Breathing can be dangerous: Opportunistic fungal pathogens and the diverse community of the small mammal lung mycobiome

• DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.996574
• Publication Date: 2022-09-26T04:30:37Z
• Authors: Paris S. Salazar-...; Kyana N. Montoya; Liliam Montoya; Kel Cook; Schuyler Liphardt; John W. Taylor; Joseph A. Cook; Donald O. Natvig
• Keywords: Coccidioides; Blastomyces; Coccidioides immitis

Human lung mycobiome studies typically sample bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum, potentially overlooking fungi embedded in tissues. Employing ultra-frozen tissues from biorepositories, we obtained fungal ribosomal RNA ITS2 sequences 199 small mammals across 39 species. We documented diverse fungi, including common environmental such as Penicillium and Aspergillus, associates of the human Malassezia Candida, others specifically adapted for lungs (Coccidioides, Blastomyces, Pneumocystis). Pneumocystis were detected 83% samples generally exhibited phylogenetic congruence with hosts. Among opportunistic pathogens Onygenales, species Coccidioides occurred 12% Blastomyces 85% samples. 14 mammalian The presence neither nor Aspergillus fumigatus correlated substantial shifts overall mycobiome, although there was some indication that communities might be influenced by high levels A. fumigatus. Although members Onygenales (92%), they are not surveys. Our results indicate certain commensal mycobiome. These provide new insights into biology lung-inhabiting flag potential reservoirs emerging pathogens.