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Nargesi S, Jafarzadeh J, Najafzadeh MJ, Nouripour-Sisakht S, Haghani I, Abastabar M, Ilkit M, Hedayati MT. Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility of clinically relevant and cryptic species of Aspergillus sections Flavi and Nigri. J Med Microbiol 2022; 71. [PMID: 35451946 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Aspergillus sections Flavi and Nigri comprise clinically relevant and cryptic species that differ significantly in drug susceptibility, meaning that effective treatment depends on correct species identification.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. There are no comprehensive data for molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) of clinically relevant and cryptic species of Aspergillus sections Flavi and Nigri as the main agents of invasive and non-invasive aspergillosis in Iran. We aimed to perform molecular identification and AFST of 213 clinical Aspergillus isolates belonging to sections Flavi and Nigri. Molecular identification of isolates was performed using sequencing of the β-tubulin gene and in vitro AFST was conducted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A3 guidelines.Results. The most common isolates in sections Flavi and Nigri were Aspergillus flavus (110/113, 97.3 %) and Aspergillus tubingensis (49/100, 49.0 %), respectively. A total of 62/213 (29.1 %) isolates belonging to cryptic species were identified; among them, A. tubingensis was the most prevalent (49/62, 79.0%). Aspergillus flavus and A. niger isolates that responded to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of itraconazole above the epidemiological cutoff values were the most frequently detected: 8/110 (7.3 %) and 3/41 (7.3 %), respectively. In section Flavi, Aspergillus alliaceus responded to amphotericin B at a high MIC (>16 µg mL-1) and in section Nigri, one of the three Aspergillus luchuensis/awamori isolates responded to itraconazole at an MIC >16 µg ml-1. Interestingly, for all Aspergillus welwitschiae isolates, the MIC50 and MIC90 of itraconazole were both 16 µg ml-1.Conclusion. A considerable presence of A. flavus and A. niger isolates showing non-wild-type responses to azoles in clinical cases of aspergillosis indicates the importance of classifying clinical Aspergillus isolates at the species level and performing antifungal susceptibility testing on the isolates, which would ensure appropriate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Nargesi
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Jalal Jafarzadeh
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9199-91766, Iran
| | | | - Iman Haghani
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Mohammad Taghi Hedayati
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Li Q, Lu J, Zhang G, Liu S, Zhou J, Du G, Chen J. Recent advances in the development of Aspergillus for protein production. Bioresour Technol 2022; 348:126768. [PMID: 35091037 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus had been widely used in the industrial production of recombinant proteins. In addition to the safety and broad substrate utilization spectrum, its efficient post-translational modification and strong protein secretion capacity have significant advantages for developing an excellent protein-producing cell factory in industrial production. However, the difficulties in genetic manipulation of Aspergillus and varying expression levels of different heterologous proteins hampered its further development and application. Recently, the development of CRISPR genome editing and high-throughput screening platforms has facilitated the Aspergillus development of a wide range of modifications and applications. Meanwhile, multi-omics analysis and multiplexed genetic engineering have promoted effective knowledge mining. This paper provides a comprehensive and updated review of these advances, including high-throughput screening, genome editing, protein expression modules, and fermentation optimization. It also highlights and discusses the latest significant progress, aiming to provide a practical guide for implementing Aspergillus as an efficient protein-producing cell factory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Li
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jinchang Lu
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhang
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Song Liu
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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Xie H, Wang X, van der Hooft JJ, Medema MH, Chen ZY, Yue X, Zhang Q, Li P. Fungi population metabolomics and molecular network study reveal novel biomarkers for early detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species. J Hazard Mater 2022; 424:127173. [PMID: 34597924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mycotoxins threaten global food safety, public health and cause huge socioeconomic losses. Early detection is an effective preventive strategy, yet efficient biomarkers for early detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species are lacking. Here, we proposed to use untargeted metabolomics and machine learning to mine biomarkers of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species. We systematically delineated metabolic differences across 568 extensive field sampling A. flavus and performed biomarker analysis. Versicolorin B, 11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin et.al metabolites shown a high correlation (from 0.71 to 0.95) with strains aflatoxin-producing capacity. Molecular networking analysis deciphered the connection of aflatoxins and biomarkers as well as potential emerging mycotoxins. We then developed a model using the biomarkers as variables to discern aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species with 97.8% accuracy. A validation dataset and metabolome from other 16 fungal isolates confirmed the robustness and specificity of these biomarkers. We further demonstrated the solution feasibility in agricultural products by early detection of biomarkers, which predicted aflatoxin contamination risk 35-47 days in advance. A developed operable decision rule by the XGBoost algorithm help regulators to intuitively assess the risk prioritization with 87.2% accuracy. Our research provides novel insights into global food safety risk assessment which will be crucial for early prevention and control of mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huali Xie
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiupin Wang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China
| | | | - Marnix H Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Zhi-Yuan Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Yue
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
| | - Peiwu Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China; Key laboratory of Detection for Aflatoxins, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China; Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oilseeds Products (Wuhan), Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Quality Inspection and Test Center for Oilseeds Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430061, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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Moral J, Garcia-Lopez MT, Gordon A, Ortega-Beltran A, Puckett R, Tomari K, Gradziel TM, Michailides TJ. Resistance to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in Almond Advanced Selections and Cultivars and Its Interaction with the Aflatoxin Biocontrol Strategy. Plant Dis 2022; 106:504-509. [PMID: 34569835 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-05-21-0892-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin contamination of almond kernels, caused by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, is a severe concern for growers because of its high toxicity. In California, the global leader of almond production, aflatoxin can be managed by applying the biological control strain AF36 of A. flavus and selecting resistant cultivars. Here, we classified the almond genotypes by K-Means cluster analysis into three groups (susceptible [S], moderately susceptible [MS], or resistant [R]) based on aflatoxin content of inoculated kernels. The protective effects of the shell and seedcoat in preventing aflatoxin contamination were also examined. The presence of intact shells reduced aflatoxin contamination >100-fold. The seedcoat provided a layer of protection but not complete protection. In kernel inoculation assays, none of the studied almond genotypes showed a total resistance to the pathogen. However, nine traditional cultivars and four advanced selections were classified as R. Because these advanced selections contained germplasm derived from peach, we compared the kernel resistance of three peach cultivars to that shown by kernels of an R (Sonora) and an S (Carmel) almond cultivar and five pistachio cultivars. Overall, peach kernels were significantly more resistant to the pathogen than almond kernels, which were more resistant than pistachio kernels. Finally, we studied the combined effect of the cultivar resistance and the biocontrol strain AF36 in limiting aflatoxin contamination. For this, we coinoculated almond kernels of R Sonora and S Carmel with AF36 72 h before or 48 h after inoculating with an aflatoxin-producing strain of A. flavus. The percentage of aflatoxin reduction by AF36 strain was greater in kernels of Carmel (98%) than in those of Sonora (83%). Cultivar resistance also affected the kernel colonization by the biological control strain. AF36 strain limited aflatoxin contamination in almond kernels even when applied 48 h after the aflatoxin-producing strain. Our results show that biocontrol combined with the use of cultivars with resistance to aflatoxin contamination can result in a more robust protection strategy than the use of either practice in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Moral
- Department of Agronomy, Maria de Maeztu Excellence Unit, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics, California State University, Fresno, CA 93740, U.S.A
| | - M Teresa Garcia-Lopez
- Department of Agronomy, Maria de Maeztu Excellence Unit, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA 93648, U.S.A
| | - Ana Gordon
- Department of Agronomy, Maria de Maeztu Excellence Unit, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | | | - Ryan Puckett
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA 93648, U.S.A
| | - Kenji Tomari
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA 93648, U.S.A
| | - Thomas M Gradziel
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A
| | - Themis J Michailides
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA 93648, U.S.A
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Zhang JM, Liu X, Wei Q, Ma C, Li D, Zou Y. Berberine bridge enzyme-like oxidase-catalysed double bond isomerization acts as the pathway switch in cytochalasin synthesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:225. [PMID: 35017571 PMCID: PMC8752850 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27931-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochalasans (CYTs), as well as their polycyclic (pcCYTs) and polymerized (meCYTs) derivatives, constitute one of the largest families of fungal polyketide-nonribosomal peptide (PK-NRP) hybrid natural products. However, the mechanism of chemical conversion from mono-CYTs (moCYTs) to both pcCYTs and meCYTs remains unknown. Here, we show the first successful example of the reconstitution of the CYT core backbone as well as the whole pathway in a heterologous host. Importantly, we also describe the berberine bridge enzyme (BBE)-like oxidase AspoA, which uses Glu538 as a general acid biocatalyst to catalyse an unusual protonation-driven double bond isomerization reaction and acts as a switch to alter the native (for moCYTs) and nonenzymatic (for pcCYTs and meCYTs) pathways to synthesize aspochalasin family compounds. Our results present an unprecedented function of BBE-like enzymes and highly suggest that the isolated pcCYTs and meCYTs are most likely artificially derived products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Mei Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qian Wei
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chuanteng Ma
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Dehai Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yi Zou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Hashimoto K, Kawakami Y, Hashimoto R, Kitaoka Y, Onji Y, Oda H, Watanabe M, Takahashi H, Yokoyama K. Distribution of Aspergillus section Nigri at shochu fermenting places in Japan. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2022; 72:61-68. [PMID: 33522889 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.1880497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Koji mold, which belongs to the Aspergillus section Nigri, is used in the production of shochu. The section Nigri is composed of very morphologically similar members that in some cases produce mycotoxins, which rises concerns as to whether the presence of mycotoxin-producing fungi in shochu producing sites can compromise consumer safety. Thus, we examined the presence of mycotoxin-producing sec. Nigri fungi in six shochu factories (named A-F) in Japan. Airborne fungal levels in the factories were determined, and a traditional koji called "kona-koji" made from the mold naturally present in factory C (Aogashima village) was analyzed. Isolates of sec. Nigri fungi were identified morphologically and confirmed via cytochrome b gene analysis. In factory A (Nago city), airborne fungal levels of sec. Nigri were 4,000 and 100 cfu/m3 in the koji-making and fermentation rooms, respectively. In factories B, C, and D, the levels were 40, >104 cfu/m3, and 100 cfu/m3, respectively. In factory F (Iki city), there were high levels of airborne white-koji mold (a white mutant of Asp. luchuensis). The most dominant fungal species of sec. Nigri was isolated and identified as Asp. luchuensis via genetic analysis. This is likely to have originated from the commercial fermentation culture used. Asp. niger and Asp. luchuensis were isolated from kona-koji. Mycotoxin production (ochratoxin and fumonisin B2) by Asp. luchuensis (eight strains) and Asp. niger (three strains) was virtually inexistent; only one strain of Asp. niger was positive for fumonisin B2. This study clearly shows that mycotoxin-producing fungi are not dominant in the fungal flora present in the shochu factories examined and therefore, that the liquor can be safely fermented.Implications: In this study, we examined the presence of mycotoxin-producing Aspergillus sec. Nigri fungi in six shochu (Japanese distilled beverage) factories. The most dominant fungal species of sec. Nigri was isolated and identified as Aspergillus luchuensis (black-koji mold). The proportion of mycotoxin-producing Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius was very small. In addition, the Asp. niger isolated from koji mold did not have the ability to produce ochratoxins or fumonisin B. This study clearly shows that shochu can be safely fermented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, FCG Research Institute Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Kawakami
- Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, FCG Research Institute Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ruiko Hashimoto
- Division of Living Environment, Chiba Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yohei Kitaoka
- Nara Prefecture Landscape and Environment Cente, Sakurai, Nara, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Onji
- Nara Prefecture Landscape and Environment Cente, Sakurai, Nara, Japan
| | - Hisayuki Oda
- Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, FCG Research Institute Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Koji Yokoyama
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, Chuou-ku, Chiba, Japan
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de Castro PA, Colabardini AC, Moraes M, Horta MAC, Knowles SL, Raja HA, Oberlies NH, Koyama Y, Ogawa M, Gomi K, Steenwyk JL, Rokas A, Gonçales RA, Duarte-Oliveira C, Carvalho A, Ries LNA, Goldman GH. Regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis and protection in Aspergillus species. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009965. [PMID: 35041649 PMCID: PMC8797188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus causes a range of human and animal diseases collectively known as aspergillosis. A. fumigatus possesses and expresses a range of genetic determinants of virulence, which facilitate colonisation and disease progression, including the secretion of mycotoxins. Gliotoxin (GT) is the best studied A. fumigatus mycotoxin with a wide range of known toxic effects that impair human immune cell function. GT is also highly toxic to A. fumigatus and this fungus has evolved self-protection mechanisms that include (i) the GT efflux pump GliA, (ii) the GT neutralising enzyme GliT, and (iii) the negative regulation of GT biosynthesis by the bis-thiomethyltransferase GtmA. The transcription factor (TF) RglT is the main regulator of GliT and this GT protection mechanism also occurs in the non-GT producing fungus A. nidulans. However, the A. nidulans genome does not encode GtmA and GliA. This work aimed at analysing the transcriptional response to exogenous GT in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, two distantly related Aspergillus species, and to identify additional components required for GT protection. RNA-sequencing shows a highly different transcriptional response to exogenous GT with the RglT-dependent regulon also significantly differing between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans. However, we were able to observe homologs whose expression pattern was similar in both species (43 RglT-independent and 11 RglT-dependent). Based on this approach, we identified a novel RglT-dependent methyltranferase, MtrA, involved in GT protection. Taking into consideration the occurrence of RglT-independent modulated genes, we screened an A. fumigatus deletion library of 484 transcription factors (TFs) for sensitivity to GT and identified 15 TFs important for GT self-protection. Of these, the TF KojR, which is essential for kojic acid biosynthesis in Aspergillus oryzae, was also essential for virulence and GT biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, and for GT protection in A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, and A. oryzae. KojR regulates rglT, gliT, gliJ expression and sulfur metabolism in Aspergillus species. Together, this study identified conserved components required for GT protection in Aspergillus species. A. fumigatus secretes mycotoxins that are essential for its virulence and pathogenicity. Gliotoxin (GT) is a sulfur-containing mycotoxin, which is known to impair several aspects of the human immune response. GT is also toxic to different fungal species, which have evolved several GT protection strategies. To further decipher these responses, we used transcriptional profiling aiming to compare the response to GT in the GT producer A. fumigatus and the GT non-producer A. nidulans. This analysis allowed us to identify additional genes with a potential role in GT protection. We also identified 15 transcription factors (TFs) encoded in the A. fumigatus genome that are important for conferring resistance to exogenous gliotoxin. One of these TFs, KojR, which is essential for A. oryzae kojic acid production, is also important for virulence in A. fumigatus and GT protection in A. fumigatus, A. nidulans and A. oryzae. KojR regulates the expression of genes important for gliotoxin biosynthesis and protection, and sulfur metabolism. Together, this work identified conserved components required for gliotoxin protection in Aspergillus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maísa Moraes
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Sonja L. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Nicholas H. Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Yasuji Koyama
- Noda Institute for Scientific Research, 338 Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ogawa
- Noda Institute for Scientific Research, 338 Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Katsuya Gomi
- Department of Bioindustrial Informatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Relber A. Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudio Duarte-Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Laure N. A. Ries
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LNAR); (GHG)
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LNAR); (GHG)
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Ferrara M, Gallo A, Cervini C, Gambacorta L, Solfrizzo M, Baker SE, Perrone G. Evidence of the Involvement of a Cyclase Gene in the Biosynthesis of Ochratoxin A in Aspergillus carbonarius. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13120892. [PMID: 34941729 PMCID: PMC8705981 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13120892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a well-known mycotoxin with wide distribution in food and feed. Fungal genome sequencing has great utility for identifying secondary metabolites gene clusters for known and novel compounds. A comparative analysis of the OTA-biosynthetic cluster in A. steynii, A. westerdijkiae, A. niger, A. carbonarius, and P. nordicum has revealed a high synteny in OTA cluster organization in five structural genes (otaA, otaB, ota, otaR1, and otaD). Moreover, a recent detailed comparative genome analysis of Aspergilli OTA producers led to the identification of a cyclase gene, otaY, located in the OTA cluster between the otaA and otaB genes, encoding for a predicted protein with high similarity to SnoaLs domain. These proteins have been shown to catalyze ring closure steps in the biosynthesis of polyketide antibiotics produced in Streptomyces. In the present study, we demonstrated an upregulation of the cyclase gene in A. carbonarius under OTA permissive conditions, consistent with the expression trends of the other OTA cluster genes and their role in OTA biosynthesis by complete gene deletion. Our results pointed out the involvement of a cyclase gene in OTA biosynthetic pathway for the first time. They represent a step forward in the understanding of the molecular basis of OTA biosynthesis in A. carbonarius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Ferrara
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.G.); (M.S.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Antonia Gallo
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Carla Cervini
- Applied Mycology Group, Environment and AgriFood Theme, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK;
| | - Lucia Gambacorta
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.G.); (M.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Michele Solfrizzo
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.G.); (M.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Scott E. Baker
- Functional and Systems Biology Group, Environmental Molecular Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA;
- DOE Joint Bioenergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Giancarlo Perrone
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.G.); (M.S.); (G.P.)
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Soni SK, Singh R, Ngpoore NK, Niranjan A, Singh P, Mishra A, Tiwari S. Isolation and characterization of endophytic fungi having plant growth promotion traits that biosynthesizes bacosides and withanolides under in vitro conditions. Braz J Microbiol 2021; 52:1791-1805. [PMID: 34339015 PMCID: PMC8327599 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00586-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Endophytes are regarded with immense potentials in terms of plant growth promoting (PGP) elicitors and mimicking secondary metabolites of medicinal importance. Here in the present study, we explored Bacopa monnieri plants to isolate, identify fungal endophytes with PGP elicitation potentials, and investigate secretion of secondary metabolites such as bacoside and withanolide content under in vitro conditions. Three fungal endophytes isolated (out of 40 saponin producing isolates) from leaves of B. monnieri were examined for in vitro biosynthesis of bacosides. On morphological, biochemical, and molecular identification (ITS gene sequencing), the isolated strains SUBL33, SUBL51, and SUBL206 were identified as Nigrospora oryzae (MH071153), Alternaria alternata (MH071155), and Aspergillus terreus (MH071154) respectively. Among these strains, SUBL33 produced highest quantity of Bacoside A3 (4093 μg mL-1), Jujubogenin isomer of Bacopasaponin C (65,339 μg mL-1), and Bacopasaponin C (1325 μg mL-1) while Bacopaside II (13,030 μg mL-1) was produced by SUBL51 maximally. Moreover, these aforementioned strains also produced detectable concentration of withanolides-Withaferrin A, Withanolide A (480 μg mL-1), and Withanolide B (1024 μg mL-1) respectively. However, Withanolide A was not detected in the secondary metabolites of strain SUBL51. To best of our knowledge, the present study is first reports of Nigrospora oryzae as an endophyte in B. monnieri with potentials of biosynthesis of economically important phytomolecules under in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit K Soni
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interaction, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Rakshapal Singh
- Biological Central Facility, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Nem K Ngpoore
- Chemical Instrumentation Facility, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Abhishek Niranjan
- Chemical Instrumentation Facility, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Purnima Singh
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interaction, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Aradhana Mishra
- Department of Plant-Microbe Interaction, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India.
| | - Sudeep Tiwari
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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Du X, Li H, Qi J, Chen C, Lu Y, Wang Y. Genome mining of secondary metabolites from a marine-derived Aspergillus terreus B12. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:5621-5633. [PMID: 34459930 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02548-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the prominent capabilities of bioconversion and biosynthesis, A. terreus has become attractive in biotechnical and pharmaceutical industry. In this work, an Aspergillus strain with potential antibacterial activities, was isolated from sponge in South China Sea. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic analysis, the strain was identified as A. terreus B12. Via the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform, the complete genome was obtained, showing a genetic richness of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which might underpin the metabolic plasticity and adaptive resilience for the strain. Genome mining identified 67 BGCs, among which, 6 gene clusters could allocate to known BGCs (100% identity), corresponding to diverse metabolites like clavaric acid, dihydroisoflavipucine/isoflavipucine, dimethylcoprogen, alternariol, aspterric acid, and pyranonigrin E. Moreover, a range of compounds was isolated from B12 fermentation, e.g., terrein, butyrolactone I, terretonin A&E, acoapetaline B, and epi-aszonalenins A. Of note, acoapetaline B and epi-aszonalenins A, which had been respectively reported in plants and A. novofumigatus but with scarce information, was unexpectedly obtained from this species for the first time. The genomic and metabolic heterogeneity observed in strain B12, should be at least partially attributed to the genetic variability and biochemical diversity of A. terreus, which could be an interesting issue open to future efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Du
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Huanhuan Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jiangfeng Qi
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Chaoyi Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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Hase I, Kagatani J, Suzuki S, Yoshida S, Sakamoto K, Maitani F, Horinouchi H, Kamei K, Tateno H. Successfully treated bronchopulmonary oxalosis caused by Aspergillus tubingensis in a non-neutropenic patient: A case report and review of the literature. J Infect Chemother 2021; 28:299-303. [PMID: 34756827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary oxalosis can be fatal, and Aspergillus tubingensis is commonly resistant to azoles in Japan. We report a case of bronchopulmonary oxalosis caused by A. tubingensis in a non-neutropenic patient who was successfully treated with voriconazole monotherapy. The susceptibility of the isolates to voriconazole and the effective elimination of contagious necrotic tissue by expectoration seemed to be two major factors contributing to the patient's survival. According to the literature review, pulmonary oxalosis is associated with a high mortality rate over a short term. An exploration of detailed information about the genomic characteristics and drug susceptibility of Aspergillus isolates is important for the development of treatment strategies for this life-threatening disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isano Hase
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan.
| | - Jin Kagatani
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Shoji Suzuki
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Shuichi Yoshida
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Kei Sakamoto
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Fumio Maitani
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Horinouchi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Kamei
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Chiba, 60-8673, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tateno
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama City Hospital, 2460 Mimuro, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, 336-8522, Japan
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Mangalam AK. Fungal microbiome and multiple sclerosis: The not-so-new kid on the block. EBioMedicine 2021; 72:103621. [PMID: 34624688 PMCID: PMC8501652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh K Mangalam
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 25 S. Grand Avenue, 1080A ML, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
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Vignolle GA, Schaffer D, Zehetner L, Mach RL, Mach-Aigner AR, Derntl C. FunOrder: A robust and semi-automated method for the identification of essential biosynthetic genes through computational molecular co-evolution. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009372. [PMID: 34570757 PMCID: PMC8476034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary metabolites (SMs) are a vast group of compounds with different structures and properties that have been utilized as drugs, food additives, dyes, and as monomers for novel plastics. In many cases, the biosynthesis of SMs is catalysed by enzymes whose corresponding genes are co-localized in the genome in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Notably, BGCs may contain so-called gap genes, that are not involved in the biosynthesis of the SM. Current genome mining tools can identify BGCs, but they have problems with distinguishing essential genes from gap genes. This can and must be done by expensive, laborious, and time-consuming comparative genomic approaches or transcriptome analyses. In this study, we developed a method that allows semi-automated identification of essential genes in a BGC based on co-evolution analysis. To this end, the protein sequences of a BGC are blasted against a suitable proteome database. For each protein, a phylogenetic tree is created. The trees are compared by treeKO to detect co-evolution. The results of this comparison are visualized in different output formats, which are compared visually. Our results suggest that co-evolution is commonly occurring within BGCs, albeit not all, and that especially those genes that encode for enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway are co-evolutionary linked and can be identified with FunOrder. In light of the growing number of genomic data available, this will contribute to the studies of BGCs in native hosts and facilitate heterologous expression in other organisms with the aim of the discovery of novel SMs. The discovery and description of novel fungal secondary metabolites promises novel antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other useful compounds. A way to identify novel secondary metabolites is to express the corresponding genes in a suitable expression host. Consequently, a detailed knowledge or an accurate prediction of these genes is necessary. In fungi, the genes are co-localized in so-called biosynthetic gene clusters. Notably, the clusters may also contain genes that are not necessary for the biosynthesis of the secondary metabolites, so-called gap genes. We developed a method to detect co-evolved genes within the clusters and demonstrated that essential genes are co-evolving and can thus be differentiated from the gap genes. This adds an additional layer of information, which can support researchers with their decisions on which genes to study and express for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A. Vignolle
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Denise Schaffer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leopold Zehetner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L. Mach
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Astrid R. Mach-Aigner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Derntl
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Buitimea-Cantúa GV, Magaña-Barajas E, Buitimea-Cantúa NE, Leija Gutiérrez HM, Del Refugio Rocha-Pizaña M, Rosas-Burgos EC, Hernández-Morales A, Molina-Torres J. Down-regulation of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes in Aspergillus parasiticus by Heliopsis longipes roots and affinin for reduction of aflatoxin production. J Environ Sci Health B 2021; 56:899-908. [PMID: 34487477 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2021.1974273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Affinin present in Heliopsis longipes roots has been identified as an anti-aflatoxin molecule. However, its mechanism of action has yet to be clarified. Aflatoxins biosynthesis involves not less than 27 enzymatic reactions. In this work, the genes aflG, aflH, aflI, aflK, aflL, aflM, aflO, aflP, and aflQ of the aflatoxins cluster and the aflS gene encoding an internal regulatory factor involved in aflatoxins biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus, were studied by qRT-PCR. Results demonstrated that ethanolic extract of H. longipes roots and affinin inhibit aflatoxin biosynthesis and fungal growth in a dose-dependent manner. At 300 µg/mL, ethanolic extract and affinin presented the highest inhibition of radial growth (86% and 94%) and aflatoxin production (68% and 80%). The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that nine tested genes were down-regulated by affinin and ethanolic extract. The most down-regulated was the aflK, a gene that encodes an enzyme cyclase with double function during the aflatoxin biosynthesis. While no significant down-regulation was obtaining for aflH gene. Exposure to affinin also resulted in decreased transcript levels of the internal regulator factor aflS. Based on our results, a model showing the regulatory mechanism in aflatoxin biosynthesis and its role in gene expression was proposed. In conclusion, affinin modulates the expression of several aflatoxin biosynthetic genes, leading to mycotoxin biosynthesis inhibition. Therefore, H. longipes roots is a suitable candidate to developed control strategies via lowering gene expressions as a future perspective in reducing aflatoxin contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Génesis V Buitimea-Cantúa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Elisa Magaña-Barajas
- Programa de Ingeniería en Tecnologías de Alimentos, Universidad Estatal de Sonora, Hermosillo, México
| | - Nydia E Buitimea-Cantúa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Héctor Manuel Leija Gutiérrez
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, CICFM-Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas. San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, México
| | | | - Ema Carina Rosas-Burgos
- Departamento de Investigación y Posgrado en Alimentos, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Alejandro Hernández-Morales
- Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
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Martínez-Cárdenas A, Cruz-Zamora Y, Fajardo-Hernández CA, Villanueva-Silva R, Cruz-García F, Raja HA, Figueroa M. Genome Mining and Molecular Networking-Based Metabolomics of the Marine Facultative Aspergillus sp. MEXU 27854. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175362. [PMID: 34500798 PMCID: PMC8433890 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The marine-facultative Aspergillus sp. MEXU 27854, isolated from the Caleta Bay in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, has provided an interesting diversity of secondary metabolites, including a series of rare dioxomorpholines, peptides, and butyrolactones. Here, we report on the genomic data, which consists of 11 contigs (N50~3.95 Mb) with a ~30.75 Mb total length of assembly. Genome annotation resulted in the prediction of 10,822 putative genes. Functional annotation was accomplished by BLAST searching protein sequences with different public databases. Of the predicted genes, 75% were assigned gene ontology terms. From the 67 BGCs identified, ~60% belong to the NRPS and NRPS-like classes. Putative BGCs for the dioxomorpholines and other metabolites were predicted by extensive genome mining. In addition, metabolomic molecular networking analysis allowed the annotation of all isolated compounds and revealed the biosynthetic potential of this fungus. This work represents the first report of whole-genome sequencing and annotation from a marine-facultative fungal strain isolated from Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí Martínez-Cárdenas
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
| | - Yuridia Cruz-Zamora
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
| | - Carlos A. Fajardo-Hernández
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
| | - Rodrigo Villanueva-Silva
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
| | - Felipe Cruz-García
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA;
| | - Mario Figueroa
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.M.-C.); (Y.C.-Z.); (C.A.F.-H.); (R.V.-S.); (F.C.-G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-55-5622-5290
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Ye F, Zeng P, Li Z, Tang C, Liu W, Su D, Zhan Y, Li S. Detection of Aspergillus DNA in BALF by Real-time PCR and Galactomannan Antigen for the Early Diagnosis of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Ann Clin Lab Sci 2021; 51:698-704. [PMID: 34686513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies have confirmed that real-time PCR detection of Aspergillus DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is more valuable than blood samples in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The latest guidelines recommend the use of serum samples for Aspergillus antibody testing for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, research on CPA diagnosed by real-time PCR testing of BALF has been limited. In this study, we assessed the clinical value of BALF GM and PCR detection in diagnosing CPA. METHODS The diagnostic criteria of this study were based on the 2015 ESCMID/ERS guidelines for CPA. Seventy-nine patients with CPA and 74 non-CPA patients were enrolled. Aspergillus DNA in BALF was detected in the patients with CPA. RESULTS The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) of BALF PCR in the CPA group were 87.18%, 89.80%, 87.18%, 89.80%, and 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.95), respectively (P<0.005). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BALF Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) detection in the CPA group were 66.67%, 89.80%, 83.87%, and 77.19%, respectively, and the AUC was 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.99) (P<0.005). When combining BALF GM and BALF PCR detection, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 92.31%, 89.80%, 87.80%, and 93.62%, respectively. CONCLUSION The BALF PCR detection method has good diagnostic value for CPA and combining this method with BALF GM detection can improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiling Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengtu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Wenkuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danhong Su
- Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yangqing Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Habibi A, Afzali D. Aspergillus Section Flavi from Four Agricultural Products and Association of Mycotoxin and Sclerotia Production with Isolation Source. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:3674-3685. [PMID: 34398304 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02620-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many agricultural products are susceptible to contamination by aflatoxin-producing species from Aspergillus section Flavi. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of Aspergillus section Flavi in four agricultural products, such as pistachio, walnut, hazelnut, and dried fruits, collected from market and retail shops in various areas of Kerman County and obtain information on the relationships between isolation source and ability to produce sclerotia and potential for aflatoxin production. Aspergillus species were identified based on morphological characteristics as well as subsequent sequencing of the parts of the β-tubulin and calmodulin genes. From 207 isolated strains, the following species were identified: A. flavus, A. tamarii A. nomius, A. parasiticus, A. arachidicola, A. caelatus, A. pseudotamarii, and A. leporis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. pseudotamarii and A. arachidicola with the potential to produce aflatoxins from dried apricots and hazelnuts, respectively. Sclerotial type was significantly different between isolates from different isolation sources. From 192 tested isolates, 38% were aflatoxin producer from which 5% were scored as strong aflatoxin producers and 33% as average aflatoxin producers. A significant difference in the population of aflatoxin-producing strains across the isolation sources was observed which may reflect host adaptation and thereby different vulnerabilities to aflatoxin-producing species among the examined products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Habibi
- Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Daryoush Afzali
- Department of Environment, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
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Mori T, Zhai R, Ushimaru R, Matsuda Y, Abe I. Molecular insights into the endoperoxide formation by Fe(II)/α-KG-dependent oxygenase NvfI. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4417. [PMID: 34285212 PMCID: PMC8292354 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24685-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Endoperoxide-containing natural products are a group of compounds with structurally unique cyclized peroxide moieties. Although numerous endoperoxide-containing compounds have been isolated, the biosynthesis of the endoperoxides remains unclear. NvfI from Aspergillus novofumigatus IBT 16806 is an endoperoxidase that catalyzes the formation of fumigatonoid A in the biosynthesis of novofumigatonin. Here, we describe our structural and functional analyses of NvfI. The structural elucidation and mutagenesis studies indicate that NvfI does not utilize a tyrosyl radical in the reaction, in contrast to other characterized endoperoxidases. Further, the crystallographic analysis reveals significant conformational changes of two loops upon substrate binding, which suggests a dynamic movement of active site during the catalytic cycle. As a result, NvfI installs three oxygen atoms onto a substrate in a single enzyme turnover. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism for the NvfI-catalyzed, unique endoperoxide formation reaction to produce fumigatonoid A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Mori
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
| | - Rui Zhai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Richiro Ushimaru
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- ACT-X, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yudai Matsuda
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ikuro Abe
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Archer M, Xu J. Current Practices for Reference Gene Selection in RT-qPCR of Aspergillus: Outlook and Recommendations for the Future. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12070960. [PMID: 34202507 PMCID: PMC8307107 DOI: 10.3390/genes12070960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus is a genus of filamentous fungi with vast geographic and ecological distributions. Species within this genus are clinically, agriculturally and biotechnologically relevant, leading to increasing interest in elucidating gene expression dynamics of key metabolic and physiological processes. Reverse-transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) is a sensitive and specific method of quantifying gene expression. A crucial step for comparing RT-qPCR results between strains and experimental conditions is normalisation to experimentally validated reference gene(s). In this review, we provide a critical analysis of current reference gene selection and validation practices for RT-qPCR gene expression analyses of Aspergillus. Of 90 primary research articles obtained through our PubMed query, 17 experimentally validated the reference gene(s) used. Twenty reference genes were used across the 90 studies, with beta-tubulin being the most used reference gene, followed by actin, 18S rRNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Sixteen of the 90 studies used multiple reference genes for normalisation. Failing to experimentally validate the stability of reference genes can lead to conflicting results, as was the case for four studies. Overall, our review highlights the need to experimentally validate reference genes in RT-qPCR studies of Aspergillus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianping Xu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-905-525-9140 (ext. 27934); Fax: +1-905-522-6066
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Yoshioka I, Kirimura K. Rapid and marker-free gene replacement in citric acid-producing Aspergillus tubingensis (A. niger) WU-2223L by the CRISPR/Cas9 system-based genome editing technique using DNA fragments encoding sgRNAs. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 131:579-588. [PMID: 33612423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Strains belonging to Aspergillus section Nigri, including Aspergillus niger, are used for industrial production of citric acid from carbohydrates such as molasses and starch. The objective of this study was to construct the genome editing system that could enable rapid and efficient gene replacement in citric acid-producing fungi for genetic breeding. Using the citric acid-hyperproducer A. tubingensis (formerly A. niger) WU-2223L as a model strain, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9 system-based genome editing technique involving co-transformation of Cas9 and the DNA fragment encoding single guide RNA (sgRNA). Using this system, ATP-sulfurylase gene (sC) knock-out strain derived from WU-2223L was generated; the knock-out efficiency was 29 transformants when 5 μg Cas9 was added to 5 × 105 protoplasts. In the gene replacement method based on this system, a DNA fragment encoding sgRNAs that target both the gene of interest and marker gene was used, and replacement of nitrate reductase gene (niaD) using sC gene as a marker gene was attempted. More than 90% of the sC-knock-out transformants exhibited replaced niaD, indicating efficient gene replacement. Moreover, one-step marker rescue of the sC marker gene was accomplished by excising the knock-in donor via intramolecular homologous recombination, enabling marker-free genome editing and drastically shortening the gene replacement period by circumventing the transformation procedure to recover the sC gene. Thus, we succeeded in constructing a CRISPR/Cas9 system-based rapid and marker-free gene replacement system for the citric acid-hyperproducer strain WU-2223L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isato Yoshioka
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Ohkubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Kohtaro Kirimura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Ohkubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.
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Jarczynska ZD, Rendsvig JKH, Pagels N, Viana VR, Nødvig CS, Kirchner FH, Strucko T, Nielsen ML, Mortensen UH. DIVERSIFY: A Fungal Multispecies Gene Expression Platform. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:579-588. [PMID: 33651591 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent sequencing of numerous fungal species revealed large repertoires of putative biotechnologically relevant genes and secondary metabolite gene clusters. However, often the commercial potential of these species is impeded by difficulties to predict host physiological and metabolic compatibility with a given product, and lack of adequate genetic tools. Consequently, most heterologous production is performed in standard hosts where genetic tools and experience are in place. However, these species may not be suitable for all products. To increase chances of successful heterologous production, we have created a flexible platform, DIVERSIFY, for multispecies heterologous gene expression. This reduces the workload to construction of a single gene expression cassette, used to transform all DIVERSIFY strains in order to identify the optimal cell factory host. As proof of principle of the DIVERSIFY concept, we present the first version of our platform, DIVERSIFY 1.0, which we have successfully used for the production of three proteins and a metabolite in four different Aspergilli species, and for the identification of the best producer for each of the products. Moreover, we show that DIVERSIFY 1.0 is compatible with marker-free gene targeting induced by the CRISPR nucleases Cas9 and MAD7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zofia D Jarczynska
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob K H Rendsvig
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Veronica R Viana
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Ferdinand H Kirchner
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tomas Strucko
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Uffe H Mortensen
- Eukaryotic Molecular Cell Biology, Section for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Abdulrachman D, Eurwilaichitr L, Champreda V, Chantasingh D, Pootanakit K. Development of a CRISPR/Cpf1 system for targeted gene disruption in Aspergillus aculeatus TBRC 277. BMC Biotechnol 2021; 21:15. [PMID: 33573639 PMCID: PMC7879532 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-021-00669-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies have revolutionized biotechnological research particularly in functional genomics and synthetic biology. As an alternative to the most studied and well-developed CRISPR/Cas9, a new class 2 (type V) CRISPR-Cas system called Cpf1 has emerged as another versatile platform for precision genome modification in a wide range of organisms including filamentous fungi. RESULTS In this study, we developed AMA1-based single CRISPR/Cpf1 expression vector that targets pyrG gene in Aspergillus aculeatus TBRC 277, a wild type filamentous fungus and potential enzyme-producing cell factory. The results showed that the Cpf1 codon optimized from Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida U112, FnCpf1, works efficiently to facilitate RNA-guided site-specific DNA cleavage. Specifically, we set up three different guide crRNAs targeting pyrG gene and demonstrated that FnCpf1 was able to induce site-specific double-strand breaks (DSBs) followed by an endogenous non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathway which caused insertions or deletions (indels) at these site-specific loci. CONCLUSIONS The use of FnCpf1 as an alternative class II (type V) nuclease was reported for the first time in A. aculeatus TBRC 277 species. The CRISPR/Cpf1 system developed in this study highlights the feasibility of CRISPR/Cpf1 technology and could be envisioned to further increase the utility of the CRISPR/Cpf1 in facilitating strain improvements as well as functional genomics of filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dede Abdulrachman
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Lily Eurwilaichitr
- Thailand Bioresource Research Center (TBRC), National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand Science Park, Khlong Luang District, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Verawat Champreda
- Enzyme Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand Science Park, Khlong Luang District, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Duriya Chantasingh
- Enzyme Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand Science Park, Khlong Luang District, Pathumthani, Thailand.
| | - Kusol Pootanakit
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
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Gerin D, Garrapa F, Ballester AR, González-Candelas L, De Miccolis Angelini RM, Faretra F, Pollastro S. Functional Role of Aspergillus carbonariusAcOTAbZIP Gene, a bZIP Transcription Factor within the OTA Gene Cluster. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:111. [PMID: 33540740 PMCID: PMC7913050 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus carbonarius is the principal fungal species responsible for ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of grapes and derived products in the main viticultural regions worldwide. In recent years, co-expressed genes representing a putative-OTA gene cluster were identified, and the deletion of a few of them allowed the partial elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway in the fungus. In the putative OTA-gene cluster is additionally present a bZIP transcription factor (AcOTAbZIP), and with this work, A. carbonarius ΔAcOTAbZIP strains were generated to study its functional role. According to phylogenetic analysis, the gene is conserved in the OTA-producing fungi. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor binding motif (TFBM) homolog, associated with bZIP transcription factors was present in the A. carbonarius OTA-gene cluster no-coding regions. AcOTAbZIP deletion results in the loss of OTA and the intermediates OTB and OTβ. Additionally, in ΔAcOTAbZIP strains, a down-regulation of AcOTApks, AcOTAnrps, AcOTAp450, and AcOTAhal genes was observed compared to wild type (WT). These results provide evidence of the direct involvement of the AcOTAbZIP gene in the OTA biosynthetic pathway by regulating the involved genes. The loss of OTA biosynthesis ability does not affect fungal development as demonstrated by the comparison of ΔAcOTAbZIP strains and WT strains in terms of vegetative growth and asexual sporulation on three different media. Finally, no statistically significant differences in virulence were observed among ΔAcOTAbZIP strains and WT strains on artificially inoculated grape berries, demonstrating that OTA is not required by A. carbonarius for the pathogenicity process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Gerin
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (F.G.); (F.F.); (S.P.)
| | - Federica Garrapa
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (F.G.); (F.F.); (S.P.)
| | - Ana-Rosa Ballester
- Food Biotechnology Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; (A.-R.B.); (L.G.-C.)
| | - Luis González-Candelas
- Food Biotechnology Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; (A.-R.B.); (L.G.-C.)
| | - Rita Milvia De Miccolis Angelini
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (F.G.); (F.F.); (S.P.)
- SELGE Network of Public Research Laboratories, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Faretra
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (F.G.); (F.F.); (S.P.)
- SELGE Network of Public Research Laboratories, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Pollastro
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (F.G.); (F.F.); (S.P.)
- SELGE Network of Public Research Laboratories, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
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Maor U, Barda O, Sadhasivam S, Bi Y, Levin E, Zakin V, Prusky DB, Sionov E. Functional roles of LaeA, polyketide synthase, and glucose oxidase in the regulation of ochratoxin A biosynthesis and virulence in Aspergillus carbonarius. Mol Plant Pathol 2021; 22:117-129. [PMID: 33169928 PMCID: PMC7749749 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus carbonarius is the major producer of ochratoxin A (OTA) among Aspergillus species, but the contribution of this secondary metabolite to fungal virulence has not been assessed. We characterized the functions and addressed the roles of three factors in the regulation of OTA synthesis and pathogenicity in A. carbonarius: LaeA, a transcriptional factor regulating the production of secondary metabolites; polyketide synthase, required for OTA biosynthesis; and glucose oxidase (GOX), regulating gluconic acid (GLA) accumulation and acidification of the host tissue during fungal growth. Deletion of laeA in A. carbonarius resulted in significantly reduced OTA production in colonized nectarines and grapes. The ∆laeA mutant was unable to efficiently acidify the colonized tissue, as a direct result of diminished GLA production, leading to attenuated virulence in infected fruit compared to the wild type (WT). The designed Acpks-knockout mutant resulted in complete inhibition of OTA production in vitro and in colonized fruit. Interestingly, physiological analysis revealed that the colonization pattern of the ∆Acpks mutant was similar to that of the WT strain, with high production of GLA in the colonized tissue, suggesting that OTA accumulation does not contribute to A. carbonarius pathogenicity. Disruption of the Acgox gene inactivated GLA production in A. carbonarius, and this mutant showed attenuated virulence in infected fruit compared to the WT strain. These data identify the global regulator LaeA and GOX as critical factors modulating A. carbonarius pathogenicity by controlling transcription of genes important for fungal secondary metabolism and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uriel Maor
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and NutritionThe Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Omer Barda
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Sudharsan Sadhasivam
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Yang Bi
- College of Food Science and EngineeringGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Elena Levin
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Varda Zakin
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Dov B. Prusky
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
- College of Food Science and EngineeringGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Edward Sionov
- Institute of Postharvest and Food SciencesThe Volcani CenterAgricultural Research OrganizationRishon LeZionIsrael
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Sakekar AA, Gaikwad SR, Punekar NS. Protein expression and secretion by filamentous fungi. J Biosci 2021; 46:5. [PMID: 33576343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the search for optimal platforms for protein expression and secretion, filamentous fungi in principle provide some of the best microbial cell factories. They are inherently endowed with the ability to secrete proteins. Fungi belonging to Aspergillus and Trichoderma species are well-studied for industrial production of proteins and enzymes. Our understanding of these organisms at the level of transcription, translation, post-translational processing and the secretory pathways has improved significantly in recent years. Despite this, the ability of these fungal secretion platforms has not yet been able to match their intrinsic secretion capacity to produce foreign proteins. Details of the molecular mechanisms of the secretory pathways in filamentous fungi are emerging. This knowledge can be gainfully employed to enhance protein production in filamentous fungi, particularly in the secretion of heterologous proteins of value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anup A Sakekar
- Metabolism and Enzymology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400 076, India
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Gil-Serna J, Vázquez C, Patiño B. The Genomic Regions That Contain Ochratoxin A Biosynthetic Genes Widely Differ in Aspergillus Section Circumdati Species. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E754. [PMID: 33260416 PMCID: PMC7760312 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12120754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus section Circumdati includes 27 species, some of which are considered ochratoxin A (OTA) producers. However, there is considerable controversy about their potential OTA synthesis ability. In this work, the complete genomes of 13 species of Aspergillus section Circumdati were analyzed in order to study the cluster of OTA biosynthetic genes and the region was compared to those previously reported in A. steynii and A. westerdijkiae. The results obtained reveal that the genomes of some species in this section, including A. affinis, A. cretensis, A. elegans, A. muricatus, A. pulvericola, A. roseoglobulosus, and A. subramanianii, contain a potentially functional OTA biosynthetic cluster. Therefore, they might be able to synthesize the toxin. On the contrary, A. melleus, A. ochraceus, A. ostianus, A. persii, A. sclerotiorum, A. sesamicola, and A. westlandensis contain a truncated version of the cluster that lacks many of the genes involved in OTA biosynthesis, which might be related to their inability to produce OTA. The gain/loss pattern is different in all species, which suggests that the genetic evolution of this region might be due to independent events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Gil-Serna
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.V.); (B.P.)
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the genus Aspergillus display a variety of lifestyles, ranging from saprobic to pathogenic on plants and/or animals. Increased genome sequencing of economically important members of the genus permits effective use of "-omics" comparisons between closely related species and strains to identify candidate genes that may contribute to phenotypes of interest, especially relating to pathogenicity. Protein-coding genes were predicted from 216 genomes of 12 Aspergillus species, and the frequencies of various structural aspects (exon count and length, intron count and length, GC content, and codon usage) and functional annotations (InterPro, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes terms) were compared. RESULTS Using principal component analyses, the three sets of functional annotations for each strain were clustered by species. The species clusters appeared to separate by pathogenicity on plants along the first dimensions, which accounted for over 20% of the variance. More annotations for genes encoding pectinases and secondary metabolite biosynthetic enzymes were assigned to phytopathogenic strains from species such as Aspergillus flavus. In contrast, Aspergillus fumigatus strains, which are pathogenic to animals but not plants, were assigned relatively more terms related to phosphate transferases, and carbohydrate and amino-sugar metabolism. Analyses of publicly available RNA-Seq data indicated that one A. fumigatus protein among 17 amino-sugar processing candidates, a hexokinase, was up-regulated during co-culturing with human immune system cells. CONCLUSION Genes encoding hexokinases and other proteins of interest may be subject to future manipulations to further refine understanding of Aspergillus pathogenicity factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla K Pennerman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, Athens, GA, 30605, USA.
| | - Guohua Yin
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Anthony E Glenn
- United States Department of Agriculture, Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
| | - Joan W Bennett
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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Steenwyk JL, Mead ME, Knowles SL, Raja HA, Roberts CD, Bader O, Houbraken J, Goldman GH, Oberlies NH, Rokas A. Variation Among Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, Secondary Metabolite Profiles, and Cards of Virulence Across Aspergillus Species. Genetics 2020; 216:481-497. [PMID: 32817009 PMCID: PMC7536862 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a major human pathogen. In contrast, Aspergillus fischeri and the recently described Aspergillus oerlinghausenensis, the two species most closely related to A. fumigatus, are not known to be pathogenic. Some of the genetic determinants of virulence (or "cards of virulence") that A. fumigatus possesses are secondary metabolites that impair the host immune system, protect from host immune cell attacks, or acquire key nutrients. To examine whether secondary metabolism-associated cards of virulence vary between these species, we conducted extensive genomic and secondary metabolite profiling analyses of multiple A. fumigatus, one A. oerlinghausenensis, and multiple A. fischeri strains. We identified two cards of virulence (gliotoxin and fumitremorgin) shared by all three species and three cards of virulence (trypacidin, pseurotin, and fumagillin) that are variable. For example, we found that all species and strains examined biosynthesized gliotoxin, which is known to contribute to virulence, consistent with the conservation of the gliotoxin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) across genomes. For other secondary metabolites, such as fumitremorgin, a modulator of host biology, we found that all species produced the metabolite but that there was strain heterogeneity in its production within species. Finally, species differed in their biosynthesis of fumagillin and pseurotin, both contributors to host tissue damage during invasive aspergillosis. A. fumigatus biosynthesized fumagillin and pseurotin, while A. oerlinghausenensis biosynthesized fumagillin and A. fischeri biosynthesized neither. These biochemical differences were reflected in sequence divergence of the intertwined fumagillin/pseurotin BGCs across genomes. These results delineate the similarities and differences in secondary metabolism-associated cards of virulence between a major fungal pathogen and its nonpathogenic closest relatives, shedding light onto the genetic and phenotypic changes associated with the evolution of fungal pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
| | - Matthew E Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
| | - Sonja L Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
| | - Huzefa A Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
| | - Christopher D Roberts
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
| | - Oliver Bader
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Jos Houbraken
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-900 Brazil
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
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79
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Mikušová P, Caboň M, Melichárková A, Urík M, Ritieni A, Slovák M. Genetic Diversity, Ochratoxin A and Fumonisin Profiles of Strains of Aspergillus Section Nigri Isolated from Dried Vine Fruits. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090592. [PMID: 32937759 PMCID: PMC7551007 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination in raisin samples purchased from Slovak markets and determined the diversity of black-spored aspergilli as potential OTA and fumonisin (FB1 and FB2) producers. The taxonomic identification was performed using sequences of the nuclear ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 region, the calmodulin and beta-tubulin genes. We obtained 239 isolates from eight fungal genera, of which 197 belonged to Aspergillus (82%) and 42 strains (18%) to other fungal genera. OTA contamination was evidenced in 75% of the samples and its level ranged from 0.8 to 10.6 µg/kg. The combination of all three markers used enabled unambiguous identification of A. carbonarius, A. luchuensis, A. niger, A. tubingensis and A. welwitschiae. The dominant coloniser, simultaneously having the highest within-species diversity isolated from our raisin samples, was A. tubingensis. Out of all analysed strains, only A. carbonarius was found to produce OTA, but in relatively high quantity (2477–4382 µg/kg). The production of FB1 and FB2 was evidenced in A. niger strains only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Mikušová
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (A.M.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Miroslav Caboň
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (A.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Andrea Melichárková
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (A.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Martin Urík
- Institute of Laboratory Research on Geomaterials, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, SK-842 15 Bratislava 4, Slovakia;
| | - Alberto Ritieni
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Staff of Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, 801 31 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Marek Slovák
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (A.M.); (M.S.)
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
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80
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Zeng H, Cai J, Hatabayashi H, Nakagawa H, Nakajima H, Yabe K. verA Gene is Involved in the Step to Make the Xanthone Structure of Demethylsterigmatocystin in Aflatoxin Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176389. [PMID: 32887494 PMCID: PMC7503927 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the biosynthesis of aflatoxin, verA, ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes of the aflatoxin gene cluster are involved in the pathway from versicolorin A (VA) to demethylsterigmatocystin (DMST). We herein isolated each disruptant of these four genes to determine their functions in more detail. Disruptants of ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes commonly accumulated VA in their mycelia. In contrast, the verA gene disruptant accumulated a novel yellow fluorescent substance (which we named HAMA) in the mycelia as well as culture medium. Feeding HAMA to the other disruptants commonly caused the production of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and G1 (AFG1). These results indicate that HAMA pigment is a novel aflatoxin precursor which is involved at a certain step after those of ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes between VA and DMST. HAMA was found to be an unstable substance to easily convert to DMST and sterigmatin. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed that the molecular mass of HAMA was 374, and HAMA gave two close major peaks in the LC chromatogram in some LC conditions. We suggest that these peaks correspond to the two conformers of HAMA; one of them would be selectively bound on the substrate binding site of VerA enzyme and then converted to DMST. VerA enzyme may work as a key enzyme in the creation of the xanthone structure of DMST from HAMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zeng
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingjing Cai
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hidemi Hatabayashi
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
| | - Hiroyuki Nakagawa
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
| | - Hiromitsu Nakajima
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Koyama, Tottori 680-8553, Japan;
| | - Kimiko Yabe
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Environmental and Information Sciences, Fukui University of Technology, 3-6-1 Gakuen, Fukui-shi, Fukui 910-8505, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-776-29-2408
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81
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Buitimea-Cantúa GV, Buitimea-Cantúa NE, Rocha-Pizaña MDR, Hernández-Morales A, Magaña-Barajas E, Molina-Torres J. Inhibitory effect of Capsicum chinense and Piper nigrum fruits, capsaicin and piperine on aflatoxins production in Aspergillus parasiticus by downregulating the expression of aflD, aflM, aflR, and aflS genes of aflatoxins biosynthetic pathway. J Environ Sci Health B 2020; 55:835-843. [PMID: 32657210 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2020.1787758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus parasiticus are toxic and carcinogenic metabolites. The biosynthesis of this mycotoxins is a complex process and involves at least 30 genes clustered within an approximately 82 kB gene cluster. In the present study, the effect of Capsicum chinense and Piper nigrum fruits on Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production were studied in relation to the expression of aflD, aflM, aflR, and aflS four; key genes of aflatoxins biosynthesis pathway. GC-EIMS analysis identified capsaicin (66,107 µg g-1) and piperine (1,138 µg g-1) as the most abundant compounds in C. chinense and P. nigrum fruits, respectively. The antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic assays showed that C. chinense, P. nigrum, capsaicin, and piperine inhibited A. parasiticus growth and aflatoxins production in a dose-dependent manner. The piperine at 300 µg mL-1 produced higher radial growth inhibition (89%) and aflatoxin production inhibition (69%). The expression of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and revealed that aflatoxin inhibition occurring via downregulating the aflS and aflR, and subsequently aflD and aflM genes. These results will improve our understanding of the mechanism of aflatoxin regulation by C. chinense, P. nigrum, capsaicin, and piperine, and provides a reference for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Génesis V Buitimea-Cantúa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, N.L., México
- CINVESTAV, Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Nydia E Buitimea-Cantúa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, N.L., México
| | | | - Alejandro Hernández-Morales
- Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Elisa Magaña-Barajas
- Programa de Ingeniería en Tecnologías de Alimentos, Universidad Estatal de Sonora, México
| | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- CINVESTAV, Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
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82
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Steenwyk JL, Lind AL, Ries LNA, Dos Reis TF, Silva LP, Almeida F, Bastos RW, Fraga da Silva TFDC, Bonato VLD, Pessoni AM, Rodrigues F, Raja HA, Knowles SL, Oberlies NH, Lagrou K, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Pathogenic Allodiploid Hybrids of Aspergillus Fungi. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2495-2507.e7. [PMID: 32502407 PMCID: PMC7343619 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Interspecific hybridization substantially alters genotypes and phenotypes and can give rise to new lineages. Hybrid isolates that differ from their parental species in infection-relevant traits have been observed in several human-pathogenic yeasts and plant-pathogenic filamentous fungi but have yet to be found in human-pathogenic filamentous fungi. We discovered 6 clinical isolates from patients with aspergillosis originally identified as Aspergillus nidulans (section Nidulantes) that are actually allodiploid hybrids formed by the fusion of Aspergillus spinulosporus with an unknown close relative of Aspergillus quadrilineatus, both in section Nidulantes. Evolutionary genomic analyses revealed that these isolates belong to Aspergillus latus, an allodiploid hybrid species. Characterization of diverse infection-relevant traits further showed that A. latus hybrid isolates are genomically and phenotypically heterogeneous but also differ from A. nidulans, A. spinulosporus, and A. quadrilineatus. These results suggest that allodiploid hybridization contributes to the genomic and phenotypic diversity of filamentous fungal pathogens of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Abigail L Lind
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Laure N A Ries
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Thaila F Dos Reis
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Lilian P Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Fausto Almeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael W Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda de Campos Fraga da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vania L D Bonato
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Moreira Pessoni
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal
| | - Huzefa A Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - Sonja L Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Centre for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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83
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Paccoud O, Guery R, Poirée S, Jouvion G, Bougnoux ME, Catherinot E, Hermine O, Lortholary O, Lanternier F. Aspergillus felis in Patient with Chronic Granulomatous Disease. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 25:2319-2321. [PMID: 31742513 PMCID: PMC6874246 DOI: 10.3201/eid2512.191020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a case of Aspergillus felis infection in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease who had overlapping features of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Identifying the species responsible for aspergillosis by molecular methods can be crucial for directing patient management and selection of appropriate antifungal agents.
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84
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Wikandari R, Mayningsih IC, Sari MDP, Purwandari FA, Setyaningsih W, Rahayu ES, Taherzadeh MJ. Assessment of Microbiological Quality and Mycotoxin in Dried Chili by Morphological Identification, Molecular Detection, and Chromatography Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17061847. [PMID: 32178381 PMCID: PMC7143392 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The growing interest in spicy foods leads to the global demand for spices, particularly dried chili. This study aimed to assay both aflatoxin (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination using an integrative method of morphological identification, molecular detection, and chromatography analysis on dried chili provided from traditional and modern markets in Indonesia. The results showed that total fungal infection ranged from 1-408 × 103 CFU/g. Eighty percent of the chili obtained from both the traditional and the modern markets were infected by Aspergillus spp., in which 50% of the infections were identified as A. parasiticus and A. flavus. A complete set of targeted genes involved in AF production and OTA were detected in two isolates of A. flavus and one isolate of A. carbonarius, respectively. The levels of AFs B1, B2, and OTA in the contaminated dried chilies were in the range of 39.3-139.5 µg/kg, 2.6-33.3 µg/kg, and 23.7-84.6 µg/kg, respectively. In contrast, no AFs G1 and G2 were detected. This study showed that the fungal infection of Indonesian dried chili occurs both in the field and during storage; thus, it is suggested to implement good agricultural and handling processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachma Wikandari
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Inggrid Chrisanti Mayningsih
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Maura Dania Permata Sari
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Fiametta Ayu Purwandari
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Widiastuti Setyaningsih
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Endang Sutriswati Rahayu
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; (R.W.); (I.C.M.); (M.D.P.S.); (F.A.P.); (W.S.); (E.S.R.)
| | - Mohammad J. Taherzadeh
- Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 50190 Borås, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-334-355-908
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85
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Quaglia M, Santinelli M, Sulyok M, Onofri A, Covarelli L, Beccari G. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium species associated with dried date fruits collected in the Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy) market. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 322:108585. [PMID: 32179333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A total of 20 dried date samples, chosen as representative among those available on the Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy) market, were analyzed for the possible occurrence of fungal species and related contamination by fungal secondary metabolites. Twenty-six isolates, representative of the total mycobiota, were obtained and morphologically identified as belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium. Inside each genus, molecular characterization (by partial sequencing of ITS region and/or β-tubulin and calmodulin regions for Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates or actin region for Cladosporium isolates) and in vitro mycotoxigenic profile characterization (by LC-MS/MS analysis) showed the presence of the following species: A. flavus, A. tubingensis, P. brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, P. crustosum, P. glabrum, P. solitum, P. venetum, C. cladosporioides, C. limoniforme and C. halotolerans, with A. tubingensis as the prevalent species and P. crustosum, P. solitum, P. venetum and C. limoniforme first reported here on dates. Date packaging and format showed an effect on the incidence of isolated fungi, with the lowest incidence recovered from whole dates and in hermetic bag packaging. These findings can be useful both for dried dates producers and consumers, guiding them towards choices of packaging and format with a lower risk of mycotoxigenic species presence. However, no fungal metabolites were detected in the dried date samples analyzed, which were therefore regarded as safe for human consumption, underlining the absence of correspondence between fungal isolation and mycotoxin contaminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Quaglia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Marina Santinelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
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86
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Mathimaran A, Kumar A. Changes in morphogenesis and carotenogenesis to influence polygalacturonase secretion in Aspergillus carbonarius mutant. Arch Microbiol 2020; 202:1285-1293. [PMID: 32128608 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01838-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mycelial morphogenesis and the production of fungal secretory proteins are still largely unknown. A mutant strain of Aspergillus carbonarius UV-10046 produced abundant polygalacturonase (PG) along with partially saturated canthaxanthin (PSC) at low pH conditions. In the present study, the relationship between PG secretion and PSC biosynthesis was studied using carotenogenic inhibitors and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Also the correlation between morphogenesis and PG secretion was investigated by analysing through microscopic studies. From the results, it was observed that secretion of PG was positively influenced by the PSC biosynthesis. The results also showed that the mutant with hairy mycelial structure resulted in higher PG activity when compared to the wild type that lacks hyper branching. From the results, it was confirmed that a mutation might have occurred in the isoprenoid pathway that has helped mutant for survival at acidic conditions. Further, an alteration in the morphogenesis and hyper branching development caused over secretion of PG enzyme in the mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahila Mathimaran
- Department of Biotechnology, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology, Vallam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613403, India
| | - Anbarasu Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology, Vallam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613403, India.
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87
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Perlatti B, Lan N, Jiang Y, An Z, Bills G. Identification of Secondary Metabolites from Aspergillus pachycristatus by Untargeted UPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS and Genome Mining. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040913. [PMID: 32085602 PMCID: PMC7071103 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus pachycristatus is an industrially important fungus for the production of the antifungal echinocandin B and is closely related to model organism A. nidulans. Its secondary metabolism is largely unknown except for the production of echinocandin B and sterigmatocystin. We constructed mutants for three genes that regulate secondary metabolism in A. pachycristatus NRRL 11440, and evaluated the secondary metabolites produced by wild type and mutants strains. The secondary metabolism was explored by metabolic networking of UPLC-HRMS/MS data. The genes and metabolites of A. pachycristatus were compared to those of A.nidulans FGSC A4 as a reference to identify compounds and link them to their encoding genes. Major differences in chromatographic profiles were observable among the mutants. At least 28 molecules were identified in crude extracts that corresponded to nine characterized gene clusters. Moreover, metabolic networking revealed the presence of a yet unexplored array of secondary metabolites, including several undescribed fellutamides derivatives. Comparative reference to its sister species, A. nidulans, was an efficient way to dereplicate known compounds, whereas metabolic networking provided information that allowed prioritization of unknown compounds for further metabolic exploration. The mutation of global regulator genes proved to be a useful tool for expanding the expression of metabolic diversity in A. pachycristatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Perlatti
- Texas Therapeutic Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (N.L.); (Z.A.); (G.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Nan Lan
- Texas Therapeutic Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (N.L.); (Z.A.); (G.B.)
| | - Yongying Jiang
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA;
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas Therapeutic Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (N.L.); (Z.A.); (G.B.)
| | - Gerald Bills
- Texas Therapeutic Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (N.L.); (Z.A.); (G.B.)
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88
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Tavakol Noorabadi M, Babaeizad V, Zare R, Asgari B, Haidukowski M, Epifani F, Stea G, Moretti A, Logrieco AF, Susca A. Isolation, Molecular Identification, and Mycotoxin Production of Aspergillus Species Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Sugarcane in the South of Iran. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E122. [PMID: 32075204 PMCID: PMC7076768 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12020122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the genetic diversity detected among fungal species belonging to the genus Aspergillus is of key importance for explaining their important ecological role in the environment and agriculture. The current study aimed to identify Aspergillus species occurring in the rhizosphere of sugarcane in the South of Iran, and to investigate their mycotoxin profiles. One-hundred and twenty-five Aspergillus strains were isolated from the soil of eight major sugarcane-producing sites, and were molecularly identified using sequences of partial -tubulin (benA) and partial calmodulin (CaM) genes. Our molecular and phylogenetic results showed that around 70% of strains belonged to the Aspergillus section Nigri, and around 25% of species belonged to the Aspergillus section Terrei. Species belonging to both sections are able to produce different mycotoxins. The production of mycotoxins was measured for each species, according to their known mycotoxin profile: patulin (PAT) and sterigmatocystin (STG) for Aspergillusterreus; ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins for Aspergilluswelwitschiae; and OTA alone for Aspergillustubingensis. The data showed that the production of OTA was detected in only 4 out of 10 strains of A.welwitschiae, while none of the A.tubingensis strains analyzed produced the mycotoxin. Fumonisins were produced by 8 out of 10 strains of A.welwitschiae. Finally, none of the 23 strains of A.terreus produced STG, while 13 of them produced PAT. The occurrence of such mycotoxigenic plant pathogens among the fungal community occurring in soil of sugarcane fields may represent a significant source of inoculum for the possible colonization of sugarcane plants, since the early stages of plant growth, due to the mycotoxin production capability, could have worrisome implications in terms of both the safety and loss of products at harvest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Tavakol Noorabadi
- Department of Plant Protection, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, 48181 68984 Sari, Iran; (M.T.N.); (V.B.)
| | - Valiollah Babaeizad
- Department of Plant Protection, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, 48181 68984 Sari, Iran; (M.T.N.); (V.B.)
| | - Rasoul Zare
- Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), 19858 13111 Tehran, Iran; (R.Z.); (B.A.)
| | - Bita Asgari
- Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), 19858 13111 Tehran, Iran; (R.Z.); (B.A.)
| | - Miriam Haidukowski
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
| | - Filomena Epifani
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
| | - Gaetano Stea
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
| | - Antonio Moretti
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
| | - Antonio Francesco Logrieco
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
| | - Antonia Susca
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.H.); (F.E.); (G.T.); (A.F.L.)
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89
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Knowles SL, Mead ME, Silva LP, Raja HA, Steenwyk JL, Goldman GH, Oberlies NH, Rokas A. Gliotoxin, a Known Virulence Factor in the Major Human Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, Is Also Biosynthesized by Its Nonpathogenic Relative Aspergillus fischeri. mBio 2020; 11:e03361-19. [PMID: 32047138 PMCID: PMC7018655 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03361-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a major opportunistic human pathogen. Multiple traits contribute to A. fumigatus pathogenicity, including its ability to produce specific secondary metabolites, such as gliotoxin. Gliotoxin is known to inhibit the host immune response, and genetic mutants that inactivate gliotoxin biosynthesis (or secondary metabolism in general) attenuate A. fumigatus virulence. The genome of Aspergillus fischeri, a very close nonpathogenic relative of A. fumigatus, contains a biosynthetic gene cluster that is homologous to the A. fumigatus gliotoxin cluster. However, A. fischeri is not known to produce gliotoxin. To gain further insight into the similarities and differences between the major pathogen A. fumigatus and the nonpathogen A. fischeri, we examined whether A. fischeri strain NRRL 181 biosynthesizes gliotoxin and whether the production of secondary metabolites influences the virulence profile of A. fischeri We found that A. fischeri biosynthesizes gliotoxin under the same conditions as A. fumigatus However, whereas loss of laeA, a master regulator of secondary metabolite production (including gliotoxin biosynthesis), has previously been shown to reduce A. fumigatus virulence, we found that laeA loss (and loss of secondary metabolite production) in A. fischeri does not influence its virulence. These results suggest that LaeA-regulated secondary metabolites are virulence factors in the genomic and phenotypic background of the major pathogen A. fumigatus but are much less important in the background of the nonpathogen A. fischeri Understanding the observed spectrum of pathogenicity across closely related pathogenic and nonpathogenic Aspergillus species will require detailed characterization of their biological, chemical, and genomic similarities and differences.IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatus is a major opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans, but most of its close relatives are nonpathogenic. Why is that so? This important, yet largely unanswered, question can be addressed by examining how A. fumigatus and its close nonpathogenic relatives are similar or different with respect to virulence-associated traits. We investigated whether Aspergillus fischeri, a nonpathogenic close relative of A. fumigatus, can produce gliotoxin, a mycotoxin known to contribute to A. fumigatus virulence. We discovered that the nonpathogenic A. fischeri produces gliotoxin under the same conditions as those of the major pathogen A. fumigatus However, we also discovered that, in contrast to what has previously been observed in A. fumigatus, the loss of secondary metabolite production in A. fischeri does not alter its virulence. Our results are consistent with the "cards of virulence" model of opportunistic fungal disease, in which the ability to cause disease stems from the combination ("hand") of virulence factors ("cards") but not from individual factors per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja L Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew E Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lilian Pereira Silva
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Huzefa A Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacob L Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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90
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Abbas A, Hussien T, Yli-Mattila T. A Polyphasic Approach to Compare the Genomic Profiles of Aflatoxigenic and Non-Aflatoxigenic Isolates of Aspergillus Section Flavi. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E56. [PMID: 31963352 PMCID: PMC7020436 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins (AF) are highly toxic compounds produced by Aspergillus section Flavi. They spoil food crops and present a serious global health hazard to humans and livestock. The aim of this study was to examine the phylogenetic relationships among aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus isolates. A polyphasic approach combining phylogenetic, sequence, and toxin analyses was applied to 40 Aspergillus section Flavi isolates collected from eight countries around the world (USA, Philippines, Egypt, India, Australia, Indonesia, China, and Uganda). This allows one to pinpoint the key genomic features that distinguish AF producing and non-producing isolates. Based on molecular identification, 32 (80%) were identified as A. flavus, three (7.5%) as A. parasiticus, three (7.5%) as A. nomius and one (2.5%) as A. tamarii. Toxin analysis showed that 22 (55%) Aspergillus isolates were aflatoxigenic. The majority of the toxic isolates (62.5%) originated from Egypt. The highest aflatoxin production potential was observed in an A. nomius isolate which is originally isolated from the Philippines. DNA-based molecular markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) were used to evaluate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among these 40 Aspergillus isolates, which were originally selected from 80 isolates. The percentage of polymorphic bands in three RAPD and three ISSR primers was 81.9% and 79.37%, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant diversity within the populations, 92% for RAPD and 85% for ISSR primers. The average of Polymorphism Information Content (PIC), Marker Index (MI), Nei's gene diversity (H) and Shannon's diversity index (I) in ISSR markers are higher than those in RAPD markers. Based on banding patterns and gene diversities values, we observed that the ISSR-PCR provides clearer data and is more successful in genetic diversity analyses than RAPD-PCR. Dendrograms generated from UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) cluster analyses for RAPD and ISSR markers were related to the geographic origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Abbas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland; (A.A.); (T.H.)
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
| | - Taha Hussien
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland; (A.A.); (T.H.)
- Department of Food Toxicology and Contaminant, National Research Center, Cairo 12311, Egypt
| | - Tapani Yli-Mattila
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland; (A.A.); (T.H.)
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91
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Castellá G, Bragulat MR, Cigliano RA, Cabañes FJ. Transcriptome analysis of non-ochratoxigenic Aspergillus carbonarius strains and interactions between some black aspergilli species. Int J Food Microbiol 2019; 317:108498. [PMID: 31918247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus carbonarius consistently produces large amounts of ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin with nephrotoxic effects on animals and humans. In the present study, we analyzed the transcriptional changes associated to OTA production in three atypical non-ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius. In addition, in vitro interactions between ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and A. niger and non-ochratoxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and A. tubingensis were studied in order to evaluate their potential for controlling OTA production. RNA-seq analysis revealed that there are 696 differentially expressed genes identified in the three non-OTA-producing strains, including 280 up-regulated and 333 down-regulated genes. A functional and gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the processes related to metabolic and oxidation processes, associated with functions such as oxidoreductase and hydrolase activity were down regulated. All the genes related with OTA biosynthesis in A. carbonarius were the most down-regulated genes in non-ochratoxigenic strains. We also showed that these strains possess a deleterious mutation in the AcOTApks gene required for OTA biosynthesis. Moreover, one of these strains gave the best control of OTA production resulting in an OTA reduction of 98-100% in co-inoculation with an ochratoxigenic strain of A. niger and an OTA reduction of 79-89% with an ochratoxigenic strain of A. carbonarius. Results of this study provided novel insights into the knowledge of the OTA biosynthetic pathway in these non-ochratoxigenic wild strains, and showed the biocontrol potential of these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Castellá
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Rosa Bragulat
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - F Javier Cabañes
- Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain.
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92
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Akinola SA, Ateba CN, Mwanza M. Polyphasic Assessment of Aflatoxin Production Potential in Selected Aspergilli. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E692. [PMID: 31779084 PMCID: PMC6950480 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11120692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the aflatoxin production potentials of selected fungi using a polyphasic approach. Internally transcribed spacer region of the fungi was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Forty-five Aspergillus strains were further assessed for aflatoxin production using the conventional methods such as growth on yeast extract sucrose, β-cyclodextrin neutral red desiccated coconut agar (β-CNRDCA); expression of the aflatoxin regulatory genes and the use of both thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A large proportion (82.22%) of the isolates harbored the Nor-1 gene while 55.56%, 68.89%, and 80% possessed the ver-1, omt-A, and aflR genes, respectively. All 100% the isolates harbored the aflJ gene. Twenty-three isolates were positive for aflatoxin production based on the yeast extract sucrose medium (YES) test; ammonium vapor test (51%), yellow pigment production (75.5%), and β-CNRDCA tests; and blue/green fluorescence (57.7%). Based on TLC detection 42.2% produced aflatoxins while in the HPLC, total aflatoxin (AFTOT) production concentrations ranged from 6.77-71,453 µg/g. Detectable aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentrations obtained from the HPLC ranged between 3.76 and 70,288 µg/g; 6.77 and 242.50 µg/g for aflatoxin B2 (AFB2); 1.87 and 745.30 µg/g for aflatoxin G1 (AFG1); and 1.67 and 768.52 µg/g for aflatoxin G2 (AFG2). AFTOT contamination levels were higher than European Union tolerable limits (4 µg/kg). The regression coefficient was one (R2 = 1) while significant differences exist in the aflatoxin concentrations of Aspergillus (p ≤ 0.05). This study reports the potentials of Aspergillus oryzae previously known as a non-aflatoxin producer to produce AFG1, AFG2, AFB1, and AFB2 toxins. Aspergillus species in feedlots of animals reared for food are capable of producing aflatoxins which could pose hazards to health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Abiola Akinola
- Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2745, South Africa; (S.A.A.); (C.N.A.)
| | - Collins Njie Ateba
- Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2745, South Africa; (S.A.A.); (C.N.A.)
| | - Mulunda Mwanza
- Center for Animal Health Studies, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2745, South Africa
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93
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Buitimea-Cantúa GV, Buitimea-Cantúa NE, Del Refugio Rocha-Pizaña M, Rosas-Burgos EC, Hernández-Morales A, Molina-Torres J. Antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity of Heliopsis longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol against Aspergillus parasiticus by downregulating the expression of alfD and aflR genes of the aflatoxins biosynthetic pathway. J Environ Sci Health B 2019; 55:210-219. [PMID: 31653182 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2019.1681818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, ethanolic extract from Heliopsis longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol against Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxins production were studied in relation to the expression of aflD and aflR, two key genes of aflatoxins biosynthetic pathway. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract by GC-EIMS identified affinin/spilanthol (7.84 ± 0.27 mg g-1) as the most abundant compounds in H. longipes roots. The antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic assays showed that affinin/spilanthol at 300 µg mL-1 produced the higher inhibition of radial growth (95%), as well as, the higher aflatoxins production inhibition (61%) in comparison to H. longipes roots (87% and 48%, respectively). qRT-PCR revealed that the expression of aflD and aflR genes showed a higher downregulation in affinin/spilanthol at 300 µg mL-1. The expression ratio of alfD was suppressed by affinin/spilanthol in 79% and aflR in 84%, while, a lower expression ratio suppressed by H. longipes was obtained, alfD (55%) and aflR (59%). Affinin/spilanthol possesses higher antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity against A. parasiticus rather than H. longipes roots, and this anti-aflaxotigenic activity occurring via downregulation of the aflD and aflR genes. Thus, H. longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol can be considered potent antifungal agents against aflatoxigenic fungus, especially, affinin/spilanthol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Génesis V Buitimea-Cantúa
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, México
| | - Nydia E Buitimea-Cantúa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Monterrey, México
| | | | - Ema Carina Rosas-Burgos
- Unidad Académica Multidisciplinaria Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles S.L.P, Ciudad Valles San Luis Potosí, México
| | | | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
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94
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Abstract
The impact of fungi on human and plant health is an ever-increasing issue. Recent studies have estimated that human fungal infections result in an excess of one million deaths per year and plant fungal infections resulting in the loss of crop yields worth approximately 200 million per annum. Sexual reproduction in these economically important fungi has evolved in response to the environmental stresses encountered by the pathogens as a method to target DNA damage. Meiosis is integral to this process, through increasing diversity through recombination. Mating and meiosis have been extensively studied in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, highlighting that these mechanisms have diverged even between apparently closely related species. To further examine this, this review will inspect these mechanisms in emerging important fungal pathogens, such as Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. It shows that both sexual and asexual reproduction in these fungi demonstrate a high degree of plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Usher
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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95
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Kim KU, Kim KM, Choi YH, Hurh BS, Lee I. Whole genome analysis of Aspergillus sojae SMF 134 supports its merits as a starter for soybean fermentation. J Microbiol 2019; 57:874-883. [PMID: 31250400 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-019-9152-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus sojae is a koji (starter) mold that has been applied for food fermentation in Asia. The whole genome of A. sojae SMF 134, which was isolated from meju (Korean soybean fermented brick), was analyzed at the genomic level to evaluate its potential as a starter for soybean fermentation. The genome size was 40.1 Mbp, which was expected to be composed of eight chromosomes with 13,748 ORFs. Strain SMF 134 had a total of 151 protease genes, among which two more leucine aminopeptidase (lap) genes were found in addition to the previously known lap 1, and three γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (ggt) genes were newly identified. Such genomic characteristics of SMF 134 with many protease and flavor-related (lap and ggt) genes support its merits as a starter for soybean fermentation. In addition, this first complete genome of A. sojae will allow for further genetic studies to better understand the production of various enzymes, including proteases, LAPs, and GGTs, as well as other characteristics as a starter mold for soybean fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Uk Kim
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Min Kim
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Ho Choi
- Sempio Fermentation Research Center, Sempio Foods Company, Cheongju, 28156, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Serk Hurh
- Sempio Fermentation Research Center, Sempio Foods Company, Cheongju, 28156, Republic of Korea
| | - Inhyung Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, BK21 PLUS Project, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea.
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96
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He W, Xu Y, Fu P, Zuo M, Liu W, Jiang Y, Wang L, Zhu W. Cytotoxic Indolyl Diketopiperazines from the Aspergillus sp. GZWMJZ-258, Endophytic with the Medicinal and Edible Plant Garcinia multiflora. J Agric Food Chem 2019; 67:10660-10666. [PMID: 31479263 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b04254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Two new indolyl diketopiperazines, gartryprostatins A and B (1 and 2), with an unusual 2,3-furan-fused pyrano[2,3-g]pyrrolo[1″,2″:4',5']pyrazino[1',2':1,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole nucleus, along with a new naturally occurring compound (gartryprostatin C, 3) were isolated from the solid culture of Aspergillus sp. GZWMJZ-258, an endophyte from Garcinia multiflora (Guttiferae). The structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, Marfey's analysis of amino acids, and chemical calculation. Compounds 1-3 displayed selective inhibition on human FLT3-ITD mutant AML cell line, MV4-11, with IC50 values of 7.2, 10.0, and 0.22 μM, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen He
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550025 , China
| | - Yanchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550025 , China
| | - Peng Fu
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts , Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) , Qingdao , Shandong 266003 , China
| | - Mingxing Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550025 , China
| | - Wen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
| | - Yangming Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
| | - Liping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550025 , China
| | - Weiming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants , Guizhou Medical University , Guiyang , Guizhou 550014 , China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts , Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) , Qingdao , Shandong 266003 , China
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97
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Khan I, Ali M, Aftab M, Shakir S, Qayyum S, Haleem KS, Tauseef I. Mycoremediation: a treatment for heavy metal-polluted soil using indigenous metallotolerant fungi. Environ Monit Assess 2019; 191:622. [PMID: 31494726 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7781-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching of heavy metals from industrial contaminated soil using metallotolerant fungi is the most efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technique. In the current study, the contaminated soil samples from Hattar Industrial Estate revealed a total lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) concentration of 170.90 mg L-1 and 26.66 mg L-1, respectively. Indigenous metallotolerant fungal strains including Aspergillus niger M1, Aspergillus fumigatus M3, Aspergillus terreus M6, and Aspergillus flavus M7 were isolated and identified by pheno- and genotyping. A. fumigatus and A. flavus of soil sample S1 showed higher efficiency for Pb removal (99.20% and 99.30%, respectively), in SDB medium. Likewise, A. niger and A. terreus of soil sample S2 showed higher efficiency for Hg removal (96% and 95.50%, respectively), in YPG medium. Furthermore, the maximum uptake efficiency for Pb removal (8.52 mg g-1) from soil sample S1 was noticed for A. fumigatus in YPG medium, while the highest uptake efficiency (4.23 mg g-1) of A. flavus M2 strain was observed with CYE medium. Similarly, the maximum uptake efficiency of 0.41 mg g-1 and 0.44 mg g-1 for Hg removal from soil sample S2 was found for A. niger and A. terreus strains, respectively, in CYE medium. Thus, in order to address the major issue of industrial waste pollution, indigenous fungal strains A. fumigatus (M1) and A. terreus (M7), isolated in this study, could be used (ex situ or in situ) to remediate soils contaminated with Pb and Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrar Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Abbottabad University of Science & Technology, Havelian, 22010, Pakistan.
| | - Madiha Ali
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - Maryam Aftab
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - SajidUllah Shakir
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Qayyum
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - Kashif Syed Haleem
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
| | - Isfahan Tauseef
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan.
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98
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Zaban MI, Azim NSA, Abd El-Aziz ARM. Antifungal and anti-aflatoxin efficacy of biogenic silver nanoparticles produced by Aspergillus species: Molecular study. Pak J Pharm Sci 2019; 32:2509-2526. [PMID: 31894043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is considered the main crop in deserts and arid areas such as Saudi Arabia. Fifteen species belonging to 7 fungal genera were isolated from date palm rhizosphere soil at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-one isolates of Aspergillus spp. were used in producing silver nanoparticles (SNPs), five of A. flavus, nine of A. niger and seven of A. terreus. Synthesis of SNPs by these fungi is emerging as an important branch of nanotechnology due to it'secofriendly, safe and cost-effective nature. SNPs have been characterized by UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). In order to increase the yield of biosynthesized SNPs of desired shape and size, it is necessary to control the cultural and physical parameters during the synthesis. We reported the optimum synthesis of SNPs on a liquid medium at 1.5mM of silver nitrate, pH 9 and 26°C after 96 hours. Antifungal activity of SNPs colloids has indicated that the highest inhibition zone was detected with SNPs. In the case of SNPs synthesized by A. terreus PNU37, the highest Inhibition percentage (IP %) 67.6% at the concentration 150 ppm of SNPs. Results have also indicated that the SNPs synthesized by A. flavus PNU05 at a concentration of 150 ppm/100 ml culture medium gave the highest reduction of B1 determined by HPLC, where the percentages of reduction (PR%) was 56.45%.ISSR analysis revealed a high level of genetic diversity in the Aspergillus spp. population and useful for genetic characterization. ISSR markers were not suitable to discriminate between producing and non-producing SNPs isolates. There was no clear-cut relationship between the ISSR markers (genotype of isolates), antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayasar Ibrahim Zaban
- Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Shazli Abdel Azim
- Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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99
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Norlia M, Jinap S, Nor-Khaizura MAR, Radu S, Chin CK, Samsudin NIP, Farawahida AH. Molecular Characterisation of Aflatoxigenic and Non-Aflatoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus Section Flavi Isolated from Imported Peanuts along the Supply Chain in Malaysia. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E501. [PMID: 31470527 PMCID: PMC6784170 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11090501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Peanuts are widely consumed in many local dishes in southeast Asian countries, especially in Malaysia which is one of the major peanut-importing countries in this region. Therefore, Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin contamination in peanuts during storage are becoming major concerns due to the tropical weather in this region that favours the growth of aflatoxigenic fungi. The present study thus aimed to molecularly identify and characterise the Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from imported peanuts in Malaysia. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin sequences were used to confirm the species and determine the phylogenetic relationship among the isolates, while aflatoxin biosynthesis genes (aflR, aflP (omtA), aflD (nor-1), aflM (ver-1), and pksA) were targeted in a multiplex PCR to determine the toxigenic potential. A total of 76 and one isolates were confirmed as A. flavus and A. tamarii, respectively. The Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree resolved the species into two different clades in which all A. flavus (both aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic) were grouped in the same clade and A. tamarii was grouped in a different clade. The aflatoxin biosynthesis genes were detected in all aflatoxigenic A. flavus while the non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus failed to amplify at least one of the genes. The results indicated that both aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus could survive in imported peanuts and, thus, appropriate storage conditions preferably with low temperature should be considered to avoid the re-emergence of aflatoxigenic A. flavus and the subsequent aflatoxin production in peanuts during storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahror Norlia
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Selamat Jinap
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
| | - Mahmud Ab Rashid Nor-Khaizura
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Son Radu
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Cheow Keat Chin
- Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62675, Malaysia
| | - Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
- Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Abdul Halim Farawahida
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
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100
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Dooso Oloo R, Okoth S, Wachira P, Mutiga S, Ochieng P, Kago L, Nganga F, Domelevo Entfellner JB, Ghimire S. Genetic Profiling of Aspergillus Isolates with Varying Aflatoxin Production Potential from Different Maize-Growing Regions of Kenya. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11080467. [PMID: 31404960 PMCID: PMC6723045 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11080467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus have been reported to frequently contaminate maize, causing fatal aflatoxin poisoning in Kenya. To gain insights into the environmental and genetic factors that influence toxigenicity, fungi (n = 218) that were culturally identified as A. flavus were isolated from maize grains samples (n = 120) from three regions of Kenya. The fungi were further characterized to confirm their identities using a PCR-sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA which also revealed all of them to be A. flavus. A subset of 72 isolates representing ITS sequence-based phylogeny cluster and the agroecological origin of maize samples was constituted for subsequent analysis. The analysis of partial calmodulin gene sequences showed that the subset consisted of A. flavus (87%) and Aspergillus minisclerotigenes (13%). No obvious association was detected between the presence of seven aflatoxin biosynthesis genes and fungal species or region. However, the presence of the aflD and aflS genes showed some association with aflatoxin production. The assessment of toxigenicity showed higher aflatoxin production potential in A. minisclerotigenes isolates. Given that A. minisclerotigenes were mainly observed in maize samples from Eastern Kenya, a known aflatoxin hotspot, we speculate that production of copious aflatoxin is an adaptative trait of this recently discovered species in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Dooso Oloo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sheila Okoth
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter Wachira
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Mutiga
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Phillis Ochieng
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Leah Kago
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Nganga
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sita Ghimire
- Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
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