Identification of new genera of fungi associated with the mobile phones of biology students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Salahaddin, Erbil, Iraq

2 Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Salahaddin, Erbil, Iraq.

Abstract

Sixty samples were taken from the covers and displays of phones, and 2 samples from the headphones of biology students in the College of Science, Salahaddin University. Fungal genera were diagnosed phenotypically based on the color and shape of the colony from the front and reverse sides in the Petri dish, and diagnosed microscopically. Twenty-one fungal genera belonging to 29 species were isolated. The highest genera of fungal isolates were Aspergillus spp. Four new genera, Kutilakesopsis sp., Myrothecium verrucaria, and Thanatephorus Cucumis, and two new species, Dreschlera bisepta and Tritrachium oryzae, were recorded for the first time from mobile phones of biology students in the College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil. In addition, yeast was identified on CHROM Agar based on the formation of a colony color, such as Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis. The sensitivity test by the Agar Well Diffusion Method was performed for six species of Aspergillus against four sterilized agents: Dettol, Ethanol (%70%), Sanitizer, and Wet wipes on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Compared to the control, Aspergillus species were shown to be fairly sensitive to each of the tested sterilizing agents based on the zone of inhibition of growth, except that the sanitizer was resistant to all species of Aspergillus. This means it is necessary to sterilize a phone with sterilizing agents, as it can be a source of disease transmission. 

Keywords

Kirkuk Journal of Science
Volume 20, Issue 3
September 2025
Page 41-54

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 26 August 2025

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