title: Antarctomyces pellizariae sp. nov., a new, endemic, blue, snow resident psychrophilic ascomycete fungus from Antarctica.
abstract: In the present study, we have identified and characterised a new snow resident ascomycete blue stain fungus from Antarctica named Antarctomyces pellizariae sp. nov. Menezes, Godinho, Porto, Gonçalves and Rosa, using polyphasic taxonomy techniques. This fungal species was recovered from the seasonal snow of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctomyces pellizariae displayed different macro- and micromorphology when compared with A. psychrotrophicus Stchigel and Guarro, the only other Antarctomyces species reported until date. Antarctomyces pellizariae showed psychrophilic behavior and very low growth rate at 22-25 °C, quite different from A. psychrotrophicus that has a higher growth rate at mesophilic temperatures. In addition, micromorphological characteristics and the analysis of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, and RNA polymerase II regions revealed that A. pellizariae is a new species that is related to A. psychrotrophicus and Thelebolus species. Since the Antarctic Peninsula is reported to be one of the main regions of the earth experiencing the effects of global change in climate, species, such as A. pellizariae, might provide information about these effects on the endemic Antarctic biota. In addition, A. pellizariae displayed psychrophilic behavior and might be a source of interesting anti-freeze compounds that might prove useful in biotechnological processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, C. P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Graciéle C A
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Menezes
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, C. P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Godinho
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, C. P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bárbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, C. P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vívian N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, C. P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil. lhrosa@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Luiz H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D057231:Climate Change; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Antarctica; Antarctomyces; Fungi; New species; Snow