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Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Li, W; Averette, AF; Desnos-Ollivier, M; Ni, M; Dromer, F; Heitman, J
Published in: G3 (Bethesda)
January 2012

Natural hybridization between two strains, varieties, or species is a common phenomenon in both plants and animals. Although hybridization may skew established gene pools, it generates population diversity efficiently and sometimes results in the emergence of newly adapted genotypes. Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes the most frequent opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised hosts, has three serotypes: A, D, and AD. Serotype-specific multilocus sequence typing and serotype-specific comparative genome hybridization were applied to investigate the genetic variability and genomic organization of C. neoformans serotype AD isolates. We confirm that C. neoformans serotype AD isolates are hybrids of serotype A and D strains. Compared with haploid strains, most AD hybrid isolates exhibit unique multilocus sequence typing genotypes, suggesting that multiple independent hybridization events punctuated the origin and evolutionary trajectory of AD hybrids. The MATa alleles from both haploid and AD hybrid isolates group closely to form a cluster or subcluster in both the serotype A and D populations. The rare and unique distribution of MATa alleles may restrict sexual reproduction between isolates of opposite mating types. The genetic diversity of the serotype D population, including haploid strains and serotype D genomes of the AD hybrid, is significantly greater than that of serotype A, and there are signatures of recombination within the serotype D population. Given that MATa isolates are relatively rare, both opposite-sex and same-sex mating may contribute to genetic recombination of serotype D in nature. Extensive chromosome loss was observed in AD hybrid isolates, which results in loss of heterozygosity in the otherwise-heterozygous AD hybrid genome. Most AD hybrid isolates exhibit hybrid vigor and are resistant to the antifungal drug FK506. In addition, the C. neoformans AD hybrid genome is highly dynamic, with continuous chromosome loss, which may be a facile route for pathogen evolution through which genotypic and phenotypic variation is generated.

Duke Scholars

Published In

G3 (Bethesda)

DOI

EISSN

2160-1836

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

2

Issue

1

Start / End Page

83 / 97

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 4905 Statistics
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 0604 Genetics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Li, W., Averette, A. F., Desnos-Ollivier, M., Ni, M., Dromer, F., & Heitman, J. (2012). Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains. G3 (Bethesda), 2(1), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.111.001255
Li, Wenjun, Anna Floyd Averette, Marie Desnos-Ollivier, Min Ni, Françoise Dromer, and Joseph Heitman. “Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains.G3 (Bethesda) 2, no. 1 (January 2012): 83–97. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.111.001255.
Li W, Averette AF, Desnos-Ollivier M, Ni M, Dromer F, Heitman J. Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains. G3 (Bethesda). 2012 Jan;2(1):83–97.
Li, Wenjun, et al. “Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains.G3 (Bethesda), vol. 2, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 83–97. Pubmed, doi:10.1534/g3.111.001255.
Li W, Averette AF, Desnos-Ollivier M, Ni M, Dromer F, Heitman J. Genetic Diversity and Genomic Plasticity of Cryptococcus neoformans AD Hybrid Strains. G3 (Bethesda). 2012 Jan;2(1):83–97.

Published In

G3 (Bethesda)

DOI

EISSN

2160-1836

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

2

Issue

1

Start / End Page

83 / 97

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 4905 Statistics
  • 3105 Genetics
  • 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
  • 0604 Genetics