Cunninghamella fungi, illustration

Cunninghamella fungi, computer illustration. Cunninghamella sp. are pathogenic fungi from the order Mucorales that cause sinopulmonary and disseminated infections, particularly in patients with haematological malignancies, and are one of the causative agents of mucormycosis. The most common species is Cunninghamella bertholletiae, it has been associated with the highest mortality among the members of the order Mucorales. It is also an in common cause of skin infections after traumatic injury. Morphologically, Cunninghamella has broad almost non-septate hyphae, with long branched sporangiophores ending in swollen vesicles. Vesicles are covered with spine-like denticles, which in turn support round to oval sporangiola that are often encrusted with needle-like crystals., by KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY