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Chrysosporium speluncarum, a new species resembling Ajellomyces capsulatus, obtained from bat guano in caves of temperate Europe

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Abstract

A new species, Chrysosporium speluncarum, obtained from bat guano in caves in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania, is described, based on phenotype and rDNA sequences. It possesses tuberculate conidia similar to the Histoplasma anamorph of Ajellomyces capsulatus, but it is not dimorphic, does not grow at 37°C, lacks microconidia, and is nonpathogenic and nonkeratinolytic. All studied characteristics suggest a close relationship with Renispora flavissima. The morphologically similar C. chiropterorum, another species known from the bat environment, is a relative of C. lobatum and Polytolypa hystricis, but is distinct from A. capsulatus and C. speluncarum. The affinity for bats and the presence of conidia with prominent tuberculations has originated convergently in several groups of onygenalean fungi. In addition, the occurrence of fungi mimicking A. capsulatus in caves of temperate Europe is reviewed.

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Abbreviations

SGA:

Sabouraud’s glucose agar

MEA:

Malt extract agar

PYE:

Phytone yeast extract agar

CER:

Pablum cereal agar

DSA:

Dextrose salts agar

CCF:

Culture Collection of Fungi, Prague

CMF:

Collection of Microscopic Fungi ISB, České Budějovice

SK:

Slovakia

CZ:

The Czech Republic

RO:

Romania

PRM:

Herbarium Mycologicum Musei Nationalis Prague

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Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to Czech mycologist, August J. C. Corda (1809–1894), who described the genus Chrysosporium, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth. This work was supported by the grant No. AV0Z60660521, MSM 0021620828 and GACR 206/08/P322. We are grateful to the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy of the Institute of Parasitology BC AS CR, v. v. i.) for SEM analysis, to Oleg Ditrich (Institute of Parasitology BC AS CR, v. v. i.) for the pathogenicity assay, to the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Cave Administration, to Traian Brad (Institute of Speleology E. Racoviţa, Cluj-Napoca) and the management of mentioned caves for allowing entry, to Ľubomír Kováč, Andrej Mock and Peter Ľuptáčik for helping during the collections and to Klára Kochtová for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre AS CR, v. v. i., Na Sádkách 7, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Alena Nováková

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01, Praha 2, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Kolařík

  3. Institute of Microbiology AS CR, v. v. i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Praha 4, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Kolařík

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  1. Alena Nováková
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Correspondence to Alena Nováková.

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Nováková, A., Kolařík, M. Chrysosporium speluncarum, a new species resembling Ajellomyces capsulatus, obtained from bat guano in caves of temperate Europe. Mycol Progress 9, 253–260 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-009-0634-0

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