Ajellomyces is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

in the division

Ascomycota Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The def ...

, in the family

Ajellomycetaceae The Ajellomycetaceae are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota, class Eurotiomycetes. The family contains eight genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as vi ...

. The genus contains two species, which have a widespread distribution, especially in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

areas. The species ''Ajellomyces capsulatus'' is significant to human health as the causative agent of

histoplasmosis Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by ''Histoplasma capsulatum''. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease affects primarily the lungs. Occasionally, other organs are affected; called disseminated histoplasmosis, it can ...

. This species is more usually referred to as ''

Histoplasma capsulatum ''Histoplasma capsulatum'' is a species of dimorphic fungus. Its sexual form is called ''Ajellomyces capsulatus''. It can cause pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis. ''H. capsulatum'' is "distributed worldwide, except in Antarctica, but m ...

'', with the designation ''Ajellomyces capsulatus'' referring to the ascomycetous perfect stage.

References

Eurotiomycetes genera Onygenales {{Eurotiomycetes-stub