Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China.
The emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2020-08-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008493 |
| _version_ | 1819140085631680512 |
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| author | Chunyang Huang Clement K M Tsui Min Chen Kaisu Pan Xiuying Li Linqi Wang Meini Chen Yanqing Zheng Dongyan Zheng Xingchun Chen Li Jiang Lili Wei Wanqing Liao Cunwei Cao |
| author_facet | Chunyang Huang Clement K M Tsui Min Chen Kaisu Pan Xiuying Li Linqi Wang Meini Chen Yanqing Zheng Dongyan Zheng Xingchun Chen Li Jiang Lili Wei Wanqing Liao Cunwei Cao |
| author_sort | Chunyang Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infections due to the C. gattii species complex in China have rarely been reported. In this study, we studied eleven clinical strains of the C. gattii species complex isolated from Guangxi, southern China. The genetic identity and variability of these isolates were analyzed via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates and global isolates were evaluated. The mating type, physiological features and antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were also characterized. Among the eleven isolates, six belonged to C. deuterogattii, while five belonged to C. gattii sensu stricto. The C. deuterogattii strains from Guangxi, southern China were genetically variable and clustered with different clinical isolates from Brazil. All strains were MATα, and three C. deuterogattii isolates (GX0104, GX0105 and GX0147) were able to undergo sexual reproduction. Moreover, most strains had capsule and were capable of melanin production when compared to the outbreak strain from Canada. Most isolates were susceptible to antifungal drugs; yet one of eleven immunocompetent patients died of cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. deuterogattii (GX0147). Our study indicated that the highly pathogenic C. deuterogattii may be emerging in southern China, and effective nationwide surveillance of C. gattii species complex infection is necessary. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:32:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-144f8ab6fa7243ffaa87f4070402ad50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:32:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-144f8ab6fa7243ffaa87f4070402ad502022-12-21T18:27:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352020-08-01148e000849310.1371/journal.pntd.0008493Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China.Chunyang HuangClement K M TsuiMin ChenKaisu PanXiuying LiLinqi WangMeini ChenYanqing ZhengDongyan ZhengXingchun ChenLi JiangLili WeiWanqing LiaoCunwei CaoThe emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infections due to the C. gattii species complex in China have rarely been reported. In this study, we studied eleven clinical strains of the C. gattii species complex isolated from Guangxi, southern China. The genetic identity and variability of these isolates were analyzed via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates and global isolates were evaluated. The mating type, physiological features and antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were also characterized. Among the eleven isolates, six belonged to C. deuterogattii, while five belonged to C. gattii sensu stricto. The C. deuterogattii strains from Guangxi, southern China were genetically variable and clustered with different clinical isolates from Brazil. All strains were MATα, and three C. deuterogattii isolates (GX0104, GX0105 and GX0147) were able to undergo sexual reproduction. Moreover, most strains had capsule and were capable of melanin production when compared to the outbreak strain from Canada. Most isolates were susceptible to antifungal drugs; yet one of eleven immunocompetent patients died of cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. deuterogattii (GX0147). Our study indicated that the highly pathogenic C. deuterogattii may be emerging in southern China, and effective nationwide surveillance of C. gattii species complex infection is necessary.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008493 |
| spellingShingle | Chunyang Huang Clement K M Tsui Min Chen Kaisu Pan Xiuying Li Linqi Wang Meini Chen Yanqing Zheng Dongyan Zheng Xingchun Chen Li Jiang Lili Wei Wanqing Liao Cunwei Cao Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. |
| title_full | Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. |
| title_short | Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. |
| title_sort | emerging cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in guangxi southern china |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008493 |
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