Verticillium
Members of this genus are often isolated from the environment. It has been reported as a rare agent of mycotic keratitis.
RG-1 organism.
Conidiophores, phialides and conidia of Verticillium spp.
Morphological description:
Colonies are fast growing, suede-like to downy, white to pale yellow in colour, becoming pinkish-brown, red, green or yellow with a colourless, yellow or reddish-brown reverse. Conidiophores are usually well differentiated and erect, verticillately branched over most of their length, bearing whorls of slender awl-shaped divergent phialides. Conidia are hyaline or brightly-coloured, mostly one-celled, and are usually borne in slimy heads (glioconidia).
Molecular identification:
ITS, actin, EF-1α, GPDH and tryptophan synthase genes have been used to identify all recognised Verticillium species (Inderbitzin et al. 2013).
Key features:
Hyphomycete, verticillate branched conidiophores bearing whorls of awl-shaped, divergent phialides.
References:
- de Hoog, G.S., Guarro, J., Gene, J., et al. (2015) Atlas of Clinical Fungi (Version 4.1.2). Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Domsch, K.H., Gams, W. and Anderson, T.H. (2007) Compendium of soil fungi. Second Edition, IHW-Verlag, Germany.
- Inderbitzin P, Davis, R.M., Bostock, R.M., et al. (2013) Identification and differentiation of Verticillium species and V. longisporum lineages by Simplex and Multiplex PCR assays. PLoS ONE, 8, e65990.
- Kidd, S., Halliday, C., Ellis, D. (2023) Descriptions of Medical Fungi (4th edition). CABI.
- McGinnis, M.R. (1980) Laboratory handbook of medical mycology. Academic Press, New York.
- Rippon, J.W. (1988) Medical mycology: the pathogenic fungi and the pathogenic actinomycetes, 3rd edition. W,B. Saunders Co, Philadelphia, USA.
- Samson, R.A., Hoekstra, E.S., Frisvad, J.C., et al. (1995) Introduction to food-borne fungi. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, P.O.Box 273, 3740 AG BAARN, The Netherlands.