ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9004-7958
Current Organisations
NSW Department of Primary Industries
,
La Trobe University/Agriculture Victoria Research
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-09-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1186/S12862-015-0550-7
Abstract: Proteins in the Glycoside Hydrolase family 32 (GH32) are carbohydrate-active enzymes known as invertases that hydrolyse the glycosidic bonds of complex saccharides. Fungi rely on these enzymes to gain access to and utilize plant-derived sucrose. In fungi, GH32 invertase genes are found in higher copy numbers in the genomes of pathogens when compared to closely related saprophytes, suggesting an association between invertases and ecological strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and evolution of GH32 invertases in the Ceratocystidaceae using a comparative genomics approach. This fungal family provides an interesting model to study the evolution of these genes, because it includes economically important pathogenic species such as Ceratocystis fimbriata , C. manginecans and C. albifundus , as well as saprophytic species such as Huntiella moniliformis , H. omanensis and H. savannae . The publicly available Ceratocystidaceae genome sequences, as well as the H. savannae genome sequenced here, allowed for the identification of novel GH32-like sequences. The de novo assembly of the H. savannae draft genome consisted of 28.54 megabases that coded for 7 687 putative genes of which one represented a GH32 family member. The number of GH32 gene family members appeared to be related to the ecological adaptations of these fungi. The pathogenic Ceratocystis species all contained two GH32 family genes (a putative cell wall and a putative vacuolar invertase), while the saprophytic Huntiella species had only one of these genes (a putative cell wall invertase). Further analysis showed that the evolution of the GH32 gene family in the Ceratocystidaceae involved transposable element-based retro-transposition and translocation. As an ex le, the activity of a Fot5 -like element likely facilitated the assembly of the genomic regions harbouring the GH32 family genes in Ceratocystis . This study provides insight into the evolutionary history of the GH32 gene family in Ceratocystidaceae. Our findings suggest that transposable elements shaped the evolution of the GH32 gene family, which in turn determines the sucrolytic activities and related ecological strategies of the Ceratocystidaceae species that harbour them. The study also provides insights into the role of carbohydrate-active enzymes in plant-fungal interactions and adds to our understanding of the evolution of these enzymes and their role in the life style of these fungi.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-10-2022
DOI: 10.1002/EDN3.368
Abstract: Recent advances in the field of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding have produced a promising platform for early detection and broad‐spectrum monitoring of plant pests and pathogens. To date, the majority of fungal metabarcoding assays have relied upon universal primers lifying segments of the ribosomal DNA, to ensure broad taxonomic coverage while studying changes in community composition, or more recently, to screen for presence/absence of target species. In a diagnostics framework however, single, universal molecular barcodes do not discriminate accurately enough for many groups of important fungal phytopathogens at the required species level. Here, a modular, multi‐barcode licon sequencing pipeline was established to provide rapid and reliable diagnostics targeting the Ophiostomatales, an order containing economically important phytopathogens vectored by bark and ambrosia beetles ( Curculionidae ). Using compositionally varied mock communities, we evaluated five barcoding loci: ITS1, ITS2, the large ribosomal sub‐unit (LSU), translation elongation factor 1‐alpha (TEF1α) and calmodulin (CAL), for their ability to provide species‐level resolution. The sensitivity and detection limit of the assay was established by spiking genomic DNA of the exotic Dutch elm disease pathogen, Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi Brasier, into both the controlled mock communities and eDNA s led from Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) beetles collected in New South Wales, Australia. The TEF1α barcode successfully detected the Dutch elm pathogen DNA with 100% accuracy down to approx. 5 pg/μl, while the ITS1 barcode had a 100% accuracy down to approx. 0.4 pg/μl within a given s le. Our results demonstrate that a dual‐barcode approach targeting the ITS1 and TEF1α regions simultaneously is sufficient for accurate species level detection and characterisation of the Ophiostomatales and offers confident detection of low‐abundance taxa (relative read abundances of 0.1%–0.01%). Multi‐barcode metabarcoding provides a framework which can quickly and efficiently be adapted to new targets when establishing high throughput diagnostics for post‐border biosecurity surveillance of fungal phytopathogens.
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 16-06-2022
DOI: 10.1128/MRA.00175-22
Abstract: The fungal genus Ophiostoma contains numerous species that share close associations with wood-boring insects, a relationship with important consequences for global biosecurity. Here, we provide draft genomes for three Ophiostoma species within the well-known Ophiostoma ulmi complex. These resources are valuable for future research efforts related to Ophiostoma and the establishment of biosecurity-focused databases.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S43008-021-00076-W
Abstract: The ophiostomatoid fungi are an assemblage of ascomycetes which are arguably best-known for their associations with bark and ambrosia beetles ( Curculonidae ) and blue stain (sap stain) of many economically important tree species. These fungi are considered a significant threat to coniferous forests, which has resulted in numerous studies characterising the ersity of bark beetles and their ophiostomatoid associates globally. The ersity of ophiostomatoid fungi present in Australian pine plantations, however, remains largely undetermined. The aims of this study were therefore to reconsider the ersity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Pinus in Australia, and to establish the baseline of expected taxa found within these plantation ecosystems. To achieve this, we reviewed Australian plant pathogen reference collections, and analysed s les collected during forest health surveillance programs from the major pine growing regions in south-eastern Australia. In total, 135 ophiostomatoid isolates (15 from reference collections and 120 collected during the current study) were assessed using morphological identification and ITS screening which putatively distinguished 15 taxonomic groups. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of representative isolates from each taxon was performed to obtain high-quality sequence data for multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. Our results revealed a greater than expected ersity, expanding the status of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Pinus in Australia to include 14 species from six genera in the Ophiostomatales and a single species residing in the Microascales . While most of these were already known to science, our study includes seven first records for Australia and the description of one new species, Graphilbum ipis-grandicollis sp. nov .. This study also provides an early ex le of whole genome sequencing (WGS) approaches replacing traditional PCR-based methods for taxonomic surveys. This not only allowed for robust multi-locus sequence extraction during taxonomic assessment, but also permitted the rapid establishment of a curated genomic database for ophiostomatoid fungi which will continue to aid in the development of improved diagnostic resources and capabilities for Australian biosecurity.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2015
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Conrad Trollip.