Herpotrichiellaceae

Herpotrichiellaceae is a family of fungi within the order Chaetothyriales, class Eurotiomycetes, in the phylum Ascomycota. Members are dematiaceous, meaning they produce dark pigments in their cell walls, and they exhibit a range of morphologies from hyphal forms to yeast-like cells. The circumscription of the family has been refined through molecular phylogenetics, and it includes several genera such as Exophiala, Fonsecaea, Phialophora, Cladophialophora, and Rhinocladiella.

Ecology and biology of Herpotrichiellaceae are diverse. These fungi are commonly found in soil, decaying vegetation, wood, and aquatic environments, and some species display adaptations to stressed or extreme conditions. They are distributed globally, with higher isolation rates reported in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus level diversity reflects a wide range of ecological niches, including environmental saprotrophy and opportunistic lifestyles.

Clinical relevance is notable for several members of Herpotrichiellaceae. Many species are opportunistic pathogens in humans and animals, causing chromoblastomycosis, a chronic subcutaneous infection, as well as phaeohyphomycosis and, in some cases, disseminated disease in immunocompromised individuals. Infections often require extended antifungal therapy and may necessitate surgical management. Antifungal susceptibility varies among species, complicating treatment choices.

Laboratory features commonly include pigmented colonies in culture and microscopic structures such as pigmented hyphae and conidiophores; many species have poorly understood sexual stages. The medical and environmental significance of Herpotrichiellaceae continues to be refined through molecular and clinical research.