Corynascus

Abstract: Species of the genus Myceliophthora and its teleomorph Corynascus have attracted increasing interest due to their potential to produce thermostable enzymes. This study re-assessed the phylogenetic relationship of 49 isolates of nine species belonging to Myceliophthora and Corynascus. One species, M. vellerea, was shown not to belong to the genus Myceliophthora and should be placed in the genus Ctenomyces. The other species belonged to two phylogenetic clusters: mesophilic fungi with the type species M. lutea and C. sepedonium, and thermophilic fungi with M. thermophila, M. hinnulea and C. thermophilus. The phylogenetic data provides no clear separation of the two genera Corynascus and Myceliophthora. To avoid confusion in future taxonomic studies, it is proposed that all existing Corynascus species be renamed to Myceliophthora, which is the old name and the one more frequently used. Furthermore, this study identified two groups within the isolates listed as M. thermophila and assigned one group (five isolates) to M. heterothallica based on AFLP analysis and mating behavior. This study provides new insights into the genetic differences within the genus Myceliophthora and will therefore be essential for the interpretation of future genomic and physiological studies of these species.

Abstract: A third generation glucose biosensor working under physiological conditions with a linear range of 0.1–30 mM, a detection limit of 0.05 mM, and a sensitivity of 222 nA µM−1 cm−2 has been developed by co-adsorption of cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) from the ascomycete Corynascus thermophilus (CtCDH) and oxidatively shortened single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

Abstract: The keratinophilic fungi of 40 sewage sludge samples from Upper Egypt were studied using a goat hair-baiting technique. 43 species representing 22 genera were isolated, 17 species of which were dermatophytes and closely related fungi: Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, C. asperatum, C. georgii, C. indicum, C. keratinophilum, C. pseudomerdarium, C. queenslandicum, Chrysosporium state of Thielavia sepedonium, C. tropicum, Microsporum cookei, M. gypseum, Myceliophthora anamorph of Corynascus novoguineensis, M. vellerea and Trichophyton terrestre. 26 species of cycloheximide resistant fungi were collected and these included members of Acremonium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Cunninghamella, Emericella, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Penicillium and others.

Abstract: Based on a number of isolates of Myceliophthora (Chaetomiaceae, Sordariales, Ascomycota) recently isolated from soil samples collected in USA, the taxonomy of the genus was re-evaluated through phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region and genes for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II and translation elongation factor 1α. Members of Myceliophthora were split into four monophyletic clades strongly supported by molecular and phenotypic data. Such clades correspond with Myceliophthora, now restricted only to the type species of the genus Corynascus, which is re-established with five species, the new monotypic genus Crassicarpon and also the new genus Thermothelomyces (comprising four species). Myceliophthora lutea is mesophilic and a permanently asexual morph compared to the members of the other three mentioned genera, which also are able to sexually reproduce morphs with experimentally proven links to their asexual morphs. The asexual morph of M. lutea is characterized by broadly ellipsoidal, smooth-walled conidia with a wide, truncate base. Crassicarpon thermophilum is thermophilic and heterothallic and produces spherical to cuneiform, smooth-walled conidia and cleistothecial ascomata of smooth-walled, angular cells and ascospores with a germ pore at each end. Corynascus spp. are homothallic and mesophilic and produce spherical, mostly ornamented conidia and cleistothecial ascomata with textura epidermoidea composed of ornamented wall cells, and ascospores with one germ pore at each end. Thermothelomyces spp. are thermophilic, heterothallic and characterized by similar ascomata and conidia as Corynascus spp., but its ascospores exhibit only a single germ pore. A dichotomous key to distinguish Myceliophthora from the other mentioned genera are provided, as well as dichotomous keys to identify the species of Corynascus and Thermothelomyces. A new species, namely Corynascus fumimontanus, characterized by verrucose ascomatal wall cells and irregularly shaped ascospores, is described and illustrated.