| Ancylistaceae | |
|---|---|
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| Conidiobolus firmipilleus on surface ofagarpetri dish | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Entomophthoromycota |
| Class: | Entomophthoromycetes |
| Order: | Entomophthorales |
| Family: | Ancylistaceae Pfitzer 1872 [as 'Ancylisteae'][1] |
| Genera | |
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TheAncylistaceae are afamily of fungi in the orderEntomophthorales.[2] The family currently contains the genera:Ancylistes,Macrobiotophthora,Conidiobolus.[3]Capillidium was added in 2020,[4] it was once thought to be a sub-genus ofConidiobolus.[5]Microconidiobolus andNeoconidiobolus were also added in 2020.[6]
This family was originally an order thought to be included with the aquaticPhycomycetes and included members ofOomycota.[3] It wasHelen Berdan,[7] who determined thatAncylistes belonged to orderEntomophthorales.[8] Later, the Oomycetes were removed as were severalzygomycete genera.[3]
Themycelium iscoenocytic or irregularlyseptate. Thenuclei are small. Duringinterphase, condensechromatin is absent, but a centralnucleolus can be observed. Themycelium can become disjointed.[9] InAncylistes, who areparasites ofdesmids (algae form), thehyphae grow toward the ends of the host. As the hyphae grow, branches that follow the groves between plates in thechloroplast are produced. Upon reaching the end, the hyphae grow toward the other end to completely encircle the chloroplast.Septa are produced progressively with segments containing many nuclei.[8]Conidia are produced singly on unbranchedsporophores.[3] Like other members ofEntomophthorales, conidia are forcibly discharged, which occurs throughpapillar eversion.[9] Zygospores are formed along the axis of conjugation[9] and can be angular in shape.[3]
Sexual reproduction results in the formation of azygospore that functions as a restingspore.[9] The zygospore is formed by the fusion ofgametangial cells or thescalariform fusion of hyphae.[3] Little is known about the zygospores.[9][3]
The genusAncylistes are parasites of desmids, a group ofgreen algae.[8]Macrobiotophthora are parasites oftardigrades andnematodes.[3] The genusConidiobolus are commonsaprobes and occasional parasites ofvertebrates or insects.[9][3]Capillidium are also parasites of vertebrates or insects.
The most well known member isConidiobolus coronatus, which is typically found in soils and parasitizingtermites andaphids but has been known to infectmammals.[9]