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Fritsche S, Fronek F, Mach RL, Steiger MG. Applicability of non-invasive and live-cell holotomographic imaging on fungi. J Microbiol Methods 2024; 224:106983. [PMID: 38945304 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2024.106983] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The ability to acquire three-dimensional (3D) information of cellular structures without the need for fluorescent tags or staining makes holotomographic imaging a powerful tool in cellular biology. It provides valuable insights by measuring the refractive index (RI), an optical parameter describing the phase delay of light that passes through the living cell. Here, we demonstrate holotomographic imaging on industrial relevant ascomycete fungi and study their development and morphogenesis. This includes conidial germination, subcellular dynamics, and cytoplasmic flow during hyphal growth in Aspergillus niger. In addition, growth and budding of Aureobasidium pullulans cells are captured using holotomographic microscopy. Coupled to fluorescence imaging, lipid droplets, vacuoles, the mitochondrial network, and nuclei are targeted and analyzed in the 3D RI reconstructed images. While lipid droplets and vacuoles can be assigned to a specific RI pattern, mitochondria and nuclei were not pronounced. We show, that the lower sensitivity of RI measurements derives from the fungal cell wall that acts as an additional barrier for the illumination light of the microscope. After cell wall digest of hyphae and protoplast formation of A. niger expressing GFP-tagged histone H2A, location of nuclei could be determined by non-invasive RI measurements. Furthermore, we used coupled fluorescence microscopy to observe migration of nuclei in unperturbed hyphal segments and duplication during growth on a single-cell level. Detailed micromorphological studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Trichoderma reesei are challenging due to cell size restrictions. Overall, holotomography opens up new avenues for exploring dynamic cellular processes in real time and enables the visualization of fungi from a new perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Fritsche
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Muthgasse 18, Vienna, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Unit of Biochemical Technology, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1A, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Fronek
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Muthgasse 18, Vienna, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Unit of Biochemical Technology, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1A, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Unit of Biochemical Technology, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1A, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias G Steiger
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Muthgasse 18, Vienna, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Unit of Biochemical Technology, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1A, Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Yang S, Sun J, Xue A, Li G, Sun C, Hou J, Qin QM, Zhang M. Novel Botrytis cinerea Zn(II) 2Cys 6 Transcription Factor BcFtg1 Enhances the Virulence of the Gray Mold Fungus by Promoting Organic Acid Secretion and Carbon Source Utilization. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 39140189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
The Zn(II)2Cys6 zinc cluster protein family comprises a subclass of zinc-finger proteins that serve as transcriptional regulators involved in a diverse array of fugal biological processes. However, the roles and mechanisms of the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factors in mediating Botrytis cinerea, a necrotrophic fungus that causes gray mold in over 1000 plant species, development and virulence remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that a novel B. cinerea pathogenicity-associated factor BcFTG1 (fungal transcription factor containing the GAL4 domain), identified from a virulence-attenuated mutant M20162 from a B. cinerea T-DNA insertion mutant library, plays an important role in oxalic acid (OA) secretion, carbon source absorption and cell wall integrity. Loss of BcFTG1 compromises the ability of the pathogen to secrete OA, absorb carbon sources, maintain cell wall integrity, and promote virulence. Our findings provide novel insights into fungal factors mediating the pathogenesis of the gray mold fungus via regulation of OA secretion, carbon source utilization and cell wall integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Yang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jiao Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Coal-Based Ecological Carbon Sequestration Technology of the Ministry of Education, Datong University, Datong, Shanxi 037009, China
| | - Aoran Xue
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Guihua Li
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Chenhao Sun
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jie Hou
- Engineering Research Centre of Forestry Biotechnology of Jilin Province in Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China
| | - Qing-Ming Qin
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Mingzhe Zhang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
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Li HH, Chen XW, Zhai FH, Li YT, Zhao HM, Mo CH, Luo Y, Xing B, Li H. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Alleviates Charged Nanoplastic Stress in Host Plants via Enhanced Defense-Related Gene Expressions and Hyphal Capture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6258-6273. [PMID: 38450439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Contamination of small-sized plastics is recognized as a factor of global change. Nanoplastics (NPs) can readily enter organisms and pose significant ecological risks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most ubiquitous and impactful plant symbiotic fungi, regulating essential ecological functions. Here, we first found that an AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, increased lettuce shoot biomass by 25-100% when exposed to positively and negatively charged NPs vs control, although it did not increase that grown without NPs. The stress alleviation was attributed to the upregulation of gene expressions involving phytohormone signaling, cell wall metabolism, and oxidant scavenging. Using a root organ-fungus axenic growth system treated with fluorescence-labeled NPs, we subsequently revealed that the hyphae captured NPs and further delivered them to roots. NPs were observed at the hyphal cell walls, membranes, and spore walls. NPs mediated by the hyphae were localized at the root epidermis, cortex, and stele. Hyphal exudates aggregated positively charged NPs, thereby reducing their uptake due to NP aggregate formation (up to 5000 nm). This work demonstrates the critical roles of AM fungus in regulating NP behaviors and provides a potential strategy for NP risk mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequent NP-induced ecological impacts due to the affected AM fungi require further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Hao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xun Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Feng Hua Zhai
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yong Tao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hai Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ce Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Hui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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4
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Emilia N, Pia SV, Tiina HP, Antti N, Anniina V, Anneli R, Michael L, Natalia RS. In vitro protein digestion and carbohydrate colon fermentation of microbial biomass samples from bacterial, filamentous fungus and yeast sources. Food Res Int 2024; 182:114146. [PMID: 38519176 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114146] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
This study evaluated the nutritional quality of different microbial biomass samples by assessing their protein digestibility and carbohydrate fermentability in the colon using in vitro methods. Four microbial samples were produced: one hydrogen-oxidizing bacterial strain (Nocardioides nitrophenolicus KGS-27), two strains of filamentous fungi (Rhizopus oligosporus and Paecilomyces variotii), and one yeast strain (Rhodotorula babjevae). The microorganisms were grown in bioreactors, harvested and dried before analysis. The commercial fungal product Quorn was used as a reference. The protein digestibility of the microbial samples was analysed using the INFOGEST in vitro model, followed by quantification of N-terminal amine groups. An in vitro faecal fermentation experiment was also performed to evaluate the degradation of carbohydrates in microbial biomass samples and formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The fungal biomass samples had higher protein hydrolysis (60-75 %) than the bacterial sample (12 %) and Quorn (45 %), while the yeast biomass had the highest protein digestibility (85 %). Heat-treatment of the biomass significantly reduced its protein digestibility. Total dietary fibre (DF) content of fungal biomass was 31 - 43 %(DW), mostly insoluble, whereas the bacterial biomass contained mainly soluble DF (total DF: 25.7 %, of which 23.5 % were soluble and 2.2 % insoluble). After 24 h of colonic in vitro fermentation, SCFA production from the biomass of Paecilomyces, Quorn and Rhodotorula was similar to that of wheat bran, while 17 % and 32 % less SCFA were produced from the biomass of Rhizopus and the bacterial strain, respectively. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons for the observed differences in protein digestibility and DF fermentability, especially regarding the cell wall structures and role of post-processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nordlund Emilia
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland.
| | | | | | - Nyyssölä Antti
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland
| | - Valtonen Anniina
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland; Nordic Umami Company Ltd., Karamalmintie 2, 02630 Espoo, Finland(1)
| | - Ritala Anneli
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland
| | - Lienemann Michael
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044, Finland
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Wang Y, Li Q, Wu Y, Han S, Xiao Y, Kong L. The Effects of Mycovirus BmPV36 on the Cell Structure and Transcription of Bipolaris maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:133. [PMID: 38392805 PMCID: PMC10890528 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bipolaris maydis partitivirus 36 (BmPV36) is a mycovirus that can significantly reduce the virulence of the host Bipolaris maydis, but its hypovirulence mechanism is not clear. To investigate the response of B. maydis to BmPV36, the effects of BmPV36 on host cell structure and gene expression were studied via transmission electron microscopy and transcriptome sequencing using BmPV36-carrying and virus-free mycelium on the second and fifth culture. The results of transmission electron microscopy showed that the cell wall microfibrils of B. maydis were shortened, the cell membrane was broken, and membrane-bound vesicles and vacuoles appeared in the cells after carrying BmPV36. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that after carrying BmPV36, B. maydis membrane-related genes were significantly up-regulated, but membrane transport-related genes were significantly down-regulated. Genes related to carbohydrate macromolecule polysaccharide metabolic and catabolic processes were significantly down-regulated, as were genes related to the synthesis of toxins and cell wall degrading enzymes. Therefore, we speculated that BmPV36 reduces the virulence of B. maydis by destroying the host's cell structure, inhibiting the synthesis of toxins and cell wall degrading enzymes, and reducing cell metabolism. Gaining insights into the hypovirulence mechanism of mycoviruses will provide environmentally friendly strategies for the control of fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajiao Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Qiusheng Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Yuxing Wu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Sen Han
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Ying Xiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Lingxiao Kong
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding 071000, China
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Guruceaga X, Perez-Cuesta U, Martin-Vicente A, Pelegri-Martinez E, Thorn HI, Cendon-Sanchez S, Xie J, Nywening AV, Ramirez-Garcia A, Fortwendel JR, Rementeria A. The Aspergillus fumigatus maiA gene contributes to cell wall homeostasis and fungal virulence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1327299. [PMID: 38343890 PMCID: PMC10853476 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1327299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, two distinct in vitro infection models of Aspergillus fumigatus, using murine macrophages (RAW264.7) and human lung epithelial cells (A549), were employed to identify the genes important for fungal adaptation during infection. Transcriptomic analyses of co-incubated A. fumigatus uncovered 140 fungal genes up-regulated in common between both models that, when compared with a previously published in vivo transcriptomic study, allowed the identification of 13 genes consistently up-regulated in all three infection conditions. Among them, the maiA gene, responsible for a critical step in the L-phenylalanine degradation pathway, was identified. Disruption of maiA resulted in a mutant strain unable to complete the Phe degradation pathway, leading to an excessive production of pyomelanin when this amino acid served as the sole carbon source. Moreover, the disruption mutant exhibited noticeable cell wall abnormalities, with reduced levels of β-glucans within the cell wall but did not show lack of chitin or mannans. The maiA-1 mutant strain induced reduced inflammation in primary macrophages and displayed significantly lower virulence in a neutropenic mouse model of infection. This is the first study linking the A. fumigatus maiA gene to fungal cell wall homeostasis and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Guruceaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Uxue Perez-Cuesta
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Adela Martin-Vicente
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Eduardo Pelegri-Martinez
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Harrison I. Thorn
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Healths Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Saioa Cendon-Sanchez
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Jinhong Xie
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Healths Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ashley V. Nywening
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Andoni Ramirez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Jarrod R. Fortwendel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Aitor Rementeria
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
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7
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Penman R, Kariuki R, Shaw ZL, Dekiwadia C, Christofferson AJ, Bryant G, Vongsvivut J, Bryant SJ, Elbourne A. Gold nanoparticle adsorption alters the cell stiffness and cell wall bio-chemical landscape of Candida albicans fungal cells. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 654:390-404. [PMID: 37852025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.017] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Nanomaterials have been extensively investigated for a wide range of biomedical applications, including as antimicrobial agents, drug delivery vehicles, and diagnostic devices. The commonality between these biomedical applications is the necessity for the nanoparticle to interact with or pass through the cellular wall and membrane. Cell-nanomaterial interactions/uptake can occur in various ways, including adhering to the cell wall, forming aggregates on the surface, becoming absorbed within the cell wall itself, or transversing into the cell cytoplasm. These interactions are common to mammalian cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. This variety of interactions can cause changes to the integrity of the cell wall and the cell overall, but the precise mechanisms underpinning such interactions remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the interaction between commonly investigated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the cell wall/membrane of a model fungal cell to explore the general effects of interaction and uptake. EXPERIMENTS The interactions between 100 nm citrate-capped AuNPs and the cell wall of Candida albicans fungal cells were studied using a range of advanced microscopy techniques, including atomic force microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and synchrotron-FTIR micro-spectroscopy. FINDINGS In most cases, particles adhered on the cell surface, although instances of particles being up-taken into the cell cytoplasm and localised within the cell wall and membrane were also observed. There was a measurable increase in the stiffness of the fungal cell after AuNPs were introduced. Analysis of the synchrotron-FTIR data showed significant changes in spectral features associated with phospholipids and proteins after exposure to AuNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Penman
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Rashad Kariuki
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Z L Shaw
- School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Chaitali Dekiwadia
- RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility (RMMF), RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | | | - Gary Bryant
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Jitraporn Vongsvivut
- Infrared Microspectroscopy (IRM) Beamline, ANSTO - Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Saffron J Bryant
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
| | - Aaron Elbourne
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
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Mapuranga J, Chang J, Li H, Zhang Y, Li R, Song L, Zhang N, Yang W. The molecular structure, biological roles, and inhibition of plant pathogenic fungal chitin deacetylases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1335646. [PMID: 38264029 PMCID: PMC10803567 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1335646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases belong to the carbohydrate esterases family 4 (CE4 enzymes). They play a crucial role in modifying the physiochemical characteristics of structural polysaccharides and are also involved in a wide range of biological processes such as fungal autolysis, spore formation, cell wall formation and integrity, and germling adhesion. These enzymes are mostly common in fungi, marine bacteria, and a limited number of insects. They facilitate the deacetylation of chitin which is a structural biopolymer that is abundantly found in fungal cell walls and spores and also in the cuticle and peritrophic matrices of insects. The deacetylases exhibit specificity towards a substrate containing a sequence of four GlcNAc units, with one of these units being subjected to deacetylation. Chitin deacetylation results in the formation of chitosan, which is a poor substrate for host plant chitinases, therefore it can suppress the host immune response triggered by fungal pathogens and enhance pathogen virulence and colonization. This review discusses plant pathogenic fungal chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases including their structure, substrate specificity, biological roles and some recently discovered chitin deacetylase inhibitors that can help to mitigate plant fungal diseases. This review provides fundamental knowledge that will undoubtedly lead to the rational design of novel inhibitors that target pathogenic fungal chitin deacetylases, which will also aid in the management of plant diseases, thereby safeguarding global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wenxiang Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Technological Innovation Center for Biological Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests of Hebei Province, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
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Tasleem, Shanthi N, Mahato AK, Bahuguna R. Oral delivery of butoconazole nitrate nanoparticles for systemic treatment of chronic paracoccidioidomycosis: A future aspect. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Li L, Pan H, Deng L, Qian G, Wang Z, Li W, Zhong C. The antifungal activity and mechanism of silver nanoparticles against four pathogens causing kiwifruit post-harvest rot. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:988633. [PMID: 36118196 PMCID: PMC9471003 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.988633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-harvest rot causes enormous economic loss to the global kiwifruit industry. Currently, there are no effective fungicides to combat the disease. It is unclear whether silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are effective in controlling post-harvest rot and, if so, what the underlying antifungal mechanism is. Our results indicated that 75 ppm AgNPs effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of four kiwifruit rot pathogens: Alternaria alternata, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Diaporthe actinidiae, and Botryosphaeria dothidea. Additionally, AgNPs increased the permeability of mycelium’s cell membrane, indicating the leakage of intracellular substance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that AgNPs induced pathogen hypha shrinkage and distortion, as well as vacuolation in hypha cells, implying that AgNPs caused cellular and organelle structural degradation. The transcriptome sequencing of mycelium treated with AgNPs (24 h / 48 h) was performed on the Illumina Hiseq 4000 sequencing (RNA-Seq) platform. For the time points of 24 h and 48 h, AgNPs treatment resulted in 1,178 and 1,461 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of A. alternata, 517 and 91 DEGs of P. microspora, 1,287 and 65 DEGs of D. actinidiae, 239 and 55 DEGs of B. dothidea, respectively. The DEGs were found to be involved in “catalytic activity,” “small molecule binding,” “metal ion binding,” “transporter activity,” “cellular component organization,” “protein metabolic process,” “carbohydrate metabolic process,” and “establishment of localization.” Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis also revealed that “carbohydrate metabolism,” “amino acid metabolism,” “energy metabolism,” and “xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism” of “metabolism processes” were the most highly enriched pathways for these DEGs in four pathogens, with “cellular processes” being particularly enriched for B. dothidea. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs) were used to validate the RNA-seq results. It was also confirmed that AgNPs could significantly reduce the symptoms of kiwifruit rot without leaving any Ag+ residue on the peel and flesh of kiwifruit. Our findings contributed to a better understanding of the antifungal effect and molecular mechanisms of AgNPs against pathogens causing kiwifruit post-harvest rot, as well as a new perspective on the application of this novel antifungal alternative to fruit disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Pan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Deng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoliang Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zupeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Caihong Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Engineering Laboratory for Kiwifruit Industrial Technology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Caihong Zhong,
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11
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Mendoza SR, Liedke SC, de La Noval CR, da Silva Ferreira M, Gomes KX, Honorato L, Nimrichter L, Peralta JM, Guimarães AJ. In vitro and in vivo efficacies of Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) fusion proteins against invasive fungal infections. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6648754. [PMID: 35867978 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections have increased in the last years, particularly associated to an increment in the number of immunocompromised individuals and the emergence of known or new resistant species, despite the difficulties in the often time-consuming diagnosis. The controversial efficacy of the currently available strategies for their clinical management, apart from their high toxicity and severe side effects, have renewed the interest in the research and development of new broad antifungal alternatives. These encompass vaccines and passive immunization strategies with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recognizing ubiquitous fungal targets, such as fungal cell wall β-1,3-glucan polysaccharides, which could be used in early therapeutic intervention without the need for the diagnosis at species-level. As additional alternatives, based on the Dectin-1 great affinity to β-1,3-glucan, our group developed broad antibody-like Dectin1-Fc(IgG)(s) from distinct subclasses (IgG2a and IgG2b) and compared their antifungal in vitro and passive immunizations in vivo performances. Dectin1-Fc(IgG2a) and Dectin1-Fc(IgG2b) demonstrated high affinity to laminarin and the fungal cell wall by ELISA, flow cytometry and microscopy. Both Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) inhibited H. capsulatum and C. neoformans growth in a dose-dependent fashion. For C. albicans, such inhibitory effect was observed with concentrations as low as 0.098 and 0.049 µg/mL, respectively, which correlated with the impairment of the kinetics and lengths of germ tubes in comparison to controls. Previous opsonization with Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) enhanced considerably the macrophage antifungal effector functions, increasing the fungi macrophages-interactions and significantly reducing the intraphagosome fungal survival, as lower CFUs were observed. The administration of both Dectin1-Fc(IgG)(s) reduced the fungal burden and mortality in murine histoplasmosis and candidiasis models, in accordance with previous evaluations in aspergillosis model. These results altogether strongly suggested that therapeutic interventions with Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) fusion proteins could directly impact the innate immunity and disease outcome in favor of the host, by direct neutralization, opsonization, phagocytosis, and fungal elimination, providing interesting information on the potential of these new strategies for the control of invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Mendoza
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - S C Liedke
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Imunológico e Molecular de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C R de La Noval
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M da Silva Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - K X Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil
| | - L Honorato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L Nimrichter
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil
| | - J M Peralta
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Imunológico e Molecular de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A J Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil.,Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil
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12
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Qian M, Zhu B, Zhan Y, Wang L, Shen Q, Zhang M, Yue L, Wu D, Chen H, Wang X, Cheng Y. Analysis of Negative Results of Metagenomics Next-Generation Sequencing in Clinical Practice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:892076. [PMID: 35651750 PMCID: PMC9149223 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.892076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMetagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been increasingly used in the clinic, which provides a powerful tool for the etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases. Precise treatment can be carried out according to the positive mNGS results. However, the role of negative results of mNGS remains poorly defined in clinical practice.MethodsThe results of 1,021 samples from patients who received the mNGS test at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2019 and December 2019 were analyzed.ResultsThere were 308 samples (30.17%) of negative results included in the current study. The top 2 types of negative samples were blood (130/308) and tissue (63/308), which also accounted for the highest negative proportion in diseases. Sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were more likely to have positive results. In false-negative results (defined as negative in mNGS test but reported positive in other sample types or assays), 118 samples were found when compared to regular microbiological assays. The negative predictive value (NPV) of mNGS was 95.79% [95%CI, 93.8%–97.8%] as compared to culture and smear. Mycobacterium, Aspergillus, and Mycoplasma ranked as the top 3 microorganisms on the undetected pathogen list.ConclusionsThe present data indicate that when the mNGS test is negative, the negative prediction accuracy rate of the original specimen is significant. However, other laboratory assays results and clinical presentations should always be carefully considered prior to drawing a diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Qian
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bijun Zhu
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanxia Zhan
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyan Wang
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Shen
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Yue
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Duojiao Wu
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Xuhui Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yunfeng Cheng, ; Xiangdong Wang,
| | - Yunfeng Cheng
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis & Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yunfeng Cheng, ; Xiangdong Wang,
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13
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Berguson HP, Caulfield LW, Price MS. Influence of Pathogen Carbon Metabolism on Interactions With Host Immunity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:861405. [PMID: 35372116 PMCID: PMC8968422 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.861405] [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: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous opportunistic fungal pathogen typically causing disease in immunocompromised individuals and is globally responsible for about 15% of AIDS-related deaths annually. C. neoformans first causes pulmonary infection in the host and then disseminates to the brain, causing meningoencephalitis. The yeast must obtain and metabolize carbon within the host in order to survive in the central nervous system and cause disease. Communication between pathogen and host involves recognition of multiple carbon-containing compounds on the yeast surface: polysaccharide capsule, fungal cell wall, and glycosylated proteins comprising the major immune modulators. The structure and function of polysaccharide capsule has been studied for the past 70 years, emphasizing its role in virulence. While protected by the capsule, fungal cell wall has likewise been a focus of study for several decades for its role in cell integrity and host recognition. Associated with both of these major structures are glycosylated proteins, which exhibit known immunomodulatory effects. While many studies have investigated the role of carbon metabolism on virulence and survival within the host, the precise mechanism(s) affecting host-pathogen communication remain ill-defined. This review summarizes the current knowledge on mutants in carbon metabolism and their effect on the host immune response that leads to changes in pathogen recognition and virulence. Understanding these critical interactions will provide fresh perspectives on potential treatments and the natural history of cryptococcal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah P. Berguson
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Lauren W. Caulfield
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Michael S. Price
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, VA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Michael S. Price,
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14
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Miyazawa K, Yamashita T, Takeuchi A, Kamachi Y, Yoshimi A, Tashiro Y, Koizumi A, Ogata M, Yano S, Kasahara S, Sano M, Yamagata Y, Nakajima T, Abe K. A Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored α-Amylase Encoded by amyD Contributes to a Decrease in the Molecular Mass of Cell Wall α-1,3-Glucan in Aspergillus nidulans. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 2:821946. [PMID: 37744142 PMCID: PMC10512252 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.821946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
α-1,3-Glucan is one of the main polysaccharides in the cell wall of Aspergillus nidulans. We previously revealed that it plays a role in hyphal aggregation in liquid culture, and that its molecular mass (MM) in an agsA-overexpressing (agsAOE) strain was larger than that in an agsB-overexpressing (agsBOE) strain. The mechanism that regulates its MM is poorly understood. Although the gene amyD, which encodes glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored α-amylase (AmyD), is involved in the biosynthesis of α-1,3-glucan in A. nidulans, how it regulates this biosynthesis remains unclear. Here we constructed strains with disrupted amyD (ΔamyD) or overexpressed amyD (amyDOE) in the genetic background of the ABPU1 (wild-type), agsAOE, or agsBOE strain, and characterized the chemical structure of α-1,3-glucans in the cell wall of each strain, focusing on their MM. The MM of α-1,3-glucan from the agsBOE amyDOE strain was smaller than that in the parental agsBOE strain. In addition, the MM of α-1,3-glucan from the agsAOE ΔamyD strain was greater than that in the agsAOE strain. These results suggest that AmyD is involved in decreasing the MM of α-1,3-glucan. We also found that the C-terminal GPI-anchoring region is important for these functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Laboratory of Filamentous Mycoses, Department of Fungal Infection, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaaki Yamashita
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ayumu Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kamachi
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akira Yoshimi
- Laboratory of Environmental Interface Technology of Filamentous Fungi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuto Tashiro
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ami Koizumi
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Makoto Ogata
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shigekazu Yano
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Japan
| | - Shin Kasahara
- Food Microbiology Unit, School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Motoaki Sano
- Genome Biotechnology Laboratory, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Hakusan, Japan
| | - Youhei Yamagata
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Tasuku Nakajima
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keietsu Abe
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- ABE-Project, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Microbial Resources, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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15
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da Silva Dantas A, Nogueira F, Lee KK, Walker LA, Edmondson M, Brand AC, Lenardon MD, Gow NAR. Crosstalk between the calcineurin and cell wall integrity pathways prevents chitin overexpression in Candida albicans. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs258889. [PMID: 34792152 PMCID: PMC8729787 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinocandins such as caspofungin are frontline antifungal drugs that compromise β-1,3 glucan synthesis in the cell wall. Recent reports have shown that fungal cells can resist killing by caspofungin by upregulation of chitin synthesis, thereby sustaining cell wall integrity (CWI). When echinocandins are removed, the chitin content of cells quickly returns to basal levels, suggesting that there is a fitness cost associated with having elevated levels of chitin in the cell wall. We show here that simultaneous activation of the calcineurin and CWI pathways generates a subpopulation of Candida albicans yeast cells that have supra-normal chitin levels interspersed throughout the inner and outer cell wall, and that these cells are non-viable, perhaps due to loss of wall elasticity required for cell expansion and growth. Mutations in the Ca2+-calcineurin pathway prevented the formation of these non-viable supra-high chitin cells by negatively regulating chitin synthesis driven by the CWI pathway. The Ca2+-calcineurin pathway may therefore act as an attenuator that prevents the overproduction of chitin by coordinating both chitin upregulation and negative regulation of the CWI signaling pathway. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra da Silva Dantas
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Filomena Nogueira
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, Labdia and Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Keunsook K. Lee
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- NGeneBio Company, 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul 08390, South Korea
| | - Louise A. Walker
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Matt Edmondson
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alexandra C. Brand
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Megan D. Lenardon
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Neil A. R. Gow
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
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16
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Cord-Landwehr S, Moerschbacher BM. Deciphering the ChitoCode: fungal chitins and chitosans as functional biopolymers. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2021; 8:19. [PMID: 34893090 PMCID: PMC8665597 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-021-00127-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitins and chitosans are among the most widespread and versatile functional biopolymers, with interesting biological activities and superior material properties. While chitins are evolutionary ancient and present in many eukaryotes except for higher plants and mammals, the natural distribution of chitosans, i.e. extensively deacetylated derivatives of chitin, is more limited. Unequivocal evidence for its presence is only available for fungi where chitosans are produced from chitin by the action of chitin deacetylases. However, neither the structural details such as fraction and pattern of acetylation nor the physiological roles of natural chitosans are known at present. We hypothesise that the chitin deacetylases are generating chitins and chitosans with specific acetylation patterns and that these provide information for the interaction with specific chitin- and chitosan-binding proteins. These may be structural proteins involved in the assembly of the complex chitin- and chitosan-containing matrices such as fungal cell walls and insect cuticles, chitin- and chitosan-modifying and -degrading enzymes such as chitin deacetylases, chitinases, and chitosanases, but also chitin- and chitosan-recognising receptors of the innate immune systems of plants, animals, and humans. The acetylation pattern, thus, may constitute a kind of 'ChitoCode', and we are convinced that new in silico, in vitro, and in situ analytical tools as well as new synthetic methods of enzyme biotechnology and organic synthesis are currently offering an unprecedented opportunity to decipher this code. We anticipate a deeper understanding of the biology of chitin- and chitosan-containing matrices, including their synthesis, assembly, mineralisation, degradation, and perception. This in turn will improve chitin and chitosan biotechnology and the development of reliable chitin- and chitosan-based products and applications, e.g. in medicine and agriculture, food and feed sciences, as well as cosmetics and material sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Cord-Landwehr
- Institute for Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Bruno M Moerschbacher
- Institute for Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Münster, Germany.
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17
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Tardy BL, Mattos BD, Otoni CG, Beaumont M, Majoinen J, Kämäräinen T, Rojas OJ. Deconstruction and Reassembly of Renewable Polymers and Biocolloids into Next Generation Structured Materials. Chem Rev 2021; 121:14088-14188. [PMID: 34415732 PMCID: PMC8630709 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review considers the most recent developments in supramolecular and supraparticle structures obtained from natural, renewable biopolymers as well as their disassembly and reassembly into engineered materials. We introduce the main interactions that control bottom-up synthesis and top-down design at different length scales, highlighting the promise of natural biopolymers and associated building blocks. The latter have become main actors in the recent surge of the scientific and patent literature related to the subject. Such developments make prominent use of multicomponent and hierarchical polymeric assemblies and structures that contain polysaccharides (cellulose, chitin, and others), polyphenols (lignins, tannins), and proteins (soy, whey, silk, and other proteins). We offer a comprehensive discussion about the interactions that exist in their native architectures (including multicomponent and composite forms), the chemical modification of polysaccharides and their deconstruction into high axial aspect nanofibers and nanorods. We reflect on the availability and suitability of the latter types of building blocks to enable superstructures and colloidal associations. As far as processing, we describe the most relevant transitions, from the solution to the gel state and the routes that can be used to arrive to consolidated materials with prescribed properties. We highlight the implementation of supramolecular and superstructures in different technological fields that exploit the synergies exhibited by renewable polymers and biocolloids integrated in structured materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaise L. Tardy
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Bruno D. Mattos
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Caio G. Otoni
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
- Department
of Materials Engineering, Federal University
of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luís, km 235, São
Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Marco Beaumont
- School
of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University
of Technology, 2 George
Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Johanna Majoinen
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tero Kämäräinen
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Orlando J. Rojas
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Bioproducts
Institute, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Department
of Chemistry and Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
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18
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Noorifar N, Savoian MS, Ram A, Lukito Y, Hassing B, Weikert TW, Moerschbacher BM, Scott B. Chitin Deacetylases Are Required for Epichloë festucae Endophytic Cell Wall Remodeling During Establishment of a Mutualistic Symbiotic Interaction with Lolium perenne. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2021; 34:1181-1192. [PMID: 34058838 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-12-20-0347-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Epichloë festucae forms a mutualistic symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. This biotrophic fungus systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of aerial tissues to form an endophytic hyphal network and also grows as an epiphyte. However, little is known about the cell wall-remodeling mechanisms required to avoid host defense and maintain intercalary growth within the host. Here, we use a suite of molecular probes to show that the E. festucae cell wall is remodeled by conversion of chitin to chitosan during infection of L. perenne seedlings, as the hyphae switch from free-living to endophytic growth. When hyphae transition from endophytic to epiphytic growth, the cell wall is remodeled from predominantly chitosan to chitin. This conversion from chitin to chitosan is catalyzed by chitin deacetylase. The genome of E. festucae encodes three putative chitin deacetylases, two of which (cdaA and cdaB) are expressed in planta. Deletion of either of these genes results in disruption of fungal intercalary growth in the intercellular spaces of plants infected with these mutants. These results establish that these two genes are required for maintenance of the mutualistic symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and L. perenne.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Noorifar
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Matthew S Savoian
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Arvina Ram
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Yonathan Lukito
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Berit Hassing
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Tobias W Weikert
- Institute for Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Bruno M Moerschbacher
- Institute for Biology and Biotechnology of Plants, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Barry Scott
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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19
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Delgado JF, Salvay AG, de la Osa O, Wagner JR, Peltzer MA. Impact of the film-forming dispersion pH on the properties of yeast biomass films. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2021; 101:5636-5644. [PMID: 33709441 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yeast biomass, mainly composed of proteins and polysaccharides (mannans and β-glucans), has been proposed to develop films. pH can affect the solubility of polysaccharides, the structure of the cell wall, and the interactions between proteins. Considering the potential impact of these effects, the pH of yeast film-forming dispersions was studied from 4 to 11. RESULTS In tensile tests, samples increased their elongation by increasing pH, from 7 ± 2% (pH 4) to 29 ± 5% (pH 11), but Young's modulus was not significantly modified. Regarding thermal degradation, the maximum degradation rate temperature was shifted 46 °C from pH 4 to 11. Differences in water vapour permeability, colour, opacity, and roughness of films were also found. According to the results of differential protein solubility assay, hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding were promoted at pH 4, but disulfide bonds were benefited at pH 11, in addition to partial β-glucan dissolution and break-up of the alkali-sensitive linkage in molecules from the cell wall. CONCLUSION The results lead to the conclusion that film-functional characteristics were greatly benefited at pH 11 in comparison with the regular pH of dispersion (pH 6). These results could help in understanding and selecting the pH conditions to enhance the desired properties of yeast biomass films. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Delgado
- Laboratorio de Obtención, Modificación, Caracterización y Evaluación de Materiales (LOMCEM), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 1876, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina
- Grupo de Biotecnología y Materiales Biobasados, Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología (ITPN-UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenida Las Heras 2214, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 1127, Argentina
| | - Andrés G Salvay
- Laboratorio de Obtención, Modificación, Caracterización y Evaluación de Materiales (LOMCEM), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 1876, Argentina
| | - Orlando de la Osa
- Laboratorio de Obtención, Modificación, Caracterización y Evaluación de Materiales (LOMCEM), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 1876, Argentina
| | - Jorge R Wagner
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Funcionalidad y Tecnología de Alimentos (LIFTA), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 1876, Argentina
| | - Mercedes A Peltzer
- Laboratorio de Obtención, Modificación, Caracterización y Evaluación de Materiales (LOMCEM), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 1876, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, 1425, Argentina
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20
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McKee LS, La Rosa SL, Westereng B, Eijsink VG, Pope PB, Larsbrink J. Polysaccharide degradation by the Bacteroidetes: mechanisms and nomenclature. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:559-581. [PMID: 34036727 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Bacteroidetes phylum is renowned for its ability to degrade a wide range of complex carbohydrates, a trait that has enabled its dominance in many diverse environments. The best studied species inhabit the human gut microbiome and use polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), discrete genetic structures that encode proteins involved in the sensing, binding, deconstruction, and import of target glycans. In many environmental species, polysaccharide degradation is tightly coupled to the phylum-exclusive type IX secretion system (T9SS), which is used for the secretion of certain enzymes and is linked to gliding motility. In addition, within specific species these two adaptive systems (PULs and T9SS) are intertwined, with PUL-encoded enzymes being secreted by the T9SS. Here, we discuss the most noteworthy PUL and non-PUL mechanisms that confer specific and rapid polysaccharide degradation capabilities to the Bacteroidetes in a range of environments. We also acknowledge that the literature showcasing examples of PULs is rapidly expanding and developing a set of assumptions that can be hard to track back to original findings. Therefore, we present a simple universal description of conserved PUL functions and how they are determined, while proposing a common nomenclature describing PULs and their components, to simplify discussion and understanding of PUL systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren S McKee
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Centre, Stockholm, 106 91, Sweden
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Stockholm, 100 44, Sweden
| | | | - Bjørge Westereng
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Vincent G Eijsink
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Phillip B Pope
- Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Johan Larsbrink
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Stockholm, 100 44, Sweden
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 412 96, Sweden
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21
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Laundon D, Cunliffe M. A Call for a Better Understanding of Aquatic Chytrid Biology. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:708813. [PMID: 37744140 PMCID: PMC10512372 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.708813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The phylum Chytridiomycota (the "chytrids") is an early-diverging, mostly unicellular, lineage of fungi that consists of significant aquatic saprotrophs, parasites, and pathogens, and is of evolutionary interest because its members retain biological traits considered ancestral in the fungal kingdom. While the existence of aquatic chytrids has long been known, their fundamental biology has received relatively little attention. We are beginning to establish a detailed understanding of aquatic chytrid diversity and insights into their ecological functions and prominence. However, the underpinning biology governing their aquatic ecological activities and associated core processes remain largely understudied and therefore unresolved. Many biological questions are outstanding for aquatic chytrids. What are the mechanisms that control their development and life cycle? Which core processes underpin their aquatic influence? What can their biology tell us about the evolution of fungi and the wider eukaryotic tree of life? We propose that the field of aquatic chytrid ecology could be further advanced through the improved understanding of chytrid biology, including the development of model aquatic chytrids and targeted studies using culture-independent approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis Laundon
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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22
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Lin Y, Betts H, Keller S, Cariou K, Gasser G. Recent developments of metal-based compounds against fungal pathogens. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:10346-10402. [PMID: 34313264 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00945h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This review provides insight into the rapidly expanding field of metal-based antifungal agents. In recent decades, the antibacterial resistance crisis has caused reflection on many aspects of public health where weaknesses in our medicinal arsenal may potentially be present - including in the treatment of fungal infections, particularly in the immunocompromised and those with underlying health conditions where mortality rates can exceed 50%. Combination of organic moieties with known antifungal properties and metal ions can lead to increased bioavailability, uptake and efficacy. Development of such organometallic drugs may alleviate pressure on existing antifungal medications. Prodigious antimicrobial moieties such as azoles, Schiff bases, thiosemicarbazones and others reported herein lend themselves easily to the coordination of a host of metal ions, which can vastly improve the biocidal activity of the parent ligand, thereby extending the library of antifungal drugs available to medical professionals for treatment of an increasing incidence of fungal infections. Overall, this review shows the impressive but somewhat unexploited potential of metal-based compounds to treat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Harley Betts
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Sarah Keller
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Kevin Cariou
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Gilles Gasser
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
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23
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Yoo DG, Paracatu LC, Xu E, Lin X, Dinauer MC. NADPH Oxidase Limits Collaborative Pattern-Recognition Receptor Signaling to Regulate Neutrophil Cytokine Production in Response to Fungal Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:923-937. [PMID: 34301842 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by genetic defects in leukocyte NADPH oxidase, which has both microbicidal and immunomodulatory roles. Hence, CGD is characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections as well as aberrant inflammation. Fungal cell walls induce neutrophilic inflammation in CGD; yet, underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. This study investigated the receptors and signaling pathways driving aberrant proinflammatory cytokine production in CGD neutrophils activated by fungal cell walls. Although cytokine responses to β-glucan particles were similar in NADPH oxidase-competent and NADPH oxidase-deficient mouse and human neutrophils, stimulation with zymosan, a more complex fungal particle, induced elevated cytokine production in NADPH oxidase-deficient neutrophils. The dectin-1 C-type lectin receptor, which recognizes β-glucans (1-3), and TLRs mediated cytokine responses by wild-type murine neutrophils. In the absence of NADPH oxidase, fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns engaged additional collaborative signaling with Mac-1 and TLRs to markedly increase cytokine production. Mechanistically, this cytokine overproduction is mediated by enhanced proximal activation of tyrosine phosphatase SHP2-Syk and downstream Card9-dependent NF-κB and Card9-independent JNK-c-Jun. This activation and amplified cytokine production were significantly decreased by exogenous H2O2 treatment, enzymatic generation of exogenous H2O2, or Mac-1 blockade. Similar to zymosan, Aspergillus fumigatus conidia induced increased signaling in CGD mouse neutrophils for activation of proinflammatory cytokine production, which also used Mac-1 and was Card9 dependent. This study, to our knowledge, provides new insights into how NADPH oxidase deficiency deregulates neutrophil cytokine production in response to fungal cell walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Goon Yoo
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Luana C Paracatu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Evan Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Xin Lin
- Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Mary C Dinauer
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; .,Department of Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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24
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Micafungin-Induced Cell Wall Damage Stimulates Morphological Changes Consistent with Microcycle Conidiation in Aspergillus nidulans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7070525. [PMID: 34210108 PMCID: PMC8306900 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal cell wall receptors relay messages about the state of the cell wall to the nucleus through the Cell Wall Integrity Signaling (CWIS) pathway. The ultimate role of the CWIS pathway is to coordinate repair of cell wall damage and to restore normal hyphal growth. Echinocandins such as micafungin represent a class of antifungals that trigger cell wall damage by affecting synthesis of β-glucans. To obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of the CWIS response and its multiple effects, we have coupled dynamic transcriptome analysis with morphological studies of Aspergillus nidulans hyphae in responds to micafungin. Our results reveal that expression of the master regulator of asexual development, BrlA, is induced by micafungin exposure. Further study showed that micafungin elicits morphological changes consistent with microcycle conidiation and that this effect is abolished in the absence of MpkA. Our results suggest that microcycle conidiation may be a general response to cell wall perturbation which in some cases would enable fungi to tolerate or survive otherwise lethal damage.
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25
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Shchukarev A, Backman E, Watts S, Salentinig S, Urban CF, Ramstedt M. Applying Cryo-X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy to Study the Surface Chemical Composition of Fungi and Viruses. Front Chem 2021; 9:666853. [PMID: 34124001 PMCID: PMC8194281 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.666853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction between microorganisms and their surroundings are generally mediated via the cell wall or cell envelope. An understanding of the overall chemical composition of these surface layers may give clues on how these interactions occur and suggest mechanisms to manipulate them. This knowledge is key, for instance, in research aiming to reduce colonization of medical devices and device-related infections from different types of microorganisms. In this context, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful technique as its analysis depth below 10 nm enables studies of the outermost surface structures of microorganism. Of specific interest for the study of biological systems is cryogenic XPS (cryo-XPS). This technique allows studies of intact fast-frozen hydrated samples without the need for pre-treatment procedures that may cause the cell structure to collapse or change due to the loss of water. Previously, cryo-XPS has been applied to study bacterial and algal surfaces with respect to their composition of lipids, polysaccharides and peptide (protein and/or peptidoglycan). This contribution focuses onto two other groups of microorganisms with widely different architecture and modes of life, namely fungi and viruses. It evaluates to what extent existing models for data treatment of XPS spectra can be applied to understand the chemical composition of their very different surface layers. XPS data from model organisms as well as reference substances representing specific building blocks of their surface were collected and are presented. These results aims to guide future analysis of the surface chemical composition of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emelie Backman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Samuel Watts
- Biointerfaces Lab, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, Fribourg University, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Constantin F Urban
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Ramstedt
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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26
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Andrade-Ochoa S, Chacón-Vargas KF, Sánchez-Torres LE, Rivera-Chavira BE, Nogueda-Torres B, Nevárez-Moorillón GV. Differential Antimicrobial Effect of Essential Oils and Their Main Components: Insights Based on the Cell Membrane and External Structure. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11060405. [PMID: 34071618 PMCID: PMC8227281 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11060405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The biological activity of essential oils and their major components is well documented. Essential oils such as oregano and cinnamon are known for their effect against bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. The mechanism of action is proposed to be related to membrane and external cell structures, including cell walls. This study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of seven essential oils and eight of their major components against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, filamentous fungi, and protozoans. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determination of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration for Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Alternaria alternata, and Fusarium oxysporium, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana, and the median lethal dose (LD50) for Giardia lamblia. Results showed that oregano essential oil showed the best antibacterial activity (66–100 µg/mL), while cinnamon essential oil had the best fungicidal activity (66–116 µg/mL), and both showed excellent antiprotozoal activity (22–108 µg/mL). Regarding the major components, thymol and carvacrol were also good antimicrobials (23–200 µg/mL), and cinnamaldehyde was an antifungal compound (41–75 µg/mL). The major components were grouped according to their chemical structure as phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, and terpinenes. The statistical analysis of the grouped data demonstrated that protozoans were more susceptible to the essential oils, followed by fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, and Gram-negative bacteria. The analysis for the major components showed that the most resistant microbial group was fungi, which was followed by bacteria, and protozoans were also more susceptible. Principal Component Analysis for the essential oils demonstrated the relationship between the biological activity and the microbial group tested, with the first three components explaining 94.3% of the data variability. The chemical structure of the major components was also related to the biological activity presented against the microbial groups tested, where the three first principal components accounted for 91.9% of the variability. The external structures and the characteristics of the cell membranes in the different microbial groups are determinant for their susceptibility to essential oils and their major components
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Andrade-Ochoa
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, 31125 Chihuahua, Mexico; (S.A.-O.); (K.F.C.-V.); (B.E.R.-C.)
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Colonia Santo Tomas, 11340 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico; (L.E.S.-T.); (B.N.-T.)
| | - Karla Fabiola Chacón-Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, 31125 Chihuahua, Mexico; (S.A.-O.); (K.F.C.-V.); (B.E.R.-C.)
| | - Luvia Enid Sánchez-Torres
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Colonia Santo Tomas, 11340 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico; (L.E.S.-T.); (B.N.-T.)
| | - Blanca Estela Rivera-Chavira
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, 31125 Chihuahua, Mexico; (S.A.-O.); (K.F.C.-V.); (B.E.R.-C.)
| | - Benjamín Nogueda-Torres
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, Colonia Santo Tomas, 11340 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico; (L.E.S.-T.); (B.N.-T.)
| | - Guadalupe Virginia Nevárez-Moorillón
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario S/N, 31125 Chihuahua, Mexico; (S.A.-O.); (K.F.C.-V.); (B.E.R.-C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-614-236-6000 (ext. 4248)
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27
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Parreira VDSC, Santos LGC, Rodrigues ML, Passetti F. ExVe: The knowledge base of orthologous proteins identified in fungal extracellular vesicles. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2286-2296. [PMID: 33995920 PMCID: PMC8102145 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are double-membrane particles associated with intercellular communication. Since the discovery of EV production in the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, the importance of EV release in its physiology and pathogenicity has been investigated. To date, few studies have investigated the proteomic content of EVs from multiple fungal species. Our main objective was to use an orthology approach to compare proteins identified by EV shotgun proteomics in 8 pathogenic and 1 nonpathogenic species. Using protein information from the UniProt and FungiDB databases, we integrated data for 11,433 hits in fungal EVs with an orthology perspective, resulting in 3,834 different orthologous groups. OG6_100083 (Hsp70 Pfam domain) was the unique orthologous group that was identified for all fungal species. Proteins with this protein domain are associated with the stress response, survival and morphological changes in different fungal species. Although no pathogenic orthologous group was found, we identified 5 orthologous groups exclusive to S. cerevisiae. Using the criteria of at least 7 pathogenic fungi to define a cluster, we detected the 4 unique pathogenic orthologous groups. Taken together, our data suggest that Hsp70-related proteins might play a key role in fungal EVs, regardless of the pathogenic status. Using an orthology approach, we identified at least 4 protein domains that could be novel therapeutic targets against pathogenic fungi. Our results were compiled in the herein described ExVe database, which is publicly available at http://exve.icc.fiocruz.br.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, CEP 81350-010, Curitiba/PR, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil
| | - Fabio Passetti
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775, CEP 81350-010, Curitiba/PR, Brazil
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28
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Colosimo R, Warren FJ, Edwards CH, Ryden P, Dyer PS, Finnigan TJ, Wilde PJ. Comparison of the behavior of fungal and plant cell wall during gastrointestinal digestion and resulting health effects: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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29
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Schmitz NA, Thakare RP, Chung CS, Lee CM, Elias JA, Lee CG, LeBlanc BW. Chitotriosidase Activity Is Counterproductive in a Mouse Model of Systemic Candidiasis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:626798. [PMID: 33796101 PMCID: PMC8007879 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.626798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian cells do not produce chitin, an insoluble polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), although chitin is a structural component of the cell wall of pathogenic microorganisms such as Candida albicans. Mammalian cells, including cells of the innate immune system elaborate chitinases, including chitotriosidase (Chit1), which may play a role in the anti-fungal immune response. In the current study, using knockout mice, we determined the role of Chit1 against systemic candidiasis. Chit1-deficient mice showed significant decrease in kidney fungal burden compared to mice expressing the functional enzyme. Using in vitro anti-candidal neutrophil functional assays, the introduction of the Chit1:chitin digestion end-product, chitobiose (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine dimer, GlcNAc2), decreased fungal-induced neutrophil swarming and Candida killing in vitro. Also, a role for the lectin-like binding site on the neutrophil integrin CR3 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18) was found through physiological competitive interference by chitobiose. Furthermore, chitobiose treatment of wild type mice during systemic candidiasis resulted in the significant increase in fungal burden in the kidney. These data suggest a counterproductive role of Chit1 in mounting an efficient anti-fungal defense against systemic candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Schmitz
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Ritesh P Thakare
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun-Shiang Chung
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chang-Min Lee
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Jack A Elias
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun Geun Lee
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Brian W LeBlanc
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
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30
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Nguyen S, Truong JQ, Bruning JB. Targeting Unconventional Pathways in Pursuit of Novel Antifungals. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 7:621366. [PMID: 33511160 PMCID: PMC7835888 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.621366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of invasive fungal infections on human health is a serious, but largely overlooked, public health issue. Commonly affecting the immunocompromised community, fungal infections are predominantly caused by species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus. Treatments are reliant on the aggressive use of pre-existing antifungal drug classes that target the fungal cell wall and membrane. Despite their frequent use, these drugs are subject to unfavorable drug-drug interactions, can cause undesirable side-effects and have compromised efficacy due to the emergence of antifungal resistance. Hence, there is a clear need to develop novel classes of antifungal drugs. A promising approach involves exploiting the metabolic needs of fungi by targeted interruption of essential metabolic pathways. This review highlights potential antifungal targets including enolase, a component of the enolase-plasminogen complex, and enzymes from the mannitol biosynthesis and purine nucleotide biosynthesis pathways. There has been increased interest in the enzymes that comprise these particular pathways and further investigation into their merits as antifungal targets and roles in fungal survival and virulence are warranted. Disruption of these vital processes by targeting unconventional pathways with small molecules or antibodies may serve as a promising approach to discovering novel classes of antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Nguyen
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jia Q Truong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - John B Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Gonçalves DDS, Rodriguez de La Noval C, Ferreira MDS, Honorato L, Araújo GRDS, Frases S, Pizzini CV, Nosanchuk JD, Cordero RJB, Rodrigues ML, Peralta JM, Nimrichter L, Guimarães AJ. Histoplasma capsulatum Glycans From Distinct Genotypes Share Structural and Serological Similarities to Cryptococcus neoformans Glucuronoxylomannan. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:565571. [PMID: 33585262 PMCID: PMC7874066 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.565571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell wall is a ubiquitous structure in the fungal kingdom, with some features varying depending on the species. Additional external structures can be present, such as the capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn), its major virulence factor, mainly composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), with anti-phagocytic and anti-inflammatory properties. The literature shows that other cryptococcal species and even more evolutionarily distant species, such as the Trichosporon asahii, T. mucoides, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis can produce GXM-like polysaccharides displaying serological reactivity to GXM-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and these complex polysaccharides have similar composition and anti-phagocytic properties to cryptococcal GXM. Previously, we demonstrated that the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) incorporates, surface/secreted GXM of Cn and the surface accumulation of the polysaccharide enhances Hc virulence in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we characterized the ability of Hc to produce cellular-attached (C-gly-Hc) and secreted (E-gly) glycans with reactivity to GXM mAbs. These C-gly-Hc are readily incorporated on the surface of acapsular Cn cap59; however, in contrast to Cn GXM, C-gly-Hc had no xylose and glucuronic acid in its composition. Mapping of recognized Cn GXM synthesis/export proteins confirmed the presence of orthologs in the Hc database. Evaluation of C-gly and E-gly of Hc from strains of distinct monophyletic clades showed serological reactivity to GXM mAbs, despite slight differences in their molecular dimensions. These C-gly-Hc and E-gly-Hc also reacted with sera of cryptococcosis patients. In turn, sera from histoplasmosis patients recognized Cn glycans, suggesting immunogenicity and the presence of cross-reacting antibodies. Additionally, C-gly-Hc and E-gly-Hc coated Cn cap59 were more resistant to phagocytosis and macrophage killing. C-gly-Hc and E-gly-Hc coated Cn cap59 were also able to kill larvae of Galleria mellonella. These GXM-like Hc glycans, as well as those produced by other pathogenic fungi, may also be important during host-pathogen interactions, and factors associated with their regulation are potentially important targets for the management of histoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego de Souza Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Rodriguez de La Noval
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina da Silva Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araújo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Vera Pizzini
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Radames J. B. Cordero
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - José Mauro Peralta
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Allan J. Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
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da Nóbrega Alves D, Monteiro AFM, Andrade PN, Lazarini JG, Abílio GMF, Guerra FQS, Scotti MT, Scotti L, Rosalen PL, de Castro RD. Docking Prediction, Antifungal Activity, Anti-Biofilm Effects on Candida spp., and Toxicity against Human Cells of Cinnamaldehyde. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25245969. [PMID: 33339401 PMCID: PMC7767272 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study evaluated the antifungal activity of cinnamaldehyde on Candida spp. In vitro and in situ assays were carried out to test cinnamaldehyde for its anti-Candida effects, antibiofilm activity, effects on fungal micromorphology, antioxidant activity, and toxicity on keratinocytes and human erythrocytes. Statistical analysis was performed considering α = 5%. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of cinnamaldehyde ranged from 18.91 μM to 37.83 μM. MIC values did not change in the presence of 0.8 M sorbitol, whereas an 8-fold increase was observed in the presence of ergosterol, suggesting that cinnamaldehyde may act on the cell membrane, which was subsequently confirmed by docking analysis. The action of cinnamaldehyde likely includes binding to enzymes involved in the formation of the cytoplasmic membrane in yeast cells. Cinnamaldehyde-treated microcultures showed impaired cellular development, with an expression of rare pseudo-hyphae and absence of chlamydoconidia. Cinnamaldehyde reduced biofilm adherence by 64.52% to 33.75% (p < 0.0001) at low concentrations (378.3–151.3 µM). Cinnamaldehyde did not show antioxidant properties. Conclusions: Cinnamaldehyde showed fungicidal activity through a mechanism of action likely related to ergosterol complexation; it was non-cytotoxic to keratinocytes and human erythrocytes and showed no antioxidant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle da Nóbrega Alves
- Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Department of Clinic and Social Dentistry, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Alex France Messias Monteiro
- Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Patrícia Néris Andrade
- Experimental Pharmacology and Cell Culture Laboratory, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Josy Goldoni Lazarini
- Department of Bioscience, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Campinas-SP 13414-903, Brazil; (J.G.L.); (P.L.R.)
| | - Gisely Maria Freire Abílio
- Department of Physiology and Pathology, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Felipe Queiroga Sarmento Guerra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Department of Chemistry, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Cheminformatics Laboratory, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil;
| | - Pedro Luiz Rosalen
- Department of Bioscience, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Campinas-SP 13414-903, Brazil; (J.G.L.); (P.L.R.)
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program (PPGCB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas 37130-000, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Dias de Castro
- Department of Clinic and Social Dentistry, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa-PB 58051-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-83-3216-7742
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Tsvetkov YE, Paulovičová E, Paulovičová L, Farkaš P, Nifantiev NE. Synthesis of Biotin-Tagged Chitosan Oligosaccharides and Assessment of Their Immunomodulatory Activity. Front Chem 2020; 8:554732. [PMID: 33335882 PMCID: PMC7736555 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.554732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitin, a polymer of β-(1→4)-linked N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, is one of the main polysaccharide components of the fungal cell wall. Its N-deacetylated form, chitosan, is enzymatically produced in the cell wall by chitin deacetylases. It exerts immunomodulative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal activities with various medical applications. To study the immunobiological properties of chitosan oligosaccharides, we synthesized a series of β-(1→4)-linked N-acetyl-d-glucosamine oligomers comprising 3, 5, and 7 monosaccharide units equipped with biotin tags. The key synthetic intermediate employed for oligosaccharide chain elongation, a disaccharide thioglycoside, was prepared by orthogonal glycosylation of a 4-OH thioglycoside acceptor with a glycosyl trichloroacetimidate bearing the temporary 4-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl group. The use of silyl protection suppressed aglycon transfer and provided a high yield for the target disaccharide donor. Using synthesized chitosan oligomers, as well as previously obtained chitin counterparts, the immunobiological relationship between these synthetic oligosaccharides and RAW 264.7 cells was studied in vitro. Evaluation of cell proliferation, phagocytosis, respiratory burst, and Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg polarized cytokine expression demonstrated effective immune responsiveness and immunomodulation in RAW 264.7 cells exposed to chitin- and chitosan-derived oligosaccharides. Macrophage reactivity was accompanied by significant inductive dose- and structure-dependent protective Th1 and Th17 polarization, which was greater with exposure to chitosan- rather than chitin-derived oligosaccharides. Moreover, no antiproliferative or cytotoxic effects were observed, even following prolonged 48 h exposure. The obtained results demonstrate the potent immunobiological activity of these synthetically prepared chito-oligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury E. Tsvetkov
- Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Chemistry, N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ema Paulovičová
- Cell Culture & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunochemistry of Glycoconjugates, Center for Glycomics, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Paulovičová
- Cell Culture & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunochemistry of Glycoconjugates, Center for Glycomics, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavol Farkaš
- Cell Culture & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunochemistry of Glycoconjugates, Center for Glycomics, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Nikolay E. Nifantiev
- Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Chemistry, N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Abstract
Invasive fungal infections in humans are generally associated with high mortality, making the choice of antifungal drug crucial for the outcome of the patient. The limited spectrum of antifungals available and the development of drug resistance represent the main concerns for the current antifungal treatments, requiring alternative strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), expressed in several organisms and used as first-line defenses against microbial infections, have emerged as potential candidates for developing new antifungal therapies, characterized by negligible host toxicity and low resistance rates. Most of the current literature focuses on peptides with antibacterial activity, but there are fewer studies of their antifungal properties. This review focuses on AMPs with antifungal effects, including their in vitro and in vivo activities, with the biological repercussions on the fungal cells, when known. The classification of the peptides is based on their mode of action: although the majority of AMPs exert their activity through the interaction with membranes, other mechanisms have been identified, including cell wall inhibition and nucleic acid binding. In addition, antifungal compounds with unknown modes of action are also described. The elucidation of such mechanisms can be useful to identify novel drug targets and, possibly, to serve as the templates for the synthesis of new antimicrobial compounds with increased activity and reduced host toxicity.
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Fernandes CM, Poeta MD. Fungal sphingolipids: role in the regulation of virulence and potential as targets for future antifungal therapies. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:1083-1092. [PMID: 32673125 PMCID: PMC7657966 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1792288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The antifungal therapy currently available includes three major classes of drugs: polyenes, azoles and echinocandins. However, the clinical use of these compounds faces several challenges: while polyenes are toxic to the host, antifungal resistance to azoles and echinocandins has been reported. AREAS COVERED Fungal sphingolipids (SL) play a pivotal role in growth, morphogenesis and virulence. In addition, fungi possess unique enzymes involved in SL synthesis, leading to the production of lipids which are absent or differ structurally from the mammalian counterparts. In this review, we address the enzymatic reactions involved in the SL synthesis and their relevance to the fungal pathogenesis, highlighting their potential as targets for novel drugs and the inhibitors described so far. EXPERT OPINION The pharmacological inhibition of fungal serine palmitoyltransferase depends on the development of specific drugs, as myriocin also targets the mammalian enzyme. Inhibitors of ceramide synthase might constitute potent antifungals, by depleting the pool of complex SL and leading to the accumulation of the toxic intermediates. Acylhydrazones and aureobasidin A, which inhibit GlcCer and IPC synthesis, are not toxic to the host and effectively treat invasive mycoses, emerging as promising new classes of antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA
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Almeida F, Nosanchuk JD, Niño-Vega GA. Editorial: The Fungal Cell Wall. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1682. [PMID: 33013717 PMCID: PMC7509039 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gustavo Alexis Niño-Vega
- Division de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
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Wang P, Li B, Pan YT, Zhang YZ, Li DW, Huang L. Calcineurin-Responsive Transcription Factor CgCrzA Is Required for Cell Wall Integrity and Infection-Related Morphogenesis in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 36:385-397. [PMID: 33082723 PMCID: PMC7542025 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.04.2020.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infects a wide range of plant hosts and causes enormous economic losses in the world. The transcription factors (TFs) play an important role in development and pathogenicity of many organisms. In this study, we found that the C2H2 TF CgCrzA is localized in both cytoplasm and nucleus under standard condition, and it translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus in a calcineurin-dependent manner. Moreover, the ΔCgCrzA was hypersensitive to cell wall perturbing agents and showed severe cell wall integrity defects. Deletion of the CgCRZA inhibited the development of invasive structures and lost pathogenicity to plant hosts. Our results suggested that calcineurin-responsive TF CgCrzA was not only involved in regulating cell wall integrity, but also in morphogenesis and virulence in C. gloeosporioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - Bing Li
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 5009, China
| | - Yu-Ting Pan
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - Yun-Zhao Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - De-Wei Li
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT 06095, USA
| | - Lin Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
- Corresponding author. Phone) +86-25-85427301, E-mail) , ORCID, De-Wei Li https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2788-7938, Lin Huang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7536-0914
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Mercer DK, O'Neil DA. Innate Inspiration: Antifungal Peptides and Other Immunotherapeutics From the Host Immune Response. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2177. [PMID: 33072081 PMCID: PMC7533533 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to describe antifungal therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical development derived from, or directly influenced by, the immune system, with a specific focus on antimicrobial peptides (AMP). Although the focus of this review is AMP with direct antimicrobial effects on fungi, we will also discuss compounds with direct antifungal activity, including monoclonal antibodies (mAb), as well as immunomodulatory molecules that can enhance the immune response to fungal infection, including immunomodulatory AMP, vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, interferon and colony stimulating factors as well as immune cell therapies. The focus of this manuscript will be a non-exhaustive review of antifungal compounds in preclinical and clinical development that are based on the principles of immunology and the authors acknowledge the incredible amount of in vitro and in vivo work that has been conducted to develop such therapeutic candidates.
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Elsacker E, Vandelook S, Van Wylick A, Ruytinx J, De Laet L, Peeters E. A comprehensive framework for the production of mycelium-based lignocellulosic composites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 725:138431. [PMID: 32298897 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution and scarcity of natural resources lead to an increased interest in developing more sustainable materials. For example, the traditional construction industry, which is largely based on the extraction of fossil fuels and raw materials, is called into question. A solution can be found in biologically augmented materials that are made by growing mycelium-forming fungal microorganisms on natural fibres rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In this way, organic waste streams, such as agricultural waste, are valorised while creating a material that is biodegradable at the end of its life cycle - a process that fits in the spirit of circular economy. Mycelium-based materials have properties that are promising for a wide range of applications, including the use as construction materials. Despite this promise, the applicability and the practicality of these materials are largely unexplored and moreover, individual studies use a wide range of different experimental approaches and non-standardized procedures. In this review, we critically evaluate existing data on the composition of mycelium-based materials and process variables with the aim of providing a comprehensive framework of the production process. The framework illustrates the many input factors during the production that have an impact on the final characteristics of the material, and the unique potential to deploy more tuneable levels in the fabrications process that can serve to prototype a diversity of new unprecedented applications. Furthermore, we determine the applicability of existing data and identify knowledge gaps. This framework is valuable in identifying standardized approaches for future studies and in informing the design and process of new applications of mycelium-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Elsacker
- Architectural Engineering Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Simon Vandelook
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Aurélie Van Wylick
- Architectural Engineering Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joske Ruytinx
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lars De Laet
- Architectural Engineering Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Dutta O, Espinosa V, Wang K, Avina S, Rivera A. Dectin-1 Promotes Type I and III Interferon Expression to Support Optimal Antifungal Immunity in the Lung. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:321. [PMID: 32733815 PMCID: PMC7360811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary infections with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) are a significant cause of invasive fungal disease and lead to high morbidity and mortality in diverse populations throughout the world. Currently available antifungal drugs are often ineffective, thus contributing to unacceptably high mortality rates in patients suffering from invasive fungal infections. The use of cytokines as adjunctive immune therapies holds the promise of significantly improving patient outcomes in the future. In recent studies, we identified an essential role for type I and III interferons as regulators of optimal antifungal responses by pulmonary neutrophils during infection with Af. Although various membrane and cytosolic nucleic acid sensors are known to regulate interferon production in response to viruses, the pathways that regulate the production of these cytokines during fungal infection remain uncovered. In the current study, we demonstrate that dectin-1-mediated recognition of β-glucan on the cell wall of the clinically relevant fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus promotes the activation of a protective cascade of type I and III interferon expression. We further demonstrate that exogenous administration of type I and III interferons can rescue inadequate antifungal responses in dectin-1−/− mice, suggesting the potential therapeutic benefit of these cytokines as activators of antifungal defense in the context of innate defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orchi Dutta
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Vanessa Espinosa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Keyi Wang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Samantha Avina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
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Wehmeier S, Morrison E, Plato A, Raab A, Feldmann J, Bedekovic T, Wilson D, Brand AC. Multi trace element profiling in pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:516-524. [PMID: 32389315 PMCID: PMC7232024 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Maintaining appropriate levels of trace elements during infection of a host is essential for microbial pathogenicity. Here we compared the uptake of 10 trace elements from 3 commonly-used laboratory media by 3 pathogens, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus, and a model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The trace element composition of the yeasts, C. albicans, C. neoformans and S. cerevisiae, grown in rich (YPD) medium, differed primarily in P, S, Fe, Zn and Co. Speciation analysis of the intracellular fraction, which indicates the size of the organic ligands with which trace elements are complexed, showed that the ligands for S were similar in the three fungi but there were significant differences in binding partners for Fe and Zn between C. neoformans and S.cerevisiae. The profile for Cu varied across the 3 yeast species. In a comparison of C. albicans and A. fumigatus hyphae, the former showed higher Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn, while A. fumigatus contained higher P, S Ca and Mo. Washing C. albicans cells with the cell-impermeable chelator, EGTA, depleted 50–90 % of cellular Ca, suggesting that a large proportion of this cation is stored in the cell wall. Treatment with the cell wall stressor, Calcofluor White (CFW), alone had little effect on the elemental profile whilst combined Ca + CFW stress resulted in high cellular Cu and very high Ca. Together our data enhance our understanding of trace element uptake by pathogenic fungi and provide evidence for the cell wall as an important storage organelle for Ca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Wehmeier
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Emma Morrison
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Anthony Plato
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Andrea Raab
- TESLA, School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK
| | - Jörg Feldmann
- TESLA, School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK
| | - Tina Bedekovic
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK; Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alexandra C Brand
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK; Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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43
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Chung KY, Brown JCS. Biology and function of exo-polysaccharides from human fungal pathogens. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2020; 7:1-11. [PMID: 33042730 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-020-00137-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of review Environmental fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus must survive many different and changing environments as they transition from their environmental niches to human lungs and other organs. Fungi alter their cell surfaces and secreted macromolecules to respond to and manipulate their surroundings. Recent findings This review focuses on exo-polysaccharides, chains of sugars that transported out of the cell and spread to the local environment. Major exo-polysaccharides for C. neoformans and A. fumigatus are glucuronylxylomannan (GXM) and galactosaminogalactan (GAG), respectively, which accumulate at high concentrations in growth medium and infected patients. Summary Here we discuss GXM and GAG synthesis and export, their immunomodulatory properties, and their roles in biofilm formation. We also propose areas of future research to address outstanding questions in the field that could facilitate development of new disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Y Chung
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jessica C S Brown
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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44
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Abstract
Antifungal therapy is a critical component of patient management for invasive fungal diseases. Yet, therapeutic choices are limited as only a few drug classes are available to treat systemic disease, and some infecting strains are resistant to one or more drug classes. The ideal antifungal inhibits a fungal-specific essential target not present in human cells to avoid off-target toxicities. The fungal cell wall is an ideal drug target because its integrity is critical to cell survival and a majority of biosynthetic enzymes and wall components is unique to fungi. Among currently approved antifungal agents and those in clinical development, drugs targeting biosynthetic enzymes of the cell wall show safe and efficacious antifungal properties, which validates the cell wall as a target. The echinocandins, which inhibit β-1,3-glucan synthase, are recommended as first-line therapy for Candida infections. Newer cell wall-active drugs in clinical development encompass next-generation glucan synthase inhibitors including a novel echinocandin and an enfumafungin, an inhibitor of Gwt1, a key component of GPI anchor protein biosynthesis, and a classic inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis. As the cell wall is rich in potential drug discovery targets, it is primed to help deliver the next generation of antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, 340 Kingsland Street, Nutley, 07110, USA.
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45
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Hatinguais R, Willment JA, Brown GD. PAMPs of the Fungal Cell Wall and Mammalian PRRs. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2020; 425:187-223. [PMID: 32180018 DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are opportunistic pathogens that infect immunocompromised patients and are responsible for an estimated 1.5 million deaths every year. The antifungal innate immune response is mediated through the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by the host's pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are immune receptors that ensure the internalisation and the killing of fungal pathogens. They also mount the inflammatory response, which contributes to initiate and polarise the adaptive response, controlled by lymphocytes. Both the innate and adaptive immune responses are required to control fungal infections. The immune recognition of fungal pathogen primarily occurs at the interface between the membrane of innate immune cells and the fungal cell wall, which contains a number of PAMPs. This chapter will focus on describing the main mammalian PRRs that have been shown to bind to PAMPs from the fungal cell wall of the four main fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis jirovecii. We will describe these receptors, their functions and ligands to provide the reader with an overview of how the immune system recognises fungal pathogens and responds to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Hatinguais
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Janet A Willment
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Gordon D Brown
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.
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46
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Challacombe JF, Hesse CN, Bramer LM, McCue LA, Lipton M, Purvine S, Nicora C, Gallegos-Graves LV, Porras-Alfaro A, Kuske CR. Genomes and secretomes of Ascomycota fungi reveal diverse functions in plant biomass decomposition and pathogenesis. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:976. [PMID: 31830917 PMCID: PMC6909477 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dominant fungi in arid grasslands and shrublands are members of the Ascomycota phylum. Ascomycota fungi are important drivers in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. These fungi play roles in soil stability, plant biomass decomposition, and endophytic interactions with plants. They may also form symbiotic associations with biocrust components or be latent saprotrophs or pathogens that live on plant tissues. However, their functional potential in arid soils, where organic matter, nutrients and water are very low or only periodically available, is poorly characterized. RESULTS Five Ascomycota fungi were isolated from different soil crust microhabitats and rhizosphere soils around the native bunchgrass Pleuraphis jamesii in an arid grassland near Moab, UT, USA. Putative genera were Coniochaeta, isolated from lichen biocrust, Embellisia from cyanobacteria biocrust, Chaetomium from below lichen biocrust, Phoma from a moss microhabitat, and Aspergillus from the soil. The fungi were grown in replicate cultures on different carbon sources (chitin, native bunchgrass or pine wood) relevant to plant biomass and soil carbon sources. Secretomes produced by the fungi on each substrate were characterized. Results demonstrate that these fungi likely interact with primary producers (biocrust or plants) by secreting a wide range of proteins that facilitate symbiotic associations. Each of the fungal isolates secreted enzymes that degrade plant biomass, small secreted effector proteins, and proteins involved in either beneficial plant interactions or virulence. Aspergillus and Phoma expressed more plant biomass degrading enzymes when grown in grass- and pine-containing cultures than in chitin. Coniochaeta and Embellisia expressed similar numbers of these enzymes under all conditions, while Chaetomium secreted more of these enzymes in grass-containing cultures. CONCLUSIONS This study of Ascomycota genomes and secretomes provides important insights about the lifestyles and the roles that Ascomycota fungi likely play in arid grassland, ecosystems. However, the exact nature of those interactions, whether any or all of the isolates are true endophytes, latent saprotrophs or opportunistic phytopathogens, will be the topic of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean F Challacombe
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
- Present address: Colorado State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 301 University Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Cedar N Hesse
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
- Horticultural Crops Research, USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Lisa M Bramer
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Lee Ann McCue
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, 99352, USA
| | - Mary Lipton
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel Purvine
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Carrie Nicora
- Applied Statistics & Computational Modeling, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Cheryl R Kuske
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
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Enkavi G, Javanainen M, Kulig W, Róg T, Vattulainen I. Multiscale Simulations of Biological Membranes: The Challenge To Understand Biological Phenomena in a Living Substance. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5607-5774. [PMID: 30859819 PMCID: PMC6727218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Biological membranes are tricky to investigate. They are complex in terms of molecular composition and structure, functional over a wide range of time scales, and characterized by nonequilibrium conditions. Because of all of these features, simulations are a great technique to study biomembrane behavior. A significant part of the functional processes in biological membranes takes place at the molecular level; thus computer simulations are the method of choice to explore how their properties emerge from specific molecular features and how the interplay among the numerous molecules gives rise to function over spatial and time scales larger than the molecular ones. In this review, we focus on this broad theme. We discuss the current state-of-the-art of biomembrane simulations that, until now, have largely focused on a rather narrow picture of the complexity of the membranes. Given this, we also discuss the challenges that we should unravel in the foreseeable future. Numerous features such as the actin-cytoskeleton network, the glycocalyx network, and nonequilibrium transport under ATP-driven conditions have so far received very little attention; however, the potential of simulations to solve them would be exceptionally high. A major milestone for this research would be that one day we could say that computer simulations genuinely research biological membranes, not just lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giray Enkavi
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Javanainen
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy
of Sciences, Flemingovo naḿesti 542/2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Waldemar Kulig
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomasz Róg
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Ilpo Vattulainen
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
- MEMPHYS-Center
for Biomembrane Physics
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Agnello S, Brand M, Chellat MF, Gazzola S, Riedl R. A Structural View on Medicinal Chemistry Strategies against Drug Resistance. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:3300-3345. [PMID: 29846032 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201802416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The natural phenomenon of drug resistance is a widespread issue that hampers the performance of drugs in many major clinical indications. Antibacterial and antifungal drugs are affected, as well as compounds for the treatment of cancer, viral infections, or parasitic diseases. Despite the very diverse set of biological targets and organisms involved in the development of drug resistance, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been identified to understand the emergence of resistance and to overcome this detrimental process. Detailed structural information on the root causes for drug resistance is nowadays frequently available, so next-generation drugs can be designed that are anticipated to suffer less from resistance. This knowledge-based approach is essential for fighting the inevitable occurrence of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Agnello
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Michael Brand
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu F Chellat
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Gazzola
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Rainer Riedl
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
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Agnello S, Brand M, Chellat MF, Gazzola S, Riedl R. Eine strukturelle Evaluierung medizinalchemischer Strategien gegen Wirkstoffresistenzen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201802416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Agnello
- Institut für Chemie und Biotechnologie; FS Organische Chemie und Medizinalchemie; Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW); Einsiedlerstrasse 31 CH-8820 Wädenswil Schweiz
| | - Michael Brand
- Institut für Chemie und Biotechnologie; FS Organische Chemie und Medizinalchemie; Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW); Einsiedlerstrasse 31 CH-8820 Wädenswil Schweiz
| | - Mathieu F. Chellat
- Institut für Chemie und Biotechnologie; FS Organische Chemie und Medizinalchemie; Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW); Einsiedlerstrasse 31 CH-8820 Wädenswil Schweiz
| | - Silvia Gazzola
- Institut für Chemie und Biotechnologie; FS Organische Chemie und Medizinalchemie; Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW); Einsiedlerstrasse 31 CH-8820 Wädenswil Schweiz
| | - Rainer Riedl
- Institut für Chemie und Biotechnologie; FS Organische Chemie und Medizinalchemie; Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW); Einsiedlerstrasse 31 CH-8820 Wädenswil Schweiz
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50
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Abstract
In many yeast and fungi, β-(1,3)-glucan and chitin are essential components of the cell wall, an important structure that surrounds cells and which is responsible for their mechanical protection and necessary for maintaining the cellular shape. In addition, the cell wall is a dynamic structure that needs to be remodelled along with the different phases of the fungal life cycle or in response to extracellular stimuli. Since β-(1,3)-glucan and chitin perform a central structural role in the assembly of the cell wall, it has been postulated that β-(1,3)-glucanases and chitinases should perform an important function in cell wall softening and remodelling. This review focusses on fungal glucanases and chitinases and their role during fungal morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Roncero
- Instituto de Biología Funcional Y Genómica (IBFG), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carlos R Vázquez de Aldana
- Instituto de Biología Funcional Y Genómica (IBFG), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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