Identification and biofilm development by a new fungal keratitis aetiologic agent.

We report the identification of a fungus, a member of the genus Neoscytalidium which is associated with human keratitis. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological observations on conidiogenous cells, which occur only in arthric chains in aerial mycelium and the coelomycetous synasexual morph is absent, identified a new species, Neoscytalidium oculus sp. nov. The fungus formed biofilm at a concentration of 1 × 106  conidia/mL, during 96 hours of incubation at 37°C, and also manifested haemolysis and melanin production. This is the first report in Latin America of a new species of Neoscytalidium from a clinical isolate has been identified.