AUTHOR=Chen Wanhao , Liang Jiandong , Ren Xiuxiu , Zhao Jiehong , Han Yanfeng , Liang Zongqi 

TITLE=Multigene phylogeny, phylogenetic network, and morphological characterizations reveal four new arthropod-associated Simplicillium species and their evolutional relationship

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.950773

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.950773

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Simplicillium</italic> species are widely distributed and commonly found on various substrates. A minority of species are associated with arthropods. A spider-associated species <italic>Simplicillium araneae</italic>, and three insect-associated species, <italic>Simplicillium coleopterorum, Simplicillium guizhouense</italic>, and <italic>Simplicillium larvatum</italic>, are proposed as novel species based on a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis and morphological characteristics. These <italic>Simplicillium</italic> species completely fit the nutritional model of Hypocreales fungi and could be used as a model to study their evolutionary relationship. A phylogenetic network analysis based on ITS sequences suggests that a host jump was common among <italic>Simplicillium</italic> species, and <italic>S. araneae</italic> may have originally come from an insect host and then jumped to a spider host. However, the evolutionary relationship of <italic>S. coleopterorum, S. guizhouense</italic>, and <italic>S. larvatum</italic> was not clear in the phylogenetic network and more sequencing information should be added to the network. In addition, strain CBS 101267 was identified as <italic>Simplicillium subtropicum</italic>.</p>