Genome Sequence, Comparative Analysis, and Evolutionary Insights into Chitinases of Entomopathogenic Fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

rayburn, zetricia gayle;

Hirsutella thompsonii (Ht) is a fungal pathogen of acarines and the primary cause of epizootics among mites. The draft genomes of two isolates of Ht (MTCC 3556: Ht3, 34.6Mb and MTCC 6686: Ht6, 34.7Mb) are presented and compared with the genomes of Beauveriabassiana (Bb) ARSEF2860 and Ophiocordycepssinensis(Os) CO18. Comparative analysis of carbohydrate active enzymes, pathogen–host interaction genes, metabolism-associated genes, and genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in the four genomes was carried out. Reduction in gene family sizes in Ht3 and Osas compared with Ht6 and Bbis observed. Analysis of the mating type genes in Ht reveals the presence of MAT idiomorphs which is suggestive of cryptic sexual traitsin Ht.We further identify and classify putative chitin ases that may function as virulence factors infungalen tomopathogens due to their role in degradation of arthropod cuticle