As if the world of WNS-related science weren't confusing enough, scientists from the USDA Forest Service Center for Forest Mycology Research have performed DNA sequencing on the fungus formerly known as Geomyces destructans, and have taxonomically reclassified it as Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The paper also discusses the taxonomic relationship with several other fungi found or discovered from bat hibernacula soil sampling.
The paper is published in the journal Fungal Biology, but those of us without a subscription can read the abstract online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878614613001025 "White-nose syndrome of bats, caused by the fungus previously known as Geomyces destructans, has decimated populations of insectivorous bats in eastern North America. Recent work on fungi associated with bat hibernacula uncovered a large number of species of Geomyces and allies, far exceeding the number of described species. Communication about these species has been hindered by the lack of a modern taxonomic evaluation, and a phylogenetic framework of the group is needed to understand the origin ofGeomyces destructans and to target closely related species and their genomes for the purposes of understanding mechanisms of pathogenicity. We addressed these issues by generating DNA sequence data for the ITS region, LSU, MCM7, RPB2, and TEF1 from a diverse array of Geomyces and allies that included isolates recovered from bat hibernacula as well as those that represent important type species. Phylogenetic analyses indicate Geomyces and allies should be classified in the family Pseudeurotiaceae, and the generaGeomyces, Gymnostellatospora, and Pseudogymnoascus should be recognized as distinct. TrueGeomyces are restricted to a basal lineage based on phylogenetic placement of the type species, G. auratus. Thus, Geomyces destructans is placed in genus Pseudogymnoascus. The closest relatives of P. destructans are members of the Pseudogymnoascus roseus species complex, however, the isolated and long branch of P. destructans indicates that none of the species included in this study are closely related, thus providing further support to the hypothesis that this pathogen is non-native and invasive in eastern North America. Several conidia-producing isolates from bat hibernacula previously identified as members ofPseudeurotium are determined to belong to the genus Leuconeurospora, which is widespread, especially in colder regions. Teberdinia hygrophila is transferred to Pseudeurotium as Pseudeurotium hygrophilum, comb. nov., in accordance with the one name per fungus system of classification, and two additional combinations are made in Pseudogymnoascus including P. carnis and P. pannorum. Additional sampling from other regions of the world is needed to better understand the evolution and biogeography of this important and diverse group of fungi." - DR -- David A. Riggs Myotisoft, LLC 13788 Mountaineer Dr. Riverton, WV 26814 http://www.myotisoft.com [email protected] mobile: (304) 685-7537 office: (304) 873-MYSO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "White-Nose Syndrome Discussion" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/wns-discuss. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
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