Dandruff-associated Malassezia genomes reveal convergent and divergent virulence traits shared with plant and human fungal pathogens

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706756104
• Publication Date: 2007-11-14T02:05:21Z
• Authors: Jun Xu; Charles W. Saunders; Ping Hu; Raymond A. Grant; Teun Boekhout; Eiko E. Kuramae; James W. Kronstad; Yvonne M. DeAngelis; Nancy L. Reeder; Kevin R. Johnstone; Meredith Leland; Angela M. Fieno; William M. Begley; Yiping Sun; Martin P. Lacey; Tanuja Chaudhary; Thomas Keough; Lien Chu; Russell Sears; Bo Yuan; Thomas L. Dawson
• Keywords: Malassezia; Proteome

Fungi in the genus Malassezia are ubiquitous skin residents of humans and other warm-blooded animals. involved disorders including dandruff seborrheic dermatitis, which together affect >50% humans. Despite importance common diseases, remarkably little is known at molecular level. We describe genome, secretory proteome, expression selected genes globosa. Further, we report a comparative survey genome proteome restricta, close relative implicated similar disorders. Adaptation to environment associated pathogenicity may be due unique metabolic limitations capabilities. For example, lipid dependence M. globosa can explained by apparent absence fatty acid synthase gene. The inability synthesize acids complemented presence multiple secreted lipases aid harvesting host lipids. In addition, an abundance encoding hydrolases (e.g., lipases, phospholipases, aspartyl proteases, sphingomyelinases) was found genome. contrast, phylogenetically closely related plant pathogen Ustilago maydis encodes different arsenal extracellular with more copies glycosyl hydrolase genes. shares distant human pathogen, Candida albicans, occupies niche, indicating host-specific adaptation. sequence also revealed mating-type genes, providing indication that capable sex.