Fungal infections of a colonial marine invertebrate: Diversity and morphological consequences

Colonies of the bryozoan species Hippodiplosia insculpta collected from Gra ndmother's Cove (American Camp, San Juan Island, Washington, USA) were anal yzed in view of pathologic growth patterns. The species produced giant buds that were filled with extracellular polymeric substances and a dense micro bial biofilm consisting of bacteria and fungal hyphae. Fungi were isolated from the colonies and were identified as Penicillium expansum, Penicillium brevicompactum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Acremonium breve, and Cladosporiu m sphaerospermum. The results of this study indicate that the formation of giant buds in the bryozoan is a defense mechanism against fungal infection.