This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: mycology, Subject name: Microbiology
Asteroid bodies and cigar-shaped globi may be produced by 
Select and explain. 
A. Sporothrix, B. Histoplasma, C. Phialophora, D. Aspergillus
A: Sporothrix
Answer: A: Sporothrix 
Explanation: Sporothrix schenckii: 1. Microscopy: a direct microscopic examination of KOH mounts of specimen stained by methenamine silver stain shows asteroid body: a rounded or oval, basophilic, yeast like body with rays of an eosinophilic substance radiating from a yeast cell. 2. In culture S. schenckii - yeast phase appears as cigar-shaped cells and mould form contains hyphae carrying flower-like clusters of small conidia borne on delicate sterigmata. Ref: Textbook of Microbiology, Ananthanarayan and Paniker; 9th edition