1
|
Chen M, Cao Z, Jing B, Chen W, Wen X, Han M, Wang Y, Liao X, Wu Y, Chen T. The production of methyl mercaptan is the main odor source of chicken manure treated with a vertical aerobic fermenter. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024:119634. [PMID: 39029729 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
The process of harmless treatment of livestock manure produces a large amount of odor, which poses a potential threat to human and livestock health. A vertical fermentation tank system is commonly used for the environmentally sound treatment of chicken manure in China, but the composition and concentration of the odor produced and the factors affecting odor emissions remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the types and concentrations of odors produced in the mixing room (MR), vertical fermenter (VF), and aging room (AR) of the system, and analyzed the effects of bacterial communities and metabolic genes on odor production. The results revealed that 34, 26 and 26 odors were detected in the VF, MR and AR, respectively. The total odor concentration in the VF was 66613 ± 10097, which was significantly greater than that in the MR (1157 ± 675) and AR (1143 ± 1005) (P < 0.001), suggesting that the VF was the main source of odor in the vertical fermentation tank system. Methyl mercaptan had the greatest contribution to the odor produced by VF, reaching 47.82%, and the concentration was 0.6145 ± 0.2164 mg/m3. The abundance of metabolic genes did not correlate significantly with odor production, but PICRUSt analysis showed that cysteine and methionine metabolism involved in methyl mercaptan production was significantly more enriched in MR and VF than in AR. Bacillus was the most abundant genus in the VF, with a relative abundance significantly greater than that in the MR (P < 0.05). The RDA results revealed that Bacillus was significantly and positively correlated with methyl mercaptan. The use of large-scale aerobic fermentation systems to treat chicken manure needs to focused on the production of methyl mercaptan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Majian Chen
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhen Cao
- Wen's Foodstuff Group Co., Ltd., Yunfu 527400, China
| | - Boyu Jing
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Odor Pollution Control, Tianjin Academy of Eco-environmental Sciences, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Wenjun Chen
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xin Wen
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Meng Han
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Odor Pollution Control, Tianjin Academy of Eco-environmental Sciences, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xindi Liao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yinbao Wu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Maoming Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Maoming 525000, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Tao Chen
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tao Y, Zheng D, Zou W, Guo T, Liao G, Zhou W. Targeting the cysteine biosynthesis pathway in microorganisms: Mechanism, structure, and drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116461. [PMID: 38691891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Owing to the global health crisis of resistant pathogenic infections, researchers are emphasizing the importance of novel prevention and control strategies. Existing antimicrobial drugs predominantly target a few pathways, and their widespread use has pervasively increased drug resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new antimicrobial drugs with novel targets and chemical structures. The de novo cysteine biosynthesis pathway, one of the microbial metabolic pathways, plays a crucial role in pathogenicity and drug resistance. This pathway notably differs from that in humans, thereby representing an unexplored target for developing antimicrobial drugs. Herein, we have presented an overview of cysteine biosynthesis pathways and their roles in the pathogenicity of various microorganisms. Additionally, we have investigated the structure and function of enzymes involved in these pathways as well as have discussed drug design strategies and structure-activity relationships of the enzyme inhibitors. This review provides valuable insights for developing novel antimicrobials and offers new avenues to combat drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wei Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guojian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu T, Jiang H, Li F, Jiang X, Wang J, Wei S, Sun Y, Tian Y, Chu H, Shi Y, Zhang N, Li N, Lei L. O-acetyl-homoserine sulfhydrylase deficient Streptococcus suis serotype 2 strain SC19 becomes an avirulent strain and provides immune protection against homotype infection in mice. Vet Microbiol 2024; 288:109943. [PMID: 38113574 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
O-acetyl-homoserine sulfhydrylase (OAHS) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme involved in microbial methionine biosynthesis, which catalyzes the conversion of o-acetyl-homoserine (OAH) to homocysteine. In our previous study, we found that OAHS of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) can interact with the porcine blood-brain barrier (BBB) model, but whether OAHS regulates the penetration of BBB during SS2 infection is still unclear. To explore the role of OAHS in SS2 infection, OAHS-deficient SS2 mutant strain (SC19-ΔOAHS) and gene complemental strain (SC19-cΔOAHS) were constructed. Compared to the parent strain, with the loss of oahs, the chain length of SC19-ΔOAHS was shortened, the virulence was significantly reduced, the survival rate of mice infected with SC19-ΔOAHS was obviously increased accompanied by the relieved clinical symptoms. And the survival ability of SC19-ΔOAHS in whole blood was also remarkably decreased. Interestingly, the adhesion of SC19-ΔOAHS to endothelial cells was markedly increased, but the deficiency of OAHS significantly inhibited the strain penetrating BBB both in vivo and in vitro. Most of these phenomena can be reversed by the complemental strain (SC19-cΔOAHS). Further study showed that the deficiency of OAHS severely reduced SC19-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, tight junctions (TJs) protein impairment and the expression of SS2 virulence factor Enolase (Eno), involved in the destruction of BBB. Additionally, SC19-ΔOAHS immunized mice were able to resist SC19 or JZLQ022 infection. In conclusion, we confirmed that OAHS promoted the pathogenicity by enhancing host's BBB permeability and immune escape, and SC19- ΔOAHS is a potential live vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
| | - Hexiang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Fengyang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Shaopeng Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yanyan Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Hong Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yu Shi
- The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
| | - Liancheng Lei
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
da Silva JP, Meneghini MR, Santos RS, Alves VL, da Cruz Martho KF, Vallim MA, Pascon RC. ATP sulfurylase atypical leucine zipper interacts with Cys3 and calcineurin A in the regulation of sulfur amino acid biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11694. [PMID: 37474559 PMCID: PMC10359356 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37556-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a major cause of death, especially among immunocompromised patients. Therapies against invasive fungal infections are restricted to a few antifungals; therefore, novel therapies are necessary. Nutritional signaling and regulation are important for pathogen establishment in the host. In Cryptococcus neoformans, the causal agent of fungal meningitis, amino acid uptake and biosynthesis are major aspects of nutritional adaptation. Disruptions in these pathways lead to virulence attenuation in an animal model of infection, especially for sulfur uptake and sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. Deletion of Cys3, the main transcription factor that controls these pathways, is the most deleterious gene knockout in vitro and in vivo, making it an important target for further application. Previously, we demonstrated that Cys3 is part of a protein complex, including calcineurin, which is necessary to maintain high Cys3 protein levels during sulfur uptake and sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. In the current study, other aspects of Cys3 regulation are explored. Two lines of evidence suggest that C. neoformans Cys3 does not interact with the F-box WD40 protein annotated as Met30, indicating another protein mediates Cys3 ubiquitin degradation. However, we found another level of Cys3 regulation, which involves protein interactions between Cys3 and ATP sulfurylase (MET3 gene). We show that an atypical leucine zipper at the N-terminus of ATP sulfurylase is essential for physical interaction with Cys3 and calcineurin. Our data suggests that Cys3 and ATP sulfurylase interact to regulate Cys3 transcriptional activity. This work evidences the complexity involved in the regulation of a transcription factor essential for the sulfur metabolism, which is a biological process important to nutritional adaptation, oxidative stress response, nucleic acid stability, and methylation. This information may be useful in designing novel therapies against fungal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeyson Pereira da Silva
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Mariana Reis Meneghini
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Silva Santos
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Verônica Lira Alves
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Afonso Vallim
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil
| | - Renata Castiglioni Pascon
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, Diadema, SP, 21009913-030, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lee SH, Jang YB, Choi Y, Lee Y, Shin BN, Lee HS, Lee JS, Bahn YS. Adenylyl-Sulfate Kinase (Met14)-Dependent Cysteine and Methionine Biosynthesis Pathways Contribute Distinctively to Pathobiological Processes in Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0068523. [PMID: 37036370 PMCID: PMC10269642 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00685-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Blocking of nutrient uptake and amino acid biosynthesis are considered potential targets for next-generation antifungal drugs against pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans. In this regard, the sulfate assimilation pathway is particularly attractive, as it is only present in eukaryotes such as plants and fungi, yet not in mammals. Here, we demonstrated that the adenylyl sulfate kinase (Met14) in the sulfate assimilation pathway is not essential yet is required for the viability of C. neoformans due to its involvement in biosynthesis of two sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Met14-dependent cysteine and methionine biosynthesis was found to significantly contribute to a diverse range of pathobiological processes in C. neoformans. Met14-dependent cysteine rather than methionine biosynthesis was also found to play pivotal roles in cell growth and tolerance to environmental stresses and antifungal drugs. In contrast, the Met14-dependent methionine biosynthesis was found to be more important than cysteine biosynthesis for the production of major cryptococcal virulence factors of melanin pigments and polysaccharide capsules. Finally, we also found that despite its attenuated virulence in an insect model, Galleria mellonella, the met14Δ mutant yielded no difference in virulence in a murine model of systemic cryptococcosis. Hence, clinical inhibition of Met14-dependent amino acid biosynthetic pathways may not be advantageous for the treatment of systemic cryptococcosis. IMPORTANCE Current antifungal drugs have several limitations, such as drug resistance, severe side effects, and a narrow spectrum. Therefore, novel antifungal targets are urgently needed. To this end, fungal sulfur amino acid biosynthetic pathways are considered potential targets for development of new antifungal agents. Here, we demonstrated that Met14 in the sulfate assimilation pathway promotes growth, stress response, and virulence factor production in C. neoformans via synthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. Met14-dependent cysteine rather than methionine synthesis was found to be critical for growth and stress responses, whereas Met14-dependent methionine synthesis was more important for the production of antiphagocytic capsules and antioxidant melanin in C. neoformans. Surprisingly, deletion of the MET14 gene was found to attenuate cryptococcal virulence in an insect model, yet not in a murine model. Collectively, our results showed that Met14-dependent cysteine and methionine biosynthesis play roles that are distinct from each other in C. neoformans. Moreover, Met14 is unlikely to be a suitable anticryptococcal drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Heon Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Byeong Jang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeseul Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bich Na Shin
- AmtixBio Co., Ltd., Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Seung Lee
- AmtixBio Co., Ltd., Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Seung Lee
- AmtixBio Co., Ltd., Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sun Bahn
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li H, Li X, Zhang D, Xu Y. Addition of exogenous microbial agents increases hydrogen sulfide emissions during aerobic composting of kitchen waste by improving bio-synergistic effects. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129334. [PMID: 37328014 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The effect of microbial agents (MA) on hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions in the compost is still a controversial issue. This study examined the effects and microbial mechanisms of MA on H2S emissions during the composting of kitchen waste. The results showed that MA addition can promote sulfur conversion to elevate H2S emissions by approximately 1.6 ∼ 2.8 times. Structural equations demonstrated that microbial community structure was the dominant driver on H2S emissions. Agents reshaped the compost microbiome, showing more microorganisms participated in sulfur conversion, and enhanced the connection between microorganisms and functional genes. The relative abundance of keystone species associated with H2S emissions increased after adding MA. Particularly, the sulfite and sulfate reduction processes were intensified, as evidenced by an increasing in the abundance and pathways cooperation of sat and asrA after MA addition. The outcome provides deeper insights into MA on regulating the mitigation of H2S emissions in compost.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Houyu Li
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China; College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yan Y, Wu W, Huang C, Li W, Li Y. Coupling network of hydrogen sulfide precursors and bacteria in kitchen waste composting. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 372:128655. [PMID: 36693506 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study was focused on the changes of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), its precursors, and microorganisms associated with its transformation during the composting process of kitchen waste. The results showed that the content of cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met) decreased by 32.3 % and 57.5 % respectively, while the content of sulfate (SO42-) changed little during composting. The main release period of H2S was during the high-temperature period of composting, Cys was its main precursor. Based on network analysis, a total of 15 core genera associated with the conversion of H2S precursors were identified, and the transformation of the H2S precursor was mainly influenced by Filomicrobium. Temperature, pH, and TN levels had a positive effect on Filomicrobium. It could find a balance point by controlling these three factors to reduce the production of H2S.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Weixia Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Ecological Effect and Risk Assessment of Chemicals, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kurakado S, Matsumoto Y, Yamada T, Shimizu K, Wakasa S, Sugita T. Tacrolimus inhibits stress responses and hyphal formation via the calcineurin signaling pathway in Trichosporon asahii. Microbiol Immunol 2023; 67:49-57. [PMID: 36398783 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic fungus Trichosporon asahii causes fatal deep-seated mycosis in immunocompromised patients. Calcineurin, which is widely conserved in eukaryotes, regulates cell growth and various stress responses in fungi. Tacrolimus (FK506), a calcineurin inhibitor, induces sensitivity to compounds that cause stress on the cell membrane and cell wall integrity. In this study, we demonstrated that FK506 affects stress responses and hyphal formation in T. asahii. In silico structural analysis revealed that amino acid residues in the binding site of the calcineurin-FKBP12 complex that interact with FK506 are conserved in T. asahii. The growth of T. asahii was delayed by FK506 in the presence of SDS or Congo red but not in the presence of calcium chloride. FK506 also inhibited hyphal formation in T. asahii. A mutant deficient of the cnb gene, which encodes the regulatory subunit B of calcineurin, exhibited stress sensitivities on exposure to SDS and Congo red and reduced the hyphal forming ability of T. asahii. In the cnb-deficient mutant, FK506 did not increase the stress sensitivity or reduce hyphal forming ability. These results suggest that FK506 affects stress responses and hyphal formation in T. asahii via the calcineurin signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanae Kurakado
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Matsumoto
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yamada
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, Tokyo, Japan.,Asia International Institute of Infectious Disease Control, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shogo Wakasa
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugita
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Nguyen PT, Nguyen NH, Kang YQ, Shimizu K. Cryptococcus neoformans MET5 Gene is not Essential for Virulence in the Silkworm Infection Model. Med Mycol J 2022; 63:77-80. [PMID: 36047186 DOI: 10.3314/mmj.21-00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of the MET5 gene in virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans was examined using the silkworm Bombyx mori infection model. In the virulence assay, the met5Δ mutant showed virulence not significantly different from the wild-type strain, suggesting that the MET5 gene is not essential for full virulence of C. neoformans. The effect of silkworm hemolymph on the survival of the met5Δ mutant was also tested. The C. neoformans met5Δ strain incubated in the silkworm hemolymph for five days remained viable, suggesting that silkworm hemolymph supports survival of the met5Δ strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phuong-Thao Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Ngoc-Hung Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Ying-Qian Kang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science.,Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Toh-E A, Ohkusu M, Ishiwada N, Watanabe A, Kamei K. Genetic system underlying responses of Cryptococcus neoformans to cadmium. Curr Genet 2021; 68:125-141. [PMID: 34761291 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01222-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, basidiomycetous pathogenic yeast, is basically an environmental fungus and, therefore, challenged by ever changing environments. In this study, we focused on how C. neoformans responds to stress caused by cadmium that is one of high-risk pollutants. By tracking phenotypes of the resistance or sensitivity to cadmium, we undertook forward and reverse genetic studies to identify genes involved in cadmium metabolism in C. neoformans. We found that the main route of Cd2+ influx is through Mn2+ ion transporter, Smf1, which is an ortholog of Nramp (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1) of mouse. We found that serotype A strains are generally more resistant to cadmium than serotype D strains and that cadmium resistance of H99, a representative of serotype A strains, was found to be due to a partial defect in SMF1. We found that calcium channel has a subsidiary role for cadmium uptake. We also showed that Pca1 (P-type-ATPase) functions as an extrusion pump for cadmium. We examined the effects of some metals on cadmium toxicity and suggested (i) that Ca2+ and Zn2+ could exert their protective function against Cd2+ via restoring cadmium-inhibited cellular processes and (ii) that Mg2+ and Mn2+ could have antagonistic roles in an unknown Smf1-independent Cd2+ uptake system. We proposed a model for Cd2+-response of C. neoformans, which will serve as a platform for understanding how this organism copes with the toxic metal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akio Toh-E
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan.
| | - Misako Ohkusu
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Ishiwada
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Kamei
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Molecular targets for antifungals in amino acid and protein biosynthetic pathways. Amino Acids 2021; 53:961-991. [PMID: 34081205 PMCID: PMC8241756 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Fungi cause death of over 1.5 million people every year, while cutaneous mycoses are among the most common infections in the world. Mycoses vary greatly in severity, there are long-term skin (ringworm), nail or hair infections (tinea capitis), recurrent like vaginal candidiasis or severe, life-threatening systemic, multiorgan infections. In the last few years, increasing importance is attached to the health and economic problems caused by fungal pathogens. There is a growing need for improvement of the availability of antifungal drugs, decreasing their prices and reducing side effects. Searching for novel approaches in this respect, amino acid and protein biosynthesis pathways appear to be competitive. The route that leads from amino acid biosynthesis to protein folding and its activation is rich in enzymes that are descriptive of fungi. Blocking the action of those enzymes often leads to avirulence or growth inhibition. In this review, we want to trace the principal processes of fungi vitality. We present the data of genes encoding enzymes involved in amino acid and protein biosynthesis, potential molecular targets in antifungal chemotherapy, and describe the impact of inhibitors on fungal organisms.
Collapse
|
12
|
Nguyen PT, Toh-E A, Nguyen NH, Imanishi-Shimizu Y, Watanabe A, Kamei K, Shimizu K. Identification and characterization of a sulfite reductase gene and new insights regarding the sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism in the basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. Curr Genet 2020; 67:115-128. [PMID: 33001274 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The amino acid biosynthetic pathway of invasive pathogenic fungi has been studied as a potential antifungal drug target. Studies of the disruption of genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis have demonstrated the importance of this pathway in the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Here, we identified the MET5 (CNL05500) and MET10 (CNG03990) genes in this pathway, both encoding sulfite reductase, which catalyzes the reduction of sulfite to sulfide. The MET14 (CNE03880) gene was also identified, which is responsible for the conversion of sulfate to sulfite. The use of cysteine as a sulfur source led to the production of methionine via hydrogen sulfide synthesis mediated by CYS4 (CNA06170), CYS3 (CNN01730), and MST1 (CND03690). MST1 exhibited high homology with the TUM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has functional similarity with the 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) gene in humans. Although the hypothesis that hydrogen sulfide is produced from cysteine via CYS4, CYS3, and MST1 warrants further study, the new insight into the metabolic pathway of sulfur-containing amino acids in C. neoformans provided here indicates the usefulness of this system in the development of screening tools for antifungal drug agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phuong-Thao Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan.,Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Akio Toh-E
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Ngoc-Hung Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan.,Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Yumi Imanishi-Shimizu
- College of Science and Engineering, Kanto Gakuin University, Mutsuura-higashi 1-50-1, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-8501, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Kamei
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan. .,Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Efficient System Wide Metabolic Pathway Comparisons in Multiple Microbes Using Genome to KEGG Orthology (G2KO) Pipeline Tool. Interdiscip Sci 2020; 12:311-322. [PMID: 32632821 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-020-00375-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Comparison of system-wide metabolic pathways among microbes provides valuable insights of organisms' metabolic capabilities that can further assist in rationally screening organisms in silico for various applications. In this work, we present a much needed, efficient and user-friendly Genome to KEGG Orthology (G2KO) pipeline tool that facilitates efficient comparison of system wide metabolic networks of multiple organisms simultaneously. The optimized strategy primarily involves automatic retrieval of the KEGG Orthology (KO) identifiers of user defined organisms from the KEGG database followed by overlaying and visualization of the metabolic genes using the KEGG Mapper reconstruct pathway tool. We demonstrate the applicability of G2KO via two case studies in which we processed 24,314 genes across 15 organisms, mapped on to 530 reference pathways in KEGG, while focusing on pathways of interest. First, an in-silico designing of synthetic microbial consortia towards bioprocessing of cellulose to valuable products by comparing the cellulose degradation and fermentative pathways of microbes was undertaken. Second, we comprehensively compared the amino acid biosynthetic pathways of multiple microbes and demonstrated the potential of G2KO as an efficient tool for metabolic studies. We envisage the tool will find immensely useful to the metabolic engineers as well as systems biologists. The tool's web-server, along with tutorial is publicly available at https://faculty.iitmandi.ac.in/~shyam/tools/g2ko/g2ko.cgi . Also, standalone tool can be downloaded freely from https://sourceforge.net/projects/g2ko/ , and from the supplementary.
Collapse
|
14
|
PoMet3 and PoMet14 associated with sulfate assimilation are essential for conidiogenesis and pathogenicity in Pyricularia oryzae. Curr Genet 2020; 66:765-774. [PMID: 32125494 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01055-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Pyricularia oryzae is the causal agent of blast disease on staple gramineous crops. Sulphur is an essential element for the biosynthesis of cysteine and methionine in fungi. Here, we targeted the P. oryzae PoMET3 encoding the enzyme ATP sulfurylase, and PoMET14 encoding the APS (adenosine-5'-phosphosulphate) kinase that are involved in sulfate assimilation and sulphur-containing amino acids biosynthesis. In P. oryzae, deletion of PoMET3 or PoMET14 separately results in defects of conidiophore formation, significant impairments in conidiation, methionine and cysteine auxotrophy, limited invasive hypha extension, and remarkably reduced virulence on rice and barley. Furthermore, the defects of the null mutants could be restored by supplementing with exogenous cysteine or methionine. Our study explored the biological functions of sulfur assimilation and sulphur-containing amino acids biosynthesis in P. oryzae.
Collapse
|
15
|
The regulation of the sulfur amino acid biosynthetic pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans: the relationship of Cys3, Calcineurin, and Gpp2 phosphatases. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11923. [PMID: 31417135 PMCID: PMC6695392 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48433-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease caused by C. neoformans. To adapt and survive in diverse ecological niches, including the animal host, this opportunistic pathogen relies on its ability to uptake nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen, iron, phosphate, sulfur, and amino acids. Genetic circuits play a role in the response to environmental changes, modulating gene expression and adjusting the microbial metabolism to the nutrients available for the best energy usage and survival. We studied the sulfur amino acid biosynthesis and its implications on C. neoformans biology and virulence. CNAG_04798 encodes a BZip protein and was annotated as CYS3, which has been considered an essential gene. However, we demonstrated that CYS3 is not essential, in fact, its knockout led to sulfur amino acids auxotroph. Western blots and fluorescence microscopy indicated that GFP-Cys3, which is expressed from a constitutive promoter, localizes to the nucleus in rich medium (YEPD); the addition of methionine and cysteine as sole nitrogen source (SD-N + Met/Cys) led to reduced nuclear localization and protein degradation. By proteomics, we identified and confirmed physical interaction among Gpp2, Cna1, Cnb1 and GFP-Cys3. Deletion of the calcineurin and GPP2 genes in a GFP-Cys3 background demonstrated that calcineurin is required to maintain Cys3 high protein levels in YEPD and that deletion of GPP2 causes GFP-Cys3 to persist in the presence of sulfur amino acids. Global transcriptional profile of mutant and wild type by RNAseq revealed that Cys3 controls all branches of the sulfur amino acid biosynthesis, and sulfur starvation leads to induction of several amino acid biosynthetic routes. In addition, we found that Cys3 is required for virulence in Galleria mellonella animal model.
Collapse
|