Plantaricastelani Courses

Plantaricastelani is a type of Neurospora fungus discovered in the early twentieth century by the Italian scientist Ettore Marchiafava and the Brazilian scientist Bartolomeo Celestino. This organism, generally known as Neurospora crassa, is one of the most important fungi used in microbial research and is used to study basic genetics, fungal biology, and nutritional requirements. The organism was named after the two men and the surnames were combined to form the name Plantaricastelani. Neurospora crassa is an ascomycete fungus and belongs to the Ascomycete family. It is facultatively anaerobic, meaning it can use both oxygen and anaerobic respiration in its metabolism. It is easily cultivated in the laboratory, making it a popular organism for research. Neurospora is actively used in numerous studies involving genetics, biotechnology, physiology and so on. Neurospora crassa can reproduce both sexually and asexually. It reproduces sexually by producing conidia and asexual by forming mycelial filaments. It is heterothallic, meaning mating of two compatible mating types is necessary for sexual reproduction. Neurospora crassa can be found in many environments including soils, decaying vegetation and stored grain. The study of Neurospora crassa has contributed greatly to the understanding of genetic inheritance and development. Neurospora is often considered one of the most important model organisms for genetic studies, largely due to the discovery of sexual replication, protoplast fusion, and the development of powerful genetics tools, such as gene fuzzing and chromosome nuclear fusion. Neurospora crassa is the model fungus in studies of oxidative stress, fungal biochemistry and its interaction with the environment. In addition, this organism is also useful in exploring the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.