Chromosomal Polymorphism in the Sporothrix schenckii Complex

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a polymorphic disease caused by a complex of thermodimorphic fungi including S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii sensu stricto (s. str.), S. globosa and S. luriei. Humans and animals can acquire the disease through traumatic inoculation of propagules into the subcutaneous tissue. Despite the importance of sporotrichosis as a disease that can take epidemic proportions there are just a few studies dealing with genetic polymorphisms and genomic architecture of these pathogens. The main objective of this study was to investigate chromosomal polymorphisms and genomic organization among different isolates in the S. schenckii complex. We used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to separate chromosomal fragments of isolated DNA, followed by probe hybridization. Nine loci (β-tubulin, calmodulin, catalase, chitin synthase 1, Internal Transcribed Spacer, Pho85 cyclin-dependent kinase, protein kinase C Ss-2, G protein α subunit and topoisomerase II) were mapped onto chromosomal bands of Brazilian isolates of S. schenckii s. str. and S. brasiliensis. Our results revealed the presence of intra and interspecies polymorphisms in chromosome number and size. The gene hybridization analysis showed that closely related species in phylogenetic analysis had similar genetic organizations, mostly due to identification of synteny groups in chromosomal bands of similar sizes. Our results bring new insights into the genetic diversity and genome organization among pathogenic species in the Sporothrix schenckii complex.

Asexual Propagation of a Virulent Clone Complex in a Human and Feline Outbreak of Sporotrichosis

“…5D to F). Recently, the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile of S. brasiliensis isolates showed less genome variability than S. schenckii isolates, indicating lower genomic rearrangements in S. brasiliensis than in S. schenckii (66).…”

Whole-Genome Sequencing andIn SilicoAnalysis of Two Strains ofSporothrix globosa

“…A substantial body of scientific literature produced in recent years highlighted important phenotypic and genetic differences not only among the different clades with high or reduced pathogenic potential but also among closely related taxa belonging to a specific group (Fernandes et al 2013; Romeo and Criseo 2013; Sasaki et al 2014; Zhao et al 2015). In fact the degree of virulence observed among members of the pathogenic clade can be defined as S. brasiliensis > S. schenckii > S. luriei > S. globosa (Arrillaga-Moncrieff et al 2009; Fernández-Silva et al 2012).…”

Thermally Dimorphic Human Fungal Pathogens—Polyphyletic Pathogens with a Convergent Pathogenicity Trait

“…Gene targeting has not been developed yet. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis has been used to examine chromosomal polymorphism in isolates (Sasaki et al 2014). There are robust cellbased and mouse models for assessing virulence (Hachisuka and Sasai 1981;Kennedy et al 1982;Dickerson et al 1983).…”