Cordyceps guangdongensis is a well-known fungus with high nutritional and medicinal value. The metabolite profile of C. guangdongensis is similar to that of Ophiocordyceps sinensis. In plants and animals, microRNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MicroRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) have been documented in several macro-fungi. To comprehensively investigate the milRNAs in C. guangdongensis, three small RNA libraries from the differentially developmental stages were constructed. Twenty-six conserved milRNAs were identified, and 19 novel milRNA candidates were predicted. Among them, 20 milRNAs were differentially expressed across the developmental processes, and 12 milRNAs were verified using stem-loop quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the potential target genes of milRNA were predicted to be involved in the development of fruiting bodies and metabolite biosynthesis. This study is the first to report the milRNAs of C. guangdongensis, and provides important insights into studies of milRNA regulation pathways in ascomycete fungi.

广东冬虫夏草是一种著名的真菌，具有很高的营养和药用价值。C. guandongensis的代谢物谱与Ophiocordyceps sinensis相似。在植物和动物中，microRNA 在转录后水平调控基因表达方面发挥着重要作用。MicroRNA 样 RNA (milRNAs) 已被记录在几种大型真菌中。全面调查广东C. milRNAs，构建了来自差异发育阶段的三个小 RNA 文库。鉴定了 26 个保守的 milRNA，并预测了 19 个新的 milRNA 候选。其中，20 个 milRNAs 在整个发育过程中差异表达，12 个 milRNAs 使用茎环定量实时逆转录聚合酶链反应进行验证。此外，预测milRNA的潜在靶基因参与子实体的发育和代谢物生物合成。本研究首次报道了C. guangdongensis的milRNA，为子囊菌真菌milRNA调控途径的研究提供了重要的见解。