Abstract
BackgroundParacoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (species S1, PS2, PS3), and Paracoccidioides lutzii. This work aimed to differentiate species within the genus Paracoccidioides, without applying multilocus sequencing, as well as to obtain knowledge of the possible speciation processes.Methodology/Principal FindingsSingle nucleotide polymorphism analysis on GP43, ARF and PRP8 intein genes successfully distinguished isolates into four different species. Morphological evaluation indicated that elongated conidia were observed exclusively in P. lutzii isolates, while all other species (S1, PS2 and PS3) were indistinguishable.To evaluate the biogeographic events that led to the current geographic distribution of Paracoccidioides species and their sister species, Nested Clade and Likelihood Analysis of Geographic Range Evolution (LAGRANGE) analyses were applied. The radiation of Paracoccidioides started in northwest South America, around 11–32 million years ago, as calculated on the basis of ARF substitution rate, in the BEAST program. Vicariance was responsible for the divergence among S1, PS2 and P. lutzii and a recent dispersal generated the PS3 species, restricted to Colombia. Taking into account the ancestral areas revealed by the LAGRANGE analysis and the major geographic distribution of L. loboi in the Amazon basin, a region strongly affected by the Andes uplift and marine incursions in the Cenozoic era, we also speculate about the effect of these geological events on the vicariance between Paracoccidioides and L. loboi.Conclusions/SignificanceThe use of at least 3 SNPs, but not morphological criteria, as markers allows us to distinguish among the four cryptic species of the genus Paracoccidioides. The work also presents a biogeographic study speculating on how these species might have diverged in South America, thus contributing to elucidating evolutionary aspects of the genus Paracoccidioides.
Highlights
The genus Paracoccidioides encompasses thermo-dimorphic fungal pathogens from the family Ajellomycetaceae, order Onygenales [1]; its species grow as yeast cells at 37uC or in mammal tissues, and as mycelia, producing the infective asexual spores or conidia, at 25uC or in soil [2,3]
The pathogenic fungus Lacazia loboi was included in this group, as a Paracoccidioides sister species [6,7]
Morphological analysis The yeast cell area seems unrelated to the genetic group as no significant species variation in yeast size was found, with the only exception being Pb01, the first P. lutzii isolate ever reported [7,16]; this isolate shows much larger yeast cells when compared to other isolates for the conditions applied
Summary
The genus Paracoccidioides encompasses thermo-dimorphic fungal pathogens from the family Ajellomycetaceae, order Onygenales [1]; its species grow as yeast cells at 37uC or in mammal tissues, and as mycelia, producing the infective asexual spores or conidia, at 25uC or in soil [2,3]. Until 2006, the genus Paracoccidioides was believed to include only one species, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, as the etiologic agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), one of the most frequent systemic mycoses in Latin America [2] This pathogen has been repeatedly recovered from human clinical samples and tissues of some armadillo species, such as the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus [9] and occasionally from Cabassus centralis [10]. This work aimed to differentiate species within the genus Paracoccidioides, without applying multilocus sequencing, as well as to obtain knowledge of the possible speciation processes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
