Cladosporium Species Recovered from Clinical Samples in the United States

Abstract

bCladosporium species are ubiquitous, saprobic, dematiaceous fungi, only infrequently associated with human and animal opportunistic infections. We have studied a large set of Cladosporium isolates recovered from clinical samples in the United States to ascertain the predominant species there in light of recent taxonomic changes in this genus and to determine whether some could possibly be rare potential pathogens. A total of 92 isolates were identified using phenotypic and molecular methods, which included sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and a fragment of the large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), as well as fragments of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1␣) and actin (Act) genes. The most frequent species was Cladosporium halotolerans (14.8%), followed by C. tenuissimum (10.2%), C. subuliforme (5.7%), and C. pseudocladosporioides (4.5%). However, 39.8% of the isolates did not correspond to any known species and were deemed to comprise at least 17 new lineages for Cladosporium. The most frequent anatomic site of isolation was the respiratory tract (54.5%), followed by superficial (28.4%) and deep tissues and fluids (14.7%). Species of the two recently described cladosporiumlike genera Toxicocladosporium and Penidiella are reported for the first time from clinical samples. In vitro susceptibility testing of 92 isolates against nine antifungal drugs showed a variety of results but high activity overall for the azoles, echinocandins, and terbinafine.

The microbiomes of a XVIII century mummy from the castle of Krásna Hôrka (Slovakia) and its surrounding environment

“…Representatives of well-known animal pathogenic fungi were detected, in some instances with high abundance, for example the genus Emmonsia, an emerging human pathogen responsible for adiaspiromycosis, an unusual pulmonary disease, common in rodents, fossorial mammals and their predators (Yang et al, 2017). Toxicocladosporium, Malassezia and Trichosporon, which are associated with dermatitis (Zhang et al, 2011) and can cause serious opportunistic infections (Miceli et al, 2011;Sandoval-Denis et al, 2015), were also detected.…”

Genetic Identification of Dematiaceous Fungi Isolated from Washing Machine in Japan, and Considering of Fungal Removal Methods

“…Cladosporium halotolerans which was isolated from both washing machines is a hygrophil fungi isolated from various environments such as bathrooms and oceans, and were listed as a new species in 2007Zalar et al, 2007 . Although C. cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum were known as the main species of the Cladosporium genus Samson et al, 2004 , with the recent prevalence of genetic analysis, it has become recognized that C. halotolerans is the main Cladosporium in household environments Sandoval-Denis et al, 2015;Bensch et al, 2018 . In indoor environments in Japan, C. halotolerans is also a more dominant Cladosporium than C. sphaerospermum, and the fact C. cladosporioides sensu stricto barely exists in Japanese household environments, is gaining recognition Kobayashi et al, 2012 . As the 3 strains we have analyzed in this study are C. halotolerans, it can be estimated that there is a similar tendency also in washing machines.…”

The role of the microbiome in nonhealing diabetic wounds

“…Cladosporium herbarum, a ubiquitous organism thriving around the globe and an important agent of allergic disease, was the most prevalent species identified across the cohort reported by Kalan et al 86 As a part of the oral, nasal, vaginal, and gut mycobiomes, this fungus has also found in clinical specimens of superficial and deep skin tissue. [93][94][95][96][97][98] The implications of Cladosporium spp. in DFU is still not clear; however, it may lead to new avenues of research for fungal infection in chronic wounds.…”