Biology:Lichtheimia ramosa
| Lichtheimia ramosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Mucoromycota |
| Order: | Mucorales |
| Family: | Lichtheimiaceae |
| Genus: | Lichtheimia |
| Species: | L. ramosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lichtheimia ramosa (Zopf) Vuill. (1903)
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| Synonyms | |
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Lichtheimia ramosa is a saprotrophic zygomycete, typically found in soil or dead plant material.[1] It is a thermotolerant fungus that has also been known to act as an opportunistic pathogen–infecting both humans and animals.[2][3]
Taxonomy
It was previously known as Absidia ramosa,[4] but has been known by its current name since the Absidia and Lichtheimia genera were differentiated from each other.[5] There has also previously been some disagreement in the scientific community over whether L. ramosa and L. corymbifera were distinct species.[6][7] But L. ramosa was recently established as a distinct species based on genome sequence analysis.[4]
Description
Asexual reproduction of L. ramosa is done by use of sporangiospore-producing sporangia. The sporangiospores are smooth, lightly colored, and bear a long ellipsoid shape. The sporangia are pear shaped and often sport branched sporangiophores.[4] Sexual reproduction in L. ramosa is achieved through zygospores. These zygospores have been found to have equatorial rings with suspensors and bear no appendages.[1]
Distribution and habitat
It is saprotrophic, most commonly found within dead plant material or in the soil.[1] As this species is thermotolerant, with an optimal growth temperature of around 37 °C, [8] it has now been found in a wide range of habitats around the world–including North America, South America, Central Europe, Africa, and India .[1]
Epidemiology
It is an opportunistic pathogen that has been associated with mucormycosis in both humans and animals.[2] Mucormycosis due to L. ramosa typically only presents in severely immunocompromised patients[9] with a wide range of infections being described; including rhinal, cutaneous, rhinocerebral, pulmonary, renal, and disseminated infections. However, there have been some cases of infection among immunocompetent patients, due to soil contamination of a traumatic injury.[10] Amphotericin B. is the typical course of treatment for an infection by L. ramosa.[11] But if not identified and treated quickly enough, the infection can be fatal.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Species recognition and clinical relevance of the zygomycetous genus Lichtheimia (syn. Absidia pro parte, Mycocladus)". Journal of Clinical Microbiology 48 (6): 2154–2170. June 2010. doi:10.1128/JCM.01744-09. PMID 20357218.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The pathogenic potential of the Lichtheimia genus revisited: Lichtheimia brasiliensis is a novel, non-pathogenic species". Mycoses 57 (Suppl 3): 128–131. December 2014. doi:10.1111/myc.12230. PMID 25267009.
- ↑ "Lichtheimia species exhibit differences in virulence potential". PLOS ONE 7 (7): e40908. 2012-07-20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040908. PMID 22911715.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Molecular and phenotypic evaluation of Lichtheimia corymbifera (formerly Absidia corymbifera) complex isolates associated with human mucormycosis: rehabilitation of L. ramosa". Journal of Clinical Microbiology 47 (12): 3862–3870. December 2009. doi:10.1128/JCM.02094-08. PMID 19759217.
- ↑ "Revision of the genus Absidia (Mucorales, Zygomycetes) based on physiological, phylogenetic, and morphological characters; thermotolerant Absidia spp. form a coherent group, Mycocladiaceae fam. nov". Mycological Research 111 (Pt 10): 1169–1183. October 2007. doi:10.1016/j.mycres.2007.07.002. PMID 17997297.
- ↑ "Taxonomy and identification of mucormycosis-causing fungi. I. Synonymity of Absidia ramosa with A. corymbifera". Sabouraudia 12 (1): 64–74. March 1974. doi:10.1080/00362177485380091. PMID 4838239.
- ↑ "Species of Absidia with ovoid sporangiospores. II". Sabouraudia 5 (1): 59–77. June 1966. doi:10.1080/00362176785190111. PMID 5963263.
- ↑ "Taxonomic identification of the thermotolerant and fast-growing fungus Lichtheimia ramosa H71D and biochemical characterization of the thermophilic xylanase LrXynA". AMB Express 7 (1): 194. November 2017. doi:10.1186/s13568-017-0494-y. PMID 29098440.
- ↑ "Forty-one recent cases of invasive zygomycosis from a global clinical registry". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 65 (2): 296–302. February 2010. doi:10.1093/jac/dkp430. PMID 20008047.
- ↑ "Wound infection caused by Lichtheimia ramosa due to a car accident". Medical Mycology Case Reports 2: 7–10. December 2012. doi:10.1016/j.mmcr.2012.12.001. PMID 24432204.
- ↑ "Antifungal susceptibility profile of human-pathogenic species of Lichtheimia". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 54 (7): 3058–3060. July 2010. doi:10.1128/AAC.01270-09. PMID 20421405.
- ↑ "Lichtheimia ramosa: A Fatal Case of Mucormycosis". Canadian Respiratory Journal 2016: 2178218. 2016. doi:10.1155/2016/2178218. PMID 27445521.
Wikidata ☰ Q10561308 entry
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