1
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Bertuzzi M, Howell GJ, Thomson DD, Fortune-Grant R, Möslinger A, Dancer P, Van Rhijn N, Motsi N, Codling A, Bignell EM. Epithelial uptake leads to fungal killing in vivo and is aberrant in COPD-derived epithelial cells. iScience 2024; 27:109939. [PMID: 38846001 PMCID: PMC11154633 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109939] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of spores of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) are inhaled daily by human beings, representing a constant, possibly fatal, threat to respiratory health. The small size of Af spores suggests that interactions with alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) are frequent; thus, we hypothesized that spore uptake by AECs is important for driving fungal killing and susceptibility to Aspergillus-related disease. Using single-cell approaches to measure spore uptake and its outcomes in vivo, we demonstrate that Af spores are internalized and killed by AECs during whole-animal infection. Moreover, comparative analysis of primary human AECs from healthy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) donors revealed significant alterations in the uptake and killing of spores in COPD-derived AECs. We conclude that AECs contribute to the killing of Af spores and that dysregulation of curative AEC responses in COPD may represent a driver of Aspergillus-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Gareth J. Howell
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Rachael Fortune-Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Anna Möslinger
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Patrick Dancer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Norman Van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Natasha Motsi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Alice Codling
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Elaine M. Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
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2
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König S, Schroeder J, Nietzsche S, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA, Zell R, Löffler B, Ehrhardt C. The influenza A virus promotes fungal growth of Aspergillus fumigatus via direct interaction in vitro. Microbes Infect 2024; 26:105264. [PMID: 38008399 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105264] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections still pose a major burden for public health worldwide. Severe disease progression or even death is often related to superinfections of the virus and a secondary bacterial pathogen. However, fungi, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, are also frequently diagnosed during IAV infection. Although, clinical studies have reported the severity of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, the molecular mechanisms underlying this type of disease are poorly understood. Here, a new in vitro model is introduced that allows the investigation of complex pathogen-host and pathogen-pathogen interactions during coinfection of lung epithelial cells with IAV and A. fumigatus. Our data reveal a reduced IAV load and IAV-induced cytokine and chemokine expression in the presence of A. fumigatus. At the same time, IAV infection promotes the growth of A. fumigatus. Even in the absence of the human host cell, purified IAV particles are able to induce hyphal growth, due to a direct interaction of the virus particles with the fungal surface. Thus, our study gives first insights into the complex interplay between IAV, A. fumigatus and the host cell as well as the two pathogens alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah König
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Josefine Schroeder
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Sandor Nietzsche
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Jena University Hospital, Ziegelmühlenweg 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Roland Zell
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Bettina Löffler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Christina Ehrhardt
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
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3
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Sonnberger J, Kasper L, Lange T, Brunke S, Hube B. "We've got to get out"-Strategies of human pathogenic fungi to escape from phagocytes. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:341-358. [PMID: 37800630 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Human fungal pathogens are a deadly and underappreciated risk to global health that most severely affect immunocompromised individuals. A virulence attribute shared by some of the most clinically relevant fungal species is their ability to survive inside macrophages and escape from these immune cells. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms behind intracellular survival and elaborate how escape is mediated by lytic and non-lytic pathways as well as strategies to induce programmed host cell death. We also discuss persistence as an alternative to rapid host cell exit. In the end, we address the consequences of fungal escape for the host immune response and provide future perspectives for research and development of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Sonnberger
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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4
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Fernandes C, Casadevall A, Gonçalves T. Mechanisms of Alternaria pathogenesis in animals and plants. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad061. [PMID: 37884396 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternaria species are cosmopolitan fungi darkly pigmented by melanin that infect numerous plant species causing economically important agricultural spoilage of various food crops. Alternaria spp. also infect animals, being described as entomopathogenic fungi but also infecting warm-blooded animals, including humans. Their clinical importance in human health, as infection agents, lay in the growing number of immunocompromised patients. Moreover, Alternaria spp. are considered some of the most abundant and potent sources of airborne sensitizer allergens causing allergic respiratory diseases, as severe asthma. Among the numerous strategies deployed by Alternaria spp. to attack their hosts, the production of toxins, carrying critical concerns to public health as food contaminant, and the production of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteases, can be highlighted. Alternaria proteases also trigger allergic symptoms in individuals with fungal sensitization, acting as allergens and facilitating antigen access to the host subepithelium. Here, we review the current knowledge about the mechanisms of Alternaria pathogenesis in plants and animals, the strategies used by Alternaria to cope with the host defenses, and the involvement Alternaria allergens and mechanisms of sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Fernandes
- CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Wolfe Street, Room E5132, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
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5
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Romero V, Kalinhoff C, Saa LR, Sánchez A. Fungi's Swiss Army Knife: Pleiotropic Effect of Melanin in Fungal Pathogenesis during Cattle Mycosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:929. [PMID: 37755037 PMCID: PMC10532448 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal threats to public health, food security, and biodiversity have escalated, with a significant rise in mycosis cases globally. Around 300 million people suffer from severe fungal diseases annually, while one-third of food crops are decimated by fungi. Vertebrate, including livestock, are also affected. Our limited understanding of fungal virulence mechanisms hampers our ability to prevent and treat cattle mycoses. Here we aim to bridge knowledge gaps in fungal virulence factors and the role of melanin in evading bovine immune responses. We investigate mycosis in bovines employing a PRISMA-based methodology, bioinformatics, and data mining techniques. Our analysis identified 107 fungal species causing mycoses, primarily within the Ascomycota division. Candida, Aspergillus, Malassezia, and Trichophyton were the most prevalent genera. Of these pathogens, 25% produce melanin. Further research is required to explore the involvement of melanin and develop intervention strategies. While the literature on melanin-mediated fungal evasion mechanisms in cattle is lacking, we successfully evaluated the transferability of immunological mechanisms from other model mammals through homology. Bioinformatics enables knowledge transfer and enhances our understanding of mycosis in cattle. This synthesis fills critical information gaps and paves the way for proposing biotechnological strategies to mitigate the impact of mycoses in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Romero
- Maestría en Biotecnología Agropecuaria, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
- Museo de Zoología, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Kalinhoff
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
| | - Luis Rodrigo Saa
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
| | - Aminael Sánchez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
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6
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Lin J, Chen P, Tan Z, Sun Y, Tam WK, Ao D, Shen W, Leung VYL, Cheung KMC, To MKT. Application of silver nanoparticles for improving motor recovery after spinal cord injury via reduction of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15689. [PMID: 37234658 PMCID: PMC10205515 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess anti-inflammatory activities and have been widely deployed for promoting tissue repair. Here we explored the efficacy of AgNPs on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Our data indicated that, in a SCI rat model, local AgNPs delivery could significantly recover locomotor function and exert neuroprotection through reducing of pro-inflammatory M1 survival. Furthermore, in comparison with Raw 264.7-derived M0 and M2, a higher level of AgNPs uptake and more pronounced cytotoxicity were detected in M1. RNA-seq analysis revealed the apoptotic genes in M1 were upregulated by AgNPs, whereas in M0 and M2, pro-apoptotic genes were downregulated and PI3k-Akt pathway signaling pathway was upregulated. Moreover, AgNPs treatment preferentially reduced cell viability of human monocyte-derived M1 comparing to M2, supporting its effect on M1 in human. Overall, our findings reveal AgNPs could suppress M1 activity and imply its therapeutic potential in promoting post-SCI motor recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, China
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Peikai Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, China
| | - Zhijia Tan
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518034, China
| | - Wai Kit Tam
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Di Ao
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Victor Yu-Leong Leung
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kenneth Man Chee Cheung
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, China
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Kai Tsun To
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518053, China
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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7
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Ma Y, Deng W, Zhang K, Song Y, Zhang L, Shao J, Liu X, Wan Z, Wang X, Li R. Dual RNA-Sequencing and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Unveil Specific Insights on the Pathogenicity of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Complex. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:470-479.e6. [PMID: 38295003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.08.055] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is increasingly considered to be a public health hazard because it causes the most severe manifestations of dermatophytosis. In this study, we performed a series of studies to determine the pathogenicity of the T. mentagrophytes complex. We show that the T. mentagrophytes complex interacts with keratinocytes through pattern-recognition receptors‒MAPK/noncanonical NF-κB pathways and that the hyphal form of T. mentagrophytes is responsible for the increased inflammatory responses in keratinocytes. Moreover, SN-38 is likely a toxin of T. mentagrophytes that induces apoptosis in keratinocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Our results explain the severe pathogenicity and destructiveness of T. mentagrophytes observed in the clinic and pave the way for designing novel toxin-directed therapies to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yinggai Song
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Shao
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Wan
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China.
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8
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Yang LH, Dong RJ, Lu YW, Wang HM, Kuang YQ, Wang RR, Li YY. Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses reveals sphingosine-1-phosphate-mediated S1PR2/PI3K/Akt pathway involved in Talaromyces marneffei infection of macrophages. Microb Pathog 2023; 175:105985. [PMID: 36638850 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.105985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Talaromycosis is a fatal mycosis caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei). The pathogenic mechanisms of talaromycosis are still poorly understood. This work combined metabolomics, transcriptomics, and verification experiments in vivo and in vitro to detect metabolic profiles and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in T. marneffei infected and uninfected macrophages to explore possible pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms. A total of 256 differential metabolites (117 up-regulated and 148 down-regulated) and 1320 DEGs (1286 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated) were identified between the two groups. Integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis showed sphingolipid signaling pathway is the most influential. Verification experiments showed that compared with the control group, the production of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and the expression of the S1PR1, S1PR2, phosphor-PI3K, and phosphor-Akt genes involved in the sphingolipid signaling pathway have significantly increased in the T. marneffei infection group (p < 0.05). T. marneffei activates the S1PR2/PI3K/Akt pathways in J774A.1 macrophage, regulation of the S1P singling might serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for talaromycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Hui Yang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Rong-Jing Dong
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Kidney Diseases, Medical College, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, China
| | - You-Wang Lu
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Kidney Diseases, Medical College, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, China
| | - Hong-Mei Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yi-Qun Kuang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China; Scientific Research Laboratory Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
| | - Rui-Rui Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China.
| | - Yu-Ye Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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9
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Montaño DE, Hartung S, Wich M, Ali R, Jungnickel B, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Voigt K. The TLR-NF-kB axis contributes to the monocytic inflammatory response against a virulent strain of Lichtheimia corymbifera, a causative agent of invasive mucormycosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882921. [PMID: 36311802 PMCID: PMC9608459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive mucormycosis (IM) is a life-threatening infection caused by the fungal order Mucorales, its diagnosis is often delayed, and mortality rates range from 40-80% due to its rapid progression. Individuals suffering from hematological malignancies, diabetes mellitus, organ transplantations, and most recently COVID-19 are particularly susceptible to infection by Mucorales. Given the increase in the occurrence of these diseases, mucormycosis has emerged as one of the most common fungal infections in the last years. However, little is known about the host immune response to Mucorales. Therefore, we characterized the interaction among L. corymbifera—one of the most common causative agents of IM—and human monocytes, which are specialized phagocytes that play an instrumental role in the modulation of the inflammatory response against several pathogenic fungi. This study covered four relevant aspects of the host-pathogen interaction: i) The recognition of L. corymbifera by human monocytes. ii) The intracellular fate of L. corymbifera. iii) The inflammatory response by human monocytes against the most common causative agents of mucormycosis. iv) The main activated Pattern-Recognition Receptors (PRRs) inflammatory signaling cascades in response to L. corymbifera. Here, we demonstrate that L. corymbifera exhibits resistance to intracellular killing over 24 hours, does not germinate, and inflicts minimal damage to the host cell. Nonetheless, viable fungal spores of L. corymbifera induced early production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, and late release of TNF-α and IL-6 by human monocytes. Moreover, we revealed that IL-1β production predominantly depends on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) priming, especially via TLR4, while TNF-α is secreted via C-type lectin receptors (CTLs), and IL-6 is produced by synergistic activation of TLRs and CTLs. All these signaling pathways lead to the activation of NF-kB, a transcription factor that not only regulates the inflammatory response but also the apoptotic fate of monocytes during infection with L. corymbifera. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the host-pathogen interactions, which may serve for future therapies to enhance the host inflammatory response to L. corymbifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolly E. Montaño
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Susann Hartung
- Infections in Hematology and Oncology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Melissa Wich
- Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Rida Ali
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Berit Jungnickel
- Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal
- Infections in Hematology and Oncology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kerstin Voigt,
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10
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Pathogenesis of Fungal Infections in the Central Nervous System: Host and Pathogen Factors in Neurotropism. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-022-00444-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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11
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Pruksaphon K, Nosanchuk JD, Thammasit P, Pongpom M, Youngchim S. Interaction of Talaromyces marneffei with free living soil amoeba as a model of fungal pathogenesis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1023067. [PMID: 36262181 PMCID: PMC9574045 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1023067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei is an important dimorphic mycosis endemic in Southeast Asia and Southern China, but the origin and maintenance of virulence traits in this organism remains obscure. Several pathogenic fungi, including Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Sporothrix schenckii, Histoplasma capsulatum and Paracoccidioides spp. interact with free living soil amoebae and data suggests that fungal pathogenic strategies may emerge from environmental interactions of these fungi with ubiquitous phagocytic microorganisms. In this study, we examined the interactions of T. marneffei with the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. T. marneffei was rapidly ingested by A. castellanii and phagocytosis of fungal cells resulted in amoeba death after 24 h of contact. Co-culture also resulted in a rapid transition for conidia to the fission-yeast form. In addition, well-established virulence factors such as melanin and a yeast specific mannoprotein of T. marneffei were expressed during interaction with A. castellanii at 37°C. Our findings support the assumption that soil amoebae environmental predators play a role in the selection and maintenance of particular features in T. marneffei that impart virulence to this clinically important dimorphic fungus in mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritsada Pruksaphon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Patcharin Thammasit
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Monsicha Pongpom
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sirida Youngchim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Sirida Youngchim,
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12
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Geng Q, Li H, Wang D, Sheng RC, Zhu H, Klosterman SJ, Subbarao KV, Chen JY, Chen FM, Zhang DD. The Verticillium dahliae Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase Complex Subunit Ada1 Is Essential for Conidia and Microsclerotia Production and Contributes to Virulence. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:852571. [PMID: 35283850 PMCID: PMC8905346 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.852571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Verticillium dahliae is a destructive soil-borne pathogen of many economically important dicots. The genetics of pathogenesis in V. dahliae has been extensively studied. Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase complex (SAGA) is an ATP-independent multifunctional chromatin remodeling complex that contributes to diverse transcriptional regulatory functions. As members of the core module in the SAGA complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ada1, together with Spt7 and Spt20, play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the complex. In this study, we identified homologs of the SAGA complex in V. dahliae and found that deletion of the Ada1 subunit (VdAda1) causes severe defects in the formation of conidia and microsclerotia, and in melanin biosynthesis and virulence. The effect of VdAda1 on histone acetylation in V. dahliae was confirmed by western blot analysis. The deletion of VdAda1 resulted in genome-wide alteration of the V. dahliae transcriptome, including genes encoding transcription factors and secreted proteins, suggesting its prominent role in the regulation of transcription and virulence. Overall, we demonstrated that VdAda1, a member of the SAGA complex, modulates multiple physiological processes by regulating global gene expression that impinge on virulence and survival in V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Geng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huan Li
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Team of Crop Verticillium Wilt, State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Cheng Sheng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - He Zhu
- National Cotton Industry Technology System Liaohe Comprehensive Experimental Station, The Cotton Research Center of Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Liaoning Provincial Institute of Economic Crops, Liaoyang, China
| | - Steven J Klosterman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit, Salinas, CA, United States
| | - Krishna V Subbarao
- Department of Plant Pathology, c/o U.S. Agricultural Research Station, University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA, United States
| | - Jie-Yin Chen
- Team of Crop Verticillium Wilt, State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Mao Chen
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Team of Crop Verticillium Wilt, State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Ortiz SC, Pennington K, Thomson DD, Bertuzzi M. Novel Insights into Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenesis and Host Response from State-of-the-Art Imaging of Host-Pathogen Interactions during Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:264. [PMID: 35330266 PMCID: PMC8954776 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus spores initiate more than 3,000,000 chronic and 300,000 invasive diseases annually, worldwide. Depending on the immune status of the host, inhalation of these spores can lead to a broad spectrum of disease, including invasive aspergillosis, which carries a 50% mortality rate overall; however, this mortality rate increases substantially if the infection is caused by azole-resistant strains or diagnosis is delayed or missed. Increasing resistance to existing antifungal treatments is becoming a major concern; for example, resistance to azoles (the first-line available oral drug against Aspergillus species) has risen by 40% since 2006. Despite high morbidity and mortality, the lack of an in-depth understanding of A. fumigatus pathogenesis and host response has hampered the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of fungal infections. Recent advances in sample preparation, infection models and imaging techniques applied in vivo have addressed important gaps in fungal research, whilst questioning existing paradigms. This review highlights the successes and further potential of these recent technologies in understanding the host-pathogen interactions that lead to aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien C. Ortiz
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
| | - Katie Pennington
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
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14
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Flotillin-Dependent Membrane Microdomains Are Required for Functional Phagolysosomes against Fungal Infections. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108017. [PMID: 32814035 PMCID: PMC10054021 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid rafts form signaling platforms on biological membranes with incompletely characterized role in immune response to infection. Here we report that lipid-raft microdomains are essential components of phagolysosomal membranes of macrophages and depend on flotillins. Genetic deletion of flotillins demonstrates that the assembly of both major defense complexes vATPase and NADPH oxidase requires membrane microdomains. Furthermore, we describe a virulence mechanism leading to dysregulation of membrane microdomains by melanized wild-type conidia of the important human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus resulting in reduced phagolysosomal acidification. We show that phagolysosomes with ingested melanized conidia contain a reduced amount of free Ca2+ ions and that inhibition of Ca2+-dependent calmodulin activity led to reduced lipid-raft formation. We identify a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the human FLOT1 gene resulting in heightened susceptibility for invasive aspergillosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Collectively, flotillin-dependent microdomains on the phagolysosomal membrane play an essential role in protective antifungal immunity.
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15
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Williams TJ, Gonzales-Huerta LE, Armstrong-James D. Fungal-Induced Programmed Cell Death. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030231. [PMID: 33804601 PMCID: PMC8003624 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a cause of morbidity in humans, and despite the availability of a range of antifungal treatments, the mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Although our knowledge of the interactions between pathogenic fungi and the host continues to grow, further research is still required to fully understand the mechanism underpinning fungal pathogenicity, which may provide new insights for the treatment of fungal disease. There is great interest regarding how microbes induce programmed cell death and what this means in terms of the immune response and resolution of infection as well as microbe-specific mechanisms that influence cell death pathways to aid in their survival and continued infection. Here, we discuss how programmed cell death is induced by fungi that commonly cause opportunistic infections, including Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans, the role of programmed cell death in fungal immunity, and how fungi manipulate these pathways.
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16
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Dai B, Xu Y, Gao N, Chen J. Wor1-regulated ferroxidases contribute to pigment formation in opaque cells of Candida albicans. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:598-621. [PMID: 33350590 PMCID: PMC7931227 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a harmless commensal resident in the human gut and a prevalent opportunistic pathogen. A key part of its commensalism and pathogenesis is its ability to switch between different morphological forms, including white‐to‐opaque switching. The Wor1 protein was previously identified as a master regulator of white‐to‐opaque switching in mating type locus (MTL) homozygous cells. The mechanisms by which the dark color of the opaque colonies is controlled and the pimpled surface of opaque cells is formed remain unknown. Candida albicans produces melanin pigment in vitro and during infection. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of melanin production is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that ferroxidases (Fets) function as pigment multicopper oxidases and regulate the production of dark‐pigmented melanin in opaque cells. The FET genes presented distinct regulation patterns in response to different extracellular stimuli. In YPD (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone and 2% dextrose)‐rich medium, four of the five FET genes were up‐regulated by Wor1, especially at the human body temperature of 37 °C. In minimal medium with low ammonium concentrations, all five FET genes were up‐regulated by Wor1. However, at high ammonium concentrations, some FET genes were down‐regulated by Wor1. Wor1‐up‐regulated Fets contributed to dark pigment formation in opaque colonies, but not to the elongated shape of these opaque cells. Increased melanin externalization was associated with the pimpled surface of the opaque cells. Melanized C. albicans cells were more resistant to fungal clearance. Deletion of the five FET genes completely blocked melanin production in opaque cells and resulted in the generation of white elongated ‘opaque’ cells. In addition, the up‐regulated Fets are important for defense against oxidant attacks. The functional diversity of Fets may reflect the multiple strategies of C. albicans to rapidly adapt to diverse host niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baodi Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinxing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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17
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Hassan MIA, Keller M, Hillger M, Binder U, Reuter S, Herold K, Telagathoti A, Dahse HM, Wicht S, Trinks N, Nietzsche S, Deckert-Gaudig T, Deckert V, Mrowka R, Terpitz U, Peter Saluz H, Voigt K. The impact of episporic modification of Lichtheimia corymbifera on virulence and interaction with phagocytes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:880-896. [PMID: 33598103 PMCID: PMC7851798 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections caused by the ancient lineage Mucorales are emerging and increasingly reported in humans. Comprehensive surveys on promising attributes from a multitude of possible virulence factors are limited and so far, focused on Mucor and Rhizopus. This study addresses a systematic approach to monitor phagocytosis after physical and enzymatic modification of the outer spore wall of Lichtheimia corymbifera, one of the major causative agents of mucormycosis. Episporic modifications were performed and their consequences on phagocytosis, intracellular survival and virulence by murine alveolar macrophages and in an invertebrate infection model were elucidated. While depletion of lipids did not affect the phagocytosis of both strains, delipidation led to attenuation of LCA strain but appears to be dispensable for infection with LCV strain in the settings used in this study. Combined glucano-proteolytic treatment was necessary to achieve a significant decrease of virulence of the LCV strain in Galleria mellonella during maintenance of the full potential for spore germination as shown by a novel automated germination assay. Proteolytic and glucanolytic treatments largely increased phagocytosis compared to alive resting and swollen spores. Whilst resting spores barely (1–2%) fuse to lysosomes after invagination in to phagosomes, spore trypsinization led to a 10-fold increase of phagolysosomal fusion as measured by intracellular acidification. This is the first report of a polyphasic measurement of the consequences of episporic modification of a mucormycotic pathogen in spore germination, spore surface ultrastructure, phagocytosis, stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), phagolysosomal fusion and intracellular acidification, apoptosis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and virulence.
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Key Words
- AFM, Atomic Force Microscopy
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- CD14, Cluster of differentiation 14
- CFW, Calcofluor white
- Galleria mellonella
- HEK, human embryonic kidney
- HSI, Hyperspectral imaging
- Hyperspectral imaging (HIS)
- IPS, Insect physiological saline
- Intracellular survival
- LCA, Lichtheimia corymbifera attenuated
- LCV, Lichtheimia corymbifera virulent
- MD-2, Myeloid Differentiation factor 2
- MH-S, Murine alveolar macrophages
- MM6, Acute monocytic leukemia derived human monocyte Mono-Mac-6
- Monocytes
- NF-κB, Nuclear factor 'kappa-light-chain-enhancer' of activated B-cells
- PBS, Phosphate buffer saline solution
- PI, Phagocytosis index
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- TEM, Transmission Electron Microscopy
- TLRs, Toll like receptors
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed I Abdelwahab Hassan
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,Pests & Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre, 33rd El Buhouth St. (Postal code: 12622) Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Monique Keller
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Hillger
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41/2, 6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
| | - Stefanie Reuter
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany.,ThIMEDOP-Thüringer Innovationszentrum für Medizintechnik-Lösungen, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Kristina Herold
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Anusha Telagathoti
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Dahse
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Saiedeh Wicht
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nora Trinks
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sandor Nietzsche
- Elektronenmikroskopisches Zentrum, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Tanja Deckert-Gaudig
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Deckert
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller University, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4242, USA
| | - Ralf Mrowka
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany.,ThIMEDOP-Thüringer Innovationszentrum für Medizintechnik-Lösungen, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Terpitz
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hans Peter Saluz
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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18
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Camilli G, Blagojevic M, Naglik JR, Richardson JP. Programmed Cell Death: Central Player in Fungal Infections. Trends Cell Biol 2020; 31:179-196. [PMID: 33293167 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Fungal diseases contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in humans. Although recent research has improved our understanding of the complex and dynamic interplay that occurs between pathogenic fungi and the human host, much remains to be elucidated concerning the molecular mechanisms that drive fungal pathogenicity and host responses to fungal infections. In recent times, there has been a significant increase in studies investigating the immunological functions of microbial-induced host cell death. In addition, pathogens use many strategies to manipulate host cell death pathways to facilitate their survival and dissemination. This review will focus on the mechanisms of host programmed cell death that occur during opportunistic fungal infections, and explore how cell death pathways may affect immunity towards pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Camilli
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Mariana Blagojevic
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Julian R Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jonathan P Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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19
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Sangkanu S, Rukachaisirikul V, Suriyachadkun C, Phongpaichit S. Antifungal activity of marine-derived actinomycetes against Talaromyces marneffei. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 130:1508-1522. [PMID: 33010096 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to isolate actinomycetes from marine environments and examine their antifungal activity against Talaromyces marneffei both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS Nineteen out of 101 actinomycete extracts were active and further determined for their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Three extracts of AMA50 that isolated from sediment showed strong antifungal activity against T. marneffei yeast (MICs ≤0·03-0·25 µg ml-1 ) and mould (MICs 0·5-16 µg ml-1 ) forms. The hexane extract from the cells of AMA50 (AMA50CH) exhibited the best activity against both the forms (MIC ≤ 1 µg ml-1 ). Three extracts from AMA50 killed the melanized yeast cells at 0·5 µg ml-1 . The AMA50CH was further tested for protective effects in Caenorhabditis elegans model. At concentrations of 1-8 µg ml-1 , the AMA50CH prolonged survival of T. marneffei-infected C. elegans with a 60-70% survival rate. The composition of AMA50CH was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major components were n-hexadecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and pentadecanoic acid. Sequencing analysis revealed that isolate AMA50 belonged to the genus Streptomyces. CONCLUSIONS The AMA50CH from Streptomyces sp. AMA50 was the most effective extract against T. marneffei. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Talaromyces marneffei is one of the most important thermally dimorphic pathogenic fungi. These results indicated the potency of marine-derived actinomycete extracts against T. marneffei both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sangkanu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - V Rukachaisirikul
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - C Suriyachadkun
- BIOTEC Culture Collection, Biodiversity and Biotechnological Resource Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - S Phongpaichit
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.,Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.,Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
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20
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Ferling I, Dunn JD, Ferling A, Soldati T, Hillmann F. Conidial Melanin of the Human-Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus Disrupts Cell Autonomous Defenses in Amoebae. mBio 2020; 11:e00862-20. [PMID: 32457245 PMCID: PMC7251208 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00862-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous saprophyte that causes fatal lung infections in immunocompromised individuals. Following inhalation, conidia are ingested by innate immune cells and can arrest phagolysosome maturation. How this virulence trait could have been selected for in natural environments is unknown. Here, we found that surface exposure of the green pigment 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-(DHN)-melanin can protect conidia from phagocytic uptake and intracellular killing by the fungivorous amoeba Protostelium aurantium and delays its exocytosis from the nonfungivorous species Dictyostelium discoideum To elucidate the antiphagocytic properties of the surface pigment, we followed the antagonistic interactions of A. fumigatus conidia with the amoebae in real time. For both amoebae, conidia covered with DHN-melanin were internalized at far lower rates than were seen with conidia lacking the pigment, despite high rates of initial attachment to nonkilling D. discoideum When ingested by D. discoideum, the formation of nascent phagosomes was followed by transient acidification of phagolysosomes, their subsequent neutralization, and, finally, exocytosis of the conidia. While the cycle was completed in less than 1 h for unpigmented conidia, the process was significantly prolonged for conidia covered with DHN-melanin, leading to an extended intracellular residence time. At later stages of this cellular infection, pigmented conidia induced enhanced damage to phagolysosomes and infected amoebae failed to recruit the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) membrane repair machinery or the canonical autophagy pathway to defend against the pathogen, thus promoting prolonged intracellular persistence in the host cell and the establishment of a germination niche in this environmental phagocyte.IMPORTANCE Infections with Aspergillus fumigatus are usually acquired by an inhalation of spores from environmental sources. How spores of a saprophytic fungus have acquired abilities to withstand and escape the phagocytic attacks of innate immune cells is not understood. The fungal surface pigment dihydroxynaphtalene-melanin has been shown to be a crucial factor for the delay in phagosome maturation. Here, we show that this pigment also has a protective function against environmental phagocytes. Pigmented conidia escaped uptake and killing by the fungus-eating amoeba Protostelium aurantium When ingested by the nonfungivorous phagocyte Dictyostelium discoideum, the pigment attenuated the launch of cell autonomous defenses against the fungal invader, such as membrane repair and autophagy, leading to prolonged intracellular retention. Membrane damage and cytoplasmic leakage may result in an influx of nutrients and thus may further promote intracellular germination of the fungus, indicating that A. fumigatus has acquired some of the basic properties of intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Ferling
- Junior Research Group Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Joe Dan Dunn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Ferling
- Heid-Tech, Technische Schule Heidenheim, Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany
| | - Thierry Soldati
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Falk Hillmann
- Junior Research Group Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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21
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Gonçalves SM, Duarte-Oliveira C, Campos CF, Aimanianda V, Ter Horst R, Leite L, Mercier T, Pereira P, Fernández-García M, Antunes D, Rodrigues CS, Barbosa-Matos C, Gaifem J, Mesquita I, Marques A, Osório NS, Torrado E, Rodrigues F, Costa S, Joosten LA, Lagrou K, Maertens J, Lacerda JF, Campos A, Brown GD, Brakhage AA, Barbas C, Silvestre R, van de Veerdonk FL, Chamilos G, Netea MG, Latgé JP, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Phagosomal removal of fungal melanin reprograms macrophage metabolism to promote antifungal immunity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2282. [PMID: 32385235 PMCID: PMC7210971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16120-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to infection, macrophages adapt their metabolism rapidly to enhance glycolysis and fuel specialized antimicrobial effector functions. Here we show that fungal melanin is an essential molecule required for the metabolic rewiring of macrophages during infection with the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Using pharmacological and genetic tools, we reveal a molecular link between calcium sequestration by melanin inside the phagosome and induction of glycolysis required for efficient innate immune responses. By remodeling the intracellular calcium machinery and impairing signaling via calmodulin, melanin drives an immunometabolic signaling axis towards glycolysis with activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) and phagosomal recruitment of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These data demonstrate a pivotal mechanism in the immunometabolic regulation of macrophages during fungal infection and highlight the metabolic repurposing of immune cells as a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudio Duarte-Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia F Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Rob Ter Horst
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Luis Leite
- STMO, Instituto Português de Oncologia, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Toine Mercier
- Department of Hematology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paulo Pereira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Fernández-García
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, San Pablo CEU University, 28668, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Antunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia S Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Catarina Barbosa-Matos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Gaifem
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Inês Mesquita
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - António Marques
- Serviço de Imuno-Hemoterapia, Hospital de Braga, 4710-243, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno S Osório
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Egídio Torrado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Leo Ab Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Maertens
- Department of Hematology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - João F Lacerda
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Campos
- STMO, Instituto Português de Oncologia, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gordon D Brown
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Coral Barbas
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, San Pablo CEU University, 28668, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013, Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, 70013, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal.
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22
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Aspergillus fumigatus Cell Wall Promotes Apical Airway Epithelial Recruitment of Human Neutrophils. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00813-19. [PMID: 31767773 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00813-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen capable of causing multiple pulmonary diseases, including invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, fungal colonization, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Intact mucociliary barrier function and early airway neutrophil responses are critical for clearing fungal conidia from the host airways prior to establishing disease. Following inhalation, Aspergillus conidia deposit in the small airways, where they are likely to make their initial host encounter with epithelial cells. Challenges in airway infection models have limited the ability to explore early steps in the interactions between A. fumigatus and the human airway epithelium. Here, we use inverted air-liquid interface cultures to demonstrate that the human airway epithelium responds to apical stimulation by A. fumigatus to promote the transepithelial migration of neutrophils from the basolateral membrane surface to the apical airway surface. Promoting epithelial transmigration with Aspergillus required prolonged exposure with live resting conidia. Swollen conidia did not expedite epithelial transmigration. Using A. fumigatus strains containing deletions of genes for cell wall components, we identified that deletion of the hydrophobic rodlet layer or dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin in the conidial cell wall amplified the epithelial transmigration of neutrophils, using primary human airway epithelium. Ultimately, we show that an as-yet-unidentified nonsecreted cell wall protein is required to promote the early epithelial transmigration of human neutrophils into the airspace in response to A. fumigatus Together, these data provide critical insight into the initial epithelial host response to Aspergillus.
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23
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Garcia-Rubio R, de Oliveira HC, Rivera J, Trevijano-Contador N. The Fungal Cell Wall: Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus Species. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2993. [PMID: 31993032 PMCID: PMC6962315 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall is located outside the plasma membrane and is the cell compartment that mediates all the relationships of the cell with the environment. It protects the contents of the cell, gives rigidity and defines the cellular structure. The cell wall is a skeleton with high plasticity that protects the cell from different stresses, among which osmotic changes stand out. The cell wall allows interaction with the external environment since some of its proteins are adhesins and receptors. Since, some components have a high immunogenic capacity, certain wall components can drive the host's immune response to promote fungus growth and dissemination. The cell wall is a characteristic structure of fungi and is composed mainly of glucans, chitin and glycoproteins. As the components of the fungal cell wall are not present in humans, this structure is an excellent target for antifungal therapy. In this article, we review recent data on the composition and synthesis, influence of the components of the cell wall in fungi-host interaction and the role as a target for the next generation of antifungal drugs in yeasts (Candida and Cryptococcus) and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Garcia-Rubio
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
| | | | - Johanna Rivera
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nuria Trevijano-Contador
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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24
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Abstract
Dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN-melanin) is an integral component of the conidial cell wall surface, which has a central role in the pathogenicity of the major human airborne fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Although the biosynthetic pathway for A. fumigatus DHN-melanin production has been well characterized, the molecular interactions of DHN-melanin with the immune system have been incompletely understood. Recent studies demonstrated that apart from concealing immunostimulatory cell wall polysaccharides, calcium sequestration by DHN-melanin inhibits essential host effector pathways regulating phagosome biogenesis and prevents A. fumigatus conidia killing by phagocytes. From the host perspective, DHN-melanin is specifically recognized by a C-type lectin receptor (MelLeC) present in murine endothelia and in human myeloid cells. Furthermore, DHN-melanin activates platelets and facilitates opsonophagocytosis by macrophages via binding to soluble pattern recognition receptors. Dissecting the dynamics of DHN-melanin organization on the fungal cell wall and the molecular interplay with the immune system will lead to a better understanding of A. fumigatus pathophysiology.
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25
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Chongkae S, Nosanchuk JD, Pruksaphon K, Laliam A, Pornsuwan S, Youngchim S. Production of melanin pigments in saprophytic fungi in vitro and during infection. J Basic Microbiol 2019; 59:1092-1104. [PMID: 31613011 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201900295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Melanins are one of the great natural pigments produced by a wide variety of fungal species that promote fitness and cell survival in diverse hostile environments, including during mammalian infection. In this study, we sought to demonstrate the production of melanin in the conidia and hyphae of saprophytic fungi, including dematiaceous and hyaline fungi. We showed that a melanin-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) avidly labeled the cell walls of hyphae and conidia, consistent with the presence of melanin in these structures, in 14 diverse fungal species. The conidia of saprophytic fungi were treated with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant, and concentrated hot acid to yield dark particles, which were shown to be stable free radicals, consistent with their identification as melanins. Samples obtained from patients with fungal keratitis due to Fusarium falciforme, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Exserohilum rostratum, or Fonsecaea pedrosoi were found to be intensely labeled by the melanin-specific MAb at the fungal hyphal cell walls. These results support the hypothesis that melanin is a common component that promotes survival under harsh conditions and facilitates fungal virulence. Increased understanding of the processes of melanization and the development of methods to interfere with pigment formation may lead to novel approaches to combat these complex pathogens that are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siriporn Chongkae
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx
| | - Kritsada Pruksaphon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Angkana Laliam
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Soraya Pornsuwan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirida Youngchim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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26
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The Role of Melanin in Fungal Pathogenesis for Animal Hosts. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2019; 422:1-30. [PMID: 31278515 DOI: 10.1007/82_2019_173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Melanins are a class of pigments that are ubiquitous throughout biology. They play incredibly diverse and important roles ranging from radiation protection to immune defense, camouflage, and virulence. Fungi have evolved to use melanin to be able to persist in the environment and within organisms. Fungal melanins are often located within the cell well and are able to neutralize reactive oxygen species and other radicals, defend against UV radiation, bind and sequester non-specific peptides and compounds, and produce a physical barrier that defends the cell. For this reason, melanized fungi are often well-suited to be human pathogens-melanin allows fungi to neutralize the microbicidal oxidative bursts of our innate immune system, bind and inactivate to antimicrobial peptides and enzymes, sequester antifungal pharmaceuticals, and create a shield to block immune recognition of the fungus. Due to the importance and pervasiveness of melanin in fungal virulence, mammalian immune systems have evolved antifungal strategies that involve directly detecting and binding to fungal melanins. Such strategies include the use of melanin-specific antibody responses and C-type lectins like the newly discovered melanin-specific MelLec receptor.
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27
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Almeida MC, Antunes D, Silva BMA, Rodrigues L, Mota M, Borges O, Fernandes C, Gonçalves T. Early Interaction of Alternaria infectoria Conidia with Macrophages. Mycopathologia 2019; 184:383-392. [PMID: 31183740 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-019-00339-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fungi of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous indoor and outdoor airborne agents, and individuals are daily exposed to their spores. Although its importance in human infections and, particularly in respiratory allergies, there are no studies of how Alternaria spp. spores interact with host cells. Our aim was to study the early interaction of Alternaria infectoria spores with macrophages, the first line of immune defense. RAW 264.7 macrophages were infected with A. infectoria conidia, and the internalization and viability of conidia once inside the macrophages were quantified during the first 6 h of interaction. Live cell imaging was used to study the dynamics of this interaction. TNF-α production was quantified by relative gene expression, and the concentration of other cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, GM-CSF and INF-γ) and a chemokine, MIP-1α, was quantified by ELISA. Conidia were rapidly internalized by macrophages, with approximately half internalized after 30 min of interaction. During the first 6 h of interaction, macrophages retained the ability to mitotically divide while containing internalized conidia. The classical macrophage-activated morphology was absent in macrophages infected with conidia, and TNF-α and other cytokines and chemokines failed to be produced. Thus, macrophages are able to efficiently phagocyte A. infectoria conidia, but, during the first 6 h, no effective antifungal response is triggered, therefore promoting the residence of these fungal conidia inside the macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - D Antunes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - B M A Silva
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L Rodrigues
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M Mota
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - O Borges
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FFUC - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - C Fernandes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - T Gonçalves
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC - Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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28
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Manini P, Lino V, Franchi P, Gentile G, Sibillano T, Giannini C, Picardi E, Napolitano A, Valgimigli L, Chiappe C, d'Ischia M. A Robust Fungal Allomelanin Mimic: An Antioxidant and Potent π-Electron Donor with Free-Radical Properties that can be Tuned by Ionic Liquids. Chempluschem 2019; 84:1331-1337. [PMID: 31944050 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Developing effective strategies to increase the chemical stability and to fine-tune the physico-chemical properties of melanin biopolymers by rational control of π-electron conjugation is an important goal in materials science for biomedical and technological applications. Herein we report that poly-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (pDHN), a non-nitrogenous, catechol-free fungal melanin mimic, displays a high degree of structural integrity (from MALDI-MS and CP/MAS 13 C NMR analysis), a strong radical scavenging capacity (DPPH and FRAP assays), and an unusually intense EPR signal (g=2.0030). Morphological and spectral characterization of pDHN, along with deassembly experiments in ionic liquids, indicated amorphous aggregates of small globular structures with an estimated stacking distance of 3.9 Å and broadband absorption throughout the visible range. These results indicate that DHN-based melanins exhibit a high structural integrity and enhanced antioxidant and free-radical properties of potentially greater biomedical and technological relevance than for typical indole-based eumelanins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Manini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Lino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Paola Franchi
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 11, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gennaro Gentile
- Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Sibillano
- Istituto di Cristallografia (IC) CNR, via Amendola 122/O, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giannini
- Istituto di Cristallografia (IC) CNR, via Amendola 122/O, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Emanuela Picardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Napolitano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luca Valgimigli
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 11, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cinzia Chiappe
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco d'Ischia
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Napoli, Italy
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29
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Melanin and pyomelanin in Aspergillus fumigatus: from its genetics to host interaction. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:55-63. [PMID: 31020477 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a worldwide-distributed saprophytic fungus and the major cause of invasive aspergillosis. This fungus can produce two types of melanin-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN-melanin) and pyomelanin. These pigments are considered important resistance mechanisms to stress, as well as virulence factors. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge of the genetic basis and metabolic pathways of melanin production, their activation, function, and interaction with the host immune system. The DHN-melanin pathway is encoded in a cluster that includes six genes (abr1, abr2, ayg1, arp1, arp2, and pksP/alb1 genes) whose encoded proteins seem to be the origin of the pigment in endosomes. These vesicles are secreted and the pigment is subsequently located in the wall of the conidium beneath the rodlet layer. Unlike DHN-melanin, pyomelanin does not have its own biosynthetic pathway but is related to the activation of the L-tyrosine/L-phenylalanine degradation pathway that includes a cluster of six genes (hppD, hmgX, hmgA, fahA, maiA, and hmgR). Its production is due to the polymerization of homogentisic acid and is linked to conidial germination. Despite the knowledge gained in recent years, further studies will be necessary to confirm the pathways that produce these pigments and their role in the virulence mechanisms of A. fumigatus.
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30
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Andrianaki AM, Kyrmizi I, Thanopoulou K, Baldin C, Drakos E, Soliman SSM, Shetty AC, McCracken C, Akoumianaki T, Stylianou K, Ioannou P, Pontikoglou C, Papadaki HA, Tzardi M, Belle V, Etienne E, Beauvais A, Samonis G, Kontoyiannis DP, Andreakos E, Bruno VM, Ibrahim AS, Chamilos G. Iron restriction inside macrophages regulates pulmonary host defense against Rhizopus species. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3333. [PMID: 30127354 PMCID: PMC6102248 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a life-threatening respiratory fungal infection predominantly caused by Rhizopus species. Mucormycosis has incompletely understood pathogenesis, particularly how abnormalities in iron metabolism compromise immune responses. Here we show how, as opposed to other filamentous fungi, Rhizopus spp. establish intracellular persistence inside alveolar macrophages (AMs). Mechanistically, lack of intracellular swelling of Rhizopus conidia results in surface retention of melanin, which induces phagosome maturation arrest through inhibition of LC3-associated phagocytosis. Intracellular inhibition of Rhizopus is an important effector mechanism, as infection of immunocompetent mice with swollen conidia, which evade phagocytosis, results in acute lethality. Concordantly, AM depletion markedly increases susceptibility to mucormycosis. Host and pathogen transcriptomics, iron supplementation studies, and genetic manipulation of iron assimilation of fungal pathways demonstrate that iron restriction inside macrophages regulates immunity against Rhizopus. Our findings shed light on the pathogenetic mechanisms of mucormycosis and reveal the role of macrophage-mediated nutritional immunity against filamentous fungi. Mucormycosis is a life-threatening respiratory fungal infection that typically occurs in patients with abnormalities in iron metabolism. Here the authors show that iron restriction inside the phagosome of macrophages is an essential component of the host defense against Rhizopus, the main species causing mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki M Andrianaki
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Irene Kyrmizi
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Thanopoulou
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Clara Baldin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, 1124 West Carson Street, St. John's Cardiovascular Research Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA
| | - Elias Drakos
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Sameh S M Soliman
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Amol C Shetty
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Carrie McCracken
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Tonia Akoumianaki
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kostas Stylianou
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Petros Ioannou
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Charalampos Pontikoglou
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Helen A Papadaki
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Tzardi
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Valerie Belle
- CNRS, BIP (UMR 7281), IMM (FR 3479), Aix-Marseille Université, 31 chemin J. Aiguier, 13402, Marseille, France
| | - Emilien Etienne
- CNRS, BIP (UMR 7281), IMM (FR 3479), Aix-Marseille Université, 31 chemin J. Aiguier, 13402, Marseille, France
| | - Anne Beauvais
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - George Samonis
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Evangelos Andreakos
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Vincent M Bruno
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, 1124 West Carson Street, St. John's Cardiovascular Research Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA. .,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. .,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, 71300, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Schmidt H, Vlaic S, Krüger T, Schmidt F, Balkenhol J, Dandekar T, Guthke R, Kniemeyer O, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA. Proteomics of Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia-containing Phagolysosomes Identifies Processes Governing Immune Evasion. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:1084-1096. [PMID: 29507050 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive infections by the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus start with the outgrowth of asexual, airborne spores (conidia) into the lung tissue of immunocompromised patients. The resident alveolar macrophages phagocytose conidia, which end up in phagolysosomes. However, A. fumigatus conidia resist phagocytic degradation to a certain degree. This is mainly attributable to the pigment 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin located in the cell wall of conidia, which manipulates the phagolysosomal maturation and prevents their intracellular killing. To get insight in the underlying molecular mechanisms, we comparatively analyzed proteins of mouse macrophage phagolysosomes containing melanized wild-type (wt) or nonmelanized pksP mutant conidia. For this purpose, a protocol to isolate conidia-containing phagolysosomes was established and a reference protein map of phagolysosomes was generated. We identified 637 host and 22 A. fumigatus proteins that were differentially abundant in the phagolysosome. 472 of the host proteins were overrepresented in the pksP mutant and 165 in the wt conidia-containing phagolysosome. Eight of the fungal proteins were produced only in pksP mutant and 14 proteins in wt conidia-containing phagolysosomes. Bioinformatical analysis compiled a regulatory module, which indicates host processes affected by the fungus. These processes include vATPase-driven phagolysosomal acidification, Rab5 and Vamp8-dependent endocytic trafficking, signaling pathways, as well as recruitment of the Lamp1 phagolysosomal maturation marker and the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin Z. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses confirmed the proteome data and moreover showed differential abundance of the major metabolic regulator mTOR. Taken together, with the help of a protocol optimized to isolate A. fumigatus conidia-containing phagolysosomes and a potent bioinformatics algorithm, we were able to confirm A. fumigatus conidia-dependent modification of phagolysosomal processes that have been described before and beyond that, identify pathways that have not been implicated in A. fumigatus evasion strategy, yet.Mass spectrometry proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD005724 and PXD006134.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hella Schmidt
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Vlaic
- §Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Franziska Schmidt
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes Balkenhol
- ¶Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- ¶Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Guthke
- §Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany; .,‖Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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32
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Soliman SSM, Raizada MN. Darkness: A Crucial Factor in Fungal Taxol Production. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:353. [PMID: 29552002 PMCID: PMC5840228 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal Taxol acquired lots of attention in the last few decades mainly because of the hope that fungi could be manipulated more easily than yew trees to scale up the production level of this valuable anticancer drug. Several researchers have studied diverse factors to enhance fungal Taxol production. However, up to date fungal Taxol production has never been enhanced to the commercial level. We have hypothesized that optimization of fungal Taxol production may require clear understanding of the fungal habitat in its original host plant. One major feature shared by all fungal endophytes is that they are located in the internal plant tissues where darkness is prominent; hence here the effect of light on fungal Taxol production was tested. Incubation of Taxol-producing endophytic SSM001 fungus in light prior to inoculation in Taxol production culture media showed dramatic loss of Taxol accumulation, significant reduction in Taxol-containing resin bodies and reduction in the expression of genes known to be involved in Taxol biosynthesis. The loss of Taxol production was accompanied by production of dark green pigments. Pigmentation is a fungal protection mechanism which is photoreceptor mediated and induced by light. Opsin, a known photoreceptor involved in light perception and pigment production, was identified in SSM001 by genome sequencing. SSM001 opsin gene expression was induced by white light. The results from this study indicated that the endophytic fungus SSM001 required the dark habitat of its host plant for Taxol production and hence this biosynthetic pathway shows a negative response to light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh S M Soliman
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.,Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Manish N Raizada
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Bertuzzi M, Hayes GE, Icheoku UJ, van Rhijn N, Denning DW, Osherov N, Bignell EM. Anti-Aspergillus Activities of the Respiratory Epithelium in Health and Disease. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:E8. [PMID: 29371501 PMCID: PMC5872311 DOI: 10.3390/jof4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory epithelia fulfil multiple roles beyond that of gaseous exchange, also acting as primary custodians of lung sterility and inflammatory homeostasis. Inhaled fungal spores pose a continual antigenic, and potentially pathogenic, challenge to lung integrity against which the human respiratory mucosa has developed various tolerance and defence strategies. However, respiratory disease and immune dysfunction frequently render the human lung susceptible to fungal diseases, the most common of which are the aspergilloses, a group of syndromes caused by inhaled spores of Aspergillus fumigatus. Inhaled Aspergillus spores enter into a multiplicity of interactions with respiratory epithelia, the mechanistic bases of which are only just becoming recognized as important drivers of disease, as well as possible therapeutic targets. In this mini-review we examine current understanding of Aspergillus-epithelial interactions and, based upon the very latest developments in the field, we explore two apparently opposing schools of thought which view epithelial uptake of Aspergillus spores as either a curative or disease-exacerbating event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
| | - Gemma E Hayes
- Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple EX31 4JB, UK.
| | - Uju J Icheoku
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
| | - Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
| | - David W Denning
- The National Aspergillosis Centre, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UK.
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Elaine M Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
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Sherrington SL, Kumwenda P, Kousser C, Hall RA. Host Sensing by Pathogenic Fungi. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2017; 102:159-221. [PMID: 29680125 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ability to cause disease extends from the ability to grow within the host environment. The human host provides a dynamic environment to which fungal pathogens must adapt to in order to survive. The ability to grow under a particular condition (i.e., the ability to grow at mammalian body temperature) is considered a fitness attribute and is essential for growth within the human host. On the other hand, some environmental conditions activate signaling mechanisms resulting in the expression of virulence factors, which aid pathogenicity. Therefore, pathogenic fungi have evolved fitness and virulence attributes to enable them to colonize and infect humans. This review highlights how some of the major pathogenic fungi respond and adapt to key environmental signals within the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Sherrington
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Pizga Kumwenda
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Courtney Kousser
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca A Hall
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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35
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Novohradská S, Ferling I, Hillmann F. Exploring Virulence Determinants of Filamentous Fungal Pathogens through Interactions with Soil Amoebae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:497. [PMID: 29259922 PMCID: PMC5723301 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with filamentous fungi are common to all animals, but attention is rising especially due to the increasing incidence and high mortality rates observed in immunocompromised human individuals. Here, Aspergillus fumigatus and other members of its genus are the leading causative agents. Attributes like their saprophytic life-style in various ecological niches coupled with nutritional flexibility and a broad host range have fostered the hypothesis that environmental predators could have been the actual target for some of their virulence determinants. In this mini review, we have merged the recent findings focused on the potential dual-use of fungal defense strategies against innate immune cells and soil amoebae as natural phagocytes. Well-established virulence attributes like the melanized surface of fungal conidia or their capacity to produce toxic secondary metabolites have also been found to be protective against the model amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Some of the recent advances during interaction studies with human cells have further promoted the adaptation of other amoeba infection models, including the wide-spread generalist Acanthamoeba castellanii, or less prominent representatives like Vermamoeba vermiformis. We further highlight prospects and limits of these natural phagocyte models with regard to the infection biology of filamentous fungi and in comparison to the phagocytes of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Novohradská
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Iuliia Ferling
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Hillmann
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
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36
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Schmidt S, Tramsen L, Schneider A, Schubert R, Balan A, Degistirici Ö, Meisel R, Lehrnbecher T. Impact of human mesenchymal stromal cells on antifungal host response against Aspergillus fumigatus. Oncotarget 2017; 8:95495-95503. [PMID: 29221143 PMCID: PMC5707037 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are increasingly given as immunotherapy to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with refractory graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Whereas the immunosuppressive properties of MSCs seem to be beneficial in GvHD, there is, at the same time, major concern that MSCs increase the risk for infection. We therefore investigated the interplay of human MSCs with Aspergillus fumigatus and the impact of MSCs on different arms of the anti-Aspergillus host response in vitro. Although A. fumigatus hyphae increase mRNA levels of IL6 in MSCs, the extracellular availability of IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines remains unaffected. Human MSCs are able to phagocyte Aspergillus conidia, but phagocytosis of conidia is not associated with an alteration of the cytokine production by MSCs. In addition, human MSCs do not affect activation and function of A. fumigatus specific CD4+ T cells, and MSCs do not negatively impact the oxidative burst activity of phagocytes. Our in vitro data indicate that administration of human MSCs is not associated with a negative impact on the host response against A. fumigatus and that the fungus does not stimulate MSCs to increase the release of those cytokines which play a central role in the pathophysiology of GvHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislaw Schmidt
- Divisions for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lars Tramsen
- Divisions for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Schneider
- Divisions for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf Schubert
- Divisions for Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ada Balan
- Divisions for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Division for “Victor Babes”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Özer Degistirici
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Therapy, Clinic for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roland Meisel
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Therapy, Clinic for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Lehrnbecher
- Divisions for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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37
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Boral H, Metin B, Döğen A, Seyedmousavi S, Ilkit M. Overview of selected virulence attributes in Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Exophiala dermatitidis. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 111:92-107. [PMID: 29102684 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of fungal diseases has been increasing since 1980, and is associated with excessive morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunosuppressed patients. Of the known 625 pathogenic fungal species, infections caused by the genera Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, and Trichophyton are responsible for more than 300 million estimated episodes of acute or chronic infections worldwide. In addition, a rather neglected group of opportunistic fungi known as black yeasts and their filamentous relatives cause a wide variety of recalcitrant infections in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts. This article provides an overview of selected virulence factors that are known to suppress host immunity and enhance the infectivity of these fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazal Boral
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Banu Metin
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aylin Döğen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Seyedmojtaba Seyedmousavi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Center of Excellence for Infection Biology and Antimicrobial Pharmacology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey.
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38
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A Nonredundant Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase, PptA, Is a Novel Antifungal Target That Directs Secondary Metabolite, Siderophore, and Lysine Biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus and Is Critical for Pathogenicity. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.01504-16. [PMID: 28720735 PMCID: PMC5516258 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01504-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary metabolites are key mediators of virulence for many pathogens. Aspergillus fumigatus produces a vast array of these bioactive molecules, the biosynthesis of which is catalyzed by nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) or polyketide synthases (PKSs). Both NRPSs and PKSs harbor carrier domains that are primed for acceptance of secondary metabolic building blocks by a phosphopantetheinyl transferase (P-pant). The A. fumigatus P-pant PptA has been shown to prime the putative NRPS Pes1 in vitro and has an independent role in lysine biosynthesis; however, its role in global secondary metabolism and its impact on virulence has not been described. Here, we demonstrate that PptA has a nonredundant role in the generation of the vast majority of detectable secondary metabolites in A. fumigatus, including the immunomodulator gliotoxin, the siderophores triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) and ferricrocin (FC), and dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN)-melanin. We show that both the lysine and iron requirements of a pptA null strain exceed those freely available in mammalian tissues and that loss of PptA renders A. fumigatus avirulent in both insect and murine infection models. Since PptA lacks similarity to its mammalian orthologue, we assert that the combined role of this enzyme in both primary and secondary metabolism, encompassing multiple virulence determinants makes it a very promising antifungal drug target candidate. We further exemplify this point with a high-throughput fluorescence polarization assay that we developed to identify chemical inhibitors of PptA function that have antifungal activity.IMPORTANCE Fungal diseases are estimated to kill between 1.5 and 2 million people each year, which exceeds the global mortality estimates for either tuberculosis or malaria. Only four classes of antifungal agents are available to treat invasive fungal infections, and all suffer pharmacological shortcomings, including toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and poor bioavailability. There is an urgent need to develop a new class of drugs that operate via a novel mechanism of action. We have identified a potential drug target, PptA, in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus PptA is required to synthesize the immunotoxic compound gliotoxin, DHN-melanin, which A. fumigatus employs to evade detection by host cells, the amino acid lysine, and the siderophores TAFC and FC, which A. fumigatus uses to scavenge iron. We show that strains lacking the PptA enzyme are unable to establish an infection, and we present a method which we use to identify novel antifungal drugs that inactivate PptA.
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Hagiwara D, Sakai K, Suzuki S, Umemura M, Nogawa T, Kato N, Osada H, Watanabe A, Kawamoto S, Gonoi T, Kamei K. Temperature during conidiation affects stress tolerance, pigmentation, and trypacidin accumulation in the conidia of the airborne pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177050. [PMID: 28486558 PMCID: PMC5423626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual spores (conidia) are reproductive structures that play a crucial role in fungal distribution and survival. As fungal conidia are, in most cases, etiological agents of plant diseases and fungal lung disease, their stress resistance and interaction with their hosts have drawn increasing attention. In the present study, we investigated whether environmental temperature during conidiation affects the stress tolerance of the conidia of the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Conidia from a 25°C culture showed a lower tolerance to heat (60°C) and oxidative (H2O2) stresses and a marked resistance to ultraviolet radiation exposure, compared with those produced at 37 and 45°C. The accumulation of trehalose was lower in the conidia from the 25°C culture. Furthermore, the conidia from the 25°C culture showed darker pigmentation and increased transcripts of dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin biosynthesis-related genes (i.e., pksP, arp1, and arp2). An RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the transcription level of the trypacidin (tpc) gene cluster, which contains 13 genes, was sharply and coordinately activated in the conidia from the 25°C culture. Accordingly, trypacidin was abundant in the conidia from the 25°C culture, whereas there was little trypacidin in the conidia from the 37°C culture. Taken together, these data show that the environmental temperature during conidiation affects conidial properties such as stress tolerance, pigmentation, and mycotoxin accumulation. To enhance our knowledge, we further explored the temperature-dependent production of DHN-melanin and trypacidin in clinical A. fumigatus isolates. Some of the isolates showed temperature-independent production of DHN-melanin and/or trypacidin, indicating that the conidia-associated secondary metabolisms differed among the isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Hagiwara
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kanae Sakai
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Suzuki
- National Food Research Institute (NFRI), 2-1-12 Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Myco Umemura
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 17-2-1 Higashi-Nijo, Tsukisamu, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Nogawa
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Naoki Kato
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Susumu Kawamoto
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tohru Gonoi
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Kamei
- Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
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40
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Palonen EK, Raina S, Brandt A, Meriluoto J, Keshavarz T, Soini JT. Melanisation of Aspergillus terreus-Is Butyrolactone I Involved in the Regulation of Both DOPA and DHN Types of Pigments in Submerged Culture? Microorganisms 2017; 5:microorganisms5020022. [PMID: 28471414 PMCID: PMC5488093 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms5020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigments and melanins of fungal spores have been investigated for decades, revealing important roles in the survival of the fungus in hostile environments. The key genes and the encoded enzymes for pigment and melanin biosynthesis have recently been found in Ascomycota, including Aspergillus spp. In Aspergillus terreus, the pigmentation has remained mysterious with only one class of melanin biogenesis being found. In this study, we examined an intriguing, partially annotated gene cluster of A. terreus strain NIH2624, utilizing previously sequenced transcriptome and improved gene expression data of strain MUCL 38669, under the influence of a suggested quorum sensing inducing metabolite, butyrolactone I. The core polyketide synthase (PKS) gene of the cluster was predicted to be significantly longer on the basis of the obtained transcriptional data, and the surrounding cluster was positively regulated by butyrolactone I at the late growth phase of submerged culture, presumably during sporulation. Phylogenetic analysis of the extended PKS revealed remarkable similarity with a group of known pigments of Fusarium spp., indicating a similar function for this PKS. We present a hypothesis of this PKS cluster to biosynthesise a 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-type of pigment during sporulation with the influence of butyrolactone I under submerged culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina K Palonen
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Åbo FI-20520, Finland.
| | - Sheetal Raina
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
| | - Annika Brandt
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Åbo FI-20520, Finland.
| | - Jussi Meriluoto
- Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Åbo FI-20520, Finland.
| | - Tajalli Keshavarz
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
| | - Juhani T Soini
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Business, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Lemminkäinengatan 30, Åbo FI-20520, Finland.
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41
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Ghazaei C. Molecular Insights into Pathogenesis and Infection with Aspergillus Fumigatus. Malays J Med Sci 2017; 24:10-20. [PMID: 28381925 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2017.24.1.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The virulence of fungi is dependent on multiple factors, including the immune status of patients and biological features of fungi. In particular, the virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus is due to the complex interaction among various molecules involved in thermotolerance (such as ribosomal biogenesis proteins, α-mannosyltransferase and heat shock proteins), pigment production (DHN-melanin), immune evasion (like melanin and hydrophobin) and nutrient uptake (such as siderophores and zinc transporters). Other molecules also play important roles in the virulence of A. fumigatus, including cell wall components and those which maintain its integrity (for instance β-1-3 glucan, α-1-3 glucan, chitin, galactomannan and mannoproteins) and adhesion (such as hydrophobins), as well as various hydrolytic enzymes (such as serine and aspartic protease, phospholipases, metalloproteinase and dipeptidyl peptidases). Signalling molecules (including G-protein, cAMP, Ras protein and calcineurin) also increase the virulence through altering the metabolic response to stress conditions and toxins (such as gliotoxin, fumitremorgins, fumagatin and helvolic acid).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciamak Ghazaei
- Department of Microbiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, P.O. Box 179, Ardabil, Iran
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42
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Pigné S, Zykwinska A, Janod E, Cuenot S, Kerkoud M, Raulo R, Bataillé-Simoneau N, Marchi M, Kwasiborski A, N'Guyen G, Mabilleau G, Simoneau P, Guillemette T. A flavoprotein supports cell wall properties in the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2017; 4:1. [PMID: 28955470 PMCID: PMC5611651 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-016-0029-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flavin-dependent monooxygenases are involved in key biological processes as they catalyze a wide variety of chemo-, regio- and enantioselective oxygenation reactions. Flavoprotein monooxygenases are frequently encountered in micro-organisms, most of which require further functional and biocatalytic assessment. Here we investigated the function of the AbMak1 gene, which encodes a group A flavin monooxygenase in the plant pathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola, by generating a deficient mutant and examining its phenotype. RESULTS Functional analysis indicates that the AbMak1 protein is involved in cell wall biogenesis and influences the melanization process. We documented a significant decrease in melanin content in the Δabmak1 strain compared to the wild-type and complemented strains. We investigated the cell wall morphology and physical properties in the wild-type and transformants using electron and atomic force microscopy. These approaches confirmed the aberrant morphology of the conidial wall structure in the Δabmak1 strain which had an impact on hydrophilic adhesion and conidial surface stiffness. However, there was no significant impairment in growth, conidia formation, pathogenicity or susceptibility to various environmental stresses in the Δabmak1 strain. CONCLUSION This study sheds new light on the function of a fungal flavin-dependent monooxygenase, which plays an important role in melanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Pigné
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Agata Zykwinska
- UMR 6502, Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, 2, Rue de la Houssinière, BP 32229, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France.,Present Address: Laboratoire Ecosystèmes Microbiens et Molécules Marines pour les Biotechnologies, IFREMER, Rue de l'île d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Etienne Janod
- UMR 6502, Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, 2, Rue de la Houssinière, BP 32229, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Stéphane Cuenot
- UMR 6502, Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, 2, Rue de la Houssinière, BP 32229, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
| | - Mohammed Kerkoud
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Roxane Raulo
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | | | - Muriel Marchi
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Anthony Kwasiborski
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Guillaume N'Guyen
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Guillaume Mabilleau
- Plateforme SCIAM, Institut de Biologie en Santé, CHU, Université d'Angers, 4, Rue Larrey, 49933 Angers Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Simoneau
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
| | - Thomas Guillemette
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
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43
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Marcos CM, de Oliveira HC, de Melo WDCMA, da Silva JDF, Assato PA, Scorzoni L, Rossi SA, de Paula E Silva ACA, Mendes-Giannini MJS, Fusco-Almeida AM. Anti-Immune Strategies of Pathogenic Fungi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:142. [PMID: 27896220 PMCID: PMC5108756 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi have developed many strategies to evade the host immune system. Multiple escape mechanisms appear to function together to inhibit attack by the various stages of both the adaptive and the innate immune response. Thus, after entering the host, such pathogens fight to overcome the immune system to allow their survival, colonization and spread to different sites of infection. Consequently, the establishment of a successful infectious process is closely related to the ability of the pathogen to modulate attack by the immune system. Most strategies employed to subvert or exploit the immune system are shared among different species of fungi. In this review, we summarize the main strategies employed for immune evasion by some of the major pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Marcos
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Haroldo C de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Wanessa de Cássia M Antunes de Melo
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Julhiany de Fátima da Silva
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Patrícia A Assato
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Suélen A Rossi
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Ana C A de Paula E Silva
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Maria J S Mendes-Giannini
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Ana M Fusco-Almeida
- Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ Estadual Paulista São Paulo, Brasil
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44
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Hyperspectral Imaging Using Intracellular Spies: Quantitative Real-Time Measurement of Intracellular Parameters In Vivo during Interaction of the Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus with Human Monocytes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163505. [PMID: 27727286 PMCID: PMC5058474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a technique based on the combination of classical spectroscopy and conventional digital image processing. It is also well suited for the biological assays and quantitative real-time analysis since it provides spectral and spatial data of samples. The method grants detailed information about a sample by recording the entire spectrum in each pixel of the whole image. We applied HSI to quantify the constituent pH variation in a single infected apoptotic monocyte as a model system. Previously, we showed that the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus conidia interfere with the acidification of phagolysosomes. Here, we extended this finding to monocytes and gained a more detailed analysis of this process. Our data indicate that melanised A. fumigatus conidia have the ability to interfere with apoptosis in human monocytes as they enable the apoptotic cell to recover from mitochondrial acidification and to continue with the cell cycle. We also showed that this ability of A. fumigatus is dependent on the presence of melanin, since a non-pigmented mutant did not stop the progression of apoptosis and consequently, the cell did not recover from the acidic pH. By conducting the current research based on the HSI, we could measure the intracellular pH in an apoptotic infected human monocyte and show the pattern of pH variation during 35 h of measurements. As a conclusion, we showed the importance of melanin for determining the fate of intracellular pH in a single apoptotic cell.
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45
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Croft CA, Culibrk L, Moore MM, Tebbutt SJ. Interactions of Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia with Airway Epithelial Cells: A Critical Review. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:472. [PMID: 27092126 PMCID: PMC4823921 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an environmental filamentous fungus that also acts as an opportunistic pathogen able to cause a variety of symptoms, from an allergic response to a life-threatening disseminated fungal infection. The infectious agents are inhaled conidia whose first point of contact is most likely to be an airway epithelial cell (AEC). The interaction between epithelial cells and conidia is multifaceted and complex, and has implications for later steps in pathogenesis. Increasing evidence has demonstrated a key role for the airway epithelium in the response to respiratory pathogens, particularly at early stages of infection; therefore, elucidating the early stages of interaction of conidia with AECs is essential to understand the establishment of infection in cohorts of at-risk patients. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the early interactions between A. fumigatus and AECs, including bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells. We describe mechanisms of adhesion, internalization of conidia by AECs, the immune response of AECs, as well as the role of fungal virulence factors, and patterns of fungal gene expression characteristic of early infection. A clear understanding of the mechanisms involved in the early establishment of infection by A. fumigatus could point to novel targets for therapy and prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carys A Croft
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
| | - Luka Culibrk
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
| | - Margo M Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada
| | - Scott J Tebbutt
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, VancouverBC, Canada; Prevention of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence, VancouverBC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverBC, Canada
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46
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Tam EWT, Tsang CC, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Polyketides, toxins and pigments in Penicillium marneffei. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:4421-36. [PMID: 26529013 PMCID: PMC4663511 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7114421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium marneffei (synonym: Talaromyces marneffei) is the most important pathogenic thermally dimorphic fungus in China and Southeastern Asia. The HIV/AIDS pandemic, particularly in China and other Southeast Asian countries, has led to the emergence of P. marneffei infection as an important AIDS-defining condition. Recently, we published the genome sequence of P. marneffei. In the P. marneffei genome, 23 polyketide synthase genes and two polyketide synthase-non-ribosomal peptide synthase hybrid genes were identified. This number is much higher than those of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum, important pathogenic thermally dimorphic fungi in the Western world. Phylogenetically, these polyketide synthase genes were distributed evenly with their counterparts found in Aspergillus species and other fungi, suggesting that polyketide synthases in P. marneffei did not diverge from lineage-specific gene duplication through a recent expansion. Gene knockdown experiments and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector/electrospray ionization-quadruple time of flight-mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that at least four of the polyketide synthase genes were involved in the biosynthesis of various pigments in P. marneffei, including melanin, mitorubrinic acid, mitorubrinol, monascorubrin, rubropunctatin, citrinin and ankaflavin, some of which were mycotoxins and virulence factors of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily W T Tam
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
| | - Chi-Ching Tsang
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
| | - Susanna K P Lau
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
| | - Patrick C Y Woo
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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47
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Margalit A, Kavanagh K. The innate immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus at the alveolar surface. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 39:670-87. [PMID: 25934117 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an ubiquitous, saprophytic mould that forms and releases airborne conidia which are inhaled by humans on a daily basis. When the immune system is compromised (e.g. immunosuppressive therapy prior to organ transplantation) or there is pre-existing pulmonary malfunction (e.g. asthma, cystic fibrosis, TB lesions), A. fumigatus exploits weaknesses in the host defenses which can result in the development of saphrophytic, allergic or invasive aspergillosis. If not effectively eliminated by the innate immune response, conidia germinate and form invasive hyphae which can penetrate pulmonary tissues. The innate immune response to A. fumigatus is stage-specific and various components of the host's defenses are recruited to challenge the different cellular forms of the pathogen. In immunocompetent hosts, anatomical barriers (e.g. the mucociliary elevator) and professional phagocytes such as alveolar macrophages (AM) and neutrophils prevent the development of aspergillosis by inhibiting the growth of conidia and hyphae. The recognition of inhaled conidia by AM leads to the intracellular degradation of the spores and the secretion of proinflammatory mediators which recruit neutrophils to assist in fungal clearance. During the later stages of infection, dendritic cells activate a protective A. fumigatus-specific adaptive immune response which is driven by Th1 CD4(+) T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatte Margalit
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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48
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Jhingran A, Kasahara S, Shepardson KM, Junecko BAF, Heung LJ, Kumasaka DK, Knoblaugh SE, Lin X, Kazmierczak BI, Reinhart TA, Cramer RA, Hohl TM. Compartment-specific and sequential role of MyD88 and CARD9 in chemokine induction and innate defense during respiratory fungal infection. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004589. [PMID: 25621893 PMCID: PMC4306481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus forms ubiquitous airborne conidia that humans inhale on a daily basis. Although respiratory fungal infection activates the adaptor proteins CARD9 and MyD88 via C-type lectin, Toll-like, and interleukin-1 family receptor signals, defining the temporal and spatial pattern of MyD88- and CARD9-coupled signals in immune activation and fungal clearance has been difficult to achieve. Herein, we demonstrate that MyD88 and CARD9 act in two discrete phases and in two cellular compartments to direct chemokine- and neutrophil-dependent host defense. The first phase depends on MyD88 signaling because genetic deletion of MyD88 leads to delayed induction of the neutrophil chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL5, delayed neutrophil lung trafficking, and fatal pulmonary damage at the onset of respiratory fungal infection. MyD88 expression in lung epithelial cells restores rapid chemokine induction and neutrophil recruitment via interleukin-1 receptor signaling. Exogenous CXCL1 administration reverses murine mortality in MyD88-deficient mice. The second phase depends predominately on CARD9 signaling because genetic deletion of CARD9 in radiosensitive hematopoietic cells interrupts CXCL1 and CXCL2 production and lung neutrophil recruitment beyond the initial MyD88-dependent phase. Using a CXCL2 reporter mouse, we show that lung-infiltrating neutrophils represent the major cellular source of CXCL2 during CARD9-dependent recruitment. Although neutrophil-intrinsic MyD88 and CARD9 function are dispensable for neutrophil conidial uptake and killing in the lung, global deletion of both adaptor proteins triggers rapidly progressive invasive disease when mice are challenged with an inoculum that is sub-lethal for single adapter protein knockout mice. Our findings demonstrate that distinct signal transduction pathways in the respiratory epithelium and hematopoietic compartment partially overlap to ensure optimal chemokine induction, neutrophil recruitment, and fungal clearance within the respiratory tract. Our understanding of how epithelial and hematopoietic cells in the lung coordinate immunity against inhaled fungal conidia (spores) remains limited. The mold Aspergillus fumigatus is a major cause of infectious mortality in immune compromised patients. Host defense against A. fumigatus involves the activation of two host signal transducers, MyD88 and CARD9, leading to neutrophil recruitment to the infection site. In this study, we define how MyD88- and CARD9-coupled signals operate in epithelial and hematopoietic compartments to regulate neutrophil-mediated defense against A. fumigatus. Our studies support a two-stage model in which MyD88 activation in epithelial cells, via the interleukin-1 receptor, supports the rapid induction of neutrophil-recruiting chemokines. This process is essential for the first phase of neutrophil recruitment. Mortality observed in MyD88-deficient mice can be significantly reversed by administration of a chemokine termed CXCL1 to infected airways. The second phase of neutrophil recruitment is initiated by CARD9 signaling in hematopoietic cells. Loss of both phases of chemokine induction and neutrophil recruitment dramatically increases murine susceptibility to tissue-invasive disease. In sum, our study defines a temporal sequence of events, initiated by interleukin-1 receptor/MyD88 signaling in the pulmonary epithelium and propagated by CARD9 signaling in hematopoietic cells, that induces protective immunity against inhaled fungal conidia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Jhingran
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shinji Kasahara
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kelly M Shepardson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Beth A Fallert Junecko
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lena J Heung
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Debra K Kumasaka
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sue E Knoblaugh
- Comparative Medicine Shared Resources, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Barbara I Kazmierczak
- Department of Medicine and Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Todd A Reinhart
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Robert A Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America; Immunology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
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49
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Heinekamp T, Schmidt H, Lapp K, Pähtz V, Shopova I, Köster-Eiserfunke N, Krüger T, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA. Interference of Aspergillus fumigatus with the immune response. Semin Immunopathol 2014; 37:141-52. [PMID: 25404120 PMCID: PMC4326658 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-014-0465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic filamentous fungus and also the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen of humans. Depending on the host’s immune status, the variety of diseases caused by A. fumigatus ranges from allergies in immunocompetent hosts to life-threatening invasive infections in patients with impaired immunity. In contrast to the majority of other Aspergillus species, which are in most cases nonpathogenic, A. fumigatus features an armory of virulence determinants to establish an infection. For example, A. fumigatus is able to evade the human complement system by binding or degrading complement regulators. Furthermore, the fungus interferes with lung epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages, and neutrophil granulocytes to prevent killing by these immune cells. This chapter summarizes the different strategies of A. fumigatus to manipulate the immune response. We also discuss the potential impact of recent advances in immunoproteomics to improve diagnosis and therapy of an A. fumigatus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany,
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50
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Abstract
Morphogenesis in fungi is often induced by extracellular factors and executed by fungal genetic factors. Cell surface changes and alterations of the microenvironment often accompany morphogenetic changes in fungi. In this review, we will first discuss the general traits of yeast and hyphal morphotypes and how morphogenesis affects development and adaptation by fungi to their native niches, including host niches. Then we will focus on the molecular machinery responsible for the two most fundamental growth forms, yeast and hyphae. Last, we will describe how fungi incorporate exogenous environmental and host signals together with genetic factors to determine their morphotype and how morphogenesis, in turn, shapes the fungal microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Lin
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3258
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Haoping Liu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Steven Harris
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
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