Cryptococcus gattii evolving as it spreads to temperate climates

Cryptococcus gattii evolving as it spreads to temperate climates -

Cryptococcus gattii , a virulent fungus that has invaded the northwestern Pacific is very adaptive and ensures global "vigilance of the public health," according to a study by an international team led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

C. gattii , which probably from Brazil, is responsible for dozens of deaths in recent years because it was discovered in 1999 on Vancouver island, British Columbia, Canada, well beyond its usual tropical habitats.

"We have identified several genes that may make the epidemic strains most able to survive colder environments and that make it more harmful to the lungs," said David Engelthaler, director of programs and operations for Pathogen Genomics TGen Division (TGen North) and lead author of the study published today in the scientific journal MBIO .

This study should form the basis for further inquiries on how and why C. gattii scatters and emerges. He identified several new genomic targets for diagnostic tests and possible new targets for therapeutic drugs and preventative vaccines.

"In analyzing closely the genomes of tens of epidemic strains, and various global strains, we could closely compare and determine the genomic differences that can cause clinical and environmental change," said Dr. Paul Keim, one of the lead authors of the study. Dr. Keim is also director of TGen North, and director of the Genetics Center and microbial genomics at Northern Arizona University (NAU).

TGen, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others, led one of the largest global fungal genome analysis of a particular species to understand its emergence in new environments. The collaborative team included 24 researchers from 13 institutions in seven nations sequenced 115 genomes C. gattii collected from 15 countries.

"Thinking globally, we could better understand what was happening at the local level," said Engelthaler.

C. gattii was typically tropical fungus before it was discovered in temperate surroundings of Vancouver Island. It quickly turned into a new, lung disease, more virulent, which quickly spread to within Canada and south into Washington state. This was followed by an outbreak in Oregon another new strain of C. gattii , which also posted an increase in lethality and spread the same throughout the Pacific Northwest.

C. gattii was previously associated with a neurological disease strains found elsewhere. But the discoveries strains in the northwest Pacific, not only to establish a new ecological niche, but also show increased virulence and produce severe lung infections.

"We provide evidence that the strains of the Pacific Northwest are native to South America, and identified many genes potentially related to the adaptation of the habitat, the expression of virulence and clinical presentation, "said Dr. Wieland Meyer, another lead author of the study.

"further elucidation and characterization of these genetic characteristics may lead to improved diagnostics and therapies for infections caused by this fungus constantly evolving," said Dr. Meyer, who is affiliated with: School- . Westmead Hospital medical Sydney, University of Sydney; and the Westmead Millennium Institute for medical research

This study concluded that "the vigilance of the public health is justified for the emergence in regions where C gattii is not thought to be endemic.. "

New tests developed for this study by TGen make it easier to detect and others mushrooms, and could lead to better monitoring and treatment. the same tools used in this study were also used to investigate the cause of a fungal meningitis outbreak associated with back steroid injections, and the recent outbreak of fever valley in Washington state.