A new species, Phialophora europaea, causing superficial infections in humans Eine neue Art, Phialophora europaea, als Erreger oberflachlicher Infektionen beim Menschen

Abstract

A new species, Phialophora europaea, member of the P. verrucosa complex, is introduced. It is distinguished from existing species by reduced, flaring phialidic collarettes and inability to assimilate melibiose as sole source of carbon. Analysis of ITS1 and 2 rDNA of six strains attributed to the species show it to be clearly individualized. All strains originated from cutaneous and nail infections of humans in North-western Europe. A key to morphologically similar taxa is provided.

Novel Evolutionary Lineages Revealed in the Chaetothyriales (Fungi) Based on Multigene Phylogenetic Analyses and Comparison of ITS Secondary Structure

“…The latter two species were members of a monophyletic clade that was sister to the lineage containing P. verrucosa Medlar, the type species of Phialophora Medlar (Herpotrichiellaceae). The clade that included P. olivacea and P. oxyspora also encompassed P. europaea de Hoog, Mayser & Haase, P. reptans de Hoog and P. sessilis de Hoog, taxa referred originally to the P. verrucosa complex [5], [24], and the recently described P. ambigua P. Feng & de Hoog [11]. Cyphellophora laciniata and seven other members of the genus were also situated in the same clade.…”

“…The latter are involved in long-term infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue of humans and animals that include chromatoblastomycoses and phaeohyphomycoses [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Members of the order characterized by a lower degree of virulence or suspected to cause infections have been isolated from subcutaneous tissue, nail or skin scrapings [5], [6], [7]. A number of these taxa, which are described in the anamorph genera Cyphellophora G.A.…”

“…Conidia are subhyaline, obovoidal, clavate, ellipsoidal or fusiform, and adhere in chains or slimy heads. Among these species, only P. ambigua , P. europaea , P. oxyspora and P. reptans are involved in superficial infections of humans [5], [11], [24]. The three other Phialophora in this clade have been isolated from plants, fungi, moist wallpaper or nutrient-poor substrates such as marble, stalactites or resin [5], [19], [24], [25].…”

“…All of these taxa can be differentiated from P. verrucosa and P. americana (Nannf.) S. Hughes (Herpotrichiellaceae) by their slow-growing colonies and phialides with smaller, funnel-shaped and less deeply pigmented collarettes [5], [18], [24], [25]. They resemble species of Cyphellophora in possessing similar conidiogenous cells with smaller, slightly darker collarettes, but differ mainly by their shorter, nonseptate conidia.…”

Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused byPhaeoacremoniumSpecies in a Kidney Transplant Patient: The First Case in Korea

“…The characteristic tapering phialides of these organisms are derived from septate hyphae with one-celled ellipsoidal conidia [14]. In contrast, organisms of genus Phialophora show melanized hyphae and slimy one-celled conidia at their apex with distinct collarettes [15]. Phaeoacremonium show medium brown hyphae, which become pale brown to hyaline and verruculose.…”