Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:In contrast to earlier reports placingMalassezia among the Exobasidiomycetes [17] or Ustilaginomycetes [25], our analysis suggests that it may be an isolated group (namely the class Malasseziomycetes) in the subphylum of Ustilaginomycotina, in agreement with Wang et al [16].
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