title: Molecular epidemiology of Aspergillus collected from cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspergillus respiratory infection is a common complication in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with loss of pulmonary function and allergic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three Aspergillus isolates recovered from CF patients were identified to species by Internal Transcribed Spacer Region (ITS), β-tubulin, and calmodulin sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three species complexes (Terrei, Nigri, and Fumigati) were found. Identification to species level gave a single Aspergillus terreus sensu stricto, one Aspergillus niger sensu stricto and 51 Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto isolates. No cryptic species were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study of Aspergillus species in CF using molecular methods. The paucity of non-A. fumigatus and of cryptic species of A. fumigatus suggests a special association of A. fumigatus sensu stricto with CF airways, indicating it likely displays unique characteristics making it suitable for chronic residence in that milieu. These findings could refine an epidemiologic and therapeutic approach geared to this pathogen.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge-Infectious Diseases Department, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA, United States. Electronic address: raquelsabino@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA, United States; School of Medicine, Faculdade da Saúde e Ecologia Humana-FASEH, Vespasiano, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge-Infectious Diseases Department, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge-Infectious Diseases Department, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veríssimo
authors.affiliation: Scientific Area of Mathematics, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Karl V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Cassie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Everson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banaei
authors.affiliation: California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA, United States.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA, United States.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aspergillus; Cryptic species; Cystic fibrosis