Draft genome dataset of strain R-35 isolated from tidal pool sediments.

The marine isolate, strain R-35, was isolated from marine sediments collected from the Glencairn Tidal Pool, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa. The genomic DNA was sequenced using the Ion Torrent GeneStudio™ S5 platform, and the assembly was performed using the SPAdes assembler on the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) Lengau Cluster located at the CSIR, Rosebank, South Africa. The draft genome assembly consisted of 722 contigs totaling 7,625,174 base pairs and a G+C% content of 72.

Nitrogen concentration affects amphotericin B and fluconazole tolerance of pathogenic cryptococci.

Environmental stress often causes phenotypic changes among pathogenic cryptococci, such as altered antifungal susceptibility, changes in capsule and melanin formation, as well as altered levels of the membrane sterol and antifungal target, ergosterol. We therefore hypothesised that nitrogen limitation, a prevalent environmental stress in the natural habitat of these yeasts, might affect virulence and antifungal susceptibility. We tested the effect of different nitrogen concentrations on capsule, melanin and ergosterol biosynthesis, as well as amphotericin B (AmB) and fluconazole (FLU) susceptibility.

Tracing Genetic Exchange and Biogeography of var. at the Global Population Level.

var. is the causative agent of cryptococcal meningitis, a significant source of mortality in immunocompromised individuals, typically human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS patients from developing countries. Despite the worldwide emergence of this ubiquitous infection, little is known about the global molecular epidemiology of this fungal pathogen.

AIDS-related mycoses: the way forward.

The contribution of fungal infections to the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected individuals is largely unrecognized. A recent meeting highlighted several priorities that need to be urgently addressed, including improved epidemiological surveillance, increased availability of existing diagnostics and drugs, more training in the field of medical mycology, and better funding for research and provision of treatment, particularly in developing countries.

Soil properties that impact yeast and actinomycete numbers in sandy low nutrient soils.

To explore the beneficial qualities or detrimental consequences of cultureable soil yeasts, it is important to understand which physicochemical soil properties most impact populations of these unicellular fungi in their natural habitat. The goal of this study was to determine which soil properties dictate yeast numbers in pristine sandy, low nutrient soils within a semi-arid region. A correlation matrix of the data obtained for 19 different environmental variables indicated a negative correlation between soil pH and yeast numbers.