DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI
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Descriptions of Medical Fungi 53<br />
Cladophialophora Borelli<br />
The genus Cladophialophora is characterised by: (1) the absence of conidiophores,<br />
“shield cells,” or prominent hila (attachment points); (2) the ability to grow on media<br />
containing cycloheximide; and (3) having dry, non-fragile chains of conidia (Revankar<br />
and Sutton 2010). It has recently been re-evaluated by multilocus sequencing and<br />
currently contains seven species associated with human infection (Badali et al. 2008).<br />
Cladophialophora bantiana is the causative agent of numerous cases of cerebral<br />
phaeohyphomycosis many of which occur in immunocompetent individuals and most<br />
of which are fatal (Chakrabarti et al. 2016). C. carrionii and the recently described C.<br />
samoensis are agents of chromoblastomycosis. Less common species occasionally<br />
implicated in deep and superficial mycoses include, C. arxii, C. boppii, C. devriesii, C.<br />
emmonsii, C. modesta and C. saturnica. C. yegresii is a closely related environmental<br />
sister species to C. carrionii (Revankar and Sutton 2010, de Hoog et al. 1995, 2015).<br />
Cladophialophora bantiana (Saccardo) de Hoog et al.<br />
Synonymy: Xylohypha bantiana (Saccardo) McGinnis, Borelli and Ajello.<br />
Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli.<br />
Cladosporium trichoides Emmons.<br />
Cladophialophora bantiana has been isolated from soil and is a recognised agent of<br />
cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. The fungus is neurotropic and may cause brain abscess<br />
in both normal and immunosuppressed patients and is usually fatal. The fungus is likely<br />
introduced via inhalation and direct transfer to the brain via the paranasal sinuses, or<br />
traumatic head injury.<br />
WARNING: RG-3 organism. Cultures of C. bantiana represent a potential biohazard<br />
to laboratory personnel and must be handled with extreme caution in Class II Biological<br />
Safety Cabinet (BSCII).<br />
Morphological Description: Colonies are moderately fast growing, olivaceousgrey,<br />
suede-like to floccose and grow at temperatures up to 42-43 O C. Conidia are<br />
formed in long, sparsely branched, flexuose, acropetal chains from undifferentiated<br />
conidiophores. Conidia are one-celled (very occasionally two-celled), pale brown,<br />
smooth-walled, ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid and are 2-3 x 4-7 µm in size.<br />
C. bantiana may be distinguished from Cladosporium species by the absence of conidia<br />
with distinctly pigmented hila, the absence of shield cells and by growth at >40 O C<br />
(compared with C. carrionii which has a maximum growth temperature of 35-37 O C, and<br />
Cladosporium species which have a maximum of