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Updates on the Taxonomy of Mucorales with an Emphasis on Clinically Important Taxa

Summary

This research provides an updated understanding of how we classify and identify an important group of fungi called Mucorales, which can cause serious infections in humans. The findings help medical professionals better identify these fungi and understand their potential risks. Impacts on everyday life: • Improved diagnosis of fungal infections in hospitals • Better understanding of food spoilage caused by these fungi • Enhanced safety in food fermentation processes (like soy products) • More effective prevention of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients • Better quality control in biotechnology applications using these fungi

Background

Fungi of the order Mucorales are ubiquitous organisms that colonize wet, organic materials and are a constant part of the human environment. They have economic importance as fermentation agents for soybean products and enzyme producers, but can also act as plant parasites and cause food spoilage. Several species can cause life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Objective

To provide a comprehensive review of recent taxonomic changes in the order Mucorales, with particular focus on medically relevant taxa. The review aims to clarify current classification, species concepts, and identification methods while highlighting knowledge gaps in ecology and distribution.

Results

The order Mucorales now comprises 261 species in 55 genera, with 38 species reported to cause human infections. Major taxonomic revisions affected several clinically relevant genera including Lichtheimia, Mucor, Rhizomucor, and Rhizopus. ITS sequencing was found to be the most reliable method for species identification. The study revealed that many traditional morphological characteristics used for classification are not taxonomically informative.

Conclusion

Recent molecular studies have significantly changed the taxonomy of Mucorales, particularly affecting medically important taxa. While species identification methods have improved, understanding of the ecology and geographic distribution of many species remains limited. Further ecological studies are urgently needed to better understand these opportunistic pathogens and prevent infections.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof5040106
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