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1.
Crit Rev Microbiol ; : 1-14, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38949272

ABSTRACT

Fusarium and Neocosmospora are two fungal genera recently recognized in the list of fungal priority pathogens. They cause a wide range of diseases that affect humans, animals, and plants. In clinical laboratories, there is increasing concern about diagnosis due to limitations in sample collection and morphological identification. Despite the advances in molecular diagnosis, due to the cost, some countries cannot implement these methodologies. However, recent changes in taxonomy and intrinsic resistance to antifungals reveal the necessity of accurate species-level identification. In this review, we discuss the current phenotypic and molecular tools available for diagnosis in clinical laboratory settings and their advantages and disadvantages.

2.
J Fungi (Basel) ; 10(4)2024 Apr 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38667952

ABSTRACT

The Mediterranean Sea stands out as a hotspot of biodiversity, whose fungal composition remains underexplored. Marine sediments represent the most diverse substrate; however, the challenge of recovering fungi in culture hinders the precise identification of this diversity. Concentration techniques like skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) could represent a suitable solution. Here, we compare the effectiveness in recovering filamentous ascomycetes of direct plating and SMF in combination with three culture media and two incubation temperatures, and we describe the fungal diversity detected in marine sediments. Sediments were collected at different depths on two beaches (Miracle and Arrabassada) on the Spanish western Mediterranean coast between 2021 and 2022. We recovered 362 strains, and after a morphological selection, 188 were identified primarily with the LSU and ITS barcodes, representing 54 genera and 94 species. Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Scedosporium were the most common genera, with different percentages of abundance between both beaches. Arrabassada Beach was more heterogeneous, with 42 genera representing 60 species (Miracle Beach, 28 genera and 54 species). Although most species were recovered with direct plating (70 species), 20 species were exclusively obtained using SMF as a sample pre-treatment, improving our ability to detect fungi in culture. In addition, we propose three new species in the genera Exophiala, Nigrocephalum, and Queenslandipenidiella, and a fourth representing the novel genus Schizochlamydosporiella. We concluded that SMF is a useful technique that, in combination with direct plating, including different culture media and incubation temperatures, improves the chance of recovering marine fungal communities in culture-dependent studies.

3.
J Fungi (Basel) ; 9(12)2023 Nov 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38132730

ABSTRACT

During the course of a project investigating culturable Ascomycota diversity from freshwater sediments in Spain, we isolated 63 strains of cycloheximide-resistant fungi belonging to the order Onygenales. These well-known ascomycetes, able to infect both humans and animals, are commonly found in terrestrial habitats, colonizing keratin-rich soils or dung. Little is known about their diversity in aquatic environments. Combining morphological features and sequence analyses of the ITS and LSU regions of the nrDNA, we identified 14 species distributed in the genera Aphanoascus, Arachniotus, Arthroderma, Arthropsis, Emmonsiellopsis, Gymnoascoideus, Leucothecium, Malbranchea, and Myriodontium. Furthermore, three novel species for the genus Malbranchea are proposed as M. echinulata sp. nov., M. irregularis sp. nov., and M. sinuata sp. nov. The new genera Albidomyces and Neoarthropsis are introduced based on Arachniotus albicans and Arthropsis hispanica, respectively. Neoarthropsis sexualis sp. nov. is characterized and differentiated morphologically from its counterpart by the production of a sexual morph. The novel family Neoarthropsidaceae is proposed for the genera Albidomyes, Apinisia, Arachnotheca, Myriodontium, and Neoarthropsis, based on their phylogenetic relationships and phenotypic and ecological traits. Pseudoamaurascopsis gen. nov. is introduced to accommodate P. spiralis sp. nov., a fungus with unclear taxonomy related to Amaurascopsis and Polytolypa. We traced the ecology and global distribution of the novel fungi through ITS environmental sequences deposited in the GlobalFungi database. Studying the fungal diversity from freshwater sediments not only contributes to filling gaps in the relationships and taxonomy of the Ascomycota but also gives us insights into the fungal community that might represent a putative risk to the health of animals and humans inhabiting or transient in aquatic environments.

4.
J Fungi (Basel) ; 8(8)2022 Aug 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36012856

ABSTRACT

Although the Pleosporaceae is one of the species-richest families in the Pleosporales, research into less-explored substrates can contribute to widening the knowledge of its diversity. In our ongoing survey on culturable Ascomycota from freshwater sediments in Spain, several pleosporacean specimens of taxonomic interest were isolated. Phylogenetic analyses based on five gene markers (ITS, LSU, gapdh, rbp2, and tef1) revealed that these fungi represent so far undescribed lineages, which are proposed as two novel genera in the family, i.e., Neostemphylium typified by Neostemphylium polymorphum sp. nov., and Scleromyces to accommodate Scleromyces submersus sp. nov. Neostemphylium is characterized by the production of phaeodictyospores from apically swollen and darkened conidiogenous cells, the presence of a synanamorph that consists of cylindrical and brown phragmoconidia growing terminally or laterally on hyphae, and by the ability to produce secondary conidia by a microconidiation cycle. Scleromyces is placed phylogenetically distant to any genera in the family and only produces sclerotium-like structures in vitro. The geographic distribution and ecology of N. polymorphum and Sc. submersus were inferred from metabarcoding data using the GlobalFungi database. The results suggest that N. polymorphum is a globally distributed fungus represented by environmental sequences originating primarily from soil samples collected in Australia, Europe, and the USA, whereas Sc. submersus is a less common species that has only been found associated with one environmental sequence from an Australian soil sample. The phylogenetic analyses of the environmental ITS1 and ITS2 sequences revealed at least four dark taxa that might be related to Neostemphylium and Scleromyces. The phylogeny presented here allows us to resolve the taxonomy of the genus Asteromyces as a member of the Pleosporaceae.

5.
MycoKeys ; 86: 103-145, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35145339

ABSTRACT

Penicillium species are common fungi found worldwide from diverse substrates, including soil, plant debris, food products and air. Their diversity in aquatic environments is still underexplored. With the aim to explore the fungal diversity in Spanish freshwater sediments, numerous Penicillium strains were isolated using various culture-dependent techniques. A preliminary sequence analysis of the ß-tubulin (tub2) gene marker allowed us to identify several interesting species of Penicillium, which were later characterized phylogenetically with the barcodes recommended for species delimitation in the genus. Based on the multi-locus phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA, and partial fragments of tub2, calmodulin (cmdA), and the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb2) genes, in combination with phenotypic analyses, five novel species are described. These are P.ausonanum in sectionLanata-Divaricata, P.guarroi in sect.Gracilenta, P.irregulare in sect.Canescentia, P.sicoris in sect.Paradoxa and P.submersum in sect.Robsamsonia. The study of several isolates from samples collected in different locations resulted in the reinstatement of P.vaccaeorum into sectionCitrina. Finally, P.heteromorphum (sect.Exilicaulis) and P.tardochrysogenum (sect.Chrysogena) are reported, previously only known from Antarctica and China, respectively.

6.
MycoKeys ; 77: 1-25, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33510579

ABSTRACT

Cladosporium is a monophyletic genus in Cladosporiaceae (Cladosporiales, Dothideomycetes) whose species are mainly found as saprobes and endophytes, but it also includes fungi pathogenic for plants, animals and human. Species identification is currently based on three genetic markers, viz., the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the rDNA, and partial fragments of actin (act) and the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) genes. Using this phylogenetic approach and from morphological differences, we have recognized six new species originating from soil, herbivore dung and plant material collected at different Spanish locations. They are proposed as Cladosporium caprifimosum, C. coprophilum, C. fuscoviride and C. lentulum belonging in the C. cladosporioides species complex, and C. pseudotenellum and C. submersum belonging in the C. herbarum species complex. This study revealed that herbivore dung represented a reservoir of novel lineages in the genus Cladosporium.

7.
MycoKeys ; 68: 1-21, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32607056

ABSTRACT

Curvularia is a Pleosporalean monophyletic genus with a great diversity of species, including relevant phytopathogenic, animal and human pathogenic fungi. However, their microscopic identification is difficult due to overlapping morphological features amongst species. In recent years, multi-locus sequence analysis using the ITS region of the rDNA and fragments of the genes gapdh and tef1 revealed numerous cryptic species, especially in isolates that commonly produced 3-septate conidia. Therefore, based on sequence analysis of the above-mentioned DNA barcodes recommended for species delineation in Curvularia, we propose three novel species, C. paraverruculosa, C. suttoniae and C. vietnamensis, isolated from soil, human clinical specimens and plant material, respectively, collected in different countries. These new species are morphologically characterised and illustrated in the present study. Curvularia paraverruculosa differs from its counterparts, C. americana and C. verruculosa, mainly by its narrower conidia. Curvularia suttoniae and C. vietnamensis are closely related to C. petersonii, but the former two have larger conidia.

8.
Microorganisms ; 8(4)2020 Mar 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32230909

ABSTRACT

In a survey of microfungi from plant debris collected in Vietnam, two new hyphomycetous species were found, which belong to the genera Heliocephala and Pseudopenidiella and the family Microthyriaceae (Microthyriales, Dothideomycetes). Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal DNA barcodes allowed assessing the phylogenetic relationships of the new species with other species of the respective genera. Heliocephala variabilis sp. nov. was closely related to Heliocephala elegans, Heliocephala gracilis, and Heliocephala zimbabweensis, from which it was morphologically distinguished by its smaller conidiophores and non-rostrate conidia of up to four septa on the natural substratum. Pseudopenidiella vietnamensis sp. nov. was related to Pseudopenidiella piceae and Pseudopenidiella podocarpi and differed from the former principally by its lack of microcondiophores and from P. podocarpi by having larger macroconidiophores and smooth conidia. Key morphological features to distinguish the accepted species in Heliocephala and Pseudopenidiella are also provided. In addition, Pseudopenidiella pini was excluded from the genus on the basis of its morphological features.

9.
Mycoses ; 63(2): 212-224, 2020 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31651065

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis is an emerging disease in immunocompromised patients, being Alternaria one of the most common genera reported as a causative agent. Species identification is not carried out mainly due to the complexity of the genus. Analysis of the ITS barcode has become standard for fungal identification, but in Alternaria it is only able to discriminate among species-groups or sections. METHODS: We present three cases of cutaneous infection caused by Alternaria isolates morphologically identified as belonging to section Infectoriae. They have been morphologically characterised and phylogenetically delineated with five molecular markers (ITS, ATPase, gapdh, rpb2 and tef1). RESULTS: Mycotic infections have been diagnosed by repeated cultures and histopathological examination in two of the cases. The polyphasic approach has allowed to delineate three new species of Alternaria section Infectoriae, that is A anthropophila, A atrobrunnea and A guarroi. ATPase has been the only locus able to discriminate most of the species (29 out of 31) currently sequenced in this section, including A infectoria the commonest reported species causing alternariosis. Susceptibility test showed different antifungal patterns for the three species, although terbinafine was the most active in vitro drug against these fungi. CONCLUSIONS: The ATPase gene is recommended as an alternative barcode locus to identify Alternaria clinical isolates in section Infectoriae. Our results reinforce the relevance of identification of Alternaria isolates at the species level and the necessity to carry out antifungal susceptibility testing to determine the most adequate drug for treatment.


Subject(s)
Alternaria/classification , Alternariosis/microbiology , Adenocarcinoma/complications , Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy , Aged , Alternaria/drug effects , Alternaria/genetics , Alternaria/isolation & purification , Alternariosis/complications , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Bayes Theorem , Consensus Sequence , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage , Likelihood Functions , Lung Transplantation , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Ischemia/complications , Phenotype , Phylogeny , Prostatic Neoplasms/complications , Prostatic Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Sequence Alignment , Skin Ulcer/complications , Skin Ulcer/microbiology , Transplantation Immunology/immunology
10.
Mycoses ; 62(2): 157-164, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30338567

ABSTRACT

A 60-year-old woman presented with a nodular granulomatous skin lesion on her right thumb. It had developed after inoculation of a splinter of wood. Because it was resistant to various therapies, the nodule was finally excised. Complete healing followed this surgery and a melanised filamentous fungus with scopulariopsis-like morphology was recovered from the dermal tissue. Fitting with no known species, the fungus was subjected to extensive morphological, physiological and genetic investigations. It was characterised by resistance to cycloheximide, growth at 37°C, branched conidiophores with cylindrical annellides in brush-like groups producing dark conidia in basipetal chains, and cleistothecia with ellipsoidal to slightly reniform ascospores. Genetically it clustered in a well-supported clade together with Microascus (M.) brunneosporus, Microascus chinensis, Microascus intricatus, Microascus longicollis, Microascus micronesiensis and Microascus onychoides, but formed an independent branch distant from the other Microascus species. Based on its unique genetic characteristics and morphological findings, the isolate is proposed as a new species, Microascus ennothomasiorum. Morphologically it differs from its phylogenetically closest species by its branched conidiophores and ascomata with a peridium of textura intricata. Our observation once again emphasises that dermal granulomas can be caused by uncommon fungi; diagnostics should therefore include appropriate mycological investigations.


Subject(s)
Ascomycota/classification , Ascomycota/isolation & purification , Dermatomycoses/diagnosis , Dermatomycoses/pathology , Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/pathology , Phylogeny , Ascomycota/genetics , Ascomycota/physiology , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Dermatomycoses/microbiology , Dermatomycoses/surgery , Female , Genes, rRNA , Granuloma/microbiology , Granuloma/surgery , Humans , Microscopy , Middle Aged , Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics , RNA, Fungal/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Spores, Fungal , Tubulin/genetics
11.
Microorganisms ; 6(3)2018 Aug 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30115839

ABSTRACT

Acremonium is known to be regularly isolated from food and also to be a cause of human disease. Herein, we resolve some sources of confusion that have strongly hampered the accurate interpretation of these and other isolations. The recently designated type species of the genus Acremonium, A. alternatum, is known only from a single isolate, but it is the closest known relative of what may be one of the planet's most successful organisms, Acremonium sclerotigenum/egyptianum, shown herein to be best called by its earliest valid name, A. egyptiacum. The sequencing of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, actin genes, or both for 72 study isolates within this group allowed the full range of morphotypes and ITS barcode types to be elucidated, along with information on temperature tolerance and habitat. The results showed that nomenclatural confusion and frequent misidentifications facilitated by morphotaxonomy, along with misidentified early sequence deposits, have obscured the reality that this species is, in many ways, the definitive match of the historical concept of Acremonium: a pale orange or dull greenish-coloured monophialidic hyphomycete, forming cylindrical, ellipsoidal, or obovoid conidia in sticky heads or obovoid conidia in dry chains, and acting ecologically as a soil organism, marine organism, plant pathogen, plant endophyte, probable insect pathogen, human opportunistic pathogen, food contaminant, probable dermatological communicable disease agent, and heat-tolerant spoilage organism. Industrially, it is already in exploratory use as a producer of the antibiotic ascofuranone, active against trypanosomes, cryptosporidia, and microsporidia, and additional applications are in development. The genus-level clarification of the phylogeny of A. egyptiacum shows other historic acremonia belong to separate genera, and two are here described, Parasarocladium for the Acremonium radiatum complex and Kiflimonium for the Acremonium curvulum complex.

12.
MycoKeys ; (37): 19-38, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30150880

ABSTRACT

In a survey of soil and herbivore dung microfungi in Mexico and Spain, several dendryphiella-like species were found. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU sequences showed that these fungi belonged to the family Dictyosporiaceae (Pleosporales) and represent an undescribed monophyletic lineage distant from Dendryphiella. Therefore, the genus Neodendryphiella is proposed to accommodate three new species, N.mali, N.michoacanensis and N.tarraconensis. The novel genus shares morphological features with Dendryphiella such as differentiated conidiophores and polytretic integrated conidiogenous cells, that produce acropetal branched chains of conidia. Neodendryphiella differs in the absence of nodulose conidiophores bearing conidiogenous cells with pores surrounded by a thickened and darkened wall, typical features in the conidiogenous apparatus of Dendryphiella. In addition, the phylogenetic and morphological analysis of several reference strains of different Dendryphiella species, available for comparison, support the proposal of D.variabilissp. nov., which mainly differs from the other species of the genus by having conidia up to 7 septa and highlight that D.vinosa and D.infuscans are obscure species that require further taxonomic review.

13.
Mycoses ; 61(11): 814-825, 2018 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29938842

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades there has been an emergence of cryptic Aspergillus as agents of human infections due to the increase in immunocompromised population and to the improvement of identification tools. METHODS: Continuing our study on Aspergillus isolates from clinical origin deposited in a mycological reference centre in the United States, we selected 37 isolates belonging to less common sections of the genus, to study their species diversity and detect cryptic species by using a polyphasic approach. RESULTS: From this set of isolates, a total of 16 species were identified; the most frequent being A. calidoustus (48.6%, section Usti), A. terreus (13.5%, section Terrei), and A. nidulans (5.7%, section Nidulantes). The remaining isolates corresponded to 13 species of rare or cryptic Aspergillus, i.e. A. europaeus (section Cremei); A. iizukae, A. micronesiensis, A. spelaeus (section Flavipedes); A. pachycristatus, A. quadrilineatus, A. spinulosporus, A. unguis (section Nidulantes); A. alabamensis, A. carneus, A. hortai (section Terrei), A. granulosus (section Usti); and the new species A. suttoniae (section Flavipedes), which is described here. CONCLUSIONS: Correct identification of cryptic species is crucial to reveal new potential pathogens, to gather accurate epidemiological data and to choose an appropriate treatment.


Subject(s)
Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Aspergillus/classification , Aspergillus/genetics , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Humans , Phylogeny , United States
14.
Med Mycol ; 56(5): 541-550, 2018 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29420803

ABSTRACT

The diversity of Aspergillus species in clinical samples is continuously increasing. Species under the former name Eurotium, currently accommodated in section Aspergillus of the genus Aspergillus, are xerophilic fungi widely found in the human environment and able to grow on substrates with low water activity. However, their prevalence in the clinical setting is poorly known. We have studied the presence of these species in a set of clinical samples from the United States using a multilocus sequence analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA, and fragments of the genes ß-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2). A total of 25 isolates were studied and identified as follows: A. montevidensis (44%), A. chevalieri (36%), A. pseudoglaucus (8%), and A. costiformis (4%). A new species Aspergillus microperforatus is also proposed, which represented 8% of the isolates studied and is characterized by uniseriate conidial heads, subglobose to pyriform vesicles, rough conidia, globose to subglobose cleistothecia, and lenticular and smooth ascospores. The in vitro antifungal activity of eight clinically available antifungals was also determined against these isolates, with the echinocandins and posaconazole having the most potent activity.


Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus/classification , Aspergillus/drug effects , Phylogeny , Aspergillus/genetics , Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Calmodulin/genetics , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Genes, Fungal/genetics , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Multilocus Sequence Typing , Mycological Typing Techniques , RNA Polymerase II/genetics , Tubulin/genetics , United States
15.
Int J Syst Evol Microbiol ; 68(4): 995-1011, 2018 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29458472

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus candidus is a species frequently isolated from stored grain, food, indoor environments, soil and occasionally also from clinical material. Recent bioprospecting studies highlighted the potential of using A. candidus and its relatives in various industrial sectors as a result of their significant production of enzymes and bioactive compounds. A high genetic variability was observed among A. candidus isolates originating from various European countries and the USA, that were mostly isolated from indoor environments, caves and clinical material. The A. candidus sensu lato isolates were characterized by DNA sequencing of four genetic loci, and agreement between molecular species delimitation results, morphological characters and exometabolite spectra were studied. Classical phylogenetic methods (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference) and species delimitation methods based on the multispecies coalescent model supported recognition of up to three species in A. candidus sensu lato. After evaluation of phenotypic data, a broader species concept was adopted, and only one new species, Aspergillus dobrogensis, was proposed. This species is represented by 22 strains originating from seven countries (ex-type strain CCF 4651T=NRRL 62821T=IBT 32697T=CBS 143370T) and its differentiation from A. candidus is relevant for bioprospecting studies because these species have different exometabolite profiles. Evaluation of the antifungal susceptibility of section Candidi members to six antifungals using the reference EUCAST method showed that all species have low minimum inhibitory concentrations for all tested antifungals. These results suggest applicability of a wide spectrum of antifungal agents for treatment of infections caused by species from section Candidi.


Subject(s)
Aspergillus/classification , Phylogeny , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Aspergillus/drug effects , Bayes Theorem , DNA, Fungal/genetics , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mycological Typing Techniques , Phenotype , Sequence Analysis, DNA
16.
Mycopathologia ; 183(2): 407-415, 2018 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28994000

ABSTRACT

Bursitis is a common medical condition that can occur either with or without infection. We present a case of fungal olecranon bursitis in an immunocompetent individual caused by the new species Knoxdaviesia dimorphospora. It is a dematiaceous filamentous fungus characterized by the production of two different conidia: hyaline and cylindrical, which rise up from phialidic conidiogenous cells located in the upper part of differentiated and unbranched conidiophores, and pale brown and ellipsoidal conidia produced by phialidic conidiogenous cells which are born directly on hyphae. In addition to its morphological peculiarities, the novelty of the fungus was confirmed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and D1/D2 domains of the 28S of the nuclear rRNA gene. The fungal infection was confirmed by cytological examination and repeated cultures. The infection was resolved by surgical debridement and drainage, and the patient presented a complete functional recovery 3 months later. The in vitro antifungal susceptibility to this new human opportunist is provided, terbinafine being the drug with the most potent activity.


Subject(s)
Ascomycota/isolation & purification , Bursitis/diagnosis , Bursitis/pathology , Mycoses/diagnosis , Mycoses/pathology , Olecranon Process/pathology , Ascomycota/classification , Ascomycota/cytology , Ascomycota/genetics , Bursitis/surgery , Cluster Analysis , Cytological Techniques , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Debridement , Drainage , Humans , Male , Microbiological Techniques , Microscopy , Middle Aged , Mycoses/surgery , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Treatment Outcome
17.
mSphere ; 2(4)2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28875175

ABSTRACT

Cryptococcosis is a major fungal disease caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes. After more than 15 years of molecular genetic and phenotypic studies and much debate, a proposal for a taxonomic revision was made. The two varieties within C. neoformans were raised to species level, and the same was done for five genotypes within C. gattii. In a recent perspective (K. J. Kwon-Chung et al., mSphere 2:e00357-16, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00357-16), it was argued that this taxonomic proposal was premature and without consensus in the community. Although the authors of the perspective recognized the existence of genetic diversity, they preferred the use of the informal nomenclature "C. neoformans species complex" and "C. gattii species complex." Here we highlight the advantage of recognizing these seven species, as ignoring these species will impede deciphering further biologically and clinically relevant differences between them, which may in turn delay future clinical advances.

18.
Mycoses ; 60(10): 651-662, 2017 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28660627

ABSTRACT

The genus Talaromyces constitutes an important group of molds with species that are mainly found in soil, indoor environments and food products. Traditionally, it has been considered, together with Eupenicillium, the teleomorphic state of Penicillium. However, the taxonomy of these fungi has changed considerably, and Talaromyces currently includes sexually and asexually reproducing species. In a previous study of the occurrence of penicillium-like fungi from clinical samples in the USA, we used the combined phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA and ß-tubulin (BenA) gene to identify 31 isolates of Talaromyces, 85 of Penicillium and two of Rasamsonia. However, seven isolates of Talaromyces were assigned to the corresponding sections but not to any particular species. In this study, we have resolved the taxonomy of these isolates through a multilocus sequence analysis of the ITS, fragments of the BenA, calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes, and a detailed phenotypic study. As a result, four new species are described and illustrated, ie Talaromyces alveolaris, T. georgiensis, T. minnesotensis and T. rapidus.


Subject(s)
Mycoses/microbiology , Talaromyces/classification , Talaromyces/isolation & purification , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer , Humans , Multilocus Sequence Typing , Penicillium/genetics , Phenotype , Phylogeny , Tubulin/genetics
19.
Fungal Biol ; 120(11): 1458-1467, 2016 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27742099

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus section Versicolores includes species of clinical relevance and many others that have been poorly studied but are occasionally found in clinical samples. The aim of this study was to investigate, using a multilocus phylogenetic approach, the spectrum of species of the section Versicolores and to determine their in vitro antifungal susceptibility. The study was based on a set of 77 clinical isolates from different USA medical centres, which had been previously identified as belonging to this section. The genetic markers used were internal transcribed spacer (ITS), ß-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and the drugs tested, following the CLSI guidelines, were amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, terbinafine (TBF), and flucytosine (5FC). The most frequent species were Aspergillus sydowii (26 %), Aspergillus creber (22 %), and Aspergillus amoenus (18.2 %), followed by Aspergillus protuberus (13 %), Aspergillus jensenii (10.4 %), and Aspergillus tabacinus (5.2 %); while Aspergillus cvjetkovicii, Aspergillus fructus, Aspergillus puulaauensis, and Aspergillus versicolor were represented by only one isolate each (1.3 %). This is the first time that A. jensenii and A. puulaauensis have been reported from clinical samples. Considering the high number of isolates identified as belonging to this fungal group in this study, its clinical relevance should not be overlooked. Aspergillus versicolor, traditionally considered one of the most common species in this section in a clinical setting, was only rarely recovered in our study. The in vitro antifungal results showed that echinocandins and TBF were the most potent drugs, the azoles showed variable results, AMB was poorly active, and 5FC was the less active.


Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus/drug effects , Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Aspergillosis/drug therapy , Aspergillus/classification , Aspergillus/genetics , Biodiversity , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Phylogeny
20.
J Clin Microbiol ; 54(8): 2155-61, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27280422

ABSTRACT

Penicillium species are some of the most common fungi observed worldwide and have an important economic impact as well as being occasional agents of human and animal mycoses. A total of 118 isolates thought to belong to the genus Penicillium based on morphological features were obtained from the Fungus Testing Laboratory at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (United States). The isolates were studied phenotypically using standard growth conditions. Molecular identification was made using two genetic markers, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and a fragment of the ß-tubulin gene. In order to assess phylogenetic relationships, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference assessments were used. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI document M38-A2 for nine antifungal drugs. The isolates were identified within three genera, i.e., Penicillium, Talaromyces, and Rasamsonia The most frequent species in our study were Penicillium rubens, P. citrinum, and Talaromyces amestolkiae The potent in vitro activity of amphotericin B (AMB) and terbinafine (TRB) and of the echinocandins against Penicillium and Talaromyces species might offer a good therapeutic alternative for the treatment of infections caused by these fungi.


Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Eurotiales/drug effects , Eurotiales/isolation & purification , Mycoses/diagnosis , Animals , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Eurotiales/classification , Eurotiales/genetics , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mycological Typing Techniques , Mycoses/veterinary , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Tubulin/genetics , United States
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