Biology ETDs

Publication Date

11-12-2021

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis, caused by soil-dwelling species of Coccidioides, is endemic to the Southwestern United States. It can present as a mild respiratory illness to life-threatening disseminated infections.Multi-gene phylogenetics and tracing patient histories revealed the presence of both Coccidioides species in New Mexico, and Native Americans may represent an unrecognized risk group. A PCR method developed distinguishes Coccidioides species by targeting regions of the mitochondrial genome. Recent advancements in molecular genetics solidifies lungs are not sterile. Illumina community data from 199 small mammals from Arizona, California, and New Mexico demonstrated a great diversity of fungi inhabiting lung tissues. One dominant order, Onygenales, contained a high diversity of animal pathogens including Coccidioides and Blastomyces parvus. Coccidioides sequences were detected in 14 species, in relatively low abundance, and the presence of these sequences did not correlate with shifts in the overall mycobiome. Using both clinical and small mammal lung data, we can determine the distribution of Coccidioides in New Mexico and the greater Southwest.

Project Sponsors

The University of New Mexico Graduate and Professional Student Association, the Department of Biology, the Mycological Society of America, and the Sevilleta field station endowment fund

Keywords

Valley Fever, Coccidioides, lung mycobiome

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

Donald O. Natvig

Second Committee Member

Joseph A. Cook

Third Committee Member

Diana E. Northup

Fourth Committee Member

Bridget Barker

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