Discovery of Aspergillus frankstonensis sp. nov. during environmental sampling for animal and human fungal pathogens

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to species in Aspergillus section Fumigati (ASF), including the Aspergillus viridinutans species complex (AVSC), are increasingly reported in humans and cats. The risk of exposure to these medically important fungi in Australia is unknown. Air and soil was sampled from the domiciles of pet cats diagnosed with these IFI and from a nature reserve in Frankston, Victoria, where Aspergillus viridinutans sensu stricto was discovered in 1954. Of 104 ASF species isolated, 61% were A. fumigatus sensu stricto, 9% were AVSC (A. felis-clade and A. frankstonensis sp. nov.) and 30% were other species (30%). Seven pathogenic ASF species known to cause disease in humans and animals (A. felis-clade, A. fischeri, A. thermomutatus, A. lentulus, A. laciniosus A. fumisynnematus, A. hiratsukae) comprised 25% of isolates overall. AVSC species were only isolated from Frankston soil where they were abundant, suggesting a particular ecological niche. Phylogenetic, morphological and metabolomic analyses of these isolates identified a new species, A. frankstonensis that is phylogenetically distinct from other AVSC species, heterothallic and produces a unique array of extrolites, including the UV spectrum characterized compounds DOLD, RAIMO and CALBO. Shared morphological and physiological characteristics with other AVSC species include slow sporulation, optimal growth at 37°C, no growth at 50°C, and viriditoxin production. Overall, the risk of environmental exposure to pathogenic species in ASF in Australia appears to be high, but there was no evidence of direct environmental exposure to AVSC species in areas where humans and cats cohabitate.

Classification of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces and related genera (Eurotiales): An overview of families, genera, subgenera, sections, series and species

“…Sexual morph not observed in culture, or present, neosartorya-type, homo- or heterothallic, white, yellowish white. Series description based on Talbot et al. (2017) and Hubka et al.…”

Unravelling species boundaries in the Aspergillus viridinutans complex (section Fumigati): opportunistic human and animal pathogens capable of interspecific hybridization

“…Fumigati . The taxonomy of AVSC has developed rapidly since eight of the currently 11 recognized species were described in the last four years (Barrs et al 2013, Eamvijarn et al 2013, Nováková et al 2014, Sugui et al 2014, Matsuzawa et al 2015, Talbot et al 2017). The species boundaries delimitation was usually based on comparison of single-gene phylogenies and principles of genealogical concordance.…”

“…In addition, some studies supported the species concept by results of in vitro mating experiments between opposite mating type strains. With the increasing number of species, available isolates and new mating experiment data, the species boundaries in AVSC became unclear as pointed out by Talbot et al (2017) who used the designation ‘ A. felis clade’ for A. felis and related species. Importantly, Sugui et al (2014) and Talbot et al (2017) identified that interpretation of in vitro mating assays in sect.…”

“…With the increasing number of species, available isolates and new mating experiment data, the species boundaries in AVSC became unclear as pointed out by Talbot et al (2017) who used the designation ‘ A. felis clade’ for A. felis and related species. Importantly, Sugui et al (2014) and Talbot et al (2017) identified that interpretation of in vitro mating assays in sect. Fumigati may be problematic because different phylogenetic species in the AVSC were able to produce fertile ascomata when crossed between themselves.…”

Benefícios Do Extrato De Camellia Sinensis Para a Saúde: Uma Revisão De Literatura

“…As espécies patogênicas mais frequentes que causam a aspergilose são A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus e A. niger, entretanto, espécies crípticas e raras também estão sendo identificadas em pacientes imunocompetentes e imunocomprometidos, incluindo membros do complexo de espécies de Aspergillus viridinutans (GUPTA et al, 2015;MASIH et al, 2016;TALBOT et al, 2017).…”