title: Molecular phylogenetic diversity of the emerging mucoralean fungus Apophysomyces: proposal of three new species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apophysomyces is a monotypic genus belonging to the order Mucorales. The species Apophysomyces elegans has been reported to cause severe infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent people. In a previous study of Alvarez et al.(3) [J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:1650-6], we demonstrated a high variability among the 5.8S rRNA gene sequences of clinical strains of A. elegans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a polyphasic study based on the analysis of the sequences of the histone 3 gene, the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA gene, and domains D1 and D2 of the 28S rRNA gene, as well as by evaluation of some relevant morphological and physiological characteristics of a set of clinical and environmental strains of A. elegans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated that A. elegans is a complex of species. We propose as new species Apophysomyces ossiformis, characterised by bone-shaped sporangiospores, Apophysomyces trapeziformis, with trapezoid-shaped sporangiospores, and Apophysomyces variabilis, with variable-shaped sporangiospores. These species failed to assimilate esculin, whereas A. elegans was able to assimilate that glycoside. Amphotericin B and posaconazole are the most active in vitro drugs against Apophysomyces.
authors.affiliation: Mycology Unit, Medical School and IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Alberto M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stchigel
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Deanna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Annette W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fothergill
authors.forename: Jagdish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chander
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009090:Mucorales / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006657:Histones; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D002244:Carbon