Bhushaniella gen. nov. (Cordycipitaceae) on spider eggs sac: a new genus from Thailand and its bioactive secondary metabolites

Abstract

Fungal specimens parasitic on spider egg sacs (Araneidae sensu lato) were collected, isolated, and identified based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of five nuclear loci (ITS, LSU, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2) combined with morphological data. In this study, one novel monotypic genus is described, Bhushaniella rubra for Thailand. Bhushaniella rubra is characterized by producing superficial perithecia. Its anamorph has a unique character by producing verticillate phialides with a slightly curved neck. A concurrent evaluation of the secondary metabolites of the mycelial extracts of the new fungus revealed the presence of picoline alkaloids of the penicolinate type, for which we propose the trivial names penicolinates F and G. Their chemical structures were elucidated by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). They only showed weak to no antibiotic activity and were devoid of significant cytotoxic effects.