Alternaria

**Semantic type:** Fungus

**Definition:** A genus of dematiaceous fungi within the phylum Ascomycota that are ubiquitous in nature and are common allergens in humans. Members of the Alternaria genus produce septate, brown and filamentous hyphae, and may cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals, such as phaeohyphomycosis, onychomycosis, sinusitis, ulcerated cutaneous infections, keratitis, visceral infections and osteomyelitis.

**Synonyms:** - ALTERNARIA