Dust devil: the life and times of the fungus that causes valley Fever

Coccidioides' most recent common ancestor underwent gene family expansions for proteases and keratinases, membrane biology genes, and toxin production, all likely utilized for survival in animal tissues and morphological changes; and a loss of genes associated with degradation of plant tissue, such as tannases, cellulases, and cutinases [1]. Both Coccidioides species have similar biology, with a well-characterized asexual life cycle with distinct saprobic and parasitic stages, and only molecular evidence of a sexual cycle (Fig 1). [...]analysis at a single 10-meter square area in Tucson, Arizona, revealed multiple genotypes present in a single environmental location [11].