Molecular phylogenetic diversity of the emerging mucoralean fungus Apophysomyces: proposal of three new species.
BACKGROUND
Apophysomyces is a monotypic genus belonging to the order Mucorales. The species Apophysomyces elegans has been reported to cause severe infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent people. In a previous study of Alvarez et al.(3) [J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:1650-6], we demonstrated a high variability among the 5.8S rRNA gene sequences of clinical strains of A. elegans.


METHODS
We performed a polyphasic study based on the analysis of the sequences of the histone 3 gene, the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA gene, and domains D1 and D2 of the 28S rRNA gene, as well as by evaluation of some relevant morphological and physiological characteristics of a set of clinical and environmental strains of A. elegans.


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated that A. elegans is a complex of species. We propose as new species Apophysomyces ossiformis, characterised by bone-shaped sporangiospores, Apophysomyces trapeziformis, with trapezoid-shaped sporangiospores, and Apophysomyces variabilis, with variable-shaped sporangiospores. These species failed to assimilate esculin, whereas A. elegans was able to assimilate that glycoside. Amphotericin B and posaconazole are the most active in vitro drugs against Apophysomyces.
Alvarez
Eduardo
E
Mycology Unit, Medical School and IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
Stchigel
Alberto M
AM
Cano
Josep
J
Sutton
Deanna A
DA
Fothergill
Annette W
AW
Chander
Jagdish
J
Salas
Valentina
V
Rinaldi
Michael G
MG
Guarro
Josep
J
D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009090:Mucorales / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006657:Histones; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D002244:Carbon