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Genome sequence of Pseudopithomyces chartarum, causal agent of facial eczema (pithomycotoxicosis) in ruminants, and identification of the putative sporidesmin toxin gene cluster

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posted on 2025-01-22, 00:50 authored by Jaspreet SinghJaspreet Singh, Vinod Suresh, Abdul Baten, Ann McCartney, Gavin Lear, Jan SprosenJan Sprosen, Mark Oliver, Natasha ForesterNatasha Forester, Paul MacleanPaul Maclean, Nik PalevichNik Palevich, Ruy JaureguiRuy Jauregui, Christine VoiseyChristine Voisey

Facial eczema (FE) in grazing ruminants is a debilitating liver syndrome induced by ingestion of sporidesmin, a toxin belonging to the epipolythiodioxopiperazine class of compounds. Sporidesmin is produced in spores of the fungus Pseudopithomyces chartarum, a microbe which colonises leaf litter in pastures. New Zealand has a high occurrence of FE in comparison to other countries as animals are fed predominantly on ryegrass, a species that supports high levels of Pse. chartarum spores. The climate is also particularly conducive for Pse. chartarum growth. Here, we present the genome of Pse. chartarum and identify the putative sporidesmin gene cluster. The Pse. chartarum genome was sequenced using single molecule real-time sequencing (PacBio) and gene models identified. Loci containing genes with homology to the aspirochlorine, sirodesmin PL and gliotoxin cluster genes of Aspergillus oryzae, Leptosphaeria maculans and Aspergillus fumigatus, respectively, were identified by tBLASTn. We identified and annotated an epipolythiodioxopiperazine cluster at a single locus with all the functionality required to synthesise sporidesmin.

Funding

AgResearch Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF)

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Rights statement

The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Publication date

2021-04-30

Project number

  • Non revenue

Language

  • English

Does this contain Māori information or data?

  • No

Publisher

bioRxiv