The case for adopting the "Species Complex" nomenclature for the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a potentially lethal disease of humans/animals caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Distinction between the two species is based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that C. neoformans be divided into two species and C. gattii into five species based on a phylogenetic analysis of 115 isolates. While this proposal adds to the knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptococcosis agents, the published genotypes of 2,606 strains have already revealed more genetic diversity than is encompassed by seven species. Naming every clade as a separate species at this juncture will lead to continuing nomenclatural instability. In the absence of biological differences between clades and no consensus about how DNA sequence alone can delineate a species, we recommend using “Cryptococcus neoformans species complex” and “C. gattii species complex” as a practical intermediate step, rather than creating more species. This strategy recognizes genetic diversity without creating confusion.
Date Issued
2017-01-11
Date Acceptance
2017-01-01
Citation
mSphere, 2017, 2 (1)
ISSN
2379-5042
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Journal / Book Title
mSphere
Volume
2
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Kwon-Chung et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000394567400003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Microbiology
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcus gattii
Cryptococcus neoformans
clade
genetic diversity
new nomenclature
species complex
NEOFORMANS
GATTII
FUNGI
POPULATION
HIV/AIDS
REVEALS
HYBRID
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e00357-16