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Ochroconis calidifluminalis, a Sibling of the Neurotropic Pathogen O. gallopava, Isolated from Hot Spring

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Abstract

Two strains resembling the neurotropic fungus Ochroconis gallopava were isolated from hot spring river water (IFM 54738 and IFM 54739). The isolates showed optimal growth at 42°C, while the maximum growth temperature was 49°C, thus having temperature relationships similar to those of O. gallopava. Colonies were light olive green, with a color change to dark reddish brown after several passages, which was also observed in O. gallopava. Conidia were indistinguishable from those of O. gallopava. The antifungal susceptibility profile of the isolates was also similar to that of O. gallopava, except for a lower susceptibility to micafungin. The two isolates had 100% homologous rRNA genes including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit. The gene fragments, as O. gallopava, could be amplified with species-specific rDNA primers, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification designed for O. gallopava yielded positive results in the two isolates. However, homologies with O. gallopava in ITS and D1/D2 regions were 79.2 and 95.9%, respectively, widely exceeding generally accepted species boundaries. These differences were corroborated in virulence tested in experimental infection. The two isolates did not kill a mouse even until 28 days. However, mortalities of four O. gallopava strains ranged from 40 to 100%. The new isolates mainly affected the kidneys; whereas O. gallopava had a strong preference for the brain. We therefore propose a new species, Ochroconis calidifluminalis, for the two isolates.

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Abbreviations

5-FC:

Flucytosine

AMB:

Amphotericin B

CBS:

CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre (Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures)

CMA:

Cornmeal agar

DDBJ:

Center for Information Biology and DNA Data Bank of Japan

FCZ:

Fluconazole

ICZ:

Itraconazole

ITS:

Internal transcribed spacer

LAMP:

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification

LSU:

Large subunit

MCF:

Micafungin

MCZ:

Miconazole

MIC:

Minimal inhibitory concentration

MOPS:

3-(N-Morpholino) propanesulfonic acid

OA:

Oatmeal agar

PDA:

Potato dextrose agar

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SSU:

Small subunit

VCZ:

Voriconazole

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the Special Research Fund for Emerging and Re-emerging Infections from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Japan, to Drs. Katsuhiko Kamei and Ayako Sano. We are grateful to Dr. Hitoshi Okada and Dr. Masako Osumi, Integrated Imaging Research Support, Tokyo, Japan, for providing SEM pictures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

    Kyoko Yarita, Ayako Sano, Katsuhiko Kamei & Kazuko Nishimura

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Kittipan Samerpitak

  3. CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    G. Sybren de Hoog

  4. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    G. Sybren de Hoog

  5. Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

    G. Sybren de Hoog

  6. First Laboratories Co. Ltd., Chiba, Japan

    Kazuko Nishimura

Authors
  1. Kyoko Yarita
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  2. Ayako Sano
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  3. Kittipan Samerpitak
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  4. Katsuhiko Kamei
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  5. G. Sybren de Hoog
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  6. Kazuko Nishimura
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Correspondence to Kyoko Yarita.

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Yarita, K., Sano, A., Samerpitak, K. et al. Ochroconis calidifluminalis, a Sibling of the Neurotropic Pathogen O. gallopava, Isolated from Hot Spring. Mycopathologia 170, 21–30 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-010-9292-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-010-9292-7

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