Molecular and morphological data support the existence of a sexual cycle in species of the genus Paracoccidioides.

ABSTRACT: The genus Paracoccidioides includes the thermodimorphic species Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii, both of which are etiologic agents of paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis that affects humans in Latin America. Despite the common occurrence of a sexual stage among closely related fungi, this has not been observed with Paracoccidioides species, which have thus been considered asexual. Molecular evolutionary studies revealed recombination events within isolated populations of the genus Paracoccidioides, suggesting the possible existence of a sexual cycle. Comparative genomic analysis of all dimorphic fungi and Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated the presence of conserved genes involved in sexual reproduction, including those encoding mating regulators such as MAT, pheromon

SUBMITTER: Teixeira Mde M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3629771 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature