''Uncinocarpus orissi'' is a species of micro

fungus 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 th ...

that grows on dung and other

keratin Keratin () is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as ''scleroproteins''. Alpha-keratin (α-keratin) is a type of keratin found in vertebrates. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, ho ...

ous materials, such as hair. It was the third species to be designated as part of the genus ''

Uncinocarpus ''Uncinocarpus'' is a genus of fungi within the Onygenaceae family. The name is derived from the Latin word ''uncinus'', meaning "hook" and the Greek word ''karpos'' (καρπός), meaning "fruit". It was distinguished from the genus ''Gymnoascu ...

'' by Canadian mycologists Lynne Sigler, Arlene Flis and J.W. Carmichael in 1998 as a synonym for ''Pseudoarachniotus orissi'' and ''Aphanoascus orissi''.

Description

In culture, colonies of ''U. orissi'' are yellowish white in colour before darkening to

buff Buff or BUFF may refer to: People * Buff (surname), a list of people * Buff (nickname), a list of people * Johnny Buff, ring name of American world champion boxer John Lisky (1888–1955) * Buff Bagwell, a ring name of American professional wr ...

or brownish-orange. Colonies are flat, dense and take on a woolly to coarsely powdery texture. ''U. orissi'' degrades keratin relatively quickly. ''U. orissi'' has a

heterothallic Heterothallic species have sexes that reside in different individuals. The term is applied particularly to distinguish heterothallic fungi, which require two compatible partners to produce sexual spores, from homothallic ones, which are capable of ...

mating system, requiring two compatible "sexes" for sexual reproduction to occur. It produces

urease Ureases (), functionally, belong to the superfamily of amidohydrolases and phosphotriesterases. Ureases are found in numerous bacteria, fungi, algae, plants, and some invertebrates, as well as in soils, as a soil enzyme. They are nickel-containin ...

enzyme, allowing it to convert urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide. Unlike many other members of the genus ''Uncinocarpus'', ''U. orissi'' are lacking in appendages. As of 2002, ''U. orissi'' has been implicated in three recorded infections: one deep-skin infection and two pulmonary infections.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q59153636 Onygenales Fungi described in 1998 Fungus species