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Alves MJ, Cruz KS, Alves GSB, Grisolia ME, Menescal VVF, do Nascimento IS, Menescal LSF, Pinheiro SB, da Silva FA, Trilles L, de Souza JVB, Lazera MDS, Jackisch-Matsuura AB. Antifungal susceptibility and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of Cryptococcus neoformans complex from HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis patients in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01378-y. [PMID: 38755408 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01378-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is primarily responsible for cases of cryptococcal meningitis in individuals with HIV/AIDS. This study evaluated the susceptibility of C. neoformans obtained from individuals with cryptococcal meningitis associated with HIV/AIDS in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, against the action of the antifungals amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole and posaconazole and analyzed it using Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) in order to identify the Sequence Types (STs). We analyzed 30 isolates of C. neoformans, from 24 HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis from 2017 to 2019 in a reference hospital, in addition to 3 environmental isolates: 1 isolate obtained in the home of a patient and 2 isolates obtained from neighboring homes of patients. 86.6% (n = 26/30) of the clinical isolates were identified as C. neoformans VNI ST93, 6.6% (n = 2/30) as C. neoformans VNI ST5, 3.3% (n = 1/30) as C. neoformans VNI ST32 and 3.3% (n = 1/30) as C. neoformans VNB ST232. The environmental isolates were identified as C. neoformans VNI ST93 (n = 3/3). 96.6% (n = 29/30) isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B, though there was variation in the MIC. 60% (n = 18/30) presented a MIC above the proposed epidemiological cutoff values for one or more antifungals. All environmental isolates were sensitive to the tested antifungals. The MLST showed that there is an important relationship between C. neoformans VNI ST93 and individuals with HIV/AIDS, including in the environmental isolates analyzed. C. neoformans VNB ST232 was observed for the first time in Amazonas. Amphotericin B was proven to be the best drug, but fluconazole and posaconazole also showed relevant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marla Jalene Alves
- Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia com importância para a Saúde, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Convenio ILMD/IOC - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Katia Santana Cruz
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Laboratório de Micologia Médica, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Gleica Soyan Barbosa Alves
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas - UFAM, Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda Grisolia
- Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia com importância para a Saúde, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Victoria Violeta Fernandes Menescal
- Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia com importância para a Saúde, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Izabella Sadalla do Nascimento
- Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia com importância para a Saúde, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | - Silviane Bezerra Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Genética, Conservação e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Felipe Almeida da Silva
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Trilles
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marcia Dos Santos Lazera
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Convenio ILMD/IOC - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ani Beatriz Jackisch-Matsuura
- Laboratório de Diversidade Microbiana da Amazônia com importância para a Saúde, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - FIOCRUZ, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
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Cryptococcus spp. and Cryptococcosis: focusing on the infection in Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2022; 53:1321-1337. [PMID: 35486354 PMCID: PMC9433474 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a global fungal infection caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii yeast complex. This infection is acquired by inhalation of propagules such as basidiospores or dry yeast, initially causing lung infections with the possibility of progressing to the meninges. This infection mainly affects immunocompromised HIV and transplant patients; however, immunocompetent patients can also be affected. This review proposes to evaluate cryptococcosis focusing on studies of this mycosis in Brazilian territory; moreover, recent advances in the understanding of its virulence mechanism, animal models in research are also assessed. For this, literature review as realized in PubMed, Scielo, and Brazilian legislation. In Brazil, cryptococcosis has been identified as one of the most lethal fungal infections among HIV patients and C. neoformans VNI and C. gattii VGII are the most prevalent genotypes. Moreover, different clinical settings published in Brazil were described. As in other countries, cryptococcosis is difficult to treat due to a limited therapeutic arsenal, which is highly toxic and costly. The presence of a polysaccharide capsule, thermo-tolerance, production of melanin, biofilm formation, mechanisms for iron use, and morphological alterations is an important virulence mechanism of these yeasts. The introduction of cryptococcosis as a compulsory notification disease could improve data regarding incidence and help in the management of these infections.
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Firacative C, Meyer W, Castañeda E. Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes in Latin America: A Map of Molecular Types, Genotypic Diversity, and Antifungal Susceptibility as Reported by the Latin American Cryptococcal Study Group. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040282. [PMID: 33918572 PMCID: PMC8069395 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal mycosis, is caused by members of the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes. In Latin America, cryptococcal meningitis is still an important health threat with a significant clinical burden. Analysis of publicly available molecular data from 5686 clinical, environmental, and veterinary cryptococcal isolates from member countries of the Latin American Cryptococcal Study Group showed that, as worldwide, C. neoformans molecular type VNI is the most common cause of cryptococcosis (76.01%) in HIV-infected people, followed by C. gattii molecular type VGII (12.37%), affecting mostly otherwise healthy hosts. These two molecular types also predominate in the environment (68.60% for VNI and 20.70% for VGII). Among the scarce number of veterinary cases, VGII is the predominant molecular type (73.68%). Multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that, in Latin America, the C. neoformans population is less diverse than the C. gattii population (D of 0.7104 vs. 0.9755). Analysis of antifungal susceptibility data showed the presence of non-wild-type VNI, VGI, VGII, and VGIII isolates in the region. Overall, the data presented herein summarize the progress that has been made towards the molecular epidemiology of cryptococcal isolates in Latin America, contributing to the characterization of the genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of these globally spreading pathogenic yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Firacative
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota 111221, Colombia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-297-0200 (ext. 3404)
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Research and Education Network Westmead Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School-Westmead Clinical School, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2145, Australia;
| | - Elizabeth Castañeda
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogota 111321, Colombia;
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Firacative C, Lizarazo J, Illnait-Zaragozí MT, Castañeda E. The status of cryptococcosis in Latin America. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:e170554. [PMID: 29641639 PMCID: PMC5888000 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening fungal infection caused by the encapsulated
yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii,
acquired from the environment. In Latin America, as occurring
worldwide, C. neoformans causes more than 90% of the cases of
cryptococcosis, affecting predominantly patients with HIV, while C.
gattii generally affects otherwise healthy individuals. In this
region, cryptococcal meningitis is the most common presentation, with
amphotericin B and fluconazole being the antifungal drugs of choice. Avian
droppings are the predominant environmental reservoir of C.
neoformans, while C. gattii is associated with
several arboreal species. Importantly, C. gattii has a high
prevalence in Latin America and has been proposed to be the likely origin of
some C. gattii populations in North America. Thus, in the
recent years, significant progress has been made with the study of the basic
biology and laboratory identification of cryptococcal strains, in understanding
their ecology, population genetics, host-pathogen interactions, and the clinical
epidemiology of this important mycosis in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Firacative
- Westmead Hospital, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jairo Lizarazo
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz, Universidad de Pamplona, Cúcuta, Colombia
| | - María Teresa Illnait-Zaragozí
- Diagnosis and Reference Centre, Bacteriology-Mycology Department Research, Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kourí, Havana, Cuba
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Prakash A, Randhawa HS, Khan ZU, Ahmad S, Hagen F, Meis JF, Chowdhary A. Environmental distribution of Cryptococcus species and some other yeast-like fungi in India. Mycoses 2018; 61:305-313. [PMID: 29280202 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A study of environmental distribution revealed the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii in 9% and 3%, respectively, of 611 samples investigated. C. neoformans showed the highest isolation frequency from tree trunk hollows in Delhi (31%), whereas C. gattii occurred in 12% of the samples in Delhi and 5% in Rajasthan. In addition, Cryptococcus laurentii (=Papiliotrema laurentii), C. rajasthanensis (=Papiliotrema rajasthanensis), C. podzolicus (=Saitozyma podzolica) and C. flavescens (=Papiliotrema flavescens) occurred in 0.5% each. The recovery of C. flavescens and C. podzolicus was new findings for India. One more noteworthy finding was isolation of a new yeast, recently classified as Saitozyma cassiae sp. Novo. The previous strain of this yeast came from tree bark debris in South India. Our isolates came from decayed wood inside a trunk hollow of an Acacia tree in, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan. The isolations of novel strains of Cutaneotrichosporon moniliiforme from decayed wood of a Pinus tree was another significant finding. Phenotypically, they differed from T. moniliforme by being encapsulated cells, had melanin-like pigment production and were unable to assimilate d-manitol and d-melezitose. AFLP analysis showed a distinctive banding profile vis-a-vis the reference strains of T. moniliiforme and Cryptotrichosporon anacardii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Prakash
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Harbans S Randhawa
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Zia U Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius - Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Mycology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius - Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anuradha Chowdhary
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Ferreira-Paim K, Andrade-Silva L, Fonseca FM, Ferreira TB, Mora DJ, Andrade-Silva J, Khan A, Dao A, Reis EC, Almeida MTG, Maltos A, Junior VR, Trilles L, Rickerts V, Chindamporn A, Sykes JE, Cogliati M, Nielsen K, Boekhout T, Fisher M, Kwon-Chung J, Engelthaler DM, Lazéra M, Meyer W, Silva-Vergara ML. MLST-Based Population Genetic Analysis in a Global Context Reveals Clonality amongst Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii VNI Isolates from HIV Patients in Southeastern Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005223. [PMID: 28099434 PMCID: PMC5242430 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an important fungal infection in immunocompromised individuals, especially those infected with HIV. In Brazil, despite the free availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the public health system, the mortality rate due to Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis is still high. To obtain a more detailed picture of the population genetic structure of this species in southeast Brazil, we studied 108 clinical isolates from 101 patients and 35 environmental isolates. Among the patients, 59% had a fatal outcome mainly in HIV-positive male patients. All the isolates were found to be C. neoformans var. grubii major molecular type VNI and mating type locus alpha. Twelve were identified as diploid by flow cytometry, being homozygous (AαAα) for the mating type and by PCR screening of the STE20, GPA1, and PAK1 genes. Using the ISHAM consensus multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme, 13 sequence types (ST) were identified, with one being newly described. ST93 was identified from 81 (75%) of the clinical isolates, while ST77 and ST93 were identified from 19 (54%) and 10 (29%) environmental isolates, respectively. The southeastern Brazilian isolates had an overwhelming clonal population structure. When compared with populations from different continents based on data extracted from the ISHAM-MLST database (mlst.mycologylab.org) they showed less genetic variability. Two main clusters within C. neoformans var. grubii VNI were identified that diverged from VNB around 0.58 to 4.8 million years ago. The members of the Cryptococcus neoformans / Cryptococcus gattii species complex are the cause of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening human disease responsible for 624,000 deaths annually. Infection is acquired through inhalation of dehydrated yeast cells from environmental sources. After reaching the lungs, the fungus disseminates to the central nervous system causing meningoencephalitis. The majority of meningitis cases in HIV-infected patients are caused by C. neoformans, a species well studied in regions with a high prevalence of HIV infection, such as Asia and Africa. A similar high prevalence has been reported from Brazil however the epidemiology of these infections is less well understood. We studied clinical and environmental isolates from the southeast region of Brazil using MLST. The results that we obtained showed a clonal population structure of C. neoformans var. grubii VNI, with low variability when compared against populations from different continents. This lower variability is probably the result of multiple recent dispersal events from Africa to the Americas. The majority of clinical isolates were of one sequence type (ST93), which was also found in environmental samples. By expanding the analysis to isolates from around the globe, it was possible to identify two major groups among C. neoformans var. grubii VNI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kennio Ferreira-Paim
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Sydney Medical School-Westmead Hospital, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thatiana B. Ferreira
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Delio J. Mora
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Juliana Andrade-Silva
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Aziza Khan
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Sydney Medical School-Westmead Hospital, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aiken Dao
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Sydney Medical School-Westmead Hospital, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Eduardo C. Reis
- Infectious Disease Department, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Margarete T. G. Almeida
- Infectious Disease Department, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Andre Maltos
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Virmondes R. Junior
- Infectious Disease Department, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Luciana Trilles
- Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ariya Chindamporn
- Mycology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jane E. Sykes
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Massimo Cogliati
- Laboratorio Micologia Medica, Dip. Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Kirsten Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Teun Boekhout
- Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew Fisher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - June Kwon-Chung
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David M. Engelthaler
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Marcia Lazéra
- Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Sydney Medical School-Westmead Hospital, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Firacative C, Trilles L, Meyer W. Advances in the understanding of the Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes and cryptococcosis. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/ma17043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans and animals, and the emergence of disease outbreaks, has increased the need for more in-depth studies and constant vigilance of its two etiological agents, the cosmopolitan and well known Cryptococcus neoformans and its sibling species C. gattii. As a result, a global scientific network has established formal links between institutions to gain better insights into Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis, enabling collaborations amongst researchers with different backgrounds, perspectives and skills. Interdisciplinary projects include: (1) the study of the ecology and geographical distribution of the agents of cryptococcosis; (2) the application of new alternative methodologies for the rapid and accurate identification of the two sibling species and major molecular types/possible cryptic species (VNI-VNIV and VGI-VGIV); (3) the use of different animal models of infection to assess cryptococcal pathogenesis and virulence factors; and (4) population genetics studies directed towards the discovery of virulence/tissue tropism associated genetic signatures. These studies enrich the knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology of this mycosis and help to better comprehend fungal virulence, genetics, pathogenesis, antifungal susceptibility, as well as investigating the regional and global spread, to improve treatment options of the disease caused by these important emerging pathogenic yeasts.
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Rossi SA, Trevijano-Contador N, Scorzoni L, Mesa-Arango AC, de Oliveira HC, Werther K, de Freitas Raso T, Mendes-Giannini MJS, Zaragoza O, Fusco-Almeida AM. Impact of Resistance to Fluconazole on Virulence and Morphological Aspects of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Isolates. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:153. [PMID: 26909069 PMCID: PMC4754443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus sp. are responsible for around 1 million cases of meningitis every year. Fluconazole (FLU) is commonly used in the treatment of cryptococcosis, mainly in immunocompromised patients and the resistance is usually reported after long periods of treatment. In this study, the morphological characterization and virulence profile of FLU-susceptible and FLU-resistant clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii were performed both in vitro and in vivo using the Galleria mellonella model. FLU-susceptible isolates from C. neoformans were significantly more virulent than the FLU-resistant isolates. FLU-susceptible C. gattii isolates showed a different virulence profile from C. neoformans isolates where only the environmental isolate, CL, was more virulent compared with the resistant isolates. Cell morphology and capsule size were analyzed and the FLU-resistant isolates did not change significantly compared with the most sensitive isolates. Growth at 37°C was also evaluated and in both species, the resistant isolates showed a reduced growth at this temperature, indicating that FLU resistance can affect their growth. Based on the results obtained is possible suggest that FLU resistance can influence the morphology of the isolates and consequently changed the virulence profiles. The most evident results were observed for C. neoformans showing that the adaptation of isolates to antifungal selective pressure influenced the loss of virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suélen A Rossi
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nuria Trevijano-Contador
- Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Unidad de Micologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda Madrid, Spain
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Haroldo C de Oliveira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karin Werther
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Patologia São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tânia de Freitas Raso
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Patologia São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria J S Mendes-Giannini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Oscar Zaragoza
- Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Unidad de Micologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana M Fusco-Almeida
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clíncas São Paulo, Brazil
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Cogliati M, Zani A, Rickerts V, McCormick I, Desnos-Ollivier M, Velegraki A, Escandon P, Ichikawa T, Ikeda R, Bienvenu AL, Tintelnot K, Tore O, Akcaglar S, Lockhart S, Tortorano AM, Varma A. Multilocus sequence typing analysis reveals that Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans is a recombinant population. Fungal Genet Biol 2016; 87:22-9. [PMID: 26768709 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (serotype D) represents about 30% of the clinical isolates in Europe and is present less frequently in the other continents. It is the prevalent etiological agent in primary cutaneous cryptococcosis as well as in cryptococcal skin lesions of disseminated cryptococcosis. Very little is known about the genotypic diversity of this Cryptococcus subtype. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotypic diversity among a set of clinical and environmental C. neoformans var. neoformans isolates and to evaluate the relationship between genotypes, geographical origin and clinical manifestations. A total of 83 globally collected C. neoformans var. neoformans isolates from Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Japan, Colombia, and the USA, recovered from different sources (primary and secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis, disseminated cryptococcosis, the environment, and animals), were included in the study. All isolates were confirmed to belong to genotype VNIV by molecular typing and they were further investigated by MLST analysis. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic as well as network analysis strongly suggested the existence of a recombinant rather than a clonal population structure. Geographical origin and source of isolation were not correlated with a specific MLST genotype. The comparison with a set of outgroup C. neoformans var. grubii isolates provided clear evidence that the two varieties have different population structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Cogliati
- Lab. Micologia Medica, Dip. Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - Alberto Zani
- Lab. Micologia Medica, Dip. Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Ilka McCormick
- Section Mycology, Robert-Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Desnos-Ollivier
- Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycoses invasives et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Aristea Velegraki
- Dept. of Microbiology, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Patricia Escandon
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Tomoe Ichikawa
- Dept. of Microbial Science and Host Defense, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Reiko Ikeda
- Dept. of Microbial Science and Host Defense, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anne-Lise Bienvenu
- Institut de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France; Malaria Research Unit, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Okan Tore
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sevim Akcaglar
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Shawn Lockhart
- Antifungal and Fungal Reference Laboratories, Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna Maria Tortorano
- Lab. Micologia Medica, Dip. Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Ashok Varma
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
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10
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Abstract
Understanding of the taxonomy and phylogeny of Cryptococcus gattii has been advanced by modern molecular techniques. C. gattii probably diverged from Cryptococcus neoformans between 16 million and 160 million years ago, depending on the dating methods applied, and maintains diversity by recombining in nature. South America is the likely source of the virulent C. gattii VGII molecular types that have emerged in North America. C. gattii shares major virulence determinants with C. neoformans, although genomic and transcriptomic studies revealed that despite similar genomes, the VGIIa and VGIIb subtypes employ very different transcriptional circuits and manifest differences in virulence phenotypes. Preliminary evidence suggests that C. gattii VGII causes severe lung disease and death without dissemination, whereas C. neoformans disseminates readily to the central nervous system (CNS) and causes death from meningoencephalitis. Overall, currently available data indicate that the C. gattii VGI, VGII, and VGIII molecular types more commonly affect nonimmunocompromised hosts, in contrast to VGIV. New, rapid, cheap diagnostic tests and imaging modalities are assisting early diagnosis and enabling better outcomes of cerebral cryptococcosis. Complications of CNS infection include increased intracranial pressure, severe neurological sequelae, and development of immune reconstitution syndrome, although the mortality rate is low. C. gattii VGII isolates may exhibit higher fluconazole MICs than other genotypes. Optimal therapeutic regimens are yet to be determined; in most cases, initial therapy with amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine is recommended.
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11
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Beardsley J, Thanh LT, Day J. A Model CNS Fungal Infection: Cryptococcal Meningitis. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-015-0016-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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12
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Hagen F, Khayhan K, Theelen B, Kolecka A, Polacheck I, Sionov E, Falk R, Parnmen S, Lumbsch HT, Boekhout T. Recognition of seven species in the Cryptococcus gattii/Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 78:16-48. [PMID: 25721988 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 460] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic analysis of 11 genetic loci and results from many genotyping studies revealed significant genetic diversity with the pathogenic Cryptococcus gattii/Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. Genealogical concordance, coalescence-based, and species tree approaches supported the presence of distinct and concordant lineages within the complex. Consequently, we propose to recognize the current C. neoformans var. grubii and C. neoformans var. neoformans as separate species, and five species within C. gattii. The type strain of C. neoformans CBS132 represents a serotype AD hybrid and is replaced. The newly delimited species differ in aspects of pathogenicity, prevalence for patient groups, as well as biochemical and physiological aspects, such as susceptibility to antifungals. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry readily distinguishes the newly recognized species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferry Hagen
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Basidiomycete and Yeast Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kantarawee Khayhan
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Basidiomycete and Yeast Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand
| | - Bart Theelen
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Basidiomycete and Yeast Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Kolecka
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Basidiomycete and Yeast Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Itzhack Polacheck
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Edward Sionov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Food Quality & Safety, Institute for Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Rama Falk
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nir-David, Israel
| | - Sittiporn Parnmen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | | | - Teun Boekhout
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Basidiomycete and Yeast Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China; Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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13
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Khayhan K, Hagen F, Pan W, Simwami S, Fisher MC, Wahyuningsih R, Chakrabarti A, Chowdhary A, Ikeda R, Taj-Aldeen SJ, Khan Z, Ip M, Imran D, Sjam R, Sriburee P, Liao W, Chaicumpar K, Vuddhakul V, Meyer W, Trilles L, van Iersel LJJ, Meis JF, Klaassen CHW, Boekhout T. Geographically structured populations of Cryptococcus neoformans Variety grubii in Asia correlate with HIV status and show a clonal population structure. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72222. [PMID: 24019866 PMCID: PMC3760895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an important fungal disease in Asia with an estimated 140,000 new infections annually the majority of which occurs in patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii (serotype A) is the major causative agent of this disease. In the present study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using the ISHAM MLST consensus scheme for the C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex was used to analyse nucleotide polymorphisms among 476 isolates of this pathogen obtained from 8 Asian countries. Population genetic analysis showed that the Asian C. neoformans var. grubii population shows limited genetic diversity and demonstrates a largely clonal mode of reproduction when compared with the global MLST dataset. HIV-status, sequence types and geography were found to be confounded. However, a correlation between sequence types and isolates from HIV-negative patients was observed among the Asian isolates. Observations of high gene flow between the Middle Eastern and the Southeastern Asian populations suggest that immigrant workers in the Middle East were originally infected in Southeastern Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kantarawee Khayhan
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ferry Hagen
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Weihua Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology and Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Secondary Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Sitali Simwami
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew C. Fisher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Retno Wahyuningsih
- Division of Mycology, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Christian University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Anuradha Chowdhary
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Reiko Ikeda
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saad J. Taj-Aldeen
- Mycology Unit, Microbiology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ziauddin Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Margaret Ip
- Department of Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Darma Imran
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ridhawati Sjam
- Division of Mycology, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Pojana Sriburee
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology and Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Secondary Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Kunyaluk Chaicumpar
- Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, and Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Varaporn Vuddhakul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai , Thailand
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney Medical School–Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luciana Trilles
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney Medical School–Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Corné H. W. Klaassen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teun Boekhout
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology and Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Secondary Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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14
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Hagen F, Ceresini PC, Polacheck I, Ma H, van Nieuwerburgh F, Gabaldón T, Kagan S, Pursall ER, Hoogveld HL, van Iersel LJJ, Klau GW, Kelk SM, Stougie L, Bartlett KH, Voelz K, Pryszcz LP, Castañeda E, Lazera M, Meyer W, Deforce D, Meis JF, May RC, Klaassen CHW, Boekhout T. Ancient dispersal of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii from the Amazon rainforest. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71148. [PMID: 23940707 PMCID: PMC3737135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, several fungal outbreaks have occurred, including the high-profile ‘Vancouver Island’ and ‘Pacific Northwest’ outbreaks, caused by Cryptococcus gattii, which has affected hundreds of otherwise healthy humans and animals. Over the same time period, C. gattii was the cause of several additional case clusters at localities outside of the tropical and subtropical climate zones where the species normally occurs. In every case, the causative agent belongs to a previously rare genotype of C. gattii called AFLP6/VGII, but the origin of the outbreak clades remains enigmatic. Here we used phylogenetic and recombination analyses, based on AFLP and multiple MLST datasets, and coalescence gene genealogy to demonstrate that these outbreaks have arisen from a highly-recombining C. gattii population in the native rainforest of Northern Brazil. Thus the modern virulent C. gattii AFLP6/VGII outbreak lineages derived from mating events in South America and then dispersed to temperate regions where they cause serious infections in humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferry Hagen
- Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo C. Ceresini
- Department of Phytopathology, UNESP - University of São Paulo State, Ilha Solteira Campus, Ilha Solteira, Brazil
| | - Itzhack Polacheck
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hansong Ma
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Filip van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and UPF Doctor Aiguader, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Kagan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - E. Rhiannon Pursall
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hans L. Hoogveld
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Centre for Limnology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gunnar W. Klau
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven M. Kelk
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leen Stougie
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Operations Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karen H. Bartlett
- School of Environmental Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kerstin Voelz
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Leszek P. Pryszcz
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and UPF Doctor Aiguader, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Castañeda
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Grupo de Microbiología, Zona 6 CAN, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marcia Lazera
- Laboratorio de Micologia, Instituto de Pesquisa Clinica Evandro Chagas, Fundaçao Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney Emerging Disease and Biosecurity Institute, Sydney Medical School – Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robin C. May
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Corné H. W. Klaassen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teun Boekhout
- Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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15
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Mazza M, Refojo N, Bosco-Borgeat ME, Taverna CG, Trovero AC, Rogé A, Davel G. Cryptococcus gattiiin urban trees from cities in North-eastern Argentina. Mycoses 2013; 56:646-50. [DOI: 10.1111/myc.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Mazza
- Mycology Department; INEI ‘Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán’- ANLIS. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | - Nicolás Refojo
- Mycology Department; INEI ‘Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán’- ANLIS. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | | | - Constanza Giselle Taverna
- Mycology Department; INEI ‘Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán’- ANLIS. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | | | - Ariel Rogé
- Antigens and Antisera Laboratory; INPB - ANLIS. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina
| | - Graciela Davel
- Mycology Department; INEI ‘Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán’- ANLIS. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentina
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16
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Jesus MSD, Rodrigues WC, Barbosa G, Trilles L, Wanke B, Lazéra MDS, Silva MD. Cryptococcus neoformans carried by Odontomachus bauri ants. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2013; 107:466-9. [PMID: 22666855 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000400004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common causative agent of cryptococcosis worldwide. Although this fungus has been isolated from a variety of organic substrates, several studies suggest that hollow trees constitute an important natural niche for C. neoformans. A previously surveyed hollow of a living pink shower tree (Cassia grandis) positive for C. neoformans in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was chosen for further investigation. Odontomachus bauri ants (trap-jaw ants) found inside the hollow were collected for evaluation as possible carriers of Cryptococcus spp. Two out of 10 ants were found to carry phenoloxidase-positive colonies identified as C. neoformans molecular types VNI and VNII. The ants may have acted as a mechanical vector of C. neoformans and possibly contributed to the dispersal of the fungi from one substrate to another. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the association of C. neoformans with ants of the genus Odontomachus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Santos de Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Genéticos Vegetais, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil
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17
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Chowdhary A, Prakash A, Randhawa HS, Kathuria S, Hagen F, Klaassen CH, Meis JF. First environmental isolation ofCryptococcus gattii, genotype AFLP5, from India and a global review. Mycoses 2013; 56:222-8. [DOI: 10.1111/myc.12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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18
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Cogliati M. Global Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii: An Atlas of the Molecular Types. SCIENTIFICA 2013; 2013:675213. [PMID: 24278784 PMCID: PMC3820360 DOI: 10.1155/2013/675213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease affecting more than one million people per year worldwide. The main etiological agents of cryptococcosis are the two sibling species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii that present numerous differences in geographical distribution, ecological niches, epidemiology, pathobiology, clinical presentation and molecular characters. Genotyping of the two Cryptococcus species at subspecies level supplies relevant information to understand how this fungus has spread worldwide, the nature of its population structure, and how it evolved to be a deadly pathogen. At present, nine major molecular types have been recognized: VNI, VNII, VNB, VNIII, and VNIV among C. neoformans isolates, and VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV among C. gattii isolates. In this paper all the information available in the literature concerning the isolation of the two Cryptococcus species has been collected and analyzed on the basis of their geographical origin, source of isolation, level of identification, species, and molecular type. A detailed analysis of the geographical distribution of the major molecular types in each continent has been described and represented on thematic maps. This study represents a useful tool to start new epidemiological surveys on the basis of the present knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Cogliati
- Lab. Micologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
- *Massimo Cogliati:
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19
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Martins LMS, Wanke B, Lazéra MDS, Trilles L, Barbosa GG, Macedo RCLD, Cavalcanti MDAS, Eulálio KD, Castro JAFD, Silva ASD, Nascimento FFD, Gouveia VA, Monte SJHD. Genotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii as agents of endemic cryptococcosis in Teresina, Piauí (northeastern Brazil). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 106:725-30. [PMID: 22012227 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000600012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout Brazil, Cryptococcus neoformans is the cause of cryptococcosis, whereas Cryptococcus gattii is endemic to the northern and northeastern states. In this study, the molecular types of 63 cryptococcal isolates recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid of meningitis patients diagnosed between 2008-2010 in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, were analysed. Out of the 63 patients, 37 (58.7%) were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 26 (41.3%) were HIV-negative. URA5-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis identified 37/63 (58.7%) isolates as the C. neoformans VNI genotype, predominantly in HIV-positive patients (32/37, 86.5%), and 24/63 (38.1%) as the C. gattii VGII genotype, mostly in HIV-negative patients (21/26, 80.8%). The occurrence of C. gattii VGII in six apparently healthy children and in seven adolescents/young adults in this region reaffirms the endemic occurrence of C. gattii VGII-induced primary cryptococcosis and early cryptococcal infection. Lethality occurred in 18/37 (48.6%) of the HIV-positive subjects and in 13/26 (50%) of the HIV-negative patients. Our results provide new information on the molecular epidemiology of C. neoformans and C. gattii in Brazilian endemic areas.
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Abstract
Infections caused by the emerging pathogen Cryptococcus gattii are increasing in frequency in North America. During the past decade, interest in the pathogen has continued to grow, not only in North America but also in other areas of the world where infections have recently been documented. This review synthesizes existing data and raises issues that remain to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Harris
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS C-09, Atlanta, GA 30309 USA.
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21
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Chowdhary A, Hiremath SS, Sun S, Kowshik T, Randhawa HS, Xu J. Genetic differentiation, recombination and clonal expansion in environmental populations of Cryptococcus gattii in India. Environ Microbiol 2011; 13:1875-88. [PMID: 21631689 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02510.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a ubiquitous eukaryotic pathogen capable of causing life-threatening infections in a wide variety of hosts, including both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans. Since infections by C. gattii are predominantly obtained from environmental exposures, understanding environmental populations of this pathogen is critical, especially in countries like India with a large population and with environmental conditions conducive for the growth of C. gattii. In this study, we analysed 109 isolates of C. gattii obtained from hollows of nine tree species from eight geographic locations in India. Multilocus sequence typing was conducted for all isolates using nine gene fragments. All 109 isolates belonged to the VGI group and were mating type α. Population genetic analyses revealed limited evidence of recombination but unambiguous evidence for clonal reproduction and expansion. However, the observed clonal expansion has not obscured the significant genetic differentiation among populations from either different geographic areas or different host tree species. A positive correlation was observed between genetic distance and geographic distance. The results obtained here for environmental populations of C. gattii showed both similarities and differences with those of the closely related Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from similar locations and host tree species in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Chowdhary
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
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22
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Illnait-Zaragozi MT, Martínez-Machín GF, Fernández-Andreu CM, Boekhout T, Meis JF, Klaassen CHW. Microsatellite typing of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii isolates from Cuba shows multiple genetic lineages. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9124. [PMID: 20161737 PMCID: PMC2817729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 01/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human cryptococcal infections have been associated with bird droppings as a likely source of infection. Studies toward the local and global epidemiology of Cryptococcus spp. have been hampered by the lack of rapid, discriminatory, and exchangeable molecular typing methods. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We selected nine microsatellite markers for high-resolution fingerprinting from the genome of C. neoformans var. grubii. This panel of markers was applied to a collection of clinical (n = 122) and environmental (n = 68; from pigeon guano) C. neoformans var. grubii isolates from Cuba. All markers proved to be polymorphic. The average number of alleles per marker was 9 (range 5-51). A total of 104 genotypes could be distinguished. The discriminatory power of this panel of markers was 0.993. Multiple clusters of related genotypes could be discriminated that differed in only one or two microsatellite markers. These clusters were assigned as microsatellite complexes. The majority of environmental isolates (>70%) fell into 1 microsatellite complex containing only few clinical isolates (49 environmental versus 2 clinical). Clinical isolates were segregated over multiple microsatellite complexes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE A large genotypic variation exists in C. neoformans var. grubii. The genotypic segregation between clinical and environmental isolates from pigeon guano suggests additional source(s) of human cryptococcal infections. The selected panel of microsatellite markers is an excellent tool to study the epidemiology of C. neoformans var. grubii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Teun Boekhout
- Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Corné H. W. Klaassen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Genetic diversity of the Cryptococcus species complex suggests that Cryptococcus gattii deserves to have varieties. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5862. [PMID: 19517012 PMCID: PMC2690690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Accepted: 05/13/2009] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cryptococcus species complex contains two sibling taxa, Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Both species are basidiomycetous yeasts and major pathogens of humans and other mammals. Genotyping methods have identified major haploid molecular types of C. neoformans (VNI, VNII, VNB and VNIV) and of C. gattii (VGI, VGII, VGIII and VGIV). To investigate the phylogenetic relationships among these haploid genotypes, we selected 73 strains from 2000 globally collected isolates investigated in our previous typing studies, representing each of these genotypes and carried out multigene sequence analyses using four genetically unlinked nuclear loci, ACT1, IDE, PLB1 and URA5. The separate or combined sequence analyses of all four loci revealed seven clades with significant support for each molecular type. However, three strains of each species revealed some incongruence between the original molecular type and the sequence-based type obtained here. The topology of the individual gene trees was identical for each clade of C. neoformans but incongruent for the clades of C. gattii indicating recent recombination events within C. gattii. There was strong evidence of recombination in the global VGII population. Both parsimony and likelihood analyses supported three major clades of C. neoformans (VNI/VNB, VNII and VNIV) and four major clades of C. gattii (VGI, VGII, VGIII and VGIV). The sequence variation between VGI, VGIII and VGIV was similar to that between VNI/VNB and VNII. MATa was for the first time identified for VGIV. The VNIV and VGII clades are basal to the C. neoformans or the C. gattii clade, respectively. Divergence times among the seven haploid monophyletic lineages in the Cryptococcus species complex were estimated by applying the hypothesis of the molecular clock. The genetic variation found among all of these haploid monophyletic lineages indicates that they warrant varietal status.
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24
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Santos WRAD, Meyer W, Wanke B, Costa SPSE, Trilles L, Nascimento JLMD, Medeiros R, Morales BP, Bezerra CDCF, Macêdo RCLD, Ferreira SO, Barbosa GG, Perez MA, Nishikawa MM, Lazéra MDS. Primary endemic Cryptococcosis gattii by molecular type VGII in the state of Pará, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 103:813-8. [PMID: 19148422 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000800012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Accepted: 11/13/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to study the infectious agents causing human disseminated cryptococcosis in the state of Pará, North Brazil, 56 isolates of Cryptococcusspp. (54 isolated from cerebral spinal fluid and two from blood cultures) from 43 cases diagnosed between 2003-2007 were analysed. The species were determined through morphological and physiological tests and genotypes were determined by URA5-RFLP and PCR-fingerprinting (wild-type phage M13). The following species and genotypes were identified: Cryptococcus neoformans VNI (28/56, 50%), Cryptococcus gattii VGII (25/56, 44.64%) and C. gattii VGI (3/56, 5.26%). The genotype VNI occurred in 12 out of 14 HIV-positive adults, whereas the genotype VGII occurred in 11 out of 21 HIV-negative adults (p < 0.02, OR = 6.6 IC95% 0.98-56.0). All patients less than 12 years old were HIV negative and six cases were caused by the VGII genotype, one by the VGI and one by VNI. Therefore, endemic primary mycosis in HIV-negative individuals, including an unexpectedly high number of children, caused by the VGII genotype deserves further study and suggests the need for surveillance on cryptococcal infection in the state of Pará, Eastern Amazon.
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25
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Botes A, Boekhout T, Hagen F, Vismer H, Swart J, Botha A. Growth and mating of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii on woody debris. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2009; 57:757-765. [PMID: 18850241 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-008-9452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2008] [Accepted: 09/12/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A total of 36 Cryptococcus neoformans strains originating from South Africa were screened for wood degrading enzymes. All strains tested positive for cellulase activity while none where capable of xylan degradation. Three C. neoformans var. grubii strains, originating from clinical and environmental samples, representing the same genotype (VNI/AFLP1-C. neoformans var. grubii) and MATalpha, were evaluated for growth on debris of two common tree species in South Africa: Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The mating capability of all the C. neoformans strains was evaluated on similar debris. Strains grown on A. mearnsii yielded substantially greater yeast populations. A total of 26%, 6%, 46%, and 80% of the 36 C. neoformans strains tested were either able to mate or develop filaments when crossed on A. mearnsii and E. camaldulensis debris, V8 juice, and yeast carbon base (YCB) agar, respectively. Filamentation and monokaryotic fruiting was observed in 3% of strains when C. neoformans was cultured on either A. mearnsii, E. camaldulensis debris, or YCB. The results indicate that this fungus is capable of completing its life cycle and can produce basidiospores on woody debris. In the future, these findings should be considered when studying the epidemiology, microbial ecology, and proposed infection process of this global pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Botes
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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26
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Ngamskulrungroj P, Sorrell TC, Chindamporn A, Chaiprasert A, Poonwan N, Meyer W. Association between fertility and molecular sub-type of global isolates of Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII. Med Mycol 2008; 46:665-73. [PMID: 18651305 DOI: 10.1080/13693780802210734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus gattii, is a primary pathogen which causes disease in apparently healthy humans and a wide range of animals. Recently, an outbreak of cryptococcosis caused by a previously uncommon genotype of C. gattii, VGII, emerged on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Two pathogenic sub-types of VGII (designated VGIIa and VGIIb) were identified among these isolates. All of the isolates proved to be mating type alpha and had exceptionally high sporulation capacity. The common subtype, VGIIa, was more virulent than VGIIb in mice, suggesting a linkage between subtype and fertility/virulence. To test this hypothesis, we compared the fertility of 91 isolates from the Vancouver Island outbreak with that of 72 VGII isolates selected globally. Of all isolates, 69.94% were found to be fertile and exhibited clamp connections and basidiospores. The Vancouver isolates showed a high fertility rate of 84.2% as compared to only 29% of the 21 Australian isolates investigated. Mating type alpha strains were more fertile (72.79%) than mating type a (43.75%) (p<0.022). Amongst the two subtypes of VGII a much higher proportion of VGIIa (91.7%) than VGIIb (33.3%) was fertile (p<0.001). These results suggest that there is a clear correlation between the VGII subtypes of C. gattii and their mating/fertility. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations of more strains and congenic pairs are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Popchai Ngamskulrungroj
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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Ribeiro MA, Ngamskulrungroj P. Molecular characterization of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolated in Vitoria, ES, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2008; 50:315-20. [DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652008000600001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the major cause of fungal meningitis, a potentially lethal mycosis. Bird excreta can be considered a significant environmental reservoir of this species in urban areas, thirty-three samples of pigeon excreta were collected within the city of Vitoria, Brazil. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated and identified using standard biochemical assays in ten samples. PCR amplification with primer M13 and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (URA5) gene-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis discerned serotypes and genotypes within this species. All isolates were serotype A (C. neoformans var. grubii) and genotype VNI. The two alternative alleles a and α at the mating type locus were determined by PCR amplification and mating assays performed on V8 medium. All isolates were MAT α mating type but only 50% were able to mate in vitro with the opposite mating type MAT a tester strains (JEC20, KN99a and Bt63). This study adds information on the ecology and molecular characterization of C. neoformans in the Southeast region of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Popchai Ngamskulrungroj
- Duke University Medical Center, USA; University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Australia; Mahidol University, Thailand
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28
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Trilles L, Lazéra MDS, Wanke B, Oliveira RV, Barbosa GG, Nishikawa MM, Morales BP, Meyer W. Regional pattern of the molecular types of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 103:455-62. [PMID: 18797758 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000500008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2008] [Accepted: 07/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular types of 443 Brazilian isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii were analyzed to determine their geographic distribution within Brazil and their underlying host conditions. The following data, imported from previous epidemiological studies as well as two culture collections, were analyzed for: place of isolation, source (clinical or environmental), host risk factors, species, serotype, mating type, and molecular type. Molecular typing by PCR-fingerprinting using primers for the minisatellite-specific core sequence of the wild-type phage M13 or microsatellites [(GACA)4, (GTG)5], restriction fragment length polymorphism of URA5 gene analysis, and/or amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) identified eight major genotypes: VNI/AFLP1, VNII/AFLP1A, VNIII/AFLP2, and VNIV/AFLP3 for C. neoformans, and VGI/AFLP4, VGII/AFLP6, VGIII/AFLP5, and VGIV/AFLP7 for C. gattii. The most common molecular type found in Brazil was VNI (64%), followed by VGII (21%), VNII (5%), VGIII (4%), VGI and VNIV (3% each), and VNIII (< 1%). Primary cryptococcosis caused by the molecular type VGII (serotype B, MAT alpha) prevails in immunocompetent hosts in the North and Northeast regions, disclosing an endemic regional pattern for this specific molecular type in the Northern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Trilles
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead Millennium Institute, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Austrália.
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29
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Genomic approaches to investigate the pathogenicity of Cryptococcus neoformans. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-008-0025-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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30
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Diversidad del complejo de especies Cryptococcus neoformans-Cryptococcus gattii. Rev Iberoam Micol 2008; 25:S4-12. [DOI: 10.1016/s1130-1406(08)70019-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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31
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Kidd SE, Chow Y, Mak S, Bach PJ, Chen H, Hingston AO, Kronstad JW, Bartlett KH. Characterization of environmental sources of the human and animal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 73:1433-43. [PMID: 17194837 PMCID: PMC1828779 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01330-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged as a primary pathogen of humans and wild and domesticated animals in British Columbia, particularly on Vancouver Island. C. gattii infections are typically infections of the pulmonary and/or the central nervous system, and the incidence of infection in British Columbia is currently the highest reported globally. Prior to this emergence, the environmental distribution of and the extent of colonization by C. gattii in British Columbia were unknown. We characterized the environmental sources and potential determinants of colonization in British Columbia. C. gattii was isolated from tree surfaces, soil, air, freshwater, and seawater, and no seasonal prevalence was observed. The C. gattii concentrations in air samples were significantly higher during the warm, dry summer months, although potentially infectious propagules (<3.3 microm in diameter) were present throughout the year. Positive samples were obtained from many different areas of British Columbia, and some locations were colonization "hot spots." C. gattii was generally isolated from acidic soil, and geographic differences in soil pH may influence the extent of colonization. C. gattii soil colonization also was associated with low moisture and low organic carbon contents. Most of the C. gattii isolates recovered belonged to the VGIIa genetic subtype; however, sympatric colonization by the VGIIb strain was observed at most locations. At one sampling site, VGIIa, VGIIb, VGI, and the Cryptococcus neoformans serotype AD hybrid all were coisolated. Our findings indicate extensive colonization by C. gattii within British Columbia and highlight an expansion of the ecological niche of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Kidd
- School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 364-2206 East Mall, Vancouver, University of British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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32
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Litvintseva AP, Kestenbaum L, Vilgalys R, Mitchell TG. Comparative analysis of environmental and clinical populations of Cryptococcus neoformans. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43:556-64. [PMID: 15695645 PMCID: PMC548066 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.43.2.556-564.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a major, global cause of meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Despite advances in the molecular epidemiology of C. neoformans, its population structure and mode of reproduction are not well understood. In the environment, it is associated with avian guano or vegetation. We collected nearly 800 environmental isolates from three locations in the United States (viz., North Carolina, California, and Texas) and compared them with one another and with clinical isolates from North Carolina. As expected, they consisted of the most prevalent serotypes, serotypes A and D, as well as serotype AD hybrids. The majority of environmental isolates were obtained from pigeon excreta. All environmental and clinical isolates of serotype A or D had the MATalpha mating-type allele. However, the AD hybrids included MATa alleles typical of serotypes A and D. Using an amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting technique with two primer pairs, we identified 12 genotypes among the isolates of serotype A. Six of these genotypes were present in both the clinical and the environmental populations. However, one of the most prevalent environmental genotypes was absent from the clinical samples, and two other genotypes were isolated only from patients. The combined molecular data suggest that this environmental population of C. neoformans is predominantly clonal, although there was evidence for recent or past recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia P Litvintseva
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3020, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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33
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Butler MI, Poulter RTM. The PRP8 inteins in Cryptococcus are a source of phylogenetic and epidemiological information. Fungal Genet Biol 2005; 42:452-63. [PMID: 15809009 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2005.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2004] [Revised: 01/20/2005] [Accepted: 01/25/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Only two nuclear encoded inteins have been described. The first, SceVMA, was found in a vacuolar ATPase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related yeasts. The second, CnePRP8, was found in the PRP8 gene of Cryptococcus neoformans. CnePRP8 contains protein sequences associated with intein splicing but no endonuclease domain. We compared allelic mini-inteins in both varieties of C. neoformans (var. neoformans and var. grubii) and in the related primary pathogen C. gattii to study the evolution of both the mini-intein and the host. We also describe a full-length, endonuclease-containing intein in Cryptococcus laurentii, a moderately distant relation of C. neoformans. We did not detect an intein in the PRP8 gene of other species of Cryptococcus including species closely related to the C. neoformans/C. gattii group. It is therefore probable that the C. neoformans/C. gattii mini-intein was derived from horizontal transfer in which C. laurentii or another intein-containing species was the source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret I Butler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Kidd SE, Hagen F, Tscharke RL, Huynh M, Bartlett KH, Fyfe M, Macdougall L, Boekhout T, Kwon-Chung KJ, Meyer W. A rare genotype of Cryptococcus gattii caused the cryptococcosis outbreak on Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:17258-63. [PMID: 15572442 PMCID: PMC535360 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0402981101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 543] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii causes life-threatening infection of the pulmonary and central nervous systems in hosts with normal immunity and traditionally has been considered to be restricted geographically to tropical and subtropical climates. The recent outbreak of C. gattii in the temperate climate of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, led to a collaborative investigation. The objectives of the current study were to ascertain the environmental source of the outbreak infections, survey the molecular types of the outbreak and environmental cryptococcal isolates, and determine the extent of genetic diversity among the isolates. PCR-fingerprinting and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used to examine the genotypes, and mating assays were performed to determine the mating type of the isolates. All outbreak and environmental isolates belonged to C. gattii. Concordant results were obtained by using PCR-fingerprinting and AFLP analysis. The vast majority of clinical and veterinary infections were caused by isolates of the molecular type VGII/AFLP6, but two were caused by molecular type VGI/AFLP4. All environmental isolates belonged to molecular type VGII/AFLP6. Two or three subtypes were observed within VGII/AFLP6 among outbreak and environmental isolates. All mating-competent isolates were of the alpha-mating type. The emergence of this usually tropical pathogen on Vancouver Island highlights the changing distribution of this genotype and emphasizes the importance of an ongoing collaborative effort to monitor the global epidemiology of this yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Kidd
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Barreto de Oliveira MT, Boekhout T, Theelen B, Hagen F, Baroni FA, Lazera MS, Lengeler KB, Heitman J, Rivera ING, Paula CR. Cryptococcus neoformans shows a remarkable genotypic diversity in Brazil. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:1356-9. [PMID: 15004118 PMCID: PMC356826 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.42.3.1356-1359.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genotypic diversity of Brazilian Cryptococcus neoformans strains was analyzed. The majority of the samples were alphaA (65%), followed by alphaB (17.5%), alphaD (9%), alphaAaD hybrids (5%), and alphaC (3.5%). A considerable genotypic diversity occurred within C. neoformans var. grubii, and a new amplified fragment length polymorphism genotype, 1B, was recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Barreto de Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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