Sarocladium strictum

Sarocladium strictum (previously called Acremonium strictum or Cephalosporium acremonium) is an environmentally widespread saprotrophic fungi found in soil, plant debris, and rotting mushrooms. Isolates have been collected in North and Central America, Asia, Europe and Egypt. S. strictum is an agent of hyalohyphomycosis (skin, nail and tissue infection) and has been identified as an increasingly frequent human pathogen in immunosuppressed individuals, causing localized, disseminated and invasive infections. Although extremely rare, S. strictum can infect immunocompetent individuals, as well as newborns. Due to the growing number of infections caused by S. strictum in the past few years, the need for new medical techniques in the identification of the fungus as well as for the treatment of human infections has risen considerably.

S. strictum has been shown to be involved in some myoparasitic relationships, as well as a wide range of plant endophytic and parasitic relationships, and further studies are required to determine S. strictum's use as a biological control agent and role as a parasite that reduces crop yields. S. strictum exhibits metabolism of many products that imply future agricultural and pharmaceutical significance.