Evolutionary origin and population diversity of a cryptic hybrid pathogen

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Steenwyk, Jacob L. ; Knowles, Sonja ; Bastos, Rafael W. ; Balamurugan, Charu ; Rinker, David ; Mead, Matthew E. ; Roberts, Christopher D. ; Raja, Huzefa A. ; Li, Yuanning ; Colabardini, Ana Cristina ; de Castro, Patricia Alves ; dos Reis, Thaila Fernanda ; Gumilang, Adiyantara ; Almagro-Molto, Maria ; Alanio, Alexandre ; Garcia-Hermoso, Dea ; Delbaje, Endrews ; Pontes, Lais ; Pinzan, Camila Figueiredo ; Schreiber, Angelica Zaninelli ; Canovas, David ; Sanchez Luperini, Rafael ; Lagrou, Katrien ; Torrado, Egidio ; Rodrigues, Fernando ; Oberlies, Nicholas H. ; Zhou, Xiaofan ; Goldman, Gustavo H. ; Rokas, Antonis

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS; v. 15, n. 1, p. 16-pg., 2024-09-28.

Abstract

Cryptic fungal pathogens pose disease management challenges due to their morphological resemblance to known pathogens. Here, we investigated the genomes and phenotypes of 53 globally distributed isolates of Aspergillus section Nidulantes fungi and found 30 clinical isolates-including four isolated from COVID-19 patients-were A. latus, a cryptic pathogen that originated via allodiploid hybridization. Notably, all A. latus isolates were misidentified. A. latus hybrids likely originated via a single hybridization event during the Miocene and harbor substantial genetic diversity. Transcriptome profiling of a clinical isolate revealed that both parental subgenomes are actively expressed and respond to environmental stimuli. Characterizing infection-relevant traits-such as drug resistance and growth under oxidative stress-revealed distinct phenotypic profiles among A. latus hybrids compared to parental and closely related species. Moreover, we identified four features that could aid A. latus taxonomic identification. Together, these findings deepen our understanding of the origin of cryptic pathogens. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/07870-9 - The influence of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) on the expression of genetic determinants important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/04977-5 - The identification of new pathways and compounds that can enhance caspofungin activity against Aspergillus fumigatus
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/16198-3 - Prospection of secondary metabolites of Actinomycetes with inhibitory activity against clinical and environmental pathogenic fungi
• Grantee: Angelica Zaninelli Schreiber
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/12553-3 - Organization, diversification and expansion of records of Unicamp culture collections: proposal of a pilot structure for the constitution of an integrated network
• Grantee: Derlene Attili de Angelis
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants