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Pathogenic potential of an environmental Aspergillus fumigatus strain recovered from soil of Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo penguins) colony in Antarctica

  • Environmental Microbiology - Research Paper
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Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a common opportunistic pathogen in different animals, including birds such as penguins. For the first time, a fungal strain identified as A. fumigatus was isolated from soil in the nests of gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis papua, on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands (maritime Antarctica). This isolate (A. fumigatus UFMGCB 11829) displayed a series of potentially pathogenic characteristics in vitro. We evaluated its detailed molecular taxonomy and submitted the A. fumigatus UFMGCB 11829 Antarctic strain to in vivo pathogenic modelling. The isolate was confirmed to represent A. fumigatus morphological and phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to A. fumigatus sequences reported from animals, immunosuppressed humans, storage grains, plants and soils. The strain displayed the best mycelial growth and conidia production at 37 ºC; however, it was also able to grow and produce conidia at 15º, demonstrating its capability to survive and colonize penguin nest at least in the summer season in maritime Antarctica. In pathogenicity tests, healthy mice did not showed symptoms of infection; however, 50% lethality was observed in immunosuppressed mice that were inoculated with 106 and 107 spores. Lethality increased to 100% when inoculated with 108 spores. Our data highlight the potential pathogenicity of opportunistic A. fumigatus that may be present in the Antarctic, and the risks of both their further transfer within Antarctica and outwards to other continents, risks which may be exacerbated due global climatic changes.

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Acknowledgements

This study received financial support from CNPq, CAPES, FNDCT, FAPEMIG, INCT Criosfera, PROANTAR. P. Convey is supported by NERC core funding to the British Antarctic Survey's ‘Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation’ Team.

Funding

CNPq, CAPES, FNDCT, FAPEMIG, INCT Criosfera, PROANTAR and NERC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil

    Vívian Nicolau Gonçalves, Soraya Sander Amorim, Marliete Carvalho da Costa, Daniel de Assis Santos & Luiz Henrique Rosa

  2. British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    Peter Convey

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, PO Box 524, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Peter Convey

  4. Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems, Santiago, Chile

    Peter Convey

Authors
  1. Vívian Nicolau Gonçalves
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  2. Soraya Sander Amorim
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  3. Marliete Carvalho da Costa
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  4. Daniel de Assis Santos
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  5. Peter Convey
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  6. Luiz Henrique Rosa
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Contributions

LHR and VNG conceived the study. LHR collected the samples. VNG cultured and identified the fungus. VNG, SSA, MCC and DAS performed the in vivo experiments. PC analysed the results and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Luiz Henrique Rosa.

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Gonçalves, V.N., Amorim, S.S., da Costa, M.C. et al. Pathogenic potential of an environmental Aspergillus fumigatus strain recovered from soil of Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo penguins) colony in Antarctica. Braz J Microbiol 55, 1521–1528 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-024-01326-w

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