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Jiang L, Xu H, Wei M, Gu Y, Yan H, Pan L, Wei C. Transcriptional expression of PHR2 is positively controlled by the calcium signaling transcription factor Crz1 through its binding motif in the promoter. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0168923. [PMID: 38054721 PMCID: PMC10783099 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01689-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The fungal cell wall consists of glucans, mannoproteins, and chitin and is essential for cell viability, morphogenesis, and pathogenesis. The enzymes of the GH72 family are responsible for ß-(1,3)-glucan elongation and branching, which is crucial for the formation of the glucan-chitin polymer at the bud neck of yeast cells. In the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, there are five GH72 enzyme-encoding genes: PHR1, PHR2, PHR3, PGA4, and PGA5. It is known that expression of PHR1 and PHR2 is controlled by the pH-responsive Rim101 pathway through the transcription factor Rim101. In this study, we have demonstrated that the transcription expression of PHR2 is also controlled by the transcription factor Crz1 through its binding motif in the promoter. Therefore, we have uncovered a dual-control mechanism by which PHR2 expression is negatively regulated via CaRim101 through the pH-responsive pathway and positively modulated by CaCrz1 through the calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghuo Jiang
- Laboratory of Yeast Biology and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Huihui Xu
- Department of Food Science, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Min Wei
- Laboratory of Yeast Biology and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yiying Gu
- Laboratory of Yeast Biology and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Hongbo Yan
- Department of Food Science, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Lingxin Pan
- Laboratory of Yeast Biology and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunyu Wei
- Laboratory of Yeast Biology and Fermentation Technology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Chen SY, Chang CK, Lan CY. Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 disrupts plasma membrane and calcium homeostasis in Candida albicans via the Rim101 pathway. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0255123. [PMID: 37888991 PMCID: PMC10715129 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02551-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a major human fungal pathogen, and antimicrobial peptides are key components of innate immunity. Studying the interplay between C. albicans and human antimicrobial peptides would enhance a better understanding of pathogen-host interactions. Moreover, potential applications of antimicrobial peptides in antifungal therapy have aroused great interest. This work explores new mechanisms of LL-37 against C. albicans and reveals the complex connection among calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, signaling, and possibly organelle interaction. Notably, these findings support the possible use of antimicrobial peptides to prevent and treat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Yuan Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Che-Kang Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Lan
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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David H, Solomon AP. Molecular association of Candida albicans and vulvovaginal candidiasis: focusing on a solution. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1245808. [PMID: 37900321 PMCID: PMC10611527 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1245808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans-mediated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a significant challenge in clinical settings, owing to the inefficacy of current antifungals in modulating virulence, development of resistance, and poor penetration into the biofilm matrix. Various predisposition factors are molecular drivers that lead to the dysbiosis of normal microflora of the vagina, upregulation of central metabolic pathways, morphogenesis, hyphal extension, adhesion, invasion, and biofilm formation leading to chronic infection and recurrence. Hence, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanism behind the virulence pathways driven by those drivers to decode the drug targets. Finding innovative solutions targeting fungal virulence/biofilm may potentiate the antifungals at low concentrations without affecting the recurrence of resistance. With this background, the present review details the critical molecular drivers and associated network of virulence pathways, possible drug targets, target-specific inhibitors, and probable mode of drug delivery to cross the preclinical phase by appropriate in vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adline Princy Solomon
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
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Zhang L, Li Y, Dong L, Sun K, Liu H, Ma Z, Yan L, Yin Y. MAP Kinase FgHog1 and Importin β FgNmd5 Regulate Calcium Homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:707. [PMID: 37504696 PMCID: PMC10381525 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining cellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis is essential for many aspects of cellular life. The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway responsible for signal integration and transduction plays crucial roles in environmental adaptation, especially in the response to osmotic stress. Hog1 is activated by transient Ca2+ increase in yeast, but the functions of the HOG pathway in Ca2+ homeostasis are largely unknown. We found that the HOG pathway was involved in the regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in Fusarium graminearum, a devastating fungal pathogen of cereal crops. The deletion mutants of HOG pathway displayed increased sensitivity to Ca2+ and FK506, and elevated intracellular Ca2+ content. Ca2+ treatment induced the phosphorylation of FgHog1, and the phosphorylated FgHog1 was transported into the nucleus by importin β FgNmd5. Moreover, the increased phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of FgHog1 upon Ca2+ treatment is independent of the calcineurin pathway that is conserved and downstream of the Ca2+ signal. Taken together, this study reported the novel function of FgHog1 in the regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in F. graminearum, which advance the understanding of the HOG pathway and the association between the HOG and calcineurin pathways in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yiqing Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lanlan Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kewei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Leiyan Yan
- Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ningbo 315040, China
| | - Yanni Yin
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Khari A, Biswas B, Gangwar G, Thakur A, Puria R. Candida auris biofilm: a review on model to mechanism conservation. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:295-308. [PMID: 36755419 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2179036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Candida auris is included in the fungal infection category 'critical' by WHO because of associated high drug tolerance and spread at an alarming rate which if remains untouched may result in serious outbreaks. Since its discovery in 2009, several assiduous efforts by mycologists across the world have deciphered its biology including growth physiology, drug tolerance, biofilm formation, etc. The differential response of various strains from different clades poses a hurdle in drawing a final conclusion. AREAS COVERED This review provides brief insights into the understanding of C. auris biofilm. It includes information on various models developed to understand the biofilms and conservation of different signaling pathways. Significant development has been made in the recent past with the generation of relevant in vivo and ex vivo models. The role of signaling pathways in the development of biofilm is largely unknown. EXPERT OPINION The selection of an appropriate model system is a must for the accuracy and reproducibility of results. The conservation of major signaling pathways in C. auris with respect to C. albicans and S. cerevisiae highlights that initial inputs acquired from orthologs will be valuable in getting insights into the mechanism of biofilm formation and associated pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsha Khari
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India
| | | | | | - Anil Thakur
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Rekha Puria
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India
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Cao Y, Zhang C, Fang Y, Liu Y, Lyu K, Ding J, Wang X. Investigation the global effect of rare earth gadolinium on the budding Saccharomyces cerevisiae by genome-scale screening. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1022054. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1022054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe rare earth gadolinium (Gd) is widely used in industry and medicine, which has been treated as an emerging pollutant in environment. The increasing pollution of Gd has potential hazards to living organisms. Thus it is essential to investigate the toxicity and action mechanism of Gd in biological system.MethodsIn this study, the global effect and activation mechanism of Gd on yeast were investigated by genome-scale screening.Results and discussionOur results show that 45 gene deletion strains are sensitive to Gd and 10 gene deletion strains are Gd resistant from the diploid gene deletion strain library of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The result of localization analysis shows that most of these genes are involved in cell metabolism, cell cycle, transcription, translation, protein synthesis, protein folding, and cell transport. The result of functional analysis shows that four genes (CNB1, CRZ1, VCX1, and GDT1) are involved in the calcium signaling pathway, and four genes (PHO84, PHO86, PHO2, and PHO4) are involved in phosphorus metabolism. For Gd3+ has the similar ion radius with Ca2+ and easily binds to the phosphate radical, it affects Ca2+ signaling pathway and phosphorus metabolism. The genes ARF1, ARL1, ARL3, SYS1, COG5, COG6, YPT6, VPS9, SSO2, MRL1, AKL1, and TRS85 participate in vesicle transport and protein sorting. Thus, Gd accumulation affects the function of proteins related to vesicle transport, which may result in the failure of Gd transport out of cells. In addition, the intracellular Gd content in the 45 sensitive deletion strains is higher than that in the wild type yeast under Gd stress. It suggests that the sensitivity of yeast deletion strains is related to the excessive intracellular Gd accumulation.
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