title: Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycotic nodule due to Phialemoniopsis hongkongensis sp. nov.
abstract: Phialemoniopsis species are ubiquitous dematiaceous molds associated with a wide variety of superficial and systemic infections in human. In this study, we isolated a mold from the forearm nodule biopsy specimen from a patient with underlying liver cirrhosis, ankylosing spondylosis, and tuberculosis. He was treated with itraconazole, but unfortunately, he succumbed as a result of disseminated tuberculosis with multiorgan failure. The histology results of the skin biopsy showed necrotizing granulomas in which numerous fungal elements were found. On Sabouraud dextrose agar, the fungal isolate grew as white-to-cream and smooth-to-velvety colonies. Microscopically, oval-to-cylindrical conidia were observed from abundant adelophialides, which possessed barely visible parallel collarettes but no basal septa. The azole drugs voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole, as well as amphotericin B, showed high activities against this fungus. Internal transcribed spacer, 28S nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), and β-actin and β-tubulin gene sequencing showed that this fungus is most closely related to but distinct from Phialemonium curvata. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of this fungus is most closely related to that of Phialemonium pluriloculosa. We propose a new species, Phialemoniopsis hongkongensis sp. nov., to describe this fungus.
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Chi-Ching
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6705-2866
authors: CC
authors: Tsang
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Jasper F W
authors: JF
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Philip P C
authors: PP
authors: Ip
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Antonio H Y
authors: AH
authors: Ngan
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Jonathan H K
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7510-1696
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong skplau@hku.hk pcywoo@hku.hk.
authors: Susanna K P
authors: SK
authors: Lau
authors: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong skplau@hku.hk pcywoo@hku.hk.
authors: Patrick C Y
authors: PC
authors: Woo
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001706:Biopsy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D060446:Phaeohyphomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics; D013098:Xylariales / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D014404:Tubulin