Paecilomyces

Paecilomyces          Print PDF

Natural Habitat

• Decaying plant matter
• Insects
• Soils

Suitable Substrates in the Indoor Environment

• Optical Lenses
• Leather
• Paper
• PVC
• Jute Fibers
• Tobacco

Water Activity

• Aw=0.79

Mode of Dissemination

• Wind

Allergenic Potential

• Type I (hay fever, asthma)
• Type III (hypersensitivity)

Potential Opportunist or Pathogen

• P. variotii
causes paecilomycosis (symptoms include keratitis, cellulitis, and alveolitis).

• Corneal ulcers, keratitis, and endophthalmitis can occur after extended contact lense use or eye surgery due to Paecilomyces infection

Industrial Uses

• Paecilomyces fumosoroseus
is currently marketed as a biocontrol insecticide

Potential Toxins Produced

• Byssochlamic acid
• Ferrirubin
• Fusigen
• Indole-3-acetic acid
• Paecilotoxins
• Patulin.variotin
• Viriditoxin

OtherComments

P. crustaceus

and P. variotii can grow well at temperatures as high as 50°C