Entomopathogenicity and Biological Attributes of Himalayan Treasured Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Yarsagumba)

Abstract

Members of the entomophagous fungi are considered very crucial in the fungal domain relative to their natural phenomenon and economic perspectives; however, inadequate knowledge of their mechanisms of interaction keeps them lagging behind in parallel studies of fungi associated with agro-ecology, forest pathology and medical biology. Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis), an intricate fungus-caterpillar complex after it parasitizes the larva of the moth, is a highly prized medicinal fungus known widely for ages due to its peculiar biochemical assets. Recent technological innovations have significantly contributed a great deal to profiling the variable clinical importance of this fungus and other related fungi with similar medicinal potential. However, a detailed mechanism behind fungal pathogenicity and fungal-insect interactions seems rather ambiguous and is poorly justified, demanding special attention. The goal of the present review is to divulge an update on the published data and provides promising insights on different biological events that have remained underemphasized in previous reviews on fungal biology with relation to life-history trade-offs, host specialization and selection pressures. The infection of larvae by a fungus is not a unique event in Cordyceps; hence, other fungal species are also reviewed for effective comparison. Conceivably, the rationale and approaches behind the inheritance of pharmacological abilities acquired and stored within the insect framework at a time when they are completely hijacked and consumed by fungal parasites, and the molecular mechanisms involved therein, are clearly documented.

Internal and External Microbial Community of the Thitarodes Moth, the Host of Ophiocordyceps sinensis

“…The serious disequilibrium between demand and supply leads to its soaring retail price [10]. Although an increasing number of studies have focused on the large-scale artificial cultivation of Chinese cordyceps, it has not been realized, and many unsolved questions still remain on the relation between O. sinensis fungus and its host insects [11,12] (e.g., when and how does the fungi/fungus initially colonize(s) the host larva(e)? What is the crucial factor triggering the occurrence of Chinese cordyceps?…”

Intercorrelation mechanism of Hypoxia and Cordycepin Biosynthesis in Zombie fungus

“…Cordyceps militaris is entomopathogenic fungi which have a smart mechanism to infect, manipulate inside environment of insect and break out their immunity system [1,2]. The successful penetration of fungus's spore into insect's integument will be followed by the formation of spreading hypha to hijack insect's nervous neuron system, and finally mummified their insect's body [3]. In the laboratory, solid culture is used to differentiate hyphae formation into fruiting body [4].…”

Cordyceps Sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and Its Pharmacological Importance

“…9 Doğada parazit olan sporları, bazı güve türlerinin (Hepialus armoricanus) larvalarına yerleşerek bedenlerine girmektedir. 2 Yani, bu mantarın sporları, Tibet'in yüksek platolarında bulunan H. armoricanus larvalarını enfekte etmekte, özellikle larvaların beynine saldırmakta, mantar olgunlaşmaya başladıkça enfekte olmuş böceklerin %90'ından fazlasını mumyalaştırmakta ve öldürmektedir. 10…”

“…Ayrıca, Nepal (Darchula ve Dolpa en göze çarpan ilçeler), Tibet ve Çin'in modern eyaletleri olan Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Guizhai Qinghai ve Yunnan'ın dağlık Himalaya bölgelerinde, soğuk, çimenli, alpin çayırlarda yetiştiği belirtilmektedir. 2 Sınırlı bölgelerde yetişmesi nedeni ile "Himalaya Altını" olarak da bilinmektedir. Olgunlaşan mantar büyüyerek yaza doğru toprak yüzeyine çıkmaktadır.…”

“…Çin tırtıl mantarı veya Yarsagumba olarak da bilinen böcek kaynaklı bir mantar türü olan C. sinensis, taksonomik olarak Ascomycota (keseli mantarlar) sınıfı, Clavicipitaceae familyasında yer almaktadır. 1,2 Nadir bulunan, egzotik tıbbi bir mantar olan C. sinensis, Çince "kış solucanı ve yaz otu" anlamına gelen "Dong Chong Xia Cao" adıyla da bilinmektedir. 3 Böcek ve tırtıllarla beslenen bir mantar türü olması nedeni ile, terminolojide adı "entomopatojen" olarak bilinmektedir.…”