Farrowia

In 1975, Hawksworth suggested a novel genus for F. seminuda, F. longicola, and F. malaysiensis.[2] These species were distinguished from other Chaetomium species by their long-necked ascomata and production of anamorphs similar to Botryotrichum.[2] However, this categorization has been controversial since its inception.[3][4][5] In 2001, a molecular phylogenetic study using rRNA sequence data did not support the separation of Farrowia and Chaetomium.[6]

Widden, in 1986, suggested that Farrowia seminuda and Botryotrichum piluliferum are the teleomorph and anamorph of the same organism based on their preference for coniferous soils and visual indistinguishability.[7]

Perithecia are subglobose (imperfectly spherical), with straight, unbranched lateral and terminal hairs.[2] The terminal hairs fuse to form a neck-like structure, potentially rudimentary.[2] Pedestal-like rhizoidal bases are usually present. Farrowia forms asci which are clavate (club-shaped) and deliquesce before ascospores mature.[2]The ascospores are lemoniform (lemon-shaped), biapiculate, and are not ornamented.[2] F. malaysiensiensis is reported having a longer neck than the other two species in this genus.[3][8]

In media cultures, reddish brown pigments are produced only in the presence of contaminants.[2]

Species are widespread across tropical and temperate areas.[7][8] It is most commonly found in soil, although F. longicola has been found in leaf litter[5] and freshwater.[8]

Novel interleukin inhibitors were isolated from Farrowia broths in 2003.[9] These compounds were named EI-1941-1 and EI-1941-2. The enzymes they specifically inhibit are elastase and cathepsin B.[9] EI-1941-2 is degraded by the presence of cysteine, but EI-1941-1 is not.[9] Further study of these ICE inhibitors could lead to new synthetic anti-inflammatory agents.