Microscopic, Molecular, and Pathogenic Characterization of Acremonium: Insights into its Biology, Culture Characteristics, and Clinical Implications

Fungal genus Acremonium sclerotigenum reported as rare opportunistic pathogenic fungi. A.sclerotigenum is a rare clinical isolate that has not been reported previously from Southern Punjab Pakistan. The Goal of study is to determine the actual spectrum of morphological, microscopic and molecular characterization of A.sclerotigenum. Acremonium sclerotigenum was analyzed for phenotypic diversity on different growth medias, humidity effect on fungal growth by culture characteristics, microscopy and identified at molecular level. Morphological examination revealed hyaline, septate hyphe giving rise to conidiophores with numerous micro conidias. A.sclerotigenum showed optimum growth on sabourad dextrose agar and oat meal agar medium A.sclerotigenum produce white, smooth cottony colony at 92% humidity with maximum growth. A.sclerotigenum strain was analyzed by culture characteristics and further identified by PCR and sequencing of ITS region. Study revealed that sabourad dextrose agar media is an appropriate growth media for A.sclerotigenum while optimum temperature for A.sclerotigenum culturing ranges from 25°C to 35°C. Study suggested A.sclerotigenum has adaptability to physiological factors such as humidity. A detailed research on the factors and aspects involved in pathogenicity caused by A.sclerotigenum, is still to be investigate.