Genome analysis of Candida subhashii reveals its hybrid nature and dual mitochondrial genome conformations

Candida subhashii belongs to the CUG-Ser clade, a group of phylogenetically closely related yeast species that includes some human opportunistic pathogens, such as Candida albicans. Despite being present in the environment, C. subhashii was initially described as the causative agent of a case of per...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mixão, Verónica, Hegedűsová, Eva, Saus, Ester, Pryszcz, Leszek P, Cillingová, Andrea, Nosek, Jozef, Gabaldón, Toni
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/350805
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/350805
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/dnares/dsab006
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Genome analysis
Pathogens
Candida
Hybridization
Hybrid, metabolism of hydroxyaromatic compounds
Mitochondria
Genome assembly
Candida subhashii
Genòmica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Informàtica::Aplicacions de la informàtica::Bioinformàtica
Description
Summary:Candida subhashii belongs to the CUG-Ser clade, a group of phylogenetically closely related yeast species that includes some human opportunistic pathogens, such as Candida albicans. Despite being present in the environment, C. subhashii was initially described as the causative agent of a case of peritonitis. Considering the relevance of whole-genome sequencing and analysis for our understanding of genome evolution and pathogenicity, we sequenced, assembled and annotated the genome of C. subhashii type strain. Our results show that C. subhashii presents a highly heterozygous genome and other signatures that point to a hybrid ancestry. The presence of functional pathways for assimilation of hydroxyaromatic compounds goes in line with the affiliation of this yeast with soil microbial communities involved in lignin decomposition. Furthermore, we observed that different clones of this strain may present circular or linear mitochondrial DNA. Re-sequencing and comparison of strains with differential mitochondrial genome topology revealed five candidate genes potentially associated with this conformational change: MSK1, SSZ1, ALG5, MRPL9 and OYE32.