Asexual Propagation of a Virulent Clone Complex in a Human and Feline Outbreak of Sporotrichosis

Author(s):Show less -

Teixeira, Marcus de Melo ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Anderson Messias ^[2] ; Tsui, Clement K. M. ^[3] ; Paulo de Almeida, Luiz Gonzaga ^[4] ; Van Diepeningen, Anne D. ^[5] ; van den Ende, Bert Gerrits ^[5] ; Fernandes, Geisa Ferreira ^[2] ; Kano, Rui ^[6] ; Hamelin, Richard C. ^[3] ; Lopes-Bezerra, Leila Maria ^[7] ; Ribeiro Vasconcelos, Ana Tereza ^[4] ; de Hoog, Sybren ^[5] ; de Camargo, Zoilo Pires ^[2] ; Soares Felipe, Maria Sueli ^{[1, 8]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Brasilia, Inst Ciencias Biol, Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ British Columbia, Dept Forest & Conservat Sci, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9 - Canada

^[4] Lab Nacl Computacao Cient, Petropolis, RJ - Brazil

^[5] Inst Royal Netherlands Acad Arts & Sci, Fungal Biodivers Ctr, Utrecht - Netherlands

^[6] Nihon Univ, Dept Pathobiol, Sch Vet Med, Fujisawa, Kanagawa - Japan

^[7] Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Inst Biol Roberto Alcantara Gomes, BR-20550011 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[8] Univ Catolica Brasalia, Brasilia, DF - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Eukaryotic Cell; v. 14, n. 2, p. 158-169, FEB 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 17

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is one of the most frequent subcutaneous fungal infections in humans and animals caused by members of the plant-associated, dimorphic genus Sporothrix. Three of the four medically important Sporothrix species found in Brazil have been considered asexual as no sexual stage has ever been reported in Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, or Sporothrix globosa. We have identified the mating type (MAT) loci in the S. schenckii (strain 1099-18/ATCC MYA-4821) and S. brasiliensis (strain 5110/ATCC MYA-4823) genomes by using comparative genomic approaches to determine the mating type ratio in these pathogen populations. Our analysis revealed the presence of a MAT1-1 locus in S. schenckii while a MAT1-2 locus was found in S. brasiliensis representing genomic synteny to other Sordariomycetes. Furthermore, the components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-pheromone pathway, pheromone processing enzymes, and meiotic regulators have also been identified in the two pathogens, suggesting the potential for sexual reproduction. The ratio of MAT1-1 to MAT1-2 was not significantly different from 1:1 for all three Sporothrix species, but the population of S. brasiliensis in the outbreaks originated from a single mating type. We also explored the population genetic structure of these pathogens using sequence data of two loci to improve our knowledge of the pattern of geographic distribution, genetic variation, and virulence phenotypes. Population genetics data showed significant population differentiation and clonality with a low level of haplotype diversity in S. brasiliensis isolates from different regions of sporotrichosis outbreaks in Brazil. In contrast, S. schenckii isolates demonstrated a high degree of genetic variability without significant geographic differentiation, indicating the presence of recombination. This study demonstrated that two species causing the same disease have contrasting reproductive strategies and genetic variability patterns. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/07350-1 - Biology of Sporothrix schenckii complex: Analysis of molecular and proteomics markers, and the role of antigenic and antifungal molecules in sporotrichosis
• Grantee: Anderson Messias Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 09/54024-2 - Molecular biology and proteomics of medically interesting fungi: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii
• Grantee: Zoilo Pires de Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants