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Pathogenic Allodiploid Hybrids of Aspergillus Fungi

Jacob L Steenwyk1, Abigail L Lind2, Laure N A Ries3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|June 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

New fungal pathogen species, Aspergillus latus, were discovered through interspecific hybridization. These allodiploid hybrids exhibit distinct traits, contributing to the diversity of human-pathogenic filamentous fungi.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Medical Mycology

Background:

  • Interspecific hybridization can create new lineages with altered traits.
  • Hybrid human-pathogenic yeasts and plant fungi are known, but not filamentous fungi.
  • Clinical isolates of Aspergillus were previously misidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel hybrid fungal species in human pathogens.
  • To investigate the role of hybridization in the evolution of fungal pathogenicity.
  • To understand the genomic and phenotypic diversity of Aspergillus latus.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic analyses of clinical isolates.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine evolutionary relationships.
  • Phenotypic characterization of infection-relevant traits.

Main Results:

  • Six clinical isolates, initially identified as Aspergillus nidulans, were found to be allodiploid hybrids.
  • These hybrids represent a new species, Aspergillus latus, formed by the fusion of Aspergillus spinulosporus and an unknown relative.
  • Aspergillus latus isolates are genomically and phenotypically diverse, differing from their parent species.

Conclusions:

  • Allodiploid hybridization is a significant source of genomic and phenotypic diversity in human-pathogenic filamentous fungi.
  • The discovery of Aspergillus latus highlights the importance of identifying hybrid species in clinical settings.
  • Hybridization may play a crucial role in the emergence and adaptation of fungal pathogens.
Keywords:
Eurotiomycetesallopolyploidyascomycotaaspergillosiscryptic speciesfungal pathogen evolutionhybridizationnonvertical evolutionpathogenicityvirulence

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