Identification and characterization of isolated from skin scrapings, nails, and blood.

Background: is a filamentous wood-inhabiting endophyte commonly found in woody plants. Here, we report the identification and characterization of nine isolates from skin scrapings, nail clippings, and blood.

Methods: The nine isolates were identified based on colony morphology, light microscopy, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based phylogeny. antifungal susceptibility of the fungal isolates was evaluated by the Etest to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

Results: The nine isolates examined were confirmed as . They exhibited typical features of sp. on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, with white felty colonies and black-gray coloration on the reverse side. Septate hyphae, branching conidiophore with conidiogenous cells budding from its terminus, and nodulisporium-like conidiophores were observed under the microscope. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nine isolates were clustered within the species complex. All the isolates exhibited low MICs against azole agents (voriconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole), as well as amphotericin B, with MIC of less than 1 µg/ml.

Discussion: Early and definitive identification of is vital to reducing misuse of antimicrobial agents. Detailed morphological and molecular characterization as well as antifungal profiling of provide the basis for future studies on its biology, pathogenicity, and medicinal potential.