Isaria sinclairii
Encyclopedia
Isaria sinclairii is a species of entomopathogenic fungus
. It produces myriocin
, from which synthetic drug fingolimod, a treatment for multiple sclerosis
, was developed.
, including cicada
larva
e. The larvae typically die just beneath the soil surface, and the fungus produces white tufts which grow up from the soil and release powdery white spore
s.
(2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-14-oxoicos-6-enoic acid) is a sphingolipid
derivative produced by I. sinclairii, which was shown in 1994 to have immunosuppressive properties
. A synthetic derivative was developed to have greater effectiveness lower toxicity
and named FTY720, or fingolimod. This is the first oral disease-modifying drug for multiple sclerosis
. Species closely related to Isaria sinclairii, such as Cordyceps sinensis, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine
as an elixir of eternal youth
.
; the teleomorph is Cordyceps sinclairii. It was first described
in 1855 by Miles Joseph Berkeley
, and transferred to the genus Isaria in 1923 by Curtis Gates Lloyd
.
Entomopathogenic fungus
An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or seriously disables them.-Typical life cycle:These fungi usually attach to the external body surface of insects in the form of microscopic spores...
. It produces myriocin
Myriocin
Myriocin, also known as antibiotic ISP-1 and thermozymocidin, is an atypical amino acid and an antibiotic derived from certain thermophilic fungi. Among the producing strains are Mycelia sterilia and Isaria sinclairii....
, from which synthetic drug fingolimod, a treatment for multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, was developed.
Ecology
Isaria sinclairii is a fungus which attacks insectsEntomopathogenic fungus
An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or seriously disables them.-Typical life cycle:These fungi usually attach to the external body surface of insects in the form of microscopic spores...
, including cicada
Cicada
A cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e. The larvae typically die just beneath the soil surface, and the fungus produces white tufts which grow up from the soil and release powdery white spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s.
Uses
MyriocinMyriocin
Myriocin, also known as antibiotic ISP-1 and thermozymocidin, is an atypical amino acid and an antibiotic derived from certain thermophilic fungi. Among the producing strains are Mycelia sterilia and Isaria sinclairii....
(2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-14-oxoicos-6-enoic acid) is a sphingolipid
Sphingolipid
Sphingolipids are a class of lipids containing a backbone of sphingoid bases, a set of aliphatic amino alcohols that includes sphingosine. They were discovered in brain extracts in the 1870s and were named for the mythological Sphinx because of their enigmatic nature. These compounds play...
derivative produced by I. sinclairii, which was shown in 1994 to have immunosuppressive properties
Immunosuppression
Immunosuppression involves an act that reduces the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immuno-suppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reaction to treatment of other...
. A synthetic derivative was developed to have greater effectiveness lower toxicity
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
and named FTY720, or fingolimod. This is the first oral disease-modifying drug for multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. Species closely related to Isaria sinclairii, such as Cordyceps sinensis, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
as an elixir of eternal youth
Eternal youth
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of aging. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan....
.
Taxonomy
Isaria sinclairii is the name of the anamorphTeleomorph, anamorph and holomorph
The terms teleomorph, anamorph, and holomorph apply to portions of the life cycles of fungi in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.*Teleomorph: the sexual reproductive stage , typically a fruiting body....
; the teleomorph is Cordyceps sinclairii. It was first described
Alpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
in 1855 by Miles Joseph Berkeley
Miles Joseph Berkeley
Miles Joseph Berkeley was an English cryptogamist and clergyman, and one of the founders of the science of plant pathology....
, and transferred to the genus Isaria in 1923 by Curtis Gates Lloyd
Curtis Gates Lloyd
Curtis Gates Lloyd was an American mycologist known for both his research on the Gasteromycetes, as well as his controversial views on naming conventions in taxonomy. He had a herbarium with over 59,000 fungal specimens, and published over a thousand new species of fungi...
.