Sphere

Vegetative cyst form of Coccidioides immitis, a thick-walled spherical sporangia-like structure which includes up to 200 endospores and occurs in the parasitic form of fungi of the genus Coccidioides. They can reach a size of 30-60 μm After the spherules burst open, the endospores are released into the surrounding tissue. From each endospore a new spherule can develop again. Outside the body, mycelia with chlamydospores form.

1. Court H (2019). Coccidioides immitis. In: Hof H et al., Schlüter D, Dörries R, ed. Duale Reihe Medizinische Mikrobiologie. 7th completely revised and extended edition. Stuttgart: Thieme p. 509