Clinical features and genetic background of the sympatric species Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides americana

Abstract

Introduction The agents of paracoccidioidomycosis, historically identified as Paracoccidioides brasiliensis , are in fact different phylogenetic species. This study aims to evaluate associations between Paracoccidioides phylogenetic species and corresponding clinical data. Methods Paracoccidioides strains from INI/Fiocruz patients (1998–2016) were recovered. Socio-demographic, epidemiological, clinical, serological, therapeutic and prognostic data of the patients were collected to evaluate possible associations of these variables with the fungal species identified through partial sequencing of the ADP-ribosylation factor ( arf ) and the 43-kDa-glycoprotein ( gp43 ) genes. Results Fifty-four fungal strains were recovered from 47 patients, most (72.3%) infected in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Forty-one cases were caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and six by Paracoccidioides americana (former PS2). P . brasiliensis was responsible for severe lymph abdominal forms, whereas patients infected with P . americana presented a high rate of adrenal involvement. However, no statistically significant associations were found for all variables studied. P . americana presented 100% reactivity to immunodiffusion, even when tested against antigens from other species, while negative results were observed in 9 (20%) cases caused by P . brasiliensis , despite being tested against a homologous antigen. Conclusions P . brasiliensis and P . americana are sympatric and share similar clinical features and habitat, where they may compete for similar hosts.

New Insights on Pulmonary Paracoccidioidomycosis

“…16 Clinical aspects of the different species of Paracoccidioides were reported in two case series in 2019. 3,17 De Macedo et al recovered 47 Paracoccidioides strains from Rio de Janeiro (6 cases of infection by P. americana and 41 cases by P. brasiliensis) and found no statistically significant associations regarding sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical, serological, therapeutic, and prognostic variables. 17 Similarly, Hahn et al described the clinical manifestations of 34 patients suffering from PCM caused by P. lutzii and compared those with the classical clinical-epidemiological profile of PCM caused by P. brasiliensis.…”

“…18 Paracoccidioides americana presented 100% reactivity to immunodiffusion, even when tested against antigens from other species. 17 The characteristic morphology of the yeast phase of Paracoccidioides spp. in vivo and in vitro is a globose large mother cell surrounded by several narrow-necked multiple budding yeasts (resembling a "pilot wheel" or a "floating mine") or mother cells presenting only two buds (resembling a "'Mickey Mouse" head).…”

Phylogenetic Species of Paracoccidioides spp. Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Samples in a Hyperendemic Area of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Southeastern Brazil

“…Genotypic studies have indicated that the predominant causative species of PCM in Brazil is P. brasiliensis sensu stricto (S1a and S1b). Its wide geographic occurrence includes particularly the southeast and south regions of Brazil (the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul) [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. On a smaller scale, there are reports of the occurrences of P. americana (PS2) and P. restrepiensis (PS3) (southeast and south regions) in Brazil [ 8 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Its wide geographic occurrence includes particularly the southeast and south regions of Brazil (the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul) [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. On a smaller scale, there are reports of the occurrences of P. americana (PS2) and P. restrepiensis (PS3) (southeast and south regions) in Brazil [ 8 , 11 , 12 ]. Brazil also has the largest endemic area of P. lutzii (midwest and north regions) [ 13 , 14 ].…”

SUMOylation in Human Pathogenic Fungi: Role in Physiology and Virulence

“…A. flavus, besides being the second most prevalent causative agent of invasive aspergillosis after A. fumigatus, also infects several crops and contributes substantially to aflatoxin-related deaths [63]. Other medically important fungi, causing deep-seated infections of visceral organs, such as the lungs, include Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum [64,65]. The SUMOylation process in these important human fungal pathogens is either uncharacterized or yet to be fully elucidated.…”