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Joseph Heitman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Morphological and Genomic Characterization of Filobasidiella depauperata: A Homothallic Sibling Species of the Pathogenic Cryptococcus Species Complex
    2013
    Co-Authors: Marianela Rodriguez-carres, Keisha Findley, Sheng Sun, Fred S. Dietrich, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The fungal species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii cause respiratory and neurological disease in animals and humans following inhalation of basidiospores or desiccated yeast cells from the environment. Sexual reproduction in C. neoformans and C. gattii is controlled by a bipolar system in which a single mating type locus (MAT) specifies compatibility. These two species are dimorphic, growing as yeast in the asexual stage, and producing hyphae, basidia, and basidiospores during the sexual stage. In contrast, Filobasidiella depauperata, one of the closest related species, grows exclusively as hyphae and it is found in association with decaying insects. Examination of two available strains of F. depauperata showed that the life cycle of this fungal species shares features associated with the unisexual or same-sex mating cycle in C. neoformans. Therefore, F. depauperata may represent a homothallic and possibly an obligately sexual fungal species. RAPD genotyping of 39 randomly isolated progeny from isolate CBS7855 revealed a new genotype pattern in one of the isolated basidiospores progeny, therefore suggesting that the homothallic cycle in F. depauperata could lead to the emergence of new genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of genes linked to MAT in C. neoformans indicated that two of these genes in F. depauperata, MYO2 and STE20, appear to form a monophyletic clade with the MATa alleles of C. neoformans and C. gattii, and thus these genes may have been recruited to the MAT locus before F. depauperata diverged. Furthermore, the ancestral MATa locus may have undergone accelerated evolution prior to the divergence of the pathogenic Cryptococcus species since several of the gene

  • Morphological and genomic characterization of Filobasidiella depauperata: a homothallic sibling species of the pathogenic cryptococcus species complex.
    Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2010
    Co-Authors: Marianela Rodriguez-carres, Keisha Findley, Sheng Sun, Fred S. Dietrich, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The fungal species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii cause respiratory and neurological disease in animals and humans following inhalation of basidiospores or desiccated yeast cells from the environment. Sexual reproduction in C. neoformans and C. gattii is controlled by a bipolar system in which a single mating type locus (MAT) specifies compatibility. These two species are dimorphic, growing as yeast in the asexual stage, and producing hyphae, basidia, and basidiospores during the sexual stage. In contrast, Filobasidiella depauperata, one of the closest related species, grows exclusively as hyphae and it is found in association with decaying insects. Examination of two available strains of F. depauperata showed that the life cycle of this fungal species shares features associated with the unisexual or same-sex mating cycle in C. neoformans. Therefore, F. depauperata may represent a homothallic and possibly an obligately sexual fungal species. RAPD genotyping of 39 randomly isolated progeny from isolate CBS7855 revealed a new genotype pattern in one of the isolated basidiospores progeny, therefore suggesting that the homothallic cycle in F. depauperata could lead to the emergence of new genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of genes linked to MAT in C. neoformans indicated that two of these genes in F. depauperata, MYO2 and STE20, appear to form a monophyletic clade with the MATa alleles of C. neoformans and C. gattii, and thus these genes may have been recruited to the MAT locus before F. depauperata diverged. Furthermore, the ancestral MATa locus may have undergone accelerated evolution prior to the divergence of the pathogenic Cryptococcus species since several of the genes linked to the MATa locus appear to have a higher number of changes and substitutions than their MATalpha counterparts. Synteny analyses between C. neoformans and F. depauperata showed that genomic regions on other chromosomes displayed conserved gene order. In contrast, the genes linked to the MAT locus of C. neoformans showed a higher number of chromosomal translocations in the genome of F. depauperata. We therefore propose that chromosomal rearrangements appear to be a major force driving speciation and sexual divergence in these closely related pathogenic and saprobic species

  • phylogeny and phenotypic characterization of pathogenic cryptococcus species and closely related saprobic taxa in the tremellales
    Eukaryotic Cell, 2009
    Co-Authors: Keisha Findley, Alvaro Fonseca, Banu Metin, Johannes Kroiss, Marianela Rodriguezcarres, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The basidiomycetous yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are closely related sibling species that cause respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals. Within these two recognized species, phylogenetic analysis reveals at least six cryptic species defined as molecular types (VNI/II/B, VNIV, VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV) that comprise the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex. These pathogenic species are clustered in the Filobasidiella clade within the order Tremellales. Previous studies have shown that the Filobasidiella clade also includes several saprobic fungi isolated from insect frass, but information evaluating the relatedness of the saprobes and pathogens within this cluster is limited. Here, the phylogeny encompassing a subset of species in the Tremellales lineage that clusters closely with the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex was resolved by employing a multilocus sequencing approach for phylogenetic analysis. Six highly conserved genomic loci from 15 related basidiomycete species were sequenced, and the alignments from the concatenated gene sequences were evaluated with different tree-building criteria. Furthermore, these 15 species were subjected to virulence and phenotype assays to evaluate their pathogenic potential. These studies revealed that Cryptococcus amylolentus and Tsuchiyaea wingfieldii, two nonpathogenic sibling species, are the taxa most closely related to the pathogens C. neoformans and C. gattii and together with Filobasidiella depauperata form a Cryptococcus sensu stricto group. Five other saprobic yeast species form the Kwoniella clade, which appears to be a part of a more distantly related sensu lato group. This study establishes a foundation for future comparative genomic approaches that will provide insight into the structure, function, and evolution of the mating type locus, the transitions in modes of sexual reproduction, and the emergence of human pathogenic species from related or ancestral saprobic species.

Keisha Findley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Morphological and Genomic Characterization of Filobasidiella depauperata: A Homothallic Sibling Species of the Pathogenic Cryptococcus Species Complex
    2013
    Co-Authors: Marianela Rodriguez-carres, Keisha Findley, Sheng Sun, Fred S. Dietrich, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The fungal species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii cause respiratory and neurological disease in animals and humans following inhalation of basidiospores or desiccated yeast cells from the environment. Sexual reproduction in C. neoformans and C. gattii is controlled by a bipolar system in which a single mating type locus (MAT) specifies compatibility. These two species are dimorphic, growing as yeast in the asexual stage, and producing hyphae, basidia, and basidiospores during the sexual stage. In contrast, Filobasidiella depauperata, one of the closest related species, grows exclusively as hyphae and it is found in association with decaying insects. Examination of two available strains of F. depauperata showed that the life cycle of this fungal species shares features associated with the unisexual or same-sex mating cycle in C. neoformans. Therefore, F. depauperata may represent a homothallic and possibly an obligately sexual fungal species. RAPD genotyping of 39 randomly isolated progeny from isolate CBS7855 revealed a new genotype pattern in one of the isolated basidiospores progeny, therefore suggesting that the homothallic cycle in F. depauperata could lead to the emergence of new genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of genes linked to MAT in C. neoformans indicated that two of these genes in F. depauperata, MYO2 and STE20, appear to form a monophyletic clade with the MATa alleles of C. neoformans and C. gattii, and thus these genes may have been recruited to the MAT locus before F. depauperata diverged. Furthermore, the ancestral MATa locus may have undergone accelerated evolution prior to the divergence of the pathogenic Cryptococcus species since several of the gene

  • Morphological and genomic characterization of Filobasidiella depauperata: a homothallic sibling species of the pathogenic cryptococcus species complex.
    Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2010
    Co-Authors: Marianela Rodriguez-carres, Keisha Findley, Sheng Sun, Fred S. Dietrich, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The fungal species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii cause respiratory and neurological disease in animals and humans following inhalation of basidiospores or desiccated yeast cells from the environment. Sexual reproduction in C. neoformans and C. gattii is controlled by a bipolar system in which a single mating type locus (MAT) specifies compatibility. These two species are dimorphic, growing as yeast in the asexual stage, and producing hyphae, basidia, and basidiospores during the sexual stage. In contrast, Filobasidiella depauperata, one of the closest related species, grows exclusively as hyphae and it is found in association with decaying insects. Examination of two available strains of F. depauperata showed that the life cycle of this fungal species shares features associated with the unisexual or same-sex mating cycle in C. neoformans. Therefore, F. depauperata may represent a homothallic and possibly an obligately sexual fungal species. RAPD genotyping of 39 randomly isolated progeny from isolate CBS7855 revealed a new genotype pattern in one of the isolated basidiospores progeny, therefore suggesting that the homothallic cycle in F. depauperata could lead to the emergence of new genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of genes linked to MAT in C. neoformans indicated that two of these genes in F. depauperata, MYO2 and STE20, appear to form a monophyletic clade with the MATa alleles of C. neoformans and C. gattii, and thus these genes may have been recruited to the MAT locus before F. depauperata diverged. Furthermore, the ancestral MATa locus may have undergone accelerated evolution prior to the divergence of the pathogenic Cryptococcus species since several of the genes linked to the MATa locus appear to have a higher number of changes and substitutions than their MATalpha counterparts. Synteny analyses between C. neoformans and F. depauperata showed that genomic regions on other chromosomes displayed conserved gene order. In contrast, the genes linked to the MAT locus of C. neoformans showed a higher number of chromosomal translocations in the genome of F. depauperata. We therefore propose that chromosomal rearrangements appear to be a major force driving speciation and sexual divergence in these closely related pathogenic and saprobic species

  • phylogeny and phenotypic characterization of pathogenic cryptococcus species and closely related saprobic taxa in the tremellales
    Eukaryotic Cell, 2009
    Co-Authors: Keisha Findley, Alvaro Fonseca, Banu Metin, Johannes Kroiss, Marianela Rodriguezcarres, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The basidiomycetous yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are closely related sibling species that cause respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals. Within these two recognized species, phylogenetic analysis reveals at least six cryptic species defined as molecular types (VNI/II/B, VNIV, VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV) that comprise the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex. These pathogenic species are clustered in the Filobasidiella clade within the order Tremellales. Previous studies have shown that the Filobasidiella clade also includes several saprobic fungi isolated from insect frass, but information evaluating the relatedness of the saprobes and pathogens within this cluster is limited. Here, the phylogeny encompassing a subset of species in the Tremellales lineage that clusters closely with the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex was resolved by employing a multilocus sequencing approach for phylogenetic analysis. Six highly conserved genomic loci from 15 related basidiomycete species were sequenced, and the alignments from the concatenated gene sequences were evaluated with different tree-building criteria. Furthermore, these 15 species were subjected to virulence and phenotype assays to evaluate their pathogenic potential. These studies revealed that Cryptococcus amylolentus and Tsuchiyaea wingfieldii, two nonpathogenic sibling species, are the taxa most closely related to the pathogens C. neoformans and C. gattii and together with Filobasidiella depauperata form a Cryptococcus sensu stricto group. Five other saprobic yeast species form the Kwoniella clade, which appears to be a part of a more distantly related sensu lato group. This study establishes a foundation for future comparative genomic approaches that will provide insight into the structure, function, and evolution of the mating type locus, the transitions in modes of sexual reproduction, and the emergence of human pathogenic species from related or ancestral saprobic species.

Alvaro Fonseca - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • phylogeny and phenotypic characterization of pathogenic cryptococcus species and closely related saprobic taxa in the tremellales
    Eukaryotic Cell, 2009
    Co-Authors: Keisha Findley, Alvaro Fonseca, Banu Metin, Johannes Kroiss, Marianela Rodriguezcarres, Joseph Heitman
    Abstract:

    The basidiomycetous yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are closely related sibling species that cause respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals. Within these two recognized species, phylogenetic analysis reveals at least six cryptic species defined as molecular types (VNI/II/B, VNIV, VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV) that comprise the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex. These pathogenic species are clustered in the Filobasidiella clade within the order Tremellales. Previous studies have shown that the Filobasidiella clade also includes several saprobic fungi isolated from insect frass, but information evaluating the relatedness of the saprobes and pathogens within this cluster is limited. Here, the phylogeny encompassing a subset of species in the Tremellales lineage that clusters closely with the pathogenic Cryptococcus species complex was resolved by employing a multilocus sequencing approach for phylogenetic analysis. Six highly conserved genomic loci from 15 related basidiomycete species were sequenced, and the alignments from the concatenated gene sequences were evaluated with different tree-building criteria. Furthermore, these 15 species were subjected to virulence and phenotype assays to evaluate their pathogenic potential. These studies revealed that Cryptococcus amylolentus and Tsuchiyaea wingfieldii, two nonpathogenic sibling species, are the taxa most closely related to the pathogens C. neoformans and C. gattii and together with Filobasidiella depauperata form a Cryptococcus sensu stricto group. Five other saprobic yeast species form the Kwoniella clade, which appears to be a part of a more distantly related sensu lato group. This study establishes a foundation for future comparative genomic approaches that will provide insight into the structure, function, and evolution of the mating type locus, the transitions in modes of sexual reproduction, and the emergence of human pathogenic species from related or ancestral saprobic species.

  • biodiversity and systematics of basidiomycetous yeasts as determined by large subunit rdna d1 d2 domain sequence analysis
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2000
    Co-Authors: Jack W Fell, Alvaro Fonseca, Gloria Scorzetti, Teun Boekhout, Adele Statzelltallman
    Abstract:

    The molecular systematics of 337 strains of basidiomycetous yeasts and yeast-like fungi, representing 230 species in 18 anamorphic and 24 teleomorphic genera, was determined by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large-subunit rDNA. The data were compared with published sequences of other basidiomycetous fungi. The results demonstrated that the yeast species and genera are phylogenetically distributed among the Microbotryum, Sporidiobolus, Agaricostilbum and Erythrobasidium clades of the Urediniomycetes; the Tremellales, Trichosporonales ord. nov., Filobasidiales and Cystofilobasidiales clades of the Hymenomycetes; and the Ustilaginales, Microstromatales and Malasseziales clades of the Ustilaginomycetes. Genera such as Bensingtonia, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces are polyphyletic, i.e. they occur in two or more clades. In contrast, other genera, e.g. Bullera, Cystofilobasidium, Fellomyces, Filobasidiella, Filobasidium, Kondoa, Kurtzmanomyces, Leucosporidium, Rhodosporidium, Sporidiobolus and Udeniomyces, are monophyletic. The majority of the species can be identified using D1/D2 analyses, although the internal transcribed spacer region is required to distinguish closely related species. The intergenic spacer region is recommended for additional differentiation of species and strains.

Thomas G. Mitchell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • List of primers used in this study.
    2013
    Co-Authors: Popchai Ngamskulrungroj, Thomas G. Mitchell, Felix Gilgado, Josiane Faganello, Anastasia P. Litvintseva, Ana Lusia Leal, Kin Ming Tsui, Marilene Henning Vainstein, Wieland Meyer
    Abstract:

    Notes: VN = molecular type VNI, VNII and VNIV; VG = molecular type VGI, VGII, VGIII and IV, FD = Filobasidiella depauperata, CA = Cryptococcus albidus.

  • Combined genealogies of (A) the intron-excluded and (B) the intron-included datasets with separate substitution models for each partition.
    2013
    Co-Authors: Popchai Ngamskulrungroj, Thomas G. Mitchell, Felix Gilgado, Josiane Faganello, Anastasia P. Litvintseva, Ana Lusia Leal, Kin Ming Tsui, Marilene Henning Vainstein, Wieland Meyer
    Abstract:

    Parsimony bootstrap support above 75 is indicated in bold. Bayesian posterior probability above 95 is indicated italicized. The phylogenetic tree is rooted using Filobasidiella depauperata and Cryptococcus albidus as outgroups. The blue bold italic letters represent VNII-1 and VGIV-1 clades of C. neoformans and C. gattii, respectively.

  • multiple gene genealogies reveal recent dispersion and hybridization in the human pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans
    Molecular Ecology, 2000
    Co-Authors: Rytas Vilgalys, Thomas G. Mitchell
    Abstract:

    Cryptococcus neoformans (= Filobasidiella neoformans ) is a significant emerging fungal pathogen of humans. To understand the evolution of this pathogen, 34 strains were obtained from various locations around the world and fragments of four genes were sequenced from each. These strains represented all three varieties and five serotypes. The four sequenced genes are: (i) the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit RNA; (ii) the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear rRNA, including ITS1, 5.8S rRNA subunit and ITS2; (iii) orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase; and (iv) diphenol oxidase. Phylogenetic analyses indicated considerable divergence among lineages, which cor- responded to the current classification of C. neoformans into three varieties. However, there is no apparent phylogeographic pattern. Significant incongruences were observed among gene genealogies. The analyses indicated that the major lineages in C. neoformans diverged tens of millions of years ago but have undergone recent dispersion and hybridization.

  • and hybridization in the human pathogenic fungus
    2000
    Co-Authors: Rytas Vilgalys, Thomas G. Mitchell
    Abstract:

    Cryptococcus neoformans ( = Filobasidiella neoformans) is a significant emerging fungal pathogen of humans. To understand the evolution of this pathogen, 34 strains were obtained from various locations around the world and fragments of four genes were sequenced from each. These strains represented all three varieties and five serotypes. The four sequenced genes are: (i) the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit RNA; (ii) the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear rRNA, including ITS1, 5.8S rRNA subunit and ITS2; (iii) orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase; and (iv) diphenol oxidase. Phylogenetic analyses indicated considerable divergence among lineages, which corresponded to the current classification of C. neoformans into three varieties. However, there is no apparent phylogeographic pattern. Significant incongruences were observed among gene genealogies. The analyses indicated that the major lineages in C. neoformans diverged tens of millions of years ago but have undergone recent dispersion and hybridization

  • Copyright ©) 1994, American Society for Microbiology Unique Oligonucleotide Primers in PCR for Identification of
    1993
    Co-Authors: Cryptococcus Neoformans, Thomas G. Mitchell, Thomas J. White, Elizabeth Z. Freedman, W. Taylor
    Abstract:

    On the basis of a comparison of rRNA sequences coding the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S regions of Filobasidiella neoformans, the teleomorph of Cryptococcus neoformans, and members of its most closely related taxa, unique oligonucleotides were designed for the specific amplification of DNA only from C. neoformans. Various combinations of these primers, designated CN4, CN5, and CN6, and the previously described fungal primers fTS1 and ITS2 were tested in PCR for their ability to amplify DNA from 37 strains of C. neoformans and 31 other isolates representing 18 species of yeasts. The combination of primers CN4 and CN5 amplified DNA from both varieties of C. neoformans but from none of the other species tested. Other pairs of primers (namely, CN5-CN6, CN4-ITS1, and CN6-ITS1) amplified DNA only from C. neoformans and from the saprophyte FilobasidieUa depauperata, which is the only other member of the genus Filobasidiella. With appropriate controls, these specific oligonucleotides may be used as primers in PCR to identify C. neoformans. Unique primers were developed to amplify specific seg-ments of the genes coding for rRNA (rDNA) of Cryptococ-cus neoformans. These primers were designed on the basis of a comparative analysis of sequences of the 5.8S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of Filobasidiell

Ashok Varma - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • do major species concepts support one two or more species within cryptococcus neoformans
    Fems Yeast Research, 2006
    Co-Authors: Kyung J Kwonchung, Ashok Varma
    Abstract:

    Cryptococcus neoformans, the agent of cryptococcosis, had been considered a homogeneous species until 1949 when the existence of four serotypes was revealed based on the antigenic properties of its polysaccharide capsule. Such heterogeneity of the species, however, remained obscure until the two morphologically distinct teleomorphs of C. neoformans were discovered during the mid 1970s. The teleomorph Filobasidiella neoformans was found to be produced by strains of serotype A and D, and Filobasidiella bacillispora was found to be produced by strains of serotype B and C. Ensuing studies revealed numerous differences between the anamorphs of the two Filobasidiella species with regard to their ecology, epidemiology, pathobiology, biochemistry and genetics. At present, the etiologic agent of cryptococcosis is classified into two species, C. neoformans (serotypes A and D) and Cryptococcus gattii (serotypes B and C). Intraspecific genetic diversity has also been revealed as more genotyping methods have been applied for each serotype. As a result, the number of scientifically valid species within C. neoformans has become a controversial issue because of the differing opinions among taxonomists as to the appropriate definition of a species. There are three major species concepts that govern classification of organisms: phenetic (morphologic, phenotypic), biologic (interbreeding) and cladistic (evolutionary, phylogenetic). Classification of the two C. neoformans species has been based on the phenetic as well as the biologic species concept, which is also supported by the cladistic species concept. In this paper, we review and attest to the validity of the current two-species system in light of the three major species concepts.

  • M IN I R E V I EW Domajor species concepts supportone, twoormore specieswithin Cryptococcusneoformans?
    2006
    Co-Authors: Kyung J. Kwon-chung, Ashok Varma, Correspondence Kyung, J. Kwon-chung
    Abstract:

    concept. Cryptococcus neoformans, the agent of cryptococcosis, had been considered a homogeneous species until 1949 when the existence of four serotypes was revealed based on the antigenic properties of its polysaccharide capsule. Such heterogeneity of the species, however, remained obscure until the two morphologically distinct teleomorphs of C. neoformans were discovered during the mid 1970s. The teleomorph Filobasidiella neoformans was found to be produced by strains of serotype A and D, and Filobasidiella bacillispora was found to be produced by strains of serotype B and C. Ensuing studies revealed numerous differences between the anamorphs of the two Filobasidiella species with regard to their ecology, epidemiology, pathobiology, biochemistry and genetics. At present, the etiologic agent of cryptococcosis is classified into two species, C. neoformans (serotypes A and D) and Cryptococcus gattii (serotypes B and C). Intraspecific genetic diversity has also been revealed as more genotyping methods have been applied for each serotype. As a result, the number of scientifically valid species within C. neoformans has become a controversial issue because of the differing opinions among taxonomists as to the appropriate definition of a species. There are three major species concepts that govern classification of organisms: phenetic (morphologic, phenotypic), biologic (interbreeding) and cladistic (evolutionary, phylogenetic). Classification of the two C. neoformans species has been based on the phenetic as well as the biologic species concept, which is also supported by the cladistic species concept. In this paper, we review and attest to the validity of the current two-species system in light of the three major species concepts