Sasikumar Jayaprakash, Shaikh Heena Azhar, Naik Bharati, Laha Suparna, Das Shankar Prasad
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India.
Microb Pathog. 2025 Mar;200:107278. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107278. Epub 2025 Jan 11.
Fungal hybrids arise through the interbreeding of distinct species. This hybridization process fosters increased genetic diversity and the emergence of new traits. Mechanisms driving hybridization include the loss of heterozygosity, copy number variations, and horizontal gene transfer. Genetic mating barriers, changes in ploidy, chromosomal instability, and genomic diversity influence hybridization. These factors directly impact the fitness and adaptation of hybrid offspring. Epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin remodelling, play a role in post-mating isolation in hybrids. In addition to all these mechanisms, successful hybridization in fungi is ensured by cellular mechanisms like mitochondrial inheritance, transposable elements, and other genome conversion mechanisms. These mechanisms support hybrid life and enhance the virulence and pathogenicity of fungal hybrids, which provoke diseases in host organisms. Recent advancements in sequencing have uncovered fungal hybrids in pathogens like Aspergillus, Candida, and Cryptococcus. Examples of these hybrids, such as Aspergillus latus, Candida metapsilosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans, induce severe human infections. Identifying fungal hybrids is challenging due to their altered genome traits. ITS sequencing has emerged as a promising method for diagnosing these hybrids. To prevent the emergence of novel hybrid fungal pathogens, it is crucial to develop effective diagnostic techniques and closely monitor pathogenic fungal populations for signs of hybridization. This comprehensive review delves into various facts about fungal hybridization, including its causes, genetic outcomes, barriers, diagnostic strategies, and examples of emerging fungal hybrids. The review emphasises the potential threat that fungal hybrids pose to human health and highlights their clinical significance.
真菌杂种通过不同物种的杂交产生。这种杂交过程促进了遗传多样性的增加和新性状的出现。驱动杂交的机制包括杂合性丧失、拷贝数变异和水平基因转移。遗传交配障碍、倍性变化、染色体不稳定性和基因组多样性影响杂交。这些因素直接影响杂种后代的适应性和适应性。表观遗传因素，包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、非编码RNA和染色质重塑，在杂种的交配后隔离中发挥作用。除了所有这些机制外，真菌中的成功杂交还通过线粒体遗传、转座元件和其他基因组转换机制等细胞机制来确保。这些机制支持杂种的生存，并增强真菌杂种的毒力和致病性，从而在宿主生物体中引发疾病。测序技术的最新进展揭示了曲霉、念珠菌和隐球菌等病原体中的真菌杂种。这些杂种的例子，如宽曲霉、间型念珠菌和新生隐球菌，会引发严重的人类感染。由于真菌杂种的基因组特征发生了改变，因此识别它们具有挑战性。ITS测序已成为诊断这些杂种的一种有前途的方法。为了防止新型杂种真菌病原体的出现，开发有效的诊断技术并密切监测致病真菌种群的杂交迹象至关重要。这篇综述深入探讨了有关真菌杂交的各种事实，包括其原因、遗传结果、障碍、诊断策略以及新兴真菌杂种的例子。该综述强调了真菌杂种对人类健康构成的潜在威胁，并突出了它们的临床意义。
