Cited by 148Fungal Infections and StudiesGenetic diversity and population structurePlant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases

Phylogenetic analysis reveals a cryptic species Blastomyces gilchristii, sp. nov. within the human pathogenic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis.

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Brown, Elizabeth M., McTaggart, Lisa R., Zhang, Sean X., Low, Donald E., Stevens, David A., Richardson, Susan E.·2013·PLoS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the population genetic structure of microbial species is of fundamental importance to many scientific disciplines because it can identify cryptic species, reveal reproductive mode, and elucidate processes that contribute to pathogen evolution. Here, we examined the population genetic structure and geographic differentiation of the sexual, dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, the causative agent of blastomycosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Criteria for Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) applied to seven nuclear loci (arf6, chs2, drk1, fads, pyrF, tub1, and its-2) from 78 clinical and environmental isolates identified two previously unrecognized phylogenetic species. Four of seven single gene phylogenies examined (chs2, drk1, pyrF, and its-2) supported the separation of Phylogenetic Species 1 (PS1) and Phylogenetic Species 2 (PS2) which were also well differentiated in the concatenated chs2-drk1-fads-pyrF-tub1-arf6-its2 genealogy with all isolates falling into one of two evolutionarily independent lineages. Phylogenetic species were genetically distinct with interspecific divergence 4-fold greater than intraspecific divergence and a high Fst value (0.772, P<0.001) indicative of restricted gene flow between PS1 and PS2. Whereas panmixia expected of a single freely recombining population was not observed, recombination was detected when PS1 and PS2 were assessed separately, suggesting reproductive isolation. Random mating among PS1 isolates, which were distributed across North America, was only detected after partitioning isolates into six geographic regions. The PS2 population, found predominantly in the hyper-endemic regions of northwestern Ontario, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, contained a substantial clonal component with random mating detected only among unique genotypes in the population. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These analyses provide evidence for a genetically divergent clade within Blastomyces dermatitidis, which we use to describe a novel species, Blastomyces gilchristii sp. nov. In addition, we discuss the value of population genetic and phylogenetic analyses as a foundation for disease surveillance, understanding pathogen evolution, and discerning phenotypic differences between phylogenetic species.

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  • Blastomycosis is an uncommon but underdiagnosed and potentially life-threatening infection caused by the dimorphic fungi Blastomyces dermatitidis, which includes at least 1 cryptic subspecies, B. gilchristii.

    “Blastomycosis is an uncommon but underdiagnosed and potentially life-threatening infection caused by the dimorphic fungi Blastomyces dermatitidis, which includes at least 1 cryptic subspecies, B. gilchristii [170].”

    From Race and ethnicity: Risk factors for fungal infections? (2023) · cites this paper as [170]

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Authors
Brown, E. M., McTaggart, L. R., Zhang, S. X., Low, D. E., Stevens, D. A., & Richardson, S. E.
Affiliations
  • Mount Sinai Hospital (CA)
  • Public Health Ontario (CA)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (US)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
McTaggart, Lisa R.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2013-03-22
Volume
8
Issue
3
Pages
e59237
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2033915514
Cited by
148
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 3
FWCI
10.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Northwestern University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Fungal Infections and Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
Keywords
Blastomyces dermatitidis, cryptic species, blastomycosis, population structure, phylogenetic species recognition, territorial differentiation, recombination, reproductive isolation, clonal populations, nuclear loci, pathogen evolution, disease surveillance
MeSH terms
Blastomyces, DNA, Fungal, Genetics, Population, Humans, Phylogeny, Evolution, Molecular

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