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Ni Y, Qiao Y, Tian X, Li H, Meng Y, Li C, Du W, Sun T, Zhu K, Huang W, Yan H, Li J, Zhou R, Ding C, Gao X. Unraveling the mechanism of thermotolerance by Set302 in Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0420223. [PMID: 38874428 PMCID: PMC11302353 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04202-23] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The underlying mechanism of thermotolerance, which is a key virulence factor essential for pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, is largely unexplored. In this study, our findings suggest that Set302, a homolog of Set3 and a subunit of histone deacetylase complex Set3C, contributes to thermotolerance in C. neoformans. Specifically, the deletion of the predicted Set3C core subunit, Set302, resulted in further reduction in the growth of C. neoformans at 39°C, and survival of transient incubation at 50°C. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that the expression levels of numerous heat stress-responsive genes altered at both 30°C and 39°C due to the lack of Set302. Notably, at 39°C, the absence of Set302 led to the downregulation of gene expression related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Based on the GFP-α-synuclein overexpression model to characterize misfolded proteins, we observed a pronounced accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein at 39°C, consequently inhibiting C. neoformans thermotolerance. Furthermore, the loss of Set302 exacerbated the accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein during heat stress. Interestingly, the set302∆ strain exhibited a similar phenotype under proteasome stress as it did at 39°C. Moreover, the absence of Set302 led to reduced production of capsule and melanin. set302∆ strain also displayed significantly reduced pathogenicity and colonization ability compared to the wild-type strain in the murine infection model. Collectively, our findings suggest that Set302 modulates thermotolerance by affecting the degradation of misfolded proteins and multiple virulence factors to mediate the pathogenicity of C. neoformans.IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that poses a potential and significant threat to public health. Thermotolerance plays a crucial role in the wide distribution in natural environments and host colonization of this fungus. Herein, Set302, a critical core subunit for the integrity of histone deacetylase complex Set3C and widely distributed in various fungi and mammals, governs thermotolerance and affects survival at extreme temperatures as well as the formation of capsule and melanin in C. neoformans. Additionally, Set302 participates in regulating the expression of multiple genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). By eliminating misfolded proteins under heat stress, Set302 significantly contributes to the thermotolerance of C. neoformans. Moreover, Set302 regulates the pathogenicity and colonization ability of C. neoformans in a murine model. Overall, this study provides new insight into the mechanism of thermotolerance in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ni
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yue Qiao
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xing Tian
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hailong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Meng
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chao Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Keting Zhu
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - He Yan
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xindi Gao
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Zhang F, Zhu S, Zhao D, Tang H, Ruan L, Zhu W. Ambient temperature variations and AIDS-related mortality: A time-stratified case-crossover study in 103 counties, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169474. [PMID: 38135089 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change, characterized by the steady ascent of global temperatures and the escalating unpredictability of climate patterns, poses multifaceted challenges to public health worldwide. However, vulnerable groups, particularly the population affected by HIV/AIDS, have received little attention. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the impacts of temperature variations on AIDS-related mortality. METHODS Data on individuals with HIV/AIDS were collected from the HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System between 2013 and 2019. Temperature variation metrics were constructed by diurnal temperature range (DTR), temperature changes between neighboring days (TCN), and temperature variability (TV0-t). Time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression models was used to investigate the associations between ambient temperature variations and AIDS-related mortality. RESULTS Each 1 °C elevated in DTR was linked with a 5.28 % [95 % confidence intervals (CIs): 1.61, 9.08] increment in AIDS-related mortality at a lag of 0-6 days. Stronger associations between DTR and AIDS-related mortality were observed in the married than in single, with corresponding excess ORs (%) of 5.33 (95 % CIs: 0.29, 10.62) versus 4.79 (95 % CIs: -0.50, 10.36) for 1 °C increased in DTR at lag 0-6 days. Additionally, we noticed the impact of DTR was more pronounced in the warm season, leading to a 7.32 % (95 % CIs: 0.57, 14.51) elevation in the risks of AIDS-related mortality for 1 °C increase in DTR at lag 0-6 days, while the effect value decreased to 5.16 % (95 % CIs: 0.71, 9.81) in the cold season. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that DTR might be a significant risk factor for AIDS-related deaths among ambient temperature variation indicators, and underscored the importance of considering temperature variability in public health interventions aimed at mitigating this risk of AIDS-related mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faxue Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shijie Zhu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Dingyuan Zhao
- Institute for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Heng Tang
- Institute for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lianguo Ruan
- Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430023, China; Hubei Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Wuhan 430023, China; Wuhan Research Center for Communicable Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430023, China; Joint Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Health, Wuhan Institute of Virology and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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