identify a fuel-loving fungus?

[Edwin Hutton]

sam.ross at dsto.defence.gov.auANTISPAM wrote:
> 
> Dear Netter Nutters,
> 
> I see that an earlier post mentions microbial contamination of fuel.
> Several years ago, a microbiologist showed me a large conical flask
>  containing half diesel fuel and half water - at the interface,
> there was growing a large fungus that looked a bit like a faded
> brown moth-eaten sponge.  It was fascinating.  This gentleman
> kept his fungus as a 'pet', but when he retired he took his pet
> with him.  I'm keen to identify what sort of fungus it might have
> been.  Could anyone enlighten me, or point me at any information
> on fungi or other microbes that live happily in
> water-contaminated petrochemical fuel? (The library here has a
> dearth of micro text, these days).

I can't help with identification, but when I learnt about fungi
on a course in Sheffield University (England) we were told that
there was even a fungus that grew on aviation spirit. I too would
be quite interested in any information, as we were not told which
fungus it is.
-- 
Edwin Hutton