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Weerasinghe H, Stölting H, Rose AJ, Traven A. Metabolic homeostasis in fungal infections from the perspective of pathogens, immune cells, and whole-body systems. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0017122. [PMID: 39230301 PMCID: PMC11426019 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00171-22] [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] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe ability to overcome metabolic stress is a major determinant of outcomes during infections. Pathogens face nutrient and oxygen deprivation in host niches and during their encounter with immune cells. Immune cells require metabolic adaptations for producing antimicrobial compounds and mounting antifungal inflammation. Infection also triggers systemic changes in organ metabolism and energy expenditure that range from an enhanced metabolism to produce energy for a robust immune response to reduced metabolism as infection progresses, which coincides with immune and organ dysfunction. Competition for energy and nutrients between hosts and pathogens means that successful survival and recovery from an infection require a balance between elimination of the pathogen by the immune systems (resistance), and doing so with minimal damage to host tissues and organs (tolerance). Here, we discuss our current knowledge of pathogen, immune cell and systemic metabolism in fungal infections, and the impact of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes. We put forward the idea that, while our knowledge of the use of metabolic regulation for fungal proliferation and antifungal immune responses (i.e., resistance) has been growing over the years, we also need to study the metabolic mechanisms that control tolerance of fungal pathogens. A comprehensive understanding of how to balance resistance and tolerance by metabolic interventions may provide insights into therapeutic strategies that could be used adjunctly with antifungal drugs to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshini Weerasinghe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helen Stölting
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam J Rose
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ana Traven
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Friudenberg AD, Anne S, Peterson RL. Characterization of a High-Affinity Copper Transporter in the White-Nose Syndrome Causing Fungal Pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.28.610057. [PMID: 39253504 PMCID: PMC11383314 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.28.610057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Copper is an essential micronutrient and the ability to scavenge tightly bound or trace levels of copper ions at the host-pathogen interface is vital for fungal proliferation in animal hosts. Recent studies suggest that trace metal ion acquisition is critical for the establishment and propagation of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen responsible for white-nose syndrome (WNS), on their bat host. However, little is known about these metal acquisition pathways in P. destructans. In this study, we report the characterization of the P. destructans high-affinity copper transporter VC83_00191 (PdCTR1a), which is implicated as a virulence factor associated with the WNS disease state. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a recombinant expression host, we find that PdCTR1a localizes to the cell surface plasma membrane and can efficiently traffic Cu-ions into the yeast cytoplasm. Complementary studies in the native P. destructans fungus provide evidence that PdCTR1a transcripts and protein levels are dictated by Cu-bioavailability in the growth media. Our study demonstrates that PdCTR1a is a functional high-affinity copper transporter and is relevant to Cu-homeostasis pathways in P. destructans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa D Friudenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, United States, 78666
| | - Saika Anne
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, United States, 78666
| | - Ryan L Peterson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, United States, 78666
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, United States, 78666
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3
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Handelman M, Meir Z, Shadkchan Y, Abo Kandil A, Amano O, Mariscal M, López-Berges MS, Osherov N. Evolution of the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus on high copper levels identifies novel resistance genes. mSphere 2024; 9:e0025324. [PMID: 38814077 PMCID: PMC11332344 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00253-24] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the leading cause of severe mold infections in immunocompromised patients. This common fungus possesses innate attributes that allow it to evade the immune system, including its ability to survive the high copper (Cu) levels in phagosomes. Our previous work has revealed that under high Cu levels, the A. fumigatus transcription factor AceA is activated, inducing the expression of the copper exporter CrpA to expel excess Cu. To identify additional elements in Cu resistance, we evolved A. fumigatus wild-type and mutant ΔaceA or ΔcrpA strains under increasing Cu concentrations. Sequencing of the resultant resistant strains identified both shared and unique evolutionary pathways to resistance. Reintroduction of three of the most common mutations in genes encoding Pma1 (plasma membrane H+-ATPase), Gcs1 (glutamate cysteine-ligase), and Cpa1 (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase), alone and in combination, into wild-type A. fumigatus confirmed their additive role in conferring Cu resistance. Detailed analysis indicated that the pma1 mutation L424I preserves Pma1 H+-ATPase activity under high Cu concentrations and that the cpa1 mutation A37V confers a survival advantage to conidia in the presence of Cu. Interestingly, simultaneous mutations of all three genes did not alter virulence in infected mice. Our work has identified novel Cu-resistance pathways and provides an evolutionary approach for dissecting the molecular basis of A. fumigatus adaptation to diverse environmental challenges.IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatus is the most common mold infecting patients with weakened immunity. Infection is caused by the inhalation of mold spores into the lungs and is often fatal. In healthy individuals, spores are engulfed by lung immune cells and destroyed by a combination of enzymes, oxidants, and high levels of copper. However, the mold can protect itself by pumping out excess copper with specific transporters. Here, we evolved A. fumigatus under high copper levels and identified new genetic mutations that help it resist the toxic effects of copper. We studied how these mutations affect the mold's ability to resist copper and how they impact its ability to cause disease. This is the first such study in a pathogenic mold, and it gives us a better understanding of how it manages to bypass our body's defenses during an infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Handelman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Zohar Meir
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yona Shadkchan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ammar Abo Kandil
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Orin Amano
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Melani Mariscal
- Departamento de Genética, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez López-Berges
- Departamento de Genética, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Song W, Yue Y, Zhang Q, Wang X. Copper homeostasis dysregulation in respiratory diseases: a review of current knowledge. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1243629. [PMID: 38883186 PMCID: PMC11176810 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1243629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cu is an essential micronutrient for various physiological processes in almost all human cell types. Given the critical role of Cu in a wide range of cellular processes, the local concentrations of Cu and the cellular distribution of Cu transporter proteins in the lung are essential for maintaining a steady-state internal environment. Dysfunctional Cu metabolism or regulatory pathways can lead to an imbalance in Cu homeostasis in the lungs, affecting both acute and chronic pathological processes. Recent studies have identified a new form of Cu-dependent cell death called cuproptosis, which has generated renewed interest in the role of Cu homeostasis in diseases. Cuproptosis differs from other known cell death pathways. This occurs through the direct binding of Cu ions to lipoylated components of the tricarboxylic acid cycle during mitochondrial respiration, leading to the aggregation of lipoylated proteins and the subsequent downregulation of Fe-S cluster proteins, which causes toxic stress to the proteins and ultimately leads to cell death. Here, we discuss the impact of dysregulated Cu homeostasis on the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic interstitial fibrosis, and lung cancer. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting Cu. This study highlights the intricate interplay between copper, cellular processes, and respiratory health. Copper, while essential, must be carefully regulated to maintain the delicate balance between necessity and toxicity in living organisms. This review highlights the need to further investigate the precise mechanisms of copper interactions with infections and immune inflammation in the context of respiratory diseases and explore the potential of therapeutic strategies for copper, cuproptosis, and other related effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Song
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanyi Yue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Porollo A, Sayson SG, Ashbaugh A, Rebholz S, Landero Figueroa JA, Cushion MT. Insights into copper sensing and tolerance in Pneumocystis species. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1383737. [PMID: 38812685 PMCID: PMC11133566 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1383737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pneumocystis species are pathogenic fungi known to cause pneumonia in immunocompromised mammals. They are obligate to their host, replicate extracellularly in lung alveoli and thrive in the copper-enriched environment of mammalian lungs. In this study, we investigated the proteome of Pneumocystis murina, a model organism that infects mice, in the context of its copper sensing and tolerance. Methods and results The query for copper-associated annotations in FungiDB followed by a manual curation identified only 21 genes in P. murina, significantly fewer compared to other clinically relevant fungal pathogens or phylogenetically similar free-living fungi. We then employed instrumental analyses, including Size-Exclusion Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS), Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC), and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to isolate and identify copper-binding proteins from freshly extracted organisms, revealing 29 distinct cuproproteins. The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of P. murina exposed to various CuSO4 concentrations at three temporal intervals (0.5, 2, and 5 h) indicated that significant gene expression changes occurred only under the highest CuSO4 concentration probed (100 μM) and the longest exposure duration (5 h). This stimulus led to the upregulation of 43 genes and downregulation of 27 genes compared to untreated controls. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed the expression of four out of eight selected upregulated genes, including three assumed transcription factors (PNEG_01236, PNEG_01675, and PNEG_01730) and a putative copper transporter (PNEG_02609). Notably, the three applied methodologies - homology-based annotation, SEC-ICP-MS/IMAC/LC-MS/MS, and RNA-seq - yielded largely distinct findings, with only four genes (PNEG_02587, PNEG_03319, PNEG_02584, and PNEG_02989) identified by both instrumental methods. Discussion The insights contribute to the broader knowledge of Pneumocystis copper homeostasis and provide novel facets of host-pathogen interactions for extracellular pathogens. We suggest that future studies of Pneumocystis pathogenicity and copper stress survival should consider the entire spectrum of identified genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Porollo
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Steven G. Sayson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Alan Ashbaugh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Sandra Rebholz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - Melanie T. Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Grechnikova M, Füssy Z, Sutak R. Copper in parasitic protists - a hitherto neglected virulence factor. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:5-9. [PMID: 37993308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.10.003] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Copper plays a fundamental role in aerobic metabolism, but its role is double-edged, given its toxicity. Our understanding of copper metabolism in parasites remains rudimentary, despite its significance in virulence. Here we discuss how parasitic protists control copper homeostasis and show the potential key players identified by our bioinformatic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grechnikova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Zoltán Füssy
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert Sutak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic.
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Kapoor R, Shome D, Doshi K, Patel G, Tandel H, Kumar V. A newer approach in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis with QR678® and QR678 Neo®-A prospective pilot study. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:3078-3087. [PMID: 37621248 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15957] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects the scalp and is characterized by erythema and oily scales. It could perhaps be difficult to control and could seriously degrade one's quality of life. The study's objective is to assess the effectiveness of intradermal administrations of QR678 Neo® hair growth factor therapy for the treatment of scalp seborrheic dermatitis in both men and women. METHOD Forty male and female patients with clinically diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp in the age 18-45 years, not satisfactorily responding to standard therapy for at least 6 months, were included. 1 mL solution of QR678 Neo® was administered in the scalp skin of all patients at 3-week interval till eight sessions. Patients were advised to continue with antifungal shampoo and topical antifungal solution with steroid combination which they had been on during the treatment. Assessment of disease severity, dermoscopic evaluation, and self-assessment were done at baseline and at the end of the fourth and the eighth sessions. RESULTS Improvement was observed in adherent scalp flaking score after eighth session (mean = 12) compared to baseline (mean = 60). The dermoscopic evaluation showed a noticeable difference from baseline (mean = 11) in erythema and scaling with the Seborrheic Dermatitis Scalp Severity Index tool at the end of treatment (mean = 2). A high satisfaction score was given for the efficiency in the self-assessment questionnaire. CONCLUSION Our study proved that treatment with QR678 Neo® led to an improvement in the overall scalp condition by the resolution of flaking and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinky Kapoor
- Department of Dermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology & Dermato-Surgery & Director, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai, India
| | - Debraj Shome
- Department of Facial Plastic Surgery & Director, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai, India
| | - Komal Doshi
- Fellow in Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Cosmetic Surgery, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai, India
| | | | - Harshal Tandel
- Academic Coordinator, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai, India
| | - Vaibhav Kumar
- Research Manager, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai, India
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8
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Murcia-Galán RA, Durán SM, Leal-Pinto SM, Roa-Cordero MV, Vargas JD, Herrera LV, Muñoz-Castro A, MacLeod-Carey D, Naranjo TW, Rodríguez-Kessler PL, Hurtado JJ. Antifungal activity of Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes containing 1,3-bis(benzotriazol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol on the growth and virulence traits of fluconazole-resistant Candida species: synthesis, DFT calculations, and biological activity. BMC Chem 2023; 17:135. [PMID: 37817173 PMCID: PMC10563319 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-023-01037-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Relevant virulence traits in Candida spp. are associated with dimorphic change and biofilm formation, which became an important target to reduce antifungal resistance. In this work, Co(II) complexes containing a benzotriazole derivative ligand showed a promising capacity of reducing these virulence traits. These complexes exhibited higher antifungal activities than the free ligands against all the Candida albicans and non-albicans strains tested, where compounds 2 and 4 showed minimum inhibitory concentration values between 15.62 and 125 μg mL-1. Moreover, four complexes (2-5) of Co(II) and Cu(II) with benzotriazole ligand were synthesized. These compounds were obtained as air-stable solids and characterized by melting point, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared, Raman and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. The analysis of the characterization data allowed us to identify that all the complexes had 1:1 (M:L) stoichiometries. Additionally, Density Functional Theory calculations were carried out for 2 and 3 to propose a probable geometry of both compounds. The conformer Da of 2 was the most stable conformer according to the Energy Decomposition Analysis; while the conformers of 3 have a fluxional behavior in this analysis that did not allow us to determine the most probable conformer. These results provide an important platform for the design of new compounds with antifungal activities and the capacity to attack other target of relevance to reduce antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A. Murcia-Galán
- Grupo de Investigación en Química Inorgánica, Catálisis y Bioinorgánica, Departamento de Química, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-12, 111711 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sandra M. Durán
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Santander, Calle 70 No. 55-210, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Sandra M. Leal-Pinto
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Santander, Calle 70 No. 55-210, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Martha V. Roa-Cordero
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Santander, Calle 70 No. 55-210, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Jose D. Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Santander, Calle 70 No. 55-210, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Laura V. Herrera
- Grupo Sistema Estomatognático Y Morfofisiología (SEMF), Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santo Tomás Seccional Bucaramanga, Carrera 27 No. 180-395, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Alvaro Muñoz-Castro
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Bellavista 7, 8420524 Santiago, Chile
| | - Desmond MacLeod-Carey
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Instituto de Ciencias Químicas Aplicadas, Inorganic Chemistry and Molecular Materials Center, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tonny W. Naranjo
- Experimental and Medical Micology Group, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), 050010 Medellin, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, 050034 Medellín, Colombia
| | - Peter L. Rodríguez-Kessler
- Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica A.C., Loma del Bosque 115, Col. Lomas del Campestre, 37150 León, Guanajuato México
| | - John J. Hurtado
- Grupo de Investigación en Química Inorgánica, Catálisis y Bioinorgánica, Departamento de Química, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-12, 111711 Bogotá, Colombia
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Xue P, Hu G, Jung WH, Kronstad JW. Metals and the cell surface of Cryptococcus neoformans. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102331. [PMID: 37257400 PMCID: PMC10513164 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies in pathogenic yeasts reinforce our appreciation of the influence of metal homeostasis on the fungal cell surface. To illustrate this influence, we focus on recent studies on Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen with a complex surface of a cell wall with embedded melanin and an attached polysaccharide capsule. Copper and iron are essential yet toxic metals, and current efforts demonstrate the importance of these metals for modulating the surface structure of C. neoformans cells in ways that contribute to fungal-host interactions during disease in vertebrate hosts. In this review, we briefly summarize mechanisms of acquisition and regulation for copper and iron, and then discuss recent insights into the connections between the metals and the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xue
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Guanggan Hu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Won Hee Jung
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Wangsanut T, Arnold SJY, Jilani SZ, Marzec S, Monsour RC, Rolfes RJ. Grf10 regulates the response to copper, iron, and phosphate in Candida albicans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad070. [PMID: 36966423 PMCID: PMC10234403 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans, and other microbes must be able to handle drastic changes in nutrient availability within the human host. Copper, iron, and phosphate are essential micronutrients for microbes that are sequestered by the human host as nutritional immunity; yet high copper levels are employed by macrophages to induce toxic oxidative stress. Grf10 is a transcription factor important for regulating genes involved in morphogenesis (filamentation, chlamydospore formation) and metabolism (adenylate biosynthesis, 1-carbon metabolism). The grf10Δ mutant exhibited resistance to excess copper in a gene dosage-dependent manner but grew the same as the wild type in response to other metals (calcium, cobalt, iron, manganese, and zinc). Point mutations in the conserved residues D302 and E305, within a protein interaction region, conferred resistance to high copper and induced hyphal formation similar to strains with the null allele. The grf10Δ mutant misregulated genes involved with copper, iron, and phosphate uptake in YPD medium and mounted a normal transcriptional response to high copper. The mutant accumulated lower levels of magnesium and phosphorus, suggesting that copper resistance is linked to phosphate metabolism. Our results highlight new roles for Grf10 in copper and phosphate homeostasis in C. albicans and underscore the fundamental role of Grf10 in connecting these with cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanaporn Wangsanut
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Sylvia J Y Arnold
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Safia Z Jilani
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sarah Marzec
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Robert C Monsour
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Ronda J Rolfes
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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11
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Identification and Analysis of Fungal-Specific Regions in the Aspergillus fumigatus Cu Exporter CrpA That Are Essential for Cu Resistance but Not for Virulence. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043705. [PMID: 36835119 PMCID: PMC9966986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is the primary invasive mold pathogen in humans, and is responsible for an estimated 200,000 yearly deaths worldwide. Most fatalities occur in immunocompromised patients who lack the cellular and humoral defenses necessary to halt the pathogen's advance, primarily in the lungs. One of the cellular responses used by macrophages to counteract fungal infection is the accumulation of high phagolysosomal Cu levels to destroy ingested pathogens. A. fumigatus responds by activating high expression levels of crpA, which encodes a Cu+ P-type ATPase that actively transports excess Cu from the cytoplasm to the extracellular environment. In this study, we used a bioinformatics approach to identify two fungal-unique regions in CrpA that we studied by deletion/replacement, subcellular localization, Cu sensitivity in vitro, killing by mouse alveolar macrophages, and virulence in a mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Deletion of CrpA fungal-unique amino acids 1-211 containing two N-terminal Cu-binding sites, moderately increased Cu-sensitivity but did not affect expression or localization to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and cell surface. Replacement of CrpA fungal-unique amino acids 542-556 consisting of an intracellular loop between the second and third transmembrane helices resulted in ER retention of the protein and strongly increased Cu-sensitivity. Deleting CrpA N-terminal amino acids 1-211 or replacing amino acids 542-556 also increased sensitivity to killing by mouse alveolar macrophages. Surprisingly, the two mutations did not affect virulence in a mouse model of infection, suggesting that even weak Cu-efflux activity by mutated CrpA preserves fungal virulence.
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Abstract
Living systems are built from a small subset of the atomic elements, including the bulk macronutrients (C,H,N,O,P,S) and ions (Mg,K,Na,Ca) together with a small but variable set of trace elements (micronutrients). Here, we provide a global survey of how chemical elements contribute to life. We define five classes of elements: those that are (i) essential for all life, (ii) essential for many organisms in all three domains of life, (iii) essential or beneficial for many organisms in at least one domain, (iv) beneficial to at least some species, and (v) of no known beneficial use. The ability of cells to sustain life when individual elements are absent or limiting relies on complex physiological and evolutionary mechanisms (elemental economy). This survey of elemental use across the tree of life is encapsulated in a web-based, interactive periodic table that summarizes the roles chemical elements in biology and highlights corresponding mechanisms of elemental economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleigh A Remick
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States.
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13
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Molecular Interactions of the Copper Chaperone Atx1 of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis with Fungal Proteins Suggest a Crosstalk between Iron and Copper Homeostasis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020248. [PMID: 36838213 PMCID: PMC9963772 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides spp. are endemic fungi from Latin America that cause Paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic disease. These fungi present systems for high-affinity metal uptake, storage, and mobilization, which counteract host nutritional immunity and mitigate the toxic effects of metals. Regarding Cu mobilization, the metallochaperone Atx1 is regulated according to Cu bioavailability in Paracoccidioides spp., contributing to metal homeostasis. However, additional information in the literature on PbAtx1 is scarce. Therefore, in the present work, we aimed to study the PbAtx1 protein-protein interaction networks. Heterologous expressed PbAtx1 was used in a pull-down assay with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cytoplasmic extract. Nineteen proteins that interacted with PbAtx1 were identified by HPLC-MSE. Among them, a relevant finding was a Cytochrome b5 (PbCyb5), regulated by Fe bioavailability in Aspergillus fumigatus and highly secreted by P. brasiliensis in Fe deprivation. We validated the interaction between PbAtx1-PbCyb5 through molecular modeling and far-Western analyses. It is known that there is a relationship between Fe homeostasis and Cu homeostasis in organisms. In this sense, would PbAtx1-PbCyb5 interaction be a new metal-sensor system? Would it be supported by the presence/absence of metals? We intend to answer those questions in future works to contribute to the understanding of the strategies employed by Paracoccidioides spp. to overcome host defenses.
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14
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Rigo GV, Joaquim AR, Macedo AJ, de Andrade SF, Tasca T. Iron chelation and inhibition of metallopeptidases mediate anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity by a novel 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative. Bioorg Chem 2022; 125:105912. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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15
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Gaspar-Cordeiro A, Amaral C, Pobre V, Antunes W, Petronilho A, Paixão P, Matos AP, Pimentel C. Copper Acts Synergistically With Fluconazole in Candida glabrata by Compromising Drug Efflux, Sterol Metabolism, and Zinc Homeostasis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:920574. [PMID: 35774458 PMCID: PMC9237516 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.920574] [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: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The synergistic combinations of drugs are promising strategies to boost the effectiveness of current antifungals and thus prevent the emergence of resistance. In this work, we show that copper and the antifungal fluconazole act synergistically against Candida glabrata, an opportunistic pathogenic yeast intrinsically tolerant to fluconazole. Analyses of the transcriptomic profile of C. glabrata after the combination of copper and fluconazole showed that the expression of the multidrug transporter gene CDR1 was decreased, suggesting that fluconazole efflux could be affected. In agreement, we observed that copper inhibits the transactivation of Pdr1, the transcription regulator of multidrug transporters and leads to the intracellular accumulation of fluconazole. Copper also decreases the transcriptional induction of ergosterol biosynthesis (ERG) genes by fluconazole, which culminates in the accumulation of toxic sterols. Co-treatment of cells with copper and fluconazole should affect the function of proteins located in the plasma membrane, as several ultrastructural alterations, including irregular cell wall and plasma membrane and loss of cell wall integrity, were observed. Finally, we show that the combination of copper and fluconazole downregulates the expression of the gene encoding the zinc-responsive transcription regulator Zap1, which possibly, together with the membrane transporters malfunction, generates zinc depletion. Supplementation with zinc reverts the toxic effect of combining copper with fluconazole, underscoring the importance of this metal in the observed synergistic effect. Overall, this work, while unveiling the molecular basis that supports the use of copper to enhance the effectiveness of fluconazole, paves the way for the development of new metal-based antifungal strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gaspar-Cordeiro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Amaral
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Vânia Pobre
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação da Academia Militar (CINAMIL), Unidade Militar Laboratorial de Defesa Biológica e Química (UMLDBQ), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Petronilho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paulo Paixão
- Unidade de Infeção, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Chronic Diseases Research Centre – CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica – SYNLAB, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António P. Matos
- Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Egas Moniz Higher Education Cooperative, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pimentel
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Catarina Pimentel,
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16
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Ženíšková K, Grechnikova M, Sutak R. Copper Metabolism in Naegleria gruberi and Its Deadly Relative Naegleria fowleri. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:853463. [PMID: 35478954 PMCID: PMC9035749 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.853463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Although copper is an essential nutrient crucial for many biological processes, an excessive concentration can be toxic and lead to cell death. The metabolism of this two-faced metal must be strictly regulated at the cell level. In this study, we investigated copper homeostasis in two related unicellular organisms: nonpathogenic Naegleria gruberi and the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria fowleri. We identified and confirmed the function of their specific copper transporters securing the main pathway of copper acquisition. Adjusting to different environments with varying copper levels during the life cycle of these organisms requires various metabolic adaptations. Using comparative proteomic analyses, measuring oxygen consumption, and enzymatic determination of NADH dehydrogenase, we showed that both amoebas respond to copper deprivation by upregulating the components of the branched electron transport chain: the alternative oxidase and alternative NADH dehydrogenase. Interestingly, analysis of iron acquisition indicated that this system is copper-dependent in N. gruberi but not in its pathogenic relative. Importantly, we identified a potential key protein of copper metabolism of N. gruberi, the homolog of human DJ-1 protein, which is known to be linked to Parkinson’s disease. Altogether, our study reveals the mechanisms underlying copper metabolism in the model amoeba N. gruberi and the fatal pathogen N. fowleri and highlights the differences between the two amoebas.
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17
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El‐Sonbati AZ, Diab MA, El‐Sayed AK, Abou‐Dobara MI, Gafer AAF. Synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, DNA cleavage properties and antimicrobial activity studies of mixed ligand complexes. Appl Organomet Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/aoc.6651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Z. El‐Sonbati
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science Damietta University Damietta Egypt
| | - M. A. Diab
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science Damietta University Damietta Egypt
| | - A. K. El‐Sayed
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science Damietta University Damietta Egypt
| | - M. I. Abou‐Dobara
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science Damietta University Damietta Egypt
| | - A. A. F. Gafer
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science Damietta University Damietta Egypt
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18
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Hyre A, Casanova-Hampton K, Subashchandrabose S. Copper Homeostatic Mechanisms and Their Role in the Virulence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. EcoSal Plus 2021; 9:eESP00142020. [PMID: 34125582 PMCID: PMC8669021 DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0014-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Copper is an essential micronutrient that also exerts toxic effects at high concentrations. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on copper handling and homeostasis systems in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. We describe the mechanisms by which transcriptional regulators, efflux pumps, detoxification enzymes, metallochaperones, and ancillary copper response systems orchestrate cellular response to copper stress. E. coli and S. enterica are important pathogens of humans and animals. We discuss the critical role of copper during killing of these pathogens by macrophages and in nutritional immunity at the bacterial-pathogen-host interface. In closing, we identify opportunities to advance our understanding of the biological roles of copper in these model enteric bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hyre
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Kaitlin Casanova-Hampton
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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19
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Sun T, Li Y, Li Y, Li H, Gong Y, Wu J, Ning Y, Ding C, Xu Y. Proteomic Analysis of Copper Toxicity in Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:662404. [PMID: 34485169 PMCID: PMC8415117 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.662404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an invasive human fungal pathogen that causes more than 181,000 deaths each year. Studies have demonstrated that pulmonary C. neoformans infection induces innate immune responses involving copper, and copper detoxification in C. neoformans improves its fitness and pathogenicity during pulmonary C. neoformans infection. However, the molecular mechanism by which copper inhibits C. neoformans proliferation is unclear. We used a metallothionein double-knockout C. neoformans mutant that was highly sensitive to copper to demonstrate that exogenous copper ions inhibit fungal cell growth by inducing reactive oxygen species generation. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we found that copper down-regulated factors involved in protein translation, but up-regulated proteins involved in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. We propose that the down-regulation of protein synthesis and the up-regulation of protein degradation are the main effects of copper toxicity. The ubiquitin modification of total protein and proteasome activity were promoted under copper stress, and inhibition of the proteasome pathway alleviated copper toxicity. Our proteomic analysis sheds new light on the antifungal mechanisms of copper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Sun
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjian Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingxing Li
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Hailong Li
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yiyi Gong
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Jianqiang Wu
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yating Ning
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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20
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Structural, molecular docking computational studies and in-vitro evidence for antibacterial activity of mixed ligand complexes. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Omar NF, Widiasih Widiyanto T, Utami ST, Niimi M, Niimi K, Toh-E A, Kajiwara S. Vph1 is associated with the copper homeostasis of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype D. J GEN APPL MICROBIOL 2021; 67:195-206. [PMID: 34219070 DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We clarified the roles of VPH1 in Cryptococcus neoformans serotype D by examining the detailed phenotypes of VPH1-deficient cells (Δvph1) in terms of their capability to grow in acidic and alkaline pH, at a high temperature, and under high osmotic conditions, in addition to the involvement of VPH1 in copper (Cu) homeostasis and the expression of some C. neoformans virulence factors. Δvph1 could grow well on minimal medium (YNB) but exhibited hypersensitivity to 20 μM Cu due to the failure to induce Cu-detoxifying metallothionein genes (CMT1 and CMT2). In contrast, Δvph1 exhibited defective growth on rich medium (YPD), and the induction of Cu transporter genes (CTR1 and CTR4) did not occur in this medium, implying that this strain was incapable of the uptake of Cu ions for growth. However, the addition of excess Cu promoted CTR gene expression and supported Δvph1 growth. These results suggested that the lack of the VPH1 gene disturbed Cu homeostasis in C. neoformans. Moreover, the loss of Vph1 function influenced the urease activity of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Fatin Omar
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | | | | | - Masakazu Niimi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Kyoko Niimi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Akio Toh-E
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University
| | - Susumu Kajiwara
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
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22
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Karaffa L, Fekete E, Kubicek CP. The Role of Metal Ions in Fungal Organic Acid Accumulation. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1267. [PMID: 34200938 PMCID: PMC8230503 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic acid accumulation is probably the best-known example of primary metabolic overflow. Both bacteria and fungi are capable of producing various organic acids in large amounts under certain conditions, but in terms of productivity-and consequently, of commercial importance-fungal platforms are unparalleled. For high product yield, chemical composition of the growth medium is crucial in providing the necessary conditions, of which the concentrations of four of the first-row transition metal elements, manganese (Mn2+), iron (Fe2+), copper (Cu2+) and zinc (Zn2+) stand out. In this paper we critically review the biological roles of these ions, the possible biochemical and physiological consequences of their influence on the accumulation of the most important mono-, di- and tricarboxylic as well as sugar acids by fungi, and the metal ion-related aspects of submerged organic acid fermentations, including the necessary instrumental analytics. Since producing conditions are associated with a cell physiology that differs strongly to what is observed under "standard" growth conditions, here we consider papers and patents only in which organic acid accumulation levels achieved at least 60% of the theoretical maximum yield, and the actual trace metal ion concentrations were verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levente Karaffa
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Erzsébet Fekete
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Christian P. Kubicek
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, A-1060 Vienna, Austria;
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23
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Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Enhance Alveolar Macrophage Activity against Aspergillus fumigatus but Are Dispensable for Host Protection. mSphere 2021; 6:e0026021. [PMID: 34077261 PMCID: PMC8265640 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00260-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of mold pneumonia worldwide, and a significant cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. The oxidative burst, which generates reactive oxidative species (ROS), plays a pivotal role in host defense against aspergillosis and induces regulated cell death in Aspergillus conidia, the infectious propagules. Beyond the well-established role of NADP (NADPH) oxidase in ROS generation by neutrophils and other innate effector cells, mitochondria represent a major ROS production site in many cell types, though it is unclear whether mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) contribute to antifungal activity in the lung. Following A. fumigatus infection, we observed that innate effector cells, including alveolar macrophages (AMs), monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCS), and neutrophils, generated mtROS, primarily in fungus-infected cells. To examine the functional role of mtROS, specifically the H2O2 component, in pulmonary host defense against A. fumigatus, we infected transgenic mice that expressed a mitochondrion-targeted catalase. Using a reporter of fungal viability during interactions with leukocytes, mitochondrial H2O2 (mtH2O2) was essential for optimal AM, but not for neutrophil phagocytic and conidiacidal activity in the lung. Catalase-mediated mtH2O2 neutralization did not lead to invasive aspergillosis in otherwise immunocompetent mice and did not shorten survival in mice that lack NADPH oxidase function. Collectively, these studies indicate that mtROS-associated defects in AM antifungal activity can be functionally compensated by the action of NADPH oxidase and by nonoxidative effector mechanisms during murine A. fumigatus lung infection. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal pathogen that causes invasive disease in humans with defects in immune function. Airborne conidia, the infectious propagules, are ubiquitous and inhaled on a daily basis. In the respiratory tree, conidia are killed by the coordinated actions of phagocytes, including alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The oxidative burst represents a central killing mechanism and relies on the assembly of the NADPH oxidase complex on the phagosomal membrane. However, NADPH oxidase-deficient leukocytes have significant residual fungicidal activity in vivo, indicating the presence of alternative effector mechanisms. Here, we report that murine innate immune cells produce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in response to fungal interactions. Neutralizing the mtROS constituent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via a catalase expressed in mitochondria of innate immune cells substantially diminished fungicidal properties of alveolar macrophages, but not of other innate immune cells. These data indicate that mtH2O2 represent a novel AM killing mechanism against Aspergillus conidia. mtH2O2 neutralization is compensated by other killing mechanisms in the lung, demonstrating functional redundancy at the level of host defense in the respiratory tree. These findings have important implications for the development of host-directed therapies against invasive aspergillosis in susceptible patient populations.
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24
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Sándor E, Kolláth IS, Fekete E, Bíró V, Flipphi M, Kovács B, Kubicek CP, Karaffa L. Carbon-Source Dependent Interplay of Copper and Manganese Ions Modulates the Morphology and Itaconic Acid Production in Aspergillus terreus. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:680420. [PMID: 34093503 PMCID: PMC8173074 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.680420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of the interplay of copper(II) and manganese(II) ions on growth, morphology and itaconic acid formation was investigated in a high-producing strain of Aspergillus terreus (NRRL1960), using carbon sources metabolized either mainly via glycolysis (D-glucose, D-fructose) or primarily via the pentose phosphate shunt (D-xylose, L-arabinose). Limiting Mn2+ concentration in the culture broth is indispensable to obtain high itaconic acid yields, while in the presence of higher Mn2+ concentrations yield decreases and biomass formation is favored. However, this low yield in the presence of high Mn2+ ion concentrations can be mitigated by increasing the Cu2+ concentration in the medium when D-glucose or D-fructose is the growth substrate, whereas this effect was at best modest during growth on D-xylose or L-arabinose. A. terreus displays a high tolerance to Cu2+ which decreased when Mn2+ availability became increasingly limiting. Under such conditions biomass formation on D-glucose or D-fructose could be sustained at concentrations up to 250 mg L–1 Cu2+, while on D-xylose- or L-arabinose biomass formation was completely inhibited at 100 mg L–1. High (>75%) specific molar itaconic acid yields always coincided with an “overflow-associated” morphology, characterized by small compact pellets (<250 μm diameter) and short chains of “yeast-like” cells that exhibit increased diameters relative to the elongated cells in growing filamentous hyphae. At low concentrations (≤1 mg L–1) of Cu2+ ions, manganese deficiency did not prevent filamentous growth. Mycelial- and cellular morphology progressively transformed into the typical overflow-associated one when external Cu2+ concentrations increased, irrespective of the available Mn2+. Our results indicate that copper ions are relevant for overflow metabolism and should be considered when optimizing itaconic acid fermentation in A. terreus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erzsébet Sándor
- Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - István S Kolláth
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Erzsébet Fekete
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Vivien Bíró
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Michel Flipphi
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Béla Kovács
- Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Christian P Kubicek
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Levente Karaffa
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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25
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Sharma P, Pandey AK, Udayan A, Kumar S. Role of microbial community and metal-binding proteins in phytoremediation of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 326:124750. [PMID: 33517048 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This review illustrated the role of metal-binding proteins (MBPs) and microbial interaction in assisting the phytoremediation of industrial wastewater polluted with heavy metals. MBPs are used to increase the accumulation and tolerance of metals by microorganisms via binding protein synthesis. Microbes have various protection mechanisms to heavy metals stress like compartmentalization, exclusion, complexity rendering, and the synthesis of binding proteins. MBPs include phytochelatins, metallothioneins, Cd-binding peptides (CdBPs), cysteines (gcgcpcgcg) (CP), and histidines (ghhphg)2 (HP). In comparison with other physico-chemical methods, phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and safe method for the society. The present review concentrated on the efficiency of phytoremediation strategies for the use of MBPs and microbe-assisted approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Sharma
- CSIR-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar Pandey
- CSIR-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India
| | - Aswathy Udayan
- CSIR-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India.
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26
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Sun T, Li X, Song W, Yu S, Wang L, Ding C, Xu Y. Metabolomic alterations associated with copper stress in Cryptococcus neoformans. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:305-316. [PMID: 33635120 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Copper stress is an effective host strategy in resisting the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. We studied metabolic changes in C. neoformans under copper stress. Materials & methods: Wild-type and metallothionein-null C. neoformans were treated with copper on agar containing glucose, glycerol or ethanol as the carbon source and their metabolites were analyzed by untarget metabolomics strategy using gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: The metabolic profile of C. neoformans varied in the presence and absence of copper. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the differentially abundant metabolites were related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. C. neoformans grown on glycerol or ethanol resisted copper toxicity better than C. neoformans grown on glucose. Conclusion: Copper stress alters the metabolic profile of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Sun
- Medical Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe & Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research & Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaogang Li
- Medical Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe & Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research & Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Song
- Medical Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe & Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuying Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe & Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research & Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Linqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life & Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe & Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research & Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
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27
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Smith AD, Garcia-Santamarina S, Ralle M, Loiselle DR, Haystead TA, Thiele DJ. Transcription factor-driven alternative localization of Cryptococcus neoformans superoxide dismutase. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100391. [PMID: 33567338 PMCID: PMC7961099 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen whose pathogenic lifestyle is linked to its ability to cope with fluctuating levels of copper (Cu), an essential metal involved in multiple virulence mechanisms, within distinct host niches. During lethal cryptococcal meningitis in the brain, C. neoformans senses a Cu-deficient environment and is highly dependent on its ability to scavenge trace levels of Cu from its host and adapt to Cu scarcity to successfully colonize this niche. In this study, we demonstrate for this critical adaptation, the Cu-sensing transcription factor Cuf1 differentially regulates the expression of the SOD1 and SOD2 superoxide dismutases in novel ways. Genetic and transcriptional analysis reveals Cuf1 specifies 5’-truncations of the SOD1 and SOD2 mRNAs through specific binding to Cu responsive elements within their respective promoter regions. This results in Cuf1-dependent repression of the highly abundant SOD1 and simultaneously induces expression of two isoforms of SOD2, the canonical mitochondrial targeted isoform and a novel alternative cytosolic isoform, from a single alternative transcript produced specifically under Cu limitation. The generation of cytosolic Sod2 during Cu limitation is required to maintain cellular antioxidant defense against superoxide stress both in vitro and in vivo. Further, decoupling Cuf1 regulation of Sod2 localization compromises the ability of C. neoformans to colonize organs in murine models of cryptococcosis. Our results provide a link between transcription factor–mediated alteration of protein localization and cell proliferation under stress, which could impact tissue colonization by a fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Martina Ralle
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David R Loiselle
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Timothy A Haystead
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dennis J Thiele
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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28
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Culbertson EM, Khan AA, Muchenditsi A, Lutsenko S, Sullivan DJ, Petris MJ, Cormack BP, Culotta VC. Changes in mammalian copper homeostasis during microbial infection. Metallomics 2021; 12:416-426. [PMID: 31976503 DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00294d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Animals carefully control homeostasis of Cu, a metal that is both potentially toxic and an essential nutrient. During infection, various shifts in Cu homeostasis can ensue. In mice infected with Candida albicans, serum Cu progressively rises and at late stages of infection, liver Cu rises, while kidney Cu declines. The basis for these changes in Cu homeostasis was poorly understood. We report here that the progressive rise in serum Cu is attributable to liver production of the multicopper oxidase ceruloplasmin (Cp). Through studies using Cp-/- mice, we find this elevated Cp helps recover serum Fe levels at late stages of infection, consistent with a role for Cp in loading transferrin with Fe. Cp also accounts for the elevation in liver Cu seen during infection, but not for the fluctuations in kidney Cu. The Cu exporting ATPase ATP7B is one candidate for kidney Cu control, but we find no change in the pattern of kidney Cu loss during infection of Atp7b-/- mice, implying alternative mechanisms. To test whether fungal infiltration of kidney tissue was required for kidney Cu loss, we explored other paradigms of infection. Infection with the intravascular malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei caused a rise in serum Cu and decrease in kidney Cu similar to that seen with C. albicans. Thus, dynamics in kidney Cu homeostasis appear to be a common feature among vastly different infection paradigms. The implications for such Cu homeostasis control in immunity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward M Culbertson
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Aslam A Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Abigael Muchenditsi
- Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Svetlana Lutsenko
- Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David J Sullivan
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael J Petris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Brendan P Cormack
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Valeria C Culotta
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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29
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Joaquim AR, Reginatto P, Lopes MS, Bazana LCG, Gionbelli MP, de Cesare MA, Kaminski TFA, Teixeira ML, Abegg MA, Fuentefria AM, de Andrade SF. New 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives highlight the potential of this class for treatment of fungal infections. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj06188c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compound 5h has interesting antifungal activity and a good toxicity profile and seems to act as an ion scavenger in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Rocha Joaquim
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752 – Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Paula Reginatto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcela Silva Lopes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Luana Candice Genz Bazana
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariana Pies Gionbelli
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752 – Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Maycon Antonio de Cesare
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752 – Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Mário Lettieri Teixeira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia, Instituto Federal Catarinense, Campus Concórdia, Concórdia, SC, Brazil
| | - Maxwel Adriano Abegg
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Itacoatiara, AM, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Meneghello Fuentefria
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Saulo Fernandes de Andrade
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752 – Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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30
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The sino-nasal warzone: transcriptomic and genomic studies on sino-nasal aspergillosis in dogs. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2020; 6:51. [PMID: 33184275 PMCID: PMC7665010 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-020-00163-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that each dog with chronic non-invasive sino-nasal aspergillosis (SNA) was infected with a single genotype of Aspergillus fumigatus. Here, we studied the transcriptome of this fungal pathogen and the canine host within the biofilm resulting from the infection. We describe here transcriptomes resulting from natural infections in animal species with A. fumigatus. The host transcriptome showed high expression of IL-8 and alarmins, uncontrolled inflammatory reaction and dysregulation of the Th17 response. The fungal transcriptome showed in particular expression of genes involved in secondary metabolites and nutrient acquisition. Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of fungal isolates from the biofilms showed large genetic variability and changes related with adaptation to host environmental factors. This was accompanied with large phenotypic variability in in vitro stress assays, even between isolates from the same canine patient. Our analysis provides insights in genetic and phenotypic variability of Aspergillus fumigatus in biofilms of naturally infected dogs reflecting in-host adaptation. Absence of a Th17 response and dampening of the Th1 response contributes to the formation of a chronic sino-nasal warzone.
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31
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32
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Kang S, Seo H, Moon HS, Kwon JH, Park YS, Yun CW. The Role of Zinc in Copper Homeostasis of Aspergillus fumigatus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207665. [PMID: 33081273 PMCID: PMC7593903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper is an essential metal ion that performs many physiological functions in living organisms. Deletion of Afmac1, which is a copper-responsive transcriptional activator in A. fumigatus, results in a growth defect on aspergillus minimal medium (AMM). Interestingly, we found that zinc starvation suppressed the growth defect of the Δafmac1 strain on AMM. In addition, the growth defect of the Δafmac1 strain was recovered by copper supplementation or introduction of the CtrC gene into the Δafmac1 strain. However, chelation of copper by addition of BCS to AMM failed to recover the growth defect of the Δafmac1 strain. Through Northern blot analysis, we found that zinc starvation upregulated CtrC and CtrA2, which encode membrane copper transporters. Interestingly, we found that the conserved ZafA binding motif 5'-CAA(G)GGT-3' was present in the upstream region of CtrC and CtrA2 and that mutation of the binding motif led to failure of ZafA binding to the upstream region of CtrC and upregulation of CtrC expression under zinc starvation. Furthermore, the binding activity of ZafA to the upstream region of CtrC was inversely proportional to the zinc concentration, and copper inhibited the binding of ZafA to the upstream region of CtrC under a low zinc concentration. Taken together, these results suggest that ZafA upregulates copper metabolism by binding to the ZafA binding motif in the CtrC promoter region under low zinc concentration, thus regulating copper homeostasis. Furthermore, we found that copper and zinc interact in cells to maintain metal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Cheol-Won Yun
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3290-3456; Fax: +82-2-927-9028
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33
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Petito G, de Curcio JS, Pereira M, Bailão AM, Paccez JD, Tristão GB, de Morais COB, de Souza MV, de Castro Moreira Santos A, Fontes W, Ricart CAO, de Almeida Soares CM. Metabolic Adaptation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in Response to in vitro Copper Deprivation. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1834. [PMID: 32849434 PMCID: PMC7430155 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper is an essential micronutrient for the performance of important biochemical processes such as respiration detoxification, and uptake of metals like iron. Studies have shown that copper deprivation is a strategy used by the host against pathogenic fungi such as Cryptoccocus neoformans and Candida albicans during growth and development of infections in the lungs and kidneys. Although there are some studies, little is known about the impact of copper deprivation in members of the Paracoccidioides genus. Therefore, using isobaric tag labeling (iTRAQ)-Based proteomic approach and LC-MS/MS, we analyzed the impact of in vitro copper deprivation in the metabolism of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. One hundred and sixty-four (164) differentially abundant proteins were identified when yeast cells were deprived of copper, which affected cellular respiration and detoxification processes. Changes in cellular metabolism such as increased beta oxidation and cell wall remodeling were described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Petito
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Juliana Santana de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Juliano Domiraci Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Brum Tristão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Valle de Souza
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Wagner Fontes
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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34
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Hunsaker EW, Franz KJ. Candida albicans reprioritizes metal handling during fluconazole stress. Metallomics 2020; 11:2020-2032. [PMID: 31709426 DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00228f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of metal homeostasis is critical to cell survival due to the multitude of cellular processes that depend on one or more metal cofactors. Here, we show that the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans extensively remodels its metal homeostasis networks to respond to treatment with the antifungal drug fluconazole. Disruption of the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway by fluconazole requires C. albicans adaptation, including increased Cu import and storage, increased retention of Fe, Mn, and Zn, altered utilization of Cu- and Mn-dependent enzymes, mobilization of Fe stores, and increased production of the heme prosthetic group utilized by the enzyme target of fluconazole. The findings offer a new perspective for thinking about fungal response to drug stress that pushes cells out of their metal homeostatic zones, leading them to enact metal-associated adaptation mechanisms to restore homeostasis to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Hunsaker
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, French Family Science Center, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
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35
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yu D, Peng Y, Min H, Lai Z. Copper Ions are Required for Cochliobolus heterostrophus in Appressorium Formation and Virulence on Maize. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2020; 110:494-504. [PMID: 31464158 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-07-19-0254-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cochliobolus heterostrophus is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight, a destructive disease on maize worldwide. However, how it regulates virulence on maize is still largely unknown. Here, we report that two copper transporter genes, ChCTR1 and ChCTR4, are required for its virulence. chctr1 and chctr4 mutants showed attenuated virulence on maize compared with the wild-type strain TM17 but development phenotypes of those mutants on media with or without infection-related stress agents were the same as the wild-type strain. Moreover, ChCTR1 and ChCTR4 play critical roles in appressorium formation and mutation of ChCTR1 or ChCTR4 suppresses the appressorium formation. Furthermore, copper-chelating agent ammonium tetrathiomolybdate suppressed the appressorium formation and virulence of C. heterostrophus on maize, whereas copper ions enhanced the appressorium formation and virulence on maize. The results indicate that copper ions are required for appressorium formation and virulence of C. heterostrophus on maize and are acquired from the environment by two copper transporters: ChCTR1 and ChCTR4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Ecology College, Lishui University, Lishui, China
| | - Dandan Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujiao Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haoxuan Min
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhibing Lai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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36
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A fungal family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase-like copper proteins. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 16:345-350. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0438-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Pippi B, Joaquim A, Lopes W, Machado G, Bergamo V, Giuliani L, Abegg M, Cruz L, Vainstein M, Fuentefria A, Andrade S. 8‐Hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonamides are promising antifungal candidates for the topical treatment of dermatomycosis. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 128:1038-1049. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.14545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Pippi
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - A.R. Joaquim
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - W. Lopes
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - G.R.M. Machado
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - V.Z. Bergamo
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - L.M. Giuliani
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal de Santa Maria Santa Maria RS Brazil
| | - M.A. Abegg
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia Universidade Federal do Amazonas Itacoatiara AM Brazil
| | - L. Cruz
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal de Santa Maria Santa Maria RS Brazil
| | - M.H. Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - A.M. Fuentefria
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - S.F. Andrade
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
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38
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Histoplasma Responses to Nutritional Immunity Imposed by Macrophage Activation. J Fungi (Basel) 2019; 5:jof5020045. [PMID: 31195617 PMCID: PMC6616858 DOI: 10.3390/jof5020045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum resides within the phagosome of host phagocytic cells. Within this intracellular compartment, Histoplasma yeast replication requires the acquisition of several essential nutrients, including metal ions. Recent work has shown that while iron, zinc, and copper are sufficiently abundant in resting macrophages, cytokine activation of these host cells causes restriction of these metals from intracellular yeasts as a form of nutritional immunity. Faced with limited iron availability in the phagosome following macrophage activation by IFN-γ, Histoplasma yeasts secrete iron-scavenging siderophores and employ multiple strategies for reduction of ferric iron to the more physiologically useful ferrous form. IFN-γ activation of macrophages also limits availability of copper in the phagosome, forcing Histoplasma reliance on the high affinity Ctr3 copper importer for copper acquisition. GM-CSF activation stimulates macrophage production of zinc-chelating metallothioneins and zinc transporters to sequester zinc from Histoplasma yeasts. In response, Histoplasma yeasts express the Zrt2 zinc importer. These findings highlight the dynamics of phagosomal metal ion concentrations in host-pathogen interactions and explain one mechanism by which macrophages become a less permissive environment for Histoplasma replication with the onset of adaptive immunity.
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Antsotegi-Uskola M, Markina-Iñarrairaegui A, Ugalde U. New insights into copper homeostasis in filamentous fungi. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:65-73. [PMID: 31093811 PMCID: PMC6981102 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00081-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Copper is a metal ion that is required as a micronutrient for growth and proliferation. However, copper accumulation generates toxicity by multiple mechanisms, potentially leading to cell death. Due to its toxic nature at high concentrations, different chemical variants of copper have been extensively used as antifungal agents in agriculture and medicine. Most studies on copper homeostasis have been carried out in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian organisms. However, knowledge on filamentous fungi is less well documented. This review summarizes the knowledge gathered in the last few years about copper homeostasis in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans: The mechanism of action of copper, the uptake and detoxification systems, their regulation at the transcriptional level, and the role of copper homeostasis in fungal pathogenicity are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martzel Antsotegi-Uskola
- Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Ane Markina-Iñarrairaegui
- Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Unai Ugalde
- Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain.
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40
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Abou-Dobara MI, Omar NF, Diab MA, El-Sonbati AZ, Morgan SM, Salem OL, Eldesoky AM. Polymer complexes. LXXV. Characterization of quinoline polymer complexes as potential bio-active and anti-corrosion agents. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2019; 103:109727. [PMID: 31349456 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and UO22+ polymer complexes of 5-(2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one azo)-8-hydroxyquinoline (HL) ligand were prepared and characterized. Elemental analyses, IR spectra, X-ray diffraction analysis and thermal analysis studies have been used to confirm the structure of the prepared polymer complexes. The chemical structure of metal chelates commensurate that the ligand acts as a neutral bis(bidentate) by through four sites of coordination (azo dye nitrogen, carbonyl oxygen, phenolic oxygen and hetero nitrogen from pyridine ring). The molecular and electronic structures of the hydrogen bond conformers of HL ligand were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. Elemental analysis data suggested that the polymer complexes have composition of octahedral geometry for all the polymer complexes. Molecular docking of the binding between HL and the receptors of prostate cancer (PDB code 2Q7L Hormone) and the breast cancer (PDB code 1JNX Gene regulation) was studied. The interaction between HL and its polymer complexes with the calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was determined by absorption spectra. The antimicrobial activity of HL and its Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and UO22+ polymer complexes were investigated; only Cu(II) polymer complex (1) was specifically active against Aspergillus niger. It inhibited the fungal sporulation and distorted the fungal mycelia, which became squashed at a concentration of 150 μg/ml; transmission electron microscope (TEM) also showed a deactivation of autophagy in the treated A. niger cells via accumulation of autophagic bodies in vacuoles. The inhibition process of the prepared ligand (HL) against the corrosion of carbon steel in 2 M HCl solution was determined by various methods (weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques) are found to be in reasonable agreement. The mechanism of inhibition in presence of HL in carbon steel corrosion obeys Friendlish adsorption isotherm.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Abou-Dobara
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - N F Omar
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - M A Diab
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - A Z El-Sonbati
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt.
| | - Sh M Morgan
- Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Port Said, Egypt
| | - O L Salem
- Ministry of Health, Damietta Laboratory, Damietta, Egypt
| | - A M Eldesoky
- Engineering Chemistry Department, High Institute of Engineering &Technology, New Damietta, Egypt; Al-Qunfudah Center for Scientific Research (QCSR), Chemistry Department, Al-Qunfudah University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
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41
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Song J, Li R, Jiang J. Copper Homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus: Opportunities for Therapeutic Development. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:774. [PMID: 31031736 PMCID: PMC6473158 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus can cause severe invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. Copper, an essential but potentially toxic trace element for A. fumigatus, plays a critical role at the host-pathogen axis during infection. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the host utilizes copper compartmentalization within macrophages to combat A. fumigatus infection. To survive under host-imposed copper toxicity, A. fumigatus has evolved sophisticated machinery to regulate copper homeostasis. Thus, targeting molecular pathways critical for copper homeostasis regulation provides an opportunity to improve therapeutic options for aspergillosis caused by A. fumigatus. In this review, we describe the copper homeostatic mechanisms by which A. fumigatus acquires and controls copper levels and explores the responses of the pathogen to alter copper levels in the host. Finally, we discuss the regulatory mechanisms of copper homeostasis that could be targeted for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxing Song
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Rongpeng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jihong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
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42
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Shoaib A, Nisar Z, Javaid A, Khurshid S, Javed S. Necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina tolerates chromium stress through regulating antioxidant enzymes and genes expression (MSN1 and MT). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:12446-12458. [PMID: 30847809 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04457-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cr(VI) tolerance level of phytopathogenic fungus viz., Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid was assessed through growth, morphological, physiological, and metal accumulation assays. Initially, the fungus growth assays indicated that the fungus can grow over concentration range of 20-3000 ppm and exhibited high tolerance index (0.88-1.00) and minimum inhibitory concentration at 3500 ppm of Cr. Observations under compound and scanning electron microscope un-revealed the structural features of hyphae under Cr stress as thick-walled, aggregated, branched, short and broken, along with attachment of irregular objects on them. Metal accumulation analysis revealed reduction in Cr(VI) accumulation by the fungus with increase in metal concentration in the growth medium (500-3000 ppm). Cr stress induced upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase), expression of genes (MSN1 and metallothionein) and appearnace of new protein bands suggesting the possible role in protection and survival of M. phaseolina against Cr(VI)-induced oxidative stress. This study concludes that interference of Cr with growth and physiological process of M. phaseolina could affect its infection level on its host plant, therefore, synergistic action of two factors needs to be addressed, which may aid to guide future research efforts in understanding impact of plant-pathogen-heavy metal interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Shoaib
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Zahra Nisar
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Javaid
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saba Khurshid
- Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sidrah Javed
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Hameed S, Hans S, Singh S, Fatima Z. Harnessing Metal Homeostasis Offers Novel and Promising Targets Against Candida albicans. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2019; 17:415-429. [PMID: 30827249 DOI: 10.2174/1570163816666190227231437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fungal infections, particularly of Candida species, which are the commensal organisms of human, are one of the major debilitating diseases in immunocompromised patients. The limited number of antifungal drugs available to treat Candida infections, with the concomitant increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, further worsens the therapeutic options. Thus, there is an urgent need for the better understanding of MDR mechanisms, and their reversal, by employing new strategies to increase the efficacy and safety profiles of currently used therapies against the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Micronutrient availability during C. albicans infection is regarded as a critical factor that influences the progression and magnitude of the disease. Intracellular pathogens colonize a variety of anatomical locations that are likely to be scarce in micronutrients, as a defense strategy adopted by the host, known as nutritional immunity. Indispensable critical micronutrients are required both by the host and by C. albicans, especially as a cofactor in important metabolic functions. Since these micronutrients are not freely available, C. albicans need to exploit host reservoirs to adapt within the host for survival. The ability of pathogenic organisms, including C. albicans, to sense and adapt to limited micronutrients in the hostile environment is essential for survival and confers the basis of its success as a pathogen. This review describes that micronutrients availability to C. albicans is a key attribute that may be exploited when one considers designing strategies aimed at disrupting MDR in this pathogenic fungi. Here, we discuss recent advances that have been made in our understanding of fungal micronutrient acquisition and explore the probable pathways that may be utilized as targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif Hameed
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram (Manesar)-122413, India
| | - Sandeep Hans
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram (Manesar)-122413, India
| | - Shweta Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram (Manesar)-122413, India
| | - Zeeshan Fatima
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram (Manesar)-122413, India
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Pérez-Grisales MS, Castrillón-Tobón M, Copete-Pertuz LS, Plácido J, Mora-Martínez AL. Biotransformation of the antibiotic agent cephadroxyl and the synthetic dye Reactive Black 5 by Leptosphaerulina sp. immobilised on Luffa (Luffa cylindrica) sponge. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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45
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Douglas LM, Konopka JB. Plasma membrane architecture protects Candida albicans from killing by copper. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007911. [PMID: 30633741 PMCID: PMC6345494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to resist copper toxicity is important for microbial pathogens to survive attack by innate immune cells. A sur7Δ mutant of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans exhibits decreased virulence that correlates with increased sensitivity to copper, as well as defects in other stress responses and morphogenesis. Previous studies indicated that copper kills sur7Δ cells by a mechanism distinct from the known resistance pathways involving the Crp1 copper exporter or the Cup1 metallothionein. Since Sur7 resides in punctate plasma membrane domains known as MCC/eisosomes, we examined overexpression of SUR7 and found that it rescued the copper sensitivity of a mutant that fails to form MCC/eisosomes (pil1Δ lsp1Δ), indicating that these domains act to facilitate Sur7 function. Genetic screening identified new copper-sensitive mutants, the strongest of which were similar to sur7Δ in having altered plasma membranes due to defects in membrane trafficking, cortical actin, and morphogenesis (rvs161Δ, rvs167Δ, and arp2Δ arp3Δ). Consistent with the mutants having altered plasma membrane organization, they were all more readily permeabilized by copper, which is known to bind phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine and cause membrane damage. Although these phospholipids are normally localized to the intracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane, their exposure on the surface of the copper-sensitive mutants was indicated by increased susceptibility to membrane damaging agents that bind to these phospholipids. Increased copper sensitivity was also detected for a drs2Δ mutant, which lacks a phospholipid flippase that is involved in maintaining phospholipid asymmetry. Copper binds phosphatidylserine with very high affinity, and deleting CHO1 to prevent phosphatidylserine synthesis rescued the copper sensitivity of sur7Δ cells, confirming a major role for phosphatidylserine in copper sensitivity. These results highlight how proper plasma membrane architecture protects fungal pathogens from copper and attack by the immune system, thereby opening up new avenues for therapeutic intervention. The transition metal copper is used by the innate immune system to attack microbial pathogens. To better understand how the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans resists this type of stress, we screened for mutants that were more susceptible to killing by copper. Interestingly, we identified a new class of copper-sensitive mutants whose plasma membranes are more readily permeabilized by copper. The common characteristic of these new copper-sensitive mutants is that they have an altered cell surface, which weakened their resistance to copper. These results help to explain the toxic effects of copper and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lois M. Douglas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - James B. Konopka
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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46
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Lorenzo-Gutiérrez D, Gómez-Gil L, Guarro J, Roncero MIG, Fernández-Bravo A, Capilla J, López-Fernández L. Role of the Fusarium oxysporum metallothionein Mt1 in resistance to metal toxicity and virulence. Metallomics 2019; 11:1230-1240. [DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00081j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Soil organisms exhibit high tolerance to heavy metals, probably acquired through evolutionary adaptation to contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damaris Lorenzo-Gutiérrez
- Unitat de Microbiologia
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili
- Reus
- Spain
| | - Lucía Gómez-Gil
- Departamento de Genetica
- Facultad de Ciencias and Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3
- Universidad de Cordoba
- 14071 Cordoba
- Spain
| | - Josep Guarro
- Unitat de Microbiologia
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili
- Reus
- Spain
| | - M. Isabel G. Roncero
- Departamento de Genetica
- Facultad de Ciencias and Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3
- Universidad de Cordoba
- 14071 Cordoba
- Spain
| | - Ana Fernández-Bravo
- Unitat de Microbiologia
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili
- Reus
- Spain
| | - Javier Capilla
- Unitat de Microbiologia
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili
- Reus
- Spain
| | - Loida López-Fernández
- Unitat de Microbiologia
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili
- Reus
- Spain
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47
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Robinett NG, Culbertson EM, Peterson RL, Sanchez H, Andes DR, Nett JE, Culotta VC. Exploiting the vulnerable active site of a copper-only superoxide dismutase to disrupt fungal pathogenesis. J Biol Chem 2018; 294:2700-2713. [PMID: 30593499 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.007095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper-only superoxide dismutases (SODs) represent a new class of SOD enzymes that are exclusively extracellular and unique to fungi and oomycetes. These SODs are essential for virulence of fungal pathogens in pulmonary and disseminated infections, and we show here an additional role for copper-only SODs in promoting survival of fungal biofilms. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans expresses three copper-only SODs, and deletion of one of them, SOD5, eradicated candidal biofilms on venous catheters in a rodent model. Fungal copper-only SODs harbor an irregular active site that, unlike their Cu,Zn-SOD counterparts, contains a copper co-factor unusually open to solvent and lacks zinc for stabilizing copper binding, making fungal copper-only SODs highly vulnerable to metal chelators. We found that unlike mammalian Cu,Zn-SOD1, C. albicans SOD5 indeed rapidly loses its copper to metal chelators such as EDTA, and binding constants for Cu(II) predict that copper-only SOD5 has a much lower affinity for copper than does Cu,Zn-SOD1. We screened compounds with a variety of indications and identified several metal-binding compounds, including the ionophore pyrithione zinc (PZ), that effectively inhibit C. albicans SOD5 but not mammalian Cu,Zn-SOD1. We observed that PZ both acts as an ionophore that promotes uptake of toxic metals and inhibits copper-only SODs. The pros and cons of a vulnerable active site for copper-only SODs and the possible exploitation of this vulnerability in antifungal drug design are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G Robinett
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Edward M Culbertson
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Ryan L Peterson
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - David R Andes
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - Jeniel E Nett
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - Valeria C Culotta
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
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48
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Englinger B, Pirker C, Heffeter P, Terenzi A, Kowol CR, Keppler BK, Berger W. Metal Drugs and the Anticancer Immune Response. Chem Rev 2018; 119:1519-1624. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Englinger
- Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Pirker
- Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Heffeter
- Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Research Cluster “Translational Cancer Therapy Research”, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alessio Terenzi
- Research Cluster “Translational Cancer Therapy Research”, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian R. Kowol
- Research Cluster “Translational Cancer Therapy Research”, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard K. Keppler
- Research Cluster “Translational Cancer Therapy Research”, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Berger
- Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Research Cluster “Translational Cancer Therapy Research”, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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49
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Godinho CP, Dias PJ, Ponçot E, Sá-Correia I. The Paralogous Genes PDR18 and SNQ2, Encoding Multidrug Resistance ABC Transporters, Derive From a Recent Duplication Event, PDR18 Being Specific to the Saccharomyces Genus. Front Genet 2018; 9:476. [PMID: 30374366 PMCID: PMC6196229 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play a key role in the simultaneous acquisition of resistance to a wide range of structurally and functionally unrelated cytotoxic compounds in yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pdr18 was proposed to transport ergosterol at the plasma membrane, contributing to the maintenance of adequate ergosterol content and decreased levels of stress-induced membrane disorganization and permeabilization under multistress challenge leading to resistance to ethanol, acetic acid and the herbicide 2,4-D, among other compounds. PDR18 is a paralog of SNQ2, first described as a determinant of resistance to the chemical mutagen 4-NQO. The phylogenetic and neighborhood analysis performed in this work to reconstruct the evolutionary history of ScPDR18 gene in Saccharomycetaceae yeasts was focused on the 214 Pdr18/Snq2 homologs from the genomes of 117 strains belonging to 29 yeast species across that family. Results support the idea that a single duplication event occurring in the common ancestor of the Saccharomyces genus yeasts was at the origin of PDR18 and SNQ2, and that by chromosome translocation PDR18 gained a subtelomeric region location in chromosome XIV. The multidrug/multixenobiotic phenotypic profiles of S. cerevisiae pdr18Δ and snq2Δ deletion mutants were compared, as well as the susceptibility profile for Candida glabrata snq2Δ deletion mutant, given that this yeast species has diverged previously to the duplication event on the origin of PDR18 and SNQ2 genes and encode only one Pdr18/Snq2 homolog. Results show a significant overlap between ScSnq2 and CgSnq2 roles in multidrug/multixenobiotic resistance (MDR/MXR) as well as some overlap in azole resistance between ScPdr18 and CgSnq2. The fact that ScSnq2 and ScPdr18 confer resistance to different sets of chemical compounds with little overlapping is consistent with the subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization of these gene copies. The elucidation of the real biological role of ScSNQ2 will enlighten this issue. Remarkably, PDR18 is only found in Saccharomyces genus genomes and is present in almost all the recently available 1,000 deep coverage genomes of natural S. cerevisiae isolates, consistent with the relevant encoded physiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia P Godinho
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Dias
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elise Ponçot
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Sá-Correia
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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50
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Layden AJ, Täse K, Finkelstein JL. Neglected tropical diseases and vitamin B12: a review of the current evidence. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2018; 112:423-435. [PMID: 30165408 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/try078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B12 deficiency is an urgent public health problem that disproportionately affects individuals in low- and middle-income settings, where the burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is also unacceptably high. Emerging evidence supports a potential role of micronutrients in modulating the risk and severity of NTDs. However, the role of vitamin B12 in NTD pathogenesis is unknown. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the evidence on the role of vitamin B12 in the etiology of NTDs. Ten studies were included in this review: one study using an in vitro/animal model, eight observational human studies and one ancillary analysis conducted within an intervention trial. Most research to date has focused on vitamin B12 status and helminthic infections. One study examined the effects of vitamin B12 interventions in NTDs in animal and in vitro models. Few prospective studies have been conducted to date to examine the role of vitamin B12 in NTDs. The limited literature in this area constrains our ability to make specific recommendations. Larger prospective human studies are needed to elucidate the role of vitamin B12 in NTD risk and severity in order to inform interventions in at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristos Täse
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Julia L Finkelstein
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.,St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India
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