TY - JOUR T1 - Multilocus Sequence Typing Reveals Extensive Genetic Diversity of the Emerging Fungal Pathogen Scedosporium aurantiacum AU - Harun, Azian AU - Kan, Alex AU - Schwabenbauer, Katharina AU - Gilgado, Felix AU - Perdomo, Haybrig AU - Firacative, Carolina AU - Losert, Heidemarie AU - Abdullah, Sarimah AU - Giraud, Sandrine AU - Kaltseis, Josef AU - Fraser, Mark AU - Buzina, Walter AU - Lackner, Michaela AU - Blyth, Christopher C. AU - Arthur, Ian AU - Rainer, Johannes AU - Lira, Jose´ F. Cano AU - Artigas, Josep Guarro AU - Tintelnot, Kathrin AU - Slavin, Monica A. AU - Heath, Christopher H. AU - Bouchara, Jean-Philippe AU - Chen, Sharon C. A. AU - Meyer, Wieland AB - Scedosporium spp. are the second most prevalent filamentous fungi after Aspergillus spp. recovered from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in various regions of the world. Although invasive infection is uncommon prior to lung transplantation, fungal colonization may be a risk factor for invasive disease with attendant high mortality post-transplantation. Abundant in the environment, Scedosporium aurantiacum has emerged as an important fungal pathogen in a range of clinical settings. To investigate the population genetic structure of S. aurantiacum, a MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST) scheme was developed, screening 24 genetic loci for polymorphisms on a tester strain set. The six most polymorphic loci were selected to form the S. aurantiacum MLST scheme: actin (ACT), calmodulin (CAL), elongation factor-1α (EF1α), RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), and β-tubulin (TUB). Among 188 global clinical, veterinary, and environmental strains, 5 to 18 variable sites per locus were revealed, resulting in 8 to 23 alleles per locus. MLST analysis observed a markedly high genetic diversity, reflected by 159 unique sequence types. Network analysis revealed a separation between Australian and non-Australian strains. Phylogenetic analysis showed two major clusters, indicating correlation with geographic origin. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed evidence of recombination. There was no clustering according to the source of the strains: clinical, veterinary, or environmental. The high diversity, especially amongst the Australian strains, suggests that S. aurantiacum may have originated within the Australian continent and was subsequently dispersed to other regions, as shown by the close phylogenetic relationships between some of the Australian sequence types and those found in other parts of the world. The MLST data are accessible at http://mlst.mycologylab.org. This is a joined publication of the ISHAM/ECMM working groups on “Scedosporium/Pseudallescheria Infections” and “Fungal Respiratory Infections in Cystic Fibrosis”. KW - Scedosporium aurantiacum KW - MLST (multilocus sequence typing) KW - genotyping KW - geographical origins KW - ecological context KW - clinical association KW - 610 Medizin und Gesundheit PY - 2021 LA - eng PB - Robert Koch-Institut JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VL - 11 IS - 761596 DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2021.761596 ER -