The Molecular Scientist Changed My Fungus
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Overview & Course Objectives In mycology, as elsewhere in biology, times have changed, species have changed (!) and names have changed. From 1995 to 2010, molecular biology research has revolution- ized our concepts about fungal species. Many organisms once thought to be single species are now known to be complexes of related species. Many groupings of species into genera have fallen apart, since research has shown that they are artificial. For example, the common oppor- tunistic pathogen and indoor air mould Paecilomyces is split among three different families of fungi, and new names are being coined for several split-off groups. The ‘bad news’ is that there are many new species and names to be learned, and many difficult questions about how to deal with closely related species that seem impossible to The molecular scientists changed tell apart in the lab. The good news is that most of the major medically and economically important fungi have my fungus: now been analysed, and the end is in sight. The new Course Details A Guide to the New Names in knowledge will be very stable, since it is based on hard This one-day course will summarize the known and DNA data. It can be integrated into our regular practices anticipated changes for the major groups of fungi Medically Significant Fungi with minimal disruption. of health-related interest. Examples include Asper- gillus, Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium, Candida, Issues discussed will include Stachybotrys, Paecilomyces, Fusarium, Phialophora Instructor: Dr. Richard Summerbell ‘when is identification at full species level justified/ and Cryptococcus. necessary?’ Course Duration: 7 hours ‘how should group-level identifications be reported?’ Medical technologists, spe- ‘when would DNA-based identification be needed?’ Intended Audience: cialist physicians, consultants, and persons in- ‘how should we introduce these changes to our clients?’ volved in building-related fungal studies will need to have a thorough understanding of what has hap- pened to the fungi that are important in human Date: Tue. July 13, 2010 health. Time: 09:00 — 17:00 Location: Sporometrics 219 Dufferin St Ste 20C Toronto p: 416 516 1670 f: 416 516 1670 t: 888 516 1660 e-mail: [email protected] Continuing Education For more information please visit our website Course Registration www.sporometrics.com overhaul of Verticillium including some ubiquitous medical AGENDA To enroll please complete the form below contaminants. New species in Scedosporium and Pseu- and return to us with payment. 9:00 – 10:00 Strengths and weaknesses of conven- dallescheria. The many human-pathogenic Phaeoacremo- tional and molecular identification and classification. nium species. Phialophora split into many pieces, three of What molecular biologists look for in fungi, and how them with health significance. New Cladophialophora and Summer Session 2010 they make decisions about species. Determining Exophiala species. The hopeless (?) case of morphologi- when molecular information is of practical importance. cal Exophiala identification. Sign up for: Date Price Preservation of existing names and what is done to 2:00 – 3:00 Classic medically important fungi. The disap- The molecular scientist changed 07/13/10 $350.00* my fungus make a new name. pearance and reappearance of Trichophyton equinum. 10:00 – 10:30 Aspergillus fumigatus vs. Aspergillus The hazy boundary of Trichophyton rubrum, has it swal- lentulus and other newly recognized species. lowed T. soudanense and T. megninii? The many species of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Can a cat ringworm # of 10:30 – 10:50 Coffee break. fungus swallow a horse ringworm fungus? Sporothrix attendees 10:50 – 11:15 More Aspergilli and related genera, includ- schenckii splits into multiple species! The ever-expanding ing Paecilomyces (but only some of them!) and Penicil- genus Malassezia. The Candida parapsilosis complex. * price includes applicable taxes Subtotal: Tropical Cryptococcus gattii and its epidemic Canadian lium. The ‘other’ Paecilomyces species and the con- Total: nection of their status to their antimycotic drug sus- variant. ceptibility. 3:00 – 3:20 Coffee break 11:15 – 12:00 Fusarium. The single species that is now 3:20 – 4:30 Splitting up the arthroconidial fungi: >50 species (F. solani). Fusarium dimerum the tap wa- Trichosporon and Geotrichum. The most common air- ter hazard, a multi-species complex. Phialemonium borne contaminants, Cladosporium and Alternaria – new Names(s) curvatum, the other tap water hazard – not really a concepts. The single pathogenic fungus called Neoscy- Phialemonium after all! Acremonium species – early talidium, Scytalidium, Nattrassia and Hendersonula. The Names(s) indicators of their true natures. genus Lichtheimia pops out of Absidia. Finally, we have 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch provided some idea what is really a Phoma and what is not. Company Name 1:00 – 2:00 New species in Stachybotrys. Complete 4:30 – 5:00 Wrap-up and discussion Address About the Instructor — Dr. Richard of Public Health, University of Toronto. His areas of re- search include Fungal ecology, biodiversity, evolution, Summerbell medical importance: DNA barcoding, phylogeny and ecol- ogy of selected microfungal groups, especially plant Dr. Richard Summerbell is the Director of Research at endophyte groups with some members also involved in Phone Sporometrics. Prior to joining Sporometrics in 2007, Dr. human disease, e.g., Acremonium, Fusarium solani com- Summerbell was a Senior Scientist at the Centraalbu- plex, Sporothrix; population genetics of selected groups email reau voor Schimmelcultures in Utrecht, The Netherlands rich in clonal fungi (e.g., anthropophilic Trichophyton spp.). Method of Payment where he served as one of the leading world experts on Richard’s extensive teaching experience includes courses Visa hyphomycetes. Dr. Summerbell is the former Chief of presented through the Faculty of Medicine, University of MasterCard Medical Mycology for the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Toronto, and Toronto Hospital; multi-week courses on Central Public Health Laboratory in Toronto. He is author medical mycology at the CBS; course at the Graduate Cheque of over 160 publications, including several cornerstone School for Infectious Disease and Immunology; Utrecht textbooks on medically important fungi. Dr. Summerbell University; presentations at the Great LakesSt. Lawrence Mycology Workshop; American Academy of Dermatology is a peer a reviewer for numerous journals, and held Name on Card meeting; American Society for Microbiology for National editorships roles for several journals including Editor in Laboratory Training Network; Seminars to the Canadian Chief of the journal Medical Mycology for four years. Council on Dermatomycoses meeting; presentation to Signature Dr. Summerbell is a professor in the Division of Occupa- the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and a 2- tional & Environmental Health at the Dalla Lana School day course presented at the Michener Institute for Applied Credit Card # Exp. date Sciences. .