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Namvar S, Labram B, Rowley J, Herrick S. Aspergillus fumigatus-Host Interactions Mediating Airway Wall Remodelling in Asthma. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020159. [PMID: 35205913 PMCID: PMC8879933 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic heterogeneous respiratory condition that is mainly associated with sensitivity to airborne agents such as pollen, dust mite products and fungi. Key pathological features include increased airway inflammation and airway wall remodelling. In particular, goblet cell hyperplasia, combined with excess mucus secretion, impairs clearance of the inhaled foreign material. Furthermore, structural changes such as subepithelial fibrosis and increased smooth muscle hypertrophy collectively contribute to deteriorating airway function and possibility of exacerbations. Current pharmacological therapies focused on airway wall remodelling are limited, and as such, are an area of unmet clinical need. Sensitisation to the fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, is associated with enhanced asthma severity, bronchiectasis, and hospitalisation. How Aspergillus fumigatus may drive airway structural changes is unclear, although recent evidence points to a central role of the airway epithelium. This review provides an overview of the airway pathology in patients with asthma and fungal sensitisation, summarises proposed airway epithelial cell-fungal interactions and discusses the initiation of a tissue remodelling response. Related findings from in vivo animal models are included given the limited analysis of airway pathology in patients. Lastly, an important role for Aspergillus fumigatus-derived proteases in triggering a cascade of damage-repair events through upregulation of airway epithelial-derived factors is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Namvar
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
- Correspondence: (S.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Briony Labram
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Jessica Rowley
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Sarah Herrick
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: (S.N.); (S.H.)
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2
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Abstract
Infections due to Aspergillus species are an acute threat to human health; members of the Aspergillus section Fumigati are the most frequently occurring agents, but depending on the local epidemiology, representatives of section Terrei or section Flavi are the second or third most important. Aspergillus terreus species complex is of great interest, as it is usually amphotericin B resistant and displays notable differences in immune interactions in comparison to Aspergillus fumigatus. The latest epidemiological surveys show an increased incidence of A. terreus as well as an expanding clinical spectrum (chronic infections) and new groups of at-risk patients being affected. Hallmarks of these non-Aspergillus fumigatus invasive mold infections are high potential for tissue invasion, dissemination, and possible morbidity due to mycotoxin production. We seek to review the microbiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of A. terreus species complex, address clinical characteristics, and highlight the underlying mechanisms of amphotericin B resistance. Selected topics will contrast key elements of A. terreus with A. fumigatus. We provide a comprehensive resource for clinicians dealing with fungal infections and researchers working on A. terreus pathogenesis, aiming to bridge the emerging translational knowledge and future therapeutic challenges on this opportunistic pathogen.
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Volgger V, Louza J, Gellrich D, Eder K, Gröger M. Value of Component Resolved Diagnostics to Aspergillus fumigatus in Patients with Upper Airway Complaints. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2020; 182:120-130. [PMID: 32942277 DOI: 10.1159/000510285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus is a risk factor for severe asthma. However, little is known about its presence, appearance, and impact on allergic rhinitis. Herein, we investigated the usefulness of component resolved diagnostics in patients sensitized to Aspergillus fumigatus protein extract. METHODS Seventy-eight patients with suspected allergic rhinitis and elevated IgE levels toward Aspergillus fumigatus protein extract were retrospectively evaluated regarding their total and Aspergillus-specific IgE levels and their skin prick test. Furthermore, they were tested for specific IgE antibodies against Asp f 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. RESULTS Skin prick test missed 6 patients (7.7%) with elevated IgE toward Aspergillus fumigatus protein extract. Fifty percent of patients (n = 39) were sensitized to at least one component. Even though monosensitization affected all components, all patients with positivity toward more than one component were sensitized to Asp f 1. There was a statistically significant increase of Aspergillus-specific IgE with increasing number of components affected by sensitization. Many patients were oligo- (34.6%) or polysensitized (51.3%). There was a high prevalence of sinusitis (61.8%). CONCLUSIONS Component resolved diagnostic testing toward the major allergen Asp f 1 was less sensitive than skin prick test and serology to Aspergillus fumigatus protein extract. However, sensitivity of component resolved diagnostics might be underestimated. Diagnostics of the species-specific allergens Asp f 1, 2, and 4 might allow to differentiate between genuine and cross-reactive sensitization. In the clinical routine, skin prick test and serology to crude extract remain the methods of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Volgger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany,
| | - Julia Louza
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Donata Gellrich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Eder
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Gröger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Blango MG, Pschibul A, Rivieccio F, Krüger T, Rafiq M, Jia LJ, Zheng T, Goldmann M, Voltersen V, Li J, Panagiotou G, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA. Dynamic Surface Proteomes of Allergenic Fungal Conidia. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2092-2104. [PMID: 32233371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fungal spores and hyphal fragments play an important role as allergens in respiratory diseases. In this study, we performed trypsin shaving and secretome analyses to identify the surface-exposed proteins and secreted/shed proteins of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia, respectively. We investigated the surface proteome under different conditions, including temperature variation and germination. We found that the surface proteome of resting A. fumigatus conidia is not static but instead unexpectedly dynamic, as evidenced by drastically different surface proteomes under different growth conditions. Knockouts of two abundant A. fumigatus surface proteins, ScwA and CweA, were found to function only in fine-tuning the cell wall stress response, implying that the conidial surface is very robust against perturbations. We then compared the surface proteome of A. fumigatus to other allergy-inducing molds, including Alternaria alternata, Penicillium rubens, and Cladosporium herbarum, and performed comparative proteomics on resting and swollen conidia, as well as secreted proteins from germinating conidia. We detected 125 protein ortholog groups, including 80 with putative catalytic activity, in the extracellular region of all four molds, and 42 nonorthologous proteins produced solely by A. fumigatus. Ultimately, this study highlights the dynamic nature of the A. fumigatus conidial surface and provides targets for future diagnostics and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Blango
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Annica Pschibul
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Flora Rivieccio
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Lei-Jie Jia
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Tingting Zheng
- Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Marie Goldmann
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Vera Voltersen
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.,School of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena 07745, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena 07745, Germany
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5
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Alghamdi NS, Barton R, Wilcox M, Peckham D. Serum IgE and IgG reactivity to Aspergillus recombinant antigens in patients with cystic fibrosis. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:924-929. [PMID: 31090534 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The diagnosis of aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients remains a challenge due to overlapping features of both diseases. This is further complicated by inconsistent antibody reactivity to the currently used crude antigen, which has led a more focused evaluation of the efficacy of IgE response to a number of pure Aspergillus fumigatus recombinant proteins in patients with CF and asthma. In this study, we dissected the IgE and IgG responses to multiple A. fumigatus recombinant antigens in CF patients with different Aspergillus diseases. METHODOLOGY Serum IgE and IgG antibodies were measured in 12 CF patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), 12 with Aspergillus sensitization (AS) and 12 with Aspergillus bronchitis (AB) against recombinant antigens Asp f1, f2, f3, f4 and f6. RESULTS The ABPA group showed significantly greater IgE reactivity to Asp f1, f2, f3 and f4 compared to patients with AS. Patients with AB expressed higher IgG positivity to Asp f1 and Asp f2 compared with those with ABPA. There were very low IgE antibody levels against all recombinant antigens in patients with AS. Aspf1 IgG reactivity in ABPA patients correlated with positive culture. CONCLUSION The use of multiple recombinant antigens may improve the diagnostic accuracy in CF complicated with ABPA or AB. Asp f1 reactivity may relate to the presence of actively growing Aspergillus spp., which might be a useful marker for guiding antifungal therapy in ABPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada S Alghamdi
- 1 Leeds Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Richard Barton
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Daniel Peckham
- 4 Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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6
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Al-Saleh AA, Farid E, Makhlooq M, Mahdi M, Reda M, Zaid T, Al-Alawi S, Panjwani A, Salman N, Ali HR, Bindayna K. Allergic aspergillosis in asthmatic patients in a tertiary hospital in the Kingdom of Bahrain. J Lab Physicians 2019; 11:373-381. [PMID: 31929707 PMCID: PMC6943863 DOI: 10.4103/jlp.jlp_42_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Aspergillosis is an alarming complication in asthma, leading to worsening symptoms and irreversible lung damage. It is underdiagnosed among asthmatics worldwide, especially in our geographical region. AIM: This research was aimed to shed some light on the prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic patients in the Kingdom of Bahrain. IMPORTANCE: This project has never been conducted in the region and hopefully will lead to a better care for asthmatics. METHODOLOGY: Our study population consisted of adult outpatients visiting the pulmonary and chest diseases clinic at Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC); the main inclusion condition was manifesting respiratory distress symptoms related to one or more respiratory tract diseases. 152 individuals were selected; the study group consisted of 119 asthmatic patients manifesting respiratory distress. The control group consisted of 33 nonasthmatic patients that manifested pulmonary distress symptoms due to respiratory tract diseases other than asthma like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, among others. Sera samples were collected in SMC and analyzed via Phadia-250 fluoro-enzyme-immunoassay to determine the levels of Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE. The rAsp f1 antigen was used against IgE. RESULTS: Our results indicated a 16% prevalence of A. fumigatus sensitization in asthmatics; also, 75.6% of asthmatics were sensitized to pollen grains, and 22.3% reported one or many food allergies. Furthermore, details of patients with significant levels of A. fumigatus- specific IgE were analyzed, and ABPA prevalence was estimated to be 10.1% in asthmatics. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness toward these indolent diseases is required, as well as, more efforts in determining the burden of aspergillosis in other parts of the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah A Al-Saleh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Eman Farid
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.,Department of Pathology, Immunology Laboratory, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Mohammed Makhlooq
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Munner Mahdi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Mohammed Reda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Thuraya Zaid
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Sugra Al-Alawi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Amit Panjwani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Nasser Salman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Hussien R Ali
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Chest Diseases Clinic, Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Khalid Bindayna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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Yeast two-hybrid screening reveals a dual function for the histone acetyltransferase GcnE by controlling glutamine synthesis and development in Aspergillus fumigatus. Curr Genet 2018; 65:523-538. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-018-0891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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8
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Miura N, Ueda M. Evaluation of Unconventional Protein Secretion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other Fungi. Cells 2018; 7:cells7090128. [PMID: 30200367 PMCID: PMC6162777 DOI: 10.3390/cells7090128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of proteome analysis of extracellular proteins has revealed that a wide variety of proteins, including fungal allergens are present outside the cell. These secreted allergens often do not contain known secretion signal sequences. Recent research progress shows that some fungal allergens are secreted by unconventional secretion pathways, including autophagy- and extracellular-vesicle-dependent pathways. However, secretion pathways remain unknown for the majority of extracellular proteins. This review summarizes recent data on unconventional protein secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other fungi. Particularly, methods for evaluating unconventional protein secretion are proposed for fungal species, including S. cerevisiae, a popular model organism for investigating protein secretion pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Miura
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai 599-8531, Japan.
| | - Mitsuyoshi Ueda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
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Proteomics as a Tool to Identify New Targets Against Aspergillus and Scedosporium in the Context of Cystic Fibrosis. Mycopathologia 2017; 183:273-289. [PMID: 28484941 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-017-0139-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that increases the risk of suffering microbial, including fungal, infections. In this paper, proteomics-based information was collated relating to secreted and cell wall proteins with potential medical applications from the most common filamentous fungi in CF, i.e., Aspergillus and Scedosporium/Lomentospora species. Among the Aspergillus fumigatus secreted allergens, β-1,3-endoglucanase, the alkaline protease 1 (Alp1/oryzin), Asp f 2, Asp f 13/15, chitinase, chitosanase, dipeptidyl-peptidase V (DppV), the metalloprotease Asp f 5, mitogillin/Asp f 1, and thioredoxin reductase receive a special mention. In addition, the antigens β-glucosidase 1, catalase, glucan endo-1,3-β-glucosidase EglC, β-1,3-glucanosyltransferases Gel1 and Gel2, and glutaminase A were also identified in secretomes of other Aspergillus species associated with CF: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus terreus. Regarding cell wall proteins, cytochrome P450 and eEF-3 were proposed as diagnostic targets, and alkaline protease 2 (Alp2), Asp f 3 (putative peroxiredoxin pmp20), probable glycosidases Asp f 9/Crf1 and Crf2, GPI-anchored protein Ecm33, β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase Gel4, conidial hydrophobin Hyp1/RodA, and secreted aspartyl protease Pep2 as protective vaccines in A. fumigatus. On the other hand, for Scedosporium/Lomentospora species, the heat shock protein Hsp70 stands out as a relevant secreted and cell wall antigen. Additionally, the secreted aspartyl proteinase and an ortholog of Asp f 13, as well as the cell wall endo-1,3-β-D-glucosidase and 1,3-β-glucanosyl transferase, were also found to be significant proteins. In conclusion, proteins mentioned in this review may be promising candidates for developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools for fungal infections in CF patients.
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10
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Tanimoto H, Fukutomi Y, Yasueda H, Takeuchi Y, Saito A, Watai K, Sekiya K, Tsuburai T, Asano K, Taniguchi M, Akiyama K. Molecular-based allergy diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in Aspergillus fumigatus-sensitized Japanese patients. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 45:1790-800. [PMID: 26118958 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Distinguishing between patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and Aspergillus fumigatus (Af)-sensitized asthmatic patients without ABPA is sometimes difficult owing to the IgE-cross-reactivity between Af and other fungal allergens. OBJECTIVE To establish the usefulness of molecular-based allergy diagnostics using allergen components from Af in distinguishing ABPA from Af-sensitized asthma without ABPA. METHODS Sera from Japanese patients with ABPA (n = 53) and Af-sensitized asthma without ABPA (n = 253) were studied. The levels of IgE and IgG antibodies to allergen components from Af and IgE antibodies to different fugal allergen extracts were measured by ImmunoCAP. Comorbid atopic dermatitis (AD) was taken into consideration in the sensitization profile analysis. RESULTS Patients with ABPA possessed significantly higher levels of IgE antibodies to Asp f 1, and Asp f 2 than asthmatic patients without ABPA. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the levels of IgE to Asp f 1 and Asp f 2 as diagnostic markers of ABPA were 0.75 and 0.78, respectively. The presence of IgE positivity to Asp f 1 and/or Asp f 2 resulted in increased sensitivity while losing little specificity. Comorbid AD was associated with higher levels of IgE to Asp f 6 (manganese superoxide dismutase from Af, a ubiquitous pan-allergen in fungi) and low but positive levels of IgE to other Af-components, which hampered the serological discrimination of ABPA. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The levels of IgE to Asp f 1 and/or Asp f 2 can effectively differentiate ABPA from Af-sensitized asthma, suggesting that the amounts of IgE specific for these molecules are markers for genuine Af-sensitization in ABPA. However, comorbid AD must be taken into consideration in the interpretation of high IgE to Asp f 6. Establishing of IgE-sensitization profiles using panel of Af-allergen components provides valuable information for distinguishing genuine vs. cross-reactive sensitization in Af-sensitized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tanimoto
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Y Fukutomi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - H Yasueda
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Y Takeuchi
- Division of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Allergy, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - A Saito
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - K Watai
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - K Sekiya
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - T Tsuburai
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - K Asano
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - M Taniguchi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - K Akiyama
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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11
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Teutschbein J, Simon S, Lother J, Springer J, Hortschansky P, Morton CO, Löffler J, Einsele H, Conneally E, Rogers TR, Guthke R, Brakhage AA, Kniemeyer O. Proteomic Profiling of Serological Responses to Aspergillus fumigatus Antigens in Patients with Invasive Aspergillosis. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1580-91. [PMID: 26974881 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the species that most commonly causes the opportunistic infection invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients being treated for hematological malignancies. Little is known about the A. fumigatus proteins that trigger the production of Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies during the course of IA. To characterize the serological response to A. fumigatus protein antigens, mycelial proteins were separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis. The gels were immunoblotted with sera from patients with probable and proven IA and control patients without IA. We identified 49 different fungal proteins, which gave a positive IgG antibody signal. Most of these antigens play a role in primary metabolism and stress responses. Overall, our analysis identified 18 novel protein antigens from A. fumigatus. To determine whether these antigens can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers or exhibit a protective activity, we employed supervised machine learning with decision trees. We identified two candidates for further analysis, the protein antigens CpcB and Shm2. Heterologously produced Shm2 induced a strongly proinflammatory response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro stimulation. In contrast, CpcB did not activate the immune response of PBMCs. These findings could serve as the basis for the development of an immunotherapy of IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janka Teutschbein
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Svenja Simon
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jasmin Lother
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Springer
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - C Oliver Morton
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jürgen Löffler
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg , 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas R Rogers
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Haematology, St. James's Hospital , Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Reinhard Guthke
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) , 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University , 07743 Jena, Germany.,Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care Jena (CSCC), University Hospital , 07747 Jena, Germany
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Fukutomi Y, Tanimoto H, Yasueda H, Taniguchi M. Serological diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis: Progress and challenges. Allergol Int 2016; 65:30-6. [PMID: 26740298 DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2015.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prompt diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is an important clinical issue in preventing irreversible lung damage. Therefore, a good serological marker for the diagnosis of ABPM is desired in clinical practice. The measurement of IgE antibody to crude Aspergillus fumigatus allergen is considered the first step in screening asthmatic patients for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). However, presence of IgE to A. fumigatus does not always indicate genuine sensitization to A. fumigatus because of cross-reactivity between crude extracts from different fungal sources. The application of molecular-based allergy diagnosis can solve this problem. The specificity of testing can be greatly improved by measuring the IgE antibody to Asp f 1 and f 2, specific allergen components for genuine A. fumigatus allergy. The problem of cross-reactivity between crude fungal extracts is also true for the identification of genuine causal fungi in each ABPM patient. Some patients with ABPM induced by fungi other than Aspergillus may be consistent with ABPA diagnostic criteria because current criteria depend on IgE/IgG reactivity to crude extracts. Accurate identification of genuine causal fungi for ABPM is of clinical importance, considering that clinical presentation, anti-fungal treatment strategies and disease prognosis can be influenced by different causal fungi. The diagnosis of causal fungi can be robustly validated by the confirmation of genuine sensitization to fungi after measuring IgE to specific allergen components, as well as repeated microbiological isolation of the fungi from their airway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuma Fukutomi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Tanimoto
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yasueda
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masami Taniguchi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
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13
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Gernez Y, Waters J, Mirković B, Lavelle GM, Dunn CE, Davies ZA, Everson C, Tirouvanziam R, Silver E, Wallenstein S, Chotirmall SH, McElvaney NG, Herzenberg LA, Moss RB. Blood basophil activation is a reliable biomarker of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2015; 47:177-85. [DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01068-2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is clinically challenging, due to the absence of an objective biological test. Since blood basophils play a major role in allergic responses, we hypothesised that changes in their surface activation pattern discriminate between CF patients with and without ABPA.We conducted a prospective longitudinal study (Stanford cohort) comparing basophil activation test CD203c levels by flow cytometry before and after activation withAspergillus fumigatusallergen extract or recombinantAspf1 in 20 CF patients with ABPA (CF-ABPA) and in two comparison groups: CF patients withA. fumigatuscolonisation (AC) but without ABPA (CF-AC; n=13) and CF patients without either AC or ABPA (CF; n=12). Patients were tested every 6 months and when ill with pulmonary exacerbation. We also conducted cross-sectional validation in a separate patient set (Dublin cohort).Basophil CD203c surface expression reliably discriminated CF-ABPA from CF-AC and CF over time. Ex vivostimulation withA. fumigatusextract or recombinantAspf1 produced similar results within the Stanford (p<0.0001) and the Dublin cohorts. CF-ABPA patients were likelier to have elevated specific IgE toA. fumigatusand were less frequently co-infected withStaphylococcus aureus.Basophil CD203c upregulation is a suitable diagnostic and stable monitoring biomarker of ABPA in CF.
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14
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Fukutomi Y, Taniguchi M. Sensitization to fungal allergens: Resolved and unresolved issues. Allergol Int 2015; 64:321-31. [PMID: 26433528 DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure and sensitization to fungal allergens can promote the development and worsening of allergic diseases. Although numerous species of fungi have been associated with allergic diseases in the literature, the significance of fungi from the genera Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Malassezia has been well documented. However, it should be emphasized that the contribution of different fungal allergens to allergic diseases is not identical, but species-specific. Alternaria and Cladosporium species are considered to be important outdoor allergens, and sensitization and exposure to species of these genera is related to the development of asthma and rhinitis, as well as epidemics of asthma exacerbation, including life-threatening asthma exacerbation. In contrast, xerophilic species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, excluding Aspergillus fumigatus, are implicated in allergic diseases as indoor allergens. A. fumigatus has a high capacity to colonize the bronchial tract of asthmatic patients, causing severe persistent asthma and low lung function, and sometimes leading to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Malassezia are common commensals of healthy skin, although they are also associated with atopic dermatitis, especially on the head and neck, but not with respiratory allergies. Despite its importance in the management of allergic diseases, precise recognition of species-specific IgE sensitization to fungal allergens is often challenging because the majority of fungal extracts exhibit broad cross-reactivity with taxonomically unrelated fungi. Recent progress in gene technology has contributed to the identification of specific and cross-reactive allergen components from different fungal sources. However, data demonstrating the clinical relevance of IgE reactivity to these allergen components are still insufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuma Fukutomi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Masami Taniguchi
- Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
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15
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Page ID, Richardson M, Denning DW. Antibody testing in aspergillosis--quo vadis? Med Mycol 2015; 53:417-39. [PMID: 25980000 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myv020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are constantly exposed to airborne Aspergillus spores. Most develop Aspergillus-specific antibodies by adulthood. Persons with chronic lung disease or Aspergillus airway colonization often have raised levels of Aspergillus-specific immunoglobululin G (IgG). It is not known whether this signifies an increased risk of future aspergillosis.Chronic and allergic forms of pulmonary aspergillosis are estimated to affect over three million people worldwide. Antibody testing is central to diagnosis of these conditions, with raised Aspergillus-specific IgG in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and raised Aspergillus-specific IgE in allergic aspergillosis. Antibody levels are also used to monitor treatment response in these syndromes. Acute invasive disease is less common. There is a more limited role for antibody testing in this setting as immunosuppression often results in delayed or absent antibody response.Many methods exist to detect Aspergillus-specific antibodies, but there are limited published data regarding comparative efficacy and reproducibility. We discuss the comparative merits of the available tests in the various clinical settings and their suitability for use in the resource-poor settings where the majority of cases of aspergillosis are thought to occur. We summarize the gaps in existing knowledge and opportunities for further study that could allow optimal use of antibody testing in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain D Page
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
| | - Malcolm Richardson
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
| | - David W Denning
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, UK Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK National Aspergillosis Center and Mycology Reference Centre, University Hospital South Manchester, UK
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16
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Flores MEB, Medina PG, Camacho SPD, de Jesús Uribe Beltrán M, De la Cruz Otero MDC, Ramírez IO, Hernández MET. Fungal spore concentrations in indoor and outdoor air in university libraries, and their variations in response to changes in meteorological variables. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2014; 24:320-340. [PMID: 24070332 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2013.835029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The fungal spore concentration (FSC) in the air poses a risk for human health. This work studied the FSC in university libraries and how it is affected by environmental factors. A total of 347 samples were obtained using a Microbio MB2(®) Aerosol Sampler. The wind speed (WS), cross wind (CW), temperature (T), relative humidity (HR), barometric pressure (BP) and dew point (DP) were recorded using a Kestrel(®) 4500 weather station. The median indoor/outdoor FSC was 360/1230 CFU m(-3). FSC correlated inversely with BP, HR and DP; and positively with WS and CW; whereas T showed negative or positive correlation with FSC, depending on the region or sampling time. Eleven fungal genera were found and the dominant isolates were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus oryzae. All fungi identified are known to be allergenic. It was concluded that environmental variables can influence the air FSC in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Elena Báez Flores
- a Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas , Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa , Culiacán , México
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17
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Babiceanu MC, Howard BA, Rumore AC, Kita H, Lawrence CB. Analysis of global gene expression changes in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to spores of the allergenic fungus, Alternaria alternata. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:196. [PMID: 23882263 PMCID: PMC3715730 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure and sensitivity to ubiquitous airborne fungi such as Alternaria alternata have long been implicated in the development, onset, and exacerbation of chronic allergic airway disorders. This present study is the first to investigate global changes in host gene expression during the interaction of cultured human bronchial epithelial cells and live Alternaria spores. In in vitro experiments human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were exposed to spores or media alone for 24 h. RNA was collected from three biological replicates per treatment and was used to assess changes in gene expression patterns using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays. In cells treated with Alternaria spores compared to controls, 613 probe sets representing 460 individual genes were found differentially expressed (p ≤ 0.05). In this set of 460 statistically significant, differentially expressed genes, 397 genes were found to be up-regulated and 63 were down-regulated. Of these 397 up-regulated genes, 156 genes were found to be up-regulated ≥2 fold. Interestingly, none of the 63 down-regulated genes were found differentially expressed at ≤−2 fold. Differentially expressed genes were identified following statistical analysis and subsequently used for pathway and network evaluation. Interestingly, many cytokine and chemokine immune response genes were up-regulated with a particular emphasis on interferon-inducible genes. Genes involved in cell death, retinoic acid signaling, and TLR3 response pathways were also significantly up-regulated. Many of the differentially up-regulated genes have been shown in other systems to be associated with innate immunity, inflammation and/or allergic airway diseases. This study now provides substantial information for further investigating specific genes and innate immune system pathways activated by Alternaria in the context of allergic airway diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Babiceanu
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
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18
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Protein Profiles of Aspergillus Species Isolated From the Tea Gardens and Factories Air in Northern Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2012. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.4250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Farnell E, Rousseau K, Thornton DJ, Bowyer P, Herrick SE. Expression and secretion of Aspergillus fumigatus proteases are regulated in response to different protein substrates. Fungal Biol 2012; 116:1003-12. [PMID: 22954343 PMCID: PMC3605576 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Revised: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus secretes a number of allergens with protease activity and has been linked to a variety of allergic conditions such as Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitization (SAFS) and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). However, it is unclear which allergen proteases are being secreted during fungal invasion and whether the local biological environment regulates their expression. Understanding the dynamic expression of allergen proteases during growth of A. fumigatus may lead to further characterisation of the pathogenesis of these disorders as well as improved standardisation in the commercial production of these allergens. Secretion of proteases during germination and early growth of A. fumigatus was investigated in response to various complex protein sources (pig lung homogenate, mucin or casein). Protease inhibitor studies demonstrated that A. fumigatus (AF293 strain) secretes predominately serine proteases during growth in pig lung based medium and mainly metalloproteases during growth in casein based medium but suppressed protease secretion in unmodified Vogel's minimal medium and secreted both types in mucin based medium. Analysis of gene transcription and protein identification by mass spectrometry showed that the matrix metalloprotease, Mep/Asp f 5 and the serine protease, Alp1/Asp f 13, were upregulated and secreted during growth in pig lung medium, whereas Alp1 was predominately expressed and secreted in mucin based medium. In casein medium, the matrix metalloprotease, Lap1, was also upregulated and secreted in addition to Mep and Alp1. These findings suggest that A. fumigatus is able to detect different complex proteins available as substrates in its environment and regulate protease secretion accordingly. There is a requirement for the standardisation of A. fumigatus allergen extracts used both in clinical diagnosis of A. fumigatus allergy and in research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Farnell
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Karine Rousseau
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - David J. Thornton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Sarah E. Herrick
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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20
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Sequencing of Cladosporium sphaerospermum, a Dematiaceous fungus isolated from blood culture. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2012; 11:705-6. [PMID: 22544899 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00081-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cladosporium sphaerospermum is one of the most widely distributed allergens causing serious problems in patients with respiratory tract disease. We report the 26,644,473-bp draft genome sequence and gene annotation of C. sphaerospermum UM843. Analysis of the genome sequence led to the finding of genes associated with C. sphaerospermum's melanin biosynthesis, allergens, and antifungal drug resistance.
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21
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Diaz-Arevalo D, Ito JI, Kalkum M. Protective Effector Cells of the Recombinant Asp f3 Anti-Aspergillosis Vaccine. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:299. [PMID: 23024640 PMCID: PMC3441197 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2012] [Accepted: 07/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
An Aspergillus fumigatus vaccine based on recombinant Asp f3-protein has the potential to prevent aspergillosis in humans, a devastating fungal disease that is the prime obstacle to the success of hematopoietic cell transplantation. This vaccine protects cortisone acetate (CA)-immunosuppressed mice from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis via CD4(+) T cell mediators. Aside from these mediators, the nature of downstream fungicidal effectors is not well understood. Neutrophils and macrophages protect immunocompetent individuals from invasive fungal infections, and selective neutrophil depletion rendered mice susceptible to aspergillosis whereas macrophage depletion failed to increase fungal susceptibility. We investigated the effect of neutrophil depletion on rAsp f3-vaccine protection, and explored differences in pathophysiology and susceptibility between CA-immunosuppression and neutrophil depletion. In addition to being protective under CA-immunosuppression, the vaccine also had a protective effect in neutrophil-depleted mice. However, in non-immunized mice, a 10-fold higher conidial dose was required to induce similar susceptibility to infection with neutrophil depletion than with CA-immunosuppression. The lungs of non-immunized neutrophil-depleted mice became invaded by a patchy dense mycelium with highly branched hyphae, and the peribronchial inflammatory infiltrate consisted mainly of CD3(+) T cells and largely lacked macrophages. In contrast, lungs of non-immunized CA-immunosuppressed mice were more evenly scattered with short hyphal elements. With rAsp f3-vaccination, the lungs were largely clear of fungal burden under either immunosuppressive condition. We conclude that neutrophils, although important for innate antifungal protection of immunocompetent hosts, are not the relevant effectors for rAsp f3-vaccine derived protection of immunosuppressed hosts. It is therefore more likely that macrophages represent the crucial effectors of the rAsp f3-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Diaz-Arevalo
- Department of Immunology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope Duarte, CA, USA
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22
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Fungi and allergic lower respiratory tract diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129:280-91; quiz 292-3. [PMID: 22284927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 302] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a common disorder that in 2009 afflicted 8.2% of adults and children, 24.6 million persons, in the United States. In patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma, there is significantly increased morbidity, use of health care support, and health care costs. Epidemiologic studies in the United States and Europe have associated mold sensitivity, particularly to Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum, with the development, persistence, and severity of asthma. In addition, sensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus has been associated with severe persistent asthma in adults. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is caused by A fumigatus and is characterized by exacerbations of asthma, recurrent transient chest radiographic infiltrates, coughing up thick mucus plugs, peripheral and pulmonary eosinophilia, and increased total serum IgE and fungus-specific IgE levels, especially during exacerbation. The airways appear to be chronically or intermittently colonized by A fumigatus in patients with ABPA. ABPA is the most common form of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM); other fungi, including Candida, Penicillium, and Curvularia species, are implicated. The characteristics of ABPM include severe asthma, eosinophilia, markedly increased total IgE and specific IgE levels, bronchiectasis, and mold colonization of the airways. The term severe asthma associated with fungal sensitization (SAFS) has been coined to illustrate the high rate of fungal sensitivity in patients with persistent severe asthma and improvement with antifungal treatment. The immunopathology of ABPA, ABPM, and SAFS is incompletely understood. Genetic risks identified in patients with ABPA include HLA association and certain T(H)2-prominent and cystic fibrosis variants, but these have not been studied in patients with ABPM and SAFS. Oral corticosteroid and antifungal therapies appear to be partially successful in patients with ABPA. However, the role of antifungal and immunomodulating therapies in patients with ABPA, ABPM, and SAFS requires additional larger studies.
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Wartenberg D, Lapp K, Jacobsen ID, Dahse HM, Kniemeyer O, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA. Secretome analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus reveals Asp-hemolysin as a major secreted protein. Int J Med Microbiol 2011; 301:602-11. [PMID: 21658997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2011.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Revised: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-associated and secreted proteins represent primarily exposed components of Aspergillus fumigatus during host infection. Several secreted proteins are known to be involved in defense mechanisms or immune evasion, thus, probably contributing to pathogenicity. Furthermore, several secreted antigens were identified as possible biomarkers for the verification of diseases caused by Aspergillus species. Nevertheless, there is only limited knowledge about the composition of the secretome and about molecular functions of particular proteins. To identify secreted proteins potentially essential for virulence, the core secretome of A. fumigatus grown in minimal medium was determined. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation and subsequent MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analyses resulted in the identification of 64 different proteins. Additionally, secretome analyses of A. fumigatus utilizing elastin, collagen or keratin as main carbon and nitrogen source were performed. Thereby, the alkaline serine protease Alp1 was identified as the most abundant protein and hence presumably represents an important protease during host infection. Interestingly, the Asp-hemolysin (Asp-HS), which belongs to the protein family of aegerolysins and which was often suggested to be involved in fungal virulence, was present in the secretome under all growth conditions tested. In addition, a second, non-secreted protein with an aegerolysin domain annotated as Asp-hemolysin-like (HS-like) protein can be found to be encoded in the genome of A. fumigatus. Generation and analysis of Asp-HS and HS-like deletion strains revealed no differences in phenotype compared to the corresponding wild-type strain. Furthermore, hemolysis and cytotoxicity was not altered in both single-deletion and double-deletion mutants lacking both aegerolysin genes. All mutant strains showed no attenuation in virulence in a mouse infection model for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of secreted proteins of A. fumigatus and a detailed characterization of hemolysin mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Wartenberg
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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24
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Fraczek MG, Rashid R, Denson M, Denning DW, Bowyer P. Aspergillus fumigatus allergen expression is coordinately regulated in response to hydrogen peroxide and cyclic AMP. Clin Mol Allergy 2010; 8:15. [PMID: 21047420 PMCID: PMC2988701 DOI: 10.1186/1476-7961-8-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A. fumigatus has been associated with a wide spectrum of allergic disorders such as ABPA or SAFS. It is poorly understood what allergens in particular are being expressed during fungal invasion and which are responsible for stimulation of immune responses. Study of the dynamics of allergen production by fungi may lead to insights into how allergens are presented to the immune system. Methods Expression of 17 A. fumigatus allergen genes was examined in response to various culture conditions and stimuli as well as in the presence of macrophages in order to mimic conditions encountered in the lung. Results Expression of 14/17 allergen genes was strongly induced by oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (Asp f 1, -2, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -10, -13, -17 and -18, all >10-fold and Asp f 11, -12, and -22, 5-10-fold) and 16/17 allergen genes were repressed in the presence of cAMP. The 4 protease allergen genes (Asp f -5, -10, -13 and -18) were expressed at very low levels compared to the comparator (β-tubulin) under all other conditions examined. Mild heat shock, anoxia, lipid and presence of macrophages did not result in coordinated changes in allergen gene expression. Growth on lipid as sole carbon source contributed to the moderate induction of most of the allergen genes. Heat shock (37°C > 42°C) caused moderate repression in 11/17 genes (Asp f 1, -2, -4, -5, -6, -9, -10, -13, -17, -18 and -23) (2- to 9-fold), which was mostly evident for Asp f 1 and -9 (~9-fold). Anaerobic stress led to moderate induction of 13/17 genes (1.1 to 4-fold) with one, Asp f 8 induced over 10-fold when grown under mineral oil. Complex changes were seen in gene expression during co-culture of A. fumigatus with macrophages. Conclusions Remarkable coordination of allergen gene expression in response to a specific condition (oxidative stress or the presence of cAMP) has been observed, implying that a single biological stimulus may play a role in allergen gene regulation. Interdiction of a putative allergen expression induction signalling pathway might provide a novel therapy for treatment of fungal allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin G Fraczek
- School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, Education and Research Centre (2nd floor), The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, NIHR Translational Research Facility in Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK.
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25
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Teutschbein J, Albrecht D, Pötsch M, Guthke R, Aimanianda V, Clavaud C, Latgé JP, Brakhage AA, Kniemeyer O. Proteome profiling and functional classification of intracellular proteins from conidia of the human-pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus. J Proteome Res 2010; 9:3427-42. [PMID: 20507060 DOI: 10.1021/pr9010684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitously distributed filamentous fungus that has emerged as one of the most serious life-threatening pathogens in immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms for its pathogenicity are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the proteome of dormant A. fumigatus conidia as the fungal entity having the initial contact with the host. Applying two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), we established a 2-D reference map of conidial proteins. By MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, we identified a total number of 449 different proteins. We show that 57 proteins of our map are over-represented in resting conidia compared to mycelium. Enzymes involved in reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) detoxification, pigment biosynthesis, and conidial rodlet layer formation were highly abundant in A. fumigatus spores and most probably account for their enormous stress resistance. Interestingly, pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase were detectable in dormant conidia, suggesting that alcoholic fermentation plays a role during dormancy or early germination. Moreover, we show that enzymes for rapid reactivation of protein biosynthesis and metabolic processes are preserved in resting conidia, which therefore feature the potential to immediately respond to an environmental stimulus by germination. The generated data lay the foundations for further proteomic analyses and a better understanding of fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janka Teutschbein
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent work demonstrates that patients with refractory asthma are likely to be sensitized to environmental fungi and that specific antifungal treatments may be of benefit to this group. RECENT FINDINGS The relationships among fungal sensitization, exposure and asthma severity are imperfectly understood. Exposure to environmental fungi occurs ubiquitously and there is emerging evidence that internal airways colonization could be a source of ongoing exposure. Antifungal treatments appear to improve asthma-related quality of life. Such treatments are generally well tolerated but there are potential side-effects. The mechanisms behind the clinical improvements are not yet fully established. SUMMARY Antifungal treatments are used in some centres for patients with refractory asthma. Further research needs to explore the questions of patient selection, optimum duration of therapy and the prediction and management of azole-corticosteroid drug interactions. Advances in our understanding of the fungal molecular allergome and in our understanding of the allergic importance of small hyphal fragments may help to more precisely define the relationships among fungal sensitization, exposure and asthma severity.
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Albrecht D, Guthke R, Brakhage AA, Kniemeyer O. Integrative analysis of the heat shock response in Aspergillus fumigatus. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:32. [PMID: 20074381 PMCID: PMC2820008 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2009] [Accepted: 01/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspergillus fumigatus is a thermotolerant human-pathogenic mold and the most common cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients. Its predominance is based on several factors most of which are still unknown. The thermotolerance of A. fumigatus is one of the traits which have been assigned to pathogenicity. It allows the fungus to grow at temperatures up to and above that of a fevered human host. To elucidate the mechanisms of heat resistance, we analyzed the change of the A. fumigatus proteome during a temperature shift from 30 degrees C to 48 degrees C by 2D-fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE). To improve 2D gel image analysis results, protein spot quantitation was optimized by missing value imputation and normalization. Differentially regulated proteins were compared to previously published transcriptome data of A. fumigatus. The study was augmented by bioinformatical analysis of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in the promoter region of genes whose corresponding proteins were differentially regulated upon heat shock. RESULTS 91 differentially regulated protein spots, representing 64 different proteins, were identified by mass spectrometry (MS). They showed a continuous up-, down- or an oscillating regulation. Many of the identified proteins were involved in protein folding (chaperones), oxidative stress response, signal transduction, transcription, translation, carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. A correlation between alteration of transcript levels and corresponding proteins was detected for half of the differentially regulated proteins. Interestingly, some previously undescribed putative targets for the heat shock regulator Hsf1 were identified. This provides evidence for Hsf1-dependent regulation of mannitol biosynthesis, translation, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell division in A. fumigatus. Furthermore, computational analysis of promoters revealed putative binding sites for an AP-2alpha-like transcription factor upstream of some heat shock induced genes. Until now, this factor has only been found in vertebrates. CONCLUSIONS Our newly established DIGE data analysis workflow yields improved data quality and is widely applicable for other DIGE datasets. Our findings suggest that the heat shock response in A. fumigatus differs from already well-studied yeasts and other filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Albrecht
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Reinhard Guthke
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Schütte M, Thullier P, Pelat T, Wezler X, Rosenstock P, Hinz D, Kirsch MI, Hasenberg M, Frank R, Schirrmann T, Gunzer M, Hust M, Dübel S. Identification of a putative Crf splice variant and generation of recombinant antibodies for the specific detection of Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6625. [PMID: 19675673 PMCID: PMC2721682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2009] [Accepted: 07/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspergillus fumigatus is a common airborne fungal pathogen for humans. It frequently causes an invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients with poor prognosis. Potent antifungal drugs are very expensive and cause serious adverse effects. Their correct application requires an early and specific diagnosis of IA, which is still not properly achievable. This work aims to a specific detection of A. fumigatus by immunofluorescence and the generation of recombinant antibodies for the detection of A. fumigatus by ELISA. RESULTS The A. fumigatus antigen Crf2 was isolated from a human patient with proven IA. It is a novel variant of a group of surface proteins (Crf1, Asp f9, Asp f16) which belong to the glycosylhydrolase family. Single chain fragment variables (scFvs) were obtained by phage display from a human naive antibody gene library and an immune antibody gene library generated from a macaque immunized with recombinant Crf2. Two different selection strategies were performed and shown to influence the selection of scFvs recognizing the Crf2 antigen in its native conformation. Using these antibodies, Crf2 was localized in growing hyphae of A. fumigatus but not in spores. In addition, the antibodies allowed differentiation between A. fumigatus and related Aspergillus species or Candida albicans by immunofluorescence microscopy. The scFv antibody clones were further characterized for their affinity, the nature of their epitope, their serum stability and their detection limit of Crf2 in human serum. CONCLUSION Crf2 and the corresponding recombinant antibodies offer a novel approach for the early diagnostics of IA caused by A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Schütte
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Philippe Thullier
- Groupe de biotechnologie des anticorps, Département de biologie des agents transmissibles, Centre de Recherche du Service de Santé des Armées, La Tronche, France
| | - Thibaut Pelat
- Groupe de biotechnologie des anticorps, Département de biologie des agents transmissibles, Centre de Recherche du Service de Santé des Armées, La Tronche, France
| | - Xenia Wezler
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Philip Rosenstock
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dominik Hinz
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martina Inga Kirsch
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mike Hasenberg
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Frank
- Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Schirrmann
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Matthias Gunzer
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefan Dübel
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Braunschweig, Germany
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Bibliography. Current world literature. Model systems. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 8:276-85. [PMID: 18560306 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0b013e328303e104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kniemeyer O, Lessing F, Brakhage AA. Proteome analysis for pathogenicity and new diagnostic markers for Aspergillus fumigatus. Med Mycol 2008; 47 Suppl 1:S248-54. [PMID: 18651311 DOI: 10.1080/13693780802169138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With the completion of the Aspergillus fumigatus genome it is now possible to study protein regulation on a global scale. One of the most suitable protein separation techniques is based on 2D-gel electrophoresis, which allows the separation of proteins based on their charge and size in a gel matrix. In addition, gel-free proteomics techniques based on liquid-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry have gained importance. With the application of proteomic tools a comprehensive overview about the proteins of A. fumigatus present or induced during environmental changes and stress conditions can be obtained. For A. fumigatus, several proteomic studies have already been published including the response of the fungus to oxidative stress that induced the up-regulation of many proteins including catalases and thioredoxin peroxidase. Since many of the identified proteins/genes were apparently regulated by a putative Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yap1 homolog, the corresponding gene of A. fumigatus was identified, designated Afyap1 and further characterized. In addition, some of the gene products expressed under stress conditions are also known fungal antigens, such as the thioredoxin peroxidase AspF3. Thus, besides pathogenicity studies, proteomics also delivers the tools to screen for new antigens which could improve the diagnosis of diseases caused by A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.
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Fedorova ND, Khaldi N, Joardar VS, Maiti R, Amedeo P, Anderson MJ, Crabtree J, Silva JC, Badger JH, Albarraq A, Angiuoli S, Bussey H, Bowyer P, Cotty PJ, Dyer PS, Egan A, Galens K, Fraser-Liggett CM, Haas BJ, Inman JM, Kent R, Lemieux S, Malavazi I, Orvis J, Roemer T, Ronning CM, Sundaram JP, Sutton G, Turner G, Venter JC, White OR, Whitty BR, Youngman P, Wolfe KH, Goldman GH, Wortman JR, Jiang B, Denning DW, Nierman WC. Genomic islands in the pathogenic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS Genet 2008; 4:e1000046. [PMID: 18404212 PMCID: PMC2289846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2007] [Accepted: 03/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We present the genome sequences of a new clinical isolate of the important human pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, A1163, and two closely related but rarely pathogenic species, Neosartorya fischeri NRRL181 and Aspergillus clavatus NRRL1. Comparative genomic analysis of A1163 with the recently sequenced A. fumigatus isolate Af293 has identified core, variable and up to 2% unique genes in each genome. While the core genes are 99.8% identical at the nucleotide level, identity for variable genes can be as low 40%. The most divergent loci appear to contain heterokaryon incompatibility (het) genes associated with fungal programmed cell death such as developmental regulator rosA. Cross-species comparison has revealed that 8.5%, 13.5% and 12.6%, respectively, of A. fumigatus, N. fischeri and A. clavatus genes are species-specific. These genes are significantly smaller in size than core genes, contain fewer exons and exhibit a subtelomeric bias. Most of them cluster together in 13 chromosomal islands, which are enriched for pseudogenes, transposons and other repetitive elements. At least 20% of A. fumigatus-specific genes appear to be functional and involved in carbohydrate and chitin catabolism, transport, detoxification, secondary metabolism and other functions that may facilitate the adaptation to heterogeneous environments such as soil or a mammalian host. Contrary to what was suggested previously, their origin cannot be attributed to horizontal gene transfer (HGT), but instead is likely to involve duplication, diversification and differential gene loss (DDL). The role of duplication in the origin of lineage-specific genes is further underlined by the discovery of genomic islands that seem to function as designated “gene dumps” and, perhaps, simultaneously, as “gene factories”. Aspergillus is an extremely diverse genus of filamentous ascomycetous fungi (molds) found ubiquitously in soil and decomposing vegetation. Being supreme opportunists, aspergilli have adapted to overcome various chemical, physical, and biological stresses found in heterogeneous environments. While most species in the genus are saprophytes, a surprising number are able to infect wounded plants and animals. Remarkably, the allergic human host also responds abnormally to the aspergilli with lung and sinus disease. The advent of immunosuppressive agents and other medical advances have created a large worldwide pool of human hosts susceptible to some Aspergillus species, including the world's most harmful mold and the causative agent of invasive aspergillosis, Aspergillus fumigatus. In this study, we have used the power of comparative genomics to gain insight into genetic mechanisms that may contribute to the metabolic versatility and pathogenicity of this important human pathogen. Comparison of the genomes of two A. fumigatus clinical isolates and two closely related, but rarely pathogenic species showed that their genomes contain several large isolate- and species-specific chromosomal islands. The metabolic capabilities encoded by these highly labile regions are likely to contribute to their rapid adaptation to heterogeneous environments such as soil or a living host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie D. Fedorova
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nora Khaldi
- Department of Genetics, Smurfit Institute, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vinita S. Joardar
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rama Maiti
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Paolo Amedeo
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Anderson
- School of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Crabtree
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joana C. Silva
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan H. Badger
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ahmed Albarraq
- School of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Angiuoli
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Howard Bussey
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Bowyer
- School of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Cotty
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Paul S. Dyer
- School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Egan
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kevin Galens
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Brian J. Haas
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason M. Inman
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Richard Kent
- School of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien Lemieux
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joshua Orvis
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Terry Roemer
- Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, United States of America
| | | | - Jaideep P. Sundaram
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Granger Sutton
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Geoff Turner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - J. Craig Venter
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Owen R. White
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brett R. Whitty
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Phil Youngman
- Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Kenneth H. Wolfe
- Department of Genetics, Smurfit Institute, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jennifer R. Wortman
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bo Jiang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - David W. Denning
- School of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - William C. Nierman
- The J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Simon-Nobbe B, Denk U, Pöll V, Rid R, Breitenbach M. The spectrum of fungal allergy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2007; 145:58-86. [PMID: 17709917 DOI: 10.1159/000107578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 283] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi can be found throughout the world. They may live as saprophytes, parasites or symbionts of animals and plants in indoor as well as outdoor environment. For decades, fungi belonging to the ascomycota as well as to the basidiomycota have been known to cause a broad panel of human disorders. In contrast to pollen, fungal spores and/or mycelial cells may not only cause type I allergy, the most prevalent disease caused by molds, but also a large number of other illnesses, including allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic sinusitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and atopic dermatitis; and, again in contrast to pollen-derived allergies, fungal allergies are frequently linked with allergic asthma. Sensitization to molds has been reported in up to 80% of asthmatic patients. Although research on fungal allergies dates back to the 19th century, major improvements in the diagnosis and therapy of mold allergy have been hampered by the fact that fungal extracts are highly variable in their protein composition due to strain variabilities, batch-to-batch variations, and by the fact that extracts may be prepared from spores and/or mycelial cells. Nonetheless, about 150 individual fungal allergens from approximately 80 mold genera have been identified in the last 20 years. First clinical studies with recombinant mold allergens have demonstrated their potency in clinical diagnosis. This review aims to give an overview of the biology of molds and diseases caused by molds in humans, as well as a detailed summary of the latest results on recombinant fungal allergens.
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