1. Did fungal pathogenesis of insects arise once or multiple times in evolution? (or, are fungal pathogens of insects a monophyletic group? Explain.
2. Interactions between fungi and insects are of four types: mycophagy, commensalism, parasitism and mutualism. Can you explain what they are and give an example of each?
3. Why do mycologists feel that Agostino Bassi, and not de Bary, Pasteur or others should be credited with developing germ theory, and the Germ Theory of Disease? What did Bassi study and show?
4. What is muscaradine? What is meant by green muscaridine?
5. How are fungi used as biocontrol agents? What are some advantages and limitations to the use of fungi for this purpose?
6. Why are fungi like Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Verticillium lecanii thought to be better candidates for use as biocontrol agents than Coelomomyces sp.?
7. How are Cordyceps related to Beauveria, Metarhizium and Tolypocladium?
8. Cordyceps are known as winter worm-summer grass in Asia. What about their life cycles makes them referred to in this way?
9. How was cyclosporin A discovered, and for what is it used currently? What is the mode of action of cyclosporin A? Does the fungus that produces cyclosporin A have a sexual stage? Explain.
10. How are cordyceps used in Chinese medicine?
11. Cordycepin is structurally related to adenosine, yet is used as a drug for tumor cell control What is it's mode of action, and how does it work?