Identification and validation of novel Blastocystis subtype ST41 in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening

Authors: HERNÁNDEZ-CASTRO, CAROLINA - Instituto De Salud Carlos Iii; Maloney, Jenny; AGUDELO-LÓPEZ, SONIA - University Of Antioquia; TORO-LONDOÑO, MIGUEL - University Of Antioquia; BOTERO-GARCÉS, JORGE - University Of Antioquia; OROZCO, MARÍA - University Of Antioquia; QUINTERO-QUINCHIA, YULIETH - University Of Antioquia; CORREA-COTE, JUAN - University Of Antioquia; MÚNERA-DUQUE, ALEJANDRO - University Of Antioquia; RICAURTE-CIRO, JUAN - University Of Antioquia; LONDOÑO-ÁLVAREZ, LUIS - University Of Antioquia; ESCOBAR, RENÉ - University Of Antioquia; KÖSTER, PAMELA - Instituto De Salud Carlos Iii; CARMENA, DAVID - Instituto De Salud Carlos Iii; Santin-Duran, Monica

Submitted to: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2023
Publication Date: 5/17/2023
Citation: Hernández-Castro, C., Maloney, J.G., Agudelo-López, S.P., Toro-Londoño, M.A., Botero-Garcés, J.H., Orozco, M.C., Quintero-Quinchia, Y.C., Correa-Cote, J.C., Múnera-Duque, A., Ricaurte-Ciro, J.C., Londoño-Álvarez, L.I., Escobar, R.M., Köster, P.C., Carmena, D., Santin, M. 2023. Identification and validation of novel Blastocystis subtype ST41 in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 70. Aricle e12978. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12978.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12978

Interpretive Summary: Blastocystis sp. is one of the most frequent intestinal protists identified in humans worldwide. However, characterization of Blastocystis subtype diversity in humans is ongoing. We report here the identification of novel Blastocystis subtype, ST41, in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening. MinION long-read sequencing technology was used to obtain the full-length ssu rRNA gene sequence of the protist necessary to validate novel Blastocystis subtypes. The validity of the novel subtype was confirmed via phylogenetic and pairwise distance analyses of the full-length ST41 sequence and all other valid subtypes. This Blastocystis human isolate has been successfully cultured and cryopreserved, making it available for subsequent molecular or biological testing. This information is useful to other scientists, health care professionals, infectious diseases specialists, and public health agencies to understand epidemiology and pathogenicity of Blastocystis.

Technical Abstract: Blastocystis sp. is one of the most frequent intestinal protists identified in humans worldwide. However, characterization of Blastocystis subtype diversity in humans is ongoing. We report here the identification of novel Blastocystis subtype, ST41, in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening. MinION long-read sequencing technology was used to obtain the full-length ssu rRNA gene sequence of the protist necessary to validate novel Blastocystis subtypes. The validity of the novel subtype was confirmed via phylogenetic and pairwise distance analyses of the full-length ST41 sequence and all other valid subtypes. This Blastocystis human isolate has been successfully cultured and cryopreserved, making it available for subsequent molecular or biological testing. This information is useful to other scientists, health care professionals, infectious diseases specialists, and public health agencies to understand epidemiology and pathogenicity of Blastocystis.