Cunninghamella bertholletiae
| Cunninghamella bertholletiae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Zygomycota |
| Class: | Mucormycotina |
| Order: | Mucorales |
| Genus: | Cunninghamellaceae |
| Species: | C. bertholletiae |
| Binomial name | |
|
Cunninghamella bertholletiae Stadel (1911) |
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Cunninghamella bertholletiae is a species of zygomycetous fungi in the order Mucorales. It is found globally, with increased prevalence in Mediterranean and subtropical climates. It typically displays a saprotrophic lifestyle, and is found in a wide variety of ecological niches, including soil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, crops, and human and animal waste. Although infections are still rare, C. betholletiae is emerging as an opportunistic human pathogen, predominantly in immunocompromised people, leukemia patients, and people with uncontrolled diabetes.Cunninghamella bertholletiae infections are often highly invasive, and can be more difficult to treat with antifungal drugs than infections with other species of the Mucorales, making prompt and accurate recognition and diagnosis of mycoses caused by this fungus an important medical concern.
Cunninghamella bertholletiae grows as a mold. Individual cells appear hyaline, but masses of fungi are darker in colour. Colonies initially appear white, and become grey and powdery when they sporulate.Cunninghamella bertholletiae displays very rapid growth on Sabouraud's agar (up to 20mm per day), which differentiates it from members of the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. However, culturing clinical materials infected by this species has been known to yield false negative results. This species has very wide (10-20 µm), aseptate or partially septate hyphae, which contributes to a high capacity for cytoplasmic streaming. Cytoplasmic streaming allows rapid diffusion of nutrients from a local nutrient source, which causes high growth rates and rapid nutrient depletion in culture or on limited substrates. Like other members of the order Mucorales, C. bertholletiae is thermotolerant, with a maximum growth temperature of 45-50˚C.
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