DNA barcoding of human and animal pathogenic fungi: the ISHAM-ITS database
Laszlo Irinyi A and Wieland Meyer A BA Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School – Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
B Tel: +61 2 8627 3430, Fax: +61 2 9891 5317, Email: wieland.meyer@sydney.edu.au
Microbiology Australia 36(2) 44-48 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA15017
Published: 16 March 2015
Abstract
Human and animal fungal pathogens are a growing threat worldwide. They lead to emerging infections and create new risks for established ones. As such, there is a growing need for the rapid and accurate identification of mycoses agents to enable early diagnosis and targeted antifungal therapy. An international consortium of medical mycology laboratories was formed in order to establish a quality controlled ITS database under the umbrella of the ISHAM (International Society for Human and Animal Mycology) working group on ‘DNA barcoding of human and animal pathogenic fungi'. The new database provides the medical community with a freely accessible tool via http://www.isham.org/ or directly at http://its.mycologylab.org/ to rapidly and reliably identify most mycoses agents. The average intra-species variation of the ITS sequences currently included in the database ranges from 0 to 2.25%, highlighting the fact, that the ITS region on its own is insufficient for the reliable identification of certain pathogenic fungal species.
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