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Eukaryotic Cell, March 2009, p. 287-295, Vol. 8, No. 3
1535-9778/09/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/EC.00215-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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Institut Pasteur, Genotyping of Pathogens and Public Health, F-75015 Paris, France,1 Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Amiens, F-80000 Amiens, France,2 Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris6, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Paris, F-75012 France,3 UMR 2724 IRD/CNRS "Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses," F-34000 Montpellier, France,4 Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France,5 Institut Pasteur, Génétique Moléculaire des Levures (URA 2171 CNRS, UFR 927 Université P. et M. Curie), F-75015 Paris, France,6 Microbiology Department, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain,7 Department of Public Health-Microbiology-Virology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,8 INSERM, UMRS511, Paris, F-75013 France9
Received 30 June 2008/ Accepted 29 November 2008
In order to shed light on its basic biology, we initiated a population genetic analysis of Candida glabrata, an emerging pathogenic yeast with no sexual stage yet recognized. A worldwide collection of clinical strains was subjected to analysis using variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) at nine loci. The clustering of strains obtained with this method was congruent with that obtained using sequence polymorphism of the NMT1 gene, a locus previously proposed for lineage assignment. Linkage disequilibrium supported the hypothesis of a mainly clonal reproduction. No heterozygous diploid genotype was found. Minimum-spanning tree analysis of VNTR data revealed clonal expansions and associated genotypic diversification. Mating type analysis revealed that 80% of the strains examined are MATa and 20% MAT
and that the two alleles are not evenly distributed. The MATa genotype dominated within large clonal groups that contained only one or a few MAT
types. In contrast, two groups were dominated by MAT
strains. Our data are consistent with rare independent mating type switching events occurring preferentially from type a to
, although the alternative possibility of selection favoring type a isolates cannot be excluded.
Published ahead of print on 16 January 2009.
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