Xerotolerant fungi in house dust: Taxonomy of Spiromastix, Pseudospiromastix and Sigleria gen. nov. in Spiromastigaceae (Onygenales, Eurotiomycetes)

Citation

Hirooka, Y., Tanney, J.B., Nguyen, H.D.T., Seifert, K.A. (2016). Xerotolerant fungi in house dust: Taxonomy of Spiromastix, Pseudospiromastix and Sigleria gen. nov. in Spiromastigaceae (Onygenales, Eurotiomycetes). Mycologia, [online] 108(1), 135-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.3852/15-065

Plain language summary

A family of moulds that was considered to be quite rare, centred around a genus called Spiromastix, was found to actually to be quite common when special methods were used to detect them in house dust collected in several different countries. We discovered eight new species and one new genus, almost tripling the number of known species in this group. They grow in very dry situations and are probably harmless occupants of our houses.

Abstract

During a global investigation of fungi in house dust, we isolated six novel arthroconidial fungi. Phylogenies from combined analysis of nuc rDNA 18S, 28S and internal transcribed spacers sequences demonstrated that these fungi and two species preserved in culture collections represent undescribed species of Spiromastigaceae, Onygenales. Seven of the eight species lacked sexual states and only characters of asexual states and growth rates on different media could be used to characterize them. The eighth species produced ascomata only on water agar. We introduce six new species and one new combination in Spiromastix and validate the recently proposed family Spiromastigaceae, genus Pseudospiromastix and combination Ps. tentaculata. The new genus Sigleria is proposed for two new species that differ from Spiromastix by conidiophore branching patterns, slower growth and a limited ability to utilize nitrate as a sole N source. A key to the three genera of Spiromastigaceae, Spiromastix, Pseudospiromastix and Sigleria, is provided. Phylogenetic analyses support the placement of Spiromastigaceae within Onygenales.

Publication date

2016-01-01

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