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Lai Y, Jiang B, Hou F, Huang X, Ling B, Lu H, Zhong T, Huang J. The emerging role of extracellular vesicles in fungi: a double-edged sword. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1216895. [PMID: 37533824 PMCID: PMC10390730 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1216895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms found in nature, which can invade the human body and cause tissue damage, inflammatory reactions, organ dysfunctions, and diseases. These diseases can severely damage the patient's body systems and functions, leading to a range of clinical symptoms that can be life-threatening. As the incidence of invasive fungal infections has progressively increased in the recent years, a wealth of evidence has confirmed the "double-edged sword" role of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication and pathogen-host interactions. Fungal EVs act as mediators of cellular communication, affecting fungal-host cell interactions, delivering virulence factors, and promoting infection. Fungal EVs can also have an induced protective effect, affecting fungal growth and stimulating adaptive immune responses. By integrating recent studies, we discuss the role of EVs in fungi, providing strong theoretical support for the early prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections. Finally, we highlight the feasibility of using fungal EVs as drug carriers and in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lai
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bowei Jiang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fangpeng Hou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xinhong Huang
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Baodian Ling
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hongfei Lu
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Tianyu Zhong
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Junyun Huang
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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Ray S, Gaudet R. Structures and coordination chemistry of transporters involved in manganese and iron homeostasis. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:897-923. [PMID: 37283482 PMCID: PMC10330786 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210699] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A repertoire of transporters plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of biologically essential transition metals, manganese, and iron, thus ensuring cell viability. Elucidating the structure and function of many of these transporters has provided substantial understanding into how these proteins help maintain the optimal cellular concentrations of these metals. In particular, recent high-resolution structures of several transporters bound to different metals enable an examination of how the coordination chemistry of metal ion-protein complexes can help us understand metal selectivity and specificity. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive list of both specific and broad-based transporters that contribute to cellular homeostasis of manganese (Mn2+) and iron (Fe2+ and Fe3+) in bacteria, plants, fungi, and animals. Furthermore, we explore the metal-binding sites of the available high-resolution metal-bound transporter structures (Nramps, ABC transporters, P-type ATPase) and provide a detailed analysis of their coordination spheres (ligands, bond lengths, bond angles, and overall geometry and coordination number). Combining this information with the measured binding affinity of the transporters towards different metals sheds light into the molecular basis of substrate selectivity and transport. Moreover, comparison of the transporters with some metal scavenging and storage proteins, which bind metal with high affinity, reveal how the coordination geometry and affinity trends reflect the biological role of individual proteins involved in the homeostasis of these essential transition metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamayeeta Ray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Rachelle Gaudet
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
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Fungal Zinc Homeostasis and Its Potential as an Antifungal Target: A Focus on the Human Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122469. [PMID: 36557722 PMCID: PMC9785309 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic airborne fungus that causes severe invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for the growth of A. fumigatus and even for all microorganisms. An increasing number of studies have reported that fungal zinc acquisition ability plays a key role in fungal survival in hosts with an extremely zinc-limited microenvironment. The ability to fight scarcity and excess of zinc are tightly related to fungal virulence and may be used as new potential targets. Because the regulation of zinc homeostasis is important, a thorough understanding of the functional genes involved in the regulatory network for zinc homeostasis is required for fungal pathogens. The current mini-review summarized potential zinc homeostasis regulators in A. fumigatus and classified these regulators according to localization and function, which were identified or predicted based on A. fumigatus or deduced from homologs in model yeasts. Future perspectives for zinc homeostasis regulators as potential antifungal targets to treat invasive aspergillosis are also discussed.
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Kinskovski UP, Staats CC. Manganese and fungal pathogens: Metabolism and potential association with virulence. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Cryptococcus spp. and Cryptococcosis: focusing on the infection in Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2022; 53:1321-1337. [PMID: 35486354 PMCID: PMC9433474 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00744-y] [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: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a global fungal infection caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii yeast complex. This infection is acquired by inhalation of propagules such as basidiospores or dry yeast, initially causing lung infections with the possibility of progressing to the meninges. This infection mainly affects immunocompromised HIV and transplant patients; however, immunocompetent patients can also be affected. This review proposes to evaluate cryptococcosis focusing on studies of this mycosis in Brazilian territory; moreover, recent advances in the understanding of its virulence mechanism, animal models in research are also assessed. For this, literature review as realized in PubMed, Scielo, and Brazilian legislation. In Brazil, cryptococcosis has been identified as one of the most lethal fungal infections among HIV patients and C. neoformans VNI and C. gattii VGII are the most prevalent genotypes. Moreover, different clinical settings published in Brazil were described. As in other countries, cryptococcosis is difficult to treat due to a limited therapeutic arsenal, which is highly toxic and costly. The presence of a polysaccharide capsule, thermo-tolerance, production of melanin, biofilm formation, mechanisms for iron use, and morphological alterations is an important virulence mechanism of these yeasts. The introduction of cryptococcosis as a compulsory notification disease could improve data regarding incidence and help in the management of these infections.
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Chen M, Shen Y, Lin L, Wei W, Wei D. Mn2+ modulates the production of mMycophenolic aAcid in Penicillium brevicompactum NRRL864 via rReactive oOxygen sSpecies signaling and the investigation of pb-pho. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:461-470. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Gene, virulence and related regulatory mechanisms in Cryptococcus gattii. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2022; 54:593-603. [PMID: 35593469 PMCID: PMC9828318 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a kind of basidiomycetous yeast, which grows in human and animal hosts. C. gattii has four distinct genomes, VGI/AFLP4, VGII/AFLP6, VGIII/AFLP5, and VGIV/AFLP7. The virulence of C. gattii is closely associated with genotype and related stress-signaling pathways, but the pathogenic mechanism of C. gattii has not been fully identified. With the development of genomics and transcriptomics, the relationship among genes, regulatory mechanisms, virulence, and treatment is gradually being recognized. In this review, to better understand how C. gattii causes disease and to characterize hypervirulent C. gattii strains, we summarize the current understanding of C. gattii genotypes, phenotypes, virulence, and the regulatory mechanisms.
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The putative role of zinc homeostasis in grain formation by Madurella mycetomatis during mycetoma infection. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zrg1, a cryptococcal protein associated with regulation of growth in nutrient deprivation conditions. Genomics 2021; 113:805-814. [PMID: 33529779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.01.023] [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: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is one of the causes of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening disease generally characterized by pneumonia and/or meningitis. Zinc is an essential element for life, being required for the activity of many proteins with catalytic and structural roles. Here, we characterize ZRG1 (zinc-related gene 1), which codes a product involved in zinc metabolism. Transcriptional profiling revealed that zinc availability regulated the expression of ZRG1, and its null mutants demonstrated impaired growth in zinc- and nitrogen-limiting conditions. Moreover, zrg1 strains displayed alterations in the expression of the zinc homeostasis-related genes ZAP1 and ZIP1. Notably, cryptococcal cells lacking Zrg1 displayed upregulation of autophagy-like phenotypes. Despite no differences were detected in the classical virulence-associated traits; cryptococcal cells lacking ZRG1 displayed decreased capacity for survival inside macrophages and attenuated virulence in an invertebrate model. Together, these results indicate that ZRG1 plays an important role in proper zinc metabolism, and is necessary for cryptococcal fitness and virulence.
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Soares LW, Bailão AM, Soares CMDA, Bailão MGS. Zinc at the Host-Fungus Interface: How to Uptake the Metal? J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040305. [PMID: 33233335 PMCID: PMC7711662 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. However, firm regulation must be maintained since micronutrients also can be toxic in high concentrations. This notion is reinforced when we look at mechanisms deployed by our immune system, such as the use of chelators or membrane transporters that capture zinc, when threatened with pathogens, like fungi. Pathogenic fungi, on the other hand, also make use of a variety of transporters and specialized zinc captors to survive these changes. In this review, we sought to explain the mechanisms, grounded in experimental analysis and described to date, utilized by pathogenic fungi to maintain optimal zinc levels.
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de Oliveira HC, Castelli RF, Reis FCG, Rizzo J, Rodrigues ML. Pathogenic Delivery: The Biological Roles of Cryptococcal Extracellular Vesicles. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9090754. [PMID: 32948010 PMCID: PMC7557404 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are produced by all domains of life. In fungi, these structures were first described in Cryptococcus neoformans and, since then, they were characterized in several pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungal species. Cryptococcal EVs participate in the export of virulence factors that directly impact the Cryptococcus-host interaction. Our knowledge of the biogenesis and pathogenic roles of Cryptococcus EVs is still limited, but recent methodological and scientific advances have improved our understanding of how cryptococcal EVs participate in both physiological and pathogenic events. In this review, we will discuss the importance of cryptococcal EVs, including early historical studies suggesting their existence in Cryptococcus, their putative mechanisms of biogenesis, methods of isolation, and possible roles in the interaction with host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haroldo C. de Oliveira
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775 CIC Curitiba/PR, Curitiba 81350-010, Brasil; (H.C.d.O.); (R.F.C.); (F.C.G.R.)
| | - Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775 CIC Curitiba/PR, Curitiba 81350-010, Brasil; (H.C.d.O.); (R.F.C.); (F.C.G.R.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, 4.365, Pavilhão Arthur Neiva–Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brasil
| | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775 CIC Curitiba/PR, Curitiba 81350-010, Brasil; (H.C.d.O.); (R.F.C.); (F.C.G.R.)
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4036–Prédio Da Expansão–8˚ Andar–Sala 814, Rio De Janeiro 21040-361, Brasil
| | - Juliana Rizzo
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775 CIC Curitiba/PR, Curitiba 81350-010, Brasil; (H.C.d.O.); (R.F.C.); (F.C.G.R.)
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brasil
- Correspondence:
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