Arachnomyces bostrychodes explained

Arachnomyces bostrychodes is a species of infectious ascomycete fungus discovered in 2021 from clinical specimens of fungal strains in Texas, United States.[1]

Etymology

The specific epithet comes from the Greek βοστρυχος-, meaning curl, referencing the curly appearance of the reproductive hyphae.[1]

Morphology and asexual reproduction

A. bostrychodes grows septate, hyaline, branched, vegetative hyphae with smooth and thin walls, between 1 and 2 μm wide. The fertile hyphae are well-differentiated, arising as lateral branches from the vegetative hyphae, successively branching to form dense, tightly curled, sinuous clusters that are also between 1 and 2 μm wide, forming random arthroconidia both intercalary and terminally.[1]

The conidia measure 4–8 x 1–2 μm, are mostly curved and truncated at one or more commonly both ends; they are enteroarthric, hyaline, one-celled, smooth-walled, cylindrical, barrel-shaped; they are finger-shaped when terminal. The conidia are separated from the fertile hyphae by rhexolysis. There have been no observations of chlamydospores, racquet-shaped hyphae, setae, or sexual reproduction.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Rodríguez-Andrade E, Cano-Lira JF, Wiederhold N, etal.. A revision of malbranchea-like fungi from clinical specimens in the United States of America reveals unexpected novelty. IMA Fungus. 12. 25. 7 September 2021. 1 . 10.1186/s43008-021-00075-x. 34493345 . 8422767 . 2210-6359 . free .