Cephalosporium

Cephalosporium is a historically used genus of filamentous fungi. In older taxonomic treatments it included several mold species characterized by hyaline, septate hyphae and conidiophores bearing conidia in slimy heads. With advances in fungal systematics, many species formerly placed in Cephalosporium have been transferred to the genus Acremonium, and Cephalosporium is now largely considered obsolete as a current genus name.

The best-known association with Cephalosporium is Cephalosporium acremonium, the organism historically linked to the discovery of cephalosporin antibiotics. In the mid-20th century, cultures labeled Cephalosporium acremonium were found to produce cephalosporin C, the first in a major class of beta-lactam antibiotics. In modern taxonomy the producing organism is generally placed in Acremonium, commonly referred to as Acremonium chrysogenum in many classifications.

Cephalosporins, named after the historical genus, constitute a broad family of beta-lactam antibiotics with a distinct chemical core (the cephem nucleus). They are used clinically to treat a variety of bacterial infections and have seen extensive development into semisynthetic derivatives with expanded activity and improved pharmacological properties. The link between the antibiotic and the old genus Cephalosporium is primarily taxonomic and historical, reflecting changes in fungal classification rather than ongoing use of the name in contemporary taxonomy.