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Descriptions and Habitats
Pullularia occurs indoors in areas of free water, such as condensate pans, or as a primary colonist of broadloom following a flood. Because its growth form is yeast-like (and are not forcibly discharged), its cells/spores only become airborne through mechanical disruption of contaminated materials or aspiration of contaminated water. Aureobasidium pullulans is not a primary human pathogen nor is it recognized as a producer of significant mycotoxins. High airborne levels of this fungus have been associated with allergic complaints probably due to respiratory irritation mediated by cell-wall components (e.g. beta glucans, glycoproteins), it has also been known as an irritant, and to cause pulmonary problems (small airway). Species According to the mycological information provided in the website, www.doctorfungus.org, the genus Aureobasidium includes 14 species and one variety. Among these, Aureobasidium pullulans is the only well-known species. Health Effects Based on the research conducted by Mycology Online, it is reported that Aureobasidium pullulans has a world-wide distribution and it is usually isolated as a saprophyte, occasionally from skin and nails. However, it has also been reported as a rare causative agent of phaeohyphomycosis, mycotic keratitis and peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Aureobasidium is a known Type I and Type III allergen that can sometimes cause infections in the human skin, nails, and eyes. The U.S. Government's O.S.H.A. Agency lists both Aureobasidium and Aureobasidium pullulans as an allergen and irritant, and as a cause of Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and Dermatitis. |
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Macroscopic
Features It grows moderately rapidly and
matures within 7 days of incubation. The colony diameter is 1 to 3 cm
following incubation at 25°C for 7 days on potato glucose agar. The
colonies are flat, smooth, moist, yeast-like, mucoid to pasty, shiny and
leathery in appearance. The surface is white, pale pink or yellow at the
beginning and becomes brown to black and velvety with a grayish fringe by
aging. Reverse is pale or black. Microscopic Features When the colony is young, moist, and yeast-like, unicellular budding yeast cells (blastoconidia) are the only structures observed microscopically. By aging, while the colony gets black and velvety, hyphae become visible. Blastoconidia are pale in color. The synchronous development of blastoconidia in tufts is typical. Hyphae are septate. They appear hyaline at the beginning and get dark brown by aging. The width of the hyphae is generally 2-10 µm but may be as thick as 15-20 µm. Aureobasidium has no distinct conidiophores. Conidiogenous cells, which are not much differentiated, are either intercalary or located terminally in the hyphae. The conidia (4-6 x 2-3 µm in size) are one-celled, hyaline and oval to cylindrical in shape. They form clusters or are located along the hyphae. These conidia continue to multiply by budding and form secondary blastoconidia. As well as blastoconidia, chlamydoconidia and arthroconidia may also be observed. The hyphae of some strains differentiate to form thick-walled, large (up to 12x6 µm in size), phaeoid (brown in color) chlamydoconidia. Thick-walled, one- to two-celled, phaeoid arthroconidia are produced in old, mature cultures. Laboratory Precautions
No special precautions other than
general laboratory precautions are required. Susceptibility No susceptibility data are available for Aureobasidium. In vitro susceptibility testing methods are not yet standardized for dematiceaous fungi. |
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The mycological information gathered and organized in this extensive research on different Pathogenic Molds was sourced out from the list of informative websites below: http://www.osha.gov | http://www.doctorfungus.org | http://www.mycology.adelaide.edu.au | http://www.mycology.net | http://www.dehs.umn.edu | http://www.mold-help.org | http://www.mycology.net | http://www.pfdb.net | http://www.clinical-mycology.com | http://www.botany.utoronto.ca | http://www.med.sc.edu | http://www.tigr.org | http://www.pangloss.ucsfmedicalcenter.org | http://www.dermnz.org | http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | http://www.wadsworth.org | http://botit.botany.wisc.edu BROWSE THIS WEBSITE to learn about these various mold species:
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