title: The importance of molecular analyses for understanding the genetic diversity of Histoplasma capsulatum: an overview.
abstract: Advances in the classification of the human pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum) (ascomycete) are sustained by the results of several genetic analyses that support the high diversity of this dimorphic fungus. The present mini-review highlights the great genetic plasticity of H. capsulatum. Important records with different molecular tools, mainly single- or multi-locus sequence analyses developed with this fungus, are discussed. Recent phylogenetic data with a multi-locus sequence analysis using 5 polymorphic loci support a new clade and/or phylogenetic species of H. capsulatum for the Americas, which was associated with fungal isolates obtained from the migratory bat Tadarida brasiliensis. This manuscript is part of the series of works presented at the "V International Workshop: Molecular genetic approaches to the study of human pathogenic fungi" (Oaxaca, Mexico, 2012).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vite-Garín
authors.affiliation: Colección Nacional de Cultivos Microbianos, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Daniel Alfonso
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Estrada-Bárcenas
authors.affiliation: Herbario FCME (Hongos), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México DF, Mexico. Electronic address: emello@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012098:Reproduction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Análisis multi-loci; Diversidad genética; Genetic diversity; Histoplasma capsulatum; Instrumentos moleculares; Molecular tools; Multi-locus analyses