Cordyceps belong to the ascomycetes and contain over 700 described species. The etymology of the word is derived from the Greek word “kordyle” meaning “club” and the Latin term “ceps” which means “head”. The key differences between species are generally the location that they grow and the host insect they infect, with many only invading one host species, or a small number of closely related species. However, there are a few species within Cordyceps that infect a broad range of hosts. The hosts they infect are generally insects including, but not limited to, ants, wasps, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and spiders. Some Cordyceps species also infect other species of fungi. Whilst Cordyceps are believed to be distributed globally, they are most commonly found in tropical climates with humid temperatures.
Cordyceps have similar life cycles and have developed mechanisms to invade and replicate the host tissue to allow them to grow on their host. Cordyceps demonstrate evasion of the host immune system using complex and specific mechanisms. They also coordinate their life cycle parameters with that of their host for survival and reproduction purposes. These host-pathogen interactions result in the production of secondary metabolites, such as cordycepin, guanosine, adenosine and ץ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Research into the genomic diversity, characteristics, and evolution of Cordyceps could provide insights into the potential therapeutic uses of such metabolites, identify trends, and predict evolutionary processes and patterns.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions in form of Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Perspective, Methods and Opinion. The potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Mitochondrial genome evaluation
• Genomic diversity and characteristics
• Genomic epidemiology of Cordyceps
• Genetic and molecular characterization of secondary metabolites of Cordyceps
• Genetic and molecular characterization of Cordyceps as fungal pathogens, including their interaction with host species
Keywords:
Cordyceps, Fungi, ascomycetes, genomics, genomic diversity, metabolites, host interactions
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Cordyceps belong to the ascomycetes and contain over 700 described species. The etymology of the word is derived from the Greek word “kordyle” meaning “club” and the Latin term “ceps” which means “head”. The key differences between species are generally the location that they grow and the host insect they infect, with many only invading one host species, or a small number of closely related species. However, there are a few species within Cordyceps that infect a broad range of hosts. The hosts they infect are generally insects including, but not limited to, ants, wasps, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and spiders. Some Cordyceps species also infect other species of fungi. Whilst Cordyceps are believed to be distributed globally, they are most commonly found in tropical climates with humid temperatures.
Cordyceps have similar life cycles and have developed mechanisms to invade and replicate the host tissue to allow them to grow on their host. Cordyceps demonstrate evasion of the host immune system using complex and specific mechanisms. They also coordinate their life cycle parameters with that of their host for survival and reproduction purposes. These host-pathogen interactions result in the production of secondary metabolites, such as cordycepin, guanosine, adenosine and ץ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Research into the genomic diversity, characteristics, and evolution of Cordyceps could provide insights into the potential therapeutic uses of such metabolites, identify trends, and predict evolutionary processes and patterns.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions in form of Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Perspective, Methods and Opinion. The potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Mitochondrial genome evaluation
• Genomic diversity and characteristics
• Genomic epidemiology of Cordyceps
• Genetic and molecular characterization of secondary metabolites of Cordyceps
• Genetic and molecular characterization of Cordyceps as fungal pathogens, including their interaction with host species
Keywords:
Cordyceps, Fungi, ascomycetes, genomics, genomic diversity, metabolites, host interactions
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.