Taxonomic databases are a valuable tool to enable the annotation of sequence data, whether it be generated from a new isolate or environmental samples. AFN provides a dedicated anaerobic fungi database for this purpose, and a brand new updated version is now out! Updates to version 2.0 include the addition of four new families, two characterized genera, and 56 novel genera. Find out more information here.
Featured genus, Paucimyces!
Paucimyces is a polycentric anaerobic fungal genus isolated from the feces of a wild blackbuck. The genus is not commonly found in nature and has primarily been identified in sheep samples. The distinguishing feature of this genus is polynucleated filamentous rhizomycelium.
New genus Aestipascuomyces!
Aestipascuomyces was the 19th anaerobic fungal genus described by two different research teams. The genus name is derived from the Latin words for summer (aestas) and pasture, indicating the apparent enrichment from the feces of barbary sheep and alpaca grazing on summer pasture.
Featured genus, Tahromyces!
The genus Tahromyces was isolated from the feces of Nilgiri Tahr, a mountain goat indigenous to India. Tahromyces is a monocentric fungus with a filamentous rhizoidal system and monoflagellated zoospores. Follow the link for more details https://anaerobicfungi.org/tahromyces/.
Featured genus: Khoyollomyces
The genus name, Khoyollomyces, is derived from the Arabic word for horses: “khoyollo”. K. ramosus is the only species reported, the species name means branched in Latin. It is highly abundant in hindgut herbivores, mainly the family Equidae e.g. horses and zebras.
Find more information on the genus Khoyollomyces on our page here.
Featured genus: Ghazhallomyces
Ghazallomyces (Ghazalla, Arabic word for deer) was first isolated from the feces of a wild Axis deer in 2020 by Hanafy et al. Like Neocallimastix and Feramyces, the genus Ghazallomyces has a monocentric thallus and polyflagellated zoospores. The type species is called G. constrictus, highlighting the distinct constricted necks for the sporangia produced by this fungus.
Please find more information of genus Ghazhallomyces here.
Next featured genus: Feramyces
Feramyces was the tenth anaerobic fungal genus to be described. Like Neocallimastix, it has a monocentric thallus and polyflagellated zoospores. The type species is called F. austinii to honor Mr. Jim Austin who sampled wild animals.
Read more about Fermayces here.
Paucimyces – 20th anaerobic fungal genus!
Another anaerobic fungal genus has been described, bringing the total number now up to 20.
Paucimyces has monoflagellated zoospores and polycentric thalli with highly branched nucleated filamentous rhizomycelium, a growth pattern encountered in a minority of described anaerobic fungal genera so far.
The type species of the genus is Paucimyces polynucleatus.
Read more about this anaerobic fungal genus in the publication of Hanafy et al, 2021.
19th genus now published
We are very happy to share with you details of a paper that was recently published: “Aestipascuomyces dupliciliberans gen. nov, sp. nov., the First Cultured Representative of the Uncultured SK4 Clade from Aoudad Sheep and Alpaca”.
This paper describes the characterization of the 19th anaerobic fungal genus, which was independently isolated by two different research groups.
You can read further details in the open-access paper which can be accessed here.
Seven new genera!!!
We are delighted to share with you details of a paper that was published at the end of last week entitled “Seven new Neocallimastigomycota genera from wild, zoo-housed, and domesticated herbivores greatly expand the taxonomic diversity of the phylum”.
This substantial collaborative piece of work brings the number of described genera from 11 up to 18!!!
You can read further details about the 7 new genera in the paper here.