Cryptococcus gattii in the Pacific Northwest

Cryptococcus gattii is a tropical fungus which causes severe neurological disease in those it infects. In 1999, C. gattii was isolated on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In Canada, the fungus evolved into a virulent pulmonary form which has caused dozens of deaths. Since 1999, C. gattii has spread to mainland Canada, Washington state, and Oregon. In Oregon, a new strain of C. gattii was discovered which has increased lethality. This strain has spread through the Pacific Northwest.

These new strains of C. gattii  have been investigated by a team from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), led by David Engelthaler, Director of Programs and Operations. This team contained 24 researched from 13 institutions in 7 nations. They sequenced 115C. gattii genomes from 15 countries. Their results, published in the journal mBio, identify "several genes that may make the outbreak strains more capable of surviving colder environments and that make it more harmful in the lungs". These genes are also possible targets for new diagnostic tests, therapeutic drugs, or preventative vaccines. This study also "provide[s] evidence that the Pacific Northwest strains originated from South America", most likely originating from Brazil.

The study, "Cryptococcus gattii in North American Pacific Northwest: whole population genome analysis provides insights into species evolution and dispersal", warns that the virus is easily adaptable to new environments and warrants public heath vigilance, even in areas where C. gattii is not thought to be endemic.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/279696.php
Image: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/images/cryptococcus-gattii-lifecycle.jpg