Presentation_1_Estimating the Intra-taxa Diversity, Population Genetic Structure, and Evolutionary Pathways of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.PDF

<p>Members of the Cryptococcus complex, includes Cryptococcus neoformans (most common fungal infection of the brain) and Cryptococcus gattii (high-impact emerging pathogen worldwide). Currently, the fungal multilocus sequence typing database (Fungal MLST Database) constitutes a valuable data repository of the genes used for molecular typing of these pathogens. We analyzed the data available in the Fungal MLST Database for seven housekeeping genes, with the aim to evaluate its contribution in the description of intra-taxa diversity, population genetic structure, and evolutionary patterns. Although the Fungal MLST Database has a greater number of reports for C. neoformans (n = 487) than for C. gattii (n = 344), similar results were obtained for both species in terms of allelic diversity. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed grouping by molecular type in both species and allowed us to propose differences in evolutionary patterns (gradualism in the case of C. neoformans and punctuated evolution in the case of C. gattii). In addition, C. neoformans showed a population genetic structure consisting of 37 clonal complexes (CCs; CC1 being predominant), high crosslinking [without sequence type (ST) grouping by molecular type], marked divergence events in phylogenetic analysis, and few introgression events (mainly between VNI and VNIV). By contrast, C. gattii showed 50 CCs (with greater homogeneity in ST number by CC) and clustering by molecular type with marked crosslinking events in phylogenetic networks being less evident. Understanding relationships at the molecular level for species of the Cryptococcus complex, based on the sequences of the housekeeping genes, provides information for describing the evolutionary history of these emerging pathogens.</p

MOESM1 of Community-acquired infection with hypervirulent Clostridium difficile isolates that carry different toxin and antibiotic resistance loci: a case report

Additional file 1. Selection criteria for representatives of other clades and complete set information of STs used in phylogenetic reconstructions based on the concatenated sequence of the seven housekeeping genes used in the MLST scheme

Number of infection pairs and odds ratios (OR) according to pairwise combinations of <i>Plasmodium</i> spp.

<p>Number of infection pairs and odds ratios (OR) according to pairwise combinations of <i>Plasmodium</i> spp.</p

High <i>Plasmodium malariae</i> Prevalence in an Endemic Area of the Colombian Amazon Region

<div><p>Malaria is a worldwide public health problem; parasites from the genus <i>Plasmodium</i> are the aetiological agent for this disease. The parasites are mostly diagnosed by conventional microscopy-based techniques; however, their limitations have led to under-registering the reported prevalence of <i>Plasmodium</i> species. This study has thus been aimed at evaluating the infection and coinfection prevalence of 3 species of <i>Plasmodium</i> spp., in an area of the Colombian Amazon region. Blood samples were taken from 671 symptomatic patients by skin puncture; a nested PCR amplifying the 18S ssRNA region was used on all samples to determine the presence of <i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>malariae</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i>. Statistical analysis determined infection and coinfection frequency; the association between infection and different factors was established. The results showed that <i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i> was the species having the greatest frequency in the study population (61.4%), followed by <i>P</i>. <i>malariae</i> (43.8%) and <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> (11.8%). The study revealed that 35.8% of the population had coinfection, the <i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i>/<i>P</i>. <i>malariae</i> combination occurring most frequently (28.3%); factors such as age, geographical origin and clinical manifestations were found to be associated with triple-infection. The prevalence reported in this study differed from previous studies in Colombia; the results suggest that diagnosis using conventional techniques could be giving rise to underestimating some <i>Plasmodium</i> spp. species having high circulation rates in Colombia (particularly in the Colombian Amazon region). The present study’s results revealed a high prevalence of <i>P</i>. <i>malariae</i> and mixed infections in the population being studied. The results provide relevant information which should facilitate updating the epidemiological panorama and species’ distribution so as to include control, prevention and follow-up measures.</p></div

Geographic localization of the five populations included in this study (modified from [49]).

<p>Geographic localization of the five populations included in this study (modified from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0014705#pone.0014705-Cervantes1" target="_blank">[49]</a>).</p

Factors associated with malarial infection for each <i>Plasmodium spp</i>. species.

<p>Factors associated with malarial infection for each <i>Plasmodium spp</i>. species.</p

<i>Plasmodium spp</i>. coinfection prevalence.

<p>A. Prevalence of coinfection found in the population analysed. B. Prevalence of coinfection by area of the study population analysed. Abbreviations: <i>P</i>.<i>v/P</i>.<i>f</i>: <i>P</i>. <i>vivax/P</i>. <i>falciparum</i>, <i>P</i>.<i>v/P</i>.<i>m</i>: <i>P</i>. <i>vivax/P</i>. <i>malariae</i>, <i>P</i>.<i>f/P</i>.<i>m</i>: <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum/P</i>. <i>malariae</i>, <i>P</i>.<i>v/P</i>.<i>f/P</i>.<i>m</i>: <i>P</i>. <i>vivax/P</i>. <i>falciparum/P</i>. <i>malariae</i>.</p

Demographic profile of the 671 patients who were symptomatic for malaria.

<p>Demographic profile of the 671 patients who were symptomatic for malaria.</p

Number of Observed and Expected data according to a Negative Binomial distribution.

<p>*Data with p<0.05 are shown in bold types.</p><p>**Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS).</p>†<p>Low squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL).</p>‡<p>High squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL).</p

The prevalence of <i>Plasmodium</i> spp. infection.

<p>Overall prevalence in the population analysed. B. Overall prevalence by zone in which the analysed population were living.</p