Penicillium poederi and P. tirolense, two new species of section Torulomyces.

Here we describe two new species of the genus Penicillium section Torulomyces with solitary phialides. Penicillium poederi sp. nov. was isolated from volcanic soils in Iceland. Penicillium tirolense sp. nov. was isolated from a sporocarp of Serpula lacrymans. Both species are characterised by slow growth rates and the production of a brown soluble pigment on CYA, conidiophores with solitary ampulliform phialides with smooth-walled stipes and warty, globose conidia and with connectives without visible rings. The spores of. P. poederi are 2.5 µm diam, while the spores of P. tirolense are 2.0 µm diam. In a multigene phylogeny based on the ITS, BenA, CaM and RPB2 gene regions P. tubakianum and P. wollemiicola are the closest relatives of P. poederi. This species differs from P. tubakianum and P. wollemiicola by its growth rates and by its pigmentation. The holotype of P. poederi is IB2017/0007, while SF014017 (CBS 147622) is a culture derived from the holotype. The closest relatives of P. tirolense are P. austricola and P. riverlandense. It differs from P. austricola by lower growth rates on all tested media and temperatures and by its larger spores. It differs from P. riverlandense by lower growth rates and the absence of growth at 37 °C. The holotype of P. tirolense is IBF2019/0162, while SF015108 (CBS 147625) is a culture derived from the holotype. Citation: Kirchmair M, Embacher J, Heimdörfer D, Walch G, Neuhauser S (2022). Penicillium poederi and Penicillium tirolense, two new species of section Torulomyces. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 91-101. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.10.03.

Tissue characterization of the medical fungus Hericium coralloides by focus-variation microscopy.

In this study, the potential of focus-variation microscopic imaging was evaluated in a study of morphological patterns of the potential medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides (Basidiomycota). We created three-dimensional reconstructions and visualizations using the imaging technique on a fresh H. coralloides basidioma. The aim was to approximate the spore dispersal efficiency of this basidiomata type regarding the investment of tissue biomass and its reproductive output (production of basidiospores). Results were correlated with published data gained from magnetic resonance imaging and micro-computed tomography. It is demonstrated that focus-variation microscopic imaging results in a more distinct picture of the morphology of the edible and potentially medicinal H. coralloides basidiomata. However, a direct measurement of spore production was not possible. Spore production could only be estimated in combination with a mathematical model because the surface was not directly measurable due to the cellular heterogeneity. However, focus-variation microscopic imaging allows a better and faster estimation of spore production compared with the published methods. Furthermore, it was found that a scanning resolution of 5× is sufficient for determining the fungal surface precisely because at a higher resolution artifacts occur, resulting in adulteration of the image.

Laboratory confirmation of Amanita smithiana mushroom poisoning.

CONTEXT: Here we present a case of Amanita smithiana poisoning resulting in acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, and highlight laboratory methods used to confirm the diagnosis. Identification of Amanita smithiana toxin using thin-layer chromatography can provide greater diagnostic certainty than history and renal function tests alone. CASE DETAILS: A 63-year-old male presented to hospital with anuria and gastrointestinal symptoms, two days after consuming a soup of wild mushrooms he had picked. He was found to be in acute renal failure, requiring hemodialysis. After nine days of supportive treatment, he recovered renal function, and was discharged in good health 15 days post-ingestion. The patient provided a sample of leftover soup, and examination of cooked mushroom fragments by a mycologist provided preliminary identification of A. smithiana. Thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of A. smithiana toxin in the soup, confirming this identification. DISCUSSION: A. smithiana is a nephrotoxic mushroom that can be easily mistaken for the edible and highly prized Pine mushroom (Tricholoma magnivelare). It causes initial gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by acute renal failure. Treatment includes dialysis and supportive care until the patient recovers renal function. The chemical structure of the A. smithiana toxin is unknown, but it can be identified as a characteristic spot on thin-layer chromatography.

Acute renal failure by ingestion of Cortinarius species confounded with psychoactive mushrooms: a case series and literature survey.

Mushrooms of the Cortinarius species are nephrotoxic and can cause severe acute renal failure. The toxic effect is due to orellanine. It is suspected that the cytotoxic damage is caused by the production of oxygen-free radicals. Renal pathology shows tubular necrosis with interstitial nephritis. In addition to accidental intoxications as a consequence of mushroom meals, recent cases are often due to voluntary abuse of natural drugs like magic mushrooms. We report 4 current cases of acute renal failure from intoxication by Cortinarius species by confusing it with psychoactive fungi. Typical for the Cortinarius poisoning is the long latency period from ingestion until the onset of clinical symptoms (3 - 20 days). Diagnosis is based on microscopical identification of the mushroom spores, and detection of the orellanine toxin in leftover mushrooms. In renal biopsy tissue, orellanine is detectable by thin-layer chromaography technique up to 6 months after poisoning. There is no causative therapy, and treatment is symptomatic with adequate hemodialysis. In cases of otherwise unexplained acute renal failure, intoxication with nephrotoxic mushrooms should be considered.

Chronic paracoccidioidomycosis in a female patient in Austria.

Presented here is a case of chronic paracoccidioidomycosis that occurred in a Cuban female living in Austria and was first misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. The clinical picture was one of progressive pulmonary insufficiency with fever, weight loss and productive cough. Since antituberculous therapy was started but did not achieve a long-term clinical response, an intensive diagnostic work-up was performed. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was then diagnosed by histopathology, serology, microbiology and molecular identification. Antifungal therapy was commenced immediately with amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, followed by voriconazole (200 mg/day po) for at least 3 months, and the lesions disappeared almost completely. This report presents the first published case of imported paracoccidioidomycosis in a female patient in Austria.

Identification of illudins in Omphalotus nidiformis and Omphalotus olivascens var. indigo by column liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography was used to separate toxins in mushrooms of the genus Omphalotus. Crude ethyl acetate extracts of cultures were injected directly onto a 150 x 2 mm I.D. column packed with 3 microns octadecylsilica and eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1% aqueous acetic acid at a flow-rate of 200 microliters/min. Monitoring of the column effluate by atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry allowed the identification of the toxins. The fungal toxins illudin M and illudin S were detected and identified for the first time in cultures of the Australian Omphalotus nidiformis and the North American Omphalotus olivascens var. indigo (Boletales, Basidiomycetes) and confirmed the valuable taxonomic character of illudins for the genus Omphalotus.

Acute renal failure after ingestion of Cortinarius speciocissimus.

In August 1995 a 23-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of acute anuria. 14 days prior to admission he had consumed five fruit bodies of raw mushrooms of the Cortinarius speciocissimus species. The tentative diagnosis of acute renal failure due to orellanine intoxication was confirmed by the histologic finding of an acute interstitial nephritis in a first renal biopsy one week after onset of anuria. The patient required hemodialysis for the following weeks and months, is now on peritoneal dialysis and is awaiting renal transplantation. Six months after onset of symptoms a second renal biopsy was performed, which revealed increasing interstitial fibrosis. In contrast to the findings of Rapior et al. 1989, orellanine could not be detected in this specimen. The negative toxin test in this second renal biopsy is possibly explained by a wide variability of pharmacokinetics of orellanine.

Orellanine poisoning: rapid detection of the fungal toxin in renal biopsy material.

BACKGROUND: Mushroom poisoning by some species of the Cortinarius (Agaricales) often lead to irreversible renal failure caused by the nephrotoxin orellanine. In 1994 and 1995, six poisoning outbreaks involving ten individuals in Northern Italy and in Austria were investigated. METHODS: A total of 87 clinical samples (urine and blood samples including renal biopsy material of three patients) were examined for the presence of orellanine by thin layer chromatography. RESULTS: Orellanine can be detected after a relatively long period following poisoning by performing a simple thin layer chromatography technique using small quantities of renal biopsy material. No toxin was found in urine or blood samples. CONCLUSIONS: Orellanine is rapidly concentrated in the kidneys in a relatively soluble form and cannot be detected in urine, blood and dialysis fluids at the time when first symptoms appear.