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Aureli L, Coleine C, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Ahren D, Cemmi A, Di Sarcina I, Onofri S, Selbmann L. Geography and environmental pressure are predictive of class-specific radioresistance in black fungi. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2931-2942. [PMID: 37775957 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Black fungi are among the most resistant organisms to ionizing radiation on Earth. However, our current knowledge is based on studies on a few isolates, while the overall radioresistance limits across this microbial group and the relationship with local environmental conditions remain largely undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed the survival of 101 strains of black fungi isolated across a worldwide spatial distribution to gamma radiation doses up to 100 kGy. We found that intra and inter-specific taxonomy, UV radiation, and precipitation levels primarily influence the radioresistance in black fungi. Altogether, this study provides insights into the adaptive mechanisms of black fungi to extreme environments and highlights the role of local adaptation in shaping the survival capabilities of these extreme-tolerant organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Aureli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Dag Ahren
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Alessia Cemmi
- Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA FSN-FISS-SNI), Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Sarcina
- Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA FSN-FISS-SNI), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genoa, Italy
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2
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Yuzon JD, Schultzhaus Z, Wang Z. Transcriptomic and genomic effects of gamma-radiation exposure on strains of the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis evolved to display increased ionizing radiation resistance. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0221923. [PMID: 37676019 PMCID: PMC10581076 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02219-23] [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] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanized fungi thrive in extreme environments, including those with high levels of ionizing radiation. To understand the role that melanin may play in ionizing radiation resistance, we previously performed an adaptive laboratory evolution experiment in which we used melanized and non-melanized strains of the yeast Exophiala dermatitidis to develop evolved lines that exhibit increased ionizing radiation resistance. In this study, we further characterized these evolved lines by analyzing their response to ionizing radiation at the transcriptomic and genomic levels. RNA sequencing showed that the response to gamma irradiation in both unevolved and evolved strains involved the induction of DNA repair genes. However, in the melanized lines evolved to exhibit increased ionizing radiation resistance, DNA-associated genes were constitutively expressed, compared to their expression levels in wild type. Non-melanized lines that were evolved to be resistant to ionizing radiation, on the other hand, exhibited upregulation of genes involved in redox homeostasis, even under non-irradiated conditions. Additionally, we characterized genome-wide mutations induced by a single high dose of gamma radiation in these evolved lines and observed that while melanin did not directly affect survival after gamma radiation exposure, melanized lines that evolved to exhibit higher ionizing radiation resistance experienced fewer mutations, whereas similarly evolved, non-melanized lines accumulated more mutations, similar to the parent, non-melanized strain. These results underscore the complex yet measurable role of melanin in the response to ionizing radiation in E. dermatitidis. Furthermore, this study enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the recovery after ionizing radiation exposure in melanized fungi and offers insights into the potential therapeutic applications of melanin and other redox molecules for protecting against ionizing radiation-induced damage. IMPORTANCE Ionizing radiation poses a significant threat to living organisms and human health, given its destructive nature and widespread use in fields such as medicine and the potential for nuclear disasters. Melanized fungi exhibit remarkable survival capabilities, enduring doses up to 1,000-fold higher than mammals. Through adaptive laboratory evolution, we validated the protective role of constitutive upregulation of DNA repair genes in the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis, enhancing survival after radiation exposure. Surprisingly, we found that evolved strains lacking melanin still achieved high levels of radioresistance. Our study unveiled the significance of robust activation and enhancement of redox homeostasis, as evidenced by the profound transcriptional changes and increased accumulation of mutations, in substantially improving ionizing radiation resistance in the absence of melanin. These findings underscore the delicate balance between DNA repair and redox homeostasis for an organism's ability to endure and recover from radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D. Yuzon
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, USA
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, USA
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3
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Carr EC, Barton Q, Grambo S, Sullivan M, Renfro CM, Kuo A, Pangilinan J, Lipzen A, Keymanesh K, Savage E, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, Riekhof WR, Harris SD. Characterization of a novel polyextremotolerant fungus, Exophiala viscosa, with insights into its melanin regulation and ecological niche. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad110. [PMID: 37221014 PMCID: PMC10411609 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Black yeasts are polyextremotolerant fungi that contain high amounts of melanin in their cell wall and maintain a primar yeast form. These fungi grow in xeric, nutrient depletes environments which implies that they require highly flexible metabolisms and have been suggested to contain the ability to form lichen-like mutualisms with nearby algae and bacteria. However, the exact ecological niche and interactions between these fungi and their surrounding community are not well understood. We have isolated 2 novel black yeasts from the genus Exophiala that were recovered from dryland biological soil crusts. Despite notable differences in colony and cellular morphology, both fungi appear to be members of the same species, which has been named Exophiala viscosa (i.e. E. viscosa JF 03-3 Goopy and E. viscosa JF 03-4F Slimy). A combination of whole genome sequencing, phenotypic experiments, and melanin regulation experiments have been performed on these isolates to fully characterize these fungi and help decipher their fundamental niche within the biological soil crust consortium. Our results reveal that E. viscosa is capable of utilizing a wide variety of carbon and nitrogen sources potentially derived from symbiotic microbes, can withstand many forms of abiotic stresses, and excretes melanin which can potentially provide ultraviolet resistance to the biological soil crust community. Besides the identification of a novel species within the genus Exophiala, our study also provides new insight into the regulation of melanin production in polyextremotolerant fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Carr
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Quin Barton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Sarah Grambo
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Mitchell Sullivan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Cecile M Renfro
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Alan Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jasmyn Pangilinan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Keykhosrow Keymanesh
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Emily Savage
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kerrie Barry
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Wayne R Riekhof
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Steven D Harris
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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4
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Kurbessoian T, Murante D, Crocker A, Hogan DA, Stajich JE. In host evolution of Exophiala dermatitidis in cystic fibrosis lung micro-environment. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad126. [PMID: 37293838 PMCID: PMC10484061 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are susceptible to chronic lung infections that lead to inflammation and irreversible lung damage. While most respiratory infections that occur in CF are caused by bacteria, some are dominated by fungi such as the slow-growing black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis. Here, we analyze isolates of E. dermatitidis cultured from two samples, collected from a single subject 2 years apart. One isolate genome was sequenced using long-read Nanopore technology as an in-population reference to use in comparative single nucleotide polymorphism and insertion-deletion variant analyses of 23 isolates. We then used population genomics and phylo-genomics to compare the isolates to each other as well as the reference genome strain E. dermatitidis NIH/UT8656. Within the CF lung population, three E. dermatitidis clades were detected, each with varying mutation rates. Overall, the isolates were highly similar suggesting that they were recently diverged. All isolates were MAT 1-1, which was consistent with their high relatedness and the absence of evidence for mating or recombination between isolates. Phylogenetic analysis grouped sets of isolates into clades that contained isolates from both early and late time points indicating there are multiple persistent lineages. Functional assessment of variants unique to each clade identified alleles in genes that encode transporters, cytochrome P450 oxidoreductases, iron acquisition, and DNA repair processes. Consistent with the genomic heterogeneity, isolates showed some stable phenotype heterogeneity in melanin production, subtle differences in antifungal minimum inhibitory concentrations, and growth on different substrates. The persistent population heterogeneity identified in lung-derived isolates is an important factor to consider in the study of chronic fungal infections, and the analysis of changes in fungal pathogens over time may provide important insights into the physiology of black yeasts and other slow-growing fungi in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Kurbessoian
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Daniel Murante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Alex Crocker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Deborah A Hogan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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5
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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6
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Romsdahl J, Schultzhaus Z, Cuomo CA, Dong H, Abeyratne-Perera H, Hervey WJ, Wang Z. Phenotypic Characterization and Comparative Genomics of the Melanin-Producing Yeast Exophiala lecanii-corni Reveals a Distinct Stress Tolerance Profile and Reduced Ribosomal Genetic Content. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:1078. [PMID: 34947060 PMCID: PMC8709033 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The black yeast Exophiala lecanii-corni of the order Chaetothyriales is notable for its ability to produce abundant quantities of DHN-melanin. While many other Exophiala species are frequent causal agents of human infection, E. lecanii-corni CBS 102400 lacks the thermotolerance requirements that enable pathogenicity, making it appealing for use in targeted functional studies and biotechnological applications. Here, we report the stress tolerance characteristics of E. lecanii-corni, with an emphasis on the influence of melanin on its resistance to various forms of stress. We find that E. lecanii-corni has a distinct stress tolerance profile that includes variation in resistance to temperature, osmotic, and oxidative stress relative to the extremophilic and pathogenic black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis. Notably, the presence of melanin substantially impacts stress resistance in E. lecanii-corni, while this was not found to be the case in E. dermatitidis. The cellular context, therefore, influences the role of melanin in stress protection. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of the E. lecanii-corni genome, revealing key differences in functional genetic content relative to other ascomycetous species, including a significant decrease in abundance of genes encoding ribosomal proteins. In all, this study provides insight into how genetics and physiology may underlie stress tolerance and enhances understanding of the genetic diversity of black yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA;
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.); (W.J.H.IV)
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA;
| | - Hong Dong
- Biotechnology Branch, CCDC Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA;
| | - Hashanthi Abeyratne-Perera
- American Society for Engineering Education Postdoctoral Research Associate, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA;
| | - W. Judson Hervey
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.); (W.J.H.IV)
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.); (W.J.H.IV)
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7
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Zhou X, Gong X, Cao W, Forman CJ, Oktawiec J, D'Alba L, Sun H, Thompson MP, Hu Z, Kapoor U, McCallum NC, Malliakas CD, Farha OK, Jayaraman A, Shawkey MD, Gianneschi NC. Anisotropic Synthetic Allomelanin Materials via Solid-State Polymerization of Self-Assembled 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene Dimers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:17464-17471. [PMID: 33913253 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Melanosomes in nature have diverse morphologies, including spheres, rods, and platelets. By contrast, shapes of synthetic melanins have been almost entirely limited to spherical nanoparticles with few exceptions produced by complex templated synthetic methods. Here, we report a non-templated method to access synthetic melanins with a variety of architectures including spheres, sheets, and platelets. Three 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene dimers (4-4', 2-4' and 2-2') were used as self-assembling synthons. These dimers pack to form well-defined structures of varying morphologies depending on the isomer. Specifically, distinctive ellipsoidal platelets can be obtained using 4-4' dimers. Solid-state polymerization of the preorganized dimers generates polymeric synthetic melanins while maintaining the initial particle morphologies. This work provides a new route to anisotropic synthetic melanins, where the building blocks are preorganized into specific shapes, followed by solid-state polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhao Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Xinyi Gong
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Christopher J Forman
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Julia Oktawiec
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Department of Biology, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, University of Ghent, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Matthew P Thompson
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Ziying Hu
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Utkarsh Kapoor
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Colburn Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Naneki C McCallum
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Christos D Malliakas
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Omar K Farha
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Colburn Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Department of Biology, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, University of Ghent, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute of Nanotechnology, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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8
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Zhou X, Gong X, Cao W, Forman CJ, Oktawiec J, D'Alba L, Sun H, Thompson MP, Hu Z, Kapoor U, McCallum NC, Malliakas CD, Farha OK, Jayaraman A, Shawkey MD, Gianneschi NC. Anisotropic Synthetic Allomelanin Materials via Solid‐State Polymerization of Self‐Assembled 1,8‐Dihydroxynaphthalene Dimers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuhao Zhou
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Xinyi Gong
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Christopher J. Forman
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Julia Oktawiec
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Department of Biology Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group University of Ghent 9000 Ghent Belgium
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Matthew P. Thompson
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Ziying Hu
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Utkarsh Kapoor
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Colburn Laboratory University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Naneki C. McCallum
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Christos D. Malliakas
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Omar K. Farha
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Colburn Laboratory Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Matthew D. Shawkey
- Department of Biology Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group University of Ghent 9000 Ghent Belgium
| | - Nathan C. Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry International Institute of Nanotechnology Simpson-Querrey Institute Chemistry of Life Processes Institute Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
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9
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Does Prolonged Exposure of Environmental Fungi to Ultraviolet Irradiation Change the Pattern of Drug Resistance? Jundishapur J Microbiol 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.111734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The pathogenic and opportunistic fungal species cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. The ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation is a well-known method for inactivating a significant number of microorganisms and has wide application for sterilization. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultraviolet C (UV-C) irradiation on the antifungal susceptibility pattern of some filamentous fungi. Methods: The effect of UV-C on the antifungal susceptibility pattern of itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, and amphotericin B against filamentous fungi was examined. Changes in the morphological features of resistant strains following UV-C irradiation were also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in the number of the surviving spores of strains with the prolongation of UV-C irradiation (0 - 10 to 20 min; P < 0.05). Concerning the morphology of resistant Aspergillus spp., the results of scanning electron microscopy showed a significant increase in the length of irradiated hyphae compared to the non-irradiated hyphae (P < 0.05). In addition, colony count showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). The findings revealed that UV-C radiation exposure could alter the antifungal susceptibility pattern of Aspergillus spp., such as increasing the minimum inhibitory concentration. Conclusions: Aspergillus spp. can cause systemic infections among lab technicians exposed to different doses of radiation. Moreover, this increase in susceptibility pattern can directly affect the duration of treatment.
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10
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Schultzhaus Z, Chen A, Shuryak I, Wang Z. The Transcriptomic and Phenotypic Response of the Melanized Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis to Ionizing Particle Exposure. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:609996. [PMID: 33510728 PMCID: PMC7835796 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.609996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi can tolerate extremely high doses of ionizing radiation compared with most other eukaryotes, a phenomenon encompassing both the recovery from acute exposure and the growth of melanized fungi in chronically contaminated environments such as nuclear disaster sites. This observation has led to the use of fungi in radiobiology studies, with the goal of finding novel resistance mechanisms. However, it is still not entirely clear what underlies this phenomenon, as genetic studies have not pinpointed unique responses to ionizing radiation in the most resistant fungi. Additionally, little work has been done examining how fungi (other than budding yeast) respond to irradiation by ionizing particles (e.g., protons, α-particles), although particle irradiation may cause distinct cellular damage, and is more relevant for human risks. To address this paucity of data, in this study we have characterized the phenotypic and transcriptomic response of the highly radioresistant yeast Exophiala dermatitidis to irradiation by three separate ionizing radiation sources: protons, deuterons, and α-particles. The experiment was performed with both melanized and non-melanized strains of E. dermatitidis, to determine the effect of this pigment on the response. No significant difference in survival was observed between these strains under any condition, suggesting that melanin does not impart protection to acute irradiation to these particles. The transcriptomic response during recovery to particle exposure was similar to that observed after γ-irradiation, with DNA repair and replication genes upregulated, and genes involved in translation and ribosomal biogenesis being heavily repressed, indicating an attenuation of cell growth. However, a comparison of global gene expression showed clear clustering of particle and γ-radiation groups. The response elicited by particle irradiation was, in total, more complex. Compared to the γ-associated response, particle irradiation resulted in greater changes in gene expression, a more diverse set of differentially expressed genes, and a significant induction of gene categories such as autophagy and protein catabolism. Additionally, analysis of individual particle responses resulted in identification of the first unique expression signatures and individual genes for each particle type that could be used as radionuclide discrimination markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Amy Chen
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
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Malo ME, Schultzhaus Z, Frank C, Romsdahl J, Wang Z, Dadachova E. Transcriptomic and genomic changes associated with radioadaptation in Exophiala dermatitidis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 19:196-205. [PMID: 33425251 PMCID: PMC7772362 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Exophiala dermatitidis is a constitutively melanized yeast that is highly resistant to ionizing radiation. We analyzed the genome and transcriptomes of E. dermatitidis strains adapted to chronic ionizing radiation exposure. Radioadaptation induces transcriptomic but few genomic changes in E. dermatitidis. Radioadaptation also results in an altered transcriptomic response to subsequent ionizing radiation exposure. This regulation involves downregulation of basal metabolic processes and upregulation of translation and DNA repair.
Melanized fungi have been isolated from some of the harshest radioactive environments, and their ability to thrive in these locations is in part due to the pigment melanin. Melanin imparts a selective advantage to fungi by providing a physical shield, a chemical shield, and possibly a signaling mechanism. In previous work we demonstrated that protracted exposure of the melanized yeast Exophiala dermatitidis to mixed alpha-, beta-, and gamma-emitting radiation resulted in an adapted strain able to mount a unique response to ionizing radiation in the environment in a melanin-dependent fashion. By exploring the genome and transcriptome of this adapted melanized strain relative to a non-irradiated control we determined the altered response was transcriptomic in nature, as whole genome sequencing revealed limited variation. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that of the adapted isolates analyzed, two lineages existed: one like the naïve, non-adapted strain, and one with a unique transcriptomic signature that exhibited downregulation of metabolic processes, and upregulation of translation-associated genes. Analysis of differential gene expression in the adapted strain showed an overlap in response between the control conditions and reactive oxygen species conditions, whereas exposure to an alpha particle source resulted in a robust downregulation of metabolic processes and upregulation of DNA replication and repair genes, and RNA metabolic processes. This suggest previous exposure to radiation primes the fungus to respond to subsequent exposures in a unique way. By exploring this unique response, we have expanded our knowledge of how melanized fungi interact with and respond to ionizing radiation in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Malo
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Connor Frank
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ekaterina Dadachova
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
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Romsdahl J, Schultzhaus Z, Chen A, Liu J, Ewing A, Hervey J, Wang Z. Adaptive evolution of a melanized fungus reveals robust augmentation of radiation resistance by abrogating non-homologous end-joining. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:3627-3645. [PMID: 33078510 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fungi have been observed to exhibit resistance to high levels of ionizing radiation despite sharing most DNA repair mechanisms with other eukaryotes. Radioresistance, in fact, is such a common feature in fungi that it is difficult to identify species that exhibit widely different radiosensitivities, which in turn has hampered the identification of genetic elements responsible for this resistance phenotype. Due to the inherent mutagenic properties of radiation exposure, however, this can be addressed through adaptive laboratory evolution for increased ionizing radiation resistance. Here, using the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis, we demonstrate that resistance to γ-radiation can be greatly increased through repeated rounds of irradiation and outgrowth. Moreover, we find that the small genome size of fungi situates them as a relatively simple functional genomics platform for identification of mutations associated with ionizing radiation resistance. This enabled the identification of genetic mutations in genes encoding proteins with a broad range of functions from 10 evolved strains. Specifically, we find that greatly increased resistance to γ-radiation is achieved in E. dermatitidis through disruption of the non-homologous end-joining pathway, with three individual evolutionary paths converging to abolish this DNA repair process. This result suggests that non-homologous end-joining, even in haploid cells where homologous chromosomes are not present during much of the cell cycle, is an impediment to repair of radiation-induced lesions in this organism, and that the relative levels of homologous and non-homologous repair in a given fungal species may play a major role in its radiation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amy Chen
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | | | - Judson Hervey
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
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Schultzhaus ZS, Schultzhaus JN, Romsdahl J, Chen A, Hervey IV WJ, Leary DH, Wang Z. Proteomics Reveals Distinct Changes Associated with Increased Gamma Radiation Resistance in the Black Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11101128. [PMID: 32992890 PMCID: PMC7650708 DOI: 10.3390/genes11101128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast Exophiala dermatitidis exhibits high resistance to γ-radiation in comparison to many other fungi. Several aspects of this phenotype have been characterized, including its dependence on homologous recombination for the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage, and the transcriptomic response invoked by acute γ-radiation exposure in this organism. However, these findings have yet to identify unique γ-radiation exposure survival strategies-many genes that are induced by γ-radiation exposure do not appear to be important for recovery, and the homologous recombination machinery of this organism is not unique compared to more sensitive species. To identify features associated with γ-radiation resistance, here we characterized the proteomes of two E. dermatitidis strains-the wild type and a hyper-resistant strain developed through adaptive laboratory evolution-before and after γ-radiation exposure. The results demonstrate that protein intensities do not change substantially in response to this stress. Rather, the increased resistance exhibited by the evolved strain may be due in part to increased basal levels of single-stranded binding proteins and a large increase in ribosomal content, possibly allowing for a more robust, induced response during recovery. This experiment provides evidence enabling us to focus on DNA replication, protein production, and ribosome levels for further studies into the mechanism of γ-radiation resistance in E. dermatitidis and other fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary S. Schultzhaus
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.S.); (J.N.S.); (W.J.H.IV); (D.H.L.)
| | - Janna N. Schultzhaus
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.S.); (J.N.S.); (W.J.H.IV); (D.H.L.)
| | - Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council, Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20744, USA;
| | - Amy Chen
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA;
| | - W. Judson Hervey IV
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.S.); (J.N.S.); (W.J.H.IV); (D.H.L.)
| | - Dagmar H. Leary
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.S.); (J.N.S.); (W.J.H.IV); (D.H.L.)
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA; (Z.S.S.); (J.N.S.); (W.J.H.IV); (D.H.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-202-404-1007
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