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Liu S, Bu Z, Zhang X, Chen Y, Sun Q, Wu F, Guo S, Zhu Y, Tan X. The new CFEM protein CgCsa required for Fe 3+ homeostasis regulates the growth, development, and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 274:133216. [PMID: 38901513 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133216] [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] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Secreted common fungal extracellular membrane (CFEM) domain proteins have been implicated in multiple biological functions in fungi. However, it is still largely unknown whether the ferric iron (Fe3+), as an important trace element, was involved with the biological function of CFEM proteins. In this study, a new CFEM protein CgCsa, with high expression levels at the early inoculation stage on peppers by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was investigated. Deletion of the targeted gene CgCsa revealed multiple biological roles in hyphal growth restriction, highly reduced conidial yield, delayed conidial germination, abnormal appressorium with elongated bud tubes, and significantly reduced virulence of C. gloeosporioides. Moreover, in CgCsa mutants, the expression levels of four cell wall synthesis-related genes were downregulated, and cell membrane permeability and electrical conductivity were increased. Compared to the wild-type, the CgCsa mutants downregulated expressions of iron transport-related genes, in addition, its three-dimensional structure was capable binding with iron. Increase in the Fe3+ concentration in the culture medium partially recovered the functions of ΔCgCsa mutant. This is probably the first report to show the association between CgCsa and iron homeostasis in C. gloeosporioides. The results suggest an alternative pathway for controlling plant fungal diseases by deplete their trace elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizhen Liu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China; Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Zhigang Bu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Qianlong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Fei Wu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yonghua Zhu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
| | - Xinqiu Tan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China; LongPing Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China.
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2
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Jia H, Xia R, Zhang R, Liang G, Zhuang Y, Zhou Y, Li D, Wang F. Transcriptome analysis highlights the influence of temperature on hydrolase and traps in nematode-trapping fungi. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1384459. [PMID: 38774504 PMCID: PMC11106486 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1384459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus poses a serious threat to the economic and ecological value of forestry. Nematode trapping fungi trap and kill nematodes using specialized trapping devices, which are highly efficient and non-toxic to the environment, and are very promising for use as biological control agents. In this study, we isolated several nematode-trapping fungi from various regions and screened three for their high nematocidal efficiency. However, the effectiveness of these fungi as nematicides is notably influenced by temperature and exhibits different morphologies in response to temperature fluctuations, which are categorized as "NA," "thin," "dense," and "sparse." The trend of trap formation with temperature was consistent with the trend of nematocidal efficiency with temperature. Both of which initially increased and then decreased with increasing temperature. Among them, Arthrobotrys cladodes exhibited the highest level of nematocidal activity and trap formation among the tested species. Transcriptome data were collected from A. cladodes with various trap morphologies. Hydrolase activity was significantly enriched according to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Eight genes related to hydrolases were found to be consistent with the trend of trap morphology with temperature. Weighted gene co-expression analysis and the Cytoscape network revealed that these 8 genes are associated with either mitosis or autophagy. This suggests that they contribute to the formation of "dense" structures in nematode-trapping fungi. One of these genes is the serine protein hydrolase gene involved in autophagy. This study reveals a potentially critical role for hydrolases in trap formation and nematocidal efficiency. And presents a model where temperature affects trap formation and nematocidal efficiency by influencing the serine protease prb1 involved in the autophagy process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Rui Xia
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Ruizhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Guanjun Liang
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuting Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
| | - Yantao Zhou
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
| | - Danlei Li
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Alien Forest Pest Detection and Control-Heilongjiang Province, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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3
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Lei H, Zhang G, Zhao P, Li G. Secondary Metabolites from the Nematode-Trapping Fungus Dactylellina haptotyla YMF1.03409. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2693. [PMID: 38004706 PMCID: PMC10672892 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112693] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
As a representative nematode-trapping fungus, Dactylellina haptotyla can capture and kill nematodes by producing traps, known as adhesive knobs. In this paper, the strain of D. haptotyla YMF1.03409 was studied by means of medium screening, fermentation, and purification and identification of crude extracts. Eighteen compounds were obtained from D. haptotyla YMF1.03409, including two new metabolites, nosporins C (1) and D (2). The known metabolites were identified to be 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (3), 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzoic acid (4), 2-chloro-1-methoxy-4-(methoxymethyl)benzene (5), 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole (6), nicotinic acid (7), succinic acid (8), 3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid (9), 5'-O-methyladenosine (10), uridine (11), 2'-deoxyuridine (12), thymidine (13), 3-(phenylmethyl)-2,5-morpholinedione (14), methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (15), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid bis(2-methyl heptyl) ester (16), β-sitosterol (17), and 3β,6α-diol-stigmastane (18). The bioactive assay showed that these compounds had no obvious nematicidal activity against the nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and Panagrellus redivivus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Guohong Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
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4
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Lei HM, Wang JT, Hu QY, Li CQ, Mo MH, Zhang KQ, Li GH, Zhao PJ. 2-Furoic acid associated with the infection of nematodes by Dactylellina haptotyla and its biocontrol potential on plant root-knot nematodes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0189623. [PMID: 37754836 PMCID: PMC10580851 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01896-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Dactylellina haptotyla is a typical nematode-trapping fungus that has garnered the attention of many scholars for its highly effective lethal potential for nematodes. Secondary metabolites play an important role in D. haptotyla-nematode interactions, but which metabolites perform which function remains unclear. We report the metabolic functions based on high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of wild D. haptotyla YMF1.03409. The results indicate that a large variety of secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic genes were significantly upregulated during the nematode-trapping stage. In parallel, we identified that 2-furoic acid was specifically produced during nematode trapping by D. haptotyla YMF1.03409 and isolated it from fermentation production. 2-Furoic acid demonstrated strong nematicidal activity with an LD50 value of 55.05 µg/mL against Meloidogyne incognita at 48 h. Furthermore, the pot experiment showed that the number of galls of tomato root was significantly reduced in the experimental group treated with 2-furoic acid. The considerable increase in the 2-furoic acid content during the infection process and its virulent nematicidal activity revealed an essential synergistic effect during the process of nematode-trapping fungal infection. IMPORTANCE Dactylellina haptotyla have significant application potential in nematode biocontrol. In this study, we determined the chromosome-level genome sequence of D. haptotyla YMF1.03409 by long-read sequencing technology. Comparative genomic analysis identified a series of pathogenesis-related genes and revealed significant gene family contraction events during the evolution of D. haptotyla YMF1.03409. Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic data as well as in vitro activity test results, a compound with important application potential in nematode biocontrol, 2-furoic acid, was identified. Our result expanded the genetic resource of D. haptotyla and identified a previously unreported nematicidal small molecule, which provides new options for the development of plant biocontrol agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Mei Lei
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jun-Tao Wang
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qian-Yi Hu
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chun-Qiang Li
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming-He Mo
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guo-Hong Li
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Pei-Ji Zhao
- State key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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5
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Abstract
Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) are the majority of carnivorous microbes to capture nematodes through diverse and sophisticated trapping organs derived from hyphae. They can adopt carnivorous lifestyles in addition to saprophytism to obtain extra-nutrition from nematodes. As a special group of fungi, the NTF are not only excellent model organism for studying lifestyle transition of fungi but also natural resources of exploring biological control of nematodes. However, the carnivorous mechanism of NTF remains poorly understood. Nowadays, the omics studies of NTF have provided numerous genes and pathways that are associated with the phenotypes of carnivorous traits, which need molecular tools to verify. Here, we review the development and progress of gene manipulation tools in NTF, including methodology and strategy of transformation, random gene mutagenesis methods and target gene mutagenesis methods. The principle and practical approach for each method was summarized and discussed, and the basic operational flow for each tool was described. This paper offers a clear reference and instruction for researchers who work on NTF as well as other group of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunxian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xingzhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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Piombo E, Guaschino M, Jensen DF, Karlsson M, Dubey M. Insights into the ecological generalist lifestyle of Clonostachys fungi through analysis of their predicted secretomes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1112673. [PMID: 36876087 PMCID: PMC9978495 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1112673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The fungal secretome comprise diverse proteins that are involved in various aspects of fungal lifestyles, including adaptation to ecological niches and environmental interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the composition and activity of fungal secretomes in mycoparasitic and beneficial fungal-plant interactions. Methods We used six Clonostachys spp. that exhibit saprotrophic, mycotrophic and plant endophytic lifestyles. Genome-wide analyses was performed to investigate the composition, diversity, evolution and gene expression of Clonostachys secretomes in relation to their potential role in mycoparasitic and endophytic lifestyles. Results and discussion Our analyses showed that the predicted secretomes of the analyzed species comprised between 7 and 8% of the respective proteomes. Mining of transcriptome data collected during previous studies showed that 18% of the genes encoding predicted secreted proteins were upregulated during the interactions with the mycohosts Fusarium graminearum and Helminthosporium solani. Functional annotation of the predicted secretomes revealed that the most represented protease family was subclass S8A (11-14% of the total), which include members that are shown to be involved in the response to nematodes and mycohosts. Conversely, the most numerous lipases and carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) groups appeared to be potentially involved in eliciting defense responses in the plants. For example, analysis of gene family evolution identified nine CAZyme orthogroups evolving for gene gains (p ≤ 0.05), predicted to be involved in hemicellulose degradation, potentially producing plant defense-inducing oligomers. Moreover, 8-10% of the secretomes was composed of cysteine-enriched proteins, including hydrophobins, important for root colonization. Effectors were more numerous, comprising 35-37% of the secretomes, where certain members belonged to seven orthogroups evolving for gene gains and were induced during the C. rosea response to F. graminearum or H. solani. Furthermore, the considered Clonostachys spp. possessed high numbers of proteins containing Common in Fungal Extracellular Membranes (CFEM) modules, known for their role in fungal virulence. Overall, this study improves our understanding of Clonostachys spp. adaptation to diverse ecological niches and establishes a basis for future investigation aiming at sustainable biocontrol of plant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Piombo
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Micol Guaschino
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Dan Funck Jensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mukesh Dubey
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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7
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Wernet N, Wernet V, Fischer R. The small-secreted cysteine-rich protein CyrA is a virulence factor participating in the attack of Caenorhabditis elegans by Duddingtonia flagrans. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010028. [PMID: 34735554 PMCID: PMC8568293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) are a diverse and intriguing group of fungi that live saprotrophically but can switch to a predatory lifestyle when starving and in the presence of nematodes. NTF like Arthrobotrys oligospora or Duddingtonia flagrans produce adhesive trapping networks to catch and immobilize nematodes. After penetration of the cuticle, hyphae grow and develop inside the worm and secrete large amounts of hydrolytic enzymes for digestion. In many microbial pathogenic interactions small-secreted proteins (SSPs) are used to manipulate the host. The genome of D. flagrans encodes more than 100 of such putative SSPs one of which is the cysteine-rich protein CyrA. We have chosen this gene for further analysis because it is only found in NTF and appeared to be upregulated during the interaction. We show that the cyrA gene was transcriptionally induced in trap cells, and the protein accumulated at the inner rim of the hyphal ring before Caenorhabditis elegans capture. After worm penetration, the protein appeared at the fungal infection bulb, where it is likely to be secreted with the help of the exocyst complex. A cyrA-deletion strain was less virulent, and the time from worm capture to paralysis was extended. Heterologous expression of CyrA in C. elegans reduced its lifespan. CyrA accumulated in C. elegans in coelomocytes where the protein possibly is inactivated. This is the first example that SSPs may be important in predatory microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Wernet
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Dept. of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Valentin Wernet
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Dept. of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)—South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Dept. of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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8
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Bai N, Zhang G, Wang W, Feng H, Yang X, Zheng Y, Yang L, Xie M, Zhang KQ, Yang J. Ric8 acts as a regulator of G-protein signalling required for nematode-trapping lifecycle of Arthrobotrys oligospora. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:1714-1730. [PMID: 34431203 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 (Ric8) is a conserved guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is involved in the regulation of G-protein signalling in filamentous fungi. Here, we characterized an orthologous Ric8 (AoRic8) in Arthrobotrys oligospora by multi-omics analyses. The Aoric8 deletion (ΔAoric8) mutants lost an ability to produce traps essential for nematode predation, accompanied by a marked reduction in cAMP level. Yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that AoRic8 interacted with G-protein subunit Gα1. Moreover, the mutants were compromised in mycelia growth, conidiation, stress resistance, endocytosis, cellular components and intrahyphal hyphae. Revealed by transcriptomic analysis differentially upregulated genes in the absence of Aoric8 were involved in cell cycle, DNA replication and recombination during trap formation while downregulated genes were primarily involved in organelles, carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Metabolomic analysis showed that many compounds were markedly downregulated in ΔAoric8 mutants versus the wild-type strain. Our results demonstrated a crucial role for AoRic8 in the fungal growth, environmental adaption and nematode predation through control of cell cycle, organelle and secondary metabolism by G-protein signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Guosheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Huihua Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Xuewei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Yaqing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
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9
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Xu WF, Yang JL, Meng XK, Gu ZG, Zhang QL, Lin LB. Understanding the Transcriptional Changes During Infection of Meloidogyne incognita Eggs by the Egg-Parasitic Fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:617710. [PMID: 33897634 PMCID: PMC8058359 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.617710] [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: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The egg-pathogenic fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum parasitizes on nematode eggs, and thus, it is used as a good biocontrol agent against plant root-knot nematodes. However, little is known about the transcriptional response of P. lilacinum while infecting nematode eggs. This study presents the whole transcriptome sequencing of P. lilacinum and transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis of P. lilacinum upon infecting the eggs of Meloidogyne incognita compared to non-infecting controls. A transcriptomic library of P. lilacinum was used as reference gene set and six transcriptomic libraries of the non-infecting control and P. lilacinum infecting M. incognita eggs were constructed, respectively, comprising three biological replicates of each. A total of 1,011 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the infecting samples, including 553 up-regulated and 458 down-regulated genes compared to the non-infecting control samples. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis exhibited that these DEGs were primarily involved in oxidative phosphorylation, oxidoreductase activity, and metabolic processes. Fifteen DEGs were randomly selected to verify the RNA sequencing results through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The study focused on P. lilacinum genes that were strongly expressed upon infecting M. incognita eggs. These DEGs were primarily involved in detoxification, parasitic behavior, and nutritional utilization. This study contributes significantly to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the parasitic action of P. lilacinum on nematode eggs and provides a valuable genetic resource for further research on parasitic behavior of P. lilacinum. Notably, this study examined the transcriptomics of P. lilacinum infecting M. incognita eggs at only one time point. Since there were fungi at different stages of the infection process at that time point, the transcriptional profiles are not precisely examining one specific stage in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Feng Xu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Jia-Lin Yang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Engineering Research Center for Replacement Technology of Feed Antibiotics of Yunnan College, Kunming, China
| | - Xiang-Kun Meng
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Zhi-Guang Gu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Qi-Lin Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Engineering Research Center for Replacement Technology of Feed Antibiotics of Yunnan College, Kunming, China
| | - Lian-Bing Lin
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Engineering Research Center for Replacement Technology of Feed Antibiotics of Yunnan College, Kunming, China
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10
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Xie M, Wang Y, Tang L, Yang L, Zhou D, Li Q, Niu X, Zhang KQ, Yang J. AoStuA, an APSES transcription factor, regulates the conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance and pathogenicity of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:4648-4661. [PMID: 31433890 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The APSES protein family comprises a conserved class of fungus-specific transcriptional regulators. Some members have been identified in partial ascomycetes. In this study, the APSES protein StuA (AoStuA) of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora was characterized. Compared with the wild-type (WT) strain, three ΔAoStuA mutants grew relatively slowly, displayed a 96% reduction in sporulation capacity and a delay in conidial germination. The reduced sporulation capacity correlated with transcriptional repression of several sporulation-related genes. The mutants were also more sensitive to chemical stressors than the WT strain. Importantly, the mutants were unable to produce mycelial traps for nematode predation. Moreover, peroxisomes and Woronin bodies were abundant in the WT cells but hardly found in the cells of those mutants. The lack of such organelles correlated with transcriptional repression of some genes involved in the biogenesis of peroxisomes and Woronin bodies. The transcript levels of several genes involved in the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway were also significantly reduced in the mutants versus the WT strain, implicating a regulatory role of AoStuA in the transcription of genes involved in the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway that regulates an array of cellular processes and events. In particular, AoStuA is indispensable for A. oligospora trap formation and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Chuxiong Normal University, Chuxiong, 675000, P. R. China
| | - Yunchuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Liyan Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Duanxu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China
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11
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Phani V, Somvanshi VS, Rao U. Silencing of a Meloidogyne incognita selenium-binding protein alters the cuticular adhesion of Pasteuria penetrans endospores. Gene 2018; 677:289-298. [PMID: 30125659 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pasteuria penetrans is an endospore forming hyperparasitic bacterium of the plant-pathogenic root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. For successful parasitization, the first step is adherence of bacterial endospores onto the cuticle surface of nematode juveniles. The knowledge of molecular intricacies involved during this adherence is sparse. Here, we identified a M. incognita selenium-binding protein (Mi-SeBP-1) differentially expressed during the initial interaction of M. incognita and P. penetrans, and show that it is involved in modulating parasitic adhesion of bacterial endospores onto nematode cuticle. Selenium-binding proteins (SeBPs) are selenium associated proteins important for growth regulation, tumor prevention and modulation of oxidation/reduction in cells. Although reported to be present in several nematodes, the function of SeBPs is not known in Phylum Nematoda. In situ hybridization assay localized the Mi-SeBP-1 mRNA to the hypodermal cells. RNAi-mediated silencing of Mi-SeBP-1 significantly increased the adherence of P. penetrans endospores to the nematode juvenile cuticle. Silencing of Mi-SeBP-1 did not change the nematode's ability to parasitize plants and reproduction potential within the host. These results suggest that M. incognita Mi-SeBP-1 might be involved in altering the attachment of microbial pathogens on the nematode cuticle, but is not involved in nematode-host plant interaction. This is the first report for a function of SeBP in Phylum Nematoda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Phani
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
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12
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Yang X, Ma N, Yang L, Zheng Y, Zhen Z, Li Q, Xie M, Li J, Zhang KQ, Yang J. Two Rab GTPases play different roles in conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance, and virulence in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:4601-4613. [PMID: 29616315 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8929-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rab GTPases are the largest group of the small GTPases family, which play a pivotal role in the secretion of proteins. Arthrobotrys oligospora is a representative nematode-trapping fungus that can produce adhesive networks to capture nematodes. In this study, the roles of two Rab GTPases AoRab-7A and AoRab-2 were characterized by gene knockout in the fungus A. oligospora. The disruption of AoRab-7A hindered the mycelial growth in different media, the conidiation of ΔAoRab-7A transformants was almost abolished, and the transcription of four sporulation-related genes (AbaA, FluG, Hyp1, and VosA) was downregulated compared to the wild-type strain (WT). Furthermore, the tolerance of the ΔAoRab-7A mutants to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and H2O2 was also significantly reduced compared to the WT, and the transcription of several genes related to environmental resistance, such as genes for catalase and trehalose synthase, was downregulated. Similarly, the extracellular proteolytic activity was decreased. Importantly, the ΔAoRab-7A mutants were unable to produce traps and capture nematodes. However, the disruption of gene AoRab-2 only affected the conidiation slightly but non-significantly, while other phenotypic traits were unaffected. Moreover, the gene AoRab-7A was also involved in the autophagy induced by nitrogen deprivation in A. oligospora. Our results revealed for the first time that the Rab GTPases are involved in the regulation of mycelial growth, conidiation, trap formation, stress resistance, and pathogenicity in the nematode-trapping fungus A. oligospora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ni Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaqing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinkui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Zhang D, Zhu X, Sun F, Zhang K, Niu S, Huang X. The roles of actin cytoskeleton and actin-associated protein Crn1p in trap formation of Arthrobotrys oligospora. Res Microbiol 2017; 168:655-663. [PMID: 28506837 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Nematode-trapping fungi include a variety of species capable of generating specific trapping devices to capture nematodes and the production of devices is also an indicator of a switch from saprophytic to predacious lifestyles. Traps are developed from vegetative mycelia, but they are quite different from hyphae in both morphological and physiological characteristics. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms underlying their formation have attracted much attention. In this investigation, Arthrobotrys oligospora, a nematode-trapping fungus, has three-dimensional networks and genomics and proteomics were recently performed, so as to reveal the relationship between actin cytoskeleton and trap formation. Both actin staining via FITC-phalloidin and treatment of actin polymerization inhibitor Lat-B illustrated that the actin cytoskeleton played an important role in trap development. Furthermore, absence of the conserved actin-associated protein Crn1p caused a structural defect of traps and failure to infect nematodes. It was observed that mutant Δcrn1 represented a reduced number of rings and a lower complexity of three-dimensional networks, likely due to the disturbance of actin branching. Collectively, our study confirmed the involvement of the actin cytoskeleton as well as the conserved actin-associated protein Crn1p in trap formation. It further suggested the manners in which Crn1p influences the development of three-dimensional networks in A. oligospora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Xin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Fan Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Keqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Shanzhuang Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China; Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
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14
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Kong C, Eng SA, Lim MP, Nathan S. Beyond Traditional Antimicrobials: A Caenorhabditis elegans Model for Discovery of Novel Anti-infectives. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1956. [PMID: 27994583 PMCID: PMC5133244 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic resistance amongst bacterial pathogens has led to an urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds with novel modes of action that minimize the potential for drug resistance. To date, the development of new antimicrobial drugs is still lagging far behind the rising demand, partly owing to the absence of an effective screening platform. Over the last decade, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been incorporated as a whole animal screening platform for antimicrobials. This development is taking advantage of the vast knowledge on worm physiology and how it interacts with bacterial and fungal pathogens. In addition to allowing for in vivo selection of compounds with promising anti-microbial properties, the whole animal C. elegans screening system has also permitted the discovery of novel compounds targeting infection processes that only manifest during the course of pathogen infection of the host. Another advantage of using C. elegans in the search for new antimicrobials is that the worm itself is a source of potential antimicrobial effectors which constitute part of its immune defense response to thwart infections. This has led to the evaluation of effector molecules, particularly antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs), as candidates for further development as therapeutic agents. In this review, we provide an overview on use of the C. elegans model for identification of novel anti-infectives. We highlight some highly potential lead compounds obtained from C. elegans-based screens, particularly those that target bacterial virulence or host defense to eradicate infections, a mechanism distinct from the action of conventional antibiotics. We also review the prospect of using C. elegans APPs as an antimicrobial strategy to treat infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cin Kong
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Su-Anne Eng
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Mei-Perng Lim
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Sheila Nathan
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi, Malaysia
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15
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Lebrigand K, He LD, Thakur N, Arguel MJ, Polanowska J, Henrissat B, Record E, Magdelenat G, Barbe V, Raffaele S, Barbry P, Ewbank JJ. Comparative Genomic Analysis of Drechmeria coniospora Reveals Core and Specific Genetic Requirements for Fungal Endoparasitism of Nematodes. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006017. [PMID: 27153332 PMCID: PMC4859500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drechmeria coniospora is an obligate fungal pathogen that infects nematodes via the adhesion of specialized spores to the host cuticle. D. coniospora is frequently found associated with Caenorhabditis elegans in environmental samples. It is used in the study of the nematode's response to fungal infection. Full understanding of this bi-partite interaction requires knowledge of the pathogen's genome, analysis of its gene expression program and a capacity for genetic engineering. The acquisition of all three is reported here. A phylogenetic analysis placed D. coniospora close to the truffle parasite Tolypocladium ophioglossoides, and Hirsutella minnesotensis, another nematophagous fungus. Ascomycete nematopathogenicity is polyphyletic; D. coniospora represents a branch that has not been molecularly characterized. A detailed in silico functional analysis, comparing D. coniospora to 11 fungal species, revealed genes and gene families potentially involved in virulence and showed it to be a highly specialized pathogen. A targeted comparison with nematophagous fungi highlighted D. coniospora-specific genes and a core set of genes associated with nematode parasitism. A comparative gene expression analysis of samples from fungal spores and mycelia, and infected C. elegans, gave a molecular view of the different stages of the D. coniospora lifecycle. Transformation of D. coniospora allowed targeted gene knock-out and the production of fungus that expresses fluorescent reporter genes. It also permitted the initial characterisation of a potential fungal counter-defensive strategy, involving interference with a host antimicrobial mechanism. This high-quality annotated genome for D. coniospora gives insights into the evolution and virulence of nematode-destroying fungi. Coupled with genetic transformation, it opens the way for molecular dissection of D. coniospora physiology, and will allow both sides of the interaction between D. coniospora and C. elegans, as well as the evolutionary arms race that exists between pathogen and host, to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Lebrigand
- CNRS and University Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Le D. He
- Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Nishant Thakur
- Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Marie-Jeanne Arguel
- CNRS and University Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Jolanta Polanowska
- Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- CNRS UMR 7257, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- INRA, USC 1408 AFMB, Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eric Record
- INRA, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Aix-Marseille Université, Polytech Marseille, CP 925, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Faculté des Sciences de Luminy-Polytech, CP 925, Marseille, France
| | - Ghislaine Magdelenat
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut de Génomique, Génoscope, Laboratoire de Biologie Moleculaire pour l'Etude des Génomes (LBioMEG), Evry, France
| | - Valérie Barbe
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut de Génomique, Génoscope, Laboratoire de Biologie Moleculaire pour l'Etude des Génomes (LBioMEG), Evry, France
| | - Sylvain Raffaele
- INRA, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes (LIPM), UMR441, Castanet Tolosan, France
- CNRS, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes (LIPM), UMR2594, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Pascal Barbry
- CNRS and University Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Sophia Antipolis, France
- * E-mail: (PB); (JJE)
| | - Jonathan J. Ewbank
- Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université UM2, Inserm, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Marseille, France
- * E-mail: (PB); (JJE)
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16
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Taffoni C, Pujol N. Mechanisms of innate immunity in C. elegans epidermis. Tissue Barriers 2015; 3:e1078432. [PMID: 26716073 PMCID: PMC4681281 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2015.1078432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The roundworm C. elegans has been successfully used for more than 50 y as a genetically tractable invertebrate model in diverse biological fields such as neurobiology, development and interactions. C. elegans feeds on bacteria and can be naturally infected by a wide range of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Most of these pathogens infect C. elegans through its gut, but some have developed ways to infect the epidermis. In this review, we will mainly focus on epidermal innate immunity, in particular the signaling pathways and effectors activated upon wounding and fungal infection that serve to protect the host. We will discuss the parallels that exist between epidermal innate immune responses in nematodes and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Taffoni
- Center d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy; Aix Marseille Université UM2 ; Inserm; Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Center d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy; Aix Marseille Université UM2 ; Inserm; Marseille, France
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17
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Meijueiro ML, Santoyo F, Ramirez L, Pisabarro AG. Transcriptome characteristics of filamentous fungi deduced using high-throughput analytical technologies. Brief Funct Genomics 2014; 13:440-50. [DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elu033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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18
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Yang J, Zhang KQ. Biological Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes by Nematophagous Fungi. NEMATODE-TRAPPING FUNGI 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8730-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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19
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Meerupati T, Andersson KM, Friman E, Kumar D, Tunlid A, Ahrén D. Genomic mechanisms accounting for the adaptation to parasitism in nematode-trapping fungi. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003909. [PMID: 24244185 PMCID: PMC3828140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Orbiliomycetes is one of the earliest diverging branches of the filamentous ascomycetes. The class contains nematode-trapping fungi that form unique infection structures, called traps, to capture and kill free-living nematodes. The traps have evolved differently along several lineages and include adhesive traps (knobs, nets or branches) and constricting rings. We show, by genome sequencing of the knob-forming species Monacrosporium haptotylum and comparison with the net-forming species Arthrobotrys oligospora, that two genomic mechanisms are likely to have been important for the adaptation to parasitism in these fungi. Firstly, the expansion of protein domain families and the large number of species-specific genes indicated that gene duplication followed by functional diversification had a major role in the evolution of the nematode-trapping fungi. Gene expression indicated that many of these genes are important for pathogenicity. Secondly, gene expression of orthologs between the two fungi during infection indicated that differential regulation was an important mechanism for the evolution of parasitism in nematode-trapping fungi. Many of the highly expressed and highly upregulated M. haptotylum transcripts during the early stages of nematode infection were species-specific and encoded small secreted proteins (SSPs) that were affected by repeat-induced point mutations (RIP). An active RIP mechanism was revealed by lack of repeats, dinucleotide bias in repeats and genes, low proportion of recent gene duplicates, and reduction of recent gene family expansions. The high expression and rapid divergence of SSPs indicate a striking similarity in the infection mechanisms of nematode-trapping fungi and plant and insect pathogens from the crown groups of the filamentous ascomycetes (Pezizomycotina). The patterns of gene family expansions in the nematode-trapping fungi were more similar to plant pathogens than to insect and animal pathogens. The observation of RIP activity in the Orbiliomycetes suggested that this mechanism was present early in the evolution of the filamentous ascomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejashwari Meerupati
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karl-Magnus Andersson
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eva Friman
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dharmendra Kumar
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad, India
| | - Anders Tunlid
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dag Ahrén
- Microbial Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
- BILS Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden
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20
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Andersson KM, Meerupati T, Levander F, Friman E, Ahrén D, Tunlid A. Proteome of the nematode-trapping cells of the fungus Monacrosporium haptotylum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:4993-5004. [PMID: 23770896 PMCID: PMC3754708 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01390-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many nematophagous fungi use morphological structures called traps to capture nematodes by adhesion or mechanically. To better understand the cellular functions of adhesive traps, the trap cell proteome of the fungus Monacrosporium haptotylum was characterized. The trap of M. haptotylum consists of a unicellular structure called a knob that develops at the apex of a hypha. Proteins extracted from knobs and mycelia were analyzed using SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The peptide sequences were matched against predicted gene models from the recently sequenced M. haptotylum genome. In total, 336 proteins were identified, with 54 expressed at significantly higher levels in the knobs than in the mycelia. The upregulated knob proteins included peptidases, small secreted proteins with unknown functions, and putative cell surface adhesins containing carbohydrate-binding domains, including the WSC domain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all upregulated WSC domain proteins belonged to a large, expanded cluster of paralogs in M. haptotylum. Several peptidases and homologs of experimentally verified proteins in other pathogenic fungi were also upregulated in the knob proteome. Complementary profiling of gene expression at the transcriptome level showed poor correlation between the upregulation of knob proteins and their corresponding transcripts. We propose that the traps of M. haptotylum contain many of the proteins needed in the early stages of infection and that the trap cells can tightly control the translation and degradation of these proteins to minimize the cost of protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fredrik Levander
- Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences, Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eva Friman
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dag Ahrén
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Tunlid
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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21
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Wang J, Wang R, Yang X. Ion beam mutagenesis in Arthrobotrys oligospora enhances nematode-trapping ability. Curr Microbiol 2013; 66:594-8. [PMID: 23370734 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-013-0322-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora is able to produce extracellular protease that degrades the body walls of parasitic nematode larvae found in livestock and immobilizes the nematodes. Our aim was to obtain a strain of A. oligospora with a strong ability to trap nematodes by production of high levels of extracellular protease. A wild type strain of A. oligospora was subjected to mutagenic treatments involving low-energy ion beam implantation to generate mutants. Among these mutants, A. oligospora N showed high efficiency in trapping nematodes and was also able to secrete more extracellular protease, helping it to penetrate and digest the body walls of larvae. This work represents the first application of low-energy ion beams to generate mutations in a nematode-trapping fungus, and provides a new method of obtaining a fungus with high potential application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
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22
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Yang J, Wang L, Ji X, Feng Y, Li X, Zou C, Xu J, Ren Y, Mi Q, Wu J, Liu S, Liu Y, Huang X, Wang H, Niu X, Li J, Liang L, Luo Y, Ji K, Zhou W, Yu Z, Li G, Liu Y, Li L, Qiao M, Feng L, Zhang KQ. Genomic and proteomic analyses of the fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora provide insights into nematode-trap formation. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002179. [PMID: 21909256 PMCID: PMC3164635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematode-trapping fungi are "carnivorous" and attack their hosts using specialized trapping devices. The morphological development of these traps is the key indicator of their switch from saprophytic to predacious lifestyles. Here, the genome of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora Fres. (ATCC24927) was reported. The genome contains 40.07 Mb assembled sequence with 11,479 predicted genes. Comparative analysis showed that A. oligospora shared many more genes with pathogenic fungi than with non-pathogenic fungi. Specifically, compared to several sequenced ascomycete fungi, the A. oligospora genome has a larger number of pathogenicity-related genes in the subtilisin, cellulase, cellobiohydrolase, and pectinesterase gene families. Searching against the pathogen-host interaction gene database identified 398 homologous genes involved in pathogenicity in other fungi. The analysis of repetitive sequences provided evidence for repeat-induced point mutations in A. oligospora. Proteomic and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses revealed that 90 genes were significantly up-regulated at the early stage of trap-formation by nematode extracts and most of these genes were involved in translation, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall and membrane biogenesis. Based on the combined genomic, proteomic and qPCR data, a model for the formation of nematode trapping device in this fungus was proposed. In this model, multiple fungal signal transduction pathways are activated by its nematode prey to further regulate downstream genes associated with diverse cellular processes such as energy metabolism, biosynthesis of the cell wall and adhesive proteins, cell division, glycerol accumulation and peroxisome biogenesis. This study will facilitate the identification of pathogenicity-related genes and provide a broad foundation for understanding the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying fungi-nematodes interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinkui Yang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Lei Wang
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xinglai Ji
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Yun Feng
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Chenggang Zou
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yan Ren
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Qili Mi
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
- Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Science, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Junli Wu
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Shuqun Liu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Yu Liu
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Niu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Juan Li
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Lianming Liang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Yanlu Luo
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Kaifang Ji
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Zefen Yu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Guohong Li
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Yajun Liu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Lei Li
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Min Qiao
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Lu Feng
- TEDA School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, and Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China
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23
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Rosso LC, Finetti-Sialer MM, Hirsch PR, Ciancio A, Kerry BR, Clark IM. Transcriptome analysis shows differential gene expression in the saprotrophic to parasitic transition of Pochonia chlamydosporia. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2011; 90:1981-94. [PMID: 21541788 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-011-3282-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 03/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Expression profiles were identified in the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia, a biological control agent of plant parasitic nematodes, through a cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism approach. Two isolates with different host ranges, IMI 380407 and IMI 331547, were assayed in conditions of saprotrophic-to-parasitic transition, through in vitro assays. Gene expression profiles from three different nutritional conditions and four sampling times were generated, with eggs of host nematodes Globodera pallida and Meloidogyne incognita. Expression of transcripts changed in RNA fingerprints obtained under different nutritional stresses (starvation in presence/absence of eggs, or rich growth media). Transcript derived fragments (TDFs) obtained from the expression profiles corresponded to 6,800 products. A subset was sequenced and their expression profile confirmed through RT PCR. A total of 57 TDFs were selected for further analysis, based on similarities to translated or annotated sequences. Genes expressed during egg parasitism for both IMI 380407 and IMI 331547 were involved in metabolic functions, cellular signal regulation, cellular transport, regulation of gene expression, DNA repair, and other unknown functions. Multivariate analysis of TDF expression showed three groups for IMI 380407 and one for IMI 331547, each characterized by expression of genes related to eggs parasitism. Common amplification profiles among TDF clusters from both isolates also reflected a pool of constitutive genes, not affected by the nutritional conditions and nematode associations, related to general metabolic functions. The differential expression of parasitism related genes suggest a network of induced/repressed products, playing a role in fungal signaling and infection, with partial overlaps in host infection and parasitism traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Rosso
- Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via G. Amendola 165/A, Bari, Italy
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24
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Ewbank JJ, Zugasti O. C. elegans: model host and tool for antimicrobial drug discovery. Dis Model Mech 2011; 4:300-4. [PMID: 21504910 PMCID: PMC3097103 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.006684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
For almost four decades, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been of great value in many fields of biological research. It is now used extensively in studies of microbial pathogenesis and innate immunity. The worm lacks an adaptive immune system and relies solely on its innate immune defences to cope with pathogen attack. Infectious microbes, many of which are of clinical interest, trigger specific mechanisms of innate immunity, and provoke the expression of antifungal or antibacterial polypeptides. In this review, we highlight some of these families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins that are candidates for the development of novel antibiotics. In addition, we describe how systems of C. elegans infection provide an increasing number of possibilities for large-scale in vivo screens for the discovery of new antimicrobial drugs. These systems open promising perspectives for innovative human therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Ewbank
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, Case 906, 13288 Marseille cedex 9, France.
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25
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Abstract
The surface coat (SC) of the plant-parasitic nematode cuticle is an understudied area of current research, even though it likely plays key roles in both nematode-plant and nematode-microbe interactions. Although in several ways Caenorhabditis elegans is a poor model for plant-parasitic nematodes, it is a useful starting point for investigations of the cuticle and its SC, especially in the light of recent work using this species as a model for innate immunity and the generic biology underpinning much host-parasite biology. We review the research focused on the involvement of the SC of plant-parasitic nematodes. Using the insights gained from animal-parasitic nematodes and other sequenced nematodes, we discuss the key roles that the SC may play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith G Davies
- Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Rothamsted Research, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
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26
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Zou CG, Tao N, Liu WJ, Yang JK, Huang XW, Liu XY, Tu HH, Gan ZW, Zhang KQ. Regulation of subtilisin-like protease prC expression by nematode cuticle in the nematophagous fungus Clonostachys rosea. Environ Microbiol 2010; 12:3243-52. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02296.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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27
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Zou CG, Xu YF, Liu WJ, Zhou W, Tao N, Tu HH, Huang XW, Yang JK, Zhang KQ. Expression of a serine protease gene prC is up-regulated by oxidative stress in the fungus Clonostachys rosea: implications for fungal survival. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13386. [PMID: 20976223 PMCID: PMC2954792 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Soil fungi face a variety of environmental stresses such as UV light, high temperature, and heavy metals. Adaptation of gene expression through transcriptional regulation is a key mechanism in fungal response to environmental stress. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcription factors Msn2/4 induce stress-mediated gene expression by binding to the stress response element. Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of extracellular proteases is up-regulated in response to heat shock in fungi. However, the physiological significance of regulation of these extracellular proteases by heat shock remains unclear. The nematophagous fungus Clonostachys rosea can secret an extracellular serine protease PrC during the infection of nematodes. Since the promoter of prC has three copies of the stress response element, we investigated the effect of environmental stress on the expression of prC. Methodology/Principal Findings Our results demonstrated that the expression of prC was up-regulated by oxidants (H2O2 or menadione) and heat shock, most likely through the stress response element. After oxidant treatment or heat shock, the germination of conidia in the wild type strain was significantly higher than that in the prC mutant strain in the presence of nematode cuticle. Interestingly, the addition of nematode cuticle significantly attenuated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by oxidants and heat shock in the wild type strain, but not in prC mutant strain. Moreover, low molecule weight (<3 kD) degradation products of nematode cuticle suppressed the inhibitory effect of conidial germination induced by oxidants and heat shock. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that PrC plays a protective role in oxidative stress in C. rosea. PrC degrades the nematode cuticle to produce degradation products, which in turn offer a protective effect against oxidative stress by scavenging ROS. Our study reveals a novel strategy for fungi to adapt to environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Gang Zou
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yong-Fang Xu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Center for Human Reproduction, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen-Jing Liu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Nan Tao
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui-Hui Tu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Huang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jin-Kui Yang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources & Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- * E-mail:
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28
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Partridge FA, Gravato-Nobre MJ, Hodgkin J. Signal transduction pathways that function in both development and innate immunity. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:1330-6. [PMID: 20131356 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
C. elegans is developing in importance as a model for innate immunity. Several signaling pathways are known to be required for immune responses to a diverse range of pathogens, including the insulin signaling, p38 MAP kinase and transforming growth factor-beta pathways. These pathways also have roles during development, which can complicate the analysis of their functions in immunity. Recent studies have suggested that immunity in C. elegans is integrated across the organism by both paracrine and neuronal communication, showing the complexity of the immune system in this organism.
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29
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Xie H, Aminuzzaman FM, Xu L, Lai Y, Li F, Liu X. Trap induction and trapping in eight nematode-trapping fungi (Orbiliaceae) as affected by juvenile stage of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mycopathologia 2010; 169:467-73. [PMID: 20146004 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-010-9279-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2009] [Accepted: 01/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study measured trap induction and trapping on agar disks as affected by juvenile stages (J1, J2, J3, and J4) of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and by species of nematode-trapping fungi. Eight species of nematode-trapping fungi belonging to the family Orbiliaceae and producing four kinds of traps were studied: adhesive network-forming Arthrobotrys oligospora, A. vermicola, and A. eudermata, constricting ring-forming Drechslerella brochopaga, and Dr. stenobrocha, adhesive column-forming Dactylellina cionopaga, and adhesive knob-forming Da. ellipsospora, and Da. drechsleri. The number of traps induced generally increased with increasing juvenile stages of C. elegans. The ability to capture the juveniles tended to be similar among isolates that produced the same kind of trap but differed among species that produced different kinds of traps. Trapping by Dr. stenobrocha and Da. cionopaga was correlated with trap number and with juvenile stage. A. oligospora and A. vermicola respectively captured more than 92 and 88% of the J1, J3, and J4 but captured a lower percentage of J2. The knob-producing isolates captured more younger than elder juveniles. Partial correlation analyses demonstrated that the trap induction of the most fungal species positively correlated with the juvenile size and motility, which was juvenile stage dependent. Overall, trap induction and trapping correlated with C. elegans juvenile stage (size and motility) in six species of trapping fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Systematic Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 3 1st Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
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30
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Pujol N, Zugasti O, Wong D, Couillault C, Kurz CL, Schulenburg H, Ewbank JJ. Anti-fungal innate immunity in C. elegans is enhanced by evolutionary diversification of antimicrobial peptides. PLoS Pathog 2008; 4:e1000105. [PMID: 18636113 PMCID: PMC2453101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2007] [Accepted: 06/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Encounters with pathogens provoke changes in gene transcription that are an integral part of host innate immune responses. In recent years, studies with invertebrate model organisms have given insights into the origin, function, and evolution of innate immunity. Here, we use genome-wide transcriptome analysis to characterize the consequence of natural fungal infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identify several families of genes encoding putative antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins that are transcriptionally up-regulated upon infection. Many are located in small genomic clusters. We focus on the nlp-29 cluster of six AMP genes and show that it enhances pathogen resistance in vivo. The same cluster has a different structure in two other Caenorhabditis species. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that the evolutionary diversification of this cluster, especially in cases of intra-genomic gene duplications, is driven by natural selection. We further show that upon osmotic stress, two genes of the nlp-29 cluster are strongly induced. In contrast to fungus-induced nlp expression, this response is independent of the p38 MAP kinase cascade. At the same time, both involve the epidermal GATA factor ELT-3. Our results suggest that selective pressure from pathogens influences intra-genomic diversification of AMPs and reveal an unexpected complexity in AMP regulation as part of the invertebrate innate immune response. We are interested in how exactly the nematode Caenorhabditi elegans, widely used in biological research, defends itself against fungal infection. Like most animals, this worm responds to infection by switching on defense genes. We used DNA chips to measure the levels of all the worm's 20,000 genes and discovered new inducible defense genes. Many of them encode small proteins or peptides that can probably kill microbes. By looking in other nematode species, we saw that these antimicrobial peptide genes are evolving rapidly. This means that they could be important for the worms' survival in their natural environment. We also looked at how some of these genes are regulated and uncovered a sophisticated control mechanism involving a series of proteins called kinases that relay signals within cells. The genes we looked at are active in the worm's skin. Some of the antimicrobial peptide genes that we looked at are also switched on in the skin by high salt, but in this case, the regulation doesn't involve the same cascade of kinases. The responses to both infection and high salt do, however, require the same transcription factor (the protein that actually switches genes on), in this case called a GATA factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Pujol
- Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, Case 906, Marseille, France
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