Spencermartinsiella nicolii sp. nov., a potential opportunistic pathogenic yeast species isolated from rotting wood in Brazil
Nineteen isolates representing a candidate for a novel yeast species belonging to the genus <i>Spencermartinsiella</i> were recovered from rotting wood samples collected at different sites in Atlantic Rainforest and Amazonian Forest ecosystems in Brazil. Similarity search of the nucleotide sequence of the intergenic spacer (ITS)-5.8S and large subunit D1/D2 regions of the ribosomal gene cluster showed that this novel yeast is closely related to <i>Spencermartinsiella cellulosicola</i>. The isolates differ by four nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and six substitutions and 31 indels in the ITS region from the holotype of <i>S. cellulosicola</i>. Phylogenomic analysis based on 1474 single-copy orthologues for a set of <i>Spencermartinsiella</i> species whose whole genome sequences are available confirmed that the novel species is phylogenetically close to <i>S. cellulosicola</i>. The low average nucleotide identity value of 83% observed between <i>S. cellulosicola</i> and the candidate species confirms that they are distinct. The novel species produced asci with hemispherical ascospores. The name <i>Spencermartinsiella nicolii</i> sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype is CBS 14238<sup>T</sup>. The MycoBank number is MB855027. Interestingly, the D1/D2 sequence of the <i>S. nicolii</i> was identical to that of an uncultured strain of <i>Spencermartinsiella</i> causing systemic infection in a male adult crocodile (<i>Crocodylus niloticus</i>). The characterization of some virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility of <i>S. nicolii</i> isolates suggest that this yeast may be an opportunistic pathogen for animals, including humans; the isolates grow at 37 °C.
Authors
- Carlos A. Rosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0056-9075)
- Cristina Jansen-Alves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2006-0129)
- Marcos José Salgado Vital (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9701-5118)
- Ana Paula Trovatti Uetanabaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-8474)
- Susana Johann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8068-1720)
- Camila G. Morais (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6673-8911)
- Ana Raquel O. Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9320-7673)
- Thiago Mafra Batista (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0755-1206)
- Gisele F. L. Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8995-9485)
- Glória Regina Franco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5245-2365)
- Aline Dias Valério (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1530-6059)
- Katharina O. Barros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9827-5966)
- Flávia B. M. Alvarenga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0612-0973)
- Daniela L. Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9727-6713)
- Aristóteles Goés‐Neto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7692-6243)
- Marc‐André Lachance (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9139-3935)
- Feng‐Yan Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9823-6430)
- Mariana Lopes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4947-384X)
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Western University (CA)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia (BR)
- Institute of Microbiology (CN)
- Universidade Federal de Roraima (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
- Published
- 2024-09-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006520
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.23
Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada