Genomic innovations linked to infection strategies across emerging pathogenic chytrid fungi.
To understand the evolutionary pathways that lead to emerging infections of vertebrates, here we explore the genomic innovations that allow free-living chytrid fungi to adapt to and colonize amphibian hosts. Sequencing and comparing the genomes of two pathogenic species of Batrachochytrium to those of close saprophytic relatives reveals that pathogenicity is associated with remarkable expansions of protease and cell wall gene families, while divergent infection strategies are linked to radiations of lineage-specific gene families. By comparing the host-pathogen response to infection for both pathogens, we illuminate the traits that underpin a strikingly different immune response within a shared host species. Our results show that, despite commonalities that promote infection, specific gene-family radiations contribute to distinct infection strategies. The breadth and evolutionary novelty of candidate virulence factors that we discover underscores the urgent need to halt the advance of pathogenic chytrids and prevent incipient loss of biodiversity.
Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.|Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
Rhys A
0000-0001-8456-7458
RA
Farrer
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
An
0000-0001-7609-5649
A
Martel
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Elin
E
Verbrugghe
Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Amr
A
Abouelleil
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Richard
R
Ducatelle
School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA.
Joyce E
JE
Longcore
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Timothy Y
TY
James
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Frank
F
Pasmans
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
Matthew C
0000-0002-1862-6402
MC
Fisher
Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Christina A
0000-0002-5778-960X
CA
Cuomo
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics*; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D023281:Genomics; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D037521:Virulence Factors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases