title: Diversity of opportunistic black fungi on babassu coconut shells, a rich source of esters and hydrocarbons.
abstract: The present study assessed the diversity of black yeast-like fungi present on babassu coconut shells, a substrate rich in lipids and several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including aromatic hydrocarbons. Using different isolation methods, one-hundred-six isolates were obtained and were identified by ITS sequencing as members of the genera Exophiala, Cladophialophora, Veronaea, and Rhinocladiella. Two novel species were discovered. Eight strains were selected for assessing their ability to grow on toluene and phenyl acetate as the sole carbon and energy source. All strains tested were able to assimilate phenyl acetate, while two out of eight were able to use toluene. VOCs profiling in babassu samples was also investigated by GC-ToF MS, revealing that a complex mixture of VOCs was emitted, which included alkylbenzenes such as toluene. Assimilation of alkylbenzenes by the black yeasts might therefore be the result of evolutionary adaptation to symbiotic interactions with higher plants. The potential relationship between lipid/aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism and pathogenicity is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil; Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mariana M F
authors.initials: MMF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vania A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.affiliation: Technological Federal University of Paraná, Ponta Grossa 84016210, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana V M
authors.initials: JVM
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil; University of West of Santa Catarina - UNOESC, Videira 89900-000, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jane Mary L
authors.initials: JML
authors.lastname: Gelinski
authors.affiliation: IRTA, GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC, Torre Marimon, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Prenafeta-Boldú
authors.affiliation: IRTA, GIRO Joint Research Unit IRTA-UPC, Torre Marimon, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maycoll
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero-Güiza
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gheniffer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Germana D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A H G
authors.initials: AHG
authors.lastname: Gerrits Van Den Ende
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65020070, Brazil.
authors.forename: Conceição D M P S
authors.initials: CDMPS
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Graduate Programme, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81540-970, Brazil; Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.hoog@westerdijkinstitute.nl.
authors.forename: G Sybren
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: De Hoog
mesh_terms: D001482:Base Composition; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003059:Cocos / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D004952:Esters; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Black yeasts; Chaetothyriales; Toluene; Volatile organic compounds