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Characteristics and Taxonomy of Cladosporium Fungi
Characteristics and Taxonomy of Cladosporium Fungi
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ABSTRACT
Fungi of the genus Cladosporium are common in many areas of the world, they are cosmopolitan organi-
sms. Their spores can be found in air, soil and water. Also, they are commonly isolated from accommoda-
tion and public use areas and from food products. Some species are pathogens of various plants, causing
economically important plant diseases and others have only endemic importance. Commonly they occur
as saprotrophs. In the cereals fungi can cause black point of cereals, in Cucurbita they can cause scab of
cucurbits and in tomato brown spots on the leaves. In humans, they mainly cause allergic reactions which
sometimes lead to asthma. They can cause rarely opportunistic infections, this is related mainly to people
with compromised immune systems. There are also reports about infections in healthy people by Clado-
sporium carrionii, which may cause lesions, for example chromoblastomycosis.
STRESZCZENIE
Grzyby z rodzaju Cladosporium występują powszechnie w wielu rejonach świata, są to organizmy kosmo-
polityczne. Ich zarodniki można spotkać w powietrzu, glebie i wodzie. Powszechnie izolowane są rów-
nież z pomieszczeń mieszkalnych i użytku publicznego oraz z produktów żywnościowych. Niektóre ga-
tunki są patogenami różnych roślin, powodując ważne gospodarczo choroby roślin, a inne mają tylko
znaczenie endemiczne. Pospolicie występują także jako saprotrofy. U zbóż mogą powodować czerń
zbóż, u roślin dyniowatych parcha dyniowatych, u pomidora brunatną plamistość liści pomidora. U ludzi
powodują głównie reakcje alergiczne, które prowadzą niekiedy do astmy. Mogą też bardzo rzadko powo-
dować zakażenia oportunistyczne i dotyczą one głównie osób z obniżoną odpornością. Istnieją jednak
doniesienia o zakażeniach zdrowych osób m.in. przez Cladosporium carrionii, który może wywoływać
zmiany typu chromoblastomikozy.
except allergenic proteins, have the ability to reproduce and molecular studies enabled classification of teleomorph genus
infect the skin and are able to colonize the respiratory system [4]. Davidiella [16].
Moreover, they can synthesize secondary metabolites such as Cladosporium cucumerinum Ell. et Arth. has been known as an
toxins, hypo-allergenic enzymes and volatile organic compounds important pathogen which can cause scab disease in cucumber
and functional non-protein components of the cell wall (glucans all over the world [17, 18]. The symptoms of the disease can affect
and chitin) [5-7]. Another aspect are the cross autoimmune reac- leaves, petioles, stems and fruits (fig. 2). Water-soaked spots occur
tions caused by high homology to fungal antigens of some human on leaves and runners. These spots eventually turn from grey to
proteins which occur especially in patients with chronic asthma. white. The centre of the spots could then drop out to give a “sho-
Taking into account all of these mechanisms, it was hypothesized t-holed” appearance. Lesions on the fruit are often connected
that the damaging effects of fungi in the respiratory system are with anthracnose. These spots are 3-4 mm in diameter and might
associated with a parallel induction of allergic inflammation and ooze a gummy substance. The spots can then be invaded by
damage to respiratory epithelium cells by the action of proteins secondary rotting bacteria which cause the spots to smell [19].
and not allergenic toxins [8]. Cladosporium spp. can cause allergic reactions in humans,
From allergological point of view it is important that species of which sometimes leads to asthma. Rarely, they can cause oppor-
fungi belong to different taxonomic groups [9].The majority inc- tunistic infections, this is related mainly to people with compro-
ludes: Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Asper- mised immune systems such as patients with hematological dise-
gillus spp. and also fungi of the genus Mucor, Botrytis, Fusarium, ases or AIDS. There are also reports about infections in healthy
Pullularia, Curvularia, Phoma and Rhizopus. Typically, allergies are people by Cladosporium carrionii Trejos, which may cause lesions,
associated with hypersensitivity to several species of fungi. Coexi- for example chromoblastomycosis [20].
stence of hypersensitivity to various species is probably in most Studies of atmospheric air of various regions of Europe show
cases associated with parallel allergy and not with the cross- that the spores of Cladosporium spp. dominate in 80% of all the
reactivity [2]. caught spores and the spores of Alternaria spp. in about 10% [21].
However, the level of concentrations of Cladosporium spores in
Biology, ecology and pathogenicity the air (in 1m3) in a day has a very large variation over the year:
of Cladosporium spp. from zero to several thousand spores. In European countries, the
peak of season of Cladosporium and Alternaria sporulation is in
Fungi of the genus Cladosporium Link ex Fr. are common in the months from June to September, when the concentration of
many parts of the world, they are cosmopolitan organisms. Their Cladosporium spores reaches several thousand per cubic meter of
spores can be found in air, soil and water [10]. Commonly they are air, and Alternaria spores – a few hundred [21, 22]. Despite the gre-
also isolated from residential and public use areas and from food ater occurrence of the spores of Cladosporium spp., the spores of
products [11, 12]. Cladosporium spp. requires cool, damp weather Alternaria spp. are more allergenic. The number of spores neces-
conditions for vivid growth, sporulation, spore release, germina- sary to induce symptoms of allergic respiratory system disease in
tion and disease development. These fungi are active at low tem- most patients with hypersensitivity to these allergens for the
peratures and high humidity [13]. Polish population was estimated at 2800 spores in 1 m3 of air for
Some species are pathogens to various crops, they can cause Cladosporium spp. and only 100 for the spores of Alternaria spp.
economically important plant diseases and others have only [23]. The reason for this is probably that about 80% of A. alterna-
endemic importance. Fungi commonly occur as saprotrophs on ta conidia occuring in the air are alive cells, while C. herbarum only
plant vestiges [14]. These fungi can cause diseases of plants, often 20-30% of living cells [24]. Another differentiating allergenicity
with different names, depending on the infected plants and the factor of individual species of fungi is how easily spore allergens
type of symptoms. In the cereals fungi can cause black point of may be released in contact with the surface of the mucosa. It is
cereals, in Cucurbita they can cause scab of cucurbits and in toma- considered that the spores of A. alternata allergens are released
to brown spots on the leaves [15, 16]. with ease, while the allergens from spores of other species such
Cladosporium fulvum Cooke can cause brown spots on tomato as Aspergillus fumigatus require their physical damage. Cell walls
leaves. This disease occurs on tomato crops in greenhouses and of spores determine the availability of allergen for the mucosal
poly-tunnels. In case of favorable conditions, it can cause reduc- spore after getting to the respiratory system [2].
tion of yield by destroying the leaves and (killing) plants. The spe- Opportunistic infections of people caused by fungi of Clado-
cies of this fungus was described in 1883 in South America. In sporium spp. are mainly chromoblastomycosis and phaeohypho-
Poland it has been known since 1930. Currently, the disease has mycosis. Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic infection of the skin
low interest, which is caused by cultivation of resistant cultivars and subcutaneous tissue. For the first time, this mycosis was
and improving conditions in greenhouses and poly-tunnels. described by Rudolph in 1914. This disease can occur at any lon-
Reproduction of this pathogen is unknown, only the results of gitude and most of reported cases are related to farmers. Patho-
molecular studies enabled classification of teleomorph genus logical changes are usually located in the lower limbs, sometimes
Davidiella [16]. the upper limbs, less frequently in other areas of the body. The
Cladosporium herbarum (Persoon) Link with other fungi (Alter- first disease symptoms are small, scaly papules and nodules. In
naria spp. and Epicoccum spp.) can cause black point of cereals the course of the disease chronic ulcers can arise, covered with
(fig. 1). This disease is very unusual, because it usually occurs on dry scabs. The disease is chronic and can lead to lymphatic stagna-
premature dried plants or mature plants. It causes mainly reduc- tion. Whereas Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresen.) GA de Vries
tion of grain quality, where are accumulated mycotoxins secreted and Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli can cause phaeohy-
by fungi growing on the surface or in the tissues. In this pathogen phomycosis. For the first time the name of the disease was intro-
reproduction could not be determined either, only the results of duced in 1974 by Ajello. The Disease appears as dermal infections, 81
Ogórek R., Lejman A., Pusz W., et al.
Characteristics and taxonomy of Cladosporium fungi Mikologia Lekarska 2012, 19 (2)
Fig. 1. Black point on wheat Fig. 2. Scab disease on cucumber leaves caused by Cladosporium cucumerinum
Ryc. 1. Czerń zbóż na pszenicy Ryc. 2. Parch dyniowatych na liściach ogórka spowodowany przez Cladosporium cucumerinum
Fig. 3. Chemical structure of mycotoxin emodin [32] Fig. 4. Chemical structure of mycotoxin cladosporin [33]
Ryc. 3. Struktura chemiczna mitoksyny emodlin [32] Ryc. 4. Struktura chemiczna mitoksyny cladosporin [33]
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