1
|
Villalba de la Peña M, Kronholm I. Antimicrobial resistance in the wild: Insights from epigenetics. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13707. [PMID: 38817397 PMCID: PMC11134192 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Spreading of bacterial and fungal strains that are resistant to antimicrobials poses a serious threat to the well-being of humans, animals, and plants. Antimicrobial resistance has been mainly investigated in clinical settings. However, throughout their evolutionary history microorganisms in the wild have encountered antimicrobial substances, forcing them to evolve strategies to combat antimicrobial action. It is well known that many of these strategies are based on genetic mechanisms, but these do not fully explain important aspects of the antimicrobial response such as the rapid development of resistance, reversible phenotypes, and hetero-resistance. Consequently, attention has turned toward epigenetic pathways that may offer additional insights into antimicrobial mechanisms. The aim of this review is to explore the epigenetic mechanisms that confer antimicrobial resistance, focusing on those that might be relevant for resistance in the wild. First, we examine the presence of antimicrobials in natural settings. Then we describe the documented epigenetic mechanisms in bacteria and fungi associated with antimicrobial resistance and discuss innovative epigenetic editing techniques to establish causality in this context. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these epigenetic mechanisms on the evolutionary dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in the wild, emphasizing the critical role of priming in the adaptation process. We underscore the necessity of incorporating non-genetic mechanisms into our understanding of antimicrobial resistance evolution. These mechanisms offer invaluable insights into the dynamics of antimicrobial adaptation within natural ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilkka Kronholm
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Remines M, Schoonover MG, Knox Z, Kenwright K, Hoffert KM, Coric A, Mead J, Ampfer J, Seye S, Strome ED. Profiling the compendium of changes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to mutations that alter availability of the main methyl donor S-Adenosylmethionine. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae002. [PMID: 38184845 PMCID: PMC10989883 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The SAM1 and SAM2 genes encode for S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase enzymes, with AdoMet serving as the main cellular methyl donor. We have previously shown that independent deletion of these genes alters chromosome stability and AdoMet concentrations in opposite ways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To characterize other changes occurring in these mutants, we grew wildtype, sam1Δ/sam1Δ, and sam2Δ/sam2Δ strains in 15 different Phenotypic Microarray plates with different components and measured growth variations. RNA-Sequencing was also carried out on these strains and differential gene expression determined for each mutant. We explored how the phenotypic growth differences are linked to the altered gene expression, and hypothesize mechanisms by which loss of the SAM genes and subsequent AdoMet level changes, impact pathways and processes. We present 6 stories, discussing changes in sensitivity or resistance to azoles, cisplatin, oxidative stress, arginine biosynthesis perturbations, DNA synthesis inhibitors, and tamoxifen, to demonstrate the power of this novel methodology to broadly profile changes due to gene mutations. The large number of conditions that result in altered growth, as well as the large number of differentially expressed genes with wide-ranging functionality, speaks to the broad array of impacts that altering methyl donor abundance can impart. Our findings demonstrate that some cellular changes are directly related to AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases and AdoMet availability, some are directly linked to the methyl cycle and its role in production of several important cellular components, and others reveal impacts of SAM gene mutations on previously unconnected pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- McKayla Remines
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Makailyn G Schoonover
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Zoey Knox
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Kailee Kenwright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Kellyn M Hoffert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Amila Coric
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - James Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Joseph Ampfer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Serigne Seye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| | - Erin D Strome
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gregor JB, Gutierrez-Schultz VA, Hoda S, Baker KM, Saha D, Burghaze MG, Vazquez C, Burgei KE, Briggs SD. An expanded toolkit of drug resistance cassettes for Candida glabrata, Candida auris, and Candida albicans leads to new insights into the ergosterol pathway. mSphere 2023; 8:e0031123. [PMID: 37929964 PMCID: PMC10732037 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00311-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The increasing problem of drug resistance and emerging pathogens is an urgent global health problem that necessitates the development and expansion of tools for studying fungal drug resistance and pathogenesis. Prior studies in Candida glabrata, Candida auris, and Candida albicans have been mainly limited to the use of NatMX/SAT1 and HphMX/CaHyg for genetic manipulation in prototrophic strains and clinical isolates. In this study, we demonstrated that NatMX/SAT1, HphMX, KanMX, and/or BleMX drug resistance cassettes when coupled with a CRISPR-ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-based system can be efficiently utilized for deleting or modifying genes in the ergosterol pathway of C. glabrata, C. auris, and C. albicans. Moreover, the utility of these tools has provided new insights into ERG genes and their relationship to azole resistance in Candida. Overall, we have expanded the toolkit for Candida pathogens to increase the versatility of genetically modifying complex pathways involved in drug resistance and pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin B. Gregor
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Smriti Hoda
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Kortany M. Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Debasmita Saha
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Cynthia Vazquez
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Kendra E. Burgei
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Scott D. Briggs
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Huang YH, Lee YH, Lin CJ, Hsu LH, Chen YL. Deubiquitination module is critical for oxidative stress response and biofilm formation in Candida glabrata. Med Mycol 2023; 61:myad099. [PMID: 37844959 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Candidiasis is one of the most important fungal diseases and generally refers to diseases of the skin or mucosal tissues caused by Candida species. Candida glabrata is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen. Infection with C. glabrata has significantly increased due to innate antifungal drug tolerance and the ability to adhere to mucocutaneous surfaces. Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase complex contains two different post-translational modifications, histone acetylation (HAT) module and deubiquitination (DUB) module, which are decisive in gene regulation and highly conserved in eukaryotes. Previous research in our laboratory found that the HAT module ADA2 could regulate C. glabrata oxidative stress tolerance, drug tolerance, cell wall integrity, and virulence. However, the roles of the DUB module that is comprised of UBP8, SGF11, SGF73, and SUS1 genes in those phenotypes are not yet understood. In this study, we found that DUB module genes UBP8, SGF11, and SUS1, but not SGF73 positively regulate histone H2B DUB. Furthermore, ubp8, sgf11, and sus1 mutants exhibited decreased biofilm formation and sensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agent sodium dodecyl sulfate and antifungal drug amphotericin B. In addition, the sgf73 mutant showed increased biofilm formation but was susceptible to oxidative stresses, antifungal drugs, and cell wall perturbing agents. The ubp8, sgf11, and sus1 mutants showed marginal hypovirulence, whereas the sgf73 mutant exhibited virulence similar to the wild type in a murine systemic infection model. In conclusion, the C. glabrata DUB module plays distinct roles in H2B ubiquitination, oxidative stress response, biofilm formation, cell wall integrity, and drug tolerance, but exhibits minor roles in virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Han Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hang Lee
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Jan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Hsing University, 40227 Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hang Hsu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lien Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lee Y, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Molecular mechanisms governing antifungal drug resistance. NPJ ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESISTANCE 2023; 1:5. [PMID: 38686214 PMCID: PMC11057204 DOI: 10.1038/s44259-023-00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a severe public health problem. The leading causative agents of systemic fungal infections include species from the Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus genera. As opportunistic pathogens, these fungi are generally harmless in healthy hosts; however, they can cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Despite the profound impact of pathogenic fungi on global human health, the current antifungal armamentarium is limited to only three major classes of drugs, all of which face complications, including host toxicity, unfavourable pharmacokinetics, or limited spectrum of activity. Further exacerbating this issue is the growing prevalence of antifungal-resistant infections and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this review, we discuss the diverse strategies employed by leading fungal pathogens to evolve antifungal resistance, including drug target alterations, enhanced drug efflux, and induction of cellular stress response pathways. Such mechanisms of resistance occur through diverse genetic alterations, including point mutations, aneuploidy formation, and epigenetic changes given the significant plasticity observed in many fungal genomes. Additionally, we highlight recent literature surrounding the mechanisms governing resistance in emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens including Candida auris and Candida glabrata. Advancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms by which fungi adapt to the challenge of antifungal exposure is imperative for designing therapeutic strategies to tackle the emerging threat of antifungal resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunjin Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu R, Chen X, Zhao F, Jiang Y, Lu Z, Ji H, Feng Y, Li J, Zhang H, Zheng J, Zhang J, Zhao Y. The COMPASS Complex Regulates Fungal Development and Virulence through Histone Crosstalk in the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:672. [PMID: 37367608 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Complex of Proteins Associated with Set1 (COMPASS) methylates lysine K4 on histone H3 (H3K4) and is conserved from yeast to humans. Its subunits and regulatory roles in the meningitis-causing fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans remain unknown. Here we identified the core subunits of the COMPASS complex in C. neoformans and C. deneoformans and confirmed their conserved roles in H3K4 methylation. Through AlphaFold modeling, we found that Set1, Bre2, Swd1, and Swd3 form the catalytic core of the COMPASS complex and regulate the cryptococcal yeast-to-hypha transition, thermal tolerance, and virulence. The COMPASS complex-mediated histone H3K4 methylation requires H2B mono-ubiquitination by Rad6/Bre1 and the Paf1 complex in order to activate the expression of genes specific for the yeast-to-hypha transition in C. deneoformans. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that putative COMPASS subunits function as a unified complex, contributing to cryptococcal development and virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Fujie Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yixuan Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Zhenguo Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Huining Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuanyuan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junqiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Jianting Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Youbao Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Remines M, Schoonover M, Knox Z, Kenwright K, Hoffert KM, Coric A, Mead J, Ampfer J, Seye S, Strome ED. Profiling The Compendium Of Changes In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Due To Mutations That Alter Availability Of The Main Methyl Donor S-Adenosylmethionine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.09.544294. [PMID: 37333147 PMCID: PMC10274911 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.09.544294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The SAM1 and SAM2 genes encode for S-AdenosylMethionine (AdoMet) synthetase enzymes, with AdoMet serving as the main methyl donor. We have previously shown that independent deletion of these genes alters chromosome stability and AdoMet concentrations in opposite ways in S. cerevisiae. To characterize other changes occurring in these mutants, we grew wildtype, sam1∆/sam1∆, and sam2∆/sam2∆ strains in 15 different Phenotypic Microarray plates with different components, equal to 1440 wells, and measured for growth variations. RNA-Sequencing was also carried out on these strains and differential gene expression determined for each mutant. In this study, we explore how the phenotypic growth differences are linked to the altered gene expression, and thereby predict the mechanisms by which loss of the SAM genes and subsequent AdoMet level changes, impact S. cerevisiae pathways and processes. We present six stories, discussing changes in sensitivity or resistance to azoles, cisplatin, oxidative stress, arginine biosynthesis perturbations, DNA synthesis inhibitors, and tamoxifen, to demonstrate the power of this novel methodology to broadly profile changes due to gene mutations. The large number of conditions that result in altered growth, as well as the large number of differentially expressed genes with wide-ranging functionality, speaks to the broad array of impacts that altering methyl donor abundance can impart, even when the conditions tested were not specifically selected as targeting known methyl involving pathways. Our findings demonstrate that some cellular changes are directly related to AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases and AdoMet availability, some are directly linked to the methyl cycle and its role is production of several important cellular components, and others reveal impacts of SAM gene mutations on previously unconnected pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- McKayla Remines
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Makailyn Schoonover
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Zoey Knox
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Kailee Kenwright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Kellyn M. Hoffert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Amila Coric
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - James Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Joseph Ampfer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Serigne Seye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| | - Erin D. Strome
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Milholland KL, AbdelKhalek A, Baker KM, Hoda S, DeMarco AG, Naughton NH, Koeberlein AN, Lorenz GR, Anandasothy K, Esperilla-Muñoz A, Narayanan SK, Correa-Bordes J, Briggs SD, Hall MC. Cdc14 phosphatase contributes to cell wall integrity and pathogenesis in Candida albicans. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1129155. [PMID: 36876065 PMCID: PMC9977832 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1129155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cdc14 phosphatase family is highly conserved in fungi. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cdc14 is essential for down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase activity at mitotic exit. However, this essential function is not broadly conserved and requires only a small fraction of normal Cdc14 activity. Here, we identified an invariant motif in the disordered C-terminal tail of fungal Cdc14 enzymes that is required for full enzyme activity. Mutation of this motif reduced Cdc14 catalytic rate and provided a tool for studying the biological significance of high Cdc14 activity. A S. cerevisiae strain expressing the reduced-activity hypomorphic mutant allele (cdc14hm ) as the sole source of Cdc14 proliferated like the wild-type parent strain but exhibited an unexpected sensitivity to cell wall stresses, including chitin-binding compounds and echinocandin antifungal drugs. Sensitivity to echinocandins was also observed in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Candida albicans strains lacking CDC14, suggesting this phenotype reflects a novel and conserved function of Cdc14 orthologs in mediating fungal cell wall integrity. In C. albicans, the orthologous cdc14hm allele was sufficient to elicit echinocandin hypersensitivity and perturb cell wall integrity signaling. It also caused striking abnormalities in septum structure and the same cell separation and hyphal differentiation defects previously observed with cdc14 gene deletions. Since hyphal differentiation is important for C. albicans pathogenesis, we assessed the effect of reduced Cdc14 activity on virulence in Galleria mellonella and mouse models of invasive candidiasis. Partial reduction in Cdc14 activity via cdc14hm mutation severely impaired C. albicans virulence in both assays. Our results reveal that high Cdc14 activity is important for C. albicans cell wall integrity and pathogenesis and suggest that Cdc14 may be worth future exploration as an antifungal drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kedric L Milholland
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Ahmed AbdelKhalek
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Kortany M Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Smriti Hoda
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Andrew G DeMarco
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Noelle H Naughton
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Angela N Koeberlein
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Gabrielle R Lorenz
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Kartikan Anandasothy
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | - Sanjeev K Narayanan
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Jaime Correa-Bordes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Scott D Briggs
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Mark C Hall
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Molecular Mechanisms of Antifungal Resistance in Mucormycosis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:6722245. [PMID: 36277891 PMCID: PMC9584669 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6722245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mucormycosis is one among the life-threatening fungal infections with high morbidity and mortality. It is an uncommon and rare infection targeting people with altered immunity. This lethal infection induced by fungi belonging to the Mucorales family is very progressive in nature. The incidence has increased in recent decades owing to the rise in immunocompromised patients. Disease management involves a multimodal strategy including early administration of drugs and surgical removal of infected tissues. Among the antifungals, azoles and amphotericin B remain the gold standard drugs of choice for initial treatment. The order Mucorales are developing a high level of resistance to the available systemic antifungal drugs, and the efficacy still remains below par. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms behind the antifungal resistance in Mucormycosis would add vital information to our available antifungal armamentarium and design novel therapies. Therefore, in this review, we have discussed the mechanisms behind Mucormycosis antifungal resistance. Moreover, this review also highlights the basic mechanisms of action of antifungal drugs and the resistance landscape which is expected to augment future treatment strategies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Epigenetic Regulation of Antifungal Drug Resistance. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080875. [PMID: 36012862 PMCID: PMC9409733 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In medical mycology, epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as key regulators of multiple aspects of fungal biology ranging from development, phenotypic and morphological plasticity to antifungal drug resistance. Emerging resistance to the limited therapeutic options for the treatment of invasive fungal infections is a growing concern. Human fungal pathogens develop drug resistance via multiple mechanisms, with recent studies highlighting the role of epigenetic changes involving the acetylation and methylation of histones, remodeling of chromatin and heterochromatin-based gene silencing, in the acquisition of antifungal resistance. A comprehensive understanding of how pathogens acquire drug resistance will aid the development of new antifungal therapies as well as increase the efficacy of current antifungals by blocking common drug-resistance mechanisms. In this article, we describe the epigenetic mechanisms that affect resistance towards widely used systemic antifungal drugs: azoles, echinocandins and polyenes. Additionally, we review the literature on the possible links between DNA mismatch repair, gene silencing and drug-resistance mechanisms.
Collapse
|
11
|
Lai Y, Wang L, Zheng W, Wang S. Regulatory Roles of Histone Modifications in Filamentous Fungal Pathogens. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8060565. [PMID: 35736048 PMCID: PMC9224773 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungal pathogens have evolved diverse strategies to infect a variety of hosts including plants and insects. The dynamic infection process requires rapid and fine-tuning regulation of fungal gene expression programs in response to the changing host environment and defenses. Therefore, transcriptional reprogramming of fungal pathogens is critical for fungal development and pathogenicity. Histone post-translational modification, one of the main mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of gene expressions, and is involved in, e.g., fungal development, infection-related morphogenesis, environmental stress responses, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and pathogenicity. This review highlights recent findings and insights into regulatory mechanisms of histone methylation and acetylation in fungal development and pathogenicity, as well as their roles in modulating pathogenic fungi–host interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Lai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China; (L.W.); (W.Z.)
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (S.W.)
| | - Lili Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China; (L.W.); (W.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weilu Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China; (L.W.); (W.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sibao Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China; (L.W.); (W.Z.)
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (S.W.)
| |
Collapse
|