Cordyceps+unilateralis

Cordyceps unilateralis media type="youtube" key="XuKjBIBBAL8?fs=1" height="385" width="640" align="center"


 * __ Scientific Classification __**


 * ** Kingdom ** || Fungi  ||
 * ** Phylum ** || Ascomycota  ||
 * ** Class ** || Sordariomycetes  ||
 * ** Order ** || Hypocreales  ||
 * ** Family ** || Clavicipitaceae  ||
 * ** Genus ** || Cordyceps  ||
 * ** Species ** || unilateralis ||

The **Ascomycota** are a Phylum of the kingdom Fungi, and subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the //Sac Fungi//. They are the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The defining feature of this fungal group is the "ascus" (from Greek: // ἀ //// σκός // (//askos//), meaning "sac" or "wineskin"), a microscopic sexual structure in which nonmotile spores, called ascospores, are formed. However, some species of the Ascomycota are asexual, meaning that they do not have a sexual cycle and thus do not form asci or ascospores. Previously placed in the Deuteromycota along with asexual species from other fungal taxa, asexual (or anamorphic) ascomycetes are now identified and classified based on morphological or physiological similarities to ascus-bearing taxa, and by phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences. The ascomycetes are a monophyletic group, i.e., all of its members trace back to one common ancestor. This group is of particular relevance to humans as sources for medicinally important compounds, such as antibiotics and for making bread, alcoholic beverages, and cheese, but also as pathogens of humans and plants. Familiar examples of sac fungi include morels, truffles, brewer's yeast and baker's yeast, Dead Man's Fingers, and cup fungi. The fungal symbionts in the majority of lichens (loosely termed "ascolichens") such as //Cladonia// belong to the Ascomycota. There are many plant-pathogenic ascomycetes, including apple scab, rice blast, the ergot fungi, black knot, and the powdery mildews. Several species of ascomycetes are biological model organisms in laboratory research. Most famously //Neurospora crassa//, several species of yeasts, and //Aspergillus// species are used in many genetics and cell biology studies. //Penicillium// species on cheeses and those producing antibiotics for treating bacterial infectious diseases are examples of taxa that belong to the Ascomycota.
 * __ Description of Phylum: Ascomycota __**

This has got to be one of the wildest species of fungus on the planet. Cordyceps unilateralis is a parasitoid fungus that infects ants, and alters their behavior in order to ensure the widespread distribution of its spores and prevent ants from overpopulating and destroying the eco system around. I just love it how the mushrooms grow out from the ant’s head. This got me thinking about psylocybin’s affect on human civilization. As most mushrooms do act as an eco guardian, by restoring the balance of nature and wiping out dominant and disruptive species, I wondered about psylocybin’s affect on the most popular and eco-unfriendly species on the planet. Have “Magic Mushrooms” been made illegal to the masses subconsciosuly by mankind because of our fear of their rightful duty and how they could try to destroy civilization with chaos and divine madness? Is this balancing nature of mushrooms another reason for the ego-death experience of a psychedelic trip? Are the spiritual experiences and ecological revelations just the natural way for a mushroom to cast balance on the domineering human species as to prevent us from destroying the planet’s equilibrium? After all when one is sick one does take antibiotics to restore one’s healthy equilibrium. And Antibiotics are made up of different types of fungus & work by killing off the overpowering organisms such as germs, bacterias, virus’ parasites, etc. Many dietary mushrooms also absorb toxins from the body and restore health with great immensity. This video just initiated a whole new paradigm shift in me on the subject of mushrooms. I really hold new found respect for fungi. They appear to be the guardians of nature’s harmony. The species can be identified at the end of its life cycle by its reproductive structure, consisting of a wiry yet pliant darkly pigmented stroma stalk extending from the back of the deceased ant's head. The stalk has perithecia just below its tip.
 * __ Introduction to species __**
 * __ Unique Morphological Features __**
 * __ Unique Anatomical/Physiological Features __**

__ Medicinal potential __
The Cordyceps fungus contains various known and untapped bioactive metabolites, and is being investigated as a new source of natural drugs with immunomodulatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic functions. Six bioactive naphthoquinone derivatives isolated from //C. unilateralis// showed anti-malarial activity in vitro. There has also been research into the use of red naphthoquinone pigments made by //C. unilateralis// as a dye for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Most of the fungi in this genus are found in the temperate tropical forests of China, Nepal, Thailand and some of the neighboring countries. The fungi thrive in these environments because of the plentiful, rich, and diverse insect life which also lives there.
 * __ Adaptive Habitat Features __**
 * There are many types of species in the genus Cordyceps, Cordyceps unilateralis being just one of them which targets ants. They are nature’s population control. Each is adapted to a different animal which it invades, as it ** alters the animal’s behavior in order to ensure the widespread distribution of its spores ** . The fact that it uses the host’s body as a capsule for more spores shows that it adapted to the habitat by means of reproduction. Since there are millions of insects in the rainforests in which this fungi resides, a spore-sending reproduction method is a perfect way for this species to survive. **
 * __ Range on Earth __**
 * __ Range on Earth __**

The spores of the cordyceps unilateralis fungi attaches itself to exoskeleton of the ant's body and germinate there. The myecelium of the fungus enters the ant's body through small pores on the exoskeleton called spiracles or through the trachea, which are the tubes that enables the ant to breathe. Once the fungi gains entry inside the body of the ant, the myecelia (thin fungal filaments) spread through the whole cavity, feeding on the soft tissues during the process. The vital organs of the ant's body are not harmed.
 * __ Life Cycle of Cordyceps unilateralis __**

Once the fungus gets ready to sporulate, it grows into the brain and releases certain chemicals that guides the ant to climb up plants and settle on some leaves. It has been observed that such ants secure themselves to the leaves or plant surfaces with their mandibles. Once settled, the ant gets killed by the fungus, which grows both inside and outside the exoskeleton of the insect. The myecelia that grow outside helps in strengthening the bond between the exoskeleton and the surface to which it is attached. The fruiting bodies of the fungus grows out of the ant's head and releases spores. These spores then attach themselves to other hosts and the life cycle continues.

So, cordyceps unilateralis can guide ants to climb up a plant and settle there. Studies show that this is done by the fungi for ensuring the optimum temperature and humidity for release of spores. Such height also ensures maximum spread of the spores. According to fossil studies, this behavior of cordyceps fungi evolved more than 48 million years ago. This relation between cordyceps unilateralis and ants is one of nature's way to check the uncontrolled growth of ant populations. Even ants can sense the presence of this fungus and studies show that infected ants are exiled from the colony, so as to avoid spread of the fungus. In general, most of the cordyceps fungi are endoparasitoids, which spend most of their time attached to a host. In case of endoparasitoids, they feed on the tissues of the host and ultimately kill the latter. Insects are commonly found to be the hosts of these fungi. While, cordyceps sinensis attaches itself to the larvae of ghost moths, cordyceps unilateralis are fond of ants as their hosts.
 * __ Interesting facts __**

// C. unilateralis // has been known to destroy entire ant colonies. In response, ants have adapted by being able to sense when a member of the colony is dying and exile them far away from the colony in order to avoid fungal spore exposure and infection.

As compared to cordyceps sinensis, which is widely used in the traditional medicine of China, Nepal, etc., much less is known about the medicinal properties of cordyceps unilateralis. However, recent studies show that this fungi contains various beneficial compounds and studies are still underway regarding its medicinal properties. Some studies suggest that this fungus may be helpful in treating malaria.
 * __ References __**
 * Artjariyasripong S, Mitchell JL, Hywel-Jones NL, Jones EBG (2001). Relationships of the genus // Cordyceps //  and related genera, based on parsimony and spectral analysis of partial 18S and 28S ribosomal gene sequences.   //Mycoscience//   **42**   : 503–517.
 * Hywel-Jones NL (1996). // Cordyceps myrmecophila //  -like fungi infecting ants in the leaf litter of tropical forest in Thailand.   //Mycological Research//   **100**   : 613–619.
 * University of Exeter (2010, August 18). Fossil reveals 48-million-year history of zombie ants. // ScienceDaily // . Retrieved November 9, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/08/100818105730.htm