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Archives for January 2019

Acremonium

 

Characteristics: Allergen Type I and Type III also considered to be pathogenic and toxigenic.

Description: It is often found in soil, dead organic debris, hay, and food. This mold has a white, pale pink, or salmon coloration with a thinly velvety texture. When this mold is wet it moves in water droplets. When it is dry it blows in the wind.

To grow indoors, this fungus requires very wet conditions. Most species of Acremonium do not grow at 98.6°F.

Allergen: it has been known to cause both Type I and Type III symptoms.

Pathogen: it has been known to cause mycetoma, keratitis, onychomycosis as well as other rare infections reported in immunodeficient patients, and in persons with wound injuries.

Toxigenic agent: it produces cephalosporins, an important class of antibiotics. Acremonium was formerly referred to in the science world as Cephalosporium.

 

 

Alternaria

 

 Characteristics: Allergen Type I and Type III also considered to be pathogenic and toxigenic.

Description: Alternaria in one of the most common fungi worldwide. Its colonies are generally found in soil, dead organic debris, on food, textiles, and weakened plants with a dark olive green to brown coloration with a velvety texture. When this mold is wet it moves in water droplets. When it is dry it blows in the wind. Most species of Alternaria do not grow at 98.6° F.

Allergen: it has been known to cause both Type I and Type III symptoms.

Pathogen: it has been known to cause nasal lesions, subcutaneous lesions, and nail infections. The majority of infections occur in people with underlying disease or in those taking immunosuppressive drugs.

Toxigenic agent: it produces alternariol (an antifungal), AME (metabolite), tenuazonic acid, and altertoxins. It can be used for biocontrol to kill weeds and plants.

 

 

Amerospores

 

Characteristics: There is no information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. There are no studies are available as an allergy response, pathogens or toxic agents.

Description: Amerospores are pieces and parts of unrelated fungi. If you look at Amerospores under a microscope these spores as parts can’t be identified. You can think of these as “baby spores”.

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Amphobotrys

Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.

Description: Amphobotrys species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is most closely related to Botrytis. Recorded sources of isolation are from plants (Euphorbia, Ricinus).

Allergen: no information is available.

Pathogen: no information is available.

Toxigenic agent: no information is available.

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Annellophora/Taeniolella rudis

Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. This mold is commonly referred to a lumberyard mold

Description: Annellophora species are common, but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is related to Taeniolella. In particular, Taeniolella rudis has very similar morphology. The spores of both genera are dark brown and distinctive. Annellophora species have areas of successive proliferations, whereas Taeniolella rudis does not.

Anthrobotrys

Anthrobotrys species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal aerobiota. No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity.

This mold is rarely found indoors, as it is found in soil. It is capable of capturing nematodes.



Arthrospore formers

Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity.

Description: Arthrospores is a very primitive spore type, formed by the breaking up of fungal mycelia. Many yeast-like fungi such as the genera Geotricum and Trichosporon form arthrospores.

These organisms require a series of biochemical tests for definitive identification. Many microfungi (such as the dermatophytes) form more than one kind of spore, including arthrospores, as well as spores that are morphologically distinct.

Other microfungi form only arthrospores, but with mechanisms or other structural morphologies that are unique.

Most of the basidiomycetes (mushrooms) form arthrospores as part of their mycelial phase; these arthrospores are not distinctive and are for the most part, not an aid in identification.

Arthrinium

Characteristics: The only species of Arthrinium known as an allergen is Arthrinium sphaerospermum.

Not considered a pathogen or toxigenic agent.

Description: It is often found in soil or decomposing plant material with a white coloration and has a texture of wooly tufts or long soft hairs. Over time, brown to black spore clusters develop. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind.