Plant Microbe Interaction Research Team
Our research contributes to the accumulation of information on tropical fungi, particularly Thailand, and renders available numerous strains from natural habitat for application in agriculture and other research institution. We are focusing mainly on entomopathogenic fungi and edible mushrooms, particularly ectomycorrhiza. These two groups have a strong potential for application in agriculture.
We also take pride in transferring knowledge to communities and other institutions as well as training graduate and undergraduate students.
Research programs in the laboratory includes:
Phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of invertebrate pathogenic fungi and mushrooms. Much of our work is focused on molecular systematics of invertebrate-pathogenic fungi using multi-gene sequences, morphological characterization and the use of molecular phylogenetics for studying the evolution of morphological and ecological characters. We use similar approaches to study edible mushrooms and other ectomycorrhizal fungi. Population and comparative genomics studies of entomopathogenic fungi and mushrooms. As molecular phylogenies have their limit in species identification, particularly for cryptic species (closely related species with confounding morphology), we develop a framework using genomics-based delimitation of species by searching for concordance among single nucleotide polymorphisms throughout the genome. In order to establish a basis for future use of these fungi, comparative genomics studies are conducted on some interesting strains or species to gain more insights into the biology and evolution. Chemotaxonomy. Secondary metabolite profiles from fungal extracts are used to study the chemical diversity that may be used as signature molecules to support molecular systematics of selected fungal species and genera.
Awards
Best oral presentation award to Dr. Wilawan Kuephadungphan, Asian Mycological Congress (AMC) 2019, Tsu, Mie, Japan, 1–4 October 2019.
Publications
2020
Thanakitpipattana D, Tasanathai K, Mongkolsamrit S, Khonsanit A, Lamlertthon S, Luangsa-ard J. 2020. Fungal pathogens occurring on Orthopterida in Thailand. Persoonia 44: 140-160.
Khonsanit A, Thanakitpipattana D, Luangsa-ard J, Kobmoo N. 2020. Cryptic diversity of the genus Beauveria with a new species from Thailand. Mycological Progress, In press.
2019
Helaly SE, Kuephadungphan W, Phainuphong P, Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim MAA, Tasanathai K,
Mongkolsamrit S, Luangsa-ard JJ, Souwalak Phongpaichit S, Rukachaisirikul V, Stadler M. 2019. Pigmentosins from Gibellula sp. as antibiofilm agents and a new glycosylated asperfuran from Cordyceps javanica. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 15: 2968–2981. doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.293
Kobmoo N, Mongkolsamrit S, Arnamnart N, Luangsa-Ard JJ, Giraud, T. 2019. Population
genomics revealed cryptic species within host-specific zombie-ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps
unilateralis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 140: 106580. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106580
Mongkolsamrit S, Noisripoom W, Arnamnart N, Lamlertthon S, Himaman W, Jangsantear P,
Samson RA, Luangsa-ard JJ. 2019. Resurrection of Paraisaria in the Ophiocordycipitaceae with
three new species from Thailand. Mycological Progress 18:1213–1230
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-019-01518-x
Tasanathai K, Noisripoom W, Chaitika T, Khonsanit A, Hasin S, Luangsa-ard J. 2019. Phylogenetic and morphological classification of Ophiocordyceps species on termites from Thailand. MycoKeys 56: 101–129. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.56.37636
Kretz R, Wendt L, Wongkanoun S, Luangsa-ard JJ, Surup F,. Helaly SE, Noumeur SR, Stadler M,
Stradal TEB. 2019. The Effect of Cytochalasans on the Actin Cytoskeleton of Eukaryotic Cells and
Preliminary Structure–Activity Relationships. Biomolecules 9:73 ; doi:10.3390/biom9020073
Wongkanoun S, Wendt L, Stadler M, Luangsa-ard J, Srikittikulchai P. 2019. A novel species and a new combination of Daldinia from Ban Hua Thung community forest in the northern part of
Thailand. Mycological Progress 18:553–564.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-019-01469-3
P.W. Crous, J.J. Luangsa-ard, M.J. Wingfield, …P. Khamsuntorn, … S. Nuankaew, U. Pinruan, … S. Mongkolsamrit, … D. Thanakitpipattana, …J.Z. Groenewald. Fungal Planet description sheets:
785– 867. Persoonia 41, 2018: 238 – 417.
2018
Kijpornyongpan T, Urbina H, Suh S-O, Luangsa-ard J, Aime MC, Blackwell M. 2018. The Suhomyces clade: from single isolate to multiple species to disintegrating sex loci. FEMS Yeast Research, 19, 2019, foy125. doi: 10.1093/femsyr/foy125.
Kobmoo N, Wichadakul D, Arnamnart N, Rodrigues de La Vega RC, Luangsa-ard JJ, Giraud T. 2018. A genome scan of diversifying selection in Ophiocordyceps zombie‐ant fungi suggests a role for enterotoxins in co‐evolution and host specificity. Molecular Ecology 1–17. DOI:
10.1111/mec.14813
Kuephadungphan W, Macabeo APG, Luangsa-ard JJ, Tasanathai K, Thanakitpipattana D,
Phongpaichit S, Yuyama K, Stadler M. 2018. Studies on the biologically active secondary
metabolites of the new spider parasitic fungus Gibellula gamsii. Mycol Prog 18:135-146. Published online since Aug 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-018-1431-4
Khonsanit A, Luangsa-ard J, Thanakitpipattana D, Kobmoo N, Piasai O. 2018. Cryptic species
within Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila complex on formicine ants from Thailand. Mycological
Progress 18:147-161. Published online since 09 June 2018. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11557-018-1412-7
Rupcic Z, Chepkirui C, Hernández-Restrepo M, Crous PW, Luangsa-ard JJ, Stadler M. 2018. New
nematicidal and antimicrobial secondary metabolites from a new species in the new genus,
Pseudobambusicola thailandica. MycoKeys 33: 1–23. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.33.23341.
Mongkolsamrit S, Noisripoom W, Thanakitpipattana D, Wutikhun T, Spatafora JW, Luangsa-ard JJ. 2018. Disentangling cryptic species with Isaria-like morphs in Cordycipitaceae. Mycologia 110:230-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2018.1446651
Luangsa-ard JJ, Tasanathai K, Thanakitpipattana D, Khonsanit A, Stadler M. 2018. Novel and
interesting Ophiocordyceps spp (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) with superficial perithecia from Thailand. Studies in Mycology 89: 125-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simyco.2018.02.001
Plant Microbe Interaction Research Team
Jennifer Luangsa-ard
Research Team Leader
Principal researcher
Sayanh Somrithipol
Researcher
Suchada Mongkolsamrit
Researcher
Wilawan Kuephadungphan
Postdoctoral researcher
Kanoksri Tasanathai
Research assistant
Charuwan Chuaseeharonnachai
Research assistant
Sujinda Sommai
Research assistant
Donnaya Thanakitpipattana
Research assistant
Artit Khonsanit
Research assistant
Boonchan Thongnuch
Lab assistant
Wasana Noisripoom
Lab assistant
Papichaya Kwantong
Co-research assistant
Contact
Plant Microbe Interaction Research Team
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ( BIOTEC)
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
Email: acbg-apmt@biotec.or.th
Tel: 66 2564 6700 Ext 3202-4
Fax: 66 2564 6707