Hyaline Hyphomyces Forming Conidia in Chains
Genus name derived from Latin word for paint brush or sponge.
- Usually a contaminant; rarely causes keratitis, otitis, systemic disease
- Colonies mature rapidly;
on Sabouraud's dextrose agar often have distinctive
green color, granular surface, radial rugae, and a white apron at the periphery.
- P. marneffei is considered with other thermally dimorphic fungi
in these pages; colonies of this organism typically show a red reverse and diffusible
- Septate hyphae
- Branched or unbranched conidiophore
- Secondary branches are metulae
FIG. 1. Penicillium in slide culture.
FIG. 2. Penicillium in slide culture.
- Usually a contaminant; may rarely cause disease, for example, keratitis
- Colonies often powdery
or granular, flat and yellow-brown; other "pastel"
colors also seen
- Resembles Penicillium but phialides are more elongate, resembling bowling pins
- Phialides bend away from the axis of the conidiophore more than Penicillium
- Conidia are elliptic or oblong and occur in long, unbranched chains
FIG. 1. Paecilomyces in slide culture.
FIG. 2. Paecilomyces in slide culture.
- Usually a contaminant; may rarely cause disease, including onychomycosis
- Colony color variable; on Sabouraud dextrose agar typically evolve from glabrous
white to yellow and are granular or powdery, eventually developing radiating rugae
- Annellides formed on branched conidiophores with 1 or 2 levels of branching
- Spherical or ellipsoid conidia are in chains
FIG. 1. Scopulariopsis in slide culture.
To examine other groups of hyalohyphomyces, follow the links below:
Return to Medically Important Fungi
Copyright © 2001, William McDonald, M.D.
Revised: 5 September 2002