The nematophagous fungal genus Esteya is reported as a natural enemy of the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes wilt in Asia and Europe. During survey fungi associated with ambrosia beetles Florida, an undescribed species was found. A phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear large subunit β-tubulin DNA sequences supported this isolate new species, E. floridanum. Morphologi...

Phylogenetic relationship is an indication of shared abilities, or at least of shared constraints, on morphology, physiology, and behavior; but is phylogenetic relationship a sufficient criterion for predicting ecological function? Ecologists have assumed that the function of invertebrates in soil systems can be predicted at a low level of taxonomic resolution, but our research indicates that c...

BACKGROUND Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. Drug resistance, high costs of treatment and economic losses in meat production have emerged the need of alternative control measures into consideration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ovicidal activity of Paecilomyces lilacinus fungus on F. hepatica eggs. METHODS P. lilacinus isolat...

Discovery-driven experiments in undergraduate laboratory courses have been shown to increase student learning and critical thinking abilities. To this end, a lab module involving worm capture by a nematophagous fungus was developed. The goals of this module are to enhance scientific understanding of the regulation of worm capture by soil-dwelling fungi and for students to attain a set of establ...

In recent years, continuing environmental problems associated with the use of nematicides (47) have introduced a sense of urgency into the search for alternative methods of nematode management. For the past 90 years, research on the biological control of nematodes with microbial agents has been done by a few dedicated nematologists who have worked in small groups with little support. About 10 y...