Rhinocladiella mackenziei | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Eurotiomycetes |
Order: | Chaetothyriales |
Family: | Herpotrichiellaceae |
Genus: | Rhinocladiella |
Species: | R. mackenziei |
Binomial name | |
Rhinocladiella mackenziei (C.K.Campbell & Al-Hedaithy) Arzanlou & Crous (2007) [1] | |
Synonyms | |
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Rhinocladiella mackenziei is a deeply pigmented mold that is a common cause of human cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. [2] Rhinocladiella mackenziei was believed to be endemic solely to the Middle East, due to the first cases of infection being limited to the region. [3] However, cases of R. mackenziei infection are increasingly reported from regions outside the Middle East. [4] This pathogen is unique in that the majority of cases have been reported from immunologically normal people. [5]
Rhinocladiella mackenziei was first identified in 1993 as Ramichloridium mackenziei by C.K. Campbell & Al-Hedaithy [1] when it was identified as the cause of eight cases of human cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. [6] All eight patients had abscess formation and six of the patients had aspirated pus with branching hyphae. [7] Campbell and Al-Hedaithy considered different genera for the un-named fungus, including Zasmidium, Leptodontidium, Ramichloridium, and Rhinocladiella. [7] They elected to place it in the genus Ramichloridium based on morphological similarity. [7] In previous publications, Naim-Ur-Rahman misidentified the fungus in the genus Cladosporium , while Al-Hedaithy et al (1988) considered it synonymous with Fonsecaea pedrosoi . [7]
The genus Ramichloridium encompasses asexual species that produce upright, darkly pigmented, apically elongating, zig-zag-shaped conidiophores that produce single-celled conidia. [8] It was first described in 1937 by Stahel as Ramichloridium musae but the genus was considered invalid as Stahel's publication lacked a Latin diagnosis. [8] The genus Ramichloridium was re-introduced by de Hoog in 1977 typified by R. apiculatum. [8]
Rhinocladiella mackenziei was treated in the genus Ramichloridium until Arzanlou and coworkers explored the phylogeny of Ramichloridium and its related genera through partial sequences of the 28S (LSU) rRNA gene and the ITS region. [8] The fungus was found to cluster in the Chaetothyriales clade along with Rhinocladiella species and was subsequently transferred to the genus Rhinocladiella. [9] One of the main features that helped distinguish Ramichloridium and Rhinocladiella is the presence of Exophiala -like budding cells in Rhinocladiella, which were also seen in R. mackenziei. [8] Additionally, the conidiophores of R. mackenziei resemble undifferentiated from the vegetative hyphae in contrast to those in Ramichloridium that are differentiated. [8]
Rhinocladiella mackenziei is found in the hot and arid climates of temperate and tropical regions. [5] [10] It is considered endemic throughout the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, [10] [5] and infections by this species have been observed in individuals from Afghanistan, [11] Iran, [10] and India. [12] It is known less commonly to inhabit temperate and tropical regions. [10] The environmental niche of R. mackenziei remains unknown. [10] Another fungus associated with causing cerebral phaeohyphomycosis; Cladophialophora bantiana , has been isolated in one occasion from sawdust, [10] which could also be a possible source of R. mackenziei. Due to the lack of knowledge about its environmental niche, it has been difficult to isolate R. mackenziei; and selective techniques such as the use of high temperatures, mouse vectors, alkyl benzenes and mineral oils are required. [10] Enrichment of growth media with volatile aromatic hydrocarbons improves recovery of this agent, [10] implying a role for aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in its environmental niche. [10]
Rhinocladiella mackenziei is a black yeast-like fungus [10] with holoblastic conidia (conidia that are produced by simple budding) that are broadly oval and more than 2μm wide. [13] In vitro at 30 °C, R. mackenziei has smooth, pigmented, septate hyphae [8] [13] and narrower, pale brown aerial hyphae. [8] Its conidiophores are undifferentiated or only slightly differentiated from vegetative hyphae, [8] and produce brown, smooth-walled, oval conidia. [13] [8] Rhinocladiella mackenziei grows slowly in culture media. [5] Colonies grown for a week at 30 °C on glucose peptone agar develop a dark grey-brown to black appearance with a black reverse, elevated center, and densely cottony texture. [8] [13] Rhinocladiella mackenziei grows poorly at 25 °C [6] and is not to produce a sexual state. [13]
Rhinocladiella mackenziei is a black yeast-like neurotropic fungus [5] [10] [13] and one of the three main causative agents of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Histologically, infection by this agent causes the cerebrospinal fluid to become blackish and necrotic, pus-filled lesions to develop in brain tissue. [6] [8] [5] [10] [11] [12] [14] [15] R. mackenziei is mostly found in brain abscesses of immunocompetent patients, [5] [10] however infection has been reported in conjunction with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). [16] Infection by this agent is associated with extremely high mortality despite aggressive antifungal treatment and surgery. [5] [10] Symptoms may include headaches, fevers, neurological deficits, seizures, [10] [14] hemiparesis and even psychotic behavior. [14] Infection is thought to result from exposure to conidia through inhalation, ingestion or through skin lesions. [10] [14] Diagnosis of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis by R. mackenziei is confirmed by the microscopic observation of pigmented fungal elements in affected tissues combined with the identification of the agent by culture or genetic sequencing. [14] [5] Central nervous system colonization is thought to be secondary to spread through blood and lymph tissue. [14] The basis for the affinity of R. mackenziei for brain tissue is unknown but has been hypothesized to involve the fungal melanin which acts as a virulence factor by allowing it to evade a human host's immune system and cross the blood–brain barrier. [14] [17] Melanin also protects the fungal cell wall from hydrolysis [18] by scavenging the free radicals and hypochlorite produced by the immune system as well as helping to prevent antifungal drugs from entering the fungal pathogen. [3]
Untreated cerebral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Rhinocladiella mackenziei has a mortality rate of nearly 100%, [10] although some case reports exist of documented survival of patients. [15] [19] Rhinocladiella mackenziei has been shown to be resistant to Amphotericin B, an antifungal drug commonly used to treat fungal infections, both in vivo and in vitro. [10] Susceptibility to triazoles such as itraconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole has been seen in 10 strains of R. mackenziei, [10] though a mixture of amphotericin B, itraconazole and 5-flucytosine has been associated with poor outcome in animal and clinical studies. [10] Approaches to disease management typically involve combined antifungal chemotherapy (combination therapy), surgical debridement and immunotherapy. [14]
Cochliobolus lunatus is a fungal plant pathogen that can cause disease in humans and other animals. The anamorph of this fungus is known as Curvularia lunata, while C. lunatus denotes the teleomorph or sexual stage. They are, however, the same biological entity. C. lunatus is the most commonly reported species in clinical cases of reported Cochliobolus infection.
Setosphaeria rostrata is a heat tolerant fungus with an asexual reproductive form (anamorph) known as Exserohilum rostratum. This fungus is a common plant pathogen, causing leaf spots as well as crown rot and root rot in grasses. It is also found in soils and on textiles in subtropical and tropical regions. Exserohilum rostratum is one of the 35 Exserohilum species implicated uncommonly as opportunistic pathogens of humans where it is an etiologic agent of sinusitis, keratitis, skin lesions and an often fatal meningoencephalitis. Infections caused by this species are most often seen in regions with hot climates like Israel, India and the southern USA.
Acrophialophora fusispora is a poorly studied ascomycete fungus found in soil, air and various plants. A. fusispora is morphologically similar to the genera Paecilomyces and Masonia, but differ in the presence of pigmented conidiophores, verticillate phialides, and frequent sympodial proliferation. Moreover, A. fusispora is distinguished by its pigmented spindle-shaped conidia, covered with spiral bands. The fungus is naturally found in soils of tropical to temperate regions. The fungus has been identified as a plant and animal pathogen, and has recently been recognized as an emerging opportunistic human pathogen. A. fusispora infection in human is rare and has few documented clinical cases, but due to the rarity of the fungus and potential misidentification, the infections may be underdiagnosed. Clinical cases of A. fusispora include cases of keratitis, pulmonary colonization and infection, and cerebral infections. The fungus also has two documented cases of infection in dogs.
Exophiala jeanselmei is a saprotrophic fungus in the family Herpotrichiellaceae. Four varieties have been discovered: Exophiala jeanselmei var. heteromorpha, E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni, E. jeanselmei var. jeanselmei, and E. jeanselmei var. castellanii. Other species in the genus Exophiala such as E. dermatitidis and E. spinifera have been reported to have similar annellidic conidiogenesis and may therefore be difficult to differentiate.
Lomentospora prolificans is an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes a wide variety of infections in immunologically normal and immunosuppressed people and animals. It is resistant to most antifungal drugs and infections are often fatal. Drugs targeting the Class II dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) proteins of L. prolificans, Scedosporium, Aspergillus and other deadly moulds are the basis for at least one new therapy, Olorofim, which is currently in phase 2b clinical trials and has received breakthrough status by FDA. For information on all DHODH proteins, please see Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase.
Exophiala dermatitidis is a thermophilic black yeast, and a member of the Herpotrichiellaceae. While the species is only found at low abundance in nature, metabolically active strains are commonly isolated in saunas, steam baths, and dish washers. Exophiala dermatitidis only rarely causes infection in humans, however cases have been reported around the world. In East Asia, the species has caused lethal brain infections in young and otherwise healthy individuals. The fungus has been known to cause cutaneous and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, and as a lung colonist in people with cystic fibrosis in Europe. In 2002, an outbreak of systemic E. dermatitidis infection occurred in women who had received contaminated steroid injections at North Carolina hospitals.
Ochroconis gallopava, also called Dactylaria gallopava or Dactylaria constricta var. gallopava, is a member of genus Dactylaria. Ochroconis gallopava is a thermotolerant, darkly pigmented fungus that causes various infections in fowls, turkeys, poults, and immunocompromised humans first reported in 1986. Since then, the fungus has been increasingly reported as an agent of human disease especially in recipients of solid organ transplants. Ochroconis gallopava infection has a long onset and can involve a variety of body sites. Treatment of infection often involves a combination of antifungal drug therapy and surgical excision.
Cladophialophora bantiana is a melanin producing mold known to cause brain abscesses in humans. It is one of the most common causes of systemic phaeohyphomycosis in mammals. Cladophialophora bantiana is a member of the ascomycota and has been isolated from soil samples from around the world.
Coniochaeta hoffmannii, also known as Lecythophora hoffmannii, is an ascomycete fungus that grows commonly in soil. It has also been categorized as a soft-rot fungus capable of bringing the surface layer of timber into a state of decay, even when safeguarded with preservatives. Additionally, it has pathogenic properties, although it causes serious infection only in rare cases. A plant pathogen lacking a known sexual state, C. hoffmannii has been classified as a "dematiaceous fungus" despite its contradictory lack of pigmentation; both in vivo and in vitro, there is no correlation between its appearance and its classification.
Phaeohyphomycosis is a diverse group of fungal infections, caused by dematiaceous fungi whose morphologic characteristics in tissue include hyphae, yeast-like cells, or a combination of these. It can be associated an array of melanistic filamentous fungi including Alternaria species,Exophiala jeanselmei, and Rhinocladiella mackenziei.
Phialemonium curvatum is a pathogenic fungus in the phylum Ascomycota. The genus was created to accommodate taxa intermediate to Acremonium and Phialophora. This genus is characterized by its abundance of adelophialides and few discrete phialides with no signs of collarettes. Specifically, P. curvatum is characterized by its grayish white colonies and its allantoid conidia. Phialemonium curvatum is typically found in a variety of environments including air, soil, industrial water and sewage. Furthermore, P. curvatum affects mainly immunocompromised and is rarely seen in immunocompetent people. The species has been known to cause peritonitis, endocarditis, endovascular infections, osteomyelitis as well as cutaneous infections of wounds and burns.
Thielavia subthermophila is a ubiquitous, filamentous fungus that is a member of the phylum Ascomycota and order Sordariales. Known to be found on plants of arid environments, it is an endophyte with thermophilic properties, and possesses dense, pigmented mycelium. Thielavia subthermophila has rarely been identified as a human pathogen, with a small number of clinical cases including ocular and brain infections. For treatment, antifungal drugs such as amphotericin B have been used topically or intravenously, depending upon the condition.
Scedosporiosis is the general name for any mycosis - i.e., fungal infection - caused by a fungus from the genus Scedosporium. Current population-based studies suggest Scedosporium prolificans and Scedosporium apiospermum to be among the most common infecting agents from the genus, although infections caused by other members thereof are not unheard of. The latter is an asexual form (anamorph) of another fungus, Pseudallescheria boydii. The former is a “black yeast”, currently not characterized as well, although both of them have been described as saprophytes.
Fonsecaea compacta is a saprophytic fungal species found in the family Herpotrichiellaceae. It is a rare etiological agent of chromoblastomycosis, with low rates of correspondence observed from reports. The main active components of F. compacta are glycolipids, yet very little is known about its composition. F. compacta is widely regarded as a dysplastic variety of Fonsecaea pedrosoi, its morphological precursor. The genus Fonsecaea presently contains two species, F. pedrosoi and F. compacta. Over 100 strains of F. pedrosoi have been isolated but only two of F. compacta.
Cladophialophora carrionii is a melanized fungus in the genus Cladophialophora that is associated with decaying plant material like cacti and wood. It is one of the most frequent species of Cladophialophora implicated in human disease. Cladophialophora carrionii is a causative agent of chromoblastomycosis, a subcutaneous infection that occurs in sub-tropical areas such as Madagascar, Australia and northwestern Venezuela. Transmission occurs through traumatic implantation of plant material colonized by C. carrionii, mainly infecting rural workers. When C. carrionii infects its host, it transforms from a mycelial state to a muriform state to better tolerate the extreme conditions in the host's body.
Cladosporium sphaerospermum is a radiotrophic fungus belonging to the genus Cladosporium and was described in 1886 by Albert Julius Otto Penzig from the decaying leaves and branches of Citrus. It is a dematiaceous (darkly-pigmented) fungus characterized by slow growth and largely asexual reproduction. Cladosporium sphaerospermum consists of a complex of poorly morphologically differentiated, "cryptic" species that share many physiological and ecological attributes. In older literature, all of these sibling species were classified as C. sphaerospermum despite their unique nature. Accordingly, there is confusion in older literature reports on the physiological and habitat regularities of C. sphaerospermum in the strict sense. This fungus is most phylogenetically similar to C. fusiforme. According to modern phylogenetic analyses, the previously synonymized species, Cladosporium langeroni, is a distinct species.
Phialophora verrucosa is a pathogenic, dematiaceous fungus that is a common cause of chromoblastomycosis. It has also been reported to cause subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma in very rare cases. In the natural environment, it can be found in rotting wood, soil, wasp nests, and plant debris. P. verrucosa is sometimes referred to as Phialophora americana, a closely related environmental species which, along with P. verrucosa, is also categorized in the P. carrionii clade.
Sarocladium kiliense is a saprobic fungus that is occasionally encountered as a opportunistic pathogen of humans, particularly immunocompromised and individuals. The fungus is frequently found in soil and has been linked with skin and systemic infections. This species is also known to cause disease in the green alga, Cladophora glomerata as well as various fruit and vegetable crops grown in warmer climates.
Cladophialophora arxii is a black yeast shaped dematiaceous fungus that is able to cause serious phaeohyphomycotic infections. C. arxii was first discovered in 1995 in Germany from a 22-year-old female patient suffering multiple granulomatous tracheal tumours. It is a clinical strain that is typically found in humans and is also capable of acting as an opportunistic fungus of other vertebrates Human cases caused by C. arxii have been reported from all parts of the world such as Germany and Australia.
Cladophialophora is a genus of fungi in the family Herpotrichiellaceae. It has 35 species. The genus contains black yeast-like fungi, some of which are species of important medical significance. Cladophialophora bantiana causes the rare brain disease cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Cladophialophora carrionii is a common cause of chromoblastomycosis in semi-arid climates. Some of the species are endophytes–associating with plants. For example, Cladophialophora yegresii is a cactus endophyte, which is sometimes introduced into humans via cactus spines.
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