Revisiting the Pneumocystis host specificity paradigm and transmission ecology in wild Southeast Asian rodents

Latinne, Alice; Chen, Hsuan Wien; Kuo, Chun-Hung; Lorica, Renee P.; Singleton, Grant R.; Stuart, Alex; Malbas, Fedelino F.; Demanche, Christine; Chabé, Magali; Michaux, Johan; Morand, Sergé

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104978

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…The disparity of actual versus sampled intrageneric mammal diversity is likely creating a sampling artifact, inflating the inferred specificity of Pneumocystis in prior analyses [ 22 ]. Assumptions of strict host specificity based on experiments in which Pneumocystis could not be transmitted between laboratory mice and laboratory rats are now being challenged by the further sampling of the genera Mus and Rattus [ 6 , 20 , 23 ]. Thus, far the evidence for multi-host Pneumocystis , in this and other work [ 23 ], is strongest in rodent hosts, which may be indicative of less strict host specificity among rapidly diversifying or closely related hosts [ 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assumptions of strict host specificity based on experiments in which Pneumocystis could not be transmitted between laboratory mice and laboratory rats are now being challenged by the further sampling of the genera Mus and Rattus [ 6 , 20 , 23 ]. Thus, far the evidence for multi-host Pneumocystis , in this and other work [ 23 ], is strongest in rodent hosts, which may be indicative of less strict host specificity among rapidly diversifying or closely related hosts [ 22 ]. Such a question should be addressed by further research when sampling is improved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the true degree of host specificity in this genus has not been sufficiently tested, and evidence suggests some Pneumocystis species may be shared by closely related hosts, such as within mammalian genera [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. This evidence has led researchers to reassess assumptions of single host specificity [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Unfortunately, we still have little direct evidence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the potential diversity within Pneumocystis , species discovery in the genus has been slow, exemplified by the fact that the recently named Pneumocystis canis collected from domestic dogs [ 14 ] is the first described species since the rabbit-inhabiting Pneumocystis orcytolagi in 2006 [ 13 ]. Meanwhile, several papers have been published describing genetic sequences of novel Pneumocystis lineages taken from diverse mammal groups, including primates, bats, and rodents, with mitochondrial genetic divergence among these lineages commonly falling between 10 and 30% [ 20 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. None of the novel lineages from these publications have been described as new species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting Species Boundaries and Assessing Undescribed Diversity in Pneumocystis, an Obligate Lung Symbiont

Babb-Biernacki

Esselstyn

Doyle

2022

JoF

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Far more biodiversity exists in Fungi than has been described, or could be described in several lifetimes, given current rates of species discovery. Although this problem is widespread taxonomically, our knowledge of animal-associated fungi is especially lacking. Fungi in the genus Pneumocystis are obligate inhabitants of mammal lungs, and they have been detected in a phylogenetically diverse array of species representing many major mammal lineages. The hypothesis that Pneumocystis cospeciate with their mammalian hosts suggests that thousands of Pneumocystis species may exist, potentially equal to the number of mammal species. However, only six species have been described, and the true correspondence of Pneumocystis diversity to host species boundaries is unclear. Here, we use molecular species delimitation to estimate the boundaries of Pneumocystis species sampled from 55 mammal species representing eight orders. Our results suggest that Pneumocystis species often colonize several closely related mammals, especially those in the same genus. Using the newly estimated ratio of fungal to host diversity, we estimate ≈4600 to 6250 Pneumocystis species inhabit the 6495 currently recognized extant mammal species. Additionally, we review the literature and find that only 240 (~3.7%) mammal species have been screened for Pneumocystis, and many detected Pneumocystis lineages are not represented by any genetic data. Although crude, our findings challenge the dominant perspective of strict specificity of Pneumocystis to their mammal hosts and highlight an abundance of undescribed diversity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting Species Boundaries and Assessing Undescribed Diversity in Pneumocystis, an Obligate Lung Symbiont

Babb-Biernacki

Esselstyn

Doyle

2022

JoF

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“…The fungal genus Pneumocystis encompasses a myriad of species that colonize the lungs of mammals ( 1 ). Each Pneumocystis species is specific to a single mammalian species, although exceptions exist in small mammals ( 2 ). Genome sequencing revealed the obligate parasitism of these fungi because of the absence of many genes required for essential metabolic pathways.…”

Section: Opinion/hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%