Proposed nomenclature for Pseudallescheria,Scedosporium and related genera

As a result of fundamental changes in the International Code of Nomenclature on the use of separate names for sexual and asexual stages of fungi,generic names of many groups should be reconsidered.Members of the ECMM/ISHAM working group on Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium infections herein advocate a novel nomenclature for genera and species in Pseudallescheria,Scedosporium and allied taxa.The generic names Parascedosporium,Lomentospora,Petriella,Petriellopsis,and Scedosporium are proposed for a lineage within Microascaceae with mostly Scedosporium anamorphs producing slimy,annellidic conidia.Considering that Scedosporium has priority over Pseudallescheria and that Scedosporium prolificans is phylogenetically distinct from the other Scedosporium species,some name changes are proposed.Pseudallescheria minutispora and Petriellidium desertorum are renamed as Scedosporium minutisporum and S.desertorum,respectively.Scedosporium prolificans is renamed as Lomentospora prolificans.

Phylogenetic and ecological reevaluation of the order Onygenales

The order Onygenales is classified in the class Eurotiomycetes of the subphylum Pezizomycotina.Families in this order have classically been isolated from soil and dung,and two lineages contain causative agents of superficial,cutaneous and systemic infections in mammals.The ecology and habitat choices of the species are driven mainly by the keratin and cellulose degradation abilities.The present study aimed to investigate whether the ecological trends of the members of Onygenales can be interpreted in an evolutionary sense,linking phylogenetic parameters with habitat preferences,to achieve polyphasic definitions of the main taxonomic groups.Evolutionary processes were estimated by multiple gene genealogies and divergence time analysis.Previously described families,namely,Arthrodermataceae,Ajellomycetaceae,Ascosphaeraceae,Eremascaceae,Gymnoascaceae,Onygenaceae and Spiromastigoidaceae,were accepted in Onygenales,and two new families,Malbrancheaceae and Neogymnomycetaceae,were introduced.A number of species could not be assigned to any of the defined families.Our study provides a revised overview of the main lines of taxonomy of Onygenales,supported by multilocus analyses of ITS,LSU,TUB,TEF1,TEF3,RPB1,RPB2,and ribosomal protein 60S L10(L1)(RP60S)sequences,combined with available data on ecology,physiology,morphology,and genomics.

Chaetomium-like fungi causing opportunistic infections in humans:a possible role for extremotolerance

Members of the family Chaetomiaceae are ubiquitous ascosporulating fungi commonly,which reside in soil enriched with manure or cellulosic materials.Their role as human pathogens is largely ignored.However,the ability of some species to grow at high temperature enables them to play an important role as opportunistic pathogens.The family contains several genera and species that have never been reported to cause human infection.Hereby,three new species are described;two belong to the genus Subramaniula and one represents a Chaetomium species.Subramaniula asteroides was isolated from various sources including eye and skin infections as well as from the natural environment,and S.obscura was isolated from a toe infection.Chaetomium anamorphosum was isolated from a kidney transplant patient suffering from fungal peritonitis.All species described were previously misidentified as Papulaspora spp.due to the formation of cellular clumps or bulbil-like structures,which are characteristic of Papulaspora.The isolates failed to form sexual fruit bodies and ascospores remained absent,which is an unusual feature for the generally ascosporulating genera Chaetomium and Subramaniula;minute conidia from phialides were sometimes observed.