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Human Fungal Pathogens of Mucorales and Entomophthorales

Leonel Mendoza1, Raquel Vilela2, Kerstin Voelz3

  • 1Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48424-1031 Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48424-1031.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
|November 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Fungal infections are increasing in immunocompromised individuals. This review clarifies zygomycosis, now specified as mucormycosis and entomophthoramycosis, based on fungal evolution and classification.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology and infectious diseases
  • Evolutionary biology of fungi

Background:

  • Rising incidence of fungal infections in immunocompromised populations.
  • Increasing cases of infections caused by basal fungal lineages.
  • Historical classification of Zygomycota and associated infections (zygomycosis).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review fungal infections caused by basal fungal lineages.
  • To clarify the nomenclature of zygomycosis, mucormycosis, and entomophthoramycosis.
  • To discuss the impact of recent phylogenetic studies on fungal classification.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on fungal infections and classification.
  • Analysis of multilocus sequence typing data (Fungal Tree of Life project).
  • Examination of morphological characteristics of Zygomycota.

Main Results:

  • Zygomycota is polyphyletic, not a monophyletic clade.
  • Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are monophyletic.
  • Infections historically termed zygomycosis are now specified as mucormycosis or entomophthoramycosis.

Conclusions:

  • The term zygomycosis is outdated due to the polyphyletic nature of Zygomycota.
  • Mucormycosis and entomophthoramycosis are distinct clinical entities.
  • Accurate classification is crucial for understanding and managing these fungal infections.

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