Heterogeneity Confounds Establishment of "a" Model Microbial Strain
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1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA npkeller@wisc.edu.
Abstract:
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous environmental mold and the leading cause of diverse human diseases ranging from allergenic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Experimental investigations of the biology and virulence of this opportunistic pathogen have historically used a few type strains; however, it is increasingly observed with this fungus that heterogeneity among isolates potentially confounds the use of these reference isolates. Illustrating this point, Kowalski et al. (mBio 7:e01515-16, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01515-16) demonstrated that variation in 16 environmental and clinical isolates of A. fumigatus correlated virulence with fitness in low oxygen, whereas Fuller et al. (mBio 7:e01517-16, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01517-16) showed wide variation in light responses at a physiological and protein functionality level in 15 A. fumigatus isolates. In both studies, two commonly used type strains, Af293 and CEA10, displayed significant differences in physiological responses to abiotic stimuli and virulence in a murine model of IPA.
Insights
Aspergillus fumigatus exhibits significant genetic diversity, impacting its virulence and physiological responses. This fungal heterogeneity challenges research using standard strains, necessitating broader isolate studies for accurate understanding.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Medical Microbiology
- Pathogen Biology
Background:
- Aspergillus fumigatus is a common mold causing various human diseases.
- Research often uses limited type strains, potentially overlooking isolate variability.
- Fungal heterogeneity can affect experimental outcomes and virulence studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the impact of Aspergillus fumigatus isolate heterogeneity on biological and virulence studies.
- To emphasize the limitations of using single reference strains in understanding fungal pathogen behavior.
- To underscore the need for diverse isolate analysis in Aspergillus fumigatus research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies (Kowalski et al., Fuller et al.) examining multiple Aspergillus fumigatus isolates.
- Analysis of variations in virulence, fitness, and physiological responses (e.g., to oxygen, light).
- Comparison of commonly used type strains (Af293, CEA10) against environmental and clinical isolates.
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists among Aspergillus fumigatus isolates in virulence and physiological traits.
- Low oxygen conditions reveal correlations between fitness and virulence in different isolates.
- Light response and protein functionality vary widely across isolates.
- Commonly used strains Af293 and CEA10 show distinct responses compared to other isolates.
Conclusions:
- Fungal heterogeneity in Aspergillus fumigatus is a critical factor influencing experimental results.
- Reliance on limited type strains may provide an incomplete picture of the pathogen's biology and virulence.
- Future research should incorporate a wider range of isolates to accurately assess Aspergillus fumigatus characteristics.
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