Molecular phylogenetics of strains morphologically identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi from clinical specimens

A phylogenetic study based on sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1, 5.8S and ITS2 region was performed in 33 strains morphologically identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi from clinical specimens and living environments, preserved at the Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University. The strains of Fonsecaea were divided into two major clades: Group A, representing F. pedrosoi sensu de Hoog et al.; and Group B, representing F. monophora. We identified new lineages: Group B was further clustered into three subgroups, B-1, B-2 and B-3, which were phylogenetically distinct from each other. The subgroups B-1, B-2 and B-3 are thought to be mainly predominant in Africa and Central and South America, Japan and China, and Europe and North America, respectively. Thus, polymorphism in Group B is rather considered to be caused by its geographic parameter. We demonstrate for the first time that all clinical isolates from Japan are monophyletic, belonging to a new lineage of F. monophora.