The whole genome sequence of Cordyceps cicadae - an edible and potential medicinal fungus

Cordyceps cicadae is an entomopathogenic fungus from the Cordyceps genus and a well-known edible mushroom with a long history of use in Asia. It contains many bioactive compounds beneficial to human health, giving it broad application prospects in medicine. In this study, we generated the complete genome sequence of C. cicadae strain 2-2 using a combination of Illumina, PacBio, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. This comprehensive genome sequence comprises 9 chromosomes, an N50 contig size of 4,798,690 bp, a GC content ratio of 52.65%, a total size of 34.60 Mb, and 8,019 predicted coding genes. Additionally, we conducted functional annotation of the genome, revealing that 63.2% of the genes were enriched in 50 GO terms and 87.8% in 387 KEGG pathways. We also identified 542 enzyme genes, noting that C. cicadae has a greater number of GHs compared to other fungi in the Cordyceps genus. Notably, NR database analysis revealed that 6,441 genes in C. cicadae are similar to those in Cordyceps fumosorosea, suggesting that C. cicadae may serve as a cost-effective alternative to this expensive traditional medicinal fungus. This study presents the first chromosome-level genome of the Cordyceps genus, providing a comprehensive analysis of the genetic composition and functions of C. cicadae and establishing a foundation for advancing research and development of Cordyceps fungi.