Importance of xenarthrans in the eco-epidemiology of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Abstract\ud Background\ud Several pathogens that cause important zoonotic diseases have been frequently associated with armadillos and other xenarthrans. This mammal group typically has evolved on the South American continent and many of its extant species are seriously threatened with extinction. Natural infection of armadillos with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in hyperendemic areas has provided a valuable opportunity for understanding the role of this mammal in the eco-epidemiology of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America.\ud \ud Findings\ud This study aimed to detect P. brasiliensis in different xenarthran species (Dasypus novemcinctus, Cabassous spp., Euphractus sexcinctus, Tamandua tetradactyla and Myrmecophaga tridactyla), by molecular and mycological approaches, in samples obtained by one of the following strategies: i) from road-killed animals (n = 6); ii) from naturally dead animals (n = 8); iii) from animals that died in captivity (n = 9); and iv) from living animals captured from the wild (n = 2). Specific P. brasiliensis DNA was detected in several organs among 7/20 nine-banded armadillos (D. novemcinctus) and in 2/2 anteaters (M. tridactyla). The fungus was also cultured in tissue samples from one of two armadillos captured from the wild.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud Members of the Xenarthra Order, especially armadillos, have some characteristics, including a weak cellular immune response and low body temperature, which make them suitable models for studying host-pathogen interaction. P. brasiliensis infection in wild animals, from PCM endemic areas, may be more common than initially postulated and reinforces the use of these animals as sentinels for the pathogen in the environment.This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP-n° 05/56771-9, 06/03597-4). We also thank the Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem do Estado de São Paulo (DER), as well as Prof. Dr. Reinaldo José da Silva and Juliana Griese for information about the road-killed animals.This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESPn° 05/567719, 06/035974). We also thank the Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem do Estado de São Paulo (DER), as well as Prof. Dr. Reinaldo José da Silva and Juliana Griese for information about the roadkilled animals

Genus Paracoccidioides: Species Recognition and Biogeographic Aspects

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (species S1, PS2, PS3), and Paracoccidioides lutzii. This work aimed to differentiate species within the genus Paracoccidioides, without applying multilocus sequencing, as well as to obtain knowledge of the possible speciation processes. Methodology/Principal Findings: Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on GP43, ARF and PRP8 intein genes successfully distinguished isolates into four different species. Morphological evaluation indicated that elongated conidia were observed exclusively in P. lutzii isolates, while all other species (S1, PS2 and PS3) were indistinguishable. To evaluate the biogeographic events that led to the current geographic distribution of Paracoccidioides species and their sister species, Nested Clade and Likelihood Analysis of Geographic Range Evolution (LAGRANGE) analyses were applied. The radiation of Paracoccidioides started in northwest South America, around 11–32 million years ago, as calculated on the basis of ARF substitution rate, in the BEAST program. Vicariance was responsible for the divergence among S1, PS2 and P. lutzii and a recent dispersal generated the PS3 species, restricted to Colombia. Taking into account the ancestral areas revealed by the LAGRANGE analysis and the major geographic distribution of L. loboi in the Amazon basin, a region strongly affected by the Andes uplift and marine incursions in the Cenozoic era, we also speculate about the effect of these geological events on the vicariance between Paracoccidioides and L. loboi. Conclusions/Significance: The use of at least 3 SNPs, but not morphological criteria, as markers allows us to distinguish among the four cryptic species of the genus Paracoccidioides. The work also presents a biogeographic study speculating on how these species might have diverged in South America, thus contributing to elucidating evolutionary aspects of the genus Paracoccidioides

Phylogenetic analysis of PRP8 intein in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis species

A recent species status investigation of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis suggested the existence of three cryptic species. In the present study the sequences of the PRP8 intein from A brasiliensis isolates belonging to the three described genetic groups and two unidentified isolates were determined and analyzed in order to check their functionality and usefulness for species identification. All the isolates presented a full-length intein, although the Endonuclease domain seems to be inactive due to substitutions in the second essential aspartic acid residue. Phylogenetic analysis by Maximum-Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian Analysis clearly separated the isolates from the three species and revealed a significant difference between the Pb01 isolate and the remaining ones. The Pb01 isolate does not belong to any of the groups previously described since it presented a high divergence level compared to the three different genetic groups, corroborating some previous studies that suggested this isolate represents a new species of Paracoccidioides. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: phylogenetic and ecological aspects

The knowledge on the biological aspects of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has evolved greatly since the first description of the disease in 1908. From the pioneers, who were able to clearly demonstrate the fungal nature of the agent, to the recent genomic era, important advances have been achieved. P. brasiliensis is a true fungus, belonging to the Ascomycetous Division, although its sexual phase has not been demonstrated morphologically. A better understanding of the fundamental aspects of the agent, especially its phylogeny and evolutionary history, will provide us with valuable insights allowing a better comprehension of the disease and our capacity to deal with the problem. Concerning the fungus's ecology, although some progress had been observed, the ecological niche of the pathogen has not been determined yet. The aim of the present review is to focus on the biological aspects of P. brasiliensis from an evolutionary point of view, addressing the fungus's phylogenetic aspects, in those special points that might be relevant for the pathogen/host interactions, the biological forces that have been acting on its origin and maintenance of virulence, as well as in determining the fungus's ecology and epidemiology

Analysis of inteins in the Candida parapsilosis complex for simple and accurate species identification

Inteins are coding sequences that are transcribed and translated with flanking sequences and then are excised by an autocatalytic process. There are two types of inteins in fungi, mini-inteins and full-length inteins, both of which present a splicing domain containing well-conserved amino acid sequences. Full-length inteins also present a homing endonuclease domain that makes the intein a mobile genetic element. These parasitic genetic elements are located in highly conserved genes and may allow for the differentiation of closely related species of the Candida parapsilosis (psilosis) complex. The correct identification of the three psilosis complex species C. parapsilosis, Candida metapsilosis, and Candida orthopsilosis is very important in the clinical setting for improving antifungal therapy and patient care. In this work, we analyzed inteins that are present in the vacuolar ATPase gene VMA and in the threonyl-tRNA synthetase gene ThrRS in 85 strains of the Candida psilosis complex (46 C. parapsilosis, 17 C. metapsilosis, and 22 C. orthopsilosis). Here, we describe an accessible and accurate technique based on a single PCR that is able to differentiate the psilosis complex based on the VMA intein. Although the ThrRS intein does not distinguish the three species of the psilosis complex by PCR product size, it can differentiate them by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, this intein is unusually present as both mini- and full-length forms in C. orthopsilosis. Additional population studies should be performed to address whether this represents a common intraspecific variability or the presence of subspecies within C. orthopsilosis. Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

<i>Paracoccidioides - Figure 1 </i> Species Complex: Ecology, Phylogeny, Sexual Reproduction, and Virulence

<p>(A) Median-joining haplotypic network distribution of the <i>Paracoccidioides</i> genus and <i>L. loboi</i> based on the <i>gp43</i> marker. The size of the circumference is proportional to the haplotype frequency, and colors vary according to the sampling location of each haplotype. Red dots (median vectors) are hypothetical missing intermediates, and black dots represent each mutation site. (B) Schematic representation of serum/antigen compatibility among patients and isolates from Mato Grosso and São Paulo used in serological tests. The illustration shows the low immunogenic specificity when serum and antigenic pool from different states are reacted <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004397#ppat.1004397-Batista1" target="_blank">[41]</a>.</p

Phylogenetic analysis reveals a high level of speciation in the Paracoccidioides genus

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic disease endemic to most of Latin America, with greatest impact in rural areas. The taxonomic status of one of the best studied Paracoccidioides isolates (Pb01) as A brasiliensis remains unresolved due to its genomic differences from the other three previously described phylogenetic species (S1, PS2 and PS3; Carrero et al., 2008. Fungal Genet. Biol. 45, 605). Using the genealogic concordance method of phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) via maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis, we identified a clade of 17 genotypically similar isolates, including Pb01, which are distinct from the S1/PS2/P3 clade. Consistent with GCPSR, this "Pb01-like" group can be considered a new phylogenetic species, since it is strongly supported by all independent and concatenated genealogies. "Pb01-like" species exhibit great sequence and morphological divergence from the S1/PS2/PS3 species clade, and we estimate that these groups last shared a common ancestor approximately 32 million years ago. In addition, recombination analysis revealed independent events inside both main groups suggesting reproductive isolation. Consequently, we recommend the formal description of the "Pb01-like" cluster as the new species Paracoccidioides lutzii, a tribute to Adolpho Lutz, discoverer of P. brasiliensis in 1908. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Worldwide phylogenetic distributions and population dynamics of the genus Histoplasma

Submitted by Janaína Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2019-02-21T12:48:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Teixeira_Marcus_etal_INI_2016.pdf: 1289612 bytes, checksum: 9bdff083b5ed242adea0746751b2b957 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Janaína Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2019-02-21T14:12:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Teixeira_Marcus_etal_INI_2016.pdf: 1289612 bytes, checksum: 9bdff083b5ed242adea0746751b2b957 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-21T14:12:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Teixeira_Marcus_etal_INI_2016.pdf: 1289612 bytes, checksum: 9bdff083b5ed242adea0746751b2b957 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016Translational Genomics Research Institute-North. Division of Pathogen Genomics. Flagstaff, AZ, USA / University of Brasília. Department of Cell Biology. Brasilia, DF, Brazil.University of São Paulo. Department of Biochemistry. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.National Autonomous University of Mexico. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology. Mexico City, Mexico.Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas. Medellín, Colombia.Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Institute of Tropical Medicine. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics. Natal, BrazilCBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre. Utrecht, Netherlands.Translational Genomics Research Institute-North. Division of Pathogen Genomics. Flagstaff, AZ, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.University of Brasília. Department of Cell Biology. Brasilia, DF, Brazil.Translational Genomics Research Institute-North. Division of Pathogen Genomics. Flagstaff, AZ, USA.Background: Histoplasma capsulatum comprises a worldwide complex of saprobiotic fungi mainly found in nitrogen/phosphate (often bird guano) enriched soils. The microconidia of Histoplasma species may be inhaled by mammalian hosts, and is followed by a rapid conversion to yeast that can persist in host tissues causing histoplasmosis, a deep pulmonary/systemic mycosis. Histoplasma capsulatum sensu lato is a complex of at least eight clades geographically distributed as follows: Australia, Netherlands, Eurasia, North American classes 1 and 2 (NAm 1 and NAm 2), Latin American groups A and B (LAm A and LAm B) and Africa. With the exception of the Eurasian cluster, those clades are considered phylogenetic species. Methodology/Principal Findings: Increased Histoplasma sampling (n = 234) resulted in the revision of the phylogenetic distribution and population structure using 1,563 aligned nucleotides from four protein-coding regions. The LAm B clade appears to be divided into at least two highly supported clades, which are geographically restricted to either Colombia/Argentina or Brazil respectively. Moreover, a complex population genetic structure was identified within LAm A clade supporting multiple monophylogenetic species, which could be driven by rapid host or environmental adaptation (~0.5 MYA). We found two divergent clades, which include Latin American isolates (newly named as LAm A1 and LAm A2), harboring a cryptic cluster in association with bats. Conclusions/Significance: At least six new phylogenetic species are proposed in the Histoplasma species complex supported by different phylogenetic and population genetics methods, comprising LAm A1, LAm A2, LAm B1, LAm B2, RJ and BAC-1 phylogenetic species. The genetic isolation of Histoplasma could be a result of differential dispersion potential of naturally infected bats and other mammals. In addition, the present study guides isolate selection for future population genomics and genome wide association studies in this important pathogen complex