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Tang L, Sabi MM, Fu M, Guan J, Wang Y, Xia T, Zheng K, Qu H, Han B. Host cell manipulation by microsporidia secreted effectors: Insights into intracellular pathogenesis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024:e13029. [PMID: 39030770 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Microsporidia are prolific producers of effector molecules, encompassing both proteins and nonproteinaceous effectors, such as toxins, small RNAs, and small peptides. These secreted effectors play a pivotal role in the pathogenicity of microsporidia, enabling them to subvert the host's innate immunity and co-opt metabolic pathways to fuel their own growth and proliferation. However, the genomes of microsporidia, despite falling within the size range of bacteria, exhibit significant reductions in both structural and physiological features, thereby affecting the repertoire of secretory effectors to varying extents. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding how microsporidia modulate host cells through the secretion of effectors, highlighting current challenges and proposed solutions in deciphering the complexities of microsporidial secretory effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Tang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Musa Makongoro Sabi
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingyu Guan
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongliang Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Hongnan Qu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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2
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Senderskiy IV, Dolgikh VV, Ismatullaeva DA, Mirzakhodjaev BA, Nikitina AP, Pankratov DL. Treatment of Microsporidium Nosema bombycis Spores with the New Antiseptic M250 Helps to Avoid Bacterial and Fungal Contamination of Infected Cultures without Affecting Parasite Polar Tube Extrusion. Microorganisms 2024; 12:154. [PMID: 38257981 PMCID: PMC10819227 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are a group of widespread eukaryotic spore-forming intracellular parasites of great economic and scientific importance. Since microsporidia cannot be cultured outside of a host cell, the search for new antimicrosporidian drugs requires an effective antiseptic to sterilize microsporidian spores to infect cell lines. Here, we show that a new polyhexamethylene guanidine derivative M250, which is active against fungi and bacteria at a concentration of 0.5-1 mg/L, is more than 1000 times less effective against spores of the microsporidium Nosema bombycis, a highly virulent pathogen of the silkworm Bombyx mori (LC50 is 0.173%). Treatment of N. bombycis spores that were isolated non-sterilely from silkworm caterpillars with 0.1% M250 solution does not reduce the rate of spore polar tube extrusion. However, it completely prevents contamination of the Sf-900 III cell culture medium by microorganisms in the presence of antibiotics. The addition of untreated spores to the medium results in contamination, whether antibiotics are present or not. Since 0.1% M250 does not affect spore discharging, this compound may be promising for preventing bacterial and fungal contamination of microsporidia-infected cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V. Senderskiy
- All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, Podbelsky Chausse 3, 196608 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Viacheslav V. Dolgikh
- All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, Podbelsky Chausse 3, 196608 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Diloram A. Ismatullaeva
- Scientific Research Institute of Sericulture, Ipakchi Str. 1, Tashkent 100069, Uzbekistan; (D.A.I.); (B.A.M.)
| | - Bakhtiyar A. Mirzakhodjaev
- Scientific Research Institute of Sericulture, Ipakchi Str. 1, Tashkent 100069, Uzbekistan; (D.A.I.); (B.A.M.)
| | - Anastasiia P. Nikitina
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Pavlov First Saint-Petersburg State Medical University, L’vaTolstogo Str. 6-8, 197022 Saint-Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.N.); (D.L.P.)
| | - Danil L. Pankratov
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Pavlov First Saint-Petersburg State Medical University, L’vaTolstogo Str. 6-8, 197022 Saint-Petersburg, Russia; (A.P.N.); (D.L.P.)
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3
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Hacker C, Sendra K, Keisham P, Filipescu T, Lucocq J, Salimi F, Ferguson S, Bhella D, MacNeill SA, Embley M, Lucocq J. Biogenesis, inheritance, and 3D ultrastructure of the microsporidian mitosome. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202201635. [PMID: 37903625 PMCID: PMC10618108 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During the reductive evolution of obligate intracellular parasites called microsporidia, a tiny remnant mitochondrion (mitosome) lost its typical cristae, organellar genome, and most canonical functions. Here, we combine electron tomography, stereology, immunofluorescence microscopy, and bioinformatics to characterise mechanisms of growth, division, and inheritance of this minimal mitochondrion in two microsporidia species (grown within a mammalian RK13 culture-cell host). Mitosomes of Encephalitozoon cuniculi (2-12/cell) and Trachipleistophora hominis (14-18/nucleus) displayed incremental/non-phasic growth and division and were closely associated with an organelle identified as equivalent to the fungal microtubule-organising centre (microsporidian spindle pole body; mSPB). The mitosome-mSPB association was resistant to treatment with microtubule-depolymerising drugs nocodazole and albendazole. Dynamin inhibitors (dynasore and Mdivi-1) arrested mitosome division but not growth, whereas bioinformatics revealed putative dynamins Drp-1 and Vps-1, of which, Vps-1 rescued mitochondrial constriction in dynamin-deficient yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe). Thus, microsporidian mitosomes undergo incremental growth and dynamin-mediated division and are maintained through ordered inheritance, likely mediated via binding to the microsporidian centrosome (mSPB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Hacker
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Kacper Sendra
- Biosciences Institute, The Medical School, Catherine Cookson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Priyanka Keisham
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Teodora Filipescu
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - James Lucocq
- Department of Surgery, Dundee Medical School Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK
| | - Fatemeh Salimi
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Sophie Ferguson
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - David Bhella
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stuart A MacNeill
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Martin Embley
- Biosciences Institute, Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Lucocq
- https://ror.org/02wn5qz54 School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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4
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Thepmanee O, Munkongwongsiri N, Prachumwat A, Saksmerprome V, Jitrakorn S, Sritunyalucksana K, Vanichviriyakit R, Chanarat S, Jaroenlak P, Itsathitphaisarn O. Molecular and cellular characterization of four putative nucleotide transporters from the shrimp microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). Sci Rep 2023; 13:20008. [PMID: 37974017 PMCID: PMC10654386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that lost several enzymes required in energy production. The expansion of transporter families in these organisms enables them to hijack ATP from hosts. In this study, nucleotide transporters of the microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), which causes slow growth in economically valuable Penaeus shrimp, were characterized. Analysis of the EHP genome suggested the presence of four putative nucleotide transporter genes, namely EhNTT1, EhNTT2, EhNTT3, and EhNTT4. Sequence alignment revealed four charged amino acids that are conserved in previously characterized nucleotide transporters. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that EhNTT1, 3, and 4 were derived from one horizontal gene transfer event, which was independent from that of EhNTT2. Localization of EhNTT1 and EhNTT2 using immunofluorescence analysis revealed positive signals within the envelope of developing plasmodia and on mature spores. Knockdown of EhNTT2 by double administration of sequence specific double-stranded RNA resulted in a significant reduction in EHP copy numbers, suggesting that EhNTT2 is crucial for EHP replication in shrimp. Taken together, the insight into the roles of NTTs in microsporidian proliferation can provide the biological basis for the development of alternative control strategies for microsporidian infection in shrimp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orawan Thepmanee
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Natthinee Munkongwongsiri
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anuphap Prachumwat
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Vanvimon Saksmerprome
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Sarocha Jitrakorn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Kallaya Sritunyalucksana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sittinan Chanarat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd. , Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pattana Jaroenlak
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Rd., Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Ornchuma Itsathitphaisarn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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5
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Yang Y, Rivera Pérez CA, Richter-Heitmann T, Nimzyk R, Friedrich MW, Reich M. Effects of oxygen availability on mycobenthic communities of marine coastal sediments. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15218. [PMID: 37709848 PMCID: PMC10502103 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In coastal marine sediments, oxygen availability varies greatly, and anoxic conditions can develop quickly over low spatial resolution. Although benthic fungi are important players in the marine carbon cycle, little is known about their adaptation to fluctuating availability of oxygen as terminal electron acceptor. Here, we study which part of a mycobenthic community from oxic coastal sediments can thrive under temporarily anoxic conditions. We test whether phylogeny or certain fungal traits promote plasticity in respect to changes in oxygen availability. Therefore, we incubated mycobenthos under oxic and anoxic conditions, performed ITS2 Illumina tag-sequencing and an additional meta-analysis on a literature survey. Half of all OTUs showed a plasticity towards changing oxygen availability and exhibited different strategies towards anoxic conditions, with rapid response within hours or a delayed one after several days. The strategy of dimorphism and facultative yeasts were significantly linked to OTU occurrence in anoxic conditions, while phylogeny and other traits had less effect. Our results suggest that different fungal niches are formed over the duration of prolonged anoxic conditions. The taxon-specific proliferation seems to be regulated by the fine-tuning of various traits and factors. It is essential to take these results into account when conducting conceptual work on the functionality of the marine benthos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Yang
- Molecular Ecology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Carmen Alicia Rivera Pérez
- Molecular Ecology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Tim Richter-Heitmann
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Rolf Nimzyk
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael W Friedrich
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Marlis Reich
- Molecular Ecology Group, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
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6
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Carella F, De Vico G. pathology, epidemiology, and phylogenyof mussel egg disease due to the microsporidianSteinhausia mytilovum(Field, 1924)in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 198:107927. [PMID: 37087094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Microsporidia are well known fungal pathogens of aquatic animals. However, the taxonomy of microsporidia is generally poorly resolved, which has consequently constrained our understanding of their pathology and epidemiology in marine animals. To date, microsporidia have been reported in both bivalves and gastropods, and microsporidia from mollusks have been classified in different genera. Despite ongoing work to better describe these genera, including detailed microscopic and ultrastructural images, so far we lack information on microsporidian phylogeny and pathogenicity of species within these genera. Here we investigate the microsporidian parasite Steinhausia mytilovum associated with the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, in natural beds and farms along coast of southern Italy. A survey of M. galloprovincialis was conducted in 13 mussel farms and one natural bed between 2009 and 2020. We found the presence of S. mytilovum in 10 of the investigated farms, with a prevalence ranging between 14-100% of female mussels, depending on the population and season in which they were sampled. The parasite developed in the oocytes within a sporophorous vesicle (SV) where it produced 1-3 spores per cell, both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. Stenhausia mytilovum elicited an infiltrative (24.8%) or a strong capsular inflammatory response (43.4%) at gonadal follicles and surrounding vesicular connective tissue, in some cases accompanied by gonadal atresia (24.8%), leading to loss of gonadal architecture. In 7% of cases no reaction was observed. Ultrastructural observations revealed a mitochondrial re-organization to interact with all the phases of parasite development; the mitochondria were arranged outside the parasitophorous vesicle (PV) or directly interacting with the spore inside vesicle. There are five taxonomic clades of microsporidians as identified by SSU ribosomal gene sequence data. Maximum likelihood analysis assigned S. mytilovum within the Clade IV, defined as the Class Terresporidia, with closest genetic relationship (83.6% identity) to an undetermined invertebrate ovarian microsporidian. The constant presence, prevalence, and severity of S. mytilovum in coastline populations of M. galloprovincialis populations in southern Italy may indirectly reflect immunocompetence at both individual and population levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Carella
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease, Department of Biology, MSA, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Gionata De Vico
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease, Department of Biology, MSA, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy
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7
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de Albuquerque NRM, Haag KL. Using average nucleotide identity (ANI) to evaluate microsporidia species boundaries based on their genetic relatedness. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12944. [PMID: 36039868 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligatory intracellular parasites related to fungi and since their discovery their classification and origin has been controversial due to their unique morphology. Early taxonomic studies of microsporidia were based on ultrastructural spore features, characteristics of their life cycle and transmission modes. However, taxonomy and phylogeny based solely on these characteristics can be misleading. SSU rRNA is a traditional marker used in taxonomical classifications, but the power of SSU rRNA to resolve phylogenetic relationships between microsporidia is considered weak at the species level, as it may not show enough variation to distinguish closely related species. Overall genome relatedness indices (OGRI), such as average nucleotide identity (ANI), allows fast and easy-to-implement comparative measurements between genomes to assess species boundaries in prokaryotes, with a 95% cutoff value for grouping genomes of the same species. Due to the increasing availability of complete genomes, metrics of genome relatedness have been applied for eukaryotic microbes taxonomy such as microsporidia. However, the distribution of ANI values and cutoff values for species delimitation have not yet been fully tested in microsporidia. In this study we examined the distribution of ANI values for 65 publicly available microsporidian genomes and tested whether the 95% cutoff value is a good estimation for circumscribing species based on their genetic relatedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia R M de Albuquerque
- Department of Genetics and Post-Graduation Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Karen L Haag
- Department of Genetics and Post-Graduation Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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8
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Sokolova YY, Rogers HA, Lively JA. Microsporidia Ameson earli sp. n. and A. michaelis (Sprague 1965) infecting blue crabs Callinectes sapidus from shedding facilities in Louisiana. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 196:107866. [PMID: 36436573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
During a survey for pathogens and commensals of blue crabs in commercial soft shell shedding facilities in Louisiana, we discovered an occurrence of microsporidiosis in two of forty examined crabs. Judging from spore shape and size, tissue tropism and external signs of muscle pathology, the causative agent of infections was identified as Ameson michaelis, a muscle-infecting species that has been repeatedly detected in populations of Callinectes sapidus in Louisiana since 1965. However, retrospective ultrastructural examination revealed that in one of Ameson-infected crabs, infection was caused by a parasite with ultrastructural characters not completely compliant with the ones of A. michaelis. The major difference was the absence of microtubule-like appendages attached to the exospore, typical of A. michaelis and other Ameson spp. SSUrDNA-inferred pairwise evolutionary distances between the novel species and other Ameson spp. ranged from 0.006 to 0.051; it was 0.039 in the case of A. michaelis. Hence, we describe here a new species in the genus Ameson, and name it after Prof. Earl Weidner, our colleague and friend, an outstanding microsporidiologist and the author of pioneer papers on the ultrastructure and physiology of A. michaelis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Y Sokolova
- Insitute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia; Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
| | - Holly A Rogers
- Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Julie A Lively
- Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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9
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Sendra KM, Watson AK, Kozhevnikova E, Moore AL, Embley TM, Hirt RP. Inhibition of mitosomal alternative oxidase causes lifecycle arrest of early-stage Trachipleistophora hominis meronts during intracellular infection of mammalian cells. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1011024. [PMID: 36538568 PMCID: PMC9767352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitosomes are highly reduced forms of mitochondria which have lost two of the 'defining' features of the canonical organelle, the mitochondrial genome, and the capacity to generate energy in the form of ATP. Mitosomes are found in anaerobic protists and obligate parasites and, in most of the studied organisms, have a conserved function in the biosynthesis of iron-sulfur clusters (ISC) that are indispensable cofactors of many essential proteins. The genomes of some mitosome-bearing human pathogenic Microsporidia encode homologues of an alternative oxidase (AOX). This mitochondrial terminal respiratory oxidase is absent from the human host, and hence is a potential target for the development of new antimicrobial agents. Here we present experimental evidence for the mitosomal localization of AOX in the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis and demonstrate that it has an important role during the parasite's life cycle progression. Using a recently published methodology for synchronising T. hominis infection of mammalian cell lines, we demonstrated specific inhibition of T. hominis early meront growth and replication by an AOX inhibitor colletochlorin B. Treatment of T. hominis-infected host cells with the drug also inhibited re-infection by newly formed dispersive spores. Addition of the drug during the later stages of the parasite life cycle, when our methods suggest that AOX is not actively produced and T. hominis mitosomes are mainly active in Fe/S cluster biosynthesis, had no inhibitory effects on the parasites. Control experiments with the AOX-deficient microsporidian species Encephalitozoon cuniculi, further demonstrated the specificity of inhibition by the drug. Using the same methodology, we demonstrate effects of two clinically used anti-microsporidian drugs albendazole and fumagillin on the cell biology and life cycle progression of T. hominis infecting mammalian host cells. In summary, our results reveal that T. hominis mitosomes have an active role to play in the progression of the parasite life cycle as well as an important role in the biosynthesis of essential Fe/S clusters. Our work also demonstrates that T. hominis is a useful model for testing the efficacy of therapeutic agents and for studying the physiology and cell biology of microsporidian parasites growing inside infected mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacper M. Sendra
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K. Watson
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anthony L. Moore
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - T. Martin Embley
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Robert P. Hirt
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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10
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Raval PK, Garg SG, Gould SB. Endosymbiotic selective pressure at the origin of eukaryotic cell biology. eLife 2022; 11:e81033. [PMID: 36355038 PMCID: PMC9648965 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dichotomy that separates prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells runs deep. The transition from pro- to eukaryote evolution is poorly understood due to a lack of reliable intermediate forms and definitions regarding the nature of the first host that could no longer be considered a prokaryote, the first eukaryotic common ancestor, FECA. The last eukaryotic common ancestor, LECA, was a complex cell that united all traits characterising eukaryotic biology including a mitochondrion. The role of the endosymbiotic organelle in this radical transition towards complex life forms is, however, sometimes questioned. In particular the discovery of the asgard archaea has stimulated discussions regarding the pre-endosymbiotic complexity of FECA. Here we review differences and similarities among models that view eukaryotic traits as isolated coincidental events in asgard archaeal evolution or, on the contrary, as a result of and in response to endosymbiosis. Inspecting eukaryotic traits from the perspective of the endosymbiont uncovers that eukaryotic cell biology can be explained as having evolved as a solution to housing a semi-autonomous organelle and why the addition of another endosymbiont, the plastid, added no extra compartments. Mitochondria provided the selective pressures for the origin (and continued maintenance) of eukaryotic cell complexity. Moreover, they also provided the energetic benefit throughout eukaryogenesis for evolving thousands of gene families unique to eukaryotes. Hence, a synthesis of the current data lets us conclude that traits such as the Golgi apparatus, the nucleus, autophagosomes, and meiosis and sex evolved as a response to the selective pressures an endosymbiont imposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth K Raval
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDusseldorfGermany
| | - Sriram G Garg
- Evolutionary Biochemistry Group, Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMarburgGermany
| | - Sven B Gould
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDusseldorfGermany
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11
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Embley TM. It Took Me a While to Figure out What Science I Really Wanted to Do. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6799702. [PMID: 36332002 PMCID: PMC9635634 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- T Martin Embley
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University , England NE24HH , United Kingdom
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12
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Zhang R, Zheng S, Huang H, Sun X, Huang Y, Wei J, Pan G, Li C, Zhou Z. Expression of anti-NbHK single-chain antibody in fusion with NSlmb enhances the resistance to Nosema bombycis in Sf9-III cells. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2022; 112:502-508. [PMID: 35382911 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485321001036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nosema bombycis is a destructive and specific intracellular parasite of silkworm, which is extremely harmful to the silkworm industry. N. bombycis is considered as a quarantine pathogen of sericulture because of its long incubation period and horizontal and vertical transmission. Herein, two single-chain antibodies targeting N. bombycis hexokinase (NbHK) were cloned and expressed in fusion with the N-terminal of Slmb (a Drosophila melanogaster FBP), which contains the F-box domain. Western blotting demonstrated that Sf9-III cells expressed NSlmb-scFv-7A and NSlmb-scFv-6H, which recognized native NbHK. Subsequently, the NbHK was degraded by host ubiquitination system. When challenged with N. bombycis, the transfected Sf9-III cells exhibited better resistance relative to the controls, demonstrating that NbHK is a prospective target for parasite controls and this approach represents a potential solution for constructing N. bombycis-resistant Bombyx mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renze Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Shiyi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University of Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China
| | - Hongyun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yukang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Junhong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
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13
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Heterologous Expressed NbSWP12 from Microsporidia Nosema bombycis Can Bind with Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Affect Vesicle Genesis. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080764. [PMID: 35893133 PMCID: PMC9332396 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are a big group of single-celled obligate intracellular organisms infecting most animals and some protozoans. These minimalist eukaryotes lack numerous genes in metabolism and vesicle trafficking. Here, we demonstrated that the spore wall protein NbSWP12 of microsporidium Nosema bombycis belongs to Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) protein family and can specifically bind with phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [Ptdlns(3)P]. Since Ptdlns(3)P is involved in endosomal vesicle biogenesis and trafficking, we heterologous expressed NbSWP12 in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and proved that NbSWP12 can target the cell membrane and endocytic vesicles. Nbswp12 transformed into Gvp36 (a BAR protein of S. cerevisiae) deletion mutant rescued the defect phenotype of vesicular traffic. This study identified a BAR protein function in vesicle genesis and sorting and provided clues for further understanding of how microsporidia internalize nutrients and metabolites during proliferation.
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14
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Targeting the alternative oxidase (AOX) for human health and food security, a pharmaceutical and agrochemical target or a rescue mechanism? Biochem J 2022; 479:1337-1359. [PMID: 35748702 PMCID: PMC9246349 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most threatening human diseases are due to a blockage of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). In a variety of plants, fungi, and prokaryotes, there is a naturally evolved mechanism for such threats to viability, namely a bypassing of the blocked portion of the ETC by alternative enzymes of the respiratory chain. One such enzyme is the alternative oxidase (AOX). When AOX is expressed, it enables its host to survive life-threatening conditions or, as in parasites, to evade host defenses. In vertebrates, this mechanism has been lost during evolution. However, we and others have shown that transfer of AOX into the genome of the fruit fly and mouse results in a catalytically engaged AOX. This implies that not only is the AOX a promising target for combating human or agricultural pathogens but also a novel approach to elucidate disease mechanisms or, in several cases, potentially a therapeutic cure for human diseases. In this review, we highlight the varying functions of AOX in their natural hosts and upon xenotopic expression, and discuss the resulting need to develop species-specific AOX inhibitors.
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15
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Seatamanoch N, Kongdachalert S, Sunantaraporn S, Siriyasatien P, Brownell N. Microsporidia, a Highly Adaptive Organism and Its Host Expansion to Humans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:924007. [PMID: 35782144 PMCID: PMC9245026 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.924007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious disease has become the center of attention since the outbreak of COVID-19. For the coronavirus, bats are suspected to be the origin of the pandemic. Consequently, the spotlight has fallen on zoonotic diseases, and the focus now expands to organisms other than viruses. Microsporidia is a single-cell organism that can infect a wide range of hosts such as insects, mammals, and humans. Its pathogenicity differs among species, and host immunological status plays an important role in infectivity and disease severity. Disseminated disease from microsporidiosis can be fatal, especially among patients with a defective immune system. Recently, there were two Trachipleistophora hominis, a microsporidia species which can survive in insects, case reports in Thailand, one patient had disseminated microsporidiosis. This review gathered data of disseminated microsporidiosis and T. hominis infections in humans covering the biological and clinical aspects. There was a total of 22 cases of disseminated microsporidiosis reports worldwide. Ten microsporidia species were identified. Maximum likelihood tree results showed some possible correlations with zoonotic transmissions. For T. hominis, there are currently eight case reports in humans, seven of which had Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It is observed that risks are higher for the immunocompromised to acquire such infections, however, future studies should look into the entire life cycle, to identify the route of transmission and establish preventive measures, especially among the high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirin Seatamanoch
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Switt Kongdachalert
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sakone Sunantaraporn
- Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Padet Siriyasatien
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narisa Brownell
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Narisa Brownell,
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16
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Bessette E, Williams B. Protists in the Insect Rearing Industry: Benign Passengers or Potential Risk? INSECTS 2022; 13:482. [PMID: 35621816 PMCID: PMC9144225 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As the insects for food and feed industry grows, a new understanding of the industrially reared insect microbiome is needed to better comprehend the role that it plays in both maintaining insect health and generating disease. While many microbiome projects focus on bacteria, fungi or viruses, protists (including microsporidia) can also make up an important part of these assemblages. Past experiences with intensive invertebrate rearing indicate that these parasites, whilst often benign, can rapidly sweep through populations, causing extensive damage. Here, we review the diversity of microsporidia and protist species that are found in reared insect hosts and describe the current understanding of their host spectra, life cycles and the nature of their interactions with hosts. Major entomopathogenic parasite groups with the potential to infect insects currently being reared for food and feed include the Amoebozoa, Apicomplexa, Ciliates, Chlorophyta, Euglenozoa, Ichtyosporea and Microsporidia. However, key gaps exist in the understanding of how many of these entomopathogens affect host biology. In addition, for many of them, there are very limited or even no molecular data, preventing the implementation of molecular detection methods. There is now a pressing need to develop and use novel molecular tools, coupled with standard molecular diagnostic methods, to help unlock their biology and predict the effects of these poorly studied protist parasites in intensive insect rearing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard Bessette
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bryony Williams
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
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17
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Vargová R, Hanousková P, Salamonová J, Žihala D, Silberman JD, Eliáš M, Čepička I. Evidence for an Independent Hydrogenosome-to-Mitosome Transition in the CL3 Lineage of Fornicates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:866459. [PMID: 35663895 PMCID: PMC9161772 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.866459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fornicata, a lineage of a broader and ancient anaerobic eukaryotic clade Metamonada, contains diverse taxa that are ideally suited for evolutionary studies addressing various fundamental biological questions, such as the evolutionary trajectory of mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs), the transition between free-living and endobiotic lifestyles, and the derivation of alternative genetic codes. To this end, we conducted detailed microscopic and transcriptome analyses in a poorly documented strain of an anaerobic free-living marine flagellate, PCS, in the so-called CL3 fornicate lineage. Fortuitously, we discovered that the original culture contained two morphologically similar and closely related CL3 representatives, which doubles the taxon representation within this lineage. We obtained a monoeukaryotic culture of one of them and formally describe it as a new member of the family Caviomonadidae, Euthynema mutabile gen. et sp. nov. In contrast to previously studied caviomonads, the endobiotic Caviomonas mobilis and Iotanema spirale, E. mutabile possesses an ultrastructurally discernible MRO. We sequenced and assembled the transcriptome of E. mutabile, and by sequence subtraction, obtained transcriptome data from the other CL3 clade representative present in the original PCS culture, denoted PCS-ghost. Transcriptome analyses showed that the reassignment of only one of the UAR stop codons to encode Gln previously reported from I. spirale does not extend to its free-living relatives and is likely due to a unique amino acid substitution in I. spirale’s eRF1 protein domain responsible for termination codon recognition. The backbone fornicate phylogeny was robustly resolved in a phylogenomic analysis, with the CL3 clade amongst the earliest branching lineages. Metabolic and MRO functional reconstructions of CL3 clade members revealed that all three, including I. spirale, encode homologs of key components of the mitochondrial protein import apparatus and the ISC pathway, indicating the presence of a MRO in all of them. In silico evidence indicates that the organelles of E. mutabile and PCS-ghost host ATP and H2 production, unlike the cryptic MRO of I. spirale. These data suggest that the CL3 clade has experienced a hydrogenosome-to-mitosome transition independent from that previously documented for the lineage leading to Giardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romana Vargová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Pavla Hanousková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Salamonová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - David Žihala
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Jeffrey D. Silberman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Marek Eliáš
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Marek Eliáš,
| | - Ivan Čepička
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Ivan Čepička,
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18
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Jüttner M, Ferreira-Cerca S. Looking through the Lens of the Ribosome Biogenesis Evolutionary History: Possible Implications for Archaeal Phylogeny and Eukaryogenesis. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac054. [PMID: 35275997 PMCID: PMC8997704 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of microbial diversity and its evolutionary relationships has increased substantially over the last decade. Such an understanding has been greatly fueled by culture-independent metagenomics analyses. However, the outcome of some of these studies and their biological and evolutionary implications, such as the origin of the eukaryotic lineage from the recently discovered archaeal Asgard superphylum, is debated. The sequences of the ribosomal constituents are amongst the most used phylogenetic markers. However, the functional consequences underlying the analysed sequence diversity and their putative evolutionary implications are essentially not taken into consideration. Here, we propose to exploit additional functional hallmarks of ribosome biogenesis to help disentangle competing evolutionary hypotheses. Using selected examples, such as the multiple origins of halophily in archaea or the evolutionary relationship between the Asgard archaea and Eukaryotes, we illustrate and discuss how function-aware phylogenetic framework can contribute to refining our understanding of archaeal phylogeny and the origin of eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jüttner
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, Biochemistry III – Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sébastien Ferreira-Cerca
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, Biochemistry III – Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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19
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Wei J, Fei Z, Pan G, Weiss LM, Zhou Z. Current Therapy and Therapeutic Targets for Microsporidiosis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:835390. [PMID: 35356517 PMCID: PMC8959712 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.835390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular, spore-forming parasitic fungi which are grouped with the Cryptomycota. They are both opportunistic pathogens in humans and emerging veterinary pathogens. In humans, they cause chronic diarrhea in immune-compromised patients and infection is associated with increased mortality. Besides their role in pébrine in sericulture, which was described in 1865, the prevalence and severity of microsporidiosis in beekeeping and aquaculture has increased markedly in recent decades. Therapy for these pathogens in medicine, veterinary, and agriculture has become a recent focus of attention. Currently, there are only a few commercially available antimicrosporidial drugs. New therapeutic agents are needed for these infections and this is an active area of investigation. In this article we provide a comprehensive summary of the current as well as several promising new agents for the treatment of microsporidiosis including: albendazole, fumagillin, nikkomycin, orlistat, synthetic polyamines, and quinolones. Therapeutic targets which could be utilized for the design of new drugs are also discussed including: tubulin, type 2 methionine aminopeptidase, polyamines, chitin synthases, topoisomerase IV, triosephosphate isomerase, and lipase. We also summarize reports on the utility of complementary and alternative medicine strategies including herbal extracts, propolis, and probiotics. This review should help facilitate drug development for combating microsporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhihui Fei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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20
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Han B, Takvorian PM, Weiss LM. The Function and Structure of the Microsporidia Polar Tube. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:179-213. [PMID: 35544004 PMCID: PMC10037675 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens that were initially identified about 160 years ago. Current phylogenetic analysis suggests that they are grouped with Cryptomycota as a basal branch or sister group to the fungi. Microsporidia are found worldwide and can infect a wide range of animals from invertebrates to vertebrates, including humans. They are responsible for a variety of diseases once thought to be restricted to immunocompromised patients but also occur in immunocompetent individuals. The small oval spore containing a coiled polar filament, which is part of the extrusion and invasion apparatus that transfers the infective sporoplasm to a new host, is a defining characteristic of all microsporidia. When the spore becomes activated, the polar filament uncoils and undergoes a rapid transition into a hollow tube that will transport the sporoplasm into a new cell. The polar tube has the ability to increase its diameter from approximately 100 nm to over 600 nm to accommodate the passage of an intact sporoplasm and penetrate the plasmalemma of the new host cell. During this process, various polar tube proteins appear to be involved in polar tube attachment to host cell and can interact with host proteins. These various interactions act to promote host cell infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Peter M Takvorian
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.
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21
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Williams BAP, Williams TA, Trew J. Comparative Genomics of Microsporidia. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:43-69. [PMID: 35543998 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The microsporidia are a phylum of intracellular parasites that represent the eukaryotic cell in a state of extreme reduction, with genomes and metabolic capabilities embodying eukaryotic cells in arguably their most streamlined state. Over the past 20 years, microsporidian genomics has become a rapidly expanding field starting with sequencing of the genome of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, one of the first ever sequenced eukaryotes, to the current situation where we have access to the data from over 30 genomes across 20+ genera. Reaching back further in evolutionary history, to the point where microsporidia diverged from other eukaryotic lineages, we now also have genomic data for some of the closest known relatives of the microsporidia such as Rozella allomycis, Metchnikovella spp. and Amphiamblys sp. Data for these organisms allow us to better understand the genomic processes that shaped the emergence of the microsporidia as a group. These intensive genomic efforts have revealed some of the processes that have shaped microsporidian cells and genomes including patterns of genome expansions and contractions through gene gain and loss, whole genome duplication, differential patterns of invasion and purging of transposable elements. All these processes have been shown to occur across short and longer time scales to give rise to a phylum of parasites with dynamic genomes with a diversity of sizes and organisations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom A Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jahcub Trew
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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22
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Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens identified ∼150 years ago as the cause of pébrine, an economically important infection in silkworms. There are about 220 genera and 1,700 species of microsporidia, which are classified based on their ultrastructural features, developmental cycle, host-parasite relationship, and molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that microsporidia are related to the fungi, being grouped with the Cryptomycota as a basal branch or sister group to the fungi. Microsporidia can be transmitted by food and water and are likely zoonotic, as they parasitize a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Infection in humans occurs in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient hosts, e.g., in patients with organ transplantation, patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and patients receiving immune modulatory therapy such as anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody. Clusters of infections due to latent infection in transplanted organs have also been demonstrated. Gastrointestinal infection is the most common manifestation; however, microsporidia can infect virtually any organ system, and infection has resulted in keratitis, myositis, cholecystitis, sinusitis, and encephalitis. Both albendazole and fumagillin have efficacy for the treatment of various species of microsporidia; however, albendazole has limited efficacy for the treatment of Enterocytozoon bieneusi. In addition, immune restoration can lead to resolution of infection. While the prevalence rate of microsporidiosis in patients with AIDS has fallen in the United States, due to the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), infection continues to occur throughout the world and is still seen in the United States in the setting of cART if a low CD4 count persists.
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Generation of a Microsporidia Species Attribute Database and Analysis of the Extensive Ecological and Phenotypic Diversity of Microsporidia. mBio 2021; 12:e0149021. [PMID: 34182782 PMCID: PMC8262960 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01490-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are a large group of fungus-related obligate intracellular parasites. Though many microsporidia species have been identified over the past 160 years, depiction of the full diversity of this phylum is lacking. To systematically describe the characteristics of these parasites, we created a database of 1,440 species and their attributes, including the hosts they infect and spore characteristics. We find that microsporidia have been reported to infect 16 metazoan and 4 protozoan phyla, with smaller phyla being underrepresented. Most species are reported to infect only a single host, but those that are generalists are also more likely to infect a broader set of host tissues. Strikingly, polar tubes are threefold longer in species that infect tissues besides the intestine, suggesting that polar tube length is a determinant of tissue specificity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four clades which each contain microsporidia that infect hosts from all major habitats. Although related species are more likely to infect similar hosts, we observe examples of changes in host specificity and convergent evolution. Taken together, our results show that microsporidia display vast diversity in their morphology and the hosts they infect, illustrating the flexibility of these parasites to evolve new traits.
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24
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Lill R. From the discovery to molecular understanding of cellular iron-sulfur protein biogenesis. Biol Chem 2021; 401:855-876. [PMID: 32229650 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Protein cofactors often are the business ends of proteins, and are either synthesized inside cells or are taken up from the nutrition. A cofactor that strictly needs to be synthesized by cells is the iron-sulfur (Fe/S) cluster. This evolutionary ancient compound performs numerous biochemical functions including electron transfer, catalysis, sulfur mobilization, regulation and protein stabilization. Since the discovery of eukaryotic Fe/S protein biogenesis two decades ago, more than 30 biogenesis factors have been identified in mitochondria and cytosol. They support the synthesis, trafficking and target-specific insertion of Fe/S clusters. In this review, I first summarize what led to the initial discovery of Fe/S protein biogenesis in yeast. I then discuss the function and localization of Fe/S proteins in (non-green) eukaryotes. The major part of the review provides a detailed synopsis of the three major steps of mitochondrial Fe/S protein biogenesis, i.e. the de novo synthesis of a [2Fe-2S] cluster on a scaffold protein, the Hsp70 chaperone-mediated transfer of the cluster and integration into [2Fe-2S] recipient apoproteins, and the reductive fusion of [2Fe-2S] to [4Fe-4S] clusters and their subsequent assembly into target apoproteins. Finally, I summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the maturation of cytosolic and nuclear Fe/S proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Lill
- Institut für Zytobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Str. 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.,SYNMIKRO Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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25
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Huang Q, Wu ZH, Li WF, Guo R, Xu JS, Dang XQ, Ma ZG, Chen YP, Evans JD. Genome and Evolutionary Analysis of Nosema ceranae: A Microsporidian Parasite of Honey Bees. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:645353. [PMID: 34149635 PMCID: PMC8206274 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.645353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia comprise a phylum of single cell, intracellular parasites and represent the earliest diverging branch in the fungal kingdom. The microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae primarily infects honey bee gut epithelial cells, leading to impaired memory, suppressed host immune responses and colony collapse under certain circumstances. As the genome of N. ceranae is challenging to assembly due to very high genetic diversity and repetitive region, the genome was re-sequenced using long reads. We present a robust 8.8 Mbp genome assembly of 2,280 protein coding genes, including a high number of genes involved in transporting nutrients and energy, as well as drug resistance when compared with sister species Nosema apis. We also describe the loss of the critical protein Dicer in approximately half of the microsporidian species, giving new insights into the availability of RNA interference pathway in this group. Our results provided new insights into the pathogenesis of N. ceranae and a blueprint for treatment strategies that target this parasite without harming honey bees. The unique infectious apparatus polar filament and transportation pathway members can help to identify treatments to control this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhi Hao Wu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wen Feng Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jin Shan Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Qun Dang
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng Gang Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- US Department of Agriculture-Aricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Jay D Evans
- US Department of Agriculture-Aricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
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26
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Abou-El-Naga IF, Gaafar MR, Gomaa MM, Khedr SI, Achy SXANXAE. Encephalitozoon intestinalis: A new target for auranofin in a mice model. Med Mycol 2021; 58:810-819. [PMID: 31868212 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myz126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that many approaches have been developed over years to find efficient and well-tolerated therapeutic regimens for microsporidiosis, the effectiveness of current drugs remains doubtful, and effective drugs against specific targets are still scarce. The present study is the first that was designed to evaluate the potency of auranofin, an anti-rheumatoid FDA approved drug, against intestinal Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Evaluation of the drug was achieved through counting of fecal and intestinal spores, studying the intestinal histopathological changes, measuring of intestinal hydrogen peroxide level, and post therapy follow-up of mice for 2 weeks for detection of relapse. Results showed that auranofin has promising anti-microsporidia potential. It showed a promising efficacy in mice experimentally infected with E. intestinalis. It has revealed an obvious reduction in fecal spore shedding and intestinal tissue spore load, amelioration of intestinal tissue pathological changes, and improvement of the local inflammatory infiltration without significant changes in hydrogen peroxide level. Interestingly, auranofin prevented the relapse of infection. Thus, considering the results of the present work, auranofin could be considered a therapeutic alternative for the gold standard drug 'albendazole' against the intestinal E. intestinalis infection especially in relapsing cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- I F Abou-El-Naga
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - M R Gaafar
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - M M Gomaa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - S I Khedr
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
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27
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Schrempf D, Lartillot N, Szöllősi G. Scalable Empirical Mixture Models That Account for Across-Site Compositional Heterogeneity. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:3616-3631. [PMID: 32877529 PMCID: PMC7743758 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochemical demands constrain the range of amino acids acceptable at specific sites resulting in across-site compositional heterogeneity of the amino acid replacement process. Phylogenetic models that disregard this heterogeneity are prone to systematic errors, which can lead to severe long-branch attraction artifacts. State-of-the-art models accounting for across-site compositional heterogeneity include the CAT model, which is computationally expensive, and empirical distribution mixture models estimated via maximum likelihood (C10–C60 models). Here, we present a new, scalable method EDCluster for finding empirical distribution mixture models involving a simple cluster analysis. The cluster analysis utilizes specific coordinate transformations which allow the detection of specialized amino acid distributions either from curated databases or from the alignment at hand. We apply EDCluster to the HOGENOM and HSSP databases in order to provide universal distribution mixture (UDM) models comprising up to 4,096 components. Detailed analyses of the UDM models demonstrate the removal of various long-branch attraction artifacts and improved performance compared with the C10–C60 models. Ready-to-use implementations of the UDM models are provided for three established software packages (IQ-TREE, Phylobayes, and RevBayes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Schrempf
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nicolas Lartillot
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gergely Szöllősi
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary.,ELTE-MTA "Lendület" Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.,Evolutionary Systems Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Tihany, Hungary
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28
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A Single Cysteine Residue in the Translocation Pathway of the Mitosomal ADP/ATP Carrier from Cryptosporidium parvum Confers a Broad Nucleotide Specificity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238971. [PMID: 33255957 PMCID: PMC7730227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidiumparvum is a clinically important eukaryotic parasite that causes the disease cryptosporidiosis, which manifests with gastroenteritis-like symptoms. The protist has mitosomes, which are organelles of mitochondrial origin that have only been partially characterized. The genome encodes a highly reduced set of transport proteins of the SLC25 mitochondrial carrier family of unknown function. Here, we have studied the transport properties of one member of the C. parvum carrier family, demonstrating that it resembles the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier of eukaryotes. However, this carrier has a broader substrate specificity for nucleotides, transporting adenosine, thymidine, and uridine di- and triphosphates in contrast to its mitochondrial orthologues, which have a strict substrate specificity for ADP and ATP. Inspection of the putative translocation pathway highlights a cysteine residue, which is a serine in mitochondrial ADP/ATP carriers. When the serine residue is replaced by cysteine or larger hydrophobic residues in the yeast mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier, the substrate specificity becomes broad, showing that this residue is important for nucleotide base selectivity in ADP/ATP carriers.
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29
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Gawryluk RMR, Stairs CW. Diversity of electron transport chains in anaerobic protists. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2020; 1862:148334. [PMID: 33159845 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic microbes (protists) that occupy low-oxygen environments often have drastically different mitochondrial metabolism compared to their aerobic relatives. A common theme among many anaerobic protists is the serial loss of components of the electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we discuss the diversity of the ETC across the tree of eukaryotes and review hypotheses for how ETCs are modified, and ultimately lost, in protists. We find that while protists have converged to some of the same metabolism as anaerobic animals, there are clear protist-specific strategies to thrive without oxygen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M R Gawryluk
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Courtney W Stairs
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
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30
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Tamim El Jarkass H, Reinke AW. The ins and outs of host-microsporidia interactions during invasion, proliferation and exit. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13247. [PMID: 32748538 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidia are a large group of fungal-related obligate intracellular parasites. They are responsible for infections in humans as well as in agriculturally and environmentally important animals. Although microsporidia are abundant in nature, many of the molecular mechanisms employed during infection have remained enigmatic. In this review, we highlight recent work showing how microsporidia invade, proliferate and exit from host cells. During invasion, microsporidia use spore wall and polar tube proteins to interact with host receptors and adhere to the host cell surface. In turn, the host has multiple defence mechanisms to prevent and eliminate these infections. Microsporidia encode numerous transporters and steal host nutrients to facilitate proliferation within host cells. They also encode many secreted proteins which may modulate host metabolism and inhibit host cell defence mechanisms. Spores exit the host in a non-lytic manner that is dependent on host actin and endocytic recycling proteins. Together, this work provides a fuller picture of the mechanisms that these fascinating organisms use to infect their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aaron W Reinke
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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31
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Puertas MJ, González-Sánchez M. Insertions of mitochondrial DNA into the nucleus—effects and role in cell evolution. Genome 2020; 63:365-374. [DOI: 10.1139/gen-2019-0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We review the insertion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments into nuclear DNA (NUMTS) as a general and ongoing process that has occurred many times during genome evolution. Fragments of mtDNA are generated during the lifetime of organisms in both somatic and germinal cells, by the production of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria. The fragments are inserted into the nucleus during the double-strand breaks repair via the non-homologous end-joining machinery, followed by genomic instability, giving rise to the high variability observed in NUMT patterns among species, populations, or genotypes. Some de novo produced mtDNA insertions show harmful effects, being involved in human diseases, carcinogenesis, and ageing. NUMT generation is a non-stop process overpassing the Mendelian transmission. This parasitic property ensures their survival even against their harmful effects. The accumulation of mtDNA fragments mainly at pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions is important to understand the transmission and integration of NUMTs into the genomes. The possible effect of female meiotic drive for mtDNA insertions at centromeres remains to be studied. In spite of the harmful feature of NUMTs, they are important in cell evolution, representing a major source of genomic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- María J. Puertas
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica González-Sánchez
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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32
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Trzebny A, Slodkowicz-Kowalska A, Becnel JJ, Sanscrainte N, Dabert M. A new method of metabarcoding Microsporidia and their hosts reveals high levels of microsporidian infections in mosquitoes (Culicidae). Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:1486-1504. [PMID: 32516485 PMCID: PMC7818484 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding offers new perspectives, especially with regard to the high‐throughput identification and diagnostics of pathogens. Microsporidia are an example of widely distributed, opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms in which molecular identification is important for both environmental research and clinical diagnostics. We have developed a method for parallel detection of both microsporidian infection and the host species. We designed new primer sets: one specific for the classical Microsporidia (targeting the hypervariable V5 region of small subunit [ssu] rDNA), and a second one targeting a shortened fragment of the COI gene (standard metazoan DNA‐barcode); both markers are well suited for next generation sequencing. Analysis of the ssu rDNA data set representing 607 microsporidian species (120 genera) indicated that the V5 region enables identification of >98% species in the data set (596/607). To test the method, we used microsporidians that infect mosquitoes in natural populations. Using mini‐COI data, all field‐collected mosquitoes were unambiguously assigned to seven species; among them almost 60% of specimens were positive for at least 11 different microsporidian species, including a new microsporidian ssu rDNA sequence (Microsporidium sp. PL01). Phylogenetic analysis showed that this species belongs to one of the two main clades in the Terresporidia. We found a high rate of microsporidian co‐infections (9.4%). The numbers of sequence reads for the operational taxonomic units suggest that the occurrence of Nosema spp. in co‐infections could benefit them; however, this observation should be retested using a more intensive host sampling. Our results show that DNA barcoding is a rapid and cost‐effective method for deciphering sample diversity in greater resolution, including the hidden biodiversity that may be overlooked using classical methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Trzebny
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Slodkowicz-Kowalska
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine I, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - James J Becnel
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Neil Sanscrainte
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Miroslawa Dabert
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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33
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He Q, Luo J, Xu JZ, Meng XZ, Pan GQ, Li T, Zhou ZY. Characterization of Hsp70 gene family provides insight into its functions related to microsporidian proliferation. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 174:107394. [PMID: 32428446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), a highly conserved protein family, is widely distributed in organisms and plays fundamental roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses. However, reports on Hsp70 genes are scarce in microsporidia, a very large group of obligate intracellular parasites that can infect nearly all animals, including humans. In this study, we identified 37 Hsp70 proteins from eight microsporidian genomes and classified them into four subfamilies (A-D). The number of Hsp70 genes in these microsporidia was significantly fewer than in Rozella allomycis and yeast. All microsporidian species contained genes from each subfamily and similar subcellular locations (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, cytosol, and cytosol and/or nucleus), indicating that each Hsp70 member may fulfil distinct functions. The conserved structures and motifs of the Hsp70 proteins in the same subfamily were highly similar. Expression analysis indicated that the subfamily C cytosol (cyto)-associated Hsp70s is functional during microsporidia development. Immunofluorescence assays revealed that Cyto-NbHsp70 was cytoplasmically located in the proliferation-stage of Nosema bombycis. Cyto-NbHsp70 antiserum also labeled Encephalitozoon hellem within infected cells, suggesting that this antiserum is a potential molecular marker for labeling the proliferative phases of different microsporidian species. The propagation of N. bombycis was significantly inhibited following RNAi of Cyto-NbHsp70, indicating that Cyto-NbHsp70 is important for pathogen proliferation. Our phylogenetic data suggest that Hsp70 proteins evolved during microsporidia adaption to intracellular parasitism, and they play important roles in pathogen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang He
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jin-Zhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xian-Zhi Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guo-Qing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Ze-Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, China.
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34
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Timofeev S, Tokarev Y, Dolgikh V. Energy metabolism and its evolution in Microsporidia and allied taxa. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1433-1441. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06657-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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35
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Han B, Takvorian PM, Weiss LM. Invasion of Host Cells by Microsporidia. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:172. [PMID: 32132983 PMCID: PMC7040029 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are found worldwide and both vertebrates and invertebrates can serve as hosts for these organisms. While microsporidiosis in humans can occur in both immune competent and immune compromised hosts, it has most often been seen in the immune suppressed population, e.g., patients with advanced HIV infection, patients who have had organ transplantation, those undergoing chemotherapy, or patients using other immune suppressive agents. Infection can be associated with either focal infection in a specific organ (e.g., keratoconjunctivitis, cerebritis, or hepatitis) or with disseminated disease. The most common presentation of microsporidiosis being gastrointestinal infection with chronic diarrhea and wasting syndrome. In the setting of advanced HIV infection or other cases of profound immune deficiency microsporidiosis can be extremely debilitating and carries a significant mortality risk. Microsporidia are transmitted as spores which invade host cells by a specialized invasion apparatus the polar tube (PT). This review summarizes recent studies that have provided information on the composition of the spore wall and PT, as well as insights into the mechanism of invasion and interaction of the PT and spore wall with host cells during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Peter M. Takvorian
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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36
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Wadi L, Reinke AW. Evolution of microsporidia: An extremely successful group of eukaryotic intracellular parasites. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008276. [PMID: 32053705 PMCID: PMC7017984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wadi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron W. Reinke
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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37
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Tsaousis AD. On the Origin of Iron/Sulfur Cluster Biosynthesis in Eukaryotes. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2478. [PMID: 31781051 PMCID: PMC6857552 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron and sulfur are indispensable elements of every living cell, but on their own these elements are toxic and require dedicated machineries for the formation of iron/sulfur (Fe/S) clusters. In eukaryotes, proteins requiring Fe/S clusters (Fe/S proteins) are found in or associated with various organelles including the mitochondrion, endoplasmic reticulum, cytosol, and the nucleus. These proteins are involved in several pathways indispensable for the viability of each living cell including DNA maintenance, protein translation and metabolic pathways. Thus, the formation of Fe/S clusters and their delivery to these proteins has a fundamental role in the functions and the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Currently, most eukaryotes harbor two (located in cytosol and mitochondrion) or three (located in plastid) machineries for the assembly of Fe/S clusters, but certain anaerobic microbial eukaryotes contain sulfur mobilization (SUF) machineries that were previously thought to be present only in archaeal linages. These machineries could not only stipulate which pathway was present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA), but they could also provide clues regarding presence of an Fe/S cluster machinery in the proto-eukaryote and evolution of Fe/S cluster assembly machineries in all eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios D Tsaousis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, ResistAnce Pathogenicity and Infectious Diseases (RAPID) Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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38
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Karnkowska A, Treitli SC, Brzoň O, Novák L, Vacek V, Soukal P, Barlow LD, Herman EK, Pipaliya SV, Pánek T, Žihala D, Petrželková R, Butenko A, Eme L, Stairs CW, Roger AJ, Eliáš M, Dacks JB, Hampl V. The Oxymonad Genome Displays Canonical Eukaryotic Complexity in the Absence of a Mitochondrion. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:2292-2312. [PMID: 31387118 PMCID: PMC6759080 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery that the protist Monocercomonoides exilis completely lacks mitochondria demonstrates that these organelles are not absolutely essential to eukaryotic cells. However, the degree to which the metabolism and cellular systems of this organism have adapted to the loss of mitochondria is unknown. Here, we report an extensive analysis of the M. exilis genome to address this question. Unexpectedly, we find that M. exilis genome structure and content is similar in complexity to other eukaryotes and less "reduced" than genomes of some other protists from the Metamonada group to which it belongs. Furthermore, the predicted cytoskeletal systems, the organization of endomembrane systems, and biosynthetic pathways also display canonical eukaryotic complexity. The only apparent preadaptation that permitted the loss of mitochondria was the acquisition of the SUF system for Fe-S cluster assembly and the loss of glycine cleavage system. Changes in other systems, including in amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress response, were coincident with the loss of mitochondria but are likely adaptations to the microaerophilic and endobiotic niche rather than the mitochondrial loss per se. Apart from the lack of mitochondria and peroxisomes, we show that M. exilis is a fully elaborated eukaryotic cell that is a promising model system in which eukaryotic cell biology can be investigated in the absence of mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Karnkowska
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian C Treitli
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Brzoň
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Novák
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Vacek
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Soukal
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lael D Barlow
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Emily K Herman
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Shweta V Pipaliya
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Tomáš Pánek
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - David Žihala
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Petrželková
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Anzhelika Butenko
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Laura Eme
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Courtney W Stairs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andrew J Roger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Marek Eliáš
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Institute of Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Vladimír Hampl
- Department of Parasitology, BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vestec, Czech Republic
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39
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Microsporidial myositis in adult-onset immunodeficiency: case-based review. Rheumatol Int 2019; 39:1995-2003. [PMID: 31501996 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-019-04439-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Polymyositis is a diagnosis of exclusion. In patients with odd features, it can be of infective etiology. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis. A 55-year-old gentleman presented with gradual-onset proximal muscle weakness. Examination revealed mild distal weakness but no rash. Muscle enzymes were raised and tests for autoantibodies were negative. Biopsy revealed microsporidiosis. In view of this unusual infection, immunodeficiency was considered and he was found to have lymphopenia which antedated his illness. Later, he developed cranial nerve palsies due to multiple lesions in the pons. In addition, he had Cytomegalovirus viremia. Literature was reviewed to identify 20 cases of microsporidial myositis, its presentation, underlying immunodeficient state, and clinical course. Infective polymyositis should be considered in a patient with paucity of clinical and serological autoimmune features. Lymphopenia can point to underlying immunodeficiency. CMV infection could be the contributor to or bystander-effect of idiopathic lymphopenia.
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40
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Han B, Ma Y, Tu V, Tomita T, Mayoral J, Williams T, Horta A, Huang H, Weiss LM. Microsporidia Interact with Host Cell Mitochondria via Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels Using Sporoplasm Surface Protein 1. mBio 2019; 10:e01944-19. [PMID: 31431557 PMCID: PMC6703431 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01944-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are opportunistic intracellular pathogens that can infect a wide variety of hosts ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates. During invasion, the microsporidian polar tube pushes into the host cell, creating a protective microenvironment, the invasion synapse, into which the sporoplasm extrudes. Within the synapse, the sporoplasm then invades the host cell, forming a parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Using a proteomic approach, we identified Encephalitozoon hellem sporoplasm surface protein 1 (EhSSP1), which localized to the surface of extruded sporoplasms. EhSSP1 was also found to interact with polar tube protein 4 (PTP4). Recombinant EhSSP1 (rEhSSP1) bound to human foreskin fibroblasts, and both anti-EhSSP1 and rEhSSP1 caused decreased levels of host cell invasion, suggesting that interaction of SSP1 with the host cell was involved in invasion. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) followed by proteomic analysis identified host cell voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) as EhSSP1 interacting proteins. Yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that EhSSP1 was able to interact with VDAC1, VDAC2, and VDAC3. rEhSSP1 colocalized with the host mitochondria which were associated with microsporidian PVs in infected cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the outer mitochondrial membrane interacted with meronts and the PV membrane, mitochondria clustered around meronts, and the VDACs were concentrated at the interface of mitochondria and parasite. Knockdown of VDAC1, VDAC2, and VDAC3 in host cells resulted in significant decreases in the number and size of the PVs and a decrease in mitochondrial PV association. The interaction of EhSSP1 with VDAC probably plays an important part in energy acquisition by microsporidia via its role in the association of mitochondria with the PV.IMPORTANCE Microsporidia are important opportunistic human pathogens in immune-suppressed individuals, such as those with HIV/AIDS and recipients of organ transplants. The sporoplasm is critical for establishing microsporidian infection. Despite the biological importance of this structure for transmission, there is limited information about its structure and composition that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Here, we identified a novel E. hellem sporoplasm surface protein, EhSSP1, and demonstrated that it can bind to host cell mitochondria via host VDAC. Our data strongly suggest that the interaction between SSP1 and VDAC is important for the association of mitochondria with the parasitophorous vacuole during microsporidian infection. In addition, binding of SSP1 to the host cell is associated with the final steps of invasion in the invasion synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Yanfen Ma
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Vincent Tu
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Tadakimi Tomita
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Joshua Mayoral
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Tere Williams
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Aline Horta
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Huan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
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41
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Zimorski V, Mentel M, Tielens AGM, Martin WF. Energy metabolism in anaerobic eukaryotes and Earth's late oxygenation. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 140:279-294. [PMID: 30935869 PMCID: PMC6856725 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotes arose about 1.6 billion years ago, at a time when oxygen levels were still very low on Earth, both in the atmosphere and in the ocean. According to newer geochemical data, oxygen rose to approximately its present atmospheric levels very late in evolution, perhaps as late as the origin of land plants (only about 450 million years ago). It is therefore natural that many lineages of eukaryotes harbor, and use, enzymes for oxygen-independent energy metabolism. This paper provides a concise overview of anaerobic energy metabolism in eukaryotes with a focus on anaerobic energy metabolism in mitochondria. We also address the widespread assumption that oxygen improves the overall energetic state of a cell. While it is true that ATP yield from glucose or amino acids is increased in the presence of oxygen, it is also true that the synthesis of biomass costs thirteen times more energy per cell in the presence of oxygen than in anoxic conditions. This is because in the reaction of cellular biomass with O2, the equilibrium lies very far on the side of CO2. The absence of oxygen offers energetic benefits of the same magnitude as the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic and low oxygen environments are ancient. During evolution, some eukaryotes have specialized to life in permanently oxic environments (life on land), other eukaryotes have remained specialized to low oxygen habitats. We suggest that the Km of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase of 0.1-10 μM for O2, which corresponds to about 0.04%-4% (avg. 0.4%) of present atmospheric O2 levels, reflects environmental O2 concentrations that existed at the time that the eukaryotes arose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Zimorski
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Marek Mentel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 851 04, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Aloysius G M Tielens
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - William F Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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42
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Major P, Sendra KM, Dean P, Williams TA, Watson AK, Thwaites DT, Embley TM, Hirt RP. A new family of cell surface located purine transporters in Microsporidia and related fungal endoparasites. eLife 2019; 8:e47037. [PMID: 31355745 PMCID: PMC6699826 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane-located transport proteins are key adaptations for obligate intracellular Microsporidia parasites, because they can use them to steal host metabolites the parasites need to grow and replicate. However, despite their importance, the functions and substrate specificities of most Microsporidia transporters are unknown. Here, we provide functional data for a family of transporters conserved in all microsporidian genomes and also in the genomes of related endoparasites. The universal retention among otherwise highly reduced genomes indicates an important role for these transporters for intracellular parasites. Using Trachipleistophora hominis, a Microsporidia isolated from an HIV/AIDS patient, as our experimental model, we show that the proteins are ATP and GTP transporters located on the surface of parasites during their intracellular growth and replication. Our work identifies a new route for the acquisition of essential energy and nucleotides for a major group of intracellular parasites that infect most animal species including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Major
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Kacper M Sendra
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Paul Dean
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Tom A Williams
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Watson
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - David T Thwaites
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - T Martin Embley
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert P Hirt
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, the Medical SchoolNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
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43
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Vacek V, Novák LVF, Treitli SC, Táborský P, Cepicka I, Kolísko M, Keeling PJ, Hampl V. Fe-S Cluster Assembly in Oxymonads and Related Protists. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:2712-2718. [PMID: 30184127 PMCID: PMC6231488 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The oxymonad Monocercomonoides exilis was recently reported to be the first eukaryote that has completely lost the mitochondrial compartment. It was proposed that an important prerequisite for such a radical evolutionary step was the acquisition of the SUF Fe–S cluster assembly pathway from prokaryotes, making the mitochondrial ISC pathway dispensable. We have investigated genomic and transcriptomic data from six oxymonad species and their relatives, composing the group Preaxostyla (Metamonada, Excavata), for the presence and absence of enzymes involved in Fe–S cluster biosynthesis. None possesses enzymes of mitochondrial ISC pathway and all apparently possess the SUF pathway, composed of SufB, C, D, S, and U proteins, altogether suggesting that the transition from ISC to SUF preceded their last common ancestor. Interestingly, we observed that SufDSU were fused in all three oxymonad genomes, and in the genome of Paratrimastix pyriformis. The donor of the SUF genes is not clear from phylogenetic analyses, but the enzyme composition of the pathway and the presence of SufDSU fusion suggests Firmicutes, Thermotogae, Spirochaetes, Proteobacteria, or Chloroflexi as donors. The inventory of the downstream CIA pathway enzymes is consistent with that of closely related species that retain ISC, indicating that the switch from ISC to SUF did not markedly affect the downstream process of maturation of cytosolic and nuclear Fe–S proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtech Vacek
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš V F Novák
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Sebastian C Treitli
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Táborský
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Cepicka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kolísko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vladimír Hampl
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
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44
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Peters MJ, Suwannapong G, Pelin A, Corradi N. Genetic and Genome Analyses Reveal Genetically Distinct Populations of the Bee Pathogen Nosema ceranae from Thailand. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 77:877-889. [PMID: 30288544 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1268-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The recent global decline in Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations is of great concern for pollination and honey production worldwide. Declining honeybee populations are frequently infected by the microsporidian pathogen Nosema ceranae. This species was originally described in the Asiatic honeybee (Apis cerana), and its identification in global A. mellifera hives could result from a recent host transfer. Recent genome studies have found that global populations of this parasite are polyploid and that humans may have fueled their global expansion. To better understand N. ceranae biology, we investigated its genetic diversity within part of their native range (Thailand) and among different hosts (A. mellifera, A. cerana) using both PCR and genome-based methods. We find that Thai N. ceranae populations share many SNPs with other global populations and appear to be clonal. However, in stark contrast with previous studies, we found that these populations also carry many SNPs not found elsewhere, indicating that these populations have evolved in their current geographic location for some time. Our genome analyses also indicate the potential presence of diploidy within Thai populations of N. ceranae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Peters
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Adrian Pelin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Center for Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicolas Corradi
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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45
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Esvaran VG, Mohanasundaram A, Mahadeva S, Gupta T, Ponnuvel KM. Development and comparison of real-time and conventional PCR tools targeting β-tubulin gene for detection of Nosema infection in silkworms. J Parasit Dis 2018; 43:31-38. [PMID: 30956443 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-1053-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidiosis (Pebrine) caused by the microsporidian parasite is one of the important devastating disease which affect the silk production leading to an unprofitable harvest. Till date ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was used as a target for detection of microsporidian species. In this study, we describe conventional and SYBR green based real-time PCR techniques alternatively targeting β-tubulin gene for quantitative detection of microsporidia infecting both the mulberry and non-mulberry silkworms. The modified DNA extraction method followed in our study was found to be easy, economical and could be used for both conventional and real time PCR as template. The real time qPCR revealed the expression of β-tubulin gene in different infected tissues of the silkworm Bombyx mori. The sensitivity of the SYBR green based real time PCR was found to be 100 times more than the conventional PCR and PCR was found more sensitive than the microscopic examination. The developed method did not produce any false positive results with the other silkworm pathogens and healthy silkworm. The data suggest that both the developed PCR methods targeting β-tubulin gene could be used effectively in quarantine process at seed centres for early detection of microsporidian infection in silkworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaya Gowri Esvaran
- Genomics Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram - Post, Kodathi, Bangalore, 560035 India
| | - Aarthi Mohanasundaram
- Genomics Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram - Post, Kodathi, Bangalore, 560035 India
| | - Shruthi Mahadeva
- Genomics Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram - Post, Kodathi, Bangalore, 560035 India
| | - Tania Gupta
- Genomics Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram - Post, Kodathi, Bangalore, 560035 India
| | - Kangayam M Ponnuvel
- Genomics Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram - Post, Kodathi, Bangalore, 560035 India
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46
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Han B, Moretto M, M Weiss L. Encephalitozoon: Tissue Culture, Cryopreservation, and Murine Infection. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 52:e72. [PMID: 30444582 DOI: 10.1002/cpmc.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Microsporidia are eukaryotic unicellular parasites that have been studied for more than 150 years. They are found throughout the world and are capable of infecting various invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. They can cause disease in both immune-compromised and immune-competent humans. In immune-compromised individuals, infections can be severe and often fatal. Microsporidia possess a unique, highly specialized invasion mechanism that involves a structure known as the polar tube as well as the spore wall. During spore germination, the polar tube rapidly discharges from the spore and deliver the sporoplasm into the host cell. Spores are the only stage of microsporidia that can survive outside of host cells. Since the first attempt to culture microsporidia in vitro in 1930s, their cultivation has served a critical role in the study and diagnosis of these parasites. In this chapter, we include methods on the cultivation, isolation, and cryopreservation of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which can infect humans and provides a useful model for other microsporidia. These methods can also be utilized for the culture of Encephalitozoon hellem or Encephalitozoon intestinalis. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Magali Moretto
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, D.C
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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47
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Filling gaps in the microsporidian tree: rDNA phylogeny of Chytridiopsis typographi (Microsporidia: Chytridiopsida). Parasitol Res 2018; 118:169-180. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6130-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Microsporidia have been increasingly reported to infect humans. The most common presentation of microsporidiosis is chronic diarrhea, a significant mortality risk in immune-compromised patients. Albendazole, which inhibits tubulin, and fumagillin, which inhibits methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (MetAP2), are the two main therapeutic agents used for treatment of microsporidiosis. In addition, to their role as emerging pathogens in humans, microsporidia are important pathogens in insects, aquaculture, and veterinary medicine. New therapeutic targets and therapies have become a recent focus of attention for medicine, veterinary, and agricultural use. Areas covered: Herein, we discuss the detection and symptoms of microsporidiosis in humans and the therapeutic targets that have been utilized for the design of new drugs for the treatment of this infection, including triosephosphate isomerase, tubulin, MetAP2, topoisomerase IV, chitin synthases, and polyamines. Expert opinion: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidia in human infection. Fumagillin has a broader anti-microsporidian activity than albendazole and is active against both Ent. bieneusi and Encephaliozoonidae. Microsporidia lack methionine aminopeptidase type 1 and are, therefore, dependent on MetAP2, while mammalian cells have both enzymes. Thus, MetAP2 is an essential enzyme in microsporidia and new inhibitors of this pathway have significant promise as therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
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49
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Galindo LJ, Torruella G, Moreira D, Timpano H, Paskerova G, Smirnov A, Nassonova E, López-García P. Evolutionary Genomics of Metchnikovella incurvata (Metchnikovellidae): An Early Branching Microsporidium. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:2736-2748. [PMID: 30239727 PMCID: PMC6190962 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Metchnikovellids are highly specialized hyperparasites, which infect and reproduce inside gregarines (Apicomplexa) inhabiting marine invertebrates. Their phylogenetic affiliation was under constant discussion until recently, when analysis of the first near-complete metchnikovellid genome, that of Amphiamblys sp., placed it in a basal position with respect to most Microsporidia. Microsporidia are a highly diversified lineage of extremely reduced parasites related to Rozellida (Rozellosporidia = Rozellomycota = Cryptomycota) within the Holomycota clade of Opisthokonta. By sequencing DNA from a single-isolated infected gregarine cell we obtained an almost complete genome of a second metchnikovellid species, and the first one of a taxonomically described and well-documented species, Metchnikovella incurvata. Our phylogenomic analyses show that, despite being considerably divergent from each other, M. incurvata forms a monophyletic group with Amphiamplys sp., and confirm that metchnikovellids are one of the deep branches of Microsporidia. Comparative genomic analysis demonstrates that, like most Microsporidia, metchnikovellids lack mitochondrial genes involved in energy transduction and are thus incapable of synthesizing their own ATP via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. They also lack the horizontally acquired ATP transporters widespread in most Microsporidia. We hypothesize that a family of mitochondrial carrier proteins evolved to transport ATP from the host into the metchnikovellid cell. We observe the progressive reduction of genes involved in DNA repair pathways along the evolutionary path of Microsporidia, which might explain, at least partly, the extremely high evolutionary rate of the most derived species. Our data also suggest that genome reduction and acquisition of novel genes co-occurred during the adaptation of Microsporidia to their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Javier Galindo
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Guifré Torruella
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - David Moreira
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Hélène Timpano
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Gita Paskerova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St Petersburg State University, Russia
| | - Alexey Smirnov
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St Petersburg State University, Russia
| | - Elena Nassonova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St Petersburg State University, Russia.,Laboratory of Cytology of Unicellular Organisms, Institute of Cytology Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Purificación López-García
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
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50
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Huang Y, Zheng S, Mei X, Yu B, Sun B, Li B, Wei J, Chen J, Li T, Pan G, Zhou Z, Li C. A secretory hexokinase plays an active role in the proliferation of Nosema bombycis. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5658. [PMID: 30258733 PMCID: PMC6152459 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The microsporidian Nosema bombycis is an obligate intracellular parasite of Bombyx mori, that lost its intact tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondria during evolution but retained its intact glycolysis pathway. N. bombycis hexokinase (NbHK) is not only a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis but also a secretory protein. Indirect immunofluorescence assays and recombinant HK overexpressed in BmN cells showed that NbHK localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of host cell during the meront stage. When N. bombycis matured, NbHK tended to concentrate at the nuclei of host cells. Furthermore, the transcriptional profile of NbHK implied it functioned during N. bombycis’ proliferation stages. A knock-down of NbHK effectively suppressed the proliferation of N. bombycis indicating that NbHK is an important protein for parasite to control its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukang Huang
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Shiyi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Xionge Mei
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Yu
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Sun
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Boning Li
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Junhong Wei
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Normal University, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory Of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Southwest University, Key Laboratory for Sericulture Functional Genomics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
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