Chromosomal polymorphism in the Sporothrix schenckii complex

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 23;9(1):e86819. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086819. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a polymorphic disease caused by a complex of thermodimorphic fungi including S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii sensu stricto (s. str.), S. globosa and S. luriei. Humans and animals can acquire the disease through traumatic inoculation of propagules into the subcutaneous tissue. Despite the importance of sporotrichosis as a disease that can take epidemic proportions there are just a few studies dealing with genetic polymorphisms and genomic architecture of these pathogens. The main objective of this study was to investigate chromosomal polymorphisms and genomic organization among different isolates in the S. schenckii complex. We used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to separate chromosomal fragments of isolated DNA, followed by probe hybridization. Nine loci (β-tubulin, calmodulin, catalase, chitin synthase 1, Internal Transcribed Spacer, Pho85 cyclin-dependent kinase, protein kinase C Ss-2, G protein α subunit and topoisomerase II) were mapped onto chromosomal bands of Brazilian isolates of S. schenckii s. str. and S. brasiliensis. Our results revealed the presence of intra and interspecies polymorphisms in chromosome number and size. The gene hybridization analysis showed that closely related species in phylogenetic analysis had similar genetic organizations, mostly due to identification of synteny groups in chromosomal bands of similar sizes. Our results bring new insights into the genetic diversity and genome organization among pathogenic species in the Sporothrix schenckii complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Southern
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / genetics*
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genetic Variation
  • Karyotyping
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Sporothrix / classification
  • Sporothrix / genetics*
  • Sporothrix / pathogenicity*
  • Sporotrichosis / genetics
  • Sporotrichosis / microbiology*
  • Virulence / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • Genetic Markers

Grants and funding

AAS is a fellow of Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and acknowledges the financial support of Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior. GFF is a fellow of FAPESP (2011/01628-8). AMR is a fellow of Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2011/07350-1) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (BEX 2325/11-0). ZPdC thanks FAPESP (Proc. 09/54024-2) and CNPq (Proc. 472600/2011-7). CNPq (http://www.cnpq.br/), and CAPES (http://www.capes.gov.br/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.