P206 Phenotypic and molecular characterization of emerging Basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune isolated from clinical samples from India

Abstract Poster session 2, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Objective Schizophyllum commune is an environmental basidiomycete capable of causing human infections. Its identification is difficult as often it produces sterile, cottony white colonies without any conidia formation. S. commune is characterized by clamp connections and hyphal spicules. Though it produces basidiocarps with basidiospores it is difficult to induce in vitro. Molecular techniques are essential to confirm its identification. Here, we present the description of Schizophyllum commune isolates collected at our center over the last 5 years. Methods All the isolates used in this study was received from various part of India and accessioned at the National culture collection of pathogenic fungi (NCCPF), Chandigarh India. Isolates were grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar and malt-extract agar (MEA) at 25°C for 5-7 days. Lacto phenol cotton blue mounts were prepared and a microscopic examination was done. For observing basidiocarps, MEA plates were incubated for 6-8 weeks. DNA extraction was done using the phenol-chloroform method and ITS region was amplified using pan-fungal primers followed by Sanger sequencing. Results Among total of 22 Schizophyllum commune cultures, 19 were isolated from lower respiratory samples, two from corneal scrapings, and one from the brain. Upon microscopic examination, the major identification feature of this fungi, i.e., clamp connection and spicules were observed only in 8 (36%) isolates. The remaining 14 (64%) were identified up to species level using ITS sequencing. Basidiocarps could be induced only in two isolates. Conclusion Although rarely involved in human disease, Schizophyllum commune is being isolated from the clinical specimens. As microscopic identification is difficult and needs expertise, molecular identification is required for early diagnosis and treatment.