Genomic analysis of Ancylistes closterii, an enigmatic alga parasitic fungus in the arthropod-associated Entomophthoromycotina.

Genomic analysis places Ancylistes closterii as a sister to other Entomophthoromycotina fungi, revealing its distinct evolutionary position within Zoopagomycota.

• Why it matters: Understanding the phylogeny of parasitic fungi like Ancylistes is crucial because many such fungi are poorly studied, and their evolutionary relationships remain unclear, especially given their ecological diversity.
• What they did: The study sequenced the genome of A. closterii, cultivated it with its green algal host Closterium sp., and performed phylogenetic analyses using rDNA and genome-scale data to determine its position.
• The result: Findings confirm A. closterii's placement within Entomophthoromycotina, and its genome reveals shared traits with other fungi, including enzymes for infecting algae, which advances understanding of fungal evolution and parasitism.