Molecular Tools for Detection and Identification of Paracoccidioides Species: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Author(s)

Pinheiro, Breno Goncalves ^[1] ; Hahn, Rosane Christine ^{[2, 3]} ; de Camargo, Zoilo Pires ^{[1, 4]} ; Rodrigues, Anderson Messias ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Lab Emerging Fungal Pathogens, Discipline Cellular Biol, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Mato Grosso, Fac Med, Lab Mycol Res, BR-78060900 Cuiaba, Mato Grosso - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Mato Grosso, Julio Muller Univ Hosp, BR-78048902 Mato Grosso - Brazil

^[4] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Med, Discipline Infect Dis, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FUNGI; v. 6, n. 4 DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a mycotic disease caused by the Paracoccidioides species, a group of thermally dimorphic fungi that grow in mycelial form at 25 degrees C and as budding yeasts when cultured at 37 degrees C or when parasitizing the host tissues. PCM occurs in a large area of Latin America, and the most critical regions of endemicity are in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. The clinical diagnosis of PCM needs to be confirmed through laboratory tests. Although classical laboratory techniques provide valuable information due to the presence of pathognomonic forms of Paracoccidioides spp., nucleic acid-based diagnostics gradually are replacing or complementing culture-based, biochemical, and immunological assays in routine microbiology laboratory practice. Recently, taxonomic changes driven by whole-genomic sequencing of Paracoccidioides have highlighted the need to recognize species boundaries, which could better ascertain Paracoccidioides taxonomy. In this scenario, classical laboratory techniques do not have significant discriminatory power over cryptic agents. On the other hand, several PCR-based methods can detect polymorphisms in Paracoccidioides DNA and thus support species identification. This review is focused on the recent achievements in molecular diagnostics of paracoccidioidomycosis, including the main advantages and pitfalls related to each technique. We discuss these breakthroughs in light of taxonomic changes in the Paracoccidioides genus. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/27265-5 - Molecular epidemiology and genomic perspectives on the evolution and spread of emerging fungal pathogens
• Grantee: Anderson Messias Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/21460-3 - Study of different antigenic preparations of Paracoccidioides lutzii for the standardization of the ELISA test as an aid in the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis due to P. lutzii
• Grantee: Zoilo Pires de Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants