Five new species of Gloeandromyces (Fungi, Laboulbeniales) from tropical American bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae), revealed by morphology and phylogenetic reconstruction.

This paper describes and illustrates five new species of Gloeandromyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) associated with tropical American bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae). These are Gloeandromyces cusucoensis sp. nov. from Trichobius uniformis in Costa Rica and Honduras, G. diversiformis sp. nov. from Strebla wiedemanni in Costa Rica, G. plesiosaurus sp. nov. from Trichobius yunkeri in Panama, G. pseudodickii sp. nov. from Trichobius longipes in Ecuador and Panama, and G. verbekeniae sp. nov. from Strebla galindoi in Ecuador and Panama. The description of these five species doubles the number of known species in the genus. Morphological characteristics, host association, and a three-locus (18S nuc rDNA, 28S nuc rDNA, TEF1) phylogenetic reconstruction support placement of these taxa in the genus Gloeandromyces. Three of the new species are polymorphic; they have multiple morphotypes that grow in specific positions on the host integument: G. diversiformis f. diversiformis, f. musiformis, and f. vanillicarpiformis; G. plesiosaurus f. asymmetricus and f. plesiosaurus; and G. verbekeniae f. verbekeniae and f. inflexus. Finally, a dichotomous key to all species and morphotypes is presented.

Acutissimalignan B from traditional herbal medicine Daphne kiusiana var. atrocaulis (Rehd.) F. Maekawa inhibits neuroinflammation via NF-κB Signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates the important role of herbal medicine for neuroinflammation, which is closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the characteristics and primary mechanisms of action of the traditional herbal medicine Daphne kiusiana var. atrocaulis (Rehd.) F. Maekawa in neuroinflammation by phytochemistry and bioassays using both in vitro and in vivo assays. METHODS: The chemical composition of D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis was clarified using multiple chromatography technologies and spectroscopic analysis. The anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the identified components were evaluated in LPS-induced BV-2 cells by monitoring the production of nitric oxide. C57BL/6 mice were used to construct a neuroinflammatory model by injecting LPS into the lateral ventricle of the brain. The most promising component was evaluated in vivo by measuring the number of Iba-1 cells and expression of inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism involved in the activation of the NF-κB pathway was investigated using western blot and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Thirty-two constituents (1-32), including five new compounds, were successfully identified from D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis. Compounds 3, 5, 12-15, and 20 (IC50 values from 5.41 to 57.27 µM) could considerably inhibit the LPS-induced production of NO in BV-2 cells, displaying stronger anti-neuroinflammatory activities than that of minocycline (IC50 = 67.08 µM). The concentration of the most potential compound 13 (IC50 5.41 µM) was 5.4% of the ethyl acetate fraction. Acutissimalignan B (13) could reduce the mRNA expression of iNOs, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, inhibit the phosphorylation of IκBα, and inhibit the nuclear translocation of NK-κB p65 in BV-2 cells induced by LPS. Moreover, in the LPS-induced mouse model, compound 13 was found to exert anti-neuroinflammatory activity by attenuating the activation of microglia in the cortex and hippocampus, repressing the phosphorylation of IκBα, inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NK-κB p65, and decreasing the mRNA expression of iNOs, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in the cortex. CONCLUSION: We found that D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis had an inhibitory activity on neuroinflammation. In addition, the main active component (-)-acutissimalignan B (13) showed anti-neuroinflammatory effects in both in vivo and in vitro assays. Its mechanism of action may be associated with the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our current findings provide new information on D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis in the treatment of neuroinflammation.

A new species of Gloeandromyces from Ecuador and Panama revealed by morphology and phylogenetic reconstruction, with a discussion of secondary barcodes in Laboulbeniomycetes taxonomy.

This paper describes and illustrates a new species of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes) recovered from Mastoptera guimaraesi bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae) in Ecuador and Panama. Bat fly-associated Laboulbeniales are still unexplored in the Neotropics, with only four described species of Gloeandromyces and one species of Nycteromyces known. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses support placement of the new taxon in Gloeandromyces and its recognition as an undescribed species. Gloeandromyces hilleri sp. nov. is easily recognized by 2-3 longitudinal rows of undulations at its perithecial venter. Phylogenetic reconstructions of the large subunit (LSU) ribosomal DNA and the translation elongation factor 1α (TEF1) both resolve G. hilleri and G. nycteribiidarum as sister species. We discuss the utility of LSU and TEF1 as secondary barcodes in Laboulbeniomycetes taxonomy.