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| Mucor | |
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| Mucor mucedo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Mucoromycota |
| Class: | Mucoromycetes |
| Order: | Mucorales |
| Family: | Mucoraceae |
| Genus: | Mucor Fresen. |
| Species | |
See text | |
Mucor is amicrobial genus of approximately 40 species ofmolds anddimorphic fungi in the familyMucoraceae.[1][2][3] The genus includes both pathogenic and avirulent species, and some members of it can be utilized in biotechnical applications.[4] These fungi are commonly found insoil,digestive systems,plant surfaces, some cheeses likeTomme de Savoie,rotten vegetable matter andiron oxide residue in thebiosorption process.
Colonies of this fungal genus are typically yellow, beige or grey.[5] They are characterized by rapid growth and sporulation in highaw environments, and they reproduce both sexually andasexually.[4]
Mucorspores or sporangiospores can be simple or branched and form apical, globularsporangia that are supported and elevated by a column-shaped columella.Mucor species can be differentiated from molds of the generaAbsidia,Rhizomucor, andRhizopus by the shape and insertion of the columella, and the lack ofstolons andrhizoids. SomeMucor species producechlamydospores. They form mold with irregular non-septate hyphae branching at wide angles (>90°).
Mucor mucedo (type species) use asexual reproduction. When erect hyphal sporangiophores are formed, the tip of the sporangiophore swells to form a globose sporangium that containsuninucleate, haploid sporangiospores. An extension of the sporangiophore called the columella protrudes into the sporangium. The sporangium walls are easily ruptured to release the spores, which germinate readily to form a new mycelium on appropriate substrates.
During sexual reproduction, compatible strains form short, specialized hyphae calledgametangia. At the point where two complementary gametangia fuse, a thick-walled, spherical zygosporangium develops. The zygosporangium typically contains a single zygospore. Nuclearkaryogamy andmeiosis (sexual recombination) occur within it.
Most species ofMucor are unable to cause disease in humans andendothermic animals due to their inability to grow at temperatures around 37 °C. But some thermotolerant species such asMucor circinelloides, M. irregularis andM. hiemalis can causemucormycosis, an acute and invasive fungal infection effecting primarilyimmunocompromised hosts.[6][4] ManyMucor species fungi are intrinsically resistant to most available antifungals, which causes issues in treatment of this disease.[7] The available treatment options all target theergosterol biosynthesis pathway of these fungi, and mutations in genes transcribing enzymes for it have been linked to resistance development towards the primary treatment option for the disease.
Media related toMucor at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toMucor at WikispeciesAuthority control databases: National |
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