Contaminants/Opportunistic Fungi

Paecilomyces Characteristic are the long, tapered phialides that end in a point, giving rise to chains of oval conidia that tend to become larger toward the end of the chain.

Images representative of select genera of the hyaline molds. Select the identity of each from the list below. Penicillium ____ Paecilomyces ____ Scopulariopsis ___ Gliocladium ____ Acremonium ____

Fusarium spp. Hyaline mold

What species is this? -Necrotic skin lesions, sinusitis, wound infection -Hyaline septate hyphae, -"Canoe" shaped macroconidia -cottony, fluffy -Colony color varies among species

Fungus: Mucor Class: Zygomycetes Hyaline mold

What's this thing? -Lid lifter (matures in 4 days) -looks like cotton candy - white at first then grey, reverse is white -no rhizoids, single or branching sporangiophore. -aseptate

A rapidly growing 4-day old, silky to finely granular colony of Chrysosporium species confirmed by the microscopic appearance of smooth, clavate microconidia borne at the tips of long, slender conidiophores. Colonies would not grow on selective media containing cycloheximide, an additional feature, in addition to rapid growth, to rule out the dimorphic fungus, Blastomyces sp.

What's this?

Penicillium sp. Green, coarsely granular rugose colonies with white outer apron. Branching primary metulae and flat-tipped phialides with chains of small, regular sized, spherical conidia (brushlike).

What's this?

Scedosporium sp. -mouse grey colonies -production of pigmented clavate microconidia at the tips of delicate, non-inflated conidiophores

What's this?

A. flavus

Whats this?

Arrow A - phialide Arrow B - vesicle Arrow C- conidiophore

Arrow A - Arrow B - Arrow C-

Acremonium One of the hyaline molds that produce oval conidia in clusters, each supported by a thin narrow conidiophore, is characteristic of Acremonium sp.

Images representative of select genera of the hyaline molds. Select the identity of each from the list below. Penicillium ____ Paecilomyces ____ Scopulariopsis ___ Gliocladium ____ Acremonium ____

Scopulariopsis Characteristic are the chains of large conidia called "annelloconidia" because they are attached to the phialide and one another by a flat scar called an annellide.

Images representative of select genera of the hyaline molds. Select the identity of each from the list below. Penicillium ____ Paecilomyces ____ Scopulariopsis ___ Gliocladium ____ Acremonium ____

A. terreus In some instances it may be difficult to make a microscopic identification of Aspergillus terreus based on the morphology of the fruiting head alone. In such cases, a small block of agar can be dug out from the culture, to include segments of the vegetative mycelium. This can be squashed beneath a cover slip on a microscope slide and observed under a low power objective. Aspergillus terreus has the unique feature of producing spherical microconidia attached laterally along the hyphae. This photomicrograph of a direct mount of subsurface hyaline, septate hyphae of Aspergillus terreus, from the walls of which are produced several thin-walled, spherical microconidia (red arrows), helpful in the microscopic identification of the species.

Pictured is the subsurface mycelia of a rapidly growing yellow colony. Based on this microscopic feature, the most likely identification is: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus nidulans

Fusarium is the most common cause of mycotic keratitis. This fungus can be suspected from the somewhat fluffy colony producing distinctive rose-red pigment. The identification is confirmed microscopically by observing the bent, sickle-form, boat-like, multi-celled macroconidia (red arrows). Loose clusters of microconidia may also be formed (blue arrow), similar to Acremonium sp., which is taxonomically a synanamorph. Also look for the hair-like "foot cell" at one end of the pointed end cell of a macroconidium. This ruled out Cylindrocarpon, a soil fungus that also produces sickle macroconidia, but without "foot cells".

Portions of the corneal scraping were inoculated to a plate of Sabouraud's dextrose agar. The colony shown in the photograph was recovered after 5 days of incubation at 300C. A lactophenol blue mount of the colony is shown in the photograph on right.

Purple arrow - foot cell Green arrow - conidiophore Blue arrow - phialide Red arrow - conidia

Purple arrow - Green arrow - Blue arrow - Red arrow -

Red arrow - phialide Green arrow - metulae Yellow arrow - vesicle Blue arrow - conidia

Red arrow - Green arrow - Yellow arrow - Blue arrow -

The large, spherical, echinulate conidia of Sepedonium sp. are similar in appearance to the mold form of Histoplasma capsulatum. Separating the two species involves the more rapid colony growth of Sepedonium, its inability to grow on selective media containing cycloheximide, and the ability of Histoplasma to convert to a yeast form by incubating at 35-37oC.

Select the correct answer for the image. What are the distinguishing features? Coccidioides Blastomyces Histoplasma Paracoccidioides Sporothrix

Gliocladium sp. Gliocladium sp. can be microscopically distinguished from Trichoderma sp. by the large ball-like collection of conidia supported by three or four branching, tapered conidiophores, much as the outstretched fingers of a hand. The conidia clusters of Trichoderma sp. are smaller and each supported by a single, short conidiophore laterally produced from the hyphae.

Select the correct answer for the image. What are the distinguishing features? Gliocladium Paecilomyces Acremonium Trichoderma Aspergillus

Trichoderma sp Gliocladium sp. can be microscopically distinguished from Trichoderma sp. by the large ball-like collection of conidia supported by three or four branching, tapered conidiophores, much as the outstretched fingers of a hand. The conidia clusters of Trichoderma sp. are smaller and each supported by a single, short conidiophore laterally produced from the hyphae.

Select the correct answer for the image. What are the distinguishing features? Gliocladium Paecilomyces Acremonium Trichoderma Aspergillus

A bit of a trick question. The two "hyaline" molds that are to be selected as producing "lollipops" are Chrysosporium and Scedosporium. Recall that the latter, Scedosporium apiospermum, is distinguished because of the dark brown pigmentation of the conidia. However, if you also selected "Blastomyces", give yourself credit even though it is a "dimorphic" and not a "hyaline" mold. In the mold form, Blastomyces produces "lollipop" conidiation is similar to Chrysosporium sp.

Select the correct answer for the image. What are the distinguishing features? Scedosporium Sepedonium Chrysosporium Beauveria Blastomyces

A. nidulans The aspergilli belong to the Ascomycetes, and have the capability of reproducing sexually (telomorphic) through the production of ascospores. A. nidulans and A. glaucus are the more common species producing ascospores. Ascospores, clustered in 4 or 8, are characteristically contained within small sac-like structures called asci. The asci, in turn, are contained within a larger, closed bag-like structure called a cleistothecium.

Some species of Aspergillus possess the ability to demonstrate both their sexual and asexual forms within the same culture. The cleistothecia (sexual form) pictured here are more commonly seen with which one of the species listed: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus nidulans

Note the border to border growth of a finely granular, distinctly dark green surface mycelium, characteristic of: Gliocladium or Trichoderma Microscopic examination is required to distinguish between these two genera

The colony image grew on Sabouraud's agar at 30C after 4 days incubation. Likely identifications are: Gliocladium Paecilomyces Acremonium Trichoderma Aspergillus

The green, granular surface mycelium, radiating rugae, and outer yellow-white apron is highly suggestive of Penicillium species, which is the image shown here. However, in reference to to the previous slide, Paecilomyces and Aspergillus would also be acceptable as possible responses. Because the colony morphology often does not provide a definitive identification, microscopic examination of a transparency or tease mount preparations must be made.

The colony image grew on Sabouraud's agar at 30C after 4 days incubation. Likely identifications are: Penicillium Paecilomyces Scopulariopsis Gliocladium Aspergillus

Scopulariopsis -annelloconidia (red arrow)

The fungus colony shown in this photograph was recovered after 5 days incubation at 35C from an induced sputum specimen obtained from a 74 year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What presumptive identification might you make?

Red: phialides Purple:metulae Green:conidiophore In turn the phialides give rise to long chains of small, spherical and regular-sized conidia. Penicillium

The image photograph is of a fruiting head of Penicillium species. Name the structures at the tips of each of the arrows. Red: Purple: Green:

This lactophenol aniline blue mount illustrates a fruiting head of Aspergillus fumigatus, characterized by a club-shaped vesicle, covered by a single row of phialides, giving rise to long chains of conidia that turn inward. The vesicles are typically club-shaped and measure from 30 - 50um in diameter. A single row of phialides are borne from the top half of each vesicle. A long row of spherical conidia are borne from the tips of the phialides, tending to turn inward toward the central axis.

The sporulation observed in the image is most consistent with which one of the following Aspergillus species: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus

A. niger - The upper photomicrograph illustrates a fruiting head that is covered by the over-production of black conidia, obscuring the vesicle. In the lower image are shown bare spherical vesicles, covering the entire surface with a double row of phialides, representing the microscopic features of Aspergillus niger. - The conidiophores are relatively long, measuring 300-500 um in length. - The fruiting heads are often obscured by a dense aggregation of jet black conidia, covering the vesicle and phialides. - When naked fruiting heads are seen, the vesicle is spherical and a double row of cells are seen: an inner row of metulae and an outer row of phialides that are borne from the entire circumference. - Short chains of jet black conidia may be seen, often having rough, echinulate walls.

These photomicrographs were taken from a rapidly growing colony on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA). The colony initially was white but turned black with age. The most likely identification of this isolate is: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus

None of the above! The image is actually Syncephalastrum sp., but resembles A. flavus due to the appearance of the fruiting head. The two may be distinguished by the following: A. flavus has septate hyphae and Syncephalastrum doesn't have phialides or vesicles.

This image was taken from a dark gray cotton candy-like colony which quickly lifted the lid of the petri dish. Based on the microscopic morphology and growth characteristics this organism is most likely: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus nidulans None of the above

This photomicrograph is of a single fruiting head of Aspergillus flavus, characterized by a spherical vesicle covered over the entire surface with a double row of phialides (biseriate). A few detached conidia can be seen. The conidiophores are long, measuring 500 - 800um in length. The vesicles are spherical and measure 23-45 um in diameter. Phialides are borne from the entire circumference of the vesicle, either as a single or more typically as a double row (yellow arrows). Relatively long rows of spherical conidia are borne from the tips of the phialides.

This lactophenol aniline blue mount was taken from a 4 day old yellow-green mold. The phialide development on the entire surface of the vesicle is seen most commonly with: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus

This is a photomicrograph of material aspirated from a fungus ball lesion. Note the tell tale vesicle covered on the top half with a single row of phialides (blue arrow). A tentative identification of Aspergillus fumigatus can be made.

This photomicrograph is of material aspirated from a fungus ball lesion. The appearance of the fruiting head pictured in the left-center of the image is most consistent with an identification of: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus nidulans

-This photomicrograph is of a fruiting head of Aspergillus terreus, showing a club-shaped vesicle covered on the top one-half by a double row of phialides. Long chains of conidia sweep outward from the tips of the phialides. -The vesicles are dome-shaped and relatively small, from 10 - 16um in diameter. -A double row of cells are borne from the top half of each vesicle, an inner row of metulae shorter than the distal row of phialedes. -Long rows of spherical conidia are borne from the tips of the phialides, having an outwardly projecting, sweeping appearance. -The conidiophores are relatively long, measuring 300- 500um in length.

This photomicrograph was taken from a rapidly growing velvety cinnamon-yellow colony. An inner row of metulae and outer row of phialides may be seen arising from the vesicle (arrows). This colony description and microscopic features are most consistent is an identification of: Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus niger Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus flavus

Yellow arrow - conidia Green arrow - phialides Blue arrow - vesicle Red arrow - conidiophore

What are the arrows pointing at? Yellow arrow - Green arrow - Blue arrow - Red arrow -

A. fumigatus. It's a sinus fungus ball.

What aspergelli causes this?

A. niger

What organism is this?

Acremonium sp. -Illustrated in the photograph is a 5 day old colony grown on Cornmeal agar, the medium that presents the classic morphology. The surface is smooth to silky in consistency with a pale yellow to orange pigmentation. -Lactophenol blue mount illustrating long, delicate conidiophores bearing elliptical conidia from their tips, arranged in a diphtheroidal pattern. -Background hyphae are hyaline with thin parallel walls. -Second view of a fruiting head of Acremonium species illustrating the diphtheroidal arrangement of elliptical elongated conidia at the tip of a narrow conidophore. Note that select conidia are dividing into two cells.

What's this?

Acrenomium spp. -Silky, smooth gray yellow colony -Clusters of diphtheroidal conidia atop slender, tapered conidiophore

What's this?

Fusarium spp. -distinctive rose-red pigmented rugose colony -large, multi-celled, sickle-form conidia, each with a foot cell

What's this?

Paecilomyces sp. Buff to green-brown, granular colonies with white outer apron. Phialides with tapered tips and chains of elliptical, irregularly sized conidia.

What's this?

Trichoderma sp. -"green lawn" of growth extending from border to border. -Clusters of spherical conidia are small, each supported by a single straight phialide with tapered tip. -Unstained mount of Trichoderma sp. showing characteristic small, ball-like clusters of spherical conidia each supported at the tips of tapered phialides derived from straight conidiophores that branch from hyaline hyphae.

What's this?

Scopulariopsis sp.

What's this? 5-day old colony showing distinctive buff-colored, coarsely granular surface .Branching phialides from the tips of which are produced chains of large (4-5 um), lemon-shaped conidia with flattened bases representing scars known as "annellides".

Gliocladium sp. Green arrow - cluster of conidia Blue arrow - branched phialides Red arrow - conidiophore

What's this? Green arrow - Blue arrow - Red arrow -

Penicillium -Blue to blue-green colonies -hyaline septate hyphae -brushlike conidiophores

Whats species is this?

Fungus: Rhizopus Class: Zygomycetes

Whats this one? -unbranched sporangiophore opposite of rhizoid. -lid lifter -aseptate

A. fumigatus

Whats this?

A. niger

Whats this?