These spores were collected using a Bio-Scan 400 (surface tape) from an indoor environment.
It is difficult to identify spores from an image. But due to the book "The Air Spora" these spores could be "Torula sp., conidium, India"
I agree with Uwe that you can't really identify a microbe based on a single photo. However, to me the condia show a resemblance to Ulocladium sp.
The spores most probably belong to a saprophytic or plant pathogenic species, which does not infect animals or humans. However, it could cause allergies (very similar looking conidia are produced by Alternaria sp., which is a very important allergenic fungus). Most fungi are not human pathogens and don't survive at body temperature (37C). However, people who are immunocompromised rather often become infected by different fungal species.
Many Dothideomycetes have this type of spores (dictyospores), e.g. Alternaria spp., Phoma spp., etc
I am quite sure that these spores belong to Ulocladium, cf. U. botrytis. Ulocladium is a mould genus that grows on condensation surfaces indoors, typically in badly ventilated bedrooms. The fungus grows often on/behind wall paper on concrete outer walls during wintertime. As the wall surface is cooler than the room air, the warm and moisty air condensates on these surfaces.
The fungus needs over 90% RH in order to grow.
Ulocladium, which has now been absorbed into Alternaria. Also one broken ascospore of Chaetomium on the lower right.
The conidia is similar to the conidia of Alternaria spp. and the distrubation on the coidiaphores may help to identified. the fungus is slow grows on PDA medium and the color of mycelium is gray.
It could be also from genera Stemphylium - some of species are plant pathogens, some - saprotrophes and also can cause allergic reaction.
Dear friend
Based on this figure, Identification is difficult, But I think it belongs to the Alternaria-like species, specially Ulocladium spp. or Stemphylium spp.
Best,
Amir
The characteristics of conidia and conidiophores represent those of Ulocladium, not Pithomyces or Stemphylium. And now, Ulocladium species are re-classified as member of the genus Alternaria section Ulocladium.
These conidia are probably Ulocladium/Stephylium type but not Alternaria or pithomyces
According to the photo, it can be Alternaria but in the past, i.e. before 2013, it was Ulocladium. Please see: for detail.
Seems Ulocladium. Alternaria has conidia forming chains (as well as Pithomyces) but not Ulocladium. Be sure that conidia chains are not evident to discard Alternaria. In addition Ulocladium has geniculata conidiophore i.e. strongly bent but not Alternaria.
I vote for Ulocladium as several people said already.
Cheers!
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