[5][6] Chaetomium globosum are human allergens and opportunistic agents of ungual mycosis and neurological infections.

[8] They can decay a variety of wood types such as aspen and pine and even change the colour of paper and books.

[8] The cellulase activity of C. globosum functions best at temperatures ranging from 25-32 degrees Celsius and is stimulated by nitrogen and biotin.

[4] Like many fungal species, C. globosum obtains their energy from carbon sources such as glucose, mannitol and fructose.

[4] Fructose is usually digested outside the hyphae using fructokinase activity, whereas glucose enters the cell undigested for cellular metabolism.

[9] The ascomata optimally fructify at temperatures ranging from 18-20 degrees Celsius and develop asci with 8 ascospores each.

[10] Additional conditions such as neutral pH, mild levels of carbon dioxide, the presence of calcium ions, and soluble sugar media also assist in the development of fruiting bodies.

[10] C. globosum perithecia are similar in appearance to the related species of Chaetomium elatum, however the latter is distinguished by its branched perithecial hairs.

[10] Filamentous irregular hyphal growth allows the colony to spread and develop into pale aerial mycelium.

[1][4] Chaetomium globosum can be commonly found contaminating damp buildings throughout North America and Europe.

[8] Both the C. globosum hyphae and the spores contain antigens such as Chg45, to induce IgE and IgG antibody production in allergic individuals.

[8] Chaetomium globosum colonies are potential allergens, and when residing on damp buildings, they are usually the casual agents of poor indoor air quality.

[15] In one case, an immunocompromised renal transplant patient developed fatal brain abscess due to a C. globosum infection.

[20] Heavy metals such as copper, suppress plant growth and disrupt metabolic processes, e.g. photosynthesis.

In fact, ascospore inoculation reduces bacterial disease symptoms such as wilting, apple scabs, and seed blight in treated plants.

[21] Enhancing plant stress tolerance and microbial defense, renders C. globosum application beneficial for agricultural use.