Species of
Lichtheimia are important opportunistic fungal pathogens in the order
Mucorales that are isolated from various sources such as soil, indoor air, food products, feces, and decaying vegetables. In recent years, species of
Lichtheimia have become an emerging causative agent of invasive
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Species of
Lichtheimia are important opportunistic fungal pathogens in the order
Mucorales that are isolated from various sources such as soil, indoor air, food products, feces, and decaying vegetables. In recent years, species of
Lichtheimia have become an emerging causative agent of invasive mucormycosis. In Europe and USA,
Lichtheimia are the second and third most common causal fungus of mucormycosis, respectively. Thus, the aim of this study was to survey the diversity of species of
Lichtheimia hidden in poorly studied hosts, such as invertebrates, in Korea. Eight
Lichtheimia strains were isolated from invertebrate samples. Based on morphology, physiology, and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA sequence data, the strains were identified as
L. hyalospora,
L. ornata,
L. ramosa, and a novel species,
L. koreana sp. nov.
Lichtheimia koreana is characterized by a variable columellae, sporangiophores arising solitarily or up to three at one place from stolons, and slow growth on MEA and PDA at all temperatures tested. The new species grows best at 30 and 35 °C and has a maximum growth temperature of 40 °C. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree are provided.
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