Removing chaos from confusion: assigning names to common human and animal pathogens in Neocosmospora

Abstract

The genus Neocosmospora encompasses highly prevalent and aggressive human and animal fungal pathogens. Here we assign formal descriptions and Latin binomials to some of the most clinically relevant phylogenetic species of the genus. Three new species, named Neocosmospora catenata , N. gamsii and N. suttoniana (previously assigned to the informal names ‘ Fusarium ’ solani species complex (FSSC) lineages, FSSC 43, FSSC 7 and FSSC 20, respectively) are described on the basis of multilocus phylogenetic analyses (using EF-1α , ITS, LSU and RPB2 loci) and morphological characters. Lineage FSSC 9 is conspecific with the ex-type strain of Cylindrocarpon tonkinense , thus the new combination Neocosmospora tonkinensis is proposed. In addition, and based on the latest taxonomy for this generic complex, new combinations are introduced for four medically important taxa : Neocosmospora keratoplastica , N. lichenicola , N. metavorans and N. petroliphila . The most significant distinctive features for all the clinically relevant species treated here are compared and illustrated.

No to Neocosmospora : Phylogenomic and Practical Reasons for Continued Inclusion of the Fusarium solani Species Complex in the Genus Fusarium

“…There has been a consensus for over a century that the FSSC is part of Fusarium , which was affirmed by molecular phylogenetic analyses ( 4 ) and codified in a proposal to recognize Fusarium as a monophyletic group that includes the FSSC ( 5 ). However, there has been a recent push to divide Fusarium into seven genera and specifically to move the FSSC, the most important group of fusarial human pathogens, into the genus Neocosmospora ( 6 – 8 ).…”

“…In this paper, we demonstrate that these nomenclatural changes were based on the incorrect interpretation of the phylogenetic data regarding the Geiser et al ( 5 ) circumscription of Fusarium that includes the FSSC. In addition, these papers published an additional 31 FSSC species and 18 new combinations under the genus Neocosmospora ( 7 , 8 ). A new 19-locus phylogeny, however, removes all doubt about inclusion of the FSSC in a taxonomically sound and historically consistent concept of Fusarium (Geiser et al, submitted).…”

“…Following the work of Short et al ( 23 ), where names were assigned to two of the most important human-pathogenic FSSC species, F. petroliphilum (FSSC 1) and F. keratoplasticum (FSSC 2), Sandoval-Denis and Crous ( 7 ) and Sandoval-Denis et al ( 8 ) provided names and types for almost all of the remaining phylogenetically diagnosable species. However, these species were described under the name Neocosmospora .…”

Characterization of Fungal Endophytes Isolated from the Metal Hyperaccumulator Plant Vachellia farnesiana Growing in Mine Tailings

“…Based on the cladogram, we propose that strain H17 is a new species of Neocosmospora, since it is placed in its own distinctive branch with the highest support value. [47,48]. Although many of these species are plant and animal pathogens, the plant from which this strain was isolated did not show any signs of disease.…”

Transcriptional response of Fusarium oxysporum and Neocosmospora solani challenged with amphotericin B or posaconazole

“…The illnesses caused by these fungi range from superficial to more severe and invasive, and disseminated infections that affect both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients [3]. The main species responsible for fusariosis infections belong to the F. solani species complex (FSSC), recently reclassified into the Neocosmospora genus [4] and F. oxysporum species complex (FOSC) [5, 6]. These infections are very difficult to manage and show poor therapeutic response.…”