Genomic and experimental evidence for a potential sexual cycle in the pathogenic thermal dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei

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.