Candida vulturna pro tempore sp. nov., a dimorphic yeast species related to the Candida haemulonis species complex isolated from flowers and clinical sample

Abstract

In a taxonomic study of yeasts isolated from flowers in Cagayan de Oro, Mindenao Island, The Philippines, strains were identified as representing Kabatiella microsticta, Metschnikowia koreensis and a hitherto undescribed dimorphic species. Sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU 26S rRNA genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the SSU 18S rRNA genes were identical in the strains of the last-named group and differed from the corresponding sequences of the type strain of the closest related species, Candida duobushaemulonii, by 4 % (D1/D2), 7 % (ITS) and 1 % (SSU). In an independent study, a strain with D1/D2 and ITS sequences very similar to those of the Philippine strains was isolated in Malaysia from the blood of a patient dying of aspiration pneumonia. Both groups of isolates were moderately sensitive to anidulafungin, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole but resistant to amphotericin B. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the sequences placed the Philippine and Malaysian isolates close to the Candida haemulonis complex of Candida species. To reflect the geographical location of the sites of sample collection, the novel species name Candida vulturna pro tempore sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain is 11-1170T (=CBS 14366T=CCY 094-001-001T=NCAIM-Y02177T) isolated in Cagayan de Oro, The Philippines. Mycobank: MB 817222.

Candida auris: The recent emergence of a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen

“…vulnera. 33 C. auris is an ovoid to elongate budding yeast, which seldom forms rudimentary pseudohyphae 6,27,34 and typically appears as pink, but sometimes white or red, colonies on CHROMagar Candida or CAN2 chromogenic medium. 31,35 This organism has a high tolerance for salinity and heat.…”

Candida metrosideri pro tempore sp. nov. and Candida ohialehuae pro tempore sp. nov., two antifungal-resistant yeasts associated with Metrosideros polymorpha flowers in Hawaii

“…Although the phylogenetic analyses performed suggested that the new species described here belong to the family Metschnikowiaceae and are closely related to Clavispora, studied isolates cannot be unequivocally assigned to this genus. Additionally, previous studies have demonstrated that C. auris and C. haemulonis are distant from Clavispora lusitaniae and do not constitute a monophyletic group [20,42]. Therefore, we propose to refer to these novel species as Candida metrosideri pro tempore sp.…”

“…nov. The term 'pro tempore' was proposed to indicate lineages that are temporary generic assignments in absence of further taxonomic evidence [20,43].…”

“…Notably, C. auris and some members of the C. haemulonis species complex are currently receiving increased attention because of their human pathogenic potential [15][16][17]. Additionally, the aforementioned species often show elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to multiple antifungals [15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Diagnosis, management and prevention of Candida auris in hospitals: position statement of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases

“…1 Its closest phylogenetic relationship is with Candida haemulonii. [1][2][3][4][5] Whole genome sequencing (WGS) data indicate nearsimultaneous emergence of C. auris and spread of independent clones, rather than global transmission of one clone. 6 Four main geographic-specific clades have been described -South Asia, South Africa, South America and East Asia 6each separated by many tens of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms.…”