Mapengo Rutendo E, Maphanga Tsidiso G, Jofre Gaston I, Rader Jonathan A, Turissini David A, Birkhead Monica, Kwabia S Ama, Sepúlveda Victoria E, Buitrago Maria José, Teixeira Marcus de Melo, Barker Bridget M, Alanio Alexandre, Sturny-Leclère Aude, Garcia-Hermoso Dea, Govender Nelesh P, Matute Daniel R
Wits Mycology Division, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa.
National Institute for Communicable Diseases, A Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
mBio. 2025 Aug 5:e0056425. doi: 10.1128/mbio.00564-25.
Histoplasmosis, the disease caused by thermally dimorphic fungi in the genus , is usually associated with pulmonary involvement in healthy individuals and a disseminated syndrome in immunocompromised patients. Among African patients, lung disease is less commonly reported than skin, lymph node, or bone disease. Because different species or strains may be associated with different disease presentations and outcomes, understanding genetic and phenotypic variation in the genus is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment. We sequenced the genomes of 36 isolates from Africa and used population genomics to measure the genetic variation of the genus on the African continent and to compare the genetic diversity of these isolates to the previously described Indian and American phylogenetic species. We found that strains from Africa belong to genetic lineages that are differentiated enough to be considered a phylogenetic species. The first, the lineage, is consistent with a previously described species () which includes clinical cases more frequently associated with extrapulmonary manifestations than cases caused by other lineages. While there is some evidence of gene flow between lineages, it has not precluded divergence. A second lineage corresponding to ) includes all the isolates from equine samples. We identified loci under selection in these two better-sampled lineages and found loci that have undergone parallel positive selection. A single African isolate resembles a South American lineage. Finally, we measured the potential range expansion of the disease using climatic projections, highlighting the need to implement surveillance to monitor phylogenetic species of across Africa.IMPORTANCE fungi, which cause histoplasmosis, are widespread and considered high-priority pathogens. While researchers have identified multiple genetically distinct lineages worldwide, little is known about diversity in Africa due to minimal sampling and inadequate diagnostics. Our study addresses this gap using population genomics to analyze stored African isolates. We identified three distinct groups: one of them is endemic to Africa and aligns with , a lineage linked to skin-involved infections, while another lineage () matches , associated with equine lymphangitis. Additionally, one African isolate closely resembles a South American lineage (mz5-like). These three lineages are genetically unique enough to be considered separate species. By integrating phylogenetics, clinical data, and environmental modeling, we provide the most comprehensive genetic assessment of African to date. This work not only enhances our understanding of an overlooked pathogen but also offers a model for studying other neglected fungi with global health implications.
组织胞浆菌病是由该属的双态真菌引起的疾病,在健康个体中通常与肺部受累有关,而在免疫功能低下的患者中则与播散性综合征有关。在非洲患者中,肺部疾病的报告比皮肤、淋巴结或骨骼疾病少见。由于不同的物种或菌株可能与不同的疾病表现和结果相关,了解该属的遗传和表型变异对于准确的诊断和治疗很重要。我们对来自非洲的36株分离株进行了基因组测序,并使用群体基因组学来测量该属在非洲大陆的遗传变异,并将这些分离株的遗传多样性与先前描述的印度和美国系统发育物种进行比较。我们发现来自非洲的菌株属于遗传谱系,其差异足以被视为一个系统发育物种。第一个是 谱系,与先前描述的物种()一致,该物种包括比其他谱系引起的病例更常与肺外表现相关的临床病例。虽然有一些证据表明 谱系之间存在基因流动,但这并没有排除分化。对应于()的第二个谱系包括来自马样本的所有分离株。我们在这两个采样较好的谱系中鉴定了受选择的基因座,并发现了经历平行正选择的基因座。一个非洲分离株类似于一个南美谱系。最后,我们使用气候预测来测量该疾病的潜在范围扩展,强调需要实施监测以监测非洲各地的系统发育物种。重要性 引起组织胞浆菌病的真菌广泛存在,被认为是高优先级病原体。虽然研究人员已经在全球范围内鉴定出多个遗传上不同的谱系,但由于采样极少和诊断不足,对非洲的 多样性知之甚少。我们的研究通过使用群体基因组学来分析储存的非洲分离株来填补这一空白。我们鉴定出三个不同的组:其中一个是非洲特有的,与 一致,这是一个与皮肤感染相关的谱系,而另一个谱系()与 匹配,与马淋巴管炎相关。此外,一个非洲分离株与一个南美谱系(mz5样)非常相似。这三个谱系在遗传上足够独特,可以被视为不同的物种。通过整合系统发育学、临床数据和环境建模,我们提供了迄今为止对非洲 最全面的遗传评估。这项工作不仅增强了我们对一种被忽视的病原体的理解,还为研究其他对全球健康有影响的被忽视真菌提供了一个模型。