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5. Genotypes and population genetics of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii species complexes in Europe and the mediterranean area

Author

Cogliati, M. Desnos-Ollivier, M. McCormick-Smith, I. Rickerts, V. Ferreira-Paim, K. Meyer, W. Boekhout, T. Hagen, F. Theelen, B. Inácio, J. Alonso, B. Colom, M.F. Trilles, L. Montagna, M.T. De Donno, A. Susever, S. Ergin, C. Velegraki, A. Ellabib, M.S. Nardoni, S. Macci, C. Trovato, L. Dipineto, L. Akcaglar, S. Mlinaric-Missoni, E. Bertout, S. Vencá, A.C.F. Sampaio, A.C. Criseo, G. Ranque, S. Çerikçioğlu, N. Marchese, A. Vezzulli, L. Ilkit, M. Pasquale, V. Polacheck, I. Lockhart, S.R.

Abstract

A total of 476 European isolates (310 Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, 150 C. neoformans var. neoformans, and 16 C. gattii species complex) from both clinical and environmental sources were analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses were performed. Sequence analysis identified 74 sequence types among C. neoformans var. neoformans (VNIV), 65 among C. neoformans var. grubii (56 VNI, 8 VNII, 1 VNB), and 5 among the C. gattii species complex (4 VGI and 1 VGIV) isolates. ST23 was the most frequent genotype (22%) among VNI isolates which were mostly grouped in a large clonal cluster including 50% of isolates. Among VNIV isolates, a predominant genotype was not identified. A high percentage of autochthonous STs were identified in both VNI (71%) and VNIV (96%) group of isolates. The 16 European C. gattii species complex isolates analyzed in the present study originated all from the environment and all belonged to a large cluster endemic in the Mediterranean area. Population genetic analysis confirmed that VNI group of isolates were characterized by low variability and clonal expansion while VNIV by a higher variability and a number of recombination events. However, when VNI and VNIV environmental isolates were compared, they showed a similar population structure with a high percentage of shared mutations and the absence of fixed mutations. Also linkage disequilibrium analysis reveals differences between clinical and environmental isolates showing a key role of PLB1 allele combinations in host infection as well as the key role of LAC1 allele combinations for survival of the fungus in the environment. The present study shows that genetic comparison of clinical and environmental isolates represents a first step to understand the genetic characteristics that cause the shift of some genotypes from a saprophytic to a parasitic life style. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Published
2019

6. Genotypes and population genetics of cryptococcus neoformans and

Author

Cogliati, M, Desnos-Ollivier, M, McCormick-Smith, I, Rickerts, V, Ferreira-Paim, K, Meyer, W, Boekhout, T, Hagen, F, Theelen, B, Inacio, J, Alonso, B, Colom, MF, Trilles, L, Montagna, MT, De Donno, A, Susever, S, Ergin, C, Velegraki, A, Ellabib, MS, Nardoni, S, Macci, C, Trovato, L, Dipineto, L, Akcaglar, S, Mlinaric-Missoni, E, Bertout, S, Venca, ACF, Sampaio, AC, Criseoa, G, Ranque, S, Cerikcioglu, N, Marchese, A, Vezzulli, L, Ilkit, M, Pasquale, V, Polacheck, I, and Lockhart, SR

Subjects
Europe, Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, MLST, Population genetics
Abstract

A total of 476 European isolates (310 Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, 150 C. neoformans var. neoformans, and 16 C. gattii species complex) from both clinical and environmental sources were analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses were performed. Sequence analysis identified 74 sequence types among C. neoformans var. neoformans (VNIV), 65 among C. neoformans var. grubii (56 VNI, 8 VNII, 1 VNB), and 5 among the C. gattii species complex (4 VGI and 1 VGIV) isolates. ST23 was the most frequent genotype (22%) among VNI isolates which were mostly grouped in a large clonal cluster including 50% of isolates. Among VNIV isolates, a predominant genotype was not identified. A high percentage of autochthonous STs were identified in both VNI (71%) and VNIV (96%) group of isolates. The 16 European C. gattii species complex isolates analyzed in the present study originated all from the environment and all belonged to a large cluster endemic in the Mediterranean area. Population genetic analysis confirmed that VNI group of isolates were characterized by low variability and clonal expansion while VNIV by a higher variability and a number of recombination events. However, when VNI and VNIV environmental isolates were compared, they showed a similar population structure with a high percentage of shared mutations and the absence of fixed mutations. Also linkage disequilibrium analysis reveals differences between clinical and environmental isolates showing a key role of PLB1 allele combinations in host infection as well as the key role of LAC1 allele combinations for survival of the fungus in the environment. The present study shows that genetic comparison of clinical and environmental isolates represents a first step to understand the genetic characteristics that cause the shift of some genotypes from a saprophytic to a parasitic life style. C1 [Cogliati, Massimo] Univ Milan, Dip Sci Biomed Sallee, Via Pascal 36, I-20133 Milan, Italy. [Desnos-Ollivier, Marie] CNRS, UMR2000, Natl Reference Ctr Invas Mycoses & Antifungal, Inst Pasteur,Mol Mycol Unit, Paris, France. [McCormick-Smith, Ilka; Rickerts, Volker] Robert Koch Inst, Berlin, Germany. [Ferreira-Paim, Kennio; Meyer, Wieland] Univ Sydney, Marie Bashier Inst Emerging Infect Dis & Biosecur, Westmead Inst Med Res,Sydney Med Sch,Westmead Cli, Mol Mycol Res Lab,Ctr Infect Dis,Fac Med & Hlth,W, Westmead, NSW, Australia. [Ferreira-Paim, Kennio] Univ Fed Triangulo Mineiro, Dept Microbiol, Uberaba, MG, Brazil. [Boekhout, Teun; Hagen, Ferry; Theelen, Bart] Westerdijk Fungal Biodivers Inst, Utrecht, Netherlands. [Boekhout, Teun] Univ Amsterdam, IBED, Amsterdam, Netherlands. [Inacio, Joao; Alonso, Beatriz] Univ Brighton, Sch Pharm & Biomol Sci, Brighton, E Sussex, England. [Alonso, Beatriz] Hosp Gegorio Maranon, Inst Invest Sanitaria Gregorio Maranon IisGM, Madrid, Spain. [Colom, Maria F.] Univ Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain. [Trilles, Luciana] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. [Montagna, Maria Teresa] Univ Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy. [De Donno, Antonella] Univ Salento, DiSTeBA, Lecce, Italy. [Susever, Serdar] Cyprus Near East Univ, Nicosia, Cyprus. [Ergin, Cagri] Pamukkale Univ, Denizli, Turkey. [Velegraki, Aristea] Univ Athens, Med Sch, Athens, Greece. [Ellabib, Mohamed S.] Univ Tripoli, Med Coll, Tripoli, Libya. [Nardoni, Simona] Univ Pisa, Pisa, Italy. [Macci, Cristina] CNR, Res Inst Terr Ecosystems IRET, Pisa, Italy. [Trovato, Laura] Univ Catania, Catania, Italy. [Dipineto, Ludovico] Univ Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. [Akcaglar, Sevim] Uludag Univ, Sch Med, Bursa, Turkey. [Mlinaric-Missoni, Emilija] Croatian Natl Inst Publ Hlth, Zagreb, Croatia. [Bertout, Sebastien] Univ Montpellier, Unite Mixte Int Rech Translat Infect VIH & Malad, Montpellier, France. [Venca, Ana C. F.] Inst Higiene & Med Trop, Lisbon, Portugal. [Sampaio, Ana C.] Univ Tras os Montes & Alto Douro, CITAB, Quinta Prados, Vila Real, Portugal. [Criseoa, Giuseppe] Univ Messina, Dept Chem Biol Pharmaceut & Environm Sci, Messina, Italy. [Ranque, Stephane] Aix Marseille Univ, IHU Mediterranee Infect, AP HM, IRD,SSA,VITROME, Marseille, France. [Cerikcioglu, Nilgun] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Istanbul, Turkey. [Marchese, Anna] Univ Genoa, IRCCS Policlin San Martino Genova, Sez Microbiol DISC, Genoa, Italy. [Vezzulli, Luigi] Univ Genoa, Dipartimento Sci Terra Ambiente & Vita DISTAV, Genoa, Italy. [Ilkit, Macit] Univ Cukurova Saricam, Adana, Turkey. [Pasquale, Vincenzo] Univ Napoli Parthenope, Naples, Italy. [Polacheck, Itzhack] Hadassah Hebrew Univ, Med Ctr, Jerusalem, Israel. [Lockhart, Shawn R.] Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Atlanta, GA USA.

Published
2019

8. Corrigendum: Environmental distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii around the Mediterranean basin [FEMS, (2016), 16, 4] doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsyr/fow045

Author

Cogliati M., D'Amicis R., Zani A., Montagna M. T., Caggiano G., De Giglio O., Balbino S., De Donno A., Serio F., Susever S., Ergin C., Velegraki A., Ellabib M. S., Nardoni S., Macci C., Oliveri S., Trovato L., Dipineto L., Rickerts V., McCormick-Smith I., Akcaglar S., Tore O., Mlinaric-Missoni E., Bertout S., Mallie M., Martins M. L., Venca A. C. F., Vieira M. L., Sampaio A. C., Pereira C., Criseo G., Romeo O., Ranque S., Al-Yasiri M. H. Y., Kaya M., Cerikcioglu N., Marchese A., Vezzulli L., Ilkit M., Desnos-Ollivier M., Pasquale V., Korem M., Polacheck I., Scopa A., Meyer W., Ferreira-Paim K., Hagen F., Theelen B., Boekhout T., Lockhart S. R., Tintelnot K., Tortorano A. M., Dromer F., Varma A., Kwon-Chung K. J., Inacio J., Alonso B., Colom M. F., Cogliati, M., D'Amicis, R., Zani, A., Montagna, M. T., Caggiano, G., De Giglio, O., Balbino, S., De Donno, A., Serio, F., Susever, S., Ergin, C., Velegraki, A., Ellabib, M. S., Nardoni, S., Macci, C., Oliveri, S., Trovato, L., Dipineto, L., Rickerts, V., McCormick-Smith, I., Akcaglar, S., Tore, O., Mlinaric-Missoni, E., Bertout, S., Mallie, M., Martins, M. L., Venca, A. C. F., Vieira, M. L., Sampaio, A. C., Pereira, C., Criseo, G., Romeo, O., Ranque, S., Al-Yasiri, M. H. Y., Kaya, M., Cerikcioglu, N., Marchese, A., Vezzulli, L., Ilkit, M., Desnos-Ollivier, M., Pasquale, V., Korem, M., Polacheck, I., Scopa, A., Meyer, W., Ferreira-Paim, K., Hagen, F., Theelen, B., Boekhout, T., Lockhart, S. R., Tintelnot, K., Tortorano, A. M., Dromer, F., Varma, A., Kwon-Chung, K. J., Inacio, J., Alonso, B., and Colom, M. F.

Abstract

The original article published in FEMS Yeast Research Vol. 16. Iss. 4; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsyr/fow045 This paper has been updated to correct a spelling error concerning an author name. It previously showed as Giuseppe Griseo, however the correct spelling is Giuseppe Criseo.

Published
2016

9. Fundamental niche prediction of the pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Europe

Author

Cogliati, M. Puccianti, E. Montagna, M.T. De Donno, A. Susever, S. Ergin, C. Velegraki, A. Ellabib, M.S. Nardoni, S. Macci, C. Trovato, L. Dipineto, L. Rickerts, V. Akcaglar, S. Mlinaric-Missoni, E. Bertout, S. Vencà, A.C.F. Sampaio, A.C. Criseo, G. Ranque, S. Çerikçioğlu, N. Marchese, A. Vezzulli, L. Ilkit, M. Desnos-Ollivier, M. Pasquale, V. Polacheck, I. Scopa, A. Meyer, W. Ferreira-Paim, K. Hagen, F. Boekhout, T. Dromer, F. Varma, A. Kwon-Chung, K.J. Inácio, J. Colom, M.F.

Subjects
parasitic diseases, bacterial infections and mycoses
Abstract

Fundamental niche prediction of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Europe is an important tool to understand where these pathogenic yeasts have a high probability to survive in the environment and therefore to identify the areas with high risk of infection. In this study, occurrence data for C. neoformans and C. gattii were compared by MaxEnt software with several bioclimatic conditions as well as with soil characteristics and land use. The results showed that C. gattii distribution can be predicted with high probability along the Mediterranean coast. The analysis of variables showed that its distribution is limited by low temperatures during the coldest season, and by heavy precipitations in the driest season. C. neoformans var. grubii is able to colonize the same areas of C. gattii but is more tolerant to cold winter temperatures and summer precipitations. In contrast, the C. neoformans var. neoformans map was completely different. The best conditions for its survival were displayed in sub-continental areas and not along the Mediterranean coasts. In conclusion, we produced for the first time detailed prediction maps of the species and varieties of the C. neoformans and C. gattii species complex in Europe and Mediterranean area. © 2017 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Published
2017

10. Fundamental niche prediction of the pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus

Author

Cogliati, M, Puccianti, E, Montagna, MT, De Donno, A, Susever, S, Ergin, C, Velegraki, A, Ellabib, MS, Nardoni, S, Macci, C, Trovato, L, Dipineto, L, Rickerts, V, Akcaglar, S, Mlinaric-Missoni, E, Bertout, S, Venca, ACF, Sampaio, AC, Criseo, G, Ranque, S, Cerikcioglu, N, Marchese, A, Vezzulli, L, Ilkit, M, Desnos-Ollivier, M, Pasquale, V, Polacheck, I, Scopa, A, Meyer, W, Ferreira-Paim, K, Hagen, F, Boekhout, T, Dromer, F, Varma, A, Kwon-Chung, KJ, Inacio, J, and Colom, MF

Subjects
parasitic diseases, bacterial infections and mycoses
Abstract

Fundamental niche prediction of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Europe is an important tool to understand where these pathogenic yeasts have a high probability to survive in the environment and therefore to identify the areas with high risk of infection. In this study, occurrence data for C. neoformans and C. gattii were compared by MaxEnt software with several bioclimatic conditions as well as with soil characteristics and land use. The results showed that C. gattii distribution can be predicted with high probability along the Mediterranean coast. The analysis of variables showed that its distribution is limited by low temperatures during the coldest season, and by heavy precipitations in the driest season. C. neoformans var. grubii is able to colonize the same areas of C. gattii but is more tolerant to cold winter temperatures and summer precipitations. In contrast, the C. neoformans var. neoformans map was completely different. The best conditions for its survival were displayed in sub-continental areas and not along the Mediterranean coasts. In conclusion, we produced for the first time detailed prediction maps of the species and varieties of the C. neoformans and C. gattii species complex in Europe and Mediterranean area.

Published
2017

11. Importance of Resolving Fungal Nomenclature: the Case of Multiple Pathogenic Species in the Cryptococcus Genus

Author

Hagen, F., Lumbsch, H.T., Arsenijevic, V.A., Badali, H., Bertout, S., Billmyre, R.B., Bragulat, M.R., Cabanes, F.J., Carbia, M., Chakrabarti, A, Chaturvedi, S., Chaturvedi, V., Chen, M., Chowdhary, A., Colom, M.F., Cornely, O.A., Crous, P.W., Cuetara, M.S., Diaz, M.R., Espinel-Ingroff, A., Fakhim, H., Falk, R., Fang, W., Herkert, P.F., Rodriguez, C., Fraser, J.A., Gene, J., Guarro, J., Idnurm, A., Illnait-Zaragozi, M.T., Khan, Z., Khayhan, K., Kolecka, A., Kurtzman, C.P., Lagrou, K., Liao, W., Linares, C., Meis, J.F.G.M., Nielsen, K., Nyazika, T.K., Pan, W., Pekmezovic, M., Polacheck, I., Posteraro, B., Queiroz Telles, F.F. de, Romeo, O., Sanchez, M., Sampaio, A., Sanguinetti, M., Sriburee, P., Sugita, T., Taj-Aldeen, S.J., Takashima, M., Taylor, J.W., Theelen, B., Tomazin, R., Verweij, P.E., Wahyuningsih, R., Wang, P., Boekhout, T., Hagen, F., Lumbsch, H.T., Arsenijevic, V.A., Badali, H., Bertout, S., Billmyre, R.B., Bragulat, M.R., Cabanes, F.J., Carbia, M., Chakrabarti, A, Chaturvedi, S., Chaturvedi, V., Chen, M., Chowdhary, A., Colom, M.F., Cornely, O.A., Crous, P.W., Cuetara, M.S., Diaz, M.R., Espinel-Ingroff, A., Fakhim, H., Falk, R., Fang, W., Herkert, P.F., Rodriguez, C., Fraser, J.A., Gene, J., Guarro, J., Idnurm, A., Illnait-Zaragozi, M.T., Khan, Z., Khayhan, K., Kolecka, A., Kurtzman, C.P., Lagrou, K., Liao, W., Linares, C., Meis, J.F.G.M., Nielsen, K., Nyazika, T.K., Pan, W., Pekmezovic, M., Polacheck, I., Posteraro, B., Queiroz Telles, F.F. de, Romeo, O., Sanchez, M., Sampaio, A., Sanguinetti, M., Sriburee, P., Sugita, T., Taj-Aldeen, S.J., Takashima, M., Taylor, J.W., Theelen, B., Tomazin, R., Verweij, P.E., Wahyuningsih, R., Wang, P., and Boekhout, T.

Abstract

Contains fulltext : 177602.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), Cryptococcosis is a major fungal disease caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes. After more than 15 years of molecular genetic and phenotypic studies and much debate, a proposal for a taxonomic revision was made. The two varieties within C. neoformans were raised to species level, and the same was done for five genotypes within C. gattii. In a recent perspective (K. J. Kwon-Chung et al., mSphere 2:e00357-16, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00357-16), it was argued that this taxonomic proposal was premature and without consensus in the community. Although the authors of the perspective recognized the existence of genetic diversity, they preferred the use of the informal nomenclature "C. neoformans species complex" and "C. gattii species complex." Here we highlight the advantage of recognizing these seven species, as ignoring these species will impede deciphering further biologically and clinically relevant differences between them, which may in turn delay future clinical advances.

Published
2017

12. Importance of Resolving Fungal Nomenclature: the Case of Multiple Pathogenic Species in the Cryptococcus Genus

Author

Lorenz, M, Hagen, F, Lumbsch, HT, Arsenijevic, VA, Badali, H, Bertout, S, Billmyre, RB, Rosa Bragulat, M, Javier Cabanes, F, Carbia, M, Chakrabarti, A, Chaturvedi, S, Chaturvedi, V, Chen, M, Chowdhary, A, Colom, M-F, Cornely, OA, Crous, PW, Cuetara, MS, Diaz, MR, Espinel-Ingroff, A, Fakhim, H, Falk, R, Fang, W, Herkert, PF, Ferrer Rodriguez, C, Fraser, JA, Gene, J, Guarro, J, Idnurm, A, Illnait-Zaragozi, M-T, Khan, Z, Khayhan, K, Kolecka, A, Kurtzman, CP, Lagrou, K, Liao, W, Linares, C, Meis, JF, Nielsen, K, Nyazika, TK, Pan, W, Pekmezovic, M, Polacheck, I, Posteraro, B, Telles Filho, FDQ, Romeo, O, Sanchez, M, Sampaio, A, Sanguinetti, M, Sriburee, P, Sugita, T, Taj-Aldeen, SJ, Takashima, M, Taylor, JW, Theelen, B, Tomazin, R, Verweij, PE, Wahyuningsih, R, Wang, P, Boekhoutiii, T, Lorenz, M, Hagen, F, Lumbsch, HT, Arsenijevic, VA, Badali, H, Bertout, S, Billmyre, RB, Rosa Bragulat, M, Javier Cabanes, F, Carbia, M, Chakrabarti, A, Chaturvedi, S, Chaturvedi, V, Chen, M, Chowdhary, A, Colom, M-F, Cornely, OA, Crous, PW, Cuetara, MS, Diaz, MR, Espinel-Ingroff, A, Fakhim, H, Falk, R, Fang, W, Herkert, PF, Ferrer Rodriguez, C, Fraser, JA, Gene, J, Guarro, J, Idnurm, A, Illnait-Zaragozi, M-T, Khan, Z, Khayhan, K, Kolecka, A, Kurtzman, CP, Lagrou, K, Liao, W, Linares, C, Meis, JF, Nielsen, K, Nyazika, TK, Pan, W, Pekmezovic, M, Polacheck, I, Posteraro, B, Telles Filho, FDQ, Romeo, O, Sanchez, M, Sampaio, A, Sanguinetti, M, Sriburee, P, Sugita, T, Taj-Aldeen, SJ, Takashima, M, Taylor, JW, Theelen, B, Tomazin, R, Verweij, PE, Wahyuningsih, R, Wang, P, and Boekhoutiii, T

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a major fungal disease caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes. After more than 15 years of molecular genetic and phenotypic studies and much debate, a proposal for a taxonomic revision was made. The two varieties within C. neoformans were raised to species level, and the same was done for five genotypes within C. gattii. In a recent perspective (K. J. Kwon-Chung et al., mSphere 2:e00357-16, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00357-16), it was argued that this taxonomic proposal was premature and without consensus in the community. Although the authors of the perspective recognized the existence of genetic diversity, they preferred the use of the informal nomenclature "C. neoformans species complex" and "C. gattii species complex." Here we highlight the advantage of recognizing these seven species, as ignoring these species will impede deciphering further biologically and clinically relevant differences between them, which may in turn delay future clinical advances.

Published
2017

13. Environmental distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii around the Mediterranean basin

Author

Cogliati, M, D'Amicis, R, Zani, A, Montagna, Mt, Caggiano, G, De Giglio, O, Balbino, S, De Donno, A, Serio, F, Susever, S, Ergin, C, Velegraki, A, Ellabib, Ms, Nardoni, S, Macci, C, Oliveri, Salvatore, Trovato, L, Dipineto, L, Rickerts, V, McCormick Smith, I, Akcaglar, S, Tore, O, Mlinaric Missoni, E, Bertout, S, Mallié, M, Martins, Md, Vencà, Ac, Vieira, Ml, Sampaio, Ac, Pereira, C, Griseo, G, Romeo, O, Ranque, S, Al Yasiri MH, Kaya, M, Cerikcioglu, N, Marchese, A, Vezzulli, L, Ilkit, M, Desnos Ollivier, M, Pasquale, V, Korem, M, Polacheck, I, Scopa, A, Meyer, W, Ferreira Paim, K, Hagen, F, Theelen, B, Boekhout, T, Lockhart, Sr, Tintelnot, K, Tortorano, Am, Dromer, F, Varma, A, Kwon Chung KJ, Inácio, J, Alonso, B, and Colom, M. F.

Published
2016

14. Environmental distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii around the Mediterranean basin

Author

Cogliati M, D'Amicis R, Zani A, Montagna MT, Caggiano G, De Giglio O, Balbino S, De Donno A, Serio F, Susever S, Ergin C, Velegraki A, Ellabib MS, Nardoni S, Macci C, Oliveri S, Trovato L, Dipineto L, Rickerts V, McCormick-Smith I, Akcaglar S, Tore O, Mlinaric-Missoni E, Bertout S, Mallié M, Martins MD, Vencà AC, Vieira ML, Sampaio AC, Pereira C, Criseo G, Romeo O, Ranque S, Al-Yasiri MH, Kaya M, Cerikcioglu N, Marchese A, Vezzulli L, Ilkit M, Desnos-Ollivier M, Pasquale V, Korem M, and Polacheck I

Subjects
Cryptococcus gattii/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification, Cryptococcus neoformans/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification, Environmental Microbiology, Genotype, Mediterranean Region, Molecular Typing, Mycological Typing Techniques, Trees/*microbiology
Abstract

In order to elucidate the distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii in the Mediterranean basin, an extensive environmental survey was carried out during 2012-2015. A total of 302 sites located in 12 countries were sampled, 6436 samples from 3765 trees were collected and 5% of trees were found to be colonized by cryptococcal yeasts. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from 177 trees and C. gattii from 13. Cryptococcus neoformans colonized 27% of Ceratonia, 10% of Olea, Platanus and Prunus trees and a lower percentage of other tree genera. The 13 C. gattii isolates were collected from five Eucalyptus, four Ceratonia, two Pinus and two Olea trees. Cryptococcus neoformans was distributed all around the Mediterranean basin, whereas C. gattii was isolated in Greece, Southern Italy and Spain, in agreement with previous findings from both clinical and environmental sources. Among C. neoformans isolates, VNI was the prevalent molecular type but VNII, VNIV and VNIII hybrid strains were also isolated. With the exception of a single VGIV isolate, all C. gattii isolates were VGI. The results confirmed the presence of both Cryptococcus species in the Mediterranean environment, and showed that both carob and olive trees represent an important niche for these yeasts.

Published
2016

15. Environmental survey of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii in European and Mediterranean area

Author

Cogliati, M., Colom, M. F., Hagen, F., Boekhout, T., Ilkit, M. M., Velegraki, A., Lockhart, S. R., Montagna, M. T., Tintelnot, K., Rickerts, V., Kwon-chung, K. J., Akcaglar, S., Tore, O., Oliveri, S., Trovato, L. C., Susever, S., Ergin, C., Mitchell, T. G., Marchese, A., Vezzulli, L., Kaya, M., Cerikcioglu, N., Korem, M., Polacheck, I., De Donno, A., Ranque, S., Criseo, G., Tortorano, A. M., D’Amicis, R., Bertout, S., Maillé, M., Dipineto, L., Pasquale, V., Dromer, F., Desnosollivier, M., Nardoni, S., Macci, C. P., Scopa, A., Trilles, L., Meyer, W., Firacative, C., Ellabib, M. S., Kronstad, J., and Bartlett, K. H. Mlinaric-missoni E.

Published
2014

18. Ancient dispersal of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii from the Amazon rainforest.

Author

Hagen, F., Ceresini, P.C., Polacheck, I., Ma, H., Nieuwerburgh, F. van, Gabaldón, T., Kagan, S., Pursall, E.R., Hoogveld, H.L., Iersel, L.J. van, Klau, G.W., Kelk, S.M., Stougie, L., Bartlett, K.H., Voelz, K., Pryszcz, L.P., Castañeda, E., Lazera, M., Meyer, W., Deforce, D., Meis, J.F.G.M., May, R.C., Klaassen, C.H., Boekhout, T., Hagen, F., Ceresini, P.C., Polacheck, I., Ma, H., Nieuwerburgh, F. van, Gabaldón, T., Kagan, S., Pursall, E.R., Hoogveld, H.L., Iersel, L.J. van, Klau, G.W., Kelk, S.M., Stougie, L., Bartlett, K.H., Voelz, K., Pryszcz, L.P., Castañeda, E., Lazera, M., Meyer, W., Deforce, D., Meis, J.F.G.M., May, R.C., Klaassen, C.H., and Boekhout, T.

Abstract

Contains fulltext : 125205.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), Over the past two decades, several fungal outbreaks have occurred, including the high-profile 'Vancouver Island' and 'Pacific Northwest' outbreaks, caused by Cryptococcus gattii, which has affected hundreds of otherwise healthy humans and animals. Over the same time period, C. gattii was the cause of several additional case clusters at localities outside of the tropical and subtropical climate zones where the species normally occurs. In every case, the causative agent belongs to a previously rare genotype of C. gattii called AFLP6/VGII, but the origin of the outbreak clades remains enigmatic. Here we used phylogenetic and recombination analyses, based on AFLP and multiple MLST datasets, and coalescence gene genealogy to demonstrate that these outbreaks have arisen from a highly-recombining C. gattii population in the native rainforest of Northern Brazil. Thus the modern virulent C. gattii AFLP6/VGII outbreak lineages derived from mating events in South America and then dispersed to temperate regions where they cause serious infections in humans and animals.

Published
2013

19. The fatal fungal outbreak on Vancouver Island is characterized by enhanced intracellular parasitism driven by mitochondrial regulation

Author

Ma, H., Hagen, F., Stekel, D.J., Johnson, S.A., Sionov, E., Falk, R., Polacheck, I., Boekhout, T., May, R.C., Ma, H., Hagen, F., Stekel, D.J., Johnson, S.A., Sionov, E., Falk, R., Polacheck, I., Boekhout, T., and May, R.C.

Abstract

In 1999, the population of Vancouver Island, Canada, began to experience an outbreak of a fatal fungal disease caused by a highly virulent lineage of Cryptococcus gattii. This organism has recently spread to the Canadian mainland and Pacific Northwest, but the molecular cause of the outbreak remains unknown. Here we show that the Vancouver Island outbreak (VIO) isolates have dramatically increased their ability to replicate within macrophages of the mammalian immune system in comparison with other C. gattii strains. We further demonstrate that such enhanced intracellular parasitism is directly linked to virulence in a murine model of cryptococcosis, suggesting that this phenotype may be the cause of the outbreak. Finally, microarray studies on 24 C. gattii strains reveals that the hypervirulence of the VIO isolates is characterized by the up-regulation of a large group of genes, many of which are encoded by mitochondrial genome or associated with mitochondrial activities. This expression profile correlates with an unusual mitochondrial morphology exhibited by the VIO strains after phagocytosis. Our data thus demonstrate that the intracellular parasitism of macrophages is a key driver of a human disease outbreak, a finding that has significant implications for a wide range of other human pathogens., In 1999, the population of Vancouver Island, Canada, began to experience an outbreak of a fatal fungal disease caused by a highly virulent lineage of Cryptococcus gattii. This organism has recently spread to the Canadian mainland and Pacific Northwest, but the molecular cause of the outbreak remains unknown. Here we show that the Vancouver Island outbreak (VIO) isolates have dramatically increased their ability to replicate within macrophages of the mammalian immune system in comparison with other C. gattii strains. We further demonstrate that such enhanced intracellular parasitism is directly linked to virulence in a murine model of cryptococcosis, suggesting that this phenotype may be the cause of the outbreak. Finally, microarray studies on 24 C. gattii strains reveals that the hypervirulence of the VIO isolates is characterized by the up-regulation of a large group of genes, many of which are encoded by mitochondrial genome or associated with mitochondrial activities. This expression profile correlates with an unusual mitochondrial morphology exhibited by the VIO strains after phagocytosis. Our data thus demonstrate that the intracellular parasitism of macrophages is a key driver of a human disease outbreak, a finding that has significant implications for a wide range of other human pathogens.

Published
2009

23. Identification of four distinct genotypes of Candida dubliniensis and detection of microevolution in vitro and in vivo.

Author

Gee, S.F., Joly, S., Soll, D.R., Meis, J.F.G.M., Verweij, P.E., Polacheck, I., Sullivan, D.J., Coleman, D.C., Gee, S.F., Joly, S., Soll, D.R., Meis, J.F.G.M., Verweij, P.E., Polacheck, I., Sullivan, D.J., and Coleman, D.C.

Abstract

Item does not contain fulltext, The present study investigates further the population structure of Candida dubliniensis and its ability to exhibit microevolution. Using 98 isolates (including 80 oral isolates) from 94 patients in 15 countries, we confirmed the existence of two distinct populations within the species C. dubliniensis, designated Cd25 group I and Cd25 group II, respectively, on the basis of DNA fingerprints generated with the C. dubliniensis-specific probe Cd25. The majority of Cd25 group I isolates (48 of 71, 67.6%) were from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, whereas the majority of Cd25 group II isolates (19 of 27, 70.4%) were from HIV-negative individuals (P < or = 0.001). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rRNA genes from 19 representative isolates revealed the presence of four separate genotypes. All of the Cd25 group I isolates tested belonged to genotype 1, while the Cd25 group II population was comprised of three distinct genotypes (genotypes 2 to 4), which corresponded to distinct clades within the Cd25 group II population. These findings were confirmed using genotype-specific PCR primers with 70 isolates. We also showed that C. dubliniensis can exhibit microevolution in vivo and in vitro as occurs in other yeast species. DNA fingerprinting using the C. dubliniensis probes Cd25, Cd24, and Cd1 and karyotype analysis of multiple oral isolates recovered from the same specimen from each of eight separate patients revealed microevolution in six of eight of the clonal populations. Similarly, sequential clonal isolates from various anatomical sites in two separate patients exhibited microevolution. Microevolution was also shown to occur when two clinical isolates susceptible to fluconazole were exposed to the drug in vitro. The epidemiological significance of the four C. dubliniensis genotypes and the ability of C. dubliniensis to undergo microevolution has yet to be established.

Published
2002

26. An Outbreak of Phialemonium Infective Endocarditis Linked to Intracavernous Penile Injections for the Treatment of Impotence

Author

Strahilevitz, J., primary, Rahav, G., additional, Schroers, H.-J., additional, Summerbell, R. C., additional, Amitai, Z., additional, Goldschmied-Reouven, A., additional, Rubinstein, E., additional, Schwammenthal, Y., additional, Feinberg, M. S., additional, Siegman-Igra, Y., additional, Bash, E., additional, Polacheck, I., additional, Zelazny, A., additional, Howard, S. J., additional, Cibotaro, P., additional, Shovman, O., additional, and Keller, N., additional

Published
2005
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43. Roditis Leaf Discoloration--A New Virus Disease of Grapevine: Symptomatology and Transmission to Indicator Plants.

Author

Levy, M., Naim, M., Polacheck, I., Zehavi, U., and Evron, R.

Subjects
GRAPE diseases & pests, PLANT viruses, PLANT diseases, DISEASED plants, LEAF diseases & pests
Abstract

The symptoms and some characteristics of an unreported disease of grapevine, which was observed during the last years on the cv. 'Roditis' in central Greece, are described. The disease is transmissible to V. vinifera 'Mission' and to some herbaceous test plants. The constant association of a virus to naturally infected plants cv. 'Roditis' and chip-budding infected indicator plants cv. 'Mission' supports the evidence that the disease is caused by a virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
1989
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46. Heteroresistance to Fluconazole and Voriconazole inCryptococcus neoformans

Author

Mondon, P., Petter, R., Amalfitano, G., Luzzati, R., Concia, E., Polacheck, I., and Kwon-Chung, K. J.

Abstract

ABSTRACTCryptococcus neoformansisolates that exhibited unusual patterns of resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole were isolated from seven isolates from two different geographical regions: one isolate from an Israeli non-AIDS patient and six serial isolates from an Italian AIDS patient who had suffered six recurrent episodes of cryptococcal meningitis. Each isolate produced cultures with heterogeneous compositions in which most of the cells were susceptible, but cells highly resistant to fluconazole (MICs, ≥64 μg/ml) were recovered at a variable frequency (7 × 10−3to 4.6 × 10−2). Evidence showed that this type of resistance is innate and is unrelated to drug exposure since the Israeli patient had never been treated with azoles or any other antimycotic agents. Analysis of clonal subpopulations of these two strains showed that they exhibited heterogeneous patterns of resistance. The number of subpopulations which grew on fluconazole or voriconazole agar declined progressively with increasing azole concentration without a sharp cutoff point. For the Italian serial isolates, the number of clonal populations resistant to fluconazole (64 μg/ml) and voriconazole (1 μg/ml) increased steadily, yielding the highest number for the isolate from the last episode. Attempts to purify a sensitive subpopulation failed, but clones highly resistant to fluconazole (100 μg/ml) and moderately resistant to voriconazole (1 μg/ml) always produced a homogeneous population of resistant cells. Upon maintenance on drug-free medium, however, the majority of the homogeneously resistant cells of these subclones lost their resistance and returned to the stable initial heteroresistant phenotype. The pattern of heteroresistance was not affected by the pH or osmolarity of the medium but was influenced by temperature. The resistance appeared to be suppressed at 35°C and was completely abolished at 40°C. Although heterogeneity in azole resistance among subpopulations of single isolates has been reported for Candidaspecies, the transient changes in expression of resistance under different growth conditions reported here have not been observed in fungal pathogens.

Published
1999
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47. Aspergillus nidulans mutant lacking alpha-(1,3)-glucan, melanin, and cleistothecia

Author

Polacheck, I and Rosenberger, R F

Abstract

A mutation in Aspergillus nidulans led to a loss of both melanin and alpha-(1,3)-glucan, a major wall polysaccharide. In addition, the mutation prevented the formation of cleistothecia. Mutant walls contained increased amounts of beta-(1,3)-glucan and galactose polymers, and electron micrographs indicated that they had lost the outermost wall layer. Such walls were more readily digested by lytic enzymes, and this increased susceptibility to hydrolysis was due to the absence of alpha-(1,3)-glucan and not of melanin. The pleiotropic effects of the mutation are discussed, with particular reference to the hypothesis that alpha-(1,3)-glucan acts as the endogenous carbon source for biosynthetic processes in the stationary phase of growth. In this view, glucan synthesis would be the primary target of the mutation, and the absence of glucan would result in the lack of melanin and cleistothecia, formed after nutrients are exhausted. Two other mutations that lowered themycelial alpha-(1,3)-glucan content also inhibited melanin and cleistothecia production.

Published
1977
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48. Biochemical studies of phenoloxidase and utilization of catecholamines in Cryptococcus neoformans

Author

Polacheck, I, Hearing, V J, and Kwon-Chung, K J

Abstract

Protoplasts of Cryptococcus neoformans contain phenoloxidase as a membrane-bound enzyme. The enzyme appeared to be attached on the inner side of cytoplasmic membranes. Synthesis of the enzyme was derepressed by low levels of glucose but was not affected by the level of ammonium. Copper chelators which inhibited the phenoloxidase of other organisms did not affect cryptococcal enzymes. However, cyanide- or iron-chelating agents such as hydroximide derivates or 8-hydroxyquinoline were effective inhibitors, suggesting that cryptococcal phenoloxidase is an iron-containing enzyme. Phenoloxidase of C. neoformans catalyzed the oxidation of various diphenols via dopachrome and labile intermediates to melanin polymers. The kinetic constants (Km) of the phenoloxidase and the permease for dopamine and norepinephrine were low. The correlation between phenoloxidase and the preferential growth of C. neoformans in the host brain is discussed.

Published
1982
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49. Phenoloxidase activity and virulence in isogenic strains of Cryptococcus neoformans

Author

Rhodes, J C, Polacheck, I, and Kwon-Chung, K J

Abstract

A naturally occurring Mel- variant of Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from the wild type. The effect of phenoloxidase activity on virulence was analyzed on genetically constructed Mel+ and Mel- isolates. The traits Mel+ and virulence in mice, as measured by cumulative mortality and replication potential in brain tissue, cosegregated among the progeny of a Mel+ X Mel- cross. Revertants (MelR) isolated during the course of the cumulative mortality experiment were used to compare virulence in isogenic sets of Mel- and MelR. In two separate sets of such isolates, Mel+ phenotype and virulence coreverted. Measurement of substrate uptake and phenoloxidase activity showed that loss of detectable phenoloxidase was the basis for the Mel- phenotype and that enzyme activity reappeared in the MelR isolates. An intermediate phenotype, Melbg, was also described. Cosegregation and coreversion of the melanin phenotype and virulence suggest that phenoloxidase is a virulence factor in C. neoformans.

Published
1982
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50. Activity of compound G2 isolated from alfalfa roots against medically important yeasts

Author

Polacheck, I, Zehavi, U, Naim, M, Levy, M, and Evron, R

Abstract

An antimycotic agent was isolated from roots of alfalfa and further purified to yield a nonhemolytic, homogeneous compound (G2). This compound contained considerable activity against 10 medically important yeasts. MICs obtained by both agar and broth dilution methods ranged from 3 to 15 micrograms/ml. Compound G2 was fungicidal at a relatively low concentration for nine different species of yeasts tested (minimum fungicidal concentrations ranged between 6 and 24 micrograms/ml). The considerable stability of compound G2 and its strong inhibitory and fungicidal activity against a broad range of yeasts suggest that after further development it might be useful as an active agent in the treatment of mycotic infections.

Published
1986
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