Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Isaria sinclairii

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Fungi

Class
  
Sordariomycetes

Family
  
Clavicipitaceae

Scientific name
  
Isaria sinclairii

Phylum
  
Ascomycota

Order
  
Hypocreales

Genus
  
Isaria

Rank
  
Species

Isaria sinclairii httpsc1staticflickrcom3287612425481595ba5

Similar
  
Clavicipitaceae, Tolypocladium, Paecilomyces, Ophiocordyceps, Ophiocordyceps sobolifera

Isaria sinclairii is a species of entomopathogenic fungus. It produces myriocin, from which the synthetic drug fingolimod, a treatment for multiple sclerosis, was developed.

Contents

Ecology

Isaria sinclairii is a fungus which attacks insects, including cicada larvae. 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 spores.

Uses

Myriocin (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 related to Isaria sinclairii, such as Yartsa gunbu Ophiocordyceps sinensis, have been used in traditional Tibetan medicine and in traditional Chinese medicine as tonics, which some refer to as an elixir of eternal youth.

Taxonomy

Isaria sinclairii is the name of the anamorph; the teleomorph is Cordyceps sinclairii, Cordycipitaceae. It was first described in 1855 by Miles Joseph Berkeley, and transferred to the genus Isaria in 1923 by Curtis Gates Lloyd.

References

Isaria sinclairii Wikipedia