ARS | Publication request: Systematics and Population Genetics of a Phylogenetic Species Within the Fusarium solani Species Complex Associated with Human Infections

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 22, 2009
Publication Date: March 22, 2009
Citation: Short, D.P., Zhang, N., O Donnell, K., Geiser, D.M. 2009. Systematics and Population Genetics of a Phylogenetic Species Within the Fusarium solani Species Complex Associated with Human Infections. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: The Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a monophyletic group comprising dozens of phylogenetic and biological species, and represents the most common species complex associated with fusarial infections of mammals, particularly mycotic keratitis. Previous work found that approximately 75% of known FSSC isolates from human infections belonged to four phylogenetic groups (Zhang et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 44:2186-2190. 2006). In the 2005-06 outbreaks of fusarial keratitis associated with a particular brand of contact lens solution, a large majority of isolates from infected corneas were members of one of these groups, previously termed Group 2. We used multilocus sequence data from portions of four genes and six microsatellite harboring markers to investigate species boundaries and population structure associated with Group 2, including both clinical and environmental isolates. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed previous indications that FSSC Group 2 is a monophyletic group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated the presence of both MAT1 idiomorphs within the species, with no apparent phylogenetic clustering of idiomorphs, suggesting that there is an active, but at this time still cryptic sexual stage. Intraspecific analyses for population structure and recombination will be presented.