The cryptic sexual strategies of human fungal pathogens

Ene, Iuliana V.; Bennett, Richard J.

doi:10.1038/nrmicro3236

Cited by 86 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 185 publications

(190 reference statements)

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“…HMGs are present in Aspergillus fumigatus, C. albicans and the C. neoformans complex. However, these fungi 'retain their sexuality' to not disrupt fit MLGs (Ene and Bennett, 2014;Heitman, 2006). All meiosis genes are present in Penicillium marneffei, although this fungus is highly clonal (Henk et al, 2012).…”

Section: Meiosis Genes and Experimental Evolution: What Do They Tell mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Predominant Clonal Evolution a Common Evolutionary Adaptation to Parasitism in Pathogenic Parasitic Protozoa, Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses?

Tibayrenc

Ayala

2017

Advances in Parasitology

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Section: Meiosis Genes and Experimental Evolution: What Do They Tell mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a typical yeast population, aneuploidy makes up a large proportion of the genetic variants (Chen et al, 2012). 'Same sex mating' (considered by us to be included in PCE) promotes adaptation through aneuploidy in C. albicans and C. neoformans (Ene and Bennett, 2014).…”

Section: How Can Clones Survive Without Recombination?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Predominant Clonal Evolution a Common Evolutionary Adaptation to Parasitism in Pathogenic Parasitic Protozoa, Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses?

Tibayrenc

Ayala

2017

Advances in Parasitology

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“…In gametes, it underlies the fertilization of all sexually reproducing species. In pathogenic fungi, this process is often tightly linked with virulence (Morrow and Fraser 2009;Ene and Bennett 2014). Cell fusion may also play important roles in regeneration and cancer (Lu and Kang 2009;Lluis and Cosma 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial focalization of pheromone/MAPK signaling triggers commitment to cell–cell fusion

2016

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Cell fusion is universal in eukaryotes for fertilization and development, but what signals this process is unknown. Here, we show in Schizosaccharomyces pombe that fusion does not require a dedicated signal but is triggered by spatial focalization of the same pheromone-GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor)-MAPK signaling cascade that drives earlier mating events. Autocrine cells expressing the receptor for their own pheromone trigger fusion attempts independently of cell-cell contact by concentrating pheromone release at the fusion focus, a dynamic actin aster underlying the secretion of cell wall hydrolases. Pheromone receptor and MAPK cascade are similarly enriched at the fusion focus, concomitant with fusion commitment in wild-type mating pairs. This focalization promotes cell fusion by immobilizing the fusion focus, thus driving local cell wall dissolution. We propose that fusion commitment is imposed by a local increase in MAPK concentration at the fusion focus, driven by a positive feedback between fusion focus formation and focalization of pheromone release and perception.

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“…A strictly clonal mode of reproduction may be advantageous where genotypes are adapted to specific hosts and habitats (3). Pathogenic species with unknown sexual cycles usually have phylogenetically close environmental, sexually active counterparts, suggesting that asexual propagation greatly outpaces any outcrossing that might be coupled with the emergence of pathogenic status (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

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confidence: 99%

Asexual Propagation of a Virulent Clone Complex in a Human and Feline Outbreak of Sporotrichosis

et al. 2015

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Sporotrichosis is one of the most frequent subcutaneous fungal infections in humans and animals caused by members of the plant-associated, dimorphic genus Sporothrix. Three of the four medically important Sporothrix species found in Brazil have been considered asexual as no sexual stage has ever been reported in Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, or Sporothrix globosa. We have identified the mating type (MAT) loci in the S. schenckii (strain 1099-18/ATCC MYA-4821) and S. brasiliensis (strain 5110/ATCC MYA-4823) genomes by using comparative genomic approaches to determine the mating type ratio in these pathogen populations. Our analysis revealed the presence of a MAT1-1 locus in S. schenckii while a MAT1-2 locus was found in S. brasiliensis representing genomic synteny to other Sordariomycetes. Furthermore, the components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-pheromone pathway, pheromone processing enzymes, and meiotic regulators have also been identified in the two pathogens, suggesting the potential for sexual reproduction. The ratio of MAT1-1 to MAT1-2 was not significantly different from 1:1 for all three Sporothrix species, but the population of S. brasiliensis in the outbreaks originated from a single mating type. We also explored the population genetic structure of these pathogens using sequence data of two loci to improve our knowledge of the pattern of geographic distribution, genetic variation, and virulence phenotypes. Population genetics data showed significant population differentiation and clonality with a low level of haplotype diversity in S. brasiliensis isolates from different regions of sporotrichosis outbreaks in Brazil. In contrast, S. schenckii isolates demonstrated a high degree of genetic variability without significant geographic differentiation, indicating the presence of recombination. This study demonstrated that two species causing the same disease have contrasting reproductive strategies and genetic variability patterns.

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The cryptic sexual strategies of human fungal pathogens

Cited by 86 publications

References 185 publications

Is Predominant Clonal Evolution a Common Evolutionary Adaptation to Parasitism in Pathogenic Parasitic Protozoa, Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses?

Is Predominant Clonal Evolution a Common Evolutionary Adaptation to Parasitism in Pathogenic Parasitic Protozoa, Fungi, Bacteria, and Viruses?

Spatial focalization of pheromone/MAPK signaling triggers commitment to cell–cell fusion

Asexual Propagation of a Virulent Clone Complex in a Human and Feline Outbreak of Sporotrichosis

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