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Ouadhene MA, Callicott KA, Ortega‐Beltran A, Mehl HL, Cotty PJ, Battilani P. Structure of Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize in Greece, Spain, and Serbia: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol on a regional scale. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13249. [PMID: 38634243 PMCID: PMC11024511 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is the most frequently identified producer of aflatoxins. Non-aflatoxigenic members of the A. flavus L strains are used in various continents as active ingredients of bioprotectants directed at preventing aflatoxin contamination by competitive displacement of aflatoxin producers. The current research examined the genetic diversity of A. flavus L strain across southern Europe to gain insights into the population structure and evolution of this species and to evaluate the prevalence of genotypes closely related to MUCL54911, the active ingredient of AF-X1. A total of 2173L strain isolates recovered from maize collected across Greece, Spain, and Serbia in 2020 and 2021 were subjected to simple sequence repeat (SSR) genotyping. The analysis revealed high diversity within and among countries and dozens of haplotypes shared. Linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated asexual reproduction and clonal evolution of A. flavus L strain resident in Europe. Moreover, haplotypes closely related to MUCL54911 were found to belong to the same vegetative compatibility group (VCG) IT006 and were relatively common in all three countries. The results indicate that IT006 is endemic to southern Europe and may be utilized as an aflatoxin mitigation tool for maize across the region without concern for potential adverse impacts associated with the introduction of an exotic microorganism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ali Ouadhene
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | | | | | | | - Peter J. Cotty
- College of Food Science and EngineeringOcean University of ChinaQingdaoChina
| | - Paola Battilani
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
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Han M, Chae M, Han S. Assessment of fungal contamination and biosecurity risk factors in duck-breeding farms in South Korea. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103197. [PMID: 37925771 PMCID: PMC10652118 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi are pathogens that infect all types of poultry and farmers, leading to economic losses in poultry production. Fungi can be isolated from environmental samples and are ubiquitous in the air. This study aimed to evaluate fungal contamination in domestic duck farm environments and analyze biosecurity risk factors associated with fungal infection incidence to assess the vulnerability of the farms to fungal infection. The average fungal concentration was 203 colony-forming units (CFU)/m3 in the air and 365 × 103 CFU/m2 in the wall surface samples. Sixteen fungal genera were recovered from air and wall surface samples from 19 duck-breeding farms, Aspergillus being the most frequently isolated (air: 43.2%; wall surface: 40%). Eleven additional fungal genera (Acrophialophora, Byssochlamys, Fusarium, Lichtheimia, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Polycephalomyces, Rhizomucor, Scopulariopsis, Talaromyces, and Thermoascus) were isolated from air samples. Also, 8 additional fungal genera (Chaetomium, Lichtheimia, Penicillium, Petriella, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus, Talaromyces, and Trichosporon) were isolated from wall surface samples. The characteristics of the poultry farms (geographic region, stocking density, breeding house type, affiliate, duck age, and season) and fungal concentrations in the air and wall surface samples were analyzed to evaluate the biosecurity risk of the farms. Fungal infections were significantly affected by high stocking density (>2 ducks/m2), duck age (18-25 wk and >60 wk), and high fungal concentration in the wall surface samples (>300 × 103 CFU/m2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Han
- Institute of Chungbuk Provincial Veterinary Service and Research, Cheongju 28153, South Korea.
| | - Munhui Chae
- Institute of Chungbuk Provincial Veterinary Service and Research, Cheongju 28153, South Korea
| | - Seongtae Han
- Institute of Chungbuk Provincial Veterinary Service and Research, Cheongju 28153, South Korea
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3
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Hadrich I, Khemakhem N, Ilahi A, Trabelsi H, Sellami H, Makni F, Neji S, Ayadi A. Genotypic Analysis of the Population Structure in Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020263. [PMID: 36836377 PMCID: PMC9963534 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular characterization of Malassezia spp. isolates from animals and humans has not been thoroughly studied. Although a range of molecular methods has been developed for diagnosing Malassezia species, they have several drawbacks, such as inefficiency in differentiating all the species, high cost and questionable reproducibility. The present study aimed to develop VNTR markers for genotyping Malassezia isolated from clinical and animal samples. A total of 44 M. globosa and 24 M. restricta isolates were analyzed. Twelve VNTR markers were selected on seven different chromosomes (I, II, III, IV, V, VII and IX), six for each Malassezia species. The highest discriminatory power for a single locus was obtained with the STR-MG1 marker (0.829) and STR-MR2 marker (0.818) for M. globosa and M. restricta, respectively. After the analysis of multiple loci, 24 genotypes were noted among 44 isolates in M. globosa, with a discrimination index D of 0.943 and 15 genotypes were noted among 24 isolates in M. restricta, with a discrimination index D of 0.967. An endogenous infection was detected in two patients. Different genotypes of M. globosa strains colonized one patient. Interestingly, VNTR markers analysis revealed a carriage between a breeder and his dog in three cases for M. globosa and two for M. restricta. The FST (0.018 to 0.057) values indicate a low differentiation between the three populations of M. globosa. These results suggest a dominant clonal mode of reproduction in M. globosa. The typing of M. restricta showed a genotypic diversity of the strains, which can cause various skin pathologies. However, patient five was colonized with strains having the same genotype collected from different body parts (back, shoulder). VNTR analysis was capable of identifying species with high accuracy and reliability. More importantly, the method would facilitate monitoring Malassezia colonization in domestic animals and humans. It was shown that the patterns are stable and the method is discriminant, making it a powerful tool for epidemiological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Hadrich
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Faculty of Science, University of Gabes, Gabes 6029, Tunisia
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +216-74-247-130
| | - Nahed Khemakhem
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Amin Ilahi
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Houaida Trabelsi
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Hayet Sellami
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Fattouma Makni
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Sourour Neji
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
| | - Ali Ayadi
- Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Parasitology—Mycology, UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
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Loeffert ST, Melloul E, Gustin MP, Hénaff L, Guillot C, Dupont D, Wallon M, Cassier P, Dananché C, Bénet T, Botterel F, Guillot J, Vanhems P. Investigation of the Relationships Between Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus by Multiple-locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis During Major Demolition Work in a French Hospital. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 68:321-329. [PMID: 30247539 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genotyping is needed to explore the link between clinical cases from colonization of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and major building construction. Attempts to correlate Aspergillus fumigatus strains from clinical infection or colonization with those found in the environment remain controversial due to the lack of a large prospective study. Our aim in this study was to compare the genetic diversity of clinical and environmental A. fumigatus isolates during a demolition period. Methods Fungal contamination was monitored daily for 11 months in 2015. Environmental surveillance was undertaken indoors and outdoors at 8 locations with automatic agar samplers. IA infection cases were investigated according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria. Isolates were identified by amplification and sequencing of the β- tubulin gene. They were genotyped by multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). The phylogenetic relationships between isolates were assessed by generating a minimum spanning tree. Results Based on 3885 samples, 394 A. fumigatus isolates (383 environmental and 11 clinical) were identified and genotyped using MLVA. Clinical isolates were collected from patients diagnosed as having probable IA (n = 2), possible IA (n = 1), or bronchial colonization (n = 6). MLVA generated 234 genotypes. Seven clinical isolates shared genotypes identical to environmental isolates. Conclusions Among the diversity of genotypes described, similar genotypes were found in clinical and environmental isolates, indicating that A. fumigatus infection and colonization may originate from hospital environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie T Loeffert
- Equipe Epidémiologie et Santé Internationale, Laboratoire des Pathogènes Emergents-Fondation Mérieux, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
| | - Elise Melloul
- EA 7380 Dynamyc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil
| | - Marie-Paule Gustin
- Département de Santé Publique, Institut des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques-Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
| | - Laetitia Hénaff
- Equipe Epidémiologie et Santé Internationale, Laboratoire des Pathogènes Emergents-Fondation Mérieux, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
| | - Chloé Guillot
- EA 7380 Dynamyc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil
| | - Damien Dupont
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Mycologie Médicale, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon
| | - Martine Wallon
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Mycologie Médicale, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon
| | - Pierre Cassier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Sécurité Environnement, Groupement Hospitalier Centre, Hospices Civils de Lyon
| | - Cédric Dananché
- Equipe Epidémiologie et Santé Internationale, Laboratoire des Pathogènes Emergents-Fondation Mérieux, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon.,Unité d'Hygiène, Epidémiologie et Prévention, Groupement Hospitalier Centre, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Bénet
- Unité d'Hygiène, Epidémiologie et Prévention, Groupement Hospitalier Centre, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France
| | - Françoise Botterel
- EA 7380 Dynamyc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil
| | - Jacques Guillot
- EA 7380 Dynamyc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil
| | - Philippe Vanhems
- Equipe Epidémiologie et Santé Internationale, Laboratoire des Pathogènes Emergents-Fondation Mérieux, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon.,Unité d'Hygiène, Epidémiologie et Prévention, Groupement Hospitalier Centre, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France
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Rudramurthy SM, Paul RA, Chakrabarti A, Mouton JW, Meis JF. Invasive Aspergillosis by Aspergillus flavus: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Antifungal Resistance, and Management. J Fungi (Basel) 2019; 5:jof5030055. [PMID: 31266196 PMCID: PMC6787648 DOI: 10.3390/jof5030055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is the second most common etiological agent of invasive aspergillosis (IA) after A. fumigatus. However, most literature describes IA in relation to A. fumigatus or together with other Aspergillus species. Certain differences exist in IA caused by A. flavus and A. fumigatus and studies on A. flavus infections are increasing. Hence, we performed a comprehensive updated review on IA due to A. flavus. A. flavus is the cause of a broad spectrum of human diseases predominantly in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa possibly due to its ability to survive better in hot and arid climatic conditions compared to other Aspergillus spp. Worldwide, ~10% of cases of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are caused by A. flavus. Outbreaks have usually been associated with construction activities as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients and cutaneous, subcutaneous, and mucosal forms in immunocompetent individuals. Multilocus microsatellite typing is well standardized to differentiate A. flavus isolates into different clades. A. flavus is intrinsically resistant to polyenes. In contrast to A. fumigatus, triazole resistance infrequently occurs in A. flavus and is associated with mutations in the cyp51C gene. Overexpression of efflux pumps in non-wildtype strains lacking mutations in the cyp51 gene can also lead to high voriconazole minimum inhibitory concentrations. Voriconazole remains the drug of choice for treatment, and amphotericin B should be avoided. Primary therapy with echinocandins is not the first choice but the combination with voriconazole or as monotherapy may be used when the azoles and amphotericin B are contraindicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, 3015GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Raees A Paul
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Johan W Mouton
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, 3015GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ) and Center of Expertise, 6532SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6532SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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6
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Lim W, Eadie K, Horst-Kreft D, Ahmed SA, Fahal AH, van de Sande WWJ. VNTR confirms the heterogeneity of Madurella mycetomatis and is a promising typing tool for this mycetoma causing agent. Med Mycol 2019; 57:434-440. [PMID: 30085253 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical disease mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory and infectious disease affecting various body parts. The most common causative agent is the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. In order to study the genetic diversity of this fungus and to monitor any potential outbreaks, a good typing method that can be used in endemic settings is needed. Previous typing methods developed were not discriminative and not easy to perform in resource-limited laboratories. Variable-Number-Tandem-Repeat (VNTR) typing overcomes these difficulties and further enables interlaboratory data comparison. Therefore, in this study we developed a VNTR method for typing M. mycetomatis. Six tandem-repeats were identified in the genome of M. mycetomatis isolate MM55 using an online tandem repeats software. The variation in these repeats was determined by PCR and gel-electrophoresis on DNA obtained from 81 M. mycetomatis isolates obtained from patients. These patients originated from Sudan, Mali, Peru, and India. The 81 isolates were divided into 14 genotypes which separated into two main clusters with seven and five subdivisions, respectively. VNTR typing confirms the heterogeneity of M. mycetomatis strains and can be used to study the epidemiology of M. mycetomatis. The results presented in this article are made fully available to the scientific community on request from the Eumycetoma Working Group. We hope that this open resource approach will bridge scientific community working with mycetoma from all around the world and lead to a deeper understanding of M. mycetomatis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Lim
- Erasmus MC Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberly Eadie
- Erasmus MC Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Deborah Horst-Kreft
- Erasmus MC Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ahmed H Fahal
- Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Wendy W J van de Sande
- Erasmus MC Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Development of a Dot-Blot Assay for the Detection of Mould-Specific IgE in the Belgian Population. Mycopathologia 2016; 182:319-329. [DOI: 10.1007/s11046-016-0091-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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8
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Zhang YJ, Hou JX, Zhang S, Hausner G, Liu XZ, Li WJ. The intronic minisatellite OsMin1 within a serine protease gene in the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:3599-610. [PMID: 26754819 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7287-0] [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: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive DNA sequences make up a significant portion of all genomes and may occur in intergenic, regulatory, coding, or even intronic regions. Partial sequences of a serine protease gene csp1 was previously used as a population genetic marker of the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, but its first intron region was excluded due to ambiguous alignment. Here in this study, we report the presence of a minisatellite OsMin1 within this intron, where a 20(19)-bp repeat motif is duplicated two to six times in different isolates. Fourteen intron alleles and 13 OsMin1 alleles were identified among 125 O. sinensis samples distributed broadly on the Tibetan Plateau. Two OsMin1 alleles were prevalent, corresponding to either two or five repeats of the core sequence motif. OsMin1 appears to be a single locus marker in the O. sinensis genome, but its origin is undetermined. Abundant recombination signals were detected between upstream and downstream flanking regions of OsMin1, suggesting that OsMin1 mutate by unequal crossing over. Geographic distribution, fungal phylogeny, and host insect phylogeny all significantly affected intron distribution patterns but with the greatest influence noted for fungal genotypes and the least for geography. As far as we know, OsMin1 is the first minisatellite found in O. sinensis and the second found in fungal introns. OsMin1 may be useful in designing an efficient protocol to discriminate authentic O. sinensis from counterfeits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
| | - Jun-Xiu Hou
- School of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Institute of Applied Chemistry, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Georg Hausner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xing-Zhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Wen-Jia Li
- Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., LTD, Dongguan, 523808, China
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9
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Runa F, Carbone I, Bhatnagar D, Payne GA. Nuclear heterogeneity in conidial populations of Aspergillus flavus. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 84:62-72. [PMID: 26362651 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is a major producer of aflatoxin and an opportunistic pathogen for a wide range of hosts. Understanding genotypic and phenotypic variation within strains of A. flavus is important for controlling disease and reducing aflatoxin contamination. A. flavus is multinucleate and predominantly haploid (n) and homokaryotic. Although cryptic heterokaryosis may occur in nature, it is unclear how nuclei in A. flavus influence genetic heterogeneity and if nuclear condition plays a role in fungal ecology. A. flavus mainly reproduces asexually by producing conidia. In order to observe whether conidia are homokaryotic or heterokaryotic, we labeled nuclei of A. flavus using two different nuclear localized fluorescent reporters. The reporter constructs (pYH2A and pCH2B), encode histones HH2A and HH2B fused at the C terminus with either yellow (EYFP) or cyan (ECFP) fluorescent proteins, respectively. The constructs were transformed into the double auxotrophic strain AFC-1 (-pyrG, -argD) to generate a strain containing each reporter construct. By taking advantage of the nutritional requirement for each strain, we were able to generate fusants between FR36 (-argD) expressing yellow fluorescence, and FR46 (-pyr4) expressing cyan fluorescence. Conidia from fusants between FR36 and FR46 showed three types of fluorescence: only EYFP, only ECFP or both EYFP+ECFP. Conidia containing nuclei expressing EYFP+ECFP were separated by Fluorescence-Activated Cell sorting (FACS) and were found to contain both yellow and cyan fluorescent markers in the same nucleus. Further characterization of conidia having only one nucleus but expressing both EYFP+ECFP fluorescence were found to be diploid (2n). Our findings suggest that A. flavus maintains nuclear heterogeneity in conidial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhana Runa
- Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Ignazio Carbone
- Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - Gary A Payne
- Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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Seyedmousavi S, Guillot J, Arné P, de Hoog GS, Mouton JW, Melchers WJG, Verweij PE. Aspergillus and aspergilloses in wild and domestic animals: a global health concern with parallels to human disease. Med Mycol 2015; 53:765-97. [PMID: 26316211 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myv067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of aspergillosis in humans and various animal species has increased over the last decades. Aspergillus species are found worldwide in humans and in almost all domestic animals and birds as well as in many wild species, causing a wide range of diseases from localized infections to fatal disseminated diseases, as well as allergic responses to inhaled conidia. Some prevalent forms of animal aspergillosis are invasive fatal infections in sea fan corals, stonebrood mummification in honey bees, pulmonary and air sac infection in birds, mycotic abortion and mammary gland infections in cattle, guttural pouch mycoses in horses, sinonasal infections in dogs and cats, and invasive pulmonary and cerebral infections in marine mammals and nonhuman primates. This article represents a comprehensive overview of the most common infections reported by Aspergillus species and the corresponding diseases in various types of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedmojtaba Seyedmousavi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ErasmusMC, the Netherlands Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Jacques Guillot
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Dynamyc Research Group, EnvA, UPEC, UPE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Pascal Arné
- Department of Animal Production, Dynamyc Research Group, EnvA, UPEC, UPE, École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - G Sybren de Hoog
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Peking University Health Science Center, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Beijing, China, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, and King Abdullaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Johan W Mouton
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ErasmusMC, the Netherlands Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Willem J G Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Paul E Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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11
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Fischer D, Lierz M. Diagnostic Procedures and Available Techniques for the Diagnosis of Aspergillosis in Birds. J Exot Pet Med 2015. [DOI: 10.1053/j.jepm.2015.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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12
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Dehghan P, Bui T, Campbell LT, Lai YW, Tran-Dinh N, Zaini F, Carter DA. Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of clinical isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Iran reveals the first cases of Aspergillus minisclerotigenes associated with human infection. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:358. [PMID: 24986045 PMCID: PMC4099206 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aspergillus flavus is intensively studied for its role in infecting crop plants and contaminating produce with aflatoxin, but its role as a human pathogen is less well understood. In parts of the Middle East and India, A. flavus surpasses A. fumigatus as a cause of invasive aspergillosis and is a significant cause of cutaneous, sinus, nasal and nail infections. Methods A collection of 45 clinical and 10 environmental A. flavus isolates from Iran were analysed using Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat (VNTR) markers with MICROSAT and goeBURST to determine their genetic diversity and their relatedness to clinical and environmental A. flavus isolates from Australia. Phylogeny was assessed using partial β-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequencing, and mating type was determined by PCR. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed on selected isolates using a reference microbroth dilution method. Results There was considerable diversity in the A. flavus collection, with no segregation on goeBURST networks according to source or geographic location. Three Iranian isolates, two from sinus infections and one from a paranasal infection grouped with Aspergillus minisclerotigenes, and all produced B and G aflatoxin. Phylogenic analysis using partial β-tubulin and calmodulin sequencing confirmed two of these as A. minisclerotigenes, while the third could not be differentiated from A. flavus and related species within Aspergillus section flavi. Based on epidemiological cut-off values, the A. minisclerotigens and A. flavus isolates tested were susceptible to commonly used antifungal drugs. Conclusions This is the first report of human infection due to A. minisclerotigenes, and it raises the possiblity that other species within Aspergillus section flavi may also cause clinical disease. Clinical isolates of A. flavus from Iran are not distinct from Australian isolates, indicating local environmental, climatic or host features, rather than fungal features, govern the high incidence of A. flavus infection in this region. The results of this study have important implications for biological control strategies that aim to reduce aflatoxin by the introduction of non-toxigenic strains, as potentially any strain of A. flavus, and closely related species like A. minisclerotigenes, might be capable of human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dee A Carter
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Zaluga J, Stragier P, Van Vaerenbergh J, Maes M, De Vos P. Multilocus variable-number-tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA) distinguishes a clonal complex of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis strains isolated from recent outbreaks of bacterial wilt and canker in Belgium. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:126. [PMID: 23738754 PMCID: PMC3691591 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) causes bacterial wilt and canker in tomato. Cmm is present nearly in all European countries. During the last three years several local outbreaks were detected in Belgium. The lack of a convenient high-resolution strain-typing method has hampered the study of the routes of transmission of Cmm and epidemiology in tomato cultivation. In this study the genetic relatedness among a worldwide collection of Cmm strains and their relatives was approached by gyrB and dnaA gene sequencing. Further, we developed and applied a multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) scheme to discriminate among Cmm strains. RESULTS A phylogenetic analysis of gyrB and dnaA gene sequences of 56 Cmm strains demonstrated that Belgian Cmm strains from recent outbreaks of 2010-2012 form a genetically uniform group within the Cmm clade, and Cmm is phylogenetically distinct from other Clavibacter subspecies and from non-pathogenic Clavibacter-like strains. MLVA conducted with eight minisatellite loci detected 25 haplotypes within Cmm. All strains from Belgian outbreaks, isolated between 2010 and 2012, together with two French strains from 2010 seem to form one monomorphic group. Regardless of the isolation year, location or tomato cultivar, Belgian strains from recent outbreaks belonged to the same haplotype. On the contrary, strains from diverse geographical locations or isolated over longer periods of time formed mostly singletons. CONCLUSIONS We hypothesise that the introduction might have originated from one lot of seeds or contaminated tomato seedlings that was the source of the outbreak in 2010 and that these Cmm strains persisted and induced infection in 2011 and 2012. Our results demonstrate that MLVA is a promising typing technique for a local surveillance and outbreaks investigation in epidemiological studies of Cmm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Zaluga
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Pieter Stragier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Vaerenbergh
- Plant-Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, ILVO, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, Merelbeke, B-9820, Belgium
| | - Martine Maes
- Plant-Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, ILVO, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, Merelbeke, B-9820, Belgium
| | - Paul De Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, B-9000, Belgium
- BCCM/LMG Bacteria collection - Laboratory of Microbiology Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, B-9000, Belgium
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Genetic structure of Aspergillus flavus populations in human and avian isolates. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2012; 32:277-82. [PMID: 22956010 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-012-1740-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is the second leading cause of allergic, invasive, and colonizing fungal diseases in humans, and also the second most frequent organism associated with avian infections. Currently, it is not known whether there is a link between the environmental isolates and/or human isolates of A. flavus and those responsible for aspergillosis in birds. Microsatellite typing was used to analyze 29 A. flavus clinical and environmental avian isolates and 63 human clinical isolates collected from patients with a variety of aspergillosis diseases. The combination of all six markers yielded 77 different genotypes with a 0.98 D value. A. flavus genotypes obtained from avian isolates were compared with those obtained from human clinical and environmental samples. The standardized indices of association I (A) and rBarD were significantly different from zero (p < 0.01), suggesting a prevailing clonal reproduction. There was high genetic diversity between the hospital and poultry environments of A. flavus isolates. The human environmental population was significantly differentiated from environmental and clinical avian populations (F (st) > 0.25). The avian clinical subpopulation exchanged few strains with the environmental human (N (m) = 7.24) and avian (N (m) = 6.60) populations. The minimum spanning tree analysis identified three A. flavus genotype clusters that were highly structured according to the isolation source (p < 10(-4)).
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