Abstract Detail

Poster Session

Lueschow, Shiloh [1], Johnson, Lynnaun [2], Williams, Tabitha [1], Porras-Alfaro, Andrea [1].

Phylogenetic Relationship Between Human Opportunistic Pathogens and the Causative Agent of White Nose Syndrome in Bats.

Geomyces pannorum is a common soil fungus that has been isolated as an opportunistic human pathogen causing nail and skin infections.  In addition to Geomyces pannorum, in the last years the genus Geomyces has acquired great importance due to the large mortality of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (previously described as a Geomyces species).  P. destructans is responsible for White Nose Syndrome (WNS). The phylogenetic placement of pathogenic Geomyces species in humans with respect to P. destructans is unclear.   The goal of this research was to characterize and determine the phylogenetic relationships between various Geomyces strains, isolated from humans, bats, and from the environment with respect to the bat pathogen P. destructans using microscopy, culturing methods and two gene markers, the ITS rDNA and MCM7 regions.  A collection of 44 different isolates, 36 of which were isolated from bat wings, four from human hosts, and four from environmental samples were characterized.  All of the isolates were psychrotolerant, including the human pathogens, while only P. destructans was a true psychrophile.  Phylogenetic analysis showed that bat swab cultures from Illinois are closely related to multiple Pseudogymnoascus clades as well as the Geomyces clade.  Human opportunistic and environmental isolates considered to be Geomyces pannorum cluster in the Pseudogymnoascus clade.  All of the isolates cluster with well-defined groups with the exception of three cultures isolated from bats and one from the environment. These isolates could represent four potential new groups for the highly diverse Pseudogymnoascus genus.

1 - Western Illinois University, Biology, Waggoner Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA
2 - Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, O.T. Hogan Hall, Room 2-144, Evanston, IL, 606208, USA

Keywords:
Geomyces pannorum
Pseudogymnoascus destructans
Phylogenetic relationships.

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Poster
Session: P1
Location: Lincoln Room/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Number: P1005
Abstract ID:49
Candidate for Awards:None