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Genomic and experimental evidence for a potential sexual cycle in the pathogenic thermal dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei
Author(s) -
Woo Patrick C.Y.,
Chong Ken T.K.,
Tse Herman,
Cai James J.,
Lau Candy C.Y.,
Zhou Anna C.,
Lau Susanna K.P.,
Yuen Kwok-yung
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.05.014
Subject(s) - heterothallic , mating type , biology , penicillium marneffei , aspergillus nidulans , dimorphic fungus , aspergillus fumigatus , gene , genetics , aspergillus , microbiology and biotechnology , mating , pathogenic fungus , fungus , botany , yeast , coinfection , virus , mutant
All meiotic genes (except HOP1 ) and genes encoding putative pheromone processing enzymes, pheromone receptors and pheromone response pathways proteins in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans and a putative MAT‐1 α box mating‐type gene were present in the Penicillium marneffei genome. A putative MAT‐2 high‐mobility group mating‐type gene was amplified from a MAT‐1 α box mating‐type gene‐negative P. marneffei strain. Among 37 P. marneffei patient strains, MAT‐1 α box and MAT‐2 high‐mobility group mating‐type genes were present in 23 and 14 isolates, respectively. We speculate that P. marneffei can potentially be a heterothallic fungus that does not switch mating type.