Lomentospora prolificans synthesizes several types of melanin

Lomentospora prolificans is a filamentous fungus with a global distribution, exhibiting a particularly higher prevalence in human-impacted environments. Melanins are biological compounds with important functions that contribute to the virulence of many pathogenic fungi. Like many fungi, L. prolificans produces melanin, but little is known about its structure and composition. In the current study, we characterized L. prolificans-associated melanin using chemical, biological, biophysical, and structural techniques while also assessing the impact of inhibitors of distinct melanization pathways. Our results reveal that this pathogenic fungus produces multiple types of melanin pigments and suggest the possibility of a new type of melanin, which is synthesized together with a mixture of DHN-, DOPA-, and pyomelanin types.