title: Insight into different environmental niches adaptation and allergenicity from the Cladosporium sphaerospermum genome, a common human allergy-eliciting Dothideomycetes.
abstract: Cladosporium sphaerospermum, a dematiaceous saprophytic fungus commonly found in diverse environments, has been reported to cause allergy and other occasional diseases in humans. However, its basic biology and genetic information are largely unexplored. A clinical isolate C. sphaerospermum genome, UM 843, was re-sequenced and combined with previously generated sequences to form a model 26.89 Mb genome containing 9,652 predicted genes. Functional annotation on predicted genes suggests the ability of this fungus to degrade carbohydrate and protein complexes. Several putative peptidases responsible for lung tissue hydrolysis were identified. These genes shared high similarity with the Aspergillus peptidases. The UM 843 genome encodes a wide array of proteins involved in the biosynthesis of melanin, siderophores, cladosins and survival in high salinity environment. In addition, a total of 28 genes were predicted to be associated with allergy. Orthologous gene analysis together with 22 other Dothideomycetes showed genes uniquely present in UM 843 that encode four class 1 hydrophobins which may be allergens specific to Cladosporium. The mRNA of these hydrophobins were detected by RT-PCR. The genomic analysis of UM 843 contributes to the understanding of the biology and allergenicity of this widely-prevalent species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Su Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chai Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yun Fong
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ngeow
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yue Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shiang Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Codon Genomics SB, No. 26, Jalan Dutamas 7, Taman Dutamas, Balakong, 43200 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kok Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Codon Genomics SB, No. 26, Jalan Dutamas 7, Taman Dutamas, Balakong, 43200 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee-Choong
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hoh
authors.affiliation: Codon Genomics SB, No. 26, Jalan Dutamas 7, Taman Dutamas, Balakong, 43200 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wai-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kee Peng
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee Sian
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kuan
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D063990:Gene Ontology; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010802:Phylogeny; D061065:Polyketides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D017262:Siderophores / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D061065:Polyketides; D017262:Siderophores; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases