ABSTRACT
Nineteen isolates representing a candidate for a novel yeast species belonging to the genus Spencermartinsiella were recovered from rotting wood samples collected at different sites in Atlantic Rainforest and Amazonian Forest ecosystems in Brazil. Similarity search of the nucleotide sequence of the intergenic spacer (ITS)-5.8S and large subunit D1/D2 regions of the ribosomal gene cluster showed that this novel yeast is closely related to Spencermartinsiella cellulosicola. The isolates differ by four nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and six substitutions and 31 indels in the ITS region from the holotype of S. cellulosicola. Phylogenomic analysis based on 1474 single-copy orthologues for a set of Spencermartinsiella species whose whole genome sequences are available confirmed that the novel species is phylogenetically close to S. cellulosicola. The low average nucleotide identity value of 83% observed between S. cellulosicola and the candidate species confirms that they are distinct. The novel species produced asci with hemispherical ascospores. The name Spencermartinsiella nicolii sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype is CBS 14238T. The MycoBank number is MB855027. Interestingly, the D1/D2 sequence of the S. nicolii was identical to that of an uncultured strain of Spencermartinsiella causing systemic infection in a male adult crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). The characterization of some virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility of S. nicolii isolates suggest that this yeast may be an opportunistic pathogen for animals, including humans; the isolates grow at 37 °C.
Subject(s)
DNA, Fungal , Phylogeny , Saccharomycetales , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Wood , Brazil , Wood/microbiology , DNA, Fungal/genetics , Saccharomycetales/genetics , Saccharomycetales/isolation & purification , Saccharomycetales/classification , Mycological Typing Techniques , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Rainforest , ForestsABSTRACT
We report the finding of eggs of Calodium spp. (syn. Capillaria spp.; Hepaticola spp.) in a fecal sample from an old woman living in a riverine community in the Negro River Basin and describe the associated epidemiological investigation. The case probably does not represent true parasitism; the eggs, which were compatible with the species Calodium hepaticum, were most likely ingested upon consumption of infected tapir (Tapirus terrestris) liver, subsequently passing through the gut and being eliminated. The evolution of these eggs to infective stages in the environment, given the poor sanitation background, could provide the risk of occurrence of hepatic disease in humans.