''Acremonium'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''.

Description

''Acremonium''

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their

hyphae A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

are fine and

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from , and . Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is named after its glassy appearance on fresh gross pathology. On light microscopy of H&E stained slides, the extracellula ...

, and produce mostly simple phialides. Their

conidia A conidium ( ; : conidia), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (: chlamydoconidia), is an asexual, non- motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are also ...

are usually one-celled (i.e. ameroconidia), hyaline or pigmented, globose to cylindrical, and mostly aggregated in slimy heads at the

apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics) A-Bomb Abomination Absorbing Man Abraxas Abyss Abyss is the name of two characters appearing in Ameri ...

of each phialide. '' Epichloë'' species are closely related and were once included in ''Acremonium'', but were later split off into a new genus '' Neotyphodium'', which has now been restructured within the genus '' Epichloë''.

Clinical significance

The genus ''Acremonium'' contains about 100 species, of which most are

saprophytic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi ...

, being isolated from dead plant material and soil. Many species are recognized as opportunistic pathogens of human and animals, causing

eumycetoma Eumycetoma, also known as Madura foot, is a persistent Mycoses, fungal infection of the skin and the tissues subcutaneous tissue, just under the skin, affecting most commonly the feet, although it can occur in hands and other body parts. It s ...

onychomycosis Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a fungal infection of the nail. Symptoms may include white or yellow nail discoloration, thickening of the nail, and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Fingernails may be affected, but it is ...

, and hyalohyphomycosis. Infections of humans by fungi of this genus are rare, but clinical manifestations of hyalohyphomycosis caused by ''Acremonium'' may include

arthritis Arthritis is a general medical term used to describe a disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, Joint effusion, swelling, and decreased range of motion of ...

osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis (OM) is the infectious inflammation of bone marrow. Symptoms may include pain in a specific bone with overlying redness, fever, and weakness. The feet, spine, and hips are the most commonly involved bones in adults. The cause is ...

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and covering of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One pa ...

endocarditis Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves. Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, o ...

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

cerebritis Cerebritis is the inflammation of the cerebrum, which performs a number of important functions, such as memory and speech. It is also defined as a purulent nonencapsulated parenchymal infection of the brain which is characterized by nonspecif ...

, and subcutaneous infection. The

cephalosporins The cephalosporins (sg. ) are a class of β-lactam antibiotics originally derived from the fungus ''Acremonium'', which was previously known as ''Cephalosporium''. Together with cephamycins, they constitute a subgroup of β-lactam antibiotic ...

, a class of β-lactam antibiotics, were derived from ''Acremonium''. It was first isolated as an antibiotic by the Italian pharmacologist

Giuseppe Brotzu Giuseppe Brotzu ( Cagliari, 24 January 1895 – Cagliari, 8 April 1976) was an Italian pharmacologist and politician. Biography Giuseppe Brotzu was born in Ghilarza, a town now part of the Province of Oristano, Sardinia. He graduated from ...

in 1948. Some species in the genus ''Acermonium'', such as

Acremonium egyptiacum ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

, can produce the

meroterpenoids A meroterpene (or meroterpenoid) is a chemical compound having a partial terpenoid structure. Examples Terpenophenolics Terpenophenolics are compounds that are part terpenes, part natural phenols. Plants in the genus '' Humulus'' and '' Cann ...

Ascofuranone Ascofuranone is an antibiotic produced by various ascomycete fungi including '' Acremonium sclerotigenum'' that inhibits the '' Trypanosoma brucei'' alternative oxidase and is a lead compound in efforts to produce other drugs targeting this enzy ...

and Ascochlorin, which have promising capabilities as antibiotics.

Species

* ''

Acremonium acutatum ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

'' * ''

Acremonium alabamense ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

'' * '' Acremonium alcalophilum'' * '' Acremonium alternatum'' * '' Acremonium antarcticum'' * '' Acremonium apii'' * '' Acremonium arxii'' * '' Acremonium atrogriseum'' * '' Acremonium bacillisporum'' * '' Acremonium bactrocephalum'' * '' Acremonium biseptum'' * '' Acremonium blochii'' * '' Acremonium borodinense'' * '' Acremonium brachypenium'' * ''

Acremonium breve ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and pr ...

'' * '' Acremonium brunnescens'' * '' Acremonium byssoides'' * '' Acremonium camptosporum'' * '' Acremonium cavaraeanum'' * '' Acremonium charticola'' * '' Acremonium chilense'' * '' Acremonium chrysogenum'' * '' Acremonium crotocinigenum'' * '' Acremonium cucurbitacearum'' * '' Acremonium curvulum'' * '' Acremonium cymosum'' * '' Acremonium dichromosporum'' * '' Acremonium diospyri'' * '' Acremonium domschii'' * ''

'' * '' Acremonium exiguum'' * '' Acremonium falciforme'' * '' Acremonium flavum'' * '' Acremonium furcatum'' * '' Acremonium fusidioides'' * '' Acremonium fusisporum'' * '' Acremonium gamsii'' * ''

Acremonium glaucum ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

'' * '' Acremonium guillematii'' * '' Acremonium hansfordii'' * '' Acremonium hennebertii'' * '' Acremonium hyalinulum'' * '' Acremonium hypholomatis'' * '' Acremonium implicatum'' * '' Acremonium incoloratum'' * '' Acremonium incrustatum'' * '' Acremonium isabellae'' * '' Acremonium kiliense'' * '' Acremonium lichenicola'' * '' Acremonium lindtneri'' * '' Acremonium lolii'' * '' Acremonium longisporum'' * '' Acremonium masseei'' * '' Acremonium minutisporum'' * '' Acremonium nectrioidea'' * '' Acremonium nepalense'' * '' Acremonium nigrosclerotium'' * '' Acremonium ochraceum'' * '' Acremonium olidum'' * '' Acremonium persicinum'' * '' Acremonium pinkertoniae'' * '' Acremonium polychromum'' * ''

Acremonium potronii ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

'' * '' Acremonium psammosporum'' * '' Acremonium pseudozeylanicum'' * '' Acremonium psychrophilum'' * '' Acremonium pteridii'' * '' Acremonium radiatum'' * '' Acremonium recifei'' * ''

Acremonium restrictum ''Acremonium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. It used to be known as ''Cephalosporium''. Description ''Acremonium'' species are usually slow-growing and are initially compact and moist. Their hyphae are fine and hyaline, and ...

References

External links

Hyaline Hyphomycetes
{{Authority control Sordariomycetes genera Hypocreaceae

Description

Clinical significance

Species

See also

References

External links