Abstract
Sporothrix globosa is the main causative agent of sporotrichosis, a common mycosis that usually affects the skin, in China. Despite increasing efforts in the molecular identification of this fungal pathogen, its modes of transmission and epidemiology remain poorly understood. The goals of this study were to assess the genetic diversity of S. globosa using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis and to assess the correlation of AFLP profiles with the geographic origins, growth rates, clinical forms, and antifungal susceptibilities of S. globosa isolates. AFLP analysis of 225 clinical S. globosa isolates from eight provinces or municipalities in China identified eight distinct clustering groups (I–VIII), with groups I, II and IV being the most common. The AFLP genotypes showed distinct distribution patterns among different regions within Jilin Province and between northern and southern China, but there was no obvious association between the AFLP genotypes and the growth rates, clinical forms or antifungal susceptibilities of the S. globosa isolates. These results expand our understanding of the genetic variation of S. globosa and suggest that AFLP analysis is a potentially useful tool for studying the epidemiology of this fungal pathogen.Emerging Microbes & Infections (2017) 6, e88; doi:10.1038/emi.2017.75; published online 11 October 2017
Highlights
Sporotrichosis is a common chronic deep mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii.[1]
We examined the growth characteristics of 225 S. globosa isolates from sporotrichosis patients originating from eight provinces or municipalities in China
We examined whether there was any correlation between the Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) profiles and the in vitro growth characteristics, antifungal susceptibility, geographic origins and clinical forms of sporotrichosis
Summary
Sporotrichosis is a common chronic deep mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii.[1]. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis is a highly sensitive method for detecting DNA polymorphisms and has been widely used for genetic variation and linkage analysis of bacteria, plants, and animals as well as fungi. When this technique was used to examine the genetic diversity of S. schenckii isolates in Peru, two distinct clusters were noted, there was no correlation between these AFLP genotypes and the geographical origins or clinical manifestations of the disease.[16] Recently, Zhang et al.[17] applied AFLP analysis to 20 S. globosa isolates of diverse geographic origins, including nine isolates from China, and found that all isolates were tightly clustered into the same group. The study gave no detail on the genetic diversity of the nine isolates from China, and any geographic and phenotypic associations were not reported
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