The genusUncinocarpus(Onygenaceae) and its synonymBrunneospora: new concepts, combinations and connections to anamorphs inChrysosporium, and further evidence of relationship withCoccidioides immitis

摘要

The genusUncinocarpus(Onygenales, Onygenaceae) is emended to include keratinophilic fungi with discrete, globose gymnothecial ascomata without differentiated ascomatal hyphae and bearing uncinate, helical, or no appendages; oblate, punctate ascospores sometimes with irregular reticulations; bulbous initials, andMalbrancheaorChrysosporiumanamorphs. The new combinationUncinocarpus orissiis proposed forPseudoarachniotus orissi;Gymnoascus arxiiis shown to be a synonym. New records show that the fungus has a wide distribution from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The teleomorph is formed under laboratory conditions by mating representative isolates. The anamorph has been described under the namesChrysosporium zonatumandChrysosporium gourii.Chrysosporium queenslandicumis morphologically similar. Its teleomorphApinisia queenslandicais transferred also to the genusUncinocarpusasUncinocarpus queenslandicus.Brunneospora reticulata, the type species of the genusBrunneospora, is a synonym.Orromyces spiralisappears to be another name applied to this fungus. Development of helical coils in an isolate ofCoccidioides immitisprovides further evidence of a possible relationship between this dimorphic human pathogen and this group of ascomycetes.Key words:Uncinocarpus, Onygenales, systematics, keratinophiles, human pathogen.