Histopathology of paracoccidioidomycosis. Budding cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Methenamine silver stain. Photo by Lucille K. Georg

This genome was sequenced by the Broad Institute.

Paracoccidioides, a dimorphic fungal pathogen, has infected approximately 10 million people in Latin America. Each year, thousands of these infections develop into a systemic mycosis termed paracoccidioidomycosis, which requires prolonged treatment and has a high rate of relapse and complications. Despite the prevalence of Paracoccidioides infection, there is no estimate of the disease burden measured in disability-adjusted life years.

A common attribute of all dimorphic pathogens is the distinct growth conditions associated with temperature dependent alterations in morphological state. Specifically, a non-virulent filamentous form consisting of long chained cells producing asexual spores is observed in soil or in culture at 23 °C, and a budding yeast form (or in Coccidioides, a related spherule/endospore form) in the host pulmonary system or in culture at 37 °C. In filamentous form, dimorphic fungi are thought to be saprophytic, although whether they primarily decay plant or animal matter has been debated