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Esfahani MB, Khodavandi A, Alizadeh F, Bahador N. Possible Molecular Targeting of Biofilm-Associated Genes by Nano-Ag in Candida albicans. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024; 196:4205-4233. [PMID: 37922031 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04758-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of candidiasis infections is hindered by the presence of biofilms. Here, we report the biofilm-associated genes as potential molecular targets by silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) in Candida albicans. Nano-Ag was biosynthesized using Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Fusarium oxysporum. The physicochemical properties of the microbial-synthesized of nano-Ag are widely characterized by visual observation, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Characterization results revealed the formation of nano-Ag. Antiplanktonic cells and antibiofilm activities of nano-Ag were also demonstrated by minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), MFC/MIC ratio, crystal violet staining, 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5 sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT), and microscopic image analysis. We have analyzed the expressions of biofilm-associated genes in C. albicans treated with different concentrations of nano-Ag based on MIC. The expression profile of BCR1, ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, and ECE1 showed downregulated genes involved in these pathways by the treatment with nanoparticles. Negative regulators, TUP1, NRG1, and TOR1, were upregulated by the treatment of nano-Ag. Our study suggests that nano-Ag affects gene expression and may subsequently decrease the pathogenesis of C. albicans by inhibiting biofilm formation. Molecular targeting of biofilm-associated genes involved in biofilm formation by nano-Ag may be an effective treatment strategy for candidiasis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alireza Khodavandi
- Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.
| | - Fahimeh Alizadeh
- Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran
| | - Nima Bahador
- Department of Microbiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
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van Rhijn N, Zhao C, Al-Furaji N, Storer ISR, Valero C, Gago S, Chown H, Baldin C, Grant RF, Bin Shuraym H, Ivanova L, Kniemeyer O, Krüger T, Bignell E, Goldman GH, Amich J, Delneri D, Bowyer P, Brakhage AA, Haas H, Bromley MJ. Functional analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus kinome identifies a druggable DYRK kinase that regulates septal plugging. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4984. [PMID: 38862481 PMCID: PMC11166925 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48592-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 10 million people suffer from lung diseases caused by the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Azole antifungals represent first-line therapeutics for most of these infections but resistance is rising, therefore the identification of antifungal targets whose inhibition synergises with the azoles could improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we generate a library of 111 genetically barcoded null mutants of Aspergillus fumigatus in genes encoding protein kinases, and show that loss of function of kinase YakA results in hypersensitivity to the azoles and reduced pathogenicity. YakA is an orthologue of Candida albicans Yak1, a TOR signalling pathway kinase involved in modulation of stress responsive transcriptional regulators. We show that YakA has been repurposed in A. fumigatus to regulate blocking of the septal pore upon exposure to stress. Loss of YakA function reduces the ability of A. fumigatus to penetrate solid media and to grow in mouse lung tissue. We also show that 1-ethoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (1-ECBC), a compound previously shown to inhibit C. albicans Yak1, prevents stress-mediated septal spore blocking and synergises with the azoles to inhibit A. fumigatus growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Can Zhao
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Narjes Al-Furaji
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
| | - Isabelle S R Storer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Clara Valero
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Harry Chown
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Clara Baldin
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rachael-Fortune Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hajer Bin Shuraym
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, 11481, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lia Ivanova
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge Amich
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Delneri
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, 11481, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael J Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Gager C, Flores-Mireles AL. Blunted blades: new CRISPR-derived technologies to dissect microbial multi-drug resistance and biofilm formation. mSphere 2024; 9:e0064223. [PMID: 38511958 PMCID: PMC11036814 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00642-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has rapidly outpaced the development of effective treatments. Diverse resistance mechanisms further limit the effectiveness of our best treatments, including multi-drug regimens and last line-of-defense antimicrobials. Biofilm formation is a powerful component of microbial pathogenesis, providing a scaffold for efficient colonization and shielding against anti-microbials, which further complicates drug resistance studies. Early genetic knockout tools didn't allow the study of essential genes, but clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat inference (CRISPRi) technologies have overcome this challenge via genetic silencing. These tools rapidly evolved to meet new demands and exploit native CRISPR systems. Modern tools range from the creation of massive CRISPRi libraries to tunable modulation of gene expression with CRISPR activation (CRISPRa). This review discusses the rapid expansion of CRISPRi/a-based technologies, their use in investigating MDR and biofilm formation, and how this drives further development of a potent tool to comprehensively examine multi-drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gager
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Ana L. Flores-Mireles
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Pinsky M, Kornitzer D. Genetic Analysis of Candida albicans Filamentation by the Iron Chelator BPS Reveals a Role for a Conserved Kinase-WD40 Protein Pair. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:83. [PMID: 38276029 PMCID: PMC10820326 DOI: 10.3390/jof10010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a major human pathogenic fungus that is distinguished by its capability to switch from a yeast to a hyphal morphology under different conditions. Here, we analyze the cellular effects of high concentrations of the iron chelator bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS). BPS inhibits cellular growth by withholding iron, but when iron chelation is overcome by the addition of hemoglobin as an iron source, the cells resume growth as hyphae. The BPS hyphal induction pathway was characterized by identifying the hyphal-specific transcription factors that it requires and by a forward genetic screen for mutants that fail to form hyphae in BPS using a transposon library generated in a haploid strain. Among the mutants identified are the DYRK1-like kinase Yak1 and Orf19.384, a homolog of the DYRK1-associated protein WDR68/DCAF7. Orf19.384 nuclear localization depends on Yak1, similar to their mammalian counterparts. We identified the hyphal suppressor transcription factor Sfl1 as a candidate target of Yak1-Orf19.384 and show that Sfl1 modification is similarly affected in the yak1 and orf19.384 mutant strains. These results suggest that DYRK1/Yak1 and WDR68/Orf19.384 represent a conserved protein pair that regulates cell differentiation from fungi to animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Kornitzer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—I.I.T., Haifa 31096, Israel;
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MacAlpine J, Liu Z, Hossain S, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. DYRK-family kinases regulate Candida albicans morphogenesis and virulence through the Ras1/PKA pathway. mBio 2023; 14:e0218323. [PMID: 38015416 PMCID: PMC10746247 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02183-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that frequently causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. To cause disease, the fungus employs several virulence traits, including its ability to transition between yeast and filamentous states. Previous work identified a role for the kinase Yak1 in regulating C. albicans filamentation. Here, we demonstrate that Yak1 regulates morphogenesis through the canonical cAMP/PKA pathway and that this regulation is environmentally contingent, as host-relevant concentrations of CO2 bypass the requirement of Yak1 for C. albicans morphogenesis. We show a related kinase, Pom1, is important for filamentation in the absence of Yak1 under these host-relevant conditions, as deletion of both genes blocked filamentous growth under all conditions tested. Finally, we demonstrate that Yak1 is required for filamentation in a mouse model of C. albicans dermatitis using genetic and pharmacological approaches. Overall, our results expand our understanding of how Yak1 regulates an important virulence trait in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Ke CL, Lew SQ, Hsieh Y, Chang SC, Lin CH. Convergent and divergent roles of the glucose-responsive kinase SNF4 in Candida tropicalis. Virulence 2023; 14:2175914. [PMID: 36745535 PMCID: PMC9928470 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2175914] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1) complex is a heterotrimeric protein kinase complex that is an ortholog of the mammalian AMPK complex and is evolutionally conserved in most eukaryotes. This complex contains a catalytic subunit (Snf1), a regulatory subunit (Snf4) and a scaffolding subunit (Sip1/Sip2/Gal73) in budding yeast. Although the function of AMPK has been well studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, the role of AMPK in Candida tropicalis has never been investigated. In this study, we focused on SNF4 in C. tropicalis as this fungus cannot produce a snf1Δ mutant. We demonstrated that C. tropicalis SNF4 shares similar roles in glucose derepression and is necessary for cell wall integrity and virulence. The expression of both SNF1 and SNF4 was significantly induced when glucose was limited. Furthermore, snf4Δ strains exhibited high sensitivity to many surface-perturbing agents because the strains contained lower levels of glucan, chitin and mannan. Interestingly, in contrast to C. albicans sak1Δ and snf4Δ, C. tropicalis snf4Δ exhibited phenotypes for cell aggregation and pseudohypha production. These data indicate that SNF4 performs convergent and divergent roles in C. tropicalis and possibly other unknown roles in the C. tropicalis SNF1-SNF4 AMPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Ling Ke
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shi Qian Lew
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi Hsieh
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Cheng Chang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan,CONTACT Ching-Hsuan Lin
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van Rhijn N, Zhao C, Al-Furaji N, Storer I, Valero C, Gago S, Chown H, Baldin C, Fortune-Grant R, Shuraym HB, Ivanova L, Kniemeyer O, Krüger T, Bignell E, Goldman G, Amich J, Delneri D, Bowyer P, Brakhage A, Haas H, Bromley M. Functional analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus kinome reveals a DYRK kinase involved in septal plugging is a novel antifungal drug target. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2960526. [PMID: 37398159 PMCID: PMC10312919 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2960526/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
More than 10 million people suffer from lung diseases caused by the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The azole class of antifungals represent first line therapeutics for most of these infections however resistance is rising. Identification of novel antifungal targets that, when inhibited, synergise with the azoles will aid the development of agents that can improve therapeutic outcomes and supress the emergence of resistance. As part of the A. fumigatus genome-wide knockout program (COFUN), we have completed the generation of a library that consists of 120 genetically barcoded null mutants in genes that encode the protein kinase cohort of A. fumigatus. We have employed a competitive fitness profiling approach (Bar-Seq), to identify targets which when deleted result in hypersensitivity to the azoles and fitness defects in a murine host. The most promising candidate from our screen is a previously uncharacterised DYRK kinase orthologous to Yak1 of Candida albicans, a TOR signalling pathway kinase involved in modulation of stress responsive transcriptional regulators. Here we show that the orthologue YakA has been repurposed in A. fumigatus to regulate blocking of the septal pore upon exposure to stress via phosphorylation of the Woronin body tethering protein Lah. Loss of YakA function reduces the ability of A. fumigatus to penetrate solid media and impacts growth in murine lung tissue. We also show that 1-ethoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (1-ECBC), a compound previously shown to inhibit Yak1 in C. albicans prevents stress mediated septal spore blocking and synergises with the azoles to inhibit A. fumigatus growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Can Zhao
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lia Ivanova
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | | | - Gustavo Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Bloco Q, Universidade de São Paulo
| | | | | | | | - Axel Brakhage
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - University of Jena
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University
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Baghiat Esfahani M, Khodavandi A, Alizadeh F, Bahador N. Biofilm-associated genes as potential molecular targets of nano-Fe 3O 4 in Candida albicans. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:682-694. [PMID: 36930446 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00467-3] [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: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few effective treatments for Candida biofilm-associated infections. The present study demonstrated changes in the expression of biofilm-associated genes in Candida albicans treated with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (denoted as nano-Fe3O4). METHODS Nano-Fe3O4 was biologically synthesized using Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Fusarium oxysporum. Additionally, the biologically synthesized nano-Fe3O4 was characterized by visual observation; ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The biologically synthesized nano-Fe3O4 was tested for growth and biofilm formation in C. albicans. Furthermore, quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to study the inhibition of biofilm-associated genes in C. albicans treated with nano-Fe3O4. RESULTS The production of biologically synthesized nano-Fe3O4 was confirmed using extensive characterization methods. The nano-Fe3O4 inhibited growth and biofilm formation. Nano-Fe3O4 exhibited growth inhibition with minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of 50 to 200 μg mL-1. The anti-biofilm effects of nano-Fe3O4 were shown by 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5 sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay, crystal violet staining, and light field microscopy. The gene expression results showed that the downregulation of BCR1, ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, and ECE1 genes inhibited the biofilm formation in C. albicans. ALS1 reduction was greater than others, with downregulation of 1375.83-, 1178.71-, and 768.47-fold at 2 × MIC, 1 × MIC, and ½ × MIC of nano-Fe3O4, respectively. CONCLUSION Biofilm-associated genes as potential molecular targets of nano-Fe3O4 in C. albicans may be an effective novel treatment strategy for biofilm-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alireza Khodavandi
- Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.
| | - Fahimeh Alizadeh
- Department of Biology, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran
| | - Nima Bahador
- Department of Microbiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
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Poon Y, Hui M. Inhibitory effect of lactobacilli supernatants on biofilm and filamentation of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1105949. [PMID: 36860488 PMCID: PMC9969145 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1105949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Probiotic Lactobacillus strains had been investigated for the potential to protect against infection caused by the major fungal pathogen of human, Candida albicans. Besides antifungal activity, lactobacilli demonstrated a promising inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and filamentation of C. albicans. On the other hand, two commonly isolated non-albicans Candida species, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, have similar characteristics in filamentation and biofilm formation with C. albicans. However, there is scant information of the effect of lactobacilli on the two species. Methods In this study, biofilm inhibitory effects of L. rhamnosus ATCC 53103, L. plantarum ATCC 8014, and L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 were tested on the reference strain C. albicans SC5314 and six bloodstream isolated clinical strains, two each of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis. Results and Discussion Cell-free culture supernatants (CFSs) of L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum significantly inhibited in vitro biofilm growth of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. L. acidophilus, conversely, had little effect on C. albicans and C. tropicalis but was more effective on inhibiting C. parapsilosis biofilms. Neutralized L. rhamnosus CFS at pH 7 retained the inhibitory effect, suggesting that exometabolites other than lactic acid produced by the Lactobacillus strain might be accounted for the effect. Furthermore, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum CFSs on the filamentation of C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains. Significantly less Candida filaments were observed after co-incubating with CFSs under hyphae-inducing conditions. Expressions of six biofilm-related genes (ALS1, ALS3, BCR1, EFG1, TEC1, and UME6 in C. albicans and corresponding orthologs in C. tropicalis) in biofilms co-incubated with CFSs were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. When compared to untreated control, the expressions of ALS1, ALS3, EFG1, and TEC1 genes were downregulated in C. albicans biofilm. In C. tropicalis biofilms, ALS3 and UME6 were downregulated while TEC1 was upregulated. Taken together, the L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum strains demonstrated an inhibitory effect, which is likely mediated by the metabolites secreted into culture medium, on filamentation and biofilm formation of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Our finding suggested an alternative to antifungals for controlling Candida biofilm.
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Shin JH, Kim HY, Fu T, Lee KH, Kim KS. CsPOM1, a DYRK Family Kinase, Plays Diverse Roles in Fungal Development, Virulence, and Stress Tolerance in the Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum scovillei. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:861915. [PMID: 35558103 PMCID: PMC9088010 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.861915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colletotrichum scovillei is the major anthracnose fungus of sweet pepper and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), causing significant losses in the yield and quality of the pepper fruits. Molecular mechanisms governing development and pathogenicity have been widely studied in many foliar fungal pathogens, but the information on fruit diseases is still limited. In this study, we determined the functional roles of the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase CsPOM1 in C. scovillei. Knockout mutant for CsPOM1 gene was obtained via homology-dependent gene replacement. The ΔCspom1 mutant exhibited a reduction in vegetative growth on osmotic stress, surface hydrophobicity, and conidiation compared with wild-type. Conidia of the ΔCspom1 mutant were already two-celled before inoculation on an induction surface, indicating that CsPOM1 negatively regulates conidial cell division. The ΔCspom1 mutant, similar to wild-type, formed appressoria on the plant surface, but was significantly reduced on hydrophobic coverslips, probably due to a defect in the recognition of surface hydrophobicity. Treatment of conidia with cutin monomers restored appressorium formation on hydrophobic coverslips in the ΔCspom1 mutant. On pepper fruits, the ΔCspom1 mutant exhibited delayed penetration and invasive growth, leading to significantly reduced virulence. Collectively, the results showed that CsPOM1 is important for stress tolerance, conidiation, surface hydrophobicity, appressorium formation, and virulence in C. scovillei.
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Das S, Goswami AM, Saha T. An insight into the role of protein kinases as virulent factors, regulating pathogenic attributes in Candida albicans. Microb Pathog 2022; 164:105418. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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MacAlpine J, Daniel-Ivad M, Liu Z, Yano J, Revie NM, Todd RT, Stogios PJ, Sanchez H, O'Meara TR, Tompkins TA, Savchenko A, Selmecki A, Veri AO, Andes DR, Fidel PL, Robbins N, Nodwell J, Whitesell L, Cowen LE. A small molecule produced by Lactobacillus species blocks Candida albicans filamentation by inhibiting a DYRK1-family kinase. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6151. [PMID: 34686660 PMCID: PMC8536679 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that can exploit imbalances in microbiome composition to invade its human host, causing pathologies ranging from vaginal candidiasis to fungal sepsis. Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus are colonizers of human mucosa and can produce compounds with bioactivity against C. albicans. Here, we show that some Lactobacillus species produce a small molecule under laboratory conditions that blocks the C. albicans yeast-to-filament transition, an important virulence trait. It remains unexplored whether the compound is produced in the context of the human host. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Lactobacillus-conditioned medium linked this activity to 1-acetyl-β-carboline (1-ABC). We use genetic approaches to show that filamentation inhibition by 1-ABC requires Yak1, a DYRK1-family kinase. Additional biochemical characterization of structurally related 1-ethoxycarbonyl-β-carboline confirms that it inhibits Yak1 and blocks C. albicans biofilm formation. Thus, our findings reveal Lactobacillus-produced 1-ABC can prevent the yeast-to-filament transition in C. albicans through inhibition of Yak1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Junko Yano
- Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nicole M Revie
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert T Todd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Peter J Stogios
- BioZone, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Teresa R O'Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Thomas A Tompkins
- Rosell Institute for Microbiome and Probiotics, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexei Savchenko
- BioZone, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Anna Selmecki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Amanda O Veri
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Paul L Fidel
- Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Justin Nodwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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13
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Bioactivity and Molecular Docking Studies of Derivatives from Cinnamic and Benzoic Acids. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:6345429. [PMID: 32596343 PMCID: PMC7273447 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6345429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence and gravity of systemic fungal diseases. This study aimed therefore at evaluating the antifungal potential of ester derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids from three Candida species. The compounds were prepared via Fischer esterification, and the antifungal assay was performed by the microdilution method in 96-well microplates for determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The findings of the antifungal tests revealed that the analogue compound methyl ferulate, methyl o-coumarate, and methyl biphenyl-3-carboxylate displayed an interesting antifungal activity against all Candida strains tested, with MIC values of 31.25-62.5, 62.5-125, and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively. A preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship study of benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives has led to the recognition of some important structural requirements for antifungal activity. The results of molecular docking indicate that the presence of the enoate moiety along with hydroxyl and one methoxy substitution in the phenyl ring has a positive effect on the bioactivity of compound 7 against Candida albicans. These observations further support the hypothesis that the antifungal activity of compound 7 could be due to its binding to multiple targets, specifically to QR, TS, and ST-PK. Additional experiments are required in the future to test this hypothesis and to propose novel compounds with improved antifungal activity.
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14
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Zhou N, Jiang Y, Bergquist TR, Lee AJ, Kacsoh BZ, Crocker AW, Lewis KA, Georghiou G, Nguyen HN, Hamid MN, Davis L, Dogan T, Atalay V, Rifaioglu AS, Dalkıran A, Cetin Atalay R, Zhang C, Hurto RL, Freddolino PL, Zhang Y, Bhat P, Supek F, Fernández JM, Gemovic B, Perovic VR, Davidović RS, Sumonja N, Veljkovic N, Asgari E, Mofrad MRK, Profiti G, Savojardo C, Martelli PL, Casadio R, Boecker F, Schoof H, Kahanda I, Thurlby N, McHardy AC, Renaux A, Saidi R, Gough J, Freitas AA, Antczak M, Fabris F, Wass MN, Hou J, Cheng J, Wang Z, Romero AE, Paccanaro A, Yang H, Goldberg T, Zhao C, Holm L, Törönen P, Medlar AJ, Zosa E, Borukhov I, Novikov I, Wilkins A, Lichtarge O, Chi PH, Tseng WC, Linial M, Rose PW, Dessimoz C, Vidulin V, Dzeroski S, Sillitoe I, Das S, Lees JG, Jones DT, Wan C, Cozzetto D, Fa R, Torres M, Warwick Vesztrocy A, Rodriguez JM, Tress ML, Frasca M, Notaro M, Grossi G, Petrini A, Re M, Valentini G, Mesiti M, Roche DB, Reeb J, Ritchie DW, Aridhi S, Alborzi SZ, Devignes MD, Koo DCE, Bonneau R, Gligorijević V, Barot M, Fang H, Toppo S, Lavezzo E, Falda M, Berselli M, Tosatto SCE, Carraro M, Piovesan D, Ur Rehman H, Mao Q, Zhang S, Vucetic S, Black GS, Jo D, Suh E, Dayton JB, Larsen DJ, Omdahl AR, McGuffin LJ, Brackenridge DA, Babbitt PC, Yunes JM, Fontana P, Zhang F, Zhu S, You R, Zhang Z, Dai S, Yao S, Tian W, Cao R, Chandler C, Amezola M, Johnson D, Chang JM, Liao WH, Liu YW, Pascarelli S, Frank Y, Hoehndorf R, Kulmanov M, Boudellioua I, Politano G, Di Carlo S, Benso A, Hakala K, Ginter F, Mehryary F, Kaewphan S, Björne J, Moen H, Tolvanen MEE, Salakoski T, Kihara D, Jain A, Šmuc T, Altenhoff A, Ben-Hur A, Rost B, Brenner SE, Orengo CA, Jeffery CJ, Bosco G, Hogan DA, Martin MJ, O'Donovan C, Mooney SD, Greene CS, Radivojac P, Friedberg I. The CAFA challenge reports improved protein function prediction and new functional annotations for hundreds of genes through experimental screens. Genome Biol 2019; 20:244. [PMID: 31744546 PMCID: PMC6864930 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1835-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Critical Assessment of Functional Annotation (CAFA) is an ongoing, global, community-driven effort to evaluate and improve the computational annotation of protein function. RESULTS Here, we report on the results of the third CAFA challenge, CAFA3, that featured an expanded analysis over the previous CAFA rounds, both in terms of volume of data analyzed and the types of analysis performed. In a novel and major new development, computational predictions and assessment goals drove some of the experimental assays, resulting in new functional annotations for more than 1000 genes. Specifically, we performed experimental whole-genome mutation screening in Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aureginosa genomes, which provided us with genome-wide experimental data for genes associated with biofilm formation and motility. We further performed targeted assays on selected genes in Drosophila melanogaster, which we suspected of being involved in long-term memory. CONCLUSION We conclude that while predictions of the molecular function and biological process annotations have slightly improved over time, those of the cellular component have not. Term-centric prediction of experimental annotations remains equally challenging; although the performance of the top methods is significantly better than the expectations set by baseline methods in C. albicans and D. melanogaster, it leaves considerable room and need for improvement. Finally, we report that the CAFA community now involves a broad range of participants with expertise in bioinformatics, biological experimentation, biocuration, and bio-ontologies, working together to improve functional annotation, computational function prediction, and our ability to manage big data in the era of large experimental screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naihui Zhou
- Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Yuxiang Jiang
- Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Timothy R Bergquist
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandra J Lee
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Balint Z Kacsoh
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.,Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Alex W Crocker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Kimberley A Lewis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - George Georghiou
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Huy N Nguyen
- Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Program in Computer Science, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Md Nafiz Hamid
- Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Larry Davis
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Tunca Dogan
- Department of Computer Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.,European Molecular Biolo gy Labora tory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Volkan Atalay
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet S Rifaioglu
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Computer Engineering, Iskenderun Technical University, Hatay, Turkey
| | - Alperen Dalkıran
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
| | - Rengul Cetin Atalay
- CanSyL, Graduate School of Informatics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rebecca L Hurto
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Peter L Freddolino
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Fran Supek
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - José M Fernández
- INB Coordination Unit, Life Sciences Department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,(former) INB GN2, Structural and Computational Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Branislava Gemovic
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir R Perovic
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Radoslav S Davidović
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Neven Sumonja
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nevena Veljkovic
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ehsaneddin Asgari
- Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Computational Biology of Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe Profiti
- Bologna Biocomputing Group, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,National Research Council, IBIOM, Bologna, Italy
| | - Castrense Savojardo
- Bologna Biocomputing Group, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Martelli
- Bologna Biocomputing Group, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Casadio
- Bologna Biocomputing Group, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Florian Boecker
- University of Bonn: INRES Crop Bioinformatics, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Heiko Schoof
- INRES Crop Bioinformatics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Indika Kahanda
- Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Natalie Thurlby
- University of Bristol, Computer Science, Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alice C McHardy
- Computational Biology of Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany.,RESIST, DFG Cluster of Excellence 2155, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Alexandre Renaux
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, Université libre de Bruxelles - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Machine Learning Group, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Artificial Intelligence lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rabie Saidi
- European Molecular Biolo gy Labora tory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Julian Gough
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alex A Freitas
- University of Kent, School of Computing, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Antczak
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Fabris
- University of Kent, School of Computing, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Mark N Wass
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Jie Hou
- University of Missouri, Computer Science, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jianlin Cheng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Alfonso E Romero
- Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Paccanaro
- Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Haixuan Yang
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Tatyana Goldberg
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology-i12, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich, Germany
| | - Chenguang Zhao
- Faculty for Informatics, Garching, Germany.,Department for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Garching, Germany.,School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Liisa Holm
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri Törönen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alan J Medlar
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elaine Zosa
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Ilya Novikov
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Angela Wilkins
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Olivier Lichtarge
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Po-Han Chi
- National TsingHua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Cheng Tseng
- Department of Electrical Engineering in National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
| | - Michal Linial
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Peter W Rose
- University of California San Diego, San Diego Supercomputer Center, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Christophe Dessimoz
- Department of Computational Biology and Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, and Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vedrana Vidulin
- Department of Knowledge Technologies, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Saso Dzeroski
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ian Sillitoe
- Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, England
| | - Sayoni Das
- Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Gill Lees
- Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, London, UK
| | - David T Jones
- The Francis Crick Institute, Biomedical Data Science Laboratory, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Cen Wan
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Francis Crick Institute, Biomedical Data Science Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Domenico Cozzetto
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Francis Crick Institute, Biomedical Data Science Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rui Fa
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Francis Crick Institute, Biomedical Data Science Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mateo Torres
- Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Warwick Vesztrocy
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Jose Manuel Rodriguez
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael L Tress
- Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marco Frasca
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Notaro
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliano Grossi
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Petrini
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Re
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Valentini
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Mesiti
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Computer Science Department - AnacletoLab, Milan, Milan, Italy.,Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, LIRMM, CNRS-UMR 5506, Universite de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel B Roche
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology-i12, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich, Germany
| | - Jonas Reeb
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology-i12, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich, Germany
| | - David W Ritchie
- University of Lorraine, CNRS, Inria, LORIA, Nancy, 54000, France
| | - Sabeur Aridhi
- University of Lorraine, CNRS, Inria, LORIA, Nancy, 54000, France
| | | | - Marie-Dominique Devignes
- University of Lorraine, CNRS, Inria, LORIA, Nancy, 54000, France.,University of Lorraine, Nancy, Lorraine, France.,Inria, Nancy, France
| | | | - Richard Bonneau
- NYU Center for Data Science, New York, 10010, NY, USA.,Flatiron Institute, CCB, New York, 10010, NY, USA
| | - Vladimir Gligorijević
- Center for Computational Biology (CCB), Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, New York, USA
| | - Meet Barot
- Center for Data Science, New York University, New York, 10011, NY, USA
| | - Hai Fang
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefano Toppo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Enrico Lavezzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Falda
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Berselli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvio C E Tosatto
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Padova, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Carraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Damiano Piovesan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Hafeez Ur Rehman
- Department of Computer Science, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Qizhong Mao
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,University of California, Riverside, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Slobodan Vucetic
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gage S Black
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Bioinformatics Research Group, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Dane Jo
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Bioinformatics Research Group, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Erica Suh
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Jonathan B Dayton
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Bioinformatics Research Group, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Dallas J Larsen
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Bioinformatics Research Group, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Ashton R Omdahl
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Bioinformatics Research Group, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Liam J McGuffin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, England, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patricia C Babbitt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Yunes
- UC Berkeley - UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 94158, CA, USA
| | - Paolo Fontana
- Research and Innovation Center, Edmund Mach Foundation, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.,Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanfeng Zhu
- School of Computer Science and Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Shanghai Institute of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Ronghui You
- School of Computer Science and Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Shanghai Institute of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Suyang Dai
- School of Computer Science and Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuwei Yao
- School of Computer Science and Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and Shanghai Institute of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Renzhi Cao
- Department of Computer Science, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Caleb Chandler
- Department of Computer Science, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Miguel Amezola
- Department of Computer Science, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Devon Johnson
- Department of Computer Science, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Jia-Ming Chang
- Department of Computer Science, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hung Liao
- Department of Computer Science, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wei Liu
- Department of Computer Science, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Robert Hoehndorf
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division, Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maxat Kulmanov
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division, Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imane Boudellioua
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.,Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gianfranco Politano
- Control and Computer Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, TO, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Carlo
- Control and Computer Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, TO, Italy
| | - Alfredo Benso
- Control and Computer Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, TO, Italy
| | - Kai Hakala
- Department of Future Technologies, Turku NLP Group, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS), Turku, Finland
| | - Filip Ginter
- Department of Future Technologies, Turku NLP Group, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Farrokh Mehryary
- Department of Future Technologies, Turku NLP Group, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS), Turku, Finland
| | - Suwisa Kaewphan
- Department of Future Technologies, Turku NLP Group, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS), Turku, Finland.,Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS), Turku, Finland
| | - Jari Björne
- Department of Future Technologies, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland.,Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS), Agora, Vesilinnantie 3, Turku, FI-20500, Finland
| | | | | | - Tapio Salakoski
- Department of Future Technologies, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland.,Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS), Agora, Vesilinnantie 3, Turku, FI-20500, Finland
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, 47907, IN, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, 45229, OH, USA
| | - Aashish Jain
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Tomislav Šmuc
- Division of Electronics, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Adrian Altenhoff
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Asa Ben-Hur
- Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Burkhard Rost
- Department of Informatics, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology-i12, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Food and Plant Sciences WZW, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Christine A Orengo
- Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Constance J Jeffery
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Giovanni Bosco
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Deborah A Hogan
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Maria J Martin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Claire O'Donovan
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Sean D Mooney
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Casey S Greene
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Childhood Cancer Data Lab, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Predrag Radivojac
- Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Iddo Friedberg
- Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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15
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Wang Z, Ma T, Huang Y, Wang J, Chen Y, Kistler HC, Ma Z, Yin Y. A fungal ABC transporter FgAtm1 regulates iron homeostasis via the transcription factor cascade FgAreA-HapX. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007791. [PMID: 31545842 PMCID: PMC6788720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron homeostasis is important for growth, reproduction and other metabolic processes in all eukaryotes. However, the functions of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in iron homeostasis are largely unknown. Here, we found that one ABC transporter (named FgAtm1) is involved in regulating iron homeostasis, by screening sensitivity to iron stress for 60 ABC transporter mutants of Fusarium graminearum, a devastating fungal pathogen of small grain cereal crops worldwide. The lack of FgAtm1 reduces the activity of cytosolic Fe-S proteins nitrite reductase and xanthine dehydrogenase, which causes high expression of FgHapX via activating transcription factor FgAreA. FgHapX represses transcription of genes for iron-consuming proteins directly but activates genes for iron acquisition proteins by suppressing another iron regulator FgSreA. In addition, the transcriptional activity of FgHapX is regulated by the monothiol glutaredoxin FgGrx4. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of FgHapX, mediated by the Ser/Thr kinase FgYak1, is required for its functions in iron homeostasis. Taken together, this study uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism of iron homeostasis mediated by an ABC transporter in an important pathogenic fungus. Essential element iron plays important roles in many cellular processes in all organisms. The function of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter Atm1 in iron homeostasis has been characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our study found that FgAtm1 regulates iron homeostasis via the transcription factor cascade FgAreA-HapX in F. graminearum and the function of FgHapX is dependent on its interaction with FgGrx4 and phosphorylation by the Ser/Thr kinase FgYak1. This study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of iron homeostasis in an important plant pathogenic fungus, and advances our understanding in iron homeostasis and functions of ABC transporters in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianling Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunyan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - H. Corby Kistler
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZM); (YY)
| | - Yanni Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZM); (YY)
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16
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Xu D, Zhang X, Zhang B, Zeng X, Mao H, Xu H, Jiang L, Li F. The lipid flippase subunit Cdc50 is required for antifungal drug resistance, endocytosis, hyphal development and virulence in Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2019; 19:5475645. [PMID: 31004489 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cdc50 is the non-catalytic subunit of the flippase that establishes phospholipid asymmetry in membranes and functions in vesicle-mediated trafficking in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we have identified the homologous gene CaCDC50 that encodes a protein of 396 amino acids with two conserved transmembrane domains in Candidaalbicans. Deletion of CaCDC50 results in C. albicans cells becoming sensitive to the antifungal drugs azoles, terbinafine and caspofungin, as well as to the membrane-perturbing agent sodium dodecyl sulfate. We also show that CaCDC50 is involved in both endocytosis and vacuolar function. CaCDC50 confers tolerance to high concentrations of cations, although it is not required for osmolar response. Moreover, deletion of CaCDC50 leads to severe defects in hyphal development of C. albicans cells and highly attenuated virulence in the mouse model of systemic infection. Therefore, CaCDC50 regulates cellular responses to antifungal drugs, cell membrane stress, endocytosis, filamentation and virulence in the human fungal pathogen C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Hongchen Mao
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Haitao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
| | - Linghuo Jiang
- Laboratory for Yeast Molecular and Cell Biology, The Research Center of Fermentation Technology, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Li
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
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17
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Barrada A, Djendli M, Desnos T, Mercier R, Robaglia C, Montané MH, Menand B. A TOR-YAK1 signaling axis controls cell cycle, meristem activity and plant growth in Arabidopsis. Development 2019; 146:dev.171298. [PMID: 30705074 DOI: 10.1242/dev.171298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) is a conserved eukaryotic phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-related kinase that plays a major role in regulating growth and metabolism in response to environment in plants. We performed a genetic screen for Arabidopsis ethylmethane sulfonate mutants resistant to the ATP-competitive TOR inhibitor AZD-8055 to identify new components of the plant TOR pathway. We found that loss-of-function mutants of the DYRK (dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase)/YAK1 kinase are resistant to AZD-8055 and, reciprocally, that YAK1 overexpressors are hypersensitive to AZD-8055. Significantly, these phenotypes were conditional on TOR inhibition, positioning YAK1 activity downstream of TOR. We further show that the ATP-competitive DYRK1A inhibitor pINDY phenocopies YAK1 loss of function. Microscopy analysis revealed that YAK1 functions to repress meristem size and induce differentiation. We show that YAK1 represses cyclin expression in the different zones of the root meristem and that YAK1 is essential for TOR-dependent transcriptional regulation of the plant-specific SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in both meristematic and differentiating root cells. Thus, YAK1 is a major regulator of meristem activity and cell differentiation downstream of TOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Barrada
- Aix Marseille Université, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille, France F-13009
| | - Meriem Djendli
- Aix Marseille Université, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille, France F-13009
| | - Thierry Desnos
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement des Plantes, Saint Paul-Lez-Durance, France F-13108
| | - Raphael Mercier
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Christophe Robaglia
- Aix Marseille Université, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille, France F-13009
| | - Marie-Hélène Montané
- Aix Marseille Université, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille, France F-13009
| | - Benoît Menand
- Aix Marseille Université, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biophysique des Plantes, Marseille, France F-13009
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18
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The Anti- Candida albicans Agent 4-AN Inhibits Multiple Protein Kinases. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24010153. [PMID: 30609757 PMCID: PMC6337409 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24010153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecules containing quinone and/or oxime moieties have been found as promising anti-fungal agents. One of them is 4-AN, a recently reported potent anti-Candida compound, which inhibits the formation of hyphae, decreases the level of cellular phosphoproteome, and finally shows no toxicity towards human erythrocytes and zebrafish embryos. Here, further research on 4-AN is presented. The results revealed that the compound: (i) Kills Candida clinical isolates, including these with developed antibiotic resistance, (ii) affects mature biofilm, and (iii) moderately disrupts membrane permeability. Atomic force microscopy studies revealed a slight influence of 4-AN on the cell surface architecture. 4-AN was also shown to inhibit multiple various protein kinases, a characteristic shared by most of the ATP-competitive inhibitors. The presented compound can be used in novel strategies in the fight against candidiasis, and reversible protein phosphorylation should be taken into consideration as a target in designing these strategies.
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19
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Asghar F, Yan H, Jiang L. The putative transcription factor CaMaf1 controls the sensitivity to lithium and rapamycin and represses RNA polymerase III transcription in Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2018; 18:5047891. [PMID: 29982370 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foy068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Maf1 is a repressor of RNA polymerase (Pol) III transcription for tRNA. Nutrient deprivation and environmental stress repress Pol III transcription through Maf1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The sole Candida albicans homolog CaMaf1 is a protein of 380 amino acids with conserved domains and motifs of the eukaryotic Maf1 family. Here, we show that C. albicans cells lacking CaMAF1 show elevated levels of tRNA. Deletion of CaMAF1 increases the sensitivity of C. albicans cells to lithium cation and SDS as well as tolerance to rapamycin and azole. In addition, deletion of CaMAF1 reduces the level of filamentation and alters the surface morphology of colonies. CaMaf1 is localized in the nucleus of log-phase growing cells. However, a dynamic change of subcellular localization of CaMaf1 exists during serum-induced morphological transition, with CaMaf1 being localized in the nuclei of cells with germ tubes and short filaments but outside of the nuclei of cells with long filaments. In addition, CaMaf1 is required for rapamycin-induced repression of CaERG20, encoding the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase involved in ergosterol biosynthesis. Therefore, CaMaf1 plays a role as a general repressor of Pol III transcription in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Asghar
- Laboratory for Yeast Molecular and Cell Biology, the Research Center of Fermentation Technology, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, 266 XiCunXi Road, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Hongbo Yan
- Laboratory for Yeast Molecular and Cell Biology, the Research Center of Fermentation Technology, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, 266 XiCunXi Road, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Linghuo Jiang
- Laboratory for Yeast Molecular and Cell Biology, the Research Center of Fermentation Technology, School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, 266 XiCunXi Road, Zibo 255000, China
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20
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Yang Q, Zhang J, Hu J, Wang X, Lv B, Liang W. Involvement of BcYak1 in the Regulation of Vegetative Differentiation and Adaptation to Oxidative Stress of Botrytis cinerea. Front Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29515556 PMCID: PMC5826331 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Yak1, a member of the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein kinases, plays an important role in diverse cellular processes in fungi. However, to date, the role of BcYak1 in Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold diseases in various plant species, remains uncharacterized. Our previous study identified one lysine acetylation site (Lys252) in BcYak1, which is the first report of such a site in Yak1. In this study, the function of BcYak1 and its lysine acetylation site were investigated using gene disruption and site-directed mutagenesis. The gene deletion mutant ΔBcYak1 not only exhibits much lower pathogenicity, conidiation and sclerotium formation, but was also much more sensitive to H2O2 and the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor (EBI) triadimefon. The Lys252 site-directed mutagenesis mutant strain ΔBcYak1-K252Q (mimicking the acetylation of the site), however, only showed lower sclerotium formation and higher sensitivity to H2O2. These results indicate that BcYAK1 is involved in the vegetative differentiation, adaptation to oxidative stress and triadimefon, and virulence of B. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jianan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jicheng Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xue Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Binna Lv
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenxing Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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21
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Abstract
In humans, microbial cells (including bacteria, archaea, and fungi) greatly outnumber host cells. Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota; this species asymptomatically colonizes many areas of the body, particularly the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of healthy individuals. Alterations in host immunity, stress, resident microbiota, and other factors can lead to C. albicans overgrowth, causing a wide range of infections, from superficial mucosal to hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. To date, most studies of C. albicans have been carried out in suspension cultures; however, the medical impact of C. albicans (like that of many other microorganisms) depends on its ability to thrive as a biofilm, a closely packed community of cells. Biofilms are notorious for forming on implanted medical devices, including catheters, pacemakers, dentures, and prosthetic joints, which provide a surface and sanctuary for biofilm growth. C. albicans biofilms are intrinsically resistant to conventional antifungal therapeutics, the host immune system, and other environmental perturbations, making biofilm-based infections a significant clinical challenge. Here, we review our current knowledge of biofilms formed by C. albicans and closely related fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa J Nobile
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, California 95343;
| | - Alexander D Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143;
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22
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Konstantinidou N, Morrissey JP. Co-occurence of filamentation defects and impaired biofilms in Candida albicans protein kinase mutants. FEMS Yeast Res 2015; 15:fov092. [PMID: 26472756 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fov092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenicity of Candida albicans is linked with its developmental stages, notably the capacity switch from yeast-like to hyphal growth, and to form biofilms on surfaces. To better understand the cellular processes involved in C. albicans development, a collection of 63 C. albicans protein kinase mutants was screened for biofilm formation in a microtitre plate assay. Thirty-eight mutants displayed some degree of biofilm impairment, with 20 categorised as poor biofilm formers. All the poor biofilm formers were also defective in the switch from yeast to hyphae, establishing it as a primary defect. Five genes, VPS15, IME2, PKH3, PGA43 and CEX1, encode proteins not previously reported to influence hyphal development or biofilm formation. Network analysis established that individual components of some processes, most interestingly MAP kinase pathways, are not required for biofilm formation, most likely indicating functional redundancy. Mutants were also screened for their response to bacterial supernatants and it was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa supernatants inhibited biofilm formation in all mutants, regardless of the presence of homoserine lactones (HSLs). In contrast, Candida morphology was only affected by supernatant containing HSLs. This confirms the distinct HSL-dependent inhibition of filamentation and the HSL-independent impairment of biofilm development by P. aeruginosa.
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23
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Han JH, Lee HM, Shin JH, Lee YH, Kim KS. Role of the MoYAK1 protein kinase gene in Magnaporthe oryzae development and pathogenicity. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4672-89. [PMID: 26248223 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Conidiation and appressorium differentiation are key processes for polycyclic dissemination and infection in many pathogens. Our previous study using DNA microarray led to the discovery of the MoYAK1 gene in Magnaporthe oryzae that is orthologous to YAK1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although the mechanistic roles of YAK1 in S. cerevisiae have been described, roles of MoYAK1 in M. oryzae, a phytopathogenic fungus responsible for rice blast, remain uncharacterized. Targeted disruption of MoYAK1 results in pleiotropic defects in M. oryzae development and pathogenicity. The ΔMoyak1 mutant exhibits a severe reduction in aerial hyphal formation and conidiation. Conidia in the ΔMoyak1 are delayed in germination and demonstrate decreased glycogen content in a conidial age-dependent manner. The expression of hydrophobin-coding genes is dramatically changed in the ΔMoyak1 mutant, leading to a loss of surface hydrophobicity. Unlike the complete inability of the ΔMoyak1 mutant to develop appressoria on an inductive surface, the mutant forms appressoria of abnormal morphology in response to exogenous cyclic adenosine-5'-monophosphate and host-driven signals, which are all defective in penetrating host tissues due to abnormalities in glycogen and lipid metabolism, turgor generation and cell wall integrity. These data indicate that MoYAK1 is a protein kinase important for the development and pathogenicity of M. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Hee Han
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea
| | - Hye-Min Lee
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea
| | - Jong-Hwan Shin
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea
| | - Yong-Hwan Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Fungal Genetic Resources, Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Korea
| | - Kyoung Su Kim
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea.,BioHerb Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea
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24
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Ford CB, Funt JM, Abbey D, Issi L, Guiducci C, Martinez DA, Delorey T, Li BY, White TC, Cuomo C, Rao RP, Berman J, Thompson DA, Regev A. The evolution of drug resistance in clinical isolates of Candida albicans. eLife 2015; 4:e00662. [PMID: 25646566 PMCID: PMC4383195 DOI: 10.7554/elife.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is both a member of the healthy human microbiome
and a major pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. Infections are typically
treated with azole inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis often leading to drug
resistance. Studies in clinical isolates have implicated multiple mechanisms in
resistance, but have focused on large-scale aberrations or candidate genes, and do
not comprehensively chart the genetic basis of adaptation. Here, we leveraged
next-generation sequencing to analyze 43 isolates from 11 oral candidiasis patients.
We detected newly selected mutations, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs), copy-number variations and loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) events. LOH events
were commonly associated with acquired resistance, and SNPs in 240 genes may be
related to host adaptation. Conversely, most aneuploidies were transient and did not
correlate with drug resistance. Our analysis also shows that isolates also varied in
adherence, filamentation, and virulence. Our work reveals new molecular mechanisms
underlying the evolution of drug resistance and host adaptation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00662.001 Nearly all humans are infected with the fungus Candida albicans. In
most people, the infection does not produce any symptoms because their immune system
is able to counteract the fungus' attempts to spread around the body. However, if the
balance between fungal attack and body defence fails, the fungus is able to spread,
which can lead to serious disease that is fatal in 42% of cases. How does C. albicans outcompete the body's defences to cause
disease? This is a pertinent question because the most effective antifungal
medicines—including the drug fluconazole—do not kill the fungus; they
only stop it from growing. This gives the fungus time to develop resistance to the
drug by becoming able to quickly replace the fungal proteins the drug destroys, or to
efficiently remove the drug from its cells. In this study, Ford et al. studied the changes that occur in the DNA of C.
albicans over time in patients who are being treated with fluconazole.
Ford et al. took 43 samples of C. albicans from 11 patients with
weakened immune systems. The experiments show that the fungus samples collected early
on were more sensitive to the drug than the samples collected later. In most cases, the genetic data suggest that the infections begin with a single
fungal cell; the cells in the later samples are its offspring. Despite this, there is
a lot of genetic variation between samples from the same patient, which indicates
that the fungus is under pressure to become more resistant to the drug. There were
240 genes—including those that can alter the surface on the fungus cells to
make it better at evading the host immune system—in which small changes
occurred over time in three or more patients. Laboratory tests revealed that many of
these genes are likely important for the fungus to survive in an animal host in the
presence of the drug. C. albicans cells usually have two genetically distinct copies of
every gene. Ford et al. found that for some genes—including some that make
surface components or are involved in expelling drugs from cells—the loss of
genetic information from one copy, so that both copies become identical, is linked to
resistance to fluconazole. However, the gain of whole or partial
chromosomes—which contain large numbers of genes—is not linked to
resistance, but may provide additional genetic material for generating diversity in
the yeast population that may help the cells to evolve resistance in the future. These experiments have identified many new candidate genes that are important for
drug resistance and evading the host immune system, and which could be used to guide
the development of new therapeutics to treat these life-threatening infections. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00662.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Ford
- Department of Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Jason M Funt
- Department of Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Darren Abbey
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Luca Issi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, United States
| | | | | | - Toni Delorey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Bi Yu Li
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Theodore C White
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, United States
| | - Christina Cuomo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Reeta P Rao
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, United States
| | - Judith Berman
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - Dawn A Thompson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Aviv Regev
- Department of Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
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25
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Lv X, Zhang W, Chen G, Liu W. Trichoderma reesei Sch9 and Yak1 regulate vegetative growth, conidiation, and stress response and induced cellulase production. J Microbiol 2015; 53:236-42. [PMID: 25636423 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-4639-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases are key players in controlling many basic cellular processes in almost all the organisms via mediating signal transduction processes. In the present study, we characterized the cellulolytic Trichoderma reesei orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sch9 and Yak1 by sequence alignment and functional analysis. The T. reesei Trsch9Δ and Tryak1Δ mutant strains displayed a decreased growth rate on different carbon sources and produced less conidia. The absence of these two kinases also resulted in different but abnormal polarized apical growth as well as sensitivity to various stresses. In addition, disruption of the genes Trsch9 or Tryak1 resulted in perturbation of cell wall integrity. Interestingly, while the induced production of cellulases was slightly compromised in the Trsch9Δ strain, the extracellular production of cellulases was significantly improved in the absence of Yak1. The results indicate that TrSch9 and TrYak1 play an important role in filamentous growth, stress response and induced production of cellulases in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, No.27 Shanda South Road, Jinan, 250100, Shandong, P. R. China
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Greig JA, Sudbery IM, Richardson JP, Naglik JR, Wang Y, Sudbery PE. Cell cycle-independent phospho-regulation of Fkh2 during hyphal growth regulates Candida albicans pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004630. [PMID: 25617770 PMCID: PMC4305328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, undergoes morphological and transcriptional adaptation in the switch from commensalism to pathogenicity. Although previous gene-knockout studies have identified many factors involved in this transformation, it remains unclear how these factors are regulated to coordinate the switch. Investigating morphogenetic control by post-translational phosphorylation has generated important regulatory insights into this process, especially focusing on coordinated control by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc28. Here we have identified the Fkh2 transcription factor as a regulatory target of both Cdc28 and the cell wall biosynthesis kinase Cbk1, in a role distinct from its conserved function in cell cycle progression. In stationary phase yeast cells 2D gel electrophoresis shows that there is a diverse pool of Fkh2 phospho-isoforms. For a short window on hyphal induction, far before START in the cell cycle, the phosphorylation profile is transformed before reverting to the yeast profile. This transformation does not occur when stationary phase cells are reinoculated into fresh medium supporting yeast growth. Mass spectrometry and mutational analyses identified residues phosphorylated by Cdc28 and Cbk1. Substitution of these residues with non-phosphorylatable alanine altered the yeast phosphorylation profile and abrogated the characteristic transformation to the hyphal profile. Transcript profiling of the phosphorylation site mutant revealed that the hyphal phosphorylation profile is required for the expression of genes involved in pathogenesis, host interaction and biofilm formation. We confirmed that these changes in gene expression resulted in corresponding defects in pathogenic processes. Furthermore, we identified that Fkh2 interacts with the chromatin modifier Pob3 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, thereby providing a possible mechanism by which the phosphorylation of Fkh2 regulates its specificity. Thus, we have discovered a novel cell cycle-independent phospho-regulatory event that subverts a key component of the cell cycle machinery to a role in the switch from commensalism to pathogenicity. The fungus Candida albicans is a commensal in the human microbiota, responsible for superficial infections such as oral and vaginal thrush. However, it can become highly virulent, causing life-threatening systemic candidemia in severely immunocompromised patients, including those taking immunosuppressive drugs for transplantation, sufferers of AIDS and neutropenia, and individuals undergoing chemotherapy or at extremes of age. With a rapidly increasing ageing population worldwide, C. albicans and other fungal pathogens will become more prevalent, demanding a greater understanding of their pathogenesis for the development of effective therapeutics. Fungal pathogenicity requires a coordinated change in the pattern of gene expression orchestrated by a set of transcription factors. Here we have discovered that a transcription factor, Fkh2, is modified by phosphorylation under the control of the kinases Cdc28 and Cbk1 in response to conditions that activate virulence factor expression. Fkh2 is involved in a wide variety of cellular processes including cell proliferation, but this phosphorylation endows it with a specialized function in promoting the expression of genes required for tissue invasion, biofilm formation, and pathogenesis in the host. This study highlights the role of protein phosphorylation in regulating pathogenesis and furthers our understanding of the pathogenic switch in this important opportunistic fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie A. Greig
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Ian M. Sudbery
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Richardson
- Mucosal and Salivary Biology Division, King’s College London Dental Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R. Naglik
- Mucosal and Salivary Biology Division, King’s College London Dental Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yue Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (PES); (YW)
| | - Peter E. Sudbery
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (PES); (YW)
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Lee JE, Oh JH, Ku M, Kim J, Lee JS, Kang SO. Ssn6 has dual roles in Candida albicans filament development through the interaction with Rpd31. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:513-20. [PMID: 25601565 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ssn6 is a crucial regulator of morphological transition and virulence in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Ssn6 has previously been reported to act in complex with the transcriptional repressor Tup1. Here, we report that Ssn6 also interacts with the histone deacetylase Rpd31, independently of Tup1. The ssn6/rpd31 double mutant strain formed elongated filaments, but failed to form filament extension, and this coincided with the down-regulation of the filament extension gene UME6. Occupancy patterns of Ssn6 and Rpd31 differed at the promoters of UME6 and the metabolic gene INO1. These findings indicate that, in C. albicans, Ssn6 has dual roles in filament development, depending on the interaction with Rpd31.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Lee
- Laboratory of Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Hyun Oh
- Laboratory of Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - MyungHee Ku
- Laboratory of Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Jueun Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Shin Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sa-Ouk Kang
- Laboratory of Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
Morphogenesis in fungi is often induced by extracellular factors and executed by fungal genetic factors. Cell surface changes and alterations of the microenvironment often accompany morphogenetic changes in fungi. In this review, we will first discuss the general traits of yeast and hyphal morphotypes and how morphogenesis affects development and adaptation by fungi to their native niches, including host niches. Then we will focus on the molecular machinery responsible for the two most fundamental growth forms, yeast and hyphae. Last, we will describe how fungi incorporate exogenous environmental and host signals together with genetic factors to determine their morphotype and how morphogenesis, in turn, shapes the fungal microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Lin
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3258
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Haoping Liu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Steven Harris
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
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Suwunnakorn S, Cooper CR, Kummasook A, Vanittanakom N. Role of the yakA gene in morphogenesis and stress response in Penicillium marneffei. Microbiology (Reading) 2014; 160:1929-1939. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.080689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus and a highly significant pathogen of immunocompromised individuals living in or having travelled in south-east Asia. At 25 °C, P. marneffei grows filamentously. Under the appropriate conditions, these filaments (hyphae) produce conidiophores bearing chains of conidia. Yet, when incubated at 37 °C, or upon infecting host tissue, P. marneffei grows as a yeast that divides by binary fission. Previously, an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system was used to randomly mutagenize P. marneffei, resulting in the isolation of a mutant defective in normal patterns of morphogenesis and conidiogenesis. The interrupted gene was identified as yakA. In the current study, we demonstrate that the yakA mutant produced fewer conidia at 25 °C than the wild-type and a complemented strain. In addition, disruption of the yakA gene resulted in early conidial germination and perturbation of cell wall integrity. The yakA mutant exhibited abnormal chitin distribution while growing at 25 °C, but not at 37 °C. Interestingly, at both temperatures, the yakA mutant possessed increased chitin content, which was accompanied by amplified transcription of two chitin synthase genes, chsB and chsG. Moreover, the expression of yakA was induced during post-exponential-phase growth as well as by heat shock. Thus, yakA is required for normal patterns of development, cell wall integrity, chitin deposition, appropriate chs expression and heat stress response in P. marneffei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanun Suwunnakorn
- Center for Applied Chemical Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Chester R. Cooper
- Center for Applied Chemical Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA
| | - Aksarakorn Kummasook
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Nongnuch Vanittanakom
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Yan H, Zhao Y, Jiang L. The putative transcription factor CaRtg3 is involved in tolerance to cations and antifungal drugs as well as serum-induced filamentation in Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2014; 14:614-23. [PMID: 24606409 DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The activated retrograde (RTG) pathway controls transcription of target genes through a heterodimer of transcription factors, Rtg1 and Rtg3, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we have identified the sole homologous gene CaRTG3 that encodes a protein of 520 amino acids with characteristics of the basic helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper (bHLH/Zip) family in Candida albicans. Deletion of CaRTG3 results in C. albicans cells being sensitive to high concentrations of calcium and lithium cations as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate and activates the calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway in C. albicans cells. CaRTG3 is also involved in the tolerance of C. albicans cells to the antifungal drugs azoles and terbinafine, but not to the antifungal drugs casponfungin and amphotericin B as well as the cell-wall-damaging reagents Calcoflour White and Congo red. In contrast to ScRtg3, CaRtg3 is not involved in the osmolar response and is constitutively localized in the nucleus. However, deletion of CaRTG3 results in a delay in serum-induced filamentation of C. albicans cells. Therefore, CaRtg3 plays a role in tolerance to cations and antifungal drugs as well as serum-induced filamentation in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Yan
- The National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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Herwald SE, Kumamoto CA. Candida albicans Niche Specialization: Features That Distinguish Biofilm Cells from Commensal Cells. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2014; 8:179-184. [PMID: 24839528 DOI: 10.1007/s12281-014-0178-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The fungus Candida albicans is a frequent commensal colonizer of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but is also an opportunistic pathogen. This review explores features that distinguish the colonizing and pathogenic forms of C. albicans. Candida albicans in a biofilm is used as an example of a pathogenic form of the organism, because biofilms are a common feature of device-associated C. albicans infections. Biofilms (complex, sessile communities of cells) have been the subject of several large-scale gene expression studies. Biofilms and commensal C. albicans colonizing the murine GI tract show a variety of differentially expressed genes. Cell surface proteins encoded by these differentially expressed genes are especially attractive as targets for new clinical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment tools that are specific for C. albicans in its pathogenic biofilm state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna E Herwald
- Program in Molecular Microbiology and Medical Scientist Training Program, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol A Kumamoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Identification of genes upregulated by the transcription factor Bcr1 that are involved in impermeability, impenetrability, and drug resistance of Candida albicans a/α biofilms. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2013; 12:875-88. [PMID: 23563485 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00071-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans forms two types of biofilm, depending upon the configuration of the mating type locus. Although architecturally similar, a/α biofilms are impermeable, impenetrable, and drug resistant, whereas a/a and α/α biofilms lack these traits. The difference appears to be the result of an alternative matrix. Overexpression in a/a cells of BCR1, a master regulator of the a/α matrix, conferred impermeability, impenetrability, and drug resistance to a/a biofilms. Deletion of BCR1 in a/α cells resulted in the loss of these a/α-specific biofilm traits. Using BCR1 overexpression in a/a cells, we screened 107 genes of interest and identified 8 that were upregulated by Bcr1. When each was overexpressed in a/a biofilms, the three a/α traits were partially conferred, and when each was deleted in a/α cells, the traits were partially lost. Five of the eight genes have been implicated in iron homeostasis, and six encode proteins that are either in the wall or plasma membrane or secreted. All six possess sites for O-linked and N-linked glycosylation that, like glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, can cross-link to the wall and matrix, suggesting that they may exert a structural role in conferring impermeability, impenetrability, and drug resistance, in addition to their physiological functions. The fact that in a screen of 107 genes, all 8 of the Bcr1-upregulated genes identified play a role in impermeability, impenetrability, and drug resistance suggests that the formation of the a/α matrix is highly complex and involves a larger number of genes than the initial ones identified here.
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Expression of UME6, a key regulator of Candida albicans hyphal development, enhances biofilm formation via Hgc1- and Sun41-dependent mechanisms. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2012; 12:224-32. [PMID: 23223035 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00163-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Biofilm formation is associated with the ability of Candida albicans, the major human fungal pathogen, to resist antifungal therapies and grow on tissues, catheters, and medical devices. In order to better understand the relationship between C. albicans morphology and biofilm formation, we examined biofilms generated in response to expression of UME6, a key filament-specific transcriptional regulator. As UME6 levels rise, C. albicans cells are known to transition from yeast to hyphae, and we also observed a corresponding increase in the level of biofilm formation in vitro. In addition to forming a biofilm, we observed that a C. albicans strain expressing constitutive high levels of UME6 promoted tissue invasion in a reconstituted human three-dimensional model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Confocal microscopy indicated that both the top and bottom layers of the biofilm generated upon high-level constitutive UME6 expression consist primarily of hyphal cells. UME6-driven biofilm formation was reduced upon deletion of Hgc1, a cyclin-related protein important for hyphal development, as well as Sun41, a putative cell wall glycosidase. Constitutive high-level UME6 expression was also able to completely bypass both the filamentation and biofilm defects of a strain deleted for Efg1, a key transcriptional regulator of these processes. Finally, we show that both Sun41 and Efg1 affect the ability of UME6 to induce certain filament-specific transcripts. Overall, these findings indicate a strong correlation between increased C. albicans hyphal growth and enhanced biofilm formation and also suggest functional relationships between UME6 and other regulators of biofilm development.
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Normal adaptation of Candida albicans to the murine gastrointestinal tract requires Efg1p-dependent regulation of metabolic and host defense genes. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2012; 12:37-49. [PMID: 23125349 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00236-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Although gastrointestinal colonization by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is generally benign, severe systemic infections are thought to arise due to escape of commensal C. albicans from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The C. albicans transcription factor Efg1p is a major regulator of GI colonization, hyphal morphogenesis, and virulence. The goals of this study were to identify the Efg1p regulon during GI tract colonization and to compare C. albicans gene expression during colonization of different organs of the GI tract. Our results identified significant differences in gene expression between cells colonizing the cecum and ileum. During colonization, efg1(-) null mutant cells expressed higher levels of genes involved in lipid catabolism, carnitine biosynthesis, and carnitine utilization than did colonizing wild-type (WT) cells. In addition, during laboratory growth, efg1(-) null mutant cells grew to a higher density than WT cells. The efg1(-) null mutant grew in depleted medium, while WT cells could grow only if the depleted medium was supplemented with carnitine, a compound that promotes the metabolism of fatty acids. Altered gene expression and altered growth capability support the ability of efg1(-) cells to hypercolonize naïve mice. Also, Efg1p was shown to be important for transcriptional responses to the stresses present in the cecum environment. For example, during colonization, SOD5, encoding a superoxide dismutase, was highly upregulated in an Efg1p-dependent manner. Ectopic expression of SOD5 in an efg1(-) null mutant increased the fitness of the efg1(-) null mutant cells during colonization. These data show that EFG1 is an important regulator of GI colonization.
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Han TL, Cannon RD, Villas-Bôas SG. The metabolic basis of Candida albicans morphogenesis and quorum sensing. Fungal Genet Biol 2011; 48:747-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2011.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2009] [Revised: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Endocytosis-mediated vacuolar accumulation of the human ApoE apolipoprotein-derived ApoEdpL-W antimicrobial peptide contributes to its antifungal activity in Candida albicans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:4670-81. [PMID: 21807970 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00319-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 18-amino-acid cationic, tryptophan-rich ApoEdpL-W peptide derived from human ApoE apolipoprotein was shown to have antifungal activity against pathogenic yeasts of the Candida genus (except C. glabrata). ApoEdpL-W was active against planktonic cells and early-stage biofilms but less active against mature biofilms, possibly because of its affinity for extracellular matrix beta-glucans. Moreover, ApoEdpL-W absorbed to medically relevant materials partially prevented the formation of biofilms on these materials. The exposure of C. albicans cells to sublethal doses of ApoEdpL-W triggered a transcriptional response reminiscent of that associated with the inactivation of the MYO5 gene required for endocytosis as well as the upregulation of amino acid transporter genes. A fluorescent derivative of ApoEdpL-W accumulated at the cytoplasmic membrane and subsequently was translocated to the vacuole. Strikingly, the inactivation of MYO5 or addition of latrunculin, an inhibitor of endocytosis, prevented the vacuolar accumulation of fluorescein-labeled ApoEdpL-W and reduced the antifungal activity of ApoEdpL-W. This, together with the insensitivity of ApoEdpL-W to alterations in membrane fluidity and high salt, suggested that the ApoEdpL-W mode of action was dependent upon vacuolar targeting and differed significantly from that of other antifungal peptides, such as Histatin-5 and Magainin 2.
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The quorum-sensing molecules farnesol/homoserine lactone and dodecanol operate via distinct modes of action in Candida albicans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2011; 10:1034-42. [PMID: 21666074 DOI: 10.1128/ec.05060-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Living as a commensal, Candida albicans must adapt and respond to environmental cues generated by the mammalian host and by microbes comprising the natural flora. These signals have opposing effects on C. albicans, with host cues promoting the yeast-to-hyphal transition and bacteria-derived quorum-sensing molecules inhibiting hyphal development. Hyphal development is regulated through modulation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, and it has been postulated that quorum-sensing molecules can affect filamentation by inhibiting the cAMP pathway. Here, we show that both farnesol and 3-oxo-C(12)-homoserine lactone, a quorum-sensing molecule secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, block hyphal development by affecting cAMP signaling; they both directly inhibited the activity of the Candida adenylyl cyclase, Cyr1p. In contrast, the 12-carbon alcohol dodecanol appeared to modulate hyphal development and the cAMP signaling pathway without directly affecting the activity of Cyr1p. Instead, we show that dodecanol exerted its effects through a mechanism involving the C. albicans hyphal repressor, Sfl1p. Deletion of SFL1 did not affect the response to farnesol but did interfere with the response to dodecanol. Therefore, quorum sensing in C. albicans is mediated via multiple mechanisms of action. Interestingly, our experiments raise the possibility that the Burkholderia cenocepacia diffusible signal factor, BDSF, also mediates its effects via Sfl1p, suggesting that dodecanol's mode of action, but not farnesol or 3-oxo-C(12)-homoserine lactone, may be used by other quorum-sensing molecules.
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Bonhomme J, Chauvel M, Goyard S, Roux P, Rossignol T, d'Enfert C. Contribution of the glycolytic flux and hypoxia adaptation to efficient biofilm formation by Candida albicans. Mol Microbiol 2011; 80:995-1013. [PMID: 21414038 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07626.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Candida albicans forms therapeutically challenging biofilms on biomedical implants. Using a transcript profiling approach genes whose expression is favoured upon biofilm growth compared with planktonic growth have been previously identified. Knock-out mutants for 38 of these genes were constructed, six of which showed a specific defect in biofilm formation. Among these genes, TYE7 that encodes a transcriptional activator of glycolytic genes in planktonic and biofilm growth conditions was identified as being required for the cohesiveness of biofilms. Biofilms formed by the tye7Δ knock-out mutant showed a hyperfilamentous morphology, and growth of this mutant on solid medium under hypoxia was also associated with the production of hyphae. Similar to TYE7 inactivation, inhibition of glycolysis or ATP synthesis using oxalate or an uncoupler, respectively, triggered morphogenesis when a wild-type strain was grown under hypoxia. These treatments also induced the formation of weakly cohesive, hyper-filamentous biofilms by a wild-type strain. Our data indicate that a hypoxic environment is generated within C. albicans biofilms and that continued biofilm development requires a Tye7p-dependent upregulation of glycolytic genes necessary to adapt to hypoxia and prevent uncontrolled hyphal formation. Thus, adaptation to hypoxia is an integral component of biofilm formation in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bonhomme
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département Génomes et Génétique, F-75015 Paris, France
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Conjugated linoleic acid inhibits hyphal growth in Candida albicans by modulating Ras1p cellular levels and downregulating TEC1 expression. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2011; 10:565-77. [PMID: 21357478 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00305-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The polymorphic yeast Candida albicans exists in yeast and filamentous forms. Given that the morphogenetic switch coincides with the expression of many virulence factors, the yeast-to-hypha transition constitutes an attractive target for the development of new antifungal agents. Since an untapped therapeutic potential resides in small molecules that hinder C. albicans filamentation, we characterized the inhibitory effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on hyphal growth and addressed its mechanism of action. CLA inhibited hyphal growth in a dose-dependent fashion in both liquid and solid hypha-inducing media. The fatty acid blocked germ tube formation without affecting cellular growth rates. Global transcriptional profiling revealed that CLA downregulated the expression of hypha-specific genes and abrogated the induction of several regulators of hyphal growth, including TEC1, UME6, RFG1, and RAS1. However, neither UME6 nor RFG1 was necessary for CLA-mediated hyphal growth inhibition. Expression analysis showed that the downregulation of TEC1 expression levels by CLA depended on RAS1. In addition, while RAS1 transcript levels remained constant in CLA-treated cells, its protein levels declined with time. With the use of a strain expressing GFP-Ras1p, CLA treatment was also shown to affect Ras1p localization to the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that CLA inhibits hyphal growth by affecting the cellular localization of Ras1p and blocking the increase in RAS1 mRNA and protein levels. Combined, these effects should prevent the induction of the Ras1p signaling pathway. This study provides the biological and molecular explanations that underlie CLA's ability to inhibit hyphal growth in C. albicans.
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Kumamoto CA, Pierce JV. Immunosensing during colonization by Candida albicans: does it take a village to colonize the intestine? Trends Microbiol 2011; 19:263-7. [PMID: 21354799 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2011.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 01/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen and a component of the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract, is a frequent colonizer of humans. Is C. albicans capable of sensing the immune status of its host, a process we term immunosensing, and, if so, how? C. albicans causes serious disease only in immunocompromised hosts and therefore the ability to immunosense would be advantageous to an organism. We propose a speculative model whereby, during colonization, C. albicans produces phenotypic variants that vary in relative concentration depending on host status. One variant is optimized for persistence as a commensal, whereas the other variant has higher capacity to initiate pathogenic interactions. When the ratio of the two variants changes, the pathogenic potential of the population changes. The critical element of this model is that the C. albicans colonizing population is not uniform but is composed of subpopulations of phenotypic variants that are advantageous under different host conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol A Kumamoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
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Wang P, Shen G. The endocytic adaptor proteins of pathogenic fungi: charting new and familiar pathways. Med Mycol 2011; 49:449-57. [PMID: 21254965 DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2011.553246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular transport is an essential biological process that is highly conserved throughout the eukaryotic organisms. In fungi, adaptor proteins implicated in the endocytic cycle of endocytosis and exocytosis were found to be important for growth, differentiation, and/or virulence. For example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pan1 is an endocytic protein that regulates membrane trafficking, the actin cytoskeleton, and signaling. In Cryptococcus neoformans, a multi-modular endocytic protein, Cin1, was recently found to have pleiotropic functions in morphogenesis, endocytosis, exocytosis, and virulence. Interestingly, Cin1 is homologous to human intersectin ITSN1, but homologs of Cin1/ITSN1 were not found in ascomycetous S. cerevisiae and Candida albicans, or zygomycetous fungi. Moreover, an Eps15 protein homologous to S. cerevisiae Pan1/Ede1 and additional relevant protein homologs were identified in C. neoformans, suggesting the existence of either a distinct endocytic pathway mediated by Cin1 or pathways by either Cin1 or/and Pan1/Ede1 homologs. Whether and how the Cin1-mediated endocytic pathway represents a unique role in pathogenesis or reflects a redundancy of a transport apparatus remains an open and challenging question. This review discusses recent findings of endocytic adaptor proteins from pathogenic fungi and provides a perspective for novel endocytic machinery operating in C. neoformans. An understanding of intracellular trafficking mechanisms as they relate to pathogenesis will likely reveal the identity of novel antifungal targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- The Research Institute for Children, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
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Abstract
Candida species cause frequent infections owing to their ability to form biofilms - surface-associated microbial communities - primarily on implanted medical devices. Increasingly, mechanistic studies have identified the gene products that participate directly in the development of Candida albicans biofilms, as well as the regulatory circuitry and networks that control their expression and activity. These studies have uncovered new mechanisms and signals that govern C. albicans biofilm development and associated drug resistance, thus providing biological insight and therapeutic foresight.
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Lee P, Paik SM, Shin CS, Huh WK, Hahn JS. Regulation of yeast Yak1 kinase by PKA and autophosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3 binding. Mol Microbiol 2010; 79:633-46. [PMID: 21255108 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07471.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Yak1 is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family of Ser/Thr protein kinases known as dual-specificity Tyr phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRKs). Yak1 was originally identified as a growth antagonist, which functions downstream of Ras/PKA signalling pathway. It has been known that Yak1 is phosphorylated by PKA in vitro and is translocated to the nucleus upon nutrient deprivation. However, the regulatory mechanisms for Yak1 activity and localization are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of PKA and Bmh1, a yeast 14-3-3 protein, in regulation of Yak1. We demonstrate that PKA-dependent phosphorylation of Yak1 on Ser295 and two minor sites inhibits nuclear localization of Yak1. We also show that intramolecular autophosphorylation on at least four Ser/Thr residues in the non-catalytic N-terminal domain is required for full kinase activity of Yak1. The most potent autophosphorylation site, Thr335, plays an essential role for Bmh1 binding in collaboration with a yet unidentified second binding site in the N-terminal domain. Bmh1 binding decreases the catalytic activity of Yak1 without affecting its subcellular localization. Since the binding of 14-3-3 proteins to Yak1 coincides with PKA activity, such regulatory mechanisms might allow cytoplasmic retention of an inactive form of Yak1 under high glucose conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-gu, Gwanak-ro, Seoul 151-744, Korea
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Coleman DA, Oh SH, Zhao X, Hoyer LL. Heterogeneous distribution of Candida albicans cell-surface antigens demonstrated with an Als1-specific monoclonal antibody. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2010; 156:3645-3659. [PMID: 20705663 PMCID: PMC3068703 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.043851-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite an abundance of data describing expression of genes in the Candida albicans ALS (agglutinin-like sequence) gene family, little is known about the production of Als proteins on individual cells, their spatial localization or stability. Als proteins are most commonly discussed with respect to function in adhesion of C. albicans to host and abiotic surfaces. Development of a mAb specific for Als1, one of the eight large glycoproteins encoded by the ALS family, provided the opportunity to detect Als1 during growth of yeast and hyphae, both in vitro and in vivo, and to demonstrate the utility of the mAb in blocking C. albicans adhesion to host cells. Although most C. albicans yeast cells in a saturated culture are Als1-negative by indirect immunofluorescence, Als1 is detected on the surface of nearly all cells shortly after transfer into fresh growth medium. Als1 covers the yeast cell surface, with the exception of bud scars. Daughters of the inoculum cells, and sometimes granddaughters, also have detectable Als1, but Als1 is not detectable on cells from subsequent generations. On germ tubes and hyphae, most Als1 is localized proximal to the mother yeast. Once deposited on yeasts or hyphae, Als1 persists long after the culture has reached saturation. Growth stage-dependent production of Als1, coupled with its persistence on the cell surface, results in a heterogeneous population of cells within a C. albicans culture. Anti-Als1 immunolabelling patterns vary depending on the source of the C. albicans cells, with obvious differences between cells recovered from culture and those from a murine model of disseminated candidiasis. Results from this work highlight the temporal parallels for ALS1 expression and Als1 production in yeasts and germ tubes, the specialized spatial localization and persistence of Als1 on the C. albicans cell surface, and the differences in Als1 localization that occur in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Coleman
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Soon-Hwan Oh
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Lois L Hoyer
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
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Lilienthal E, Kolanowski K, Becker W. Development of a sensitive non-radioactive protein kinase assay and its application for detecting DYRK activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2010; 11:20. [PMID: 20487523 PMCID: PMC2885986 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-11-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2009] [Accepted: 05/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although numerous non-radioactive methods are in use to measure the catalytic activity of protein kinases, most require specialized equipment and reagents and are not sufficiently sensitive for the detection of endogenous kinase activity in biological samples. Kinases of the DYRK family have important functions in developmental and pathophysiological processes in eukaryotic organisms including mammals. We aimed to develop a highly sensitive, low-tech assay suitable to determine the activity of DYRK family kinases in tissues or cells from diverse sources. RESULTS Phosphorylation-site specific antibodies can be used to monitor the accumulation of the phosphorylated product in kinase assays. We present a modified configuration of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based kinase assay by using the phosphospecific antibody as the capture antibody. This assay format allowed the detection of small amounts of phosphopeptide in mixtures with an excess of the unphosphorylated substrate peptide (10 fmol phosphorylated peptide over a background of 50 pmol unphosphorylated peptide). Consequently, low substrate turnover rates can be determined. We applied this method to the measurement of endogenous DYRK1A activity in mouse heart tissue by immunocomplex kinase assay. Furthermore, we detected DYRK1-like kinase activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes and identified this kinase as a DYRK1 isoform distinct from the Xenopus DYRK1A ortholog. CONCLUSION We present a non-radioactive and highly sensitive method for the measurement of endogenous activities of DYRKs in biological samples. Xenopus laevis oocytes contain an active DYRK1-related protein kinase more similar to mammalian DYRK1B than DYRK1A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lilienthal
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Kolanowski
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Walter Becker
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Adaptations of Candida albicans for growth in the mammalian intestinal tract. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2010; 9:1075-86. [PMID: 20435697 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00034-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Although the fungus Candida albicans is a commensal colonizer of humans, the organism is also an important opportunistic pathogen. Most infections caused by C. albicans arise from organisms that were previously colonizing the host as commensals, and therefore successful establishment of colonization is a prerequisite for pathogenicity. To elucidate fungal activities that promote colonization, an analysis of the transcription profile of C. albicans cells recovered from the intestinal tracts of mice was performed. The results showed that within the C. albicans colonizing population, cells expressed genes characteristic of the laboratory-grown exponential phase and genes characteristic of post-exponential-phase cells. Thus, gene expression both promoted the ability to grow rapidly (a characteristic of exponential-phase cells) and enhanced the ability to resist stresses (a characteristic of post-exponential-phase cells). Similarities in gene expression in commensal colonizing cells and cells invading host tissue during disease were found, showing that C. albicans cells adopt a particular cell surface when growing within a host in both situations. In addition, transcription factors Cph2p and Tec1p were shown to regulate C. albicans gene expression during intestinal colonization.
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A multifunctional, synthetic Gaussia princeps luciferase reporter for live imaging of Candida albicans infections. Infect Immun 2009; 77:4847-58. [PMID: 19687206 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00223-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time monitoring of the spatial and temporal progression of infection/gene expression in animals will contribute greatly to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions while reducing the number of animals required to generate statistically significant data sets. Sensitive in vivo imaging technologies can detect low levels of light emitted from luciferase reporters in vivo, but the existing reporters are not optimal for fungal infections. Therefore, our aim was to develop a novel reporter system for imaging Candida albicans infections that overcomes the limitations of current luciferase reporters for this major fungal pathogen. This luciferase reporter was constructed by fusing a synthetic, codon-optimized version of the Gaussia princeps luciferase gene to C. albicans PGA59, which encodes a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked cell wall protein. Luciferase expressed from this PGA59-gLUC fusion (referred to as gLUC59) was localized at the C. albicans cell surface, allowing the detection of luciferase in intact cells. The analysis of fusions to strong (ACT1 and EFT3), oxidative stress-induced (TRX1, TRR1, and IPF9996), and morphogenesis-dependent (HWP1) promoters confirmed that gLUC59 is a convenient and sensitive reporter for studies of gene regulation in yeast or hyphal cells, as well as a flexible screening tool. Moreover, the ACT1-gLUC59 fusion represented a powerful tool for the imaging of disease progression in superficial and subcutaneous C. albicans infections. gLUC59 and related cell surface-exposed luciferase reporters might find wide applications in molecular biology, cell biology, pathobiology, and high-throughput screens.
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Moreno-Ruiz E, Ortu G, de Groot PWJ, Cottier F, Loussert C, Prévost MC, de Koster C, Klis FM, Goyard S, d'Enfert C. The GPI-modified proteins Pga59 and Pga62 of Candida albicans are required for cell wall integrity. Microbiology (Reading) 2009; 155:2004-2020. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.028902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall is essential in maintaining cellular integrity and plays key roles in the interplay between fungal pathogens and their hosts. The PGA59 and PGA62 genes encode two short and related glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell wall proteins and their expression has been previously shown to be strongly upregulated when the human pathogen Candida albicans grows as biofilms. Using GFP fusion proteins, we have shown that Pga59 and Pga62 are cell-wall-located, N- and O-glycosylated proteins. The characterization of C. albicans pga59Δ/pga59Δ, pga62Δ/pga62Δ and pga59Δ/pga59Δ pga62Δ/pga62Δ mutants suggested a minor role of these two proteins in hyphal morphogenesis and that they are not critical to biofilm formation. Importantly, the sensitivity to different cell-wall-perturbing agents was altered in these mutants. In particular, simultaneous inactivation of PGA59 and PGA62 resulted in high sensitivity to Calcofluor white, Congo red and nikkomicin Z and in resistance to caspofungin. Furthermore, cell wall composition and observation by transmission electron microscopy indicated an altered cell wall structure in the mutant strains. Collectively, these data suggest that the cell wall proteins Pga59 and Pga62 contribute to cell wall stability and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Moreno-Ruiz
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, INRA USC2019, Paris, France
| | - Giuseppe Ortu
- Sezione di Microbiologia generale ed Applicat, DISAABA, Sassari, Italy
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, INRA USC2019, Paris, France
| | - Piet W. J. de Groot
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fabien Cottier
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, INRA USC2019, Paris, France
| | - Céline Loussert
- Plate-forme de Microscopie Ultrastructurale, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Chris de Koster
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans M. Klis
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie Goyard
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, INRA USC2019, Paris, France
| | - Christophe d'Enfert
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, INRA USC2019, Paris, France
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Current awareness on yeast. Yeast 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/yea.1619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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