G.d. reclassified as Pseudogymnoascus destructans

[David Riggs]

As if the world of WNS-related science weren't confusing enough,
scientists from the USDA Forest Service Center for Forest Mycology
Research have performed DNA sequencing on the fungus formerly known as
Geomyces destructans, and have taxonomically reclassified it as
Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The paper also discusses the taxonomic
relationship with several other fungi found or discovered from bat
hibernacula soil sampling.

The paper is published in the journal Fungal Biology, but those of us
without a subscription can read the abstract online at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878614613001025

"White-nose syndrome of bats, caused by the fungus previously known as
Geomyces destructans, has decimated populations of insectivorous bats
in eastern North America. Recent work on fungi associated with bat
hibernacula uncovered a large number of species of Geomyces and
allies, far exceeding the number of described species. Communication
about these species has been hindered by the lack of a modern
taxonomic evaluation, and a phylogenetic framework of the group is
needed to understand the origin ofGeomyces destructans and to target
closely related species and their genomes for the purposes of
understanding mechanisms of pathogenicity. We addressed these issues
by generating DNA sequence data for the ITS region, LSU, MCM7, RPB2,
and TEF1 from a diverse array of Geomyces and allies that included
isolates recovered from bat hibernacula as well as those that
represent important type species. Phylogenetic analyses indicate
Geomyces and allies should be classified in the family
Pseudeurotiaceae, and the generaGeomyces, Gymnostellatospora, and
Pseudogymnoascus should be recognized as distinct. TrueGeomyces are
restricted to a basal lineage based on phylogenetic placement of the
type species, G. auratus. Thus, Geomyces destructans is placed in
genus Pseudogymnoascus. The closest relatives of P. destructans are
members of the Pseudogymnoascus roseus species complex, however, the
isolated and long branch of P. destructans indicates that none of the
species included in this study are closely related, thus providing
further support to the hypothesis that this pathogen is non-native and
invasive in eastern North America. Several conidia-producing isolates
from bat hibernacula previously identified as members ofPseudeurotium
are determined to belong to the genus Leuconeurospora, which is
widespread, especially in colder regions. Teberdinia hygrophila is
transferred to Pseudeurotium as Pseudeurotium hygrophilum, comb. nov.,
in accordance with the one name per fungus system of classification,
and two additional combinations are made in Pseudogymnoascus including
P. carnis and P. pannorum. Additional sampling from other regions of
the world is needed to better understand the evolution and
biogeography of this important and diverse group of fungi."

- DR

--
David A. Riggs
Myotisoft, LLC
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