Cladophialophora bantiana - Microscopic examination of a brain abscess culture after staining with lactophenol blue

The black mold Cladophialophora bantiana has been isolated from soil and is a recognized cause of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Microscopic examination of fungal cultures reveal long melanized, sparsely branched, acropetal chains of conidia emerging from undifferentiated conidiophores. Conidia are generally one-celled, ellipsoid and smooth-walled. Cladophialophora bantiana and Cladosporium species can be differentiated, as the former is a thermophilic fungus and does not display the dark scars at the budding sites.