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Current taxonomic status of the cultivable and uncultivable Paracoccidioides species

Summary

Researchers have clarified the scientific names and classification of five species of fungus that cause disease in humans and dolphins. Some previously proposed species names were found to be invalid because they didn’t follow proper naming rules. The paper recommends that scientists use updated disease names like paracoccidiodomycosis instead of the older term lobomycosis to maintain consistency in medical terminology.

Background

The genus Paracoccidioides comprises dimorphic fungal pathogens that can be classified into cultivable and uncultivable species. Recent taxonomic work has clarified the nomenclatural status of these species and identified both cultivable and uncultivable populations affecting humans and marine mammals.

Objective

This paper addresses the current taxonomic status of Paracoccidioides species, correcting nomenclatural omissions and clarifying the classification of both cultivable and uncultivable species. The authors highlight important validations and invalidations of species names based on International Code of Nomenclature requirements.

Results

Five recognized Paracoccidioides species are identified: three cultivable species (P. americana, P. brasiliensis, P. lutzii) and two uncultivable species (P. ceti affecting dolphins, P. lobogeorgii affecting humans). P. restrepoana and P. venezuelensis are invalid species that failed to separate from P. brasiliensis in phylogenetic analyses.

Conclusion

Current taxonomic classifications of Paracoccidioides should be adopted by researchers. The disease terminology should be updated to paracoccidiodomycosis ceti and paracoccidioidomycosis lobogeorgii rather than the obsolete term lobomycosis, following standardized nomenclatural conventions.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39496503, DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae108
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