Cephalotrichum and Related Synnematous Fungi with Notes on Species from the Built Environment

Summary

This research provides an important update to our understanding of indoor fungi, particularly focusing on the genus Cephalotrichum. These fungi are commonly found in buildings and other human-made environments. The study helps scientists better identify and classify these fungi, which is crucial for understanding their potential impacts on indoor environments. Key impacts on everyday life: – Improved identification methods for fungi found in buildings and homes – Better understanding of which fungal species commonly occur in indoor environments – Enhanced knowledge for building maintenance and indoor air quality assessment – Contribution to understanding potential health implications of indoor fungi – Development of more accurate tools for environmental monitoring

Background

The genus Cephalotrichum is characterized by dry-spored, indeterminate synnemata and enteroblastic percurrent conidiogenesis, with no known sexual morph. Recent taxonomic revisions of Microascaceae focusing on synnematous fungi have enabled re-identification of previously isolated indoor strains of Cephalotrichum.

Objective

To construct an updated phylogenetic overview of the Cephalotrichum genus, evaluate previously unavailable species described from China, and analyze strains from the built environment. The study also aimed to examine cultures and specimens of an anomalous coprophilous white species to complete the phylogenetic analysis of classical species available in pure culture.

Results

The study identified sixteen phylogenetic species in Cephalotrichum, including five new species: C. domesticum, C. lignatile, C. telluricum, C. tenuissimum and C. transvaalense. Five Cephalotrichum species were found to occur in built environments: C. domesticum, C. gorgonifer, C. microsporum, C. purpureofuscum, and C. verrucisporum. C. gorgonifer was identified as the most common indoor species with nine strains. The study of Chinese herbarium material resulted in accepting three additional species while considering four as nomena dubia and placing five in synonymy with other Cephalotrichum species.

Conclusion

The research provided a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Cephalotrichum species, clarifying the identity of recently described Chinese species, reclassifying the white synnematous species as Acaulium album, and confirming the identity of species occurring in built environments. The study demonstrated that all 16 recognized phylogenetic species can be identified using tef1 and tub2 partial gene sequences.
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