Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala

Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Sordariomycetes
Order:	Hypocreales
Family:	Ophiocordycipitaceae
Genus:	Ophiocordyceps
Species:	O. sphecocephala
Binomial name
	Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala; (Klotzsch ex Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora (2007)
Synonyms[1]
	Cordyceps sphaecophila (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis (1868); Cordyceps sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis (1869); Sphaeria sphecocephala Klotzsch ex Berk. (1843); Torrubia sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Tul. & C. Tul. (1865);

Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala is a species of parasitic fungus. It is entomopathogenic, meaning it grows within insects, particularly wasps of the genera Polistes, Tachytes, and Vespa. It has been reported across the Americas and China.[2]

Physically, its stromata can be 2–10 cm long, and form an egg-shaped head. It is cream or yellow in color.[2]

The fungus has possible implications in medicine; it may have anti-asthmatic or anti-cancer properties.[3][4]

References

"Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
Mains, E. B. (1958). "North American Entomogenous Species of Cordyceps". Mycologia. Mycological Society of America. 50 (2): 169–222. doi:10.2307/3756193. JSTOR 3756193.
Heo, Jin-Chul; Nam, Sung-Hee (2010). "Anti-asthmatic activities in mycelial extract and culture filtrate of Cordyceps sphecocephala J201". International Journal of Molecular Medicine. Spandidos Publications. 26 (3): 351–356. doi:10.3892/ijmm_00000472. PMID 20664950.
Oh, Jung Young (2008). "Apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SKN-SH) cells induced by polysaccharides-peptide complexes produced by submerged mycelial culture of an entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps sphecocephala". Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 18 (3): 512–519. PMID 18388470.

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[MycoBank-1] "Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 18 July 2016.

[Mains1958-2] Mains, E. B. (1958). "North American Entomogenous Species of Cordyceps". Mycologia. Mycological Society of America. 50 (2): 169–222. doi:10.2307/3756193. JSTOR 3756193.

[Heo2010-3] Heo, Jin-Chul; Nam, Sung-Hee (2010). "Anti-asthmatic activities in mycelial extract and culture filtrate of Cordyceps sphecocephala J201". International Journal of Molecular Medicine. Spandidos Publications. 26 (3): 351–356. doi:10.3892/ijmm_00000472. PMID 20664950.

[Young2007-4] Oh, Jung Young (2008). "Apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SKN-SH) cells induced by polysaccharides-peptide complexes produced by submerged mycelial culture of an entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps sphecocephala". Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 18 (3): 512–519. PMID 18388470.