation of the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) and response surface analysis based on the Bliss model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range (geometric mean [Gmean]) of caspofungin and micafungin was 0.25 to 1 µg/mL (0.691 µg/mL) and 0.03 to 0.125 µg/mL (0.114 µg/mL), respectively. No activity was observed for colistin alone with MIC of >64 µg/mL for all the isolates. When colistin was combined with caspofungin, synergistic interactions were observed for all strains with FICI values of 0.08 to 0.14. In contrast, indifferent interactions were observed for the combination of colistin with micafungin with FICI values of 0.51 to 1.01. Synergy was also demonstrated using the Bliss model against all isolates for the colistin-caspofungin combination and in 60% of isolates for the colistin-micafungin combination. Antagonism was not observed for any combination.

In vitro antifungal combination of flucytosine with amphotericin B, voriconazole, or micafungin against Candida auris shows no antagonism.

Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug resistant pathogen, responsible for invasive hospital-acquired infections. Flucytosine is an effective anti-Candida drug, but which cannot be used as a monotherapy because of the risk of development of resistant mutants during treatment. It is therefore noteworthy to test possible combinations with flucytosine that may have a synergistic interaction. In this study, we determined the in vitro interaction between flucytosine and amphotericin B, micafungin, or voriconazole. These combinations have been tested against 15 C. auris isolates. The MIC range (Gmean) of flucytosine, amphotericin B, micafungin and voriconazole were 0.125 to 1 µg/mL (0.42 µg/ml), 0.25 to 1 µg/ml (0.66 µg/ml), 0.125 to 0.5 µg/ml (0.3 µg/ml) and 0.03 to 4 µg/ml (1.05 µg/ml), respectively. When tested in combination, indifferent interactions were mostly observed with fractional inhibitory concentration index values from 0.5 to 1, 0.31 to 1.01 and 0.5 to 1.06 for the combination of flucytosine with amphotericin B, micafungin and voriconazole, respectively. A synergy was observed for the strain CBS 10913 from Japan. No antagonism was observed for any combination. Combination of flucytosine with amphotericin B or micafungin may be relevant for the treatment of C. auris infections.

Candida auris: An emerging drug resistant yeast - A mini-review.

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen responsible for nosocomial invasive infection outbreaks on five continents. Large healthcare-related outbreaks of C. auris infection and colonization have been reported from different countries. Whole genome sequence analysis identified strong phylogeographic C. auris clades specific to particular geographical areas suggesting transmission of particular clades within countries. However, the mode of transmission within the healthcare environment is not clear and is likely to be multifactorial. The emergence of C. auris is alarming because this organism can harbor or develop multidrug resistance. This explains why C. auris infections are difficult to treat. In addition, difficulties in its identification in the routine diagnostic laboratory have a significant impact on outbreak detection and management. This mini-review highlights the available literature on C. auris, with particular insight into its epidemiology and the problems caused by its antifungal resistance.

Cortinarius section Bicolores and section Saturnini (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), a morphogenetic overview of European and North American species.

Cortinarius is the largest genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi worldwide. Recent molecular studies have shown high levels of morphological homoplasy within the genus. Importantly, DNA phylogenies can reveal characteristics that have been either over- or underemphasized in taxonomic studies. Here we sequenced and phylogenetically analysed a large set of pan-European and North American collections taxonomically studied and placed in Cortinarius sect. Bicolores and sect. Saturnini, according to traditional morpho-anatomical criteria. Our goal was to circumscribe the evolutionary boundaries of the two sections, to stabilize both the limits and nomenclature of relevant species, and to identify described taxa which, according to our current understanding, belong to other lineages. Our analysis resolves two clades: /Bicolores, including 12 species, one of which is new to science, and /Saturnini, including 6 species. Fifteen binomials, traditionally treated in these two sections based on morphology, do not belong to the above two phylogenetic clades. Instead, six of these latter are clearly placed in other clades that represent sect. Bovini, sect. Sciophylli, sect. Duracini and sect. Brunneotincti. The presence or absence of blue pigments and the detection of specific odours emerge as clearly misleading taxonomic features, but more surprisingly, spore size and ecology can be misleading as well. A total of 63 type specimens were sequenced, 4 neotypes and 2 epitypes are proposed here, and 1 new combination is made.

Plunging hands into the mushroom jar: a phylogenetic framework for Lyophyllaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota).

During the last two decades, the unprecedented development of molecular phylogenetic tools has propelled an opportunity to revisit the fungal kingdom under an evolutionary perspective. Mycology has been profoundly changed but a sustained effort to elucidate large sections of the astonishing fungal diversity is still needed. Here we fill this gap in the case of Lyophyllaceae, a species-rich and ecologically diversified family of mushrooms. Assembly and genealogical concordance multigene phylogenetic analysis of a large dataset that includes original, vouchered material from expert field mycologists reveal the phylogenetic topology of the family, from higher (generic) to lower (species) levels. A comparative analysis of the most widely used phylogenetic markers in Fungi indicates that the nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and portions of the genes for RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) is the most performing combination to resolve the broadest range of taxa within Lyophyllaceae. Eleven distinct evolutionary lineages are identified, that display partial overlap with traditional genera as well as with the phylogenetic framework previously proposed for the family. Eighty phylogenetic species are delineated, which shed light on a large number of morphological concepts, including rare and poorly documented ones. Probing these novel phylogenetic species to the barcoding method of species limit delineation, indicates that the latter method fully resolves Lyophyllaceae species, except in one clade. This case study provides the first comprehensive phylogenetic overview of Lyophyllaceae, a necessary step towards a taxonomical, ecological and nomenclatural revision of this family of mushrooms. It also proposes a set of methodological guidelines that may be of relevance for future taxonomic works in other groups of Fungi.

New leucine auxotrophs of Aspergillus nidulans.

A series of Aspergillus nidulans leucine auxotrophs were isolated after nitroquinoline-1-oxide treatment and analyzed. Four complementation groups could be distinguished in addition to the previously known leuA group. A putative mutant for isopropylmalate isomerase (leuB) was mapped on chromosome I and found to be closely linked to leuA.