Thermoascus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Eurotiomycetes |
Order: | Eurotiales |
Family: | Thermoascaceae |
Genus: | Thermoascus Bainier (1907) |
Type species | |
Thermoascus aurantiacus Miehe (1907) | |
Species | |
T. aegyptiacus |
Thermoascus is a genus of soil fungi in the family Trichocomaceae. Species in the genus are characterized by the production of heat-resistant ascospores. Thermoascus was circumscribed by German botanist Hugo Miehe in 1907. [1]
The type species, Thermoascus aurantiacus , is of research interest because it secretes heat-resistant hydrolase enzymes that could possibly be used in biotechnological applications, such as the conversion of biomass to biofuels. [2] Genetic tools have been developed to genetically edit Thermoascus aurantiacus , such as an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol and a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system, which have been used to overexpress genes that correspond to production of enzymes that break down plant matter and inactivate genes. [3]
Another described species, Thermoascus isatschenkoi Malchevskaya (1939), [8] is considered doubtful due to a lack of examinable material and an incomprehensive description. [9]
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