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Jentsch MC, Lübke S, Schrödl W, Volke D, Krizsan A, Hoffmann R, Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Marti E, Wagner B, Schnabel CL. Immunoproteomics enable broad identification of new Aspergillus fumigatus antigens in severe equine asthma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1347164. [PMID: 38487534 PMCID: PMC10937411 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1347164] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a common chronic disease of adult horses with characteristic recurrent airway obstruction and similarities to neutrophilic asthma in humans. As an extrinsic stimulus, hay dust exposure is a major risk factor and induces acute exacerbation in susceptible horses. However, single inducing agents of SEA have hardly been identified on a molecular basis. Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a common mold species in hay and has been described as a major provoking agent of SEA. Methods Aiming to identify disease-relevant antigens, we analyzed A. fumigatus using an immunoproteomics approach on two-dimensional immunoblots of A. fumigatus protein probed with serum from environmentally matched asthmatic and healthy horses (n=5 pairs). A. fumigatus binding serum immunoglobulins (Pan-Ig), and the isotypes IgG4/7 and IgG3/5 were quantified for each protein spot and then compared between asthmatic and healthy horses. Results and discussion For 21 out of 289 spots serum immunoglobulin (Ig) binding was different between the two groups for Pan-Ig or the isotypes. If differences were detected, Pan-Ig and IgG4/7 binding to the proteins were lower, while IgG3/5 binding was higher in asthmatic than healthy horse sera. Proteins were extracted from the 21 spots of interest and analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Eight prioritized proteins (candidate antigens) were expressed as recombinant proteins. Some of these have been previously described as major or minor A. fumigatus allergens, alongside other proteins, most with hydrolase activity. Recombinant candidate antigens were tested on 1D immunoblots to confirm their relevance as antigens by serum antibody binding. Four proteins (beta-hexosaminidase, class II aldolase/adducin domain protein, glucoamylase, peptide hydrolase B0XX53) showed different antibody binding characteristics between asthmatic and healthy horses and are likely relevant antigens in SEA. Their identification can provide the basis for innovative diagnostics, prevention, or therapeutic approaches. Additionally, a more profound understanding of SEA and its potential underlying mechanisms can be established. Elevated serum IgG3/5 antibodies correlate with T helper cell 2 responses in other equine pathologies, and the recombinant SEA antigens developed here can become instrumental in analyzing the involvement of SEA-specific T cell responses and Ig responses in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Christin Jentsch
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sabrina Lübke
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Schrödl
- Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniela Volke
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andor Krizsan
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarah Kaiser-Thom
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vinzenz Gerber
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eliane Marti
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Bettina Wagner
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Christiane L. Schnabel
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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Zamani K, Mohsenpour M, Malboobi MA. Predicting the allergenic risk of Phosphite-NAD +-Oxidoreductase and purple acid phosphatase 17 proteins in genetically modified canola using bioinformatic approaches. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 182:114094. [PMID: 37925014 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114094] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancements in the generation of high-throughput multi-omics data have provided a vast array of candidate genes for the genetic engineering of plants. However, as part of their safety assessment, newly expressed proteins in genetically modified crops must be evaluated for potential cross-reactivity with known allergens. In this study, we developed transgenic canola plants expressing the Arabidopsis thaliana PAP17 gene and a novel selectable marker composed of the ptxD gene from Pseudomonas stutzeri. To evaluate the potential allergenic cross-reactivity of the AtPAP17 and PTXD proteins expressed in transgenic canola, we applied a comprehensive approach utilizing sequence-based, motif-based, and 3D structure-based analyses. Our results demonstrate that the risk of conferring cross-reactivity with known allergens is negligible, indicating that the expression of these proteins in transgenic canola poses a low allergenic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katayoun Zamani
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biosafety, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 31359-33151, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Motahhareh Mohsenpour
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biosafety, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 31359-33151, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Malboobi
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 14965-161, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Venugopalan LP, Aimanianda V, Namperumalsamy VP, Prajna L, Kuppamuthu D, Jayapal JM. Comparative proteome analysis identifies species-specific signature proteins in Aspergillus pathogens. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s00253-023-12559-4. [PMID: 37166481 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12559-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus are important human pathogens that can infect the lung and cornea. During infection, Aspergillus dormant conidia are the primary morphotype that comes in contact with the host. As the conidial surface-associated proteins (CSPs) and the extracellular proteins during the early stages of growth play a crucial role in establishing infection, we profiled and compared these proteins between a clinical strain of A. flavus and a clinical strain of A. fumigatus. We identified nearly 100 CSPs in both Aspergillus, and these non-covalently associated surface proteins were able to stimulate the neutrophils to secrete interleukin IL-8. Mass spectrometry analysis identified more than 200 proteins in the extracellular space during the early stages of conidial growth and germination (early exoproteome). The conidial surface proteins and the early exoproteome of A. fumigatus were enriched with immunoreactive proteins and those with pathogenicity-related functions while that of the A. flavus were primarily enzymes involved in cell wall reorganization and binding. Comparative proteome analysis of the CSPs and the early exoproteome between A. flavus and A. fumigatus enabled the identification of a common core proteome and potential species-specific signature proteins. Transcript analysis of selected proteins indicate that the transcript-protein level correlation does not exist for all proteins and might depend on factors such as membrane-anchor signals and protein half-life. The probable signature proteins of A. flavus and A. fumigatus identified in this study can serve as potential candidates for developing species-specific diagnostic tests. KEY POINTS: • CSPs and exoproteins could differentiate A. flavus and A. fumigatus. • A. fumigatus conidial surface harbored more antigenic proteins than A. flavus. • Identified species-specific signature proteins of A. flavus and A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Prabha Venugopalan
- Department of Proteomics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Present address: Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
- Present address: Unité de recherche Mycologie Moléculaire, UMR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | | | - Lalitha Prajna
- Department of Ocular Microbiology, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dharmalingam Kuppamuthu
- Department of Proteomics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jeya Maheshwari Jayapal
- Department of Proteomics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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4
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Peroxiredoxin Asp f3 Is Essential for Aspergillus fumigatus To Overcome Iron Limitation during Infection. mBio 2021; 12:e0097621. [PMID: 34399627 PMCID: PMC8406167 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00976-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important fungal pathogen that causes allergic reactions but also life-threatening infections. One of the most abundant A. fumigatus proteins is Asp f3. This peroxiredoxin is a major fungal allergen and known for its role as a virulence factor, vaccine candidate, and scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Based on the hypothesis that Asp f3 protects A. fumigatus against killing by immune cells, we investigated the susceptibility of a conditional aspf3 mutant by employing a novel assay. Surprisingly, Asp f3-depleted hyphae were killed as efficiently as the wild type by human granulocytes. However, we identified an unexpected growth defect of mutants that lack Asp f3 under low-iron conditions, which explains the avirulence of the Δaspf3 deletion mutant in a murine infection model. A. fumigatus encodes two Asp f3 homologues which we named Af3l (Asp f3-like) 1 and Af3l2. Inactivation of Af3l1, but not of Af3l2, exacerbated the growth defect of the conditional aspf3 mutant under iron limitation, which ultimately led to death of the double mutant. Inactivation of the iron acquisition repressor SreA partially compensated for loss of Asp f3 and Af3l1. However, Asp f3 was not required for maintaining iron homeostasis or siderophore biosynthesis. Instead, we show that it compensates for a loss of iron-dependent antioxidant enzymes. Iron supplementation restored the virulence of the Δaspf3 deletion mutant in a murine infection model. Our results unveil the crucial importance of Asp f3 to overcome nutritional immunity and reveal a new biological role of peroxiredoxins in adaptation to iron limitation.
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5
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Machata S, Müller MM, Lehmann R, Sieber P, Panagiotou G, Carvalho A, Cunha C, Lagrou K, Maertens J, Slevogt H, Jacobsen ID. Proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids reveals host and fungal proteins highly expressed during invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice and humans. Virulence 2021; 11:1337-1351. [PMID: 33043780 PMCID: PMC7549978 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1824960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a severe infection that is difficult to diagnose due to the ubiquitous presence of fungal spores, the underlying diseases of risk patients, and limitations of currently available markers. In this study, we performed a comprehensive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based identification of host and fungal proteins expressed during IPA in mice and humans. The proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage samples of individual IPA and control cases allowed the description of common host factors that had significantly increased abundance in both infected animals and IPA patients compared to their controls. Although increased levels of these individual host proteins might not be sufficient to distinguish bacterial from fungal infection, a combination of these markers might be beneficial to improve diagnosis. We also identified 16 fungal proteins that were specifically detected during infection and may be valuable candidates for biomarker evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Machata
- Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute , Jena, Germany
| | - Mario M Müller
- Septomics Research Centre, Jena University Hospital , Jena, Germany
| | - Roland Lehmann
- Septomics Research Centre, Jena University Hospital , Jena, Germany
| | - Patricia Sieber
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute , Jena, Germany
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute , Jena, Germany.,School of the Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong, China.,Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong, China
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven , Leuven, Belgium.,Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven , Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Maertens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven , Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, University Hospitals Leuven , Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hortense Slevogt
- Septomics Research Centre, Jena University Hospital , Jena, Germany
| | - Ilse D Jacobsen
- Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute , Jena, Germany.,Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena , Jena, Germany
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6
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Dey D, Gupta Bhattacharya S. Allergenicity assessment of fungal species using immunoclinical and proteomic techniques: a study on Fusarium lateritium. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:545-557. [PMID: 31044611 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2019.1609658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Airborne fungal spores are extensively reported as the elicitors of respiratory allergies in human. Fusarium lateritium is one such fungal species reported for eliciting significant skin prick results from India. The present study aims to analyze the allergenic potential of F. lateritium followed by the identification of allergens. The total protein of F. lateritium was subjected to 1dimensional (1D) and 2D gel electrophoresis followed by corresponding IgE-specific immunoblots. We found 8 immunoreactive bands/zones in (1D) immunoblot using 11 F. lateritium-sensitised patient sera. In 1D immunoblot, a 34 kDa band was detected in >80% of the patients and hence considered as a potential allergen of F. lateritium. Corresponding 34 kDa spot in 2D-immunoblot was analyzed by mass spectrometric analysis and identified as Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The identified F. lateritium allergen holds the potential to instigate vaccine development for immunotherapy of F. lateritium sensitized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarati Dey
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute (Main Campus) , Kolkata, India
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7
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Jia LJ, Krüger T, Blango MG, von Eggeling F, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA. Biotinylated Surfome Profiling Identifies Potential Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Therapy of Aspergillus fumigatus Infection. mSphere 2020; 5:e00535-20. [PMID: 32817453 PMCID: PMC7426169 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00535-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most common airborne molds capable of causing mycoses and allergies in humans. During infection, fungal surface proteins mediate the first contact with the human immune system to evade immune responses or to induce hypersensitivity. Several methods have been established for surface proteomics (surfomics). Biotinylation coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identification of peptides is a particularly efficient method to identify the surface-exposed regions of proteins that potentially mediate interaction with the host. After biotinylation of surface proteins during spore germination, we detected 231 different biotinylated surface proteins (including several well-known proteins such as RodA, CcpA, and DppV; allergens; and heat shock proteins [HSPs]), as well as some previously undescribed surface proteins. The dynamic change of the surface proteome was illustrated by detection of a relatively high number of proteins exclusively at one developmental stage. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we confirmed the surface localization of several HSPs of the HSP70 family, which may have moonlighting functions. Collectively, by comparing our data with data representative of previously published A. fumigatus surface proteomes, our study generated a comprehensive data set corresponding to the A. fumigatus surfome and uncovered the surface-exposed regions of many proteins on the surface of conidia or hyphae. These surface-exposed regions are candidates for direct interaction with host cells and may represent antigenic epitopes that either induce protective immune responses or mediate immune evasion. Thus, our data sets provided and compiled here represent reasonable immunotherapy and diagnostic targets for future investigations.IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatus is the most important airborne human-pathogenic mold, capable of causing both life-threatening invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients and allergy-inducing infections in individuals with atopic allergy. Despite its obvious medical relevance, timely diagnosis and efficient antifungal treatment of A. fumigatus infection remain major challenges. Proteins on the surface of conidia (asexually produced spores) and mycelium directly mediate host-pathogen interaction and also may serve as targets for diagnosis and immunotherapy. However, the similarity of protein sequences between A. fumigatus and other organisms, sometimes even including the human host, makes selection of targets for immunological-based studies difficult. Here, using surface protein biotinylation coupled with LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified hundreds of A. fumigatus surface proteins with exposed regions, further defining putative targets for possible diagnostic and immunotherapeutic design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei-Jie Jia
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Matthew G Blango
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Ferdinand von Eggeling
- Jena University Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Jena, Germany
- Jena University Hospital, Core Unit Proteome Analysis, Jena, Germany
- Jena University Hospital, DFG Core Unit Jena Biophotonic and Imaging Laboratory (JBIL), Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Study of Humoral Responses against Lomentospora/ Scedosporium spp. and Aspergillus fumigatus to Identify L. prolificans Antigens of Interest for Diagnosis and Treatment. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7040212. [PMID: 31835471 PMCID: PMC6963885 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The high mortality rates of Lomentospora prolificans infections are due, above all, to the tendency of the fungus to infect weakened hosts, late diagnosis and a lack of effective therapeutic treatments. To identify proteins of significance for diagnosis, therapy or prophylaxis, immunoproteomics-based studies are especially important. Consequently, in this study murine disseminated infections were carried out using L. prolificans, Scedosporium aurantiacum, Scedosporium boydii and Aspergillus fumigatus, and their sera used to identify the most immunoreactive proteins of L. prolificans total extract and secreted proteins. The results showed that L. prolificans was the most virulent species and its infections were characterized by a high fungal load in several organs, including the brain. The proteomics study showed a high cross-reactivity between Scedosporium/Lomentospora species, but not with A. fumigatus. Among the antigens identified were, proteasomal ubiquitin receptor, carboxypeptidase, Vps28, HAD-like hydrolase, GH16, cerato-platanin and a protein of unknown function that showed no or low homology with humans. Finally, Hsp70 deserves a special mention as it was the main antigen recognized by Scedosporium/Lomentospora species in both secretome and total extract. In conclusion, this study identifies antigens of L. prolificans that can be considered as potential candidates for use in diagnosis and as therapeutic targets and the production of vaccines.
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Valsecchi I, Dupres V, Michel JP, Duchateau M, Matondo M, Chamilos G, Saveanu C, Guijarro JI, Aimanianda V, Lafont F, Latgé JP, Beauvais A. The puzzling construction of the conidial outer layer of Aspergillus fumigatus. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e12994. [PMID: 30552790 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
If the mycelium of Aspergillus fumigatus is very short-lived in the laboratory, conidia can survive for years. This survival capacity and extreme resistance to environmental insults is a major biological characteristic of this fungal species. Moreover, conidia, which easily reach the host alveola, are the infective propagules. Earlier studies have shown the role of some molecules of the outer conidial layer in protecting the fungus against the host defense. The outer layer of the conidial cell wall, directly in contact with the host cells, consists of α-(1,3)-glucan, melanin, and proteinaceous rodlets. This study is focused on the global importance of this outer layer. Single and multiple mutants without one to three major components of the outer layer were constructed and studied. The results showed that the absence of the target molecules resulting from multiple gene deletions led to unexpected phenotypes without any logical additivity. Unexpected compensatory cell wall surface modifications were indeed observed, such as the synthesis of the mycelial virulence factor galactosaminogalactan, the increase in chitin and glycoprotein concentration or particular changes in permeability. However, sensitivity of the multiple mutants to killing by phagocytic host cells confirmed the major importance of melanin in protecting conidia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Valsecchi
- Aspergillus Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Plateforme de RMN Biologique, Institut Pasteur (CNRS, UMR 3528), Paris, France.,Unité de bioinformatique structurale, Institut Pasteur (CNRS, UMR 3528), Paris, France
| | - Vincent Dupres
- Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille-CNRS UMR8204-INSERM U1019- CHRU Lille-University, Lille, France
| | | | - Magalie Duchateau
- Plateforme Protéomique, Unité de Spectrometrie de Masse pour la Biologie, UMR 2000 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Mariette Matondo
- Plateforme Protéomique, Unité de Spectrometrie de Masse pour la Biologie, UMR 2000 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece
| | - Cosmin Saveanu
- Unité de Génétique des Interactions Macromoléculaires, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - J Iñaki Guijarro
- Plateforme de RMN Biologique, Institut Pasteur (CNRS, UMR 3528), Paris, France.,Unité de bioinformatique structurale, Institut Pasteur (CNRS, UMR 3528), Paris, France
| | | | - Frank Lafont
- Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille-CNRS UMR8204-INSERM U1019- CHRU Lille-University, Lille, France
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10
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Bhattacharya K, Sircar G, Dasgupta A, Gupta Bhattacharya S. Spectrum of Allergens and Allergen Biology in India. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2018; 177:219-237. [PMID: 30056449 DOI: 10.1159/000490805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing prevalence of allergy and asthma in India has become a major health concern with symptoms ranging from mild rhinitis to severe asthma and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. The "allergen repertoire" of this subcontinent is highly diverse due to the varied climate, flora, and food habits. The proper identification, purification, and molecular characterization of allergy-eliciting molecules are essential in order to facilitate an accurate diagnosis and to design immunotherapeutic vaccines. Although several reports on prevalent allergens are available, most of these studies were based on preliminary detection and identification of the allergens. Only a few of these allergen molecules have been characterized by recombinant technology and structural biology. The present review first describes the composition, distribution pattern, and natural sources of the predominant allergens in India along with the prevalence of sensitization to these allergens across the country. We go on to present a comprehensive report on the biochemical, immunological, and molecular information on the allergens reported so far from India. The review also covers the studies on allergy- related biosafety assessment of transgenic plants. Finally, we discuss the allergen-specific immunotherapy trials performed in India.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaurab Sircar
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Angira Dasgupta
- Department of Chest Medicine, B.R. Singh Hospital and Centre for Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
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11
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Comparative systems analysis of the secretome of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and other Aspergillus species. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6617. [PMID: 29700415 PMCID: PMC5919931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25016-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus and multiple other Aspergillus species cause a wide range of lung infections, collectively termed aspergillosis. Aspergilli are ubiquitous in environment with healthy immune systems routinely eliminating inhaled conidia, however, Aspergilli can become an opportunistic pathogen in immune-compromised patients. The aspergillosis mortality rate and emergence of drug-resistance reveals an urgent need to identify novel targets. Secreted and cell membrane proteins play a critical role in fungal-host interactions and pathogenesis. Using a computational pipeline integrating data from high-throughput experiments and bioinformatic predictions, we have identified secreted and cell membrane proteins in ten Aspergillus species known to cause aspergillosis. Small secreted and effector-like proteins similar to agents of fungal-plant pathogenesis were also identified within each secretome. A comparison with humans revealed that at least 70% of Aspergillus secretomes have no sequence similarity with the human proteome. An analysis of antigenic qualities of Aspergillus proteins revealed that the secretome is significantly more antigenic than cell membrane proteins or the complete proteome. Finally, overlaying an expression dataset, four A. fumigatus proteins upregulated during infection and with available structures, were found to be structurally similar to known drug target proteins in other organisms, and were able to dock in silico with the respective drug.
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González De León J, González Méndez R, Cadilla CL, Rivera-Mariani FE, Bolaños-Rosero B. Identification of Immunoglobulin E-Binding Proteins of the Xerophilic Fungus Aspergillus penicillioides Crude Mycelial Mat Extract and Serological Reactivity Assessment in Subjects with Different Allergen Reactivity Profiles. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2018; 175:147-159. [PMID: 29402803 DOI: 10.1159/000484898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspergillus penicillioides is a very common indoor xerophilic fungus and potential causative agent of respiratory conditions. Although people are constantly exposed to A. penicillioides, no proteins with allergenic potential have been described. Therefore, we aim to confirm allergic sensitization to A. penicillioides through reactivity in serological assays and detect immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding proteins. METHODS In an indirect ELISA, we compared the serological reactivity to A. penicillioides between subjects with specific IgE (sIgE) (group 1, n = 54) and no sIgE reactivity (group 2, n = 15) against commercial allergens. Correlations and principal component analysis were performed to identify associations between reactivity to commercial allergens and A. penicillioides. IgE-binding proteins in A. penicillioides were visualized using Western blotting (WB) in group 1. The IgE-binding proteins with the highest reactivity were analyzed by mass spectrometry and confirmed by transcript matching. RESULTS There was no statistical significance (p = 0.1656) between the study groups in serological reactivity. Correlations between reactivity to A. penicillioides, dog epithelia, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Penicillium chrysogenum were observed. WB experiments showed 6 IgE-binding proteins with molecular weights ranging from 45 to 145 kDa. Proteins of 108, 83, and 56 kDa showed higher reactivity. Mass spectrometry analysis of these 3 proteins led to the putative identification of NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase and catalase B. This was confirmed with transcriptome analysis. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence of the presence of potential allergenic components in A. penicillioides. Further analysis of the putatively identified proteins should reveal their allergenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joenice González De León
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
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Guruceaga X, Ezpeleta G, Mayayo E, Sueiro-Olivares M, Abad-Diaz-De-Cerio A, Aguirre Urízar JM, Liu HG, Wiemann P, Bok JW, Filler SG, Keller NP, Hernando FL, Ramirez-Garcia A, Rementeria A. A possible role for fumagillin in cellular damage during host infection by Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2018; 9:1548-1561. [PMID: 30251593 PMCID: PMC6177242 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1526528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence mechanisms of the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are multifactorial and depend on the immune state of the host, but little is known about the fungal mechanism that develops during the process of lung invasion. In this study, microarray technology was combined with a histopathology evaluation of infected lungs so that the invasion strategy followed by the fungus could be described. To achieve this, an intranasal mice infection was performed to extract daily fungal samples from the infected lungs over four days post-infection. The pathological study revealed a heavy fungal progression throughout the lung, reaching the blood vessels on the third day after exposure and causing tissue necrosis. One percent of the fungal genome followed a differential expression pattern during this process. Strikingly, most of the genes of the intertwined fumagillin/pseurotin biosynthetic gene cluster were upregulated as were genes encoding lytic enzymes such as lipases, proteases (DppIV, DppV, Asp f 1 or Asp f 5) and chitinase (chiB1) as well as three genes related with pyomelanin biosynthesis process. Furthermore, we demonstrate that fumagillin is produced in an in vitro pneumocyte cell line infection model and that loss of fumagillin synthesis reduces epithelial cell damage. These results suggest that fumagillin contributes to tissue damage during invasive aspergillosis. Therefore, it is probable that A. fumigatus progresses through the lungs via the production of the mycotoxin fumagillin combined with the secretion of lytic enzymes that allow fungal growth, angioinvasion and the disruption of the lung parenchymal structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Guruceaga
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Guillermo Ezpeleta
- Preventive Medicine and Hospital Hygiene Service, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Emilio Mayayo
- Pathology Unit, Medicine and Health Science Faculty, University of Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Monica Sueiro-Olivares
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Ana Abad-Diaz-De-Cerio
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - José Manuel Aguirre Urízar
- Department of Stomatology II, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Hong G. Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Philipp Wiemann
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jin Woo Bok
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Scott G. Filler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fernando L. Hernando
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Andoni Ramirez-Garcia
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Aitor Rementeria
- Fungal and Bacterial Biomics Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
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Proteomics as a Tool to Identify New Targets Against Aspergillus and Scedosporium in the Context of Cystic Fibrosis. Mycopathologia 2017; 183:273-289. [PMID: 28484941 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-017-0139-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that increases the risk of suffering microbial, including fungal, infections. In this paper, proteomics-based information was collated relating to secreted and cell wall proteins with potential medical applications from the most common filamentous fungi in CF, i.e., Aspergillus and Scedosporium/Lomentospora species. Among the Aspergillus fumigatus secreted allergens, β-1,3-endoglucanase, the alkaline protease 1 (Alp1/oryzin), Asp f 2, Asp f 13/15, chitinase, chitosanase, dipeptidyl-peptidase V (DppV), the metalloprotease Asp f 5, mitogillin/Asp f 1, and thioredoxin reductase receive a special mention. In addition, the antigens β-glucosidase 1, catalase, glucan endo-1,3-β-glucosidase EglC, β-1,3-glucanosyltransferases Gel1 and Gel2, and glutaminase A were also identified in secretomes of other Aspergillus species associated with CF: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus terreus. Regarding cell wall proteins, cytochrome P450 and eEF-3 were proposed as diagnostic targets, and alkaline protease 2 (Alp2), Asp f 3 (putative peroxiredoxin pmp20), probable glycosidases Asp f 9/Crf1 and Crf2, GPI-anchored protein Ecm33, β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase Gel4, conidial hydrophobin Hyp1/RodA, and secreted aspartyl protease Pep2 as protective vaccines in A. fumigatus. On the other hand, for Scedosporium/Lomentospora species, the heat shock protein Hsp70 stands out as a relevant secreted and cell wall antigen. Additionally, the secreted aspartyl proteinase and an ortholog of Asp f 13, as well as the cell wall endo-1,3-β-D-glucosidase and 1,3-β-glucanosyl transferase, were also found to be significant proteins. In conclusion, proteins mentioned in this review may be promising candidates for developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools for fungal infections in CF patients.
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Tiotiu A, Brazdova A, Longé C, Gallet P, Morisset M, Leduc V, Hilger C, Broussard C, Couderc R, Sutra JP, Sénéchal H, Poncet P. Urtica dioica pollen allergy: Clinical, biological, and allergomics analysis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2016; 117:527-534. [PMID: 27788883 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.09.426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The most emblematic members of Urticaceae at allergic risk level are wall pellitories (Parietaria), whereas nettle (Urtica) pollen is considered as poorly allergenic. No allergen from nettle pollen has yet been characterized, whereas 4 are listed for Parietaria pollen by the International Union of Immunological Societies. Clinical and biological profiles of 2 adult men who developed symptoms against nettle pollen and/or leaves were studied. OBJECTIVE To characterize the allergic reaction and identify the potential nettle pollen sensitizing allergens. METHODS IgE-mediated reaction to nettle pollen extract was evaluated by skin prick test, immunoassay, nasal provocation, and basophil activation test. To characterize specific nettle pollen allergens, an allergomic (IgE immunoproteomic) analysis was performed combining 1- and 2-dimensional electrophoresis, IgE immunoblots of nettle pollen extract, identification of allergens by mass spectrometry, and database queries. RESULTS The results of biological and immunochemical analyses revealed that the allergic rhinitis was due to Urtica dioica pollen in both patients. The allergomic analysis of nettle pollen extract allowed the characterization of 4 basic protein allergens: a thaumatin-like protein (osmotin) with a relative molecular mass of 27 to 29 kDa, a pectinesterase (relative molecular mass, 40 kDa), and 2 other basic proteins with relative molecular masses of 14 to 16 kDa and 43 kDa. There is no or only very weak allergen associations between pellitory and nettle pollen. CONCLUSION Exposure to nettle pollen can be responsible of allergic symptoms, and several allergens were characterized. Unravelling the allergens of this underestimated allergy might help to improve diagnosis and care for patients, to predict cross-reactivities and design adapted specific immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Tiotiu
- Pneumology-Allergology Department, University Hospital, Nancy, France
| | - Andrea Brazdova
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France; Immunopathology and Immunoregulation Section, INSERM U1098, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Cyril Longé
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Patrice Gallet
- Pneumology-Allergology Department, University Hospital, Nancy, France
| | - Martine Morisset
- Immunology-Allergology Department, Luxembourg Hospital, Luxembourg-Ville, Luxembourg
| | | | - Christiane Hilger
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Cédric Broussard
- Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR8104, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France; Proteomics Plateform 3P5, Paris-Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Rémy Couderc
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Sutra
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Hélène Sénéchal
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Pascal Poncet
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Allergy & Environment Team, Armand Trousseau Children Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France; Center for Innovation and Technological Research, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
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Kniemeyer O, Ebel F, Krüger T, Bacher P, Scheffold A, Luo T, Strassburger M, Brakhage AA. Immunoproteomics of Aspergillus for the development of biomarkers and immunotherapies. Proteomics Clin Appl 2016; 10:910-921. [PMID: 27312145 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201600053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus play significant roles as pathogens causing superficial and invasive infections as well as allergic reactions in humans. Particularly invasive mycoses caused by Aspergillus species are characterized by high mortality rates due to difficult diagnosis and insufficient antifungal therapy. The application of immunoproteomic approaches has a great potential to identify new targets for the diagnosis, therapy, and vaccine development of diseases caused by Aspergillus species. Serological proteome analyses (SERPA) that combine 2D electrophoresis with Western blotting are still one of the most popular techniques for the identification of antigenic proteins. However, recently a growing number of approaches have been developed to identify proteins, which either provoke an antibody response or which represent targets of T-cell immunity in patients with allergy or fungal infections. Here, we review advances in the studies of immune responses against pathogenic Aspergilli as well as the current status of diagnosis and immunotherapy of Aspergillus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Frank Ebel
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Petra Bacher
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Scheffold
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Rheumatism Research Centre (DRFZ) Berlin, Leibniz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Strassburger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.,Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany. .,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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17
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Moloney NM, Owens RA, Doyle S. Proteomic analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus – clinical implications. Expert Rev Proteomics 2016; 13:635-49. [DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2016.1203783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
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18
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Dey D, Saha B, Sircar G, Ghosal K, Bhattacharya SG. Mass spectrometry-based identification of allergens from Curvularia pallescens, a prevalent aerospore in India. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2016; 1864:869-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Teutschbein J, Simon S, Lother J, Springer J, Hortschansky P, Morton CO, Löffler J, Einsele H, Conneally E, Rogers TR, Guthke R, Brakhage AA, Kniemeyer O. Proteomic Profiling of Serological Responses to Aspergillus fumigatus Antigens in Patients with Invasive Aspergillosis. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1580-91. [PMID: 26974881 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the species that most commonly causes the opportunistic infection invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients being treated for hematological malignancies. Little is known about the A. fumigatus proteins that trigger the production of Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies during the course of IA. To characterize the serological response to A. fumigatus protein antigens, mycelial proteins were separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis. The gels were immunoblotted with sera from patients with probable and proven IA and control patients without IA. We identified 49 different fungal proteins, which gave a positive IgG antibody signal. Most of these antigens play a role in primary metabolism and stress responses. Overall, our analysis identified 18 novel protein antigens from A. fumigatus. To determine whether these antigens can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers or exhibit a protective activity, we employed supervised machine learning with decision trees. We identified two candidates for further analysis, the protein antigens CpcB and Shm2. Heterologously produced Shm2 induced a strongly proinflammatory response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro stimulation. In contrast, CpcB did not activate the immune response of PBMCs. These findings could serve as the basis for the development of an immunotherapy of IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janka Teutschbein
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Svenja Simon
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jasmin Lother
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Springer
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - C Oliver Morton
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jürgen Löffler
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas R Rogers
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Haematology, St. James's Hospital , Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Reinhard Guthke
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany.,Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care Jena (CSCC), University Hospital , 07747 Jena, Germany
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Abstract
We are presenting a quantitative proteomics tally of the most commonly expressed conserved fungal proteins of the cytosol, the cell wall, and the secretome. It was our goal to identify fungi-typical proteins that do not share significant homology with human proteins. Such fungal proteins are of interest to the development of vaccines or drug targets. Protein samples were derived from 13 fungal species, cultured in rich or in minimal media; these included clinical isolates of Aspergillus, Candida, Mucor, Cryptococcus, and Coccidioides species. Proteomes were analyzed by quantitative MSE (Mass Spectrometry-Elevated Collision Energy). Several thousand proteins were identified and quantified in total across all fractions and culture conditions. The 42 most abundant proteins identified in fungal cell walls or supernatants shared no to very little homology with human proteins. In contrast, all but five of the 50 most abundant cytosolic proteins had human homologs with sequence identity averaging 59%. Proteomic comparisons of the secreted or surface localized fungal proteins highlighted conserved homologs of the Aspergillus fumigatus proteins 1,3-β-glucanosyltransferases (Bgt1, Gel1-4), Crf1, Ecm33, EglC, and others. The fact that Crf1 and Gel1 were previously shown to be promising vaccine candidates, underlines the value of the proteomics data presented here.
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New Commercially Available IgG Kits and Time-Resolved Fluorometric IgE Assay for Diagnosis of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 23:196-203. [PMID: 26698651 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00498-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is difficult to diagnose; diagnosis relies on clinical, radiological, pathological, and serological criteria. Our aim was to assess the performance of two new commercially available kits and a new in-house assay: an Aspergillus fumigatus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG kit (Bordier Affinity Products), an Aspergillus Western blotting IgG kit (LDBio Diagnostics), and a new in-house time-resolved fluorometric IgE assay (dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay, or DELFIA) using recombinant proteins from an Aspergillus sp. recently developed by our laboratory for ABPA diagnosis in a retrospective study that included 26 cystic fibrosis patients. Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgG levels measured by a commercial ELISA kit were in accordance with the level of precipitins currently used in our lab. The ELISA kit could accelerate and help standardize ABPA diagnosis. Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE levels measured by ImmunoCAP (Phadia) with A. fumigatus M3 antigen and by DELFIA with a purified protein extract of A. fumigatus were significantly correlated (P < 10(-6)). The results with recombinant antigens glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase were encouraging but must be confirmed with sera from more patients. The DELFIA is an effective tool that can detect specific IgE against more fungal allergens than can be detected with other commercially available tests.
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Sircar G, Saha B, Mandal RS, Pandey N, Saha S, Gupta Bhattacharya S. Purification, Cloning and Immuno-Biochemical Characterization of a Fungal Aspartic Protease Allergen Rhi o 1 from the Airborne Mold Rhizopus oryzae. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144547. [PMID: 26672984 PMCID: PMC4682942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungal allergy is considered as serious health problem worldwide and is increasing at an alarming rate in the industrialized areas. Rhizopus oyzae is a ubiquitously present airborne pathogenic mold and an important source of inhalant allergens for the atopic population of India. Here, we report the biochemical and immunological features of its 44 kDa sero-reactive aspartic protease allergen, which is given the official designation 'Rhi o 1'. METHOD The natural Rhi o 1 was purified by sequential column chromatography and its amino acid sequence was determined by mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. Based on its amino acid sequence, the cDNA sequence was identified, cloned and expressed to produce recombinant Rhi o 1. The allergenic activity of rRhi o 1 was assessed by means of its IgE reactivity and histamine release ability. The biochemical property of Rhi o 1 was studied by enzyme assay. IgE-inhibition experiments were performed to identify its cross-reactivity with the German cockroach aspartic protease allergen Bla g 2. For precise characterization of the cross-reactive epitope, we used anti-Bla g 2 monoclonal antibodies for their antigenic specificity towards Rhi o 1. A homology based model of Rhi o 1 was built and mapping of the cross-reactive conformational epitope was done using certain in silico structural studies. RESULTS The purified natural nRhi o 1 was identified as an endopeptidase. The full length allergen cDNA was expressed and purified as recombinant rRhi o 1. Purified rRhi o 1 displayed complete allergenicity similar to the native nRhi o 1. It was recognized by the serum IgE of the selected mold allergy patients and efficiently induced histamine release from the sensitized PBMC cells. This allergen was identified as an active aspartic protease functional in low pH. The Rhi o 1 showed cross reactivity with the cockroach allergen Bla g 2, as it can inhibit IgE binding to rBla g 2 up to certain level. The rBla g 2 was also found to cross-stimulate histamine release from the effector cells sensitized with anti-Rhi o 1 serum IgE. This cross-reactivity was found to be mediated by a common mAb4C3 recognizable conformational epitope. Bioinformatic studies revealed high degree of structural resemblances between the 4C3 binding sites of both the allergens. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE The present study reports for the first time anew fungal aspartic protease allergen designated as Rhi o 1, which triggers IgE-mediated sensitization leading to various allergic diseases. Here we have characterized the recombinant Rhi o 1 and its immunological features including cross-reactive epitope information that will facilitate the component-resolved diagnosis of mold allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurab Sircar
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute (Main campus), 93/1 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata– 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Bodhisattwa Saha
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute (Main campus), 93/1 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata– 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Rahul Shubhra Mandal
- Biomedical Informatics Center, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata-700010, West Bengal, India
| | - Naren Pandey
- Department of Allergy and Asthma, Belle Vue Clinic, 9, Dr. U. N. Brahmachari Street, Kolkata—700001, West Bengal, India
| | - Sudipto Saha
- Bioinformatics Centre, Bose Institute (Centenary Building), P 1/12, C. I. T. Road, Scheme–VIIM, Kolkata– 700054, West Bengal, India
| | - Swati Gupta Bhattacharya
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute (Main campus), 93/1 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata– 700009, West Bengal, India
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Page ID, Richardson M, Denning DW. Antibody testing in aspergillosis--quo vadis? Med Mycol 2015; 53:417-39. [PMID: 25980000 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myv020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are constantly exposed to airborne Aspergillus spores. Most develop Aspergillus-specific antibodies by adulthood. Persons with chronic lung disease or Aspergillus airway colonization often have raised levels of Aspergillus-specific immunoglobululin G (IgG). It is not known whether this signifies an increased risk of future aspergillosis.Chronic and allergic forms of pulmonary aspergillosis are estimated to affect over three million people worldwide. Antibody testing is central to diagnosis of these conditions, with raised Aspergillus-specific IgG in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and raised Aspergillus-specific IgE in allergic aspergillosis. Antibody levels are also used to monitor treatment response in these syndromes. Acute invasive disease is less common. There is a more limited role for antibody testing in this setting as immunosuppression often results in delayed or absent antibody response.Many methods exist to detect Aspergillus-specific antibodies, but there are limited published data regarding comparative efficacy and reproducibility. We discuss the comparative merits of the available tests in the various clinical settings and their suitability for use in the resource-poor settings where the majority of cases of aspergillosis are thought to occur. We summarize the gaps in existing knowledge and opportunities for further study that could allow optimal use of antibody testing in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain D Page
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
| | - Malcolm Richardson
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
| | - David W Denning
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
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Heinekamp T, Schmidt H, Lapp K, Pähtz V, Shopova I, Köster-Eiserfunke N, Krüger T, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA. Interference of Aspergillus fumigatus with the immune response. Semin Immunopathol 2014; 37:141-52. [PMID: 25404120 PMCID: PMC4326658 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-014-0465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic filamentous fungus and also the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen of humans. Depending on the host’s immune status, the variety of diseases caused by A. fumigatus ranges from allergies in immunocompetent hosts to life-threatening invasive infections in patients with impaired immunity. In contrast to the majority of other Aspergillus species, which are in most cases nonpathogenic, A. fumigatus features an armory of virulence determinants to establish an infection. For example, A. fumigatus is able to evade the human complement system by binding or degrading complement regulators. Furthermore, the fungus interferes with lung epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages, and neutrophil granulocytes to prevent killing by these immune cells. This chapter summarizes the different strategies of A. fumigatus to manipulate the immune response. We also discuss the potential impact of recent advances in immunoproteomics to improve diagnosis and therapy of an A. fumigatus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany,
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Barrera C, Millon L, Rognon B, Quadroni M, Roussel S, Dalphin JC, Court-Fortune I, Caillaud D, Jouneau S, Fellrath JM, Zaugg C, Reboux G, Monod M. Immunoreactive proteins of Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula for farmer's lung serodiagnosis. Proteomics Clin Appl 2014; 8:971-81. [PMID: 25264606 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201400024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula is the principal cause of farmer's lung disease (FLD). Serodiagnosis is based on immunoprecipitation techniques or enzyme immunoassays with homemade crude antigens and is not standardized. We aimed to produce specific recombinant antigens for the development of a standardized ELISA. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We recruited 41 patients and 43 healthy exposed controls from five university hospital pneumology departments in France and Switzerland. S. rectivirgula proteins were extracted, separated by 2D electrophoresis, and subjected to Western blotting, with sera from FLD patients or controls. FLD-specific proteins were identified by MS and were produced as recombinant antigens. The diagnostic performance of ELISA tests using the recombinant antigens was assessed with all the sera from FLD patients and controls. RESULTS We identified 25 FLD-specific proteins, some of which play important roles in transport, nutrition, or virulence. We produced 17 of these proteins as recombinant antigens and assessed their suitability for inclusion in the ELISA test. A combination of three of these proteins (SR1FA, SR17, and SR22) proved remarkably effective at discriminating between patients and controls, with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 77%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The recombinant antigens produced in this study constitute a major step toward the improvement of diagnostic performance and the standardization of FLD serodiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Barrera
- UMR6249 Chrono-environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
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Bacher P, Kniemeyer O, Teutschbein J, Thön M, Vödisch M, Wartenberg D, Scharf DH, Koester-Eiserfunke N, Schütte M, Dübel S, Assenmacher M, Brakhage AA, Scheffold A. Identification of Immunogenic Antigens fromAspergillus fumigatusby Direct Multiparameter Characterization of Specific Conventional and Regulatory CD4+T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:3332-43. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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27
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Virginio ED, Kubitschek-Barreira PH, Batista MV, Schirmer MR, Abdelhay E, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Lopes-Bezerra LM. Immunoproteome of Aspergillus fumigatus using sera of patients with invasive aspergillosis. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:14505-30. [PMID: 25141105 PMCID: PMC4159865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms150814505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening lung or systemic infection caused by the opportunistic mold Aspergillus fumigatus. The disease affects mainly immunocompromised hosts, and patients with hematological malignances or who have been submitted to stem cell transplantation are at high risk. Despite the current use of Platelia™ Aspergillus as a diagnostic test, the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis remains a major challenge in improving the prognosis of the disease. In this study, we used an immunoproteomic approach to identify proteins that could be putative candidates for the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Antigenic proteins expressed in the first steps of A. fumigatus germination occurring in a human host were revealed using 2-D Western immunoblots with the serum of patients who had previously been classified as probable and proven for invasive aspergillosis. Forty antigenic proteins were identified using mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A BLAST analysis revealed that two of these proteins showed low homology with proteins of either the human host or etiological agents of other invasive fungal infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing specific antigenic proteins of A. fumigatus germlings that are recognized by sera of patients with confirmed invasive aspergillosis who were from two separate hospital units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emylli D Virginio
- Laboratory of Cellular Mycology and Proteomics, Biology Institute, University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil.
| | - Paula H Kubitschek-Barreira
- Laboratory of Cellular Mycology and Proteomics, Biology Institute, University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil.
| | - Marjorie Vieira Batista
- Laboratory of Immunology (LIM 48), Clinics Hospital and Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo R Schirmer
- National Cancer Institute, Center for Bone Marrow Transplants, Rio de Janeiro 20230-130, Brazil.
| | - Eliana Abdelhay
- National Cancer Institute, Center for Bone Marrow Transplants, Rio de Janeiro 20230-130, Brazil.
| | - Maria A Shikanai-Yasuda
- Laboratory of Immunology (LIM 48), Clinics Hospital and Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil.
| | - Leila M Lopes-Bezerra
- Laboratory of Cellular Mycology and Proteomics, Biology Institute, University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil.
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Surface structure characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia mutated in the melanin synthesis pathway and their human cellular immune response. Infect Immun 2014; 82:3141-53. [PMID: 24818666 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01726-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Aspergillus fumigatus, the conidial surface contains dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin. Six-clustered gene products have been identified that mediate sequential catalysis of DHN-melanin biosynthesis. Melanin thus produced is known to be a virulence factor, protecting the fungus from the host defense mechanisms. In the present study, individual deletion of the genes involved in the initial three steps of melanin biosynthesis resulted in an altered conidial surface with masked surface rodlet layer, leaky cell wall allowing the deposition of proteins on the cell surface and exposing the otherwise-masked cell wall polysaccharides at the surface. Melanin as such was immunologically inert; however, deletion mutant conidia with modified surfaces could activate human dendritic cells and the subsequent cytokine production in contrast to the wild-type conidia. Cell surface defects were rectified in the conidia mutated in downstream melanin biosynthetic pathway, and maximum immune inertness was observed upon synthesis of vermelone onward. These observations suggest that although melanin as such is an immunologically inert material, it confers virulence by facilitating proper formation of the A. fumigatus conidial surface.
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Houser J, Komarek J, Kostlanova N, Cioci G, Varrot A, Kerr SC, Lahmann M, Balloy V, Fahy JV, Chignard M, Imberty A, Wimmerova M. A soluble fucose-specific lectin from Aspergillus fumigatus conidia--structure, specificity and possible role in fungal pathogenicity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83077. [PMID: 24340081 PMCID: PMC3858362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important allergen and opportunistic pathogen. Similarly to many other pathogens, it is able to produce lectins that may be involved in the host-pathogen interaction. We focused on the lectin AFL, which was prepared in recombinant form and characterized. Its binding properties were studied using hemagglutination and glycan array analysis. We determined the specificity of the lectin towards l-fucose and fucosylated oligosaccharides, including α1-6 linked core-fucose, which is an important marker for cancerogenesis. Other biologically relevant saccharides such as sialic acid, d-mannose or d-galactose were not bound. Blood group epitopes of the ABH and Lewis systems were recognized, Le(Y) being the preferred ligand among others. To provide a correlation between the observed functional characteristics and structural basis, AFL was crystallized in a complex with methyl-α,L-selenofucoside and its structure was solved using the SAD method. Six binding sites, each with different compositions, were identified per monomer and significant differences from the homologous AAL lectin were found. Structure-derived peptides were utilized to prepare anti-AFL polyclonal antibodies, which suggested the presence of AFL on the Aspergillus' conidia, confirming its expression in vivo. Stimulation of human bronchial cells by AFL led to IL-8 production in a dose-dependent manner. AFL thus probably contributes to the inflammatory response observed upon the exposure of a patient to A. fumigatus. The combination of affinity to human epithelial epitopes, production by conidia and pro-inflammatory activity is remarkable and shows that AFL might be an important virulence factor involved in an early stage of A. fumigatus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Houser
- Central European Institute for Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Komarek
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Kostlanova
- Central European Institute for Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gianluca Cioci
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Annabelle Varrot
- CERMAV-CNRS affiliated to Université de Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Sheena C. Kerr
- Department of Medicine and CVRI, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Martina Lahmann
- School of Chemistry, University of Bangor, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Viviane Balloy
- Unité de Défense Innée et Inflammation, Institut Pasteur and INSERM U874, Paris, France
| | - John V. Fahy
- Department of Medicine and CVRI, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michel Chignard
- Unité de Défense Innée et Inflammation, Institut Pasteur and INSERM U874, Paris, France
| | - Anne Imberty
- CERMAV-CNRS affiliated to Université de Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Michaela Wimmerova
- Central European Institute for Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Welter S, Lehmann K, Dölle S, Schwarz D, Weckwerth W, Scheler C, Worm M, Franken P. Identification of putative new tomato allergens and differential interaction with IgEs of tomato allergic subjects. Clin Exp Allergy 2013; 43:1419-27. [DOI: 10.1111/cea.12207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Welter
- Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops; Groβbeeren/Erfurt e.V.; Großbeeren Germany
| | | | - S. Dölle
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Allergy-Center-Charité; Berlin Germany
| | - D. Schwarz
- Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops; Groβbeeren/Erfurt e.V.; Großbeeren Germany
| | - W. Weckwerth
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology; Faculty of Life Science; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | | | - M. Worm
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Allergy-Center-Charité; Berlin Germany
| | - P. Franken
- Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops; Groβbeeren/Erfurt e.V.; Großbeeren Germany
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31
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Beauvais A, Bozza S, Kniemeyer O, Formosa C, Balloy V, Henry C, Roberson RW, Dague E, Chignard M, Brakhage AA, Romani L, Latgé JP. Deletion of the α-(1,3)-glucan synthase genes induces a restructuring of the conidial cell wall responsible for the avirulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003716. [PMID: 24244155 PMCID: PMC3828178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
α-(1,3)-Glucan is a major component of the cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human fungal pathogen. There are three genes (AGS1, AGS2 and AGS3) controlling the biosynthesis of α-(1,3)-glucan in this fungal species. Deletion of all the three AGS genes resulted in a triple mutant that was devoid of α-(1,3)-glucan in its cell wall; however, its growth and germination was identical to that of the parental strain in vitro. In the experimental murine aspergillosis model, this mutant was less pathogenic than the parental strain. The AGS deletion resulted in an extensive structural modification of the conidial cell wall, especially conidial surface where the rodlet layer was covered by an amorphous glycoprotein matrix. This surface modification was responsible for viability reduction of conidia in vivo, which explains decrease in the virulence of triple agsΔ mutant. Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant mold pathogen of humans, responsible for life-threatening systemic infections in patients with depressed immunity. Because of its external localization and specific composition, the fungal cell wall represents a target for recognition by and interaction with the host immune cells. In A. fumigatus, α-(1,3)-glucan is a key component of the extracellular matrix, which encloses the cell wall β-(1,3)-glucan-chitin fibrillar core. Interestingly, the deletion of the genes responsible for α-(1,3)-glucan synthesis resulted in a mutant that exhibited wild type phenotype in vitro; while the altered cell wall organization resulted in this fungus being avirulent in vivo. This study confirms that any modification in the cell wall components is associated with compensatory reactions developed by the fungus to counteract stress on the cell wall that may result in unexpected fungal response when challenged with the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Beauvais
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Silvia Bozza
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), University of Jena, Jena, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care Jena, University Hospital (CSCC), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Viviane Balloy
- Unité de Défence Innée et Inflammation, Institut Pasteur, Inserm U874, Paris, France
| | | | - Robert W. Roberson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | | | - Michel Chignard
- Unité de Défence Innée et Inflammation, Institut Pasteur, Inserm U874, Paris, France
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Luigina Romani
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Lau SKP, Tse H, Chan JSY, Zhou AC, Curreem SOT, Lau CCY, Yuen KY, Woo PCY. Proteome profiling of the dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei extracellular proteins and identification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as an important adhesion factor for conidial attachment. FEBS J 2013; 280:6613-26. [PMID: 24128375 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite being the most important thermal dimorphic fungus causing systemic mycosis in Southeast Asia, the pathogenic mechanisms of Penicillium marneffei remain largely unknown. By comparing the extracellular proteomes of P. marneffei in mycelial and yeast phases, we identified 12 differentially expressed proteins among which glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) were found to be upregulated in mycelial and yeast phases respectively. Based on previous findings in other pathogens, we hypothesized that these two extracellular proteins may be involved in adherence during P. marneffei-host interaction. Using inhibition assays with recombinant GAPDH (rGAPDH) proteins and anti-rGAPDH sera, we demonstrated that adhesion of P. marneffei conidia to fibronectin and laminin was inhibited by rGAPDH or rabbit anti-rGAPDH serum in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, a dose-dependent inhibition of conidial adherence to A549 pneumocytes by rGAPDH or rabbit anti-rGAPDH serum was observed, suggesting that P. marneffei GAPDH can mediate binding of conidia to human extracellular matrix proteins and pneumocytes. However, HSP60 did not exhibit similar inhibition on conidia adherence, and neither GAPDH norHSP60 exhibited inhibition on adherence to J774 or THP-1 macrophage cell lines. This report demonstrates GAPDH as an adherence factor in P. marneffei by mediating conidia adherence to host bronchoalveolar epithelium during the early establishment phase of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna K P Lau
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Research Centre of Infection and Immunology and Carol Yu Centre for Infection, University of Hong Kong, China; Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, China
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Champer J, Diaz-Arevalo D, Champer M, Hong TB, Wong M, Shannahoff M, Ito JI, Clemons KV, Stevens DA, Kalkum M. Protein targets for broad-spectrum mycosis vaccines: quantitative proteomic analysis of Aspergillus and Coccidioides and comparisons with other fungal pathogens. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2013; 1273:44-51. [PMID: 23230836 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06761.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus species are responsible for most cases of fatal mold infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Experimental vaccines in mouse models have demonstrated a promising avenue of approach for the prevention of aspergillosis, as well as infections caused by other fungal pathogens, such as Coccidioides, the etiological agent of valley fever (coccidioidomycosis). Here, we investigated the hyphal proteomes of Aspergillus fumigatus and Coccidioides posadasii via quantitative MS(E) mass spectrometry with the objective of developing a vaccine that cross-protects against these and other species of fungi. Several homologous proteins with highly conserved sequences were identified and quantified in A. fumigatus and C. posadasii. Many abundant proteins from the cell wall of A. fumigatus present themselves as possible cross-protective vaccine candidates, due to the high degree of sequence homology to other medically relevant fungal proteins and low homologies to human or murine proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Champer
- Department of Immunology Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
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Farnell E, Rousseau K, Thornton DJ, Bowyer P, Herrick SE. Expression and secretion of Aspergillus fumigatus proteases are regulated in response to different protein substrates. Fungal Biol 2012; 116:1003-12. [PMID: 22954343 PMCID: PMC3605576 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Revised: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus secretes a number of allergens with protease activity and has been linked to a variety of allergic conditions such as Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitization (SAFS) and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). However, it is unclear which allergen proteases are being secreted during fungal invasion and whether the local biological environment regulates their expression. Understanding the dynamic expression of allergen proteases during growth of A. fumigatus may lead to further characterisation of the pathogenesis of these disorders as well as improved standardisation in the commercial production of these allergens. Secretion of proteases during germination and early growth of A. fumigatus was investigated in response to various complex protein sources (pig lung homogenate, mucin or casein). Protease inhibitor studies demonstrated that A. fumigatus (AF293 strain) secretes predominately serine proteases during growth in pig lung based medium and mainly metalloproteases during growth in casein based medium but suppressed protease secretion in unmodified Vogel's minimal medium and secreted both types in mucin based medium. Analysis of gene transcription and protein identification by mass spectrometry showed that the matrix metalloprotease, Mep/Asp f 5 and the serine protease, Alp1/Asp f 13, were upregulated and secreted during growth in pig lung medium, whereas Alp1 was predominately expressed and secreted in mucin based medium. In casein medium, the matrix metalloprotease, Lap1, was also upregulated and secreted in addition to Mep and Alp1. These findings suggest that A. fumigatus is able to detect different complex proteins available as substrates in its environment and regulate protease secretion accordingly. There is a requirement for the standardisation of A. fumigatus allergen extracts used both in clinical diagnosis of A. fumigatus allergy and in research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Farnell
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Karine Rousseau
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - David J. Thornton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Sarah E. Herrick
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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Singh S, Gupta S, Singh B, Sharma SK, Gupta VK, Sharma GL. Proteomic characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus treated with an antifungal coumarin for identification of novel target molecules of key pathways. J Proteome Res 2012; 11:3259-68. [PMID: 22533410 DOI: 10.1021/pr300006j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A synthetic coumarin, N,N,N-triethyl-11-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yloxy)-11-oxoundecan-1-aminium bromide (SCD-1), having potent activity against pathogenic Aspergilli (MIC90 15.62 μg/mL), was investigated to identify its molecular targets in the pathogen. The proteome of Aspergillus fumigatus was developed after treatment with sublethal doses of compound and analyzed. The results demonstrated 143 differentially expressed proteins on treatment with SCD-1. The expression of four proteins, namely cell division control protein, ubiquitin-like activating enzyme, vacuolar ATP synthase catalytic subunit A, and UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase of A. fumigatus, was completely inhibited, whereas there were 13 newly expressed and 96 overexpressed proteins, mainly belonging to stress pathway. The treatment of A. fumigatus with SCD-1 also led to attenuation of proteins involved in cell replication and other important biosynthetic processes, including riboflavin biosynthesis, which has been pathogen-specific. In addition to key enzymatic players and antioxidants, nine hypothetical proteins were also identified, seven of which have been novel, being described for the first time. As no cellular functions have yet been described for these hypothetical proteins, their alteration in response to SCD-1 provides significant information about their putative roles in pathogen defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Singh
- Division of Diagnostics and Biochemistry, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology , University Campus, Mall Road, Delhi-110007, India
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Suh MJ, Fedorova ND, Cagas SE, Hastings S, Fleischmann RD, Peterson SN, Perlin DS, Nierman WC, Pieper R, Momany M. Development stage-specific proteomic profiling uncovers small, lineage specific proteins most abundant in the Aspergillus Fumigatus conidial proteome. Proteome Sci 2012; 10:30. [PMID: 22545825 PMCID: PMC3424117 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-10-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequent infectious cause of death in severely immunocompromised individuals such as leukemia and bone marrow transplant patients. Germination of inhaled conidia (asexual spores) in the host is critical for the initiation of infection, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this process. Results To gain insights into early germination events and facilitate the identification of potential stage-specific biomarkers and vaccine candidates, we have used quantitative shotgun proteomics to elucidate patterns of protein abundance changes during early fungal development. Four different stages were examined: dormant conidia, isotropically expanding conidia, hyphae in which germ tube emergence has just begun, and pre-septation hyphae. To enrich for glycan-linked cell wall proteins we used an alkaline cell extraction method. Shotgun proteomic resulted in the identification of 375 unique gene products with high confidence, with no evidence for enrichment of cell wall-immobilized and secreted proteins. The most interesting discovery was the identification of 52 proteins enriched in dormant conidia including 28 proteins that have never been detected in the A. fumigatus conidial proteome such as signaling protein Pil1, chaperones BipA and calnexin, and transcription factor HapB. Additionally we found many small, Aspergillus specific proteins of unknown function including 17 hypothetical proteins. Thus, the most abundant protein, Grg1 (AFUA_5G14210), was also one of the smallest proteins detected in this study (M.W. 7,367). Among previously characterized proteins were melanin pigment and pseurotin A biosynthesis enzymes, histones H3 and H4.1, and other proteins involved in conidiation and response to oxidative or hypoxic stress. In contrast, expanding conidia, hyphae with early germ tubes, and pre-septation hyphae samples were enriched for proteins responsible for housekeeping functions, particularly translation, respiratory metabolism, amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Conclusions The observed temporal expression patterns suggest that the A. fumigatus conidia are dominated by small, lineage-specific proteins. Some of them may play key roles in host-pathogen interactions, signal transduction during conidial germination, or survival in hostile environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moo-Jin Suh
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Natalie D Fedorova
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Steven E Cagas
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Susan Hastings
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Scott N Peterson
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - David S Perlin
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - William C Nierman
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Rembert Pieper
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Michelle Momany
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Shi LN, Li FQ, Huang M, Lu JF, Kong XX, Wang SQ, Shao HF. Immunoproteomics based identification of thioredoxin reductase GliT and novel Aspergillus fumigatus antigens for serologic diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. BMC Microbiol 2012; 12:11. [PMID: 22251604 PMCID: PMC3398318 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There has been a rising incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in critically ill patients, even in the absence of an apparent predisposing immunodeficiency. The diagnosis of IA is difficult because clinical signs are not sensitive and specific, and serum galactomannan has relatively low sensitivity in this group of patients. Therefore, more prompt and accurate disease markers for early diagnosis are needed. To establish disease markers demands a thorough knowledge of fungal antigens which may be detected in the serum or other body fluids of patients. Herein we report novel immunodominant antigens identified from extracellular proteins of Aspergillus fumigatus. Results Extracellular proteins of A. fumigatus were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and probed with the sera from critically ill patients with proven IA. The immunoreactive protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF -MS). Forty spots from 2DE gels were detected and 17 different proteins were identified as immunogenic in humans. Function annotation revealed that most of these proteins were metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate, fatty acid, amino acid, and energy metabolism. One of the proteins, thioredoxin reductase GliT (TR), which showed the best immunoactivity, was analyzed further for secretory signals, protein localization, and homology. The results indicated that TR is a secretory protein with a signal sequence exhibiting a high probability for secretion. Furthermore, TR did not match any human proteins, and had low homology with most other fungi. The recombinant TR was recognized by the sera of all proven IA patients with different underlying diseases in this study. Conclusions The immunoreactive proteins identified in this study may be helpful for the diagnosis of IA in critically ill patients. Our results indicate that TR and other immunodominant antigens have potential as biomarkers for the serologic diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-ning Shi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, PR China
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Kniemeyer O. Proteomics of eukaryotic microorganisms: The medically and biotechnologically important fungal genus Aspergillus. Proteomics 2011; 11:3232-43. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Revised: 03/26/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Wartenberg D, Lapp K, Jacobsen ID, Dahse HM, Kniemeyer O, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA. Secretome analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus reveals Asp-hemolysin as a major secreted protein. Int J Med Microbiol 2011; 301:602-11. [PMID: 21658997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2011.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Revised: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-associated and secreted proteins represent primarily exposed components of Aspergillus fumigatus during host infection. Several secreted proteins are known to be involved in defense mechanisms or immune evasion, thus, probably contributing to pathogenicity. Furthermore, several secreted antigens were identified as possible biomarkers for the verification of diseases caused by Aspergillus species. Nevertheless, there is only limited knowledge about the composition of the secretome and about molecular functions of particular proteins. To identify secreted proteins potentially essential for virulence, the core secretome of A. fumigatus grown in minimal medium was determined. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation and subsequent MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analyses resulted in the identification of 64 different proteins. Additionally, secretome analyses of A. fumigatus utilizing elastin, collagen or keratin as main carbon and nitrogen source were performed. Thereby, the alkaline serine protease Alp1 was identified as the most abundant protein and hence presumably represents an important protease during host infection. Interestingly, the Asp-hemolysin (Asp-HS), which belongs to the protein family of aegerolysins and which was often suggested to be involved in fungal virulence, was present in the secretome under all growth conditions tested. In addition, a second, non-secreted protein with an aegerolysin domain annotated as Asp-hemolysin-like (HS-like) protein can be found to be encoded in the genome of A. fumigatus. Generation and analysis of Asp-HS and HS-like deletion strains revealed no differences in phenotype compared to the corresponding wild-type strain. Furthermore, hemolysis and cytotoxicity was not altered in both single-deletion and double-deletion mutants lacking both aegerolysin genes. All mutant strains showed no attenuation in virulence in a mouse infection model for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of secreted proteins of A. fumigatus and a detailed characterization of hemolysin mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Wartenberg
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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Abstract
Some fungi cause disease in humans and plants, while others have demonstrable potential for the control of insect pests. In addition, fungi are also a rich reservoir of therapeutic metabolites and industrially useful enzymes. Detailed analysis of fungal biochemistry is now enabled by multiple technologies including protein mass spectrometry, genome and transcriptome sequencing and advances in bioinformatics. Yet, the assignment of function to fungal proteins, encoded either by in silico annotated, or unannotated genes, remains problematic. The purpose of this review is to describe the strategies used by many researchers to reveal protein function in fungi, and more importantly, to consolidate the nomenclature of 'unknown function protein' as opposed to 'hypothetical protein' - once any protein has been identified by protein mass spectrometry. A combination of approaches including comparative proteomics, pathogen-induced protein expression and immunoproteomics are outlined, which, when used in combination with a variety of other techniques (e.g. functional genomics, microarray analysis, immunochemical and infection model systems), appear to yield comprehensive and definitive information on protein function in fungi. The relative advantages of proteomic, as opposed to transcriptomic-only, analyses are also described. In the future, combined high-throughput, quantitative proteomics, allied to transcriptomic sequencing, are set to reveal much about protein function in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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