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Gloeostereum cimri, a Novel Shelf Fungus Isolated from a Human Pulmonary Cyst

Summary

Researchers discovered a new species of fungus causing a lung infection in a patient. This fungus, named Gloeostereum cimri, belongs to a group called shelf fungi that typically grow on dead wood. This is the first time this type of fungus has been found causing infection in humans. The patient recovered after surgical removal of the infected tissue without needing antifungal medications. Impacts on everyday life: – Demonstrates that environmental fungi can sometimes cause human infections – Highlights the importance of proper diagnosis for unusual infections – Shows that surgical treatment can be effective without antifungal drugs – Adds to our understanding of fungal diseases – Emphasizes the need for monitoring new emerging pathogens

Background

Filamentous basidiomycetes (mushrooms and shelf fungi) are important environmental organisms rarely involved in human diseases despite their ubiquitous presence. While most clinically important basidiomycetes are yeasts, some filamentous species can colonize and infect human lungs, particularly in hosts with compromised immunity or anatomically impaired lungs. Previously, non-sporulating filamentous basidiomycetes from clinical materials were usually considered unidentifiable contaminants, but molecular identification tools have revealed an increasing number of clinical cases.

Objective

To identify and characterize a novel fungal species isolated from a symptomatic pulmonary infection case and determine its taxonomic position within Basidiomycota through molecular and morphological analysis.

Results

A non-sporulating fungus was isolated from sputum and biopsy material. ITS and LSU sequences placed it phylogenetically in Agaricales, family Cyphellaceae, identifying it as a member of shelf fungi in Gloeostereum, but without identity to any known species. The clinical strain showed high MIC to voriconazole (>8 µg/ml) but had low MIC to amphotericin B (0.5 µg/ml). The fungus was described as a new species named Gloeostereum cimri.

Conclusion

This study reports the first clinical case of a novel shelf fungus species, Gloeostereum cimri, causing symptomatic pulmonary infection. The fungus represents the first species in both Gloeostereum and Cyphellaceae to be reported from a clinical case. The patient improved after surgical excision without antifungal therapy.
  • Published in:Emerging Microbes & Infections,
  • Study Type:Case Study,
  • Source: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1769499
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