{{short description|Genus of fungi}} {{automatic taxobox | image = | image_caption = | taxon = Polytolypa | authority = J.A.Scott & Malloch (1993) | type_species = '''''Polytolypa hystricis''''' | type_species_authority = J.A.Scott & Malloch (1993) }}

'''''Polytolypa''''' is a monotypic genus of fungus containing the single species '''''Polytolypa hystricis'''''. First classified in the Onygenaceae family, as of 2008 it is considered to be in the Ajellomycetaceae, although there is still uncertainty as to its phylogenetic relationships with other similar genera. This species is only known from a single specimen derived in the laboratory from a specimen of dung of the North American porcupine, ''Erethizon dorsatum'', collected in Ontario, Canada.<ref name=Scott1993/> ''Polytolypa hystricis'' contains bioactive compounds that have antifungal activity.

==Taxonomy, phylogeny, and naming== thumb|160px|left|''Polytolypa hystricis'' was initially grown from the dung of the North American porcupine, ''Erethizon dorsatum'' (pictured).The genus was first described in 1993 by University of Toronto mycologists J.A. Scott and D.W. Malloch, who grew the fungus in moist chamber cultures of porcupine dung collected in Stoneleigh, Ontario, Canada. The generic name ''Polytolypa'' is from the Greek word ''poly'' (πολυ) meaning "many", and ''tolype'' (τολυπη), meaning "skein of yarn". The specific epithet ''hystricis'' comes from the Greek ''hystrix'' (υστριξ), or "porcupine".<ref name=Scott1993/>

The genus has been classified in the Onygenaceae,<ref name=Lumbsch2007/> a fungal family characterized by species capable of digesting human hair ''in vitro'', and with spores that are punctate (with minute surface punctures) when viewed with scanning electron microscopy. However, as Scott and colleagues demonstrated using traditional laboratory tests to determine keratinolytic activity, ''P.&nbsp;hystricus'' is not able to digest hair.<ref name=Scott1993/> There is still uncertainty as to its phylogenetic relationships with other similar genera. ''Polytolypa'' is thought to be evolutionarily most closely related to the genera ''Malbranchea'' and ''Spiromastix''. The grouping of ''Polytolypa'' and ''Spiromastix'' represent a sister clade to the Ajellomyces clade, based on analysis of partial nuclear LSU sequence data.<ref name=Untereiner2002/> However, the phylogenetics of ''Polytolypa'' are still unclear and await further study.<ref name=Untereiner2004/> The 10th edition of the ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' (2008) considers the genus to be in the Ajellomycetaceae family, although uncertainty with this classification is indicated in the entry;<ref name=Kirk2008/> in contrast, the online mycological database MycoBank classifies the genus in the Onygenaceae.<ref name="urlMycoBank:Polytolypa"/>

==Description== The ascus-containing reproductive structures, or ''ascomata'', are minute, spherical bodies, typically 200–400&nbsp;μm in diameter. They start out white, but gradually become rusty brown in maturity. The ascomata, which may be clustered together in groups or scattered about, grow in a shallow layer of "hairs" (actually fungal mycelia) called a tomentum. The ascomata have "appendages" composed of numerous coiled, sometimes branched helices of hyphae that are coiled 3–15 times.<ref name=Scott1993/>

The ascospores produced by ''Polytolypa'' are ellipsoidal, yellow to yellow-orange in color, with dimensions of 2.5–5 by 3–4&nbsp;μm. Viewed with a light microscope their surfaces appear to be smooth, but under scanning electron microscopy, they are revealed to be densely marked with punctures and small, hard, sharp projections. The structures that produce the ascospores are called asci. In ''Polytolypa'' they are numerous, spherical, and measure 9–10 by 12–13&nbsp;μm. Each ascus contains eight ascospores, which are released when the ascus dissolves away at maturity. The anamorph (asexual form of the fungus) resembles the genus ''Chrysosporium''.<ref name=Scott1993/>

==Habitat and distribution== ''Polytolypa hystricis'' is known only from the dung of the North American porcupine, ''Erethizon dorsatum''. Porcupine dens accumulate thick layers of nutrient-rich dung, hair and urine that are degraded by a succession of fungi. These fungi are disseminated by arthropods (such as insects) or by the porcupine themselves.<ref name=Scott1993/>

==Bioactive compounds== Chemical analysis has shown that ''Polytolypa hystricis'' contains a unique triterpenoid chemical named polytolypin, as well two compounds known previously as metabolites from Scleroderris Canker (''Gremmeniella abietina''). Both polytolypin and one of the previously identified compounds have "moderate" antifungal activity against the species ''Ascobolus furfuraceous'', while polytopin alone can inhibit the growth of ''Candida albicans''.<ref name=Gamble1995/>

==See also== {{Portal|Fungi}} *Coprophilous fungi

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=

<ref name=Gamble1995>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gamble WR, Gloer JB, Scott JA, Malloch D |year=1995 |title=Polytopin, a new antifungal triterpenoid from the coprophilous fungus ''Polytolypa hystricus'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |volume=58 |issue=12 |pages=1984–6 |pmid=8691217 |doi=10.1021/np50126a034|bibcode=1995JNAtP..58.1983G }}</ref>

<ref name=Kirk2008>{{cite book |vauthors=Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA |title=Dictionary of the Fungi |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryfungit00kirk |url-access=limited |edition=10th |publisher=CABI |location=Wallingford, UK |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryfungit00kirk/page/n566 556] |isbn=978-0-85199-826-8}}</ref>

<ref name=Lumbsch2007>{{cite journal|vauthors=Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM |date=December 2007 |title=Outline of Ascomycota – 2007 |journal=Myconet |volume=13 |pages=1–58 |url=http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/myconet/outline.asp |access-date=2010-10-08 |publisher=The Field Museum, Department of Botany |location=Chicago, USA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318003134/http://www.fieldmuseum.org/myconet/outline.asp |archive-date=March 18, 2009 }}</ref>

<ref name=Scott1993>{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/3760710 |vauthors=Scott JA, Malloch DW, Gloer JB |title=''Polytolypa'', an undescribed genus in the Onygenales |jstor=3760710 |year=1993 |journal=Mycologia |volume=85 |issue=3 |pages=503–8 |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59350/0085/003/0503.htm|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

<ref name=Untereiner2002>{{cite journal |vauthors=Untereiner WA, Scott JA, Naveau FA, Currah RS, Bachewich J |year=2002 |title=Phylogeny of ''Ajellomyces'', ''Polytolypa'' and ''Spiromastix'' (Onygenaceae) inferred from rDNA sequence and non-molecular data |journal=Studies in Mycology |volume=47 |pages=25–35 |url=http://individual.utoronto.ca/jscott/publications/onygenaceae.pdf }}</ref>

<ref name=Untereiner2004>{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/3762114 |vauthors=Untereiner WA, Scott JA, Naveau FA, Sigler L, Bachewich J, Angus A |year=2004 |title=The Ajellomycetaceae, a new family of vertebrate-associated Onygenales |journal=Mycologia |volume=96 |issue=4 |pages=812–21 |url=http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/96/4/812 |jstor=3762114 |pmid=21148901|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

<ref name="urlMycoBank:Polytolypa">{{cite web |url=http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Link=T&Rec=26479 |title=''Polytolypa'' J.A. Scott & Malloch 1993 |publisher=MycoBank. International Mycological Association |access-date=2010-10-06}}</ref>

}}

==External links== *{{IndexFungorum|26479}}

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Category:Onygenales Category:Fungi of North America Category:Taxa described in 1993 Category:Monotypic Eurotiomycetes genera Category:Feces