Author
Wendy A. Untereiner
Other affiliations: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Bio: Wendy A. Untereiner is an academic researcher from Brandon University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Phialophora & Chaetothyriales. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 34 publications receiving 9140 citations. Previous affiliations of Wendy A. Untereiner include Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
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Conrad L. Schoch1, Keith A. Seifert, Sabine M. Huhndorf2, Vincent Robert3 +157 more•Institutions (59)
TL;DR: Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation.
Abstract: Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi, the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative protein-coding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.
4,116 citations
Clark University1, National Institutes of Health2, Louisiana State University3, CABI4, Umeå University5, Field Museum of Natural History6, Duke University7, University of Minnesota8, University of Alabama9, Oregon State University10, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures11, United States Department of Agriculture12, University of Tübingen13, Max Planck Society14, University of Florida15, Pennsylvania State University16, Aberystwyth University17, Complutense University of Madrid18, University of Oslo19, University of Hong Kong20, University of Tartu21, University of Gothenburg22, University of Kansas23, University of Maine24, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign25, Royal Ontario Museum26, Georgia State University27, Estonian University of Life Sciences28, Washington State University29, Nova Southeastern University30, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich31, University of Western Ontario32, Uppsala University33, Brandon University34, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh35, State University of New York at Purchase36, Boise State University37, Cornell University38
TL;DR: A comprehensive phylogenetic classification of the kingdom Fungi is proposed, with reference to recent molecular phylogenetic analyses, and with input from diverse members of the fungal taxonomic community.
2,096 citations
Duke University1, Oregon State University2, Clark University3, Natural History Museum4, University of Minnesota5, Field Museum of Natural History6, Kaiserslautern University of Technology7, University of Arizona8, New York Botanical Garden9, University of Iowa10, Technische Universität Darmstadt11, University of Maine12, United States Department of Agriculture13, University of Georgia14, University of Alabama15, University of California, Berkeley16, University of Kansas17, Aberystwyth University18, West Virginia University19, Washington State University20, Harvard University21, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill22, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures23, University of Tennessee24, Okayama University25, University of Kassel26, Brandon University27, Pennsylvania State University28, Leibniz Association29, University of Hamburg30, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh31
TL;DR: It is indicated that there may have been at least four independent losses of the flagellum in the kingdom Fungi, and the enigmatic microsporidia seem to be derived from an endoparasitic chytrid ancestor similar to Rozella allomycis, on the earliest diverging branch of the fungal phylogenetic tree.
Abstract: The ancestors of fungi are believed to be simple aquatic forms with flagellated spores, similar to members of the extant phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids). Current classifications assume that chytrids form an early-diverging clade within the kingdom Fungi and imply a single loss of the spore flagellum, leading to the diversification of terrestrial fungi. Here we develop phylogenetic hypotheses for Fungi using data from six gene regions and nearly 200 species. Our results indicate that there may have been at least four independent losses of the flagellum in the kingdom Fungi. These losses of swimming spores coincided with the evolution of new mechanisms of spore dispersal, such as aerial dispersal in mycelial groups and polar tube eversion in the microsporidia (unicellular forms that lack mitochondria). The enigmatic microsporidia seem to be derived from an endoparasitic chytrid ancestor similar to Rozella allomycis, on the earliest diverging branch of the fungal phylogenetic tree.
1,682 citations
Oregon State University1, Yale University2, Duke University3, University of Tennessee4, Clark University5, Kaiserslautern University of Technology6, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures7, University of Copenhagen8, University of Tabriz9, Harvard University10, University of Pretoria11, ATCC12, Louisiana State University13, University of Texas at Austin14, Aberystwyth University15, United States Department of Agriculture16, Field Museum of Natural History17, Pennsylvania State University18, University of California, Berkeley19, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill20, Stellenbosch University21, Free University of Berlin22, Washington State University23, Brandon University24, Landcare Research25, University of Helsinki26, University of Giessen27, University of Nottingham28, Swedish Museum of Natural History29, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh30
TL;DR: A 6-gene, 420-species maximum-likelihood phylogeny of Ascomycota, the largest phylum of Fungi, and a phylogenetic informativeness analysis of all 6 genes and a series of ancestral character state reconstructions support a terrestrial, saprobic ecology as ancestral are presented.
Abstract: We present a 6-gene, 420-species maximum-likelihood phylogeny of Ascomycota, the largest phylum of Fungi. This analysis is the most taxonomically complete to date with species sampled from all 15 currently circumscribed classes. A number of superclass-level nodes that have previously evaded resolution and were unnamed in classifications of the Fungi are resolved for the first time. Based on the 6-gene phylogeny we conducted a phylogenetic informativeness analysis of all 6 genes and a series of ancestral character state reconstructions that focused on morphology of sporocarps, ascus dehiscence, and evolution of nutritional modes and ecologies. A gene-by-gene assessment of phylogenetic informativeness yielded higher levels of informativeness for protein genes (RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1) as compared with the ribosomal genes, which have been the standard bearer in fungal systematics. Our reconstruction of sporocarp characters is consistent with 2 origins for multicellular sexual reproductive structures in Ascomycota, once in the common ancestor of Pezizomycotina and once in the common ancestor of Neolectomycetes. This first report of dual origins of ascomycete sporocarps highlights the complicated nature of assessing homology of morphological traits across Fungi. Furthermore, ancestral reconstruction supports an open sporocarp with an exposed hymenium (apothecium) as the primitive morphology for Pezizomycotina with multiple derivations of the partially (perithecia) or completely enclosed (cleistothecia) sporocarps. Ascus dehiscence is most informative at the class level within Pezizomycotina with most superclass nodes reconstructed equivocally. Character-state reconstructions support a terrestrial, saprobic ecology as ancestral. In contrast to previous studies, these analyses support multiple origins of lichenization events with the loss of lichenization as less frequent and limited to terminal, closely related species.
592 citations
National Institutes of Health1, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures2, University of Perugia3, University of Sydney4, University of Gothenburg5, University of Tennessee6, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign7, Royal Botanic Gardens8, University of Tartu9, Purdue University10, Mae Fah Luang University11, Kunming Institute of Botany12, Complutense University of Madrid13, American Museum of Natural History14, University of Pretoria15, Spanish National Research Council16, University of British Columbia17, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic18, University of Toronto19, Aberystwyth University20, University of Graz21, University of the Free State22, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation23, Swedish Museum of Natural History24, Rural Development Administration25, University of California, Davis26, Landcare Research27, Hungarian Academy of Sciences28, Eötvös Loránd University29, Field Museum of Natural History30, University of Szeged31, United States Department of Agriculture32, University of Alabama33, University of Helsinki34, Thailand National Science and Technology Development Agency35, University of Wisconsin-Madison36, National Research Council37, University of North Carolina at Greensboro38, Sungkyunkwan University39, Hirosaki University40, Brandon University41, University of Jena42, University of Findlay43, University of Tübingen44, McMaster University45, Rutgers University46
TL;DR: A set of standards and protocols are proposed to improve the data quality of new sequences, and it is suggested how type and other reference sequences can be used to improve identification of Fungi.
Abstract: DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underestimates fungal diversity. Therefore, the need for accurate DNA sequence data, tied to both correct taxonomic names and clearly annotated specimen data, has never been greater. Furthermore, the growing number of molecular ecology and microbiome projects using high-throughput sequencing require fast and effective methods for en masse species assignments. In this article, we focus on selecting and re-annotating a set of marker reference sequences that represent each currently accepted order of Fungi. The particular focus is on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region in the nuclear ribosomal cistron, derived from type specimens and/or ex-type cultures. Re-annotated and verified sequences were deposited in a curated public database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), namely the RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database, and will be visible during routine sequence similarity searches with NR_prefixed accession numbers. A set of standards and protocols is proposed to improve the data quality of new sequences, and we suggest how type and other reference sequences can be used to improve identification of Fungi.
360 citations
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TL;DR: Increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat, bile acids and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease.
Abstract: Long-term dietary intake influences the structure and activity of the trillions of microorganisms residing in the human gut, but it remains unclear how rapidly and reproducibly the human gut microbiome responds to short-term macronutrient change. Here we show that the short-term consumption of diets composed entirely of animal or plant products alters microbial community structure and overwhelms inter-individual differences in microbial gene expression. The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant microorganisms (Alistipes, Bilophila and Bacteroides) and decreased the levels of Firmicutes that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides (Roseburia, Eubacterium rectale and Ruminococcus bromii). Microbial activity mirrored differences between herbivorous and carnivorous mammals, reflecting trade-offs between carbohydrate and protein fermentation. Foodborne microbes from both diets transiently colonized the gut, including bacteria, fungi and even viruses. Finally, increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat, bile acids and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease. In concert, these results demonstrate that the gut microbiome can rapidly respond to altered diet, potentially facilitating the diversity of human dietary lifestyles.
7,032 citations
01 Aug 2000
TL;DR: Assessment of medical technology in the context of commercialization with Bioentrepreneur course, which addresses many issues unique to biomedical products.
Abstract: BIOE 402. Medical Technology Assessment. 2 or 3 hours. Bioentrepreneur course. Assessment of medical technology in the context of commercialization. Objectives, competition, market share, funding, pricing, manufacturing, growth, and intellectual property; many issues unique to biomedical products. Course Information: 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above and consent of the instructor.
4,833 citations
Conrad L. Schoch1, Keith A. Seifert, Sabine M. Huhndorf2, Vincent Robert3 +157 more•Institutions (59)
TL;DR: Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation.
Abstract: Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi, the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative protein-coding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.
4,116 citations
TL;DR: The approach to utilizing available RNA-Seq and other data types in the authors' manual curation process for vertebrate, plant, and other species is summarized, and a new direction for prokaryotic genomes and protein name management is described.
Abstract: The RefSeq project at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) maintains and curates a publicly available database of annotated genomic, transcript, and protein sequence records (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq/). The RefSeq project leverages the data submitted to the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) against a combination of computation, manual curation, and collaboration to produce a standard set of stable, non-redundant reference sequences. The RefSeq project augments these reference sequences with current knowledge including publications, functional features and informative nomenclature. The database currently represents sequences from more than 55,000 organisms (>4800 viruses, >40,000 prokaryotes and >10,000 eukaryotes; RefSeq release 71), ranging from a single record to complete genomes. This paper summarizes the current status of the viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic branches of the RefSeq project, reports on improvements to data access and details efforts to further expand the taxonomic representation of the collection. We also highlight diverse functional curation initiatives that support multiple uses of RefSeq data including taxonomic validation, genome annotation, comparative genomics, and clinical testing. We summarize our approach to utilizing available RNA-Seq and other data types in our manual curation process for vertebrate, plant, and other species, and describe a new direction for prokaryotic genomes and protein name management.
4,104 citations
University of Tartu1, American Museum of Natural History2, University of Gothenburg3, James Hutton Institute4, University of Aberdeen5, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences6, University of California, Berkeley7, Aberystwyth University8, Estonian University of Life Sciences9, Spanish National Research Council10, Royal Botanic Gardens11, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic12, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences13, University of Tennessee14, University of Helsinki15, Stanford University16, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich17, University of Toronto18, University of Florida19, University of New Mexico20, University of Tübingen21
TL;DR: All fungal species represented by at least two ITS sequences in the international nucleotide sequence databases are now given a unique, stable name of the accession number type, and the term ‘species hypothesis’ (SH) is introduced for the taxa discovered in clustering on different similarity thresholds.
Abstract: The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is the formal fungal barcode and in most cases the marker of choice for the exploration of fungal diversity in environmental samples. Two problems are particularly acute in the pursuit of satisfactory taxonomic assignment of newly generated ITS sequences: (i) the lack of an inclusive, reliable public reference data set and (ii) the lack of means to refer to fungal species, for which no Latin name is available in a standardized stable way. Here, we report on progress in these regards through further development of the UNITE database (http://unite.ut.ee) for molecular identification of fungi. All fungal species represented by at least two ITS sequences in the international nucleotide sequence databases are now given a unique, stable name of the accession number type (e.g. Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus|GU586904|SH133781.05FU), and their taxonomic and ecological annotations were corrected as far as possible through a distributed, third-party annotation effort. We introduce the term ‘species hypothesis’ (SH) for the taxa discovered in clustering on different similarity thresholds (97–99%). An automatically or manually designated sequence is chosen to represent each such SH. These reference sequences are released (http://unite.ut.ee/repository.php) for use by the scientific community in, for example, local sequence similarity searches and in the QIIME pipeline. The system and the data will be updated automatically as the number of public fungal ITS sequences grows. We invite everybody in the position to improve the annotation or metadata associated with their particular fungal lineages of expertise to do so through the new Web-based sequence management system in UNITE.
2,605 citations