Ecoepidemiology of Cryptococcus gattii in Developing Countries

Herkert, Patricia Fernanda; Hagen, Ferry; Pinheiro, Rosângela Lameira; Muro, Marisol Dominguez; Meis, Jacques F.; Queiroz‐Telles, Flávio

doi:10.3390/jof3040062

Cited by 33 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Clinical data from this study showed that almost all patients had no obvious immunodeficiency, except one patient with SLE, which was consistent with the fact that the C. gattii species complex causes infection in immunocompetent hosts [11]. Most strains in Guangxi, southern China had the capabilities to produce melanin and capsule, as well as to undergo sexual reproduction.…”

Section: Plos Neglected Tropical Diseasessupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Cryptococcosis is a global and invasive systematic mycosis caused by C. gattii/neoformans species complexes, leading to morbidity and mortality in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, such as those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or those undergoing organ transplantation [11]. Infections due to C. neoformans species complex occur worldwide while cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii species complex was traditionally considered an endemic disease, and associated with tropical and subtropical climates [11]. However, the outbreaks of C. deuterogattii in humans and a wide range of mammals in Vancouver Island and the PNW of the USA demonstrates that the fungus has adapted to environments beyond the endemic (sub)tropical regions [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China

et al. 2020

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The emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infections due to the C. gattii species complex in China have rarely been reported. In this study, we studied eleven clinical strains of the C. gattii species complex isolated from Guangxi, southern China. The genetic identity and variability of these isolates were analyzed via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates and global isolates were evaluated. The mating type, physiological features and antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were also characterized. Among the eleven isolates, six belonged to C. deuterogattii, while five belonged to C. gattii sensu stricto. The C. deuterogattii strains from Guangxi, southern China were genetically variable and clustered with different clinical isolates from Brazil. All strains were MATα, and three C. deuterogattii isolates (GX0104, GX0105 and GX0147) were able to undergo sexual reproduction. Moreover, most strains had capsule and were capable of melanin production when compared to the outbreak strain from Canada. Most isolates were susceptible to antifungal drugs; yet one of eleven immunocompetent patients died of cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. deuterogattii (GX0147). Our study indicated that the highly pathogenic C. deuterogattii may be emerging in southern China, and effective nationwide surveillance of C. gattii species complex infection is necessary.

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Section: Plos Neglected Tropical Diseasessupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China

et al. 2020

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“…In general, differences among them are noted for in vitro antifungal susceptibility. From the pre‐HIV era until the present, C. gattii has shown higher MICs to antifungals compared to C. neoformans 5,33,35,36,41 . C. deuterogattii clinical isolates follow this trend exhibiting higher MIC for fluconazole ( P = .0101) and itraconazole ( P = .0018) than C. neoformans clinical isolates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular typing, in vitro susceptibility and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex clinical isolates from south‐eastern Brazil

Barião

Tonani

Cocio

et al. 2020

Mycoses

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Summary Background Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattii species complex is composed of encapsulated yeast species that are causative agents of cryptococcosis. The characterisation of pathogenic Cryptococcus species provides useful data for epidemiological studies as well as the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients. Objectives This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence of 72 clinical strains isolated from cryptococcosis cases between 2012 and 2017 in a tertiary reference hospital in south‐eastern Brazil. Methods Species and molecular types were molecularly assessed by PCR and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the URA5 gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI protocols. The virulence was studied in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Results The most frequently isolated strain was C. neoformans molecular type VNI (61/72; 84.7%), although C. neoformans molecular type VNII (3/72; 4.2%) was also isolated. Additionally, C. deuterogattii molecular type VGII (8/72; 11.1%) was present, but most frequently from non‐HIV‐infected patients. Non‐wild‐type phenotype to the antifungals was observed in 26.4% (19/72) of the C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates, and the latter demonstrated higher MIC to fluconazole and itraconazole than C. neoformans clinical isolates. Finally, the virulence of C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii clinical isolates was diverse in G mellonella larvae and uncorrelated with the virulence factors of melanin and capsule. Conclusions The assessment of the spread of cryptococcal species and molecular types as well as the pattern of corresponding antifungal susceptibility and virulence aids in surveil the emergence of resistant strains, ensuring more accurate management of the cryptococcal infection.

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“…Several yeast species have adaptations to face phagocytosis, as well as the ability to form biofilms together with bacteria (Modrzewska & Kurnatowski, ; Holland et al, ; Glöckner & Cornely, ; Priest & Lorenz, ). Cryptococcus is a yeast‐like member of the Tremellomycetes that causes pneumonia and meningitis (Chaturvedi & Chaturvedi, ; Kwon‐Chung et al, ; Srikanta, Santiago‐Tirado & Doering, ; Dylag, ; Herkert et al, ). The fungus presents a mutinucleated and highly polyploid titan cell that seems to avoid phagocytosis thanks to its sheer size, and from which apparently regular‐sized cells emerge and colonize.…”

Section: Fungi and Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal evolution: major ecological adaptations and evolutionary transitions

2019

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Fungi are a highly diverse group of heterotrophic eukaryotes characterized by the absence of phagotrophy and the presence of a chitinous cell wall. While unicellular fungi are far from rare, part of the evolutionary success of the group resides in their ability to grow indefinitely as a cylindrical multinucleated cell (hypha). Armed with these morphological traits and with an extremely high metabolical diversity, fungi have conquered numerous ecological niches and have shaped a whole world of interactions with other living organisms. Herein we survey the main evolutionary and ecological processes that have guided fungal diversity. We will first review the ecology and evolution of the zoosporic lineages and the process of terrestrialization, as one of the major evolutionary transitions in this kingdom. Several plausible scenarios have been proposed for fungal terrestralization and we here propose a new scenario, which considers icy environments as a transitory niche between water and emerged land. We then focus on exploring the main ecological relationships of Fungi with other organisms (other fungi, protozoans, animals and plants), as well as the origin of adaptations to certain specialized ecological niches within the group (lichens, black fungi and yeasts). Throughout this review we use an evolutionary and comparative-genomics perspective to understand fungal ecological diversity. Finally, we highlight the importance of genome-enabled inferences to envision plausible narratives and scenarios for important transitions.

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Ecoepidemiology of Cryptococcus gattii in Developing Countries

Cited by 33 publications

References 115 publications

Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China

Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China

Molecular typing, in vitro susceptibility and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex clinical isolates from south‐eastern Brazil

Fungal evolution: major ecological adaptations and evolutionary transitions

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