Genetic diversity and evolution of Pneumocystis fungi infecting wild Southeast Asian murid rodents

Area of Science:

• * Molecular Biology
• * Evolutionary Biology
• * Parasitology

Background:

• * Pneumocystis are airborne fungal parasites with typically strong host specificity.
• * Understanding their host-parasite dynamics is crucial for evolutionary and ecological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the genetic diversity and host specificity of Pneumocystis in Southeast Asian murid rodents.
• * To test the co-phylogeny hypothesis between these Pneumocystis fungi and their rodent hosts.

Main Methods:

• * PCR amplification of two mitochondrial genes from Pneumocystis DNA found in wild rodents.
• * Phylogenetic analyses to determine genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships.
• * Co-phylogenetic analyses to assess co-speciation patterns and host switching events.

Main Results:

• * Pneumocystis DNA was detected in 215 of 445 rodents across 18 murid species.
• * Identified known Pneumocystis species and potentially new undescribed species.
• * Demonstrated broader host specificity than previously assumed, with shared lineages among multiple rodent species and genera.
• * Co-phylogenetic analyses revealed a complex evolutionary history, indicating significant host switching events alongside some co-speciation.

Conclusions:

• * Pneumocystis species infecting rodents exhibit less host specificity than previously thought.
• * The evolutionary history of Pneumocystis and murid rodents is shaped by both co-speciation and frequent host switching, challenging traditional co-evolutionary models.