Six monophyletic lineages identified within Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii by multi-locus sequence typing

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are closely related pathogenic basidiomycetous yeasts in which six haploid genotypic Groups have been distinguished. The two haploid genotypic groups of C neoformans have been described as variety grubii and variety neoformans. The four C gattii genotypic groups have, however, not been described as separate taxa. One hundred and seventeen isolates representing all six haploid genotypic groups were selected for multi-locus sequence typing using six loci to investigate if the isolates consistently formed monophyletic lineages. Two monophyletic lineages, corresponding to varieties grubii and neoformans, were consistently present within C neoformans, supporting the current classification. In addition, four monophyletic lineages corresponding to the previously described genotypic groups were consistently found within C gattii, indicating that these lineages should be considered different taxa as well. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.