Phenomic profiling of a novel sibling species within the Scedosporium complex in Thailand

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Environmental Microbiology
• Fungal Pathogenesis

Background:

• Scedosporium species are globally distributed pathogenic fungi found in human-impacted environments.
• Scedosporium infections lead to high mortality rates in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.
• Recent environmental surveys in Thailand have led to the isolation of several Scedosporium strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a potentially new Scedosporium species, isolate TMMI-012, identified from Thai soil.
• To characterize the morphological, pathological, and antifungal resistance properties of TMMI-012.
• To assess the clinical relevance and pathogenicity of this novel fungal isolate.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and identification of Scedosporium strains from soil samples in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Phylogenetic analysis to determine the taxonomic relationship of isolate TMMI-012.
• In vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the virulence and pathogenicity of TMMI-012.
• Antifungal drug susceptibility testing and assessment of resistance to abiotic stresses.

Main Results:

• Isolate TMMI-012, phylogenetically related to Scedosporium boydii, exhibits distinct morphological and pathological characteristics.
• TMMI-012 demonstrates rapid growth and high resistance to antifungal medications and environmental stressors.
• Pathological assessments confirmed the high virulence and pathogenicity of TMMI-012 in experimental models.

Conclusions:

• TMMI-012 is proposed as a putative novel species within the Scedosporium genus.
• The heightened antifungal resistance of TMMI-012, compared to related species, suggests a significant clinical impact on human health.
• This discovery highlights the emergence of new fungal pathogens with potential public health implications.