| Title: | Evidence for sexuality in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus |
| Author(s): | Paoletti M; Rydholm C; Schwier EU; Anderson MJ; Szakacs G; Lutzoni F; Debeaupuis JP; Latge JP; Denning DW; Dyer PS; |
| Address: | "School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cub.2005.05.045 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0960-9822 (Print) 0960-9822 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Aspergillus fumigatus is a medically important opportunistic pathogen and a major cause of respiratory allergy. The species has long been considered an asexual organism. However, genome analysis has revealed the presence of genes associated with sexual reproduction, including a MAT-2 high-mobility group mating-type gene and genes for pheromone production and detection (Galagan et al., personal communication; Nierman et al., personal communication). We now demonstrate that A. fumigatus has other key characteristics of a sexual species. We reveal the existence of isolates containing a complementary MAT-1 alpha box mating-type gene and show that the MAT locus has an idiomorph structure characteristic of heterothallic (obligate sexual outbreeding) fungi. Analysis of 290 worldwide clinical and environmental isolates with a multiplex-PCR assay revealed the presence of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genotypes in similar proportions (43% and 57%, respectively). Further population genetic analyses provided evidence of recombination across a global sampling and within North American and European subpopulations. We also show that mating-type, pheromone-precursor, and pheromone-receptor genes are expressed during mycelial growth. These results indicate that A. fumigatus has a recent evolutionary history of sexual recombination and might have the potential for sexual reproduction. The possible presence of a sexual cycle is highly significant for the population biology and disease management of the species" |
| Keywords: | "Amino Acid Sequence Aspergillus fumigatus/*genetics/*physiology Base Sequence DNA Primers Gene Components Genes, Fungal/*genetics *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Genetics, Population *Genome, Fungal Genomics/methods Microsatellite Repeats/genetics Molecular S;" |
| Notes: | "MedlinePaoletti, Mathieu Rydholm, Carla Schwier, Elke U Anderson, Michael J Szakacs, George Lutzoni, Francois Debeaupuis, Jean-Paul Latge, Jean-Paul Denning, David W Dyer, Paul S eng Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2005/07/12 Curr Biol. 2005 Jul 12; 15(13):1242-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2005.05.045" |
