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Trends in the molecular epidemiology and population genetics of emerging Sporothrix species.

ABSTRACT: Sporothrix (Ophiostomatales) comprises species that are pathogenic to humans and other mammals as well as environmental fungi. Developments in molecular phylogeny have changed our perceptions about the epidemiology, host-association, and virulence of Sporothrix. The classical agent of sporotrichosis, Sporothrix schenckii, now comprises several species nested in a clinical clade with S. brasiliensis, S. globosa, and S. luriei. To gain a more precise view of outbreaks dynamics, structure, and origin of genetic variation within and among populations of Sporothrix, we applied three sets of discriminatory AFLP markers (#3 EcoRI-GA/MseI-TT, #5 EcoRI-GA/MseI-AG, and #6 EcoRI-TA/MseI-AA) and mating-type analysis to a large collection of human, animal and environmental isolates spanning the major endemic areas. A total of 451 polymorphic loci were amplified in vitro from 188 samples, and revealed high polymorphism information content (PIC = 0.1765-0.2253), marker index (MI = 0.0001-0.0002), effective multiplex ratio (E = 15.1720-23.5591), resolving power (Rp = 26.1075-40.2795), discriminating power (D = 0.9766-0.9879), expected heterozygosity (H = 0.1957-0.2588), and mean heterozygosity (H_avp = 0.000007-0.000009), demonstrating the effectiveness of AFLP markers to speciate Sporothrix. Analysis using the program structure indicated three genetic clusters matching S. brasiliensis (population 1), S. schenckii (population 2), and S. globosa (population 3), with the presence of patterns of admixture amongst all populations. AMOVA revealed highly structured clusters (PhiPT = 0.458-0.484, P < 0.0001), with roughly equivalent genetic variability within (46-48 %) and between (52-54 %) populations. Heterothallism was the exclusive mating strategy, and the distributions of MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorphs were not significantly skewed (1:1 ratio) for S. schenckii (χ² = 2.522; P = 0.1122), supporting random mating. In contrast, skewed distributions were found for S. globosa (χ² = 9.529; P = 0.0020) with a predominance of MAT1-1 isolates, and regional differences were highlighted for S. brasiliensis with the overwhelming occurrence of MAT1-2 in Rio de Janeiro (χ² = 14.222; P = 0.0002) and Pernambuco (χ² = 7.364; P = 0.0067), in comparison to a higher prevalence of MAT1-1 in the Rio Grande do Sul (χ² = 7.364; P = 0.0067). Epidemiological trends reveal the geographic expansion of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis due to S. brasiliensis via founder effect. These data support Rio de Janeiro as the centre of origin that has led to the spread of this disease to other regions in Brazil. Our ability to reconstruct the source, spread, and evolution of the ongoing outbreaks from molecular data provides high-quality information for decision-making aimed at mitigating the progression of the disease. Other uses include surveillance, rapid diagnosis, case connectivity, and guiding access to appropriate antifungal treatment.

SUBMITTER: de Carvalho JA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8693333 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundSporotrichosis is a chronic (sub)cutaneous infection caused by thermodimorphic fungi in the order, Ophiostomatales. These fungi are characterized by major differences in routes of transmission, host predilections, species virulence, and susceptibilities to antifungals. Sporothrix species emerge in the form of outbreaks. Large zoonoses and sapronoses are ongoing in Brazil and China, respectively. Current diagnostic methods based on morphology and physiology are inaccurate due to closely related phenotypes with overlapping components between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Sporothrix. There is a critical need for new diagnostic tools that are specific, sensitive, and cost-effective.MethodologyWe developed a panel of novel markers, based on calmodulin (CAL) gene sequences, for the large-scale diagnosis and epidemiology of clinically relevant members of the Sporothrix genus, and its relative, Ophiostoma. We identified specific PCR-based markers for S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii, S. globosa, S. mexicana, S. pallida, and O. stenoceras. We employed a murine model of disseminated sporotrichosis to optimize a PCR assay for detecting Sporothrix in clinical specimens.ResultsPrimer-BLAST searches revealed candidate sequences that were conserved within a single species. Species-specific primers showed no significant homology with human, mouse, or microorganisms outside the Sporothrix genus. The detection limit was 10-100 fg of DNA in a single round of PCR for identifying S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii, S. globosa, S. mexicana, and S. pallida. A simple, direct PCR assay, with conidia as a source of DNA, was effective for rapid, low-cost genotyping. Samples from a murine model of disseminated sporotrichosis confirmed the feasibility of detecting S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii DNA in spleen, liver, lungs, heart, brain, kidney, tail, and feces of infected animals.ConclusionsThis PCR-based method could successfully detect and identify a single species in samples from cultures and from clinical specimens. The method proved to be simple, high throughput, sensitive, and accurate for diagnosing sporotrichosis.

Project description:Sporotrichosis is a cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal disease of humans and other mammals, known to be caused by the Sporothrix schenckii species complex, which comprises four species of clinical importance: S. brasiliensis, S. globosa, S. luriei, and S. schenckii sensu stricto. Of them, S. globosa and S. schenckii s. str. show global distribution and differences in global frequency as causal agents of the disease. In the Americas, only three species are present: S. schenckii s. str., S. brasiliensis (so far, only reported in Brazil), and S. globosa. In Venezuela, since the first case of sporotrichosis reported in 1935, S. schenckii have been considered its unique etiological agent. In the present work, the presence of more than one species in the country was evaluated.By phenotypic key features and molecular phylogeny analyses, we re-examined 30 isolates from diverse Venezuelan regions belonging to the fungi collection of Instituto de Biomedicina, Caracas, Venezuela, and national reference center for skin diseases. All isolates were collected between 1973 and 2013, and maintained in distilled water.Sporotrichosis in Venezuela is mainly caused by S. schenckii s. str. (70%). However, a significant proportion (30%) of sporotrichosis cases in the country can be attributable to S. globosa. A correlation between intraspecific genotypes and clinical presentation is proposed.Our data suggest that sporotrichosis various clinical forms might be related to genetic diversity of isolates, and possibly, to diverse virulence profiles previously reported in the S. schenckii species complex. Sporothrix globosa was found to be the causative agent of 30% of sporotrichosis for the Venezuelan cases re-examined, the highest frequency of this species so far reported in the Americas. The high genetic variability presented by S. schenckii s. str. indicates that species distinction based on phenotypic key features could be a challenging and uncertain task; molecular identification should be always employed.

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Trends in the molecular epidemiology and population genetics of emerging Sporothrix species.

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