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Apophysomyces



Apophysomyces sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Zygomycota
Class: Zygomycetes
Order: Mucorales
Family: Mucoraceae
Genus: Apophysomyces
Misra, Srivastava & Lata.
Species: A. elegans
Binomial name
Apophysomyces elegans

Apophysomyces is a filamentous fungus that is commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. It normally grows in tropical to subtropical regions.[1]

The genus Apophysomyces currently contains only a single species, Apophysomyces elegans.

Contents

Characteristics

Among the other members of zygomycetes, Apophysomyces elegans mostly resembles those from genus Absidia. However, its bell-shaped (although not conical) apophyses (outgrowth), the existence of its foot-cell like hyphal segment, rhizoids produced opposite to the sporangiophores upon cultivation on plain agar, the darker and thicker subapical segment, and inability to sporulate on routine culture media help in distinguishing Apophysomyces elegans.[2]

Apophysomyces elegans is a thermotolerant fungus: it has been found to grow favourably at temperatures of 26°C and 37°C, and it grows rapidly at 42°C. Its colonies are fluffy and cottony in appearance. The surface of the colony is white initially and turns to a brownish-grey or yellowish-cream as the culture ages, while the underside is white to pale yellow in colour.[3][4]

Pathogenicity

Normally, no special precautions are needed with regard to this fungus.

However, Apophysomyces elegans is the cause of the rare infection mucormycosis (also known as zygomycosis) in humans, which is often fatal.[5][6]

Infection is usually acquired via traumatic implantations associated with soil or decaying vegetable matter (such as from accidental injuries or insect bites). Invasive soft tissue infections can develop on burns or wounds which are contaminated by soil. Unlike other zygomycosis, the affected host is usually otherwise immunocompetent. Apophysomyces elegans infections present most commonly as necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, and angioinvasion.[7][8][9] Systemic[10] and secondary renal and bladder infections[11] have also been reported.

References

  1. ^ L. Collier, A. Balows, and M. Sussman, "Topley & Wilson's Microbiology and Microbial Infections", 9th ed. (1998), vol. 4. (London, Sydney, Auckland, New York). ISBN 0-340-80912-4 (ISBN is for 10th ed.)
  2. ^ Davise H. Larone, "Medically Important Fungi - A Guide to Identification", 3rd ed. (1995). (ASM Press, Washington, D.C.). ISBN 1-555-81172-8 (ISBN is for 4th ed.)
  3. ^ L. Collier, A. Balows, and M. Sussman, "Topley & Wilson's Microbiology and Microbial Infections", 9th ed. (1998), vol. 4, p. 463. (London, Sydney, Auckland, New York). ISBN 0-340-80912-4 (ISBN is for 10th ed.)
  4. ^ Davise H. Larone, "Medically Important Fungi - A Guide to Identification", 3rd ed. (1995). (ASM Press, Washington, D.C.). ISBN 1-555-81172-8 (ISBN is for 4th ed.)
  5. ^ J.A. Ribes, C.L. Vanover-Sams, and D.J. Baker, "Zygomycetes in human disease", Clinical Microbiology Reviews 13 (2000), pp. 236-301.
  6. ^ M.A. Wieden, K.K. Steinbronn, A.A. Padhye, L. Ajello, and F.W. Chandler, "Zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans", Journal of Clinical Microbiology 22 (1985), pp. 522-526.
  7. ^ R.D. Cooter, I.S. Lim, D.H. Ellis, and I.O.W. Leitch, "Burn wound zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans", Journal of Clinical Microbiology 28 (1990), pp. 2151-2153.
  8. ^ V. Lakshmi, T.S. Rani, S. Sharma, V.S. Mohan, C. Sundaram, R.R. Rao, and G. Satyanarayana, "Zygomycotic necrotizing fasciitis caused by Apophysomyces elegans", Journal of Clinical Microbiology 31 (1993), pp. 1368-1369.
  9. ^ M.A. Wieden, K.K. Steinbronn, A.A. Padhye, L. Ajello, and F.W. Chandler, "Zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans", Journal of Clinical Microbiology 22 (1985), pp. 522-526.
  10. ^ R.M. Lawrence, W.T. Snodgrass, G.W. Reichel, A.A. Padhyl, L. Ajello, and F.W. Chandler, "Systemic zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans", Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology 24 (1986), 57-65.
  11. ^ P.C. Okhuysen, J.H. Rex, M. Kapusta, and C. Fife, "Successful treatment of extensive posttraumatic soft-tissue and renal infections due to Apophysomyces elegans", Clinical Infectious Diseases 19 (1994), pp. 329-331.

See also

  • Mucormycosis (specific term for infection caused by Mucoraceae family moulds)
  • Zygomycosis (a more generic term for infection caused by Mucoraceae and various other mould varieties; the term Phycomycosis is also used).
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Apophysomyces". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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