On the Emergence of Cryptococcus gattii in the Pacific Northwest: Ballast Tanks, Tsunamis, and Black Swans.

摘要: ABSTRACT The appearance of Cryptococcus gattii in the North American Pacific Northwest (PNW) 1999 was an unexpected and is still unexplained event. Recent phylogenomic analyses strongly suggest that this pathogenic fungus arrived PNW approximately 7 to 9 decades ago. In paper, we theorize ancestors C. clones area by shipborne transport, possibly contaminated ballast, established themselves coastal waters early 20th century. 1964, a tsunami flooded local regions, transporting land. occurrence cryptococcosis animals humans 3 later suggests adaptation environs took time, requiring increase virulence further dispersal. Tsunamis as mechanism for seeding land with waterborne microbes may have important implications our understanding how infectious diseases emerge certain regions. This hypothesis experimental work its validation or refutation.