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Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gioti, A; Nystedt, B; Li, W; Xu, J; Andersson, A; Averette, AF; Münch, K; Wang, X; Kappauf, C; Kingsbury, JM; Kraak, B; Walker, LA; Holm, T ...
Published in: mBio
January 22, 2013

UNLABELLED: Malassezia commensal yeasts are associated with a number of skin disorders, such as atopic eczema/dermatitis and dandruff, and they also can cause systemic infections. Here we describe the 7.67-Mbp genome of Malassezia sympodialis, a species associated with atopic eczema, and contrast its genome repertoire with that of Malassezia globosa, associated with dandruff, as well as those of other closely related fungi. Ninety percent of the predicted M. sympodialis protein coding genes were experimentally verified by mass spectrometry at the protein level. We identified a relatively limited number of genes related to lipid biosynthesis, and both species lack the fatty acid synthase gene, in line with the known requirement of these yeasts to assimilate lipids from the host. Malassezia species do not appear to have many cell wall-localized glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) proteins and lack other cell wall proteins previously identified in other fungi. This is surprising given that in other fungi these proteins have been shown to mediate interactions (e.g., adhesion and biofilm formation) with the host. The genome revealed a complex evolutionary history for an allergen of unknown function, Mala s 7, shown to be encoded by a member of an amplified gene family of secreted proteins. Based on genetic and biochemical studies with the basidiomycete human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, we characterized the allergen Mala s 6 as the cytoplasmic cyclophilin A. We further present evidence that M. sympodialis may have the capacity to undergo sexual reproduction and present a model for a pseudobipolar mating system that allows limited recombination between two linked MAT loci. IMPORTANCE: Malassezia commensal yeasts are associated with a number of skin disorders. The previously published genome of M. globosa provided some of the first insights into Malassezia biology and its involvement in dandruff. Here, we present the genome of M. sympodialis, frequently isolated from patients with atopic eczema and healthy individuals. We combined comparative genomics with sequencing and functional characterization of specific genes in a population of clinical isolates and in closely related model systems. Our analyses provide insights into the evolution of allergens related to atopic eczema and the evolutionary trajectory of the machinery for sexual reproduction and meiosis. We hypothesize that M. sympodialis may undergo sexual reproduction, which has important implications for the understanding of the life cycle and virulence potential of this medically important yeast. Our findings provide a foundation for the development of genetic and genomic tools to elucidate host-microbe interactions that occur on the skin and to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

mBio

DOI

EISSN

2150-7511

Publication Date

January 22, 2013

Volume

4

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e00572 / e00512

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Proteome
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Malassezia
  • Humans
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Dermatitis, Atopic
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Gioti, A., Nystedt, B., Li, W., Xu, J., Andersson, A., Averette, A. F., … Scheynius, A. (2013). Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis. MBio, 4(1), e00572–e00512. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00572-12
Gioti, Anastasia, Björn Nystedt, Wenjun Li, Jun Xu, Anna Andersson, Anna F. Averette, Karin Münch, et al. “Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis.MBio 4, no. 1 (January 22, 2013): e00572–e00512. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00572-12.
Gioti A, Nystedt B, Li W, Xu J, Andersson A, Averette AF, et al. Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis. mBio. 2013 Jan 22;4(1):e00572–e00512.
Gioti, Anastasia, et al. “Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis.MBio, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. e00572–e00512. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/mBio.00572-12.
Gioti A, Nystedt B, Li W, Xu J, Andersson A, Averette AF, Münch K, Wang X, Kappauf C, Kingsbury JM, Kraak B, Walker LA, Johansson HJ, Holm T, Lehtiö J, Stajich JE, Mieczkowski P, Kahmann R, Kennell JC, Cardenas ME, Lundeberg J, Saunders CW, Boekhout T, Dawson TL, Munro CA, de Groot PWJ, Butler G, Heitman J, Scheynius A. Genomic insights into the atopic eczema-associated skin commensal yeast Malassezia sympodialis. mBio. 2013 Jan 22;4(1):e00572–e00512.

Published In

mBio

DOI

EISSN

2150-7511

Publication Date

January 22, 2013

Volume

4

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e00572 / e00512

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Proteome
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Malassezia
  • Humans
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Dermatitis, Atopic