Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025
Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance
Published on: December 28, 2017
Identification of a novel Candida metapsilosis isolate reveals multiple hybridization events
Caoimhe E O'Brien1, Bing Zhai2,3, Mihaela Ola1
1School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Abstract:
Candida metapsilosis is a member of the Candida parapsilosis species complex, a group of opportunistic human pathogens. Of all the members of this complex, C. metapsilosis is the least virulent, and accounts for a small proportion of invasive Candida infections. Previous studies established that all C. metapsilosis isolates are hybrids, originating from a single hybridization event between two lineages, parent A and parent B. Here, we use MinION and Illumina sequencing to characterize a C. metapsilosis isolate that originated from a separate hybridization. One of the parents of the new isolate is very closely related to parent A. However, the other parent (parent C) is not the same as parent B. Unlike C. metapsilosis AB isolates, the C. metapsilosis AC isolate has not undergone introgression at the mating type-like locus. In addition, the A and C haplotypes are not fully collinear. The C. metapsilosis AC isolate has undergone loss of heterozygosity with a preference for haplotype A, indicating that this isolate is in the early stages of genome stabilization.
Insights
This study reveals a new hybrid Candida metapsilosis (C. metapsilosis) strain, AC, formed from a distinct hybridization event. This AC isolate shows unique genomic characteristics compared to previously identified AB strains.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Genomics
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Candida metapsilosis belongs to the Candida parapsilosis species complex, known for opportunistic human infections.
- C. metapsilosis is the least virulent member of this complex and causes a minority of invasive Candida infections.
- All previously studied C. metapsilosis isolates were identified as hybrids from a single hybridization event between parent lineages A and B.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel C. metapsilosis isolate (AC) resulting from a separate hybridization event.
- To compare the genomic features of the new AC isolate with existing AB isolates.
- To investigate the genome stabilization process in the AC isolate.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MinION and Illumina sequencing technologies.
- Performed comparative genomic analysis of the C. metapsilosis AC isolate.
- Examined genetic introgression and haplotype collinearity.
Main Results:
- Identified a new C. metapsilosis isolate (AC) with one parent closely related to lineage A and a novel parent lineage C.
- The AC isolate lacks introgression at the mating type-like locus, unlike AB isolates.
- The A and C haplotypes in the AC isolate are not fully collinear.
- Observed loss of heterozygosity in the AC isolate, with a preference for haplotype A, suggesting early-stage genome stabilization.
Conclusions:
- A new hybridization event has led to the emergence of C. metapsilosis AC isolates.
- The genomic structure of C. metapsilosis AC differs significantly from AB isolates, particularly regarding mating type-like locus introgression and haplotype collinearity.
- The observed genomic features indicate that the C. metapsilosis AC isolate is undergoing genome stabilization.
More Related Videos
10:08Visualization of Candida albicans in the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract Using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization
Published on: November 5, 2019
07:55Detection of Homologous Recombination Intermediates via Proximity Ligation and Quantitative PCR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: September 11, 2022
