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Castano-Duque L, Lebar MD, Mack BM, Lohmar JM, Carter-Wientjes C. Investigating the Impact of Flavonoids on Aspergillus flavus: Insights into Cell Wall Damage and Biofilms. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:665. [PMID: 39330424 DOI: 10.3390/jof10090665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus, a fungus known for producing aflatoxins, poses significant threats to agriculture and global health. Flavonoids, plant-derived compounds, inhibit A. flavus proliferation and mitigate aflatoxin production, although the precise molecular and physical mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated three flavonoids-apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin-applied to A. flavus NRRL 3357. We determined the following: (1) glycosylated luteolin led to a 10% reduction in maximum fungal growth capacity; (2) quercetin affected cell wall integrity by triggering extreme mycelial collapse, while apigenin and luteolin caused peeling of the outer layer of cell wall; (3) luteolin exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity in the environment compared to apigenin and quercetin; (4) osmotic stress assays did not reveal morphological defects; (5) flavonoids promoted cell adherence, a precursor for biofilm formation; and (6) RNA sequencing analysis revealed that flavonoids impact expression of putative cell wall and plasma membrane biosynthesis genes. Our findings suggest that the differential effects of quercetin, luteolin, and apigenin on membrane integrity and biofilm formation may be driven by their interactions with fungal cell walls. These insights may inform the development of novel antifungal additives or plant breeding strategies focusing on plant-derived compounds in crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Castano-Duque
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Matthew D Lebar
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Brian M Mack
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Jessica M Lohmar
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Carol Carter-Wientjes
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
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2
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Dai M, Liu X, Goldman GH, Lu L, Zhang S. The EH domain-containing protein, EdeA, is involved in endocytosis, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere 2024; 9:e0005724. [PMID: 38687129 PMCID: PMC11237632 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00057-24] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis has been extensively studied in yeasts, where it plays crucial roles in growth, signaling regulation, and cell-surface receptor internalization. However, the biological functions of endocytosis in pathogenic filamentous fungi remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to functionally characterize the roles of EdeA, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae endocytic protein Ede1, in Aspergillus fumigatus. EdeA was observed to be distributed as patches on the plasma membrane and concentrated in the subapical collar of hyphae, a localization characteristic of endocytic proteins. Loss of edeA caused defective hyphal polarity, reduced conidial production, and fewer sites of endocytosis initiations than that of the parental wild type. Notably, the edeA null mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to cell wall-disrupting agents, indicating a role for EdeA in maintaining cell wall integrity in A. fumigatus. This observation was further supported by the evidence showing that the thickness of the cell wall in the ΔedeA mutant increased, accompanied by abnormal activation of MpkA, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway. Additionally, the ΔedeA mutant displayed increased pathogenicity in the Galleria mellonella wax moth infection model, possibly due to alterations in cell wall morphology. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the conserved residue E348 within the third EH (Eps15 homology) domain of EdeA as crucial for its subcellular localization and functions. In conclusion, our results highlight the involvement of EdeA in endocytosis, hyphal polarity, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in A. fumigatus. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is a significant human pathogenic fungus known to cause invasive aspergillosis, a disease with a high mortality rate. Understanding the basic principles of A. fumigatus pathogenicity is crucial for developing effective strategies against this pathogen. Previous research has underscored the importance of endocytosis in the infection capacity of pathogenic yeasts; however, its biological function in pathogenic mold remains largely unexplored. Our characterization of EdeA in A. fumigatus sheds light on the role of endocytosis in the development, stress response, and pathogenicity of pathogenic molds. These findings suggest that the components of the endocytosis process may serve as potential targets for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xintian Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shizhu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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3
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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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4
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Son YE, Han J, Lee KT, Park HS. Pleiotropic functions of SscA on the asexual spore of the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Mycology 2023; 15:238-254. [PMID: 38813476 PMCID: PMC11132850 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2294061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Asexual spores, called conidia, are key reproductive fungal particles that enable survival in harsh environmental conditions or host systems. The conidia can infect humans, animals, and plants to cause various fungal diseases. Transcription factors, including VosA, WetA, and SscA, have key roles in conidia formation and long-term survival in Aspergillus nidulans. Herein, we report the pleiotropic functions of SscA in the conidia of the human pathogen A. fumigatus. The deletion of sscA increased conidia formation despite decreased fungal growth. Absence of sscA impaired long-term survival and reduced spore resistance to various stresses, including heat, UV, and oxidation. Transcriptomic analyses showed that SscA involved the mRNA expression of cell wall organisation-related genes. Importantly, the sscA deletion mutant conidia contained an increased amount of β-glucan and chitin compared to wild type conidia. In addition, conidial gliotoxin production was decreased in the sscA deletion strain. Overall, SscA has pleiotropic roles in conidia formation, maturation and dormancy and mycotoxin production in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Eun Son
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoo Han
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Tae Lee
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Soo Park
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Department of Integrative Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Fabri JHTM, Rocha MC, Fernandes CM, Campanella JEM, da Cunha AF, Del Poeta M, Malavazi I. The Heat Shock Transcription Factor HsfA Plays a Role in Membrane Lipids Biosynthesis Connecting Thermotolerance and Unsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0162723. [PMID: 37195179 PMCID: PMC10269545 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01627-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermotolerance is a remarkable virulence attribute of Aspergillus fumigatus, but the consequences of heat shock (HS) to the cell membrane of this fungus are unknown, although this structure is one of the first to detect changes in ambient temperature that imposes on the cell a prompt adaptative response. Under high-temperature stress, fungi trigger the HS response controlled by heat shock transcription factors, such as HsfA, which regulates the expression of heat shock proteins. In yeast, smaller amounts of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid (FA) chains are synthesized in response to HS, directly affecting plasma membrane composition. The addition of double bonds in saturated FA is catalyzed by Δ9-fatty acid desaturases, whose expression is temperature-modulated. However, the relationship between HS and saturated/unsaturated FA balance in membrane lipids of A. fumigatus in response to HS has not been investigated. Here, we found that HsfA responds to plasma membrane stress and has a role in sphingolipid and phospholipid unsaturated biosynthesis. In addition, we studied the A. fumigatus Δ9-fatty acid desaturase sdeA and discovered that this gene is essential and required for unsaturated FA biosynthesis, although it did not directly affect the total levels of phospholipids and sphingolipids. sdeA depletion significantly sensitizes mature A. fumigatus biofilms to caspofungin. Also, we demonstrate that hsfA controls sdeA expression, while SdeA and Hsp90 physically interact. Our results suggest that HsfA is required for the adaptation of the fungal plasma membrane to HS and point out a sharp relationship between thermotolerance and FA metabolism in A. fumigatus. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a life-threatening infection accounting for high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. The ability of this organism to grow at elevated temperatures is long recognized as an essential attribute for this mold to cause disease. A. fumigatus responds to heat stress by activating heat shock transcription factors and chaperones to orchestrate cellular responses that protect the fungus against damage caused by heat. Concomitantly, the cell membrane must adapt to heat and maintain physical and chemical properties such as the balance between saturated/unsaturated fatty acids. However, how A. fumigatus connects these two physiological responses is unclear. Here, we explain that HsfA affects the synthesis of complex membrane lipids such as phospholipids and sphingolipids and controls the enzyme SdeA, which produces monounsaturated fatty acids, raw material for membrane lipids. These findings suggest that forced dysregulation of saturated/unsaturated fatty acid balance might represent novel strategies for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Henrique Tadini Marilhano Fabri
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Mota Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jonatas Erick Maimoni Campanella
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson Ferreira da Cunha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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6
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Fu T, Kang SW, Song YW, Kim KS. The Cell Wall Integrity MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway Is Required for Development, Pathogenicity, and Stress Adaption of the Pepper Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum scovillei. MYCOBIOLOGY 2023; 51:178-185. [PMID: 37359959 PMCID: PMC10288896 DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2023.2220171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway plays important roles in the dissemination and infection of several plant pathogenic fungi. However, its roles in the pepper fruit anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum scovillei remain uninvestigated. In this study, the major components of the CWI signaling pathway-CsMCK1 (MAPKKK), CsMKK1 (MAPKK), and CsMPS1 (MAPK)-were functionally characterized in C. scovillei via homology-dependent gene replacement. The ΔCsmck1, ΔCsmkk1, and ΔCsmps1 mutants showed impairments in fungal growth, conidiation, and tolerance to CWI and salt stresses. Moreover, ΔCsmck1, ΔCsmkk1, and ΔCsmps1 failed to develop anthracnose disease on pepper fruits due to defects in appressorium formation and invasive hyphae growth. These results suggest that CsMCK1, CsMKK1, and CsMPS1 play important roles in mycelial growth, conidiation, appressorium formation, plant infection, and stress adaption of C. scovillei. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the roles of the CWI signaling pathway in the development of pepper fruit anthracnose disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Fu
- Division of Bio-Resource Sciences and Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Sung Wook Kang
- Division of Bio-Resource Sciences and Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Yong-Won Song
- Division of Bio-Resource Sciences and Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Kyoung Su Kim
- Division of Bio-Resource Sciences and Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
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7
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Sass G, Kotta-Loizou I, Martinez M, Larwood DJ, Stevens DA. Polymycovirus Infection Sensitizes Aspergillus fumigatus for Antifungal Effects of Nikkomycin Z. Viruses 2023; 15:197. [PMID: 36680240 PMCID: PMC9864188 DOI: 10.3390/v15010197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Aspergillus fumigatus polymycovirus 1 (AfuPmV-1) weakens resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus common reference strain Af293 biofilms in intermicrobial competition with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We compared the sensitivity of two infected and one virus-free Af293 strains to antifungal drugs. All three were comparably sensitive to drugs affecting fungal membranes (voriconazole, amphotericin) or cell wall glucan synthesis (micafungin, caspofungin). In contrast, forming biofilms of virus-free Af293 were much more resistant than AfuPmV-1-infected Af293 to nikkomycin Z (NikZ), a drug inhibiting chitin synthase. The IC50 for NikZ on biofilms was between 3.8 and 7.5 µg/mL for virus-free Af293 and 0.94-1.88 µg/mL for infected strains. The IC50 for the virus-free A. fumigatus strain 10AF was ~2 µg/mL in most experiments. NikZ also modestly affected the planktonic growth of infected Af293 more than the virus-free strain (MIC 50%, 2 and 4 µg/mL, respectively). Virus-free Af293 biofilm showed increased metabolism, and fungus growing as biofilm or planktonically showed increased growth compared to infected; these differences do not explain the resistance of the virus-free fungus to NikZ. In summary, AfuPmV-1 infection sensitized A. fumigatus to NikZ, but did not affect response to drugs commonly used against A. fumigatus infection. Virus infection had a greater effect on NikZ inhibition of biofilm than planktonic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Sass
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
| | - Ioly Kotta-Loizou
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Marife Martinez
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
| | | | - David A. Stevens
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Song L, Shrivastava N, Gai Y, Li D, Cai W, Shen Y, Lin FC, Liu J, Wang H. Role of the blue light receptor gene Icwc-1 in mycelium growth and fruiting body formation of Isaria cicadae. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1038034. [PMID: 36704565 PMCID: PMC9871644 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1038034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Isaria cicadae, is well known highly prized medicinal mushroom with great demand in food and pharmaceutical industry. Due to its economic value and therapeutic uses, natural sources of wild I. cicadae are over-exploited and reducing continuously. Therefore, commercial cultivation in controlled environment is an utmost requirement to fulfill the consumer's demand. Due to the lack of knowledge on fruiting body (synnemata) development and regulation, commercial cultivation is currently in a difficult situation. In the growth cycle of macrofungi, such as mushrooms, light is the main factor affecting growth and development, but so far, specific effects of light on the growth and development of I. cicadae is unknown. In this study, we identified a blue light receptor white-collar-1 (Icwc-1) gene homologue with well-defined functions in morphological development in I. cicadae based on gene knockout technology and transcriptomic analysis. It was found that the Icwc-1 gene significantly affected hyphal growth and fruiting body development. This study confirms that Icwc-1 acts as an upstream regulatory gene that regulates genes associated with fruiting body formation, pigment-forming genes, and related genes for enzyme synthesis. Transcriptome data analysis also found that Icwc-1 affects many important metabolic pathways of I. cicadae, i.e., amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. The above findings will not only provide a comprehensive understanding about the molecular mechanism of light regulation in I. cicadae, but also provide new insights for future breeding program and improving this functional food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,Shanxi Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi for Loess Plateau, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Neeraj Shrivastava
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Yunpeng Gai
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi for Loess Plateau, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Weiming Cai
- Institute of Horticulture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingyue Shen
- Institute of Horticulture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fu-Cheng Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Liu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Edible Fungi for Loess Plateau, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China,*Correspondence: Jingyu Liu, ; Hongkai Wang,
| | - Hongkai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Jingyu Liu, ; Hongkai Wang,
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9
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Brauer VS, Pessoni AM, Freitas MS, Cavalcanti-Neto MP, Ries LNA, Almeida F. Chitin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9010089. [PMID: 36675910 PMCID: PMC9865612 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010089] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall (FCW) is a dynamic structure responsible for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and is essential for modulating the interaction of the fungus with its environment. It is composed of proteins, lipids, pigments and polysaccharides, including chitin. Chitin synthesis is catalyzed by chitin synthases (CS), and up to eight CS-encoding genes can be found in Aspergillus species. This review discusses in detail the chitin synthesis and regulation in Aspergillus species, and how manipulation of chitin synthesis pathways can modulate fungal growth, enzyme production, virulence and susceptibility to antifungal agents. More specifically, the metabolic steps involved in chitin biosynthesis are described with an emphasis on how the initiation of chitin biosynthesis remains unknown. A description of the classification, localization and transport of CS was also made. Chitin biosynthesis is shown to underlie a complex regulatory network, with extensive cross-talks existing between the different signaling pathways. Furthermore, pathways and recently identified regulators of chitin biosynthesis during the caspofungin paradoxical effect (CPE) are described. The effect of a chitin on the mammalian immune system is also discussed. Lastly, interference with chitin biosynthesis may also be beneficial for biotechnological applications. Even after more than 30 years of research, chitin biosynthesis remains a topic of current interest in mycology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica S. Brauer
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01000-000, Brazil
| | - André M. Pessoni
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01000-000, Brazil
| | - Mateus S. Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01000-000, Brazil
| | - Marinaldo P. Cavalcanti-Neto
- Integrated Laboratory of Morphofunctional Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability (NUPEM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 27965-045, Brazil
| | - Laure N. A. Ries
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Correspondence: (L.N.A.R.); (F.A.)
| | - Fausto Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01000-000, Brazil
- Correspondence: (L.N.A.R.); (F.A.)
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10
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Micocci KC, Moreira AC, Sanchez AD, Pettinatti JL, Rocha MC, Dionizio BS, Correa KCS, Malavazi I, Wouters FC, Bueno OC, Souza DHF. Identification, cloning, and characterization of a novel chitinase from leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens: An enzyme with antifungal and insecticidal activity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130249. [PMID: 36183893 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2022.130249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of insects, fungi, yeast, and internal structures of other vertebrates. Although chitinases isolated from bacteria, fungi and plants have been reported to have antifungal or insecticide activities, chitinases from insects with these activities have been seldomly reported. In this study, a leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens DNA fragment containing 1623 base pairs was amplified and cloned into a vector to express the protein (AsChtII-C4B1) in Pichia pastoris. AsChtII-C4B1, which contains one catalytic domain and one carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), was secreted to the extracellular medium and purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by nickel column chromatography. AsChtII-C4B1 showed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and 55 °C when tested against colloidal chitin substrate and maintained >60% of its maximal activity in different temperatures during 48 h. AsChtII-C4B1 decreased the survival of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae fed with an artificial diet that contained AsChtII-C4B1. Our results have indicated that AsChtII-C4B1 has a higher effect on larva-pupa than larva-larva molts. AsChtII-C4B1 activity targets more specifically the growth of filamentous fungus than yeast. This work describes, for the first time, the obtaining a recombinant chitinase from ants and the characterization of its insecticidal and antifungal activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli C Micocci
- Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University "Julio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariele C Moreira
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda D Sanchez
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Jessica L Pettinatti
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Marina C Rocha
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna S Dionizio
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Katia C S Correa
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe C Wouters
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Odair C Bueno
- Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University "Julio de Mesquita Filho", Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Dulce Helena F Souza
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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11
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Verburg K, van Neer J, Duca M, de Cock H. Novel Treatment Approach for Aspergilloses by Targeting Germination. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:758. [PMID: 35893126 PMCID: PMC9331470 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Germination of conidia is an essential process within the Aspergillus life cycle and plays a major role during the infection of hosts. Conidia are able to avoid detection by the majority of leukocytes when dormant. Germination can cause severe health problems, specifically in immunocompromised people. Aspergillosis is most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) and affects neutropenic patients, as well as people with cystic fibrosis (CF). These patients are often unable to effectively detect and clear the conidia or hyphae and can develop chronic non-invasive and/or invasive infections or allergic inflammatory responses. Current treatments with (tri)azoles can be very effective to combat a variety of fungal infections. However, resistance against current azoles has emerged and has been increasing since 1998. As a consequence, patients infected with resistant A. fumigatus have a reported mortality rate of 88% to 100%. Especially with the growing number of patients that harbor azole-resistant Aspergilli, novel antifungals could provide an alternative. Aspergilloses differ in defining characteristics, but germination of conidia is one of the few common denominators. By specifically targeting conidial germination with novel antifungals, early intervention might be possible. In this review, we propose several morphotypes to disrupt conidial germination, as well as potential targets. Hopefully, new antifungals against such targets could contribute to disturbing the ability of Aspergilli to germinate and grow, resulting in a decreased fungal burden on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Verburg
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
| | - Jacq van Neer
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
| | - Margherita Duca
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Hans de Cock
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
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12
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Yin M, Li C, Zhang L, Zhang L, Lin J, Jiang N, Wang Q, Xu Q, Zheng H, Gu L, Jia Y, Yu B, Zhao G. Mechanism of antifungal activity and therapeutic action of β-ionone on Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis via suppressing LOX1 and JNK/p38 MAPK activation. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108992. [PMID: 35810488 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antifungal role of β-ionone (BI) in fungal keratitis (FK). METHODS In vitro antifungal activity of BI against Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) was evaluated by using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), crystal violet staining, biofilm biomass measurement, propidium iodide uptake test, and adherence assay. And RT-PCR was carried out to measure the levels of RodA, RodB, Rho, FKs, CshA-D, RlmA, Cyp51A-B and Cdr1B. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to predict the relationship between BI and FK. Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was utilized to detect the cytotoxicity of BI to RAW264.7 and immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). The underlying mechanism of BI at regulating the level of inflammatory factors in FK was assessed by RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic effect of BI has investigated in A. fumigatus keratitis by employing the clinical score, pathological examination, plate count, immunofluorescence and myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. We also used the slit-lamp microscopy, clinical scores, and HE staining to assess the effect of natamycin compared with BI treatment in vivo. RESULTS BI suppressed the growth of A. fumigatus and had a significant effect on A. fumigatus biofilms and membrane permeability. RT-PCR demonstrated that exposure of A. fumigatus to BI inhibited the expression of genes that function in hydrophobin (RodA, RodB), cell wall integrity (Rho, FKs, CshA-D, RlmA), azole susceptibility (Cyp51A-B, Cdr1B). Network pharmacology showed that the effects of BI in FK implicate with C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway. In vivo, after A. fumigatus infection, BI treatment markedly reduced the severity of FK by decreasing clinical score, neutrophil recruitment, and fungal load. And BI treatment also obviously reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor (LOX-1), phosphorylation of p38MAPK and p-JNK versus the DMSO-treated group. BI and natamycin both significantly increased corneal transparency and decreased inflammatory cell recruitment in the FK in the mice model. CONCLUSION These results indicated that BI had fungicidal activities against A. fumigatus. It also ameliorated FK in mice by reducing inflammation, which was regulated by LOX-1, p-p38MAPK and p-JNK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Cui Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Leyuan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Jing Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qain Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Hengrui Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Lingwen Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yiyi Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Guiqiu Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
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13
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Zhang YZ, Li B, Pan YT, Fang YL, Li DW, Huang L. Protein Phosphatase CgPpz1 Regulates Potassium Uptake, Stress Responses, and Plant Infection in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 112:820-829. [PMID: 34689611 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-21-0051-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Protein phosphatases play important roles in the regulation of various cellular processes in eukaryotes. The ascomycete Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a causal agent of anthracnose disease on some important crops and trees. In this study, CgPPZ1, a protein phosphate gene and a homolog of yeast PPZ1, was identified in C. gloeosporioides. Targeted gene deletion showed that CgPpz1 was important for vegetative growth and asexual development, conidial germination, and plant infection. Cytological examinations revealed that CgPpz1 was localized to the cytoplasm. The ΔCgppz1 mutant was hypersensitive to osmotic stresses, cell wall stressors, and oxidative stressors. Taken together, our results indicated that CgPpz1 plays an important role in the fungal development and virulence of C. gloeosporioides and the multiple stress responses generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Zhao Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Bing Li
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yu-Ting Pan
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Yu-Lan Fang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - De-Wei Li
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT 06095, U.S.A
| | - Lin Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
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14
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Colabardini AC, Wang F, Dong Z, Pardeshi L, Rocha MC, Costa JH, dos Reis TF, Brown A, Jaber QZ, Fridman M, Fill T, Rokas A, Malavazi I, Wong KH, Goldman GH. Heterogeneity in the transcriptional response of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to the antifungal agent caspofungin. Genetics 2022; 220:iyab183. [PMID: 34718550 PMCID: PMC8733440 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), a severe disease that affects immunosuppressed patients worldwide. The fungistatic drug caspofungin (CSP) is the second line of therapy against IPA but has increasingly been used against clinical strains that are resistant to azoles, the first line antifungal therapy. In high concentrations, CSP induces a tolerance phenotype with partial reestablishment of fungal growth called CSP paradoxical effect (CPE), resulting from a change in the composition of the cell wall. An increasing number of studies has shown that different isolates of A. fumigatus exhibit phenotypic heterogeneity, including heterogeneity in their CPE response. To gain insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of CPE response heterogeneity, we analyzed the transcriptomes of two A. fumigatus reference strains, Af293 and CEA17, exposed to low and high CSP concentrations. We found that there is a core transcriptional response that involves genes related to cell wall remodeling processes, mitochondrial function, transmembrane transport, and amino acid and ergosterol metabolism, and a variable response related to secondary metabolite (SM) biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. Specifically, we show here that the overexpression of a SM pathway that works as an iron chelator extinguishes the CPE in both backgrounds, whereas iron depletion is detrimental for the CPE in Af293 but not in CEA17. We next investigated the function of the transcription factor CrzA, whose deletion was previously shown to result in heterogeneity in the CPE response of the Af293 and CEA17 strains. We found that CrzA constitutively binds to and modulates the expression of several genes related to processes involved in CSP tolerance and that crzA deletion differentially impacts the SM production and growth of Af293 and CEA17. As opposed to the ΔcrzACEA17 mutant, the ΔcrzAAf293 mutant fails to activate cell wall remodeling genes upon CSP exposure, which most likely severely affects its macrostructure and extinguishes its CPE. This study describes how heterogeneity in the response to an antifungal agent between A. fumigatus strains stems from heterogeneity in the function of a transcription factor and its downstream target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Lakhansing Pardeshi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Genomics, Bioinformatics and Single Cell Analysis Core, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Jonas Henrique Costa
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo CEP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Alec Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Qais Z Jaber
- School of Chemistry, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Micha Fridman
- School of Chemistry, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Taicia Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo CEP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Koon Ho Wong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Gustavo Henrique Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
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15
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Song X, Zhao Q, Zhou A, Wen X, Li M, Li R, Liao X, Xu T. The Antifungal Effects of Citral on Magnaporthe oryzae Occur via Modulation of Chitin Content as Revealed by RNA-Seq Analysis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7121023. [PMID: 34947005 PMCID: PMC8704549 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural product citral has previously been demonstrated to possess antifungal activity against Magnaporthe oryzae. The purpose of this study was to screen and annotate genes that were differentially expressed (DEGs) in M. oryzae after treatment with citral using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Thereafter, samples were reprepared for quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis verification of RNA-seq data. The results showed that 649 DEGs in M. oryzae were significantly affected after treatment with citral (100 μg/mL) for 24 h. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and a gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolic pathways, including the chitin synthesis pathway and UDP sugar synthesis pathway. The results of the RT-qPCR analysis also showed that the chitin present in M. oryzae might be degraded to chitosan, chitobiose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and β-D-fructose-6-phosphate following treatment with citral. Chitin degradation was indicated by damaged cell-wall integrity. Moreover, the UDP glucose synthesis pathway was involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, providing precursors for the synthesis of polysaccharides. Galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, which is involved in the regulation of UDP-α-D-galactose and α-D-galactose-1-phosphate, was downregulated. This would result in the inhibition of UDP glucose (UDP-Glc) synthesis, a reduction in cell-wall glucan content, and the destruction of cell-wall integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchen Song
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qijun Zhao
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Aiai Zhou
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiaodong Wen
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Ming Li
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Rongyu Li
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-151-8514-8063
| | - Xun Liao
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Tengzhi Xu
- Institute of Crop Protection, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (X.S.); (Q.Z.); (A.Z.); (X.W.); (M.L.); (X.L.); (T.X.)
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management in Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China
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16
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Mattoon ER, Casadevall A, Cordero RJB. Beat the heat: correlates, compounds, and mechanisms involved in fungal thermotolerance. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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17
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Fabri JHTM, Rocha MC, Fernandes CM, Persinoti GF, Ries LNA, da Cunha AF, Goldman GH, Del Poeta M, Malavazi I. The Heat Shock Transcription Factor HsfA Is Essential for Thermotolerance and Regulates Cell Wall Integrity in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:656548. [PMID: 33897671 PMCID: PMC8062887 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.656548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The deleterious effects of human-induced climate change have long been predicted. However, the imminent emergence and spread of new diseases, including fungal infections through the rise of thermotolerant strains, is still neglected, despite being a potential consequence of global warming. Thermotolerance is a remarkable virulence attribute of the mold Aspergillus fumigatus. Under high-temperature stress, opportunistic fungal pathogens deploy an adaptive mechanism known as heat shock (HS) response controlled by heat shock transcription factors (HSFs). In eukaryotes, HSFs regulate the expression of several heat shock proteins (HSPs), such as the chaperone Hsp90, which is part of the cellular program for heat adaptation and a direct target of HSFs. We recently observed that the perturbation in cell wall integrity (CWI) causes concomitant susceptibility to elevated temperatures in A. fumigatus, although the mechanisms underpinning the HS response and CWI cross talking are not elucidated. Here, we aim at further deciphering the interplay between HS and CWI. Our results show that cell wall ultrastructure is severely modified when A. fumigatus is exposed to HS. We identify the transcription factor HsfA as essential for A. fumigatus viability, thermotolerance, and CWI. Indeed, HS and cell wall stress trigger the coordinated expression of both hsfA and hsp90. Furthermore, the CWI signaling pathway components PkcA and MpkA were shown to be important for HsfA and Hsp90 expression in the A. fumigatus biofilms. Lastly, RNA-sequencing confirmed that hsfA regulates the expression of genes related to the HS response, cell wall biosynthesis and remodeling, and lipid homeostasis. Our studies collectively demonstrate the connection between the HS and the CWI pathway, with HsfA playing a crucial role in this cross-pathway regulation, reinforcing the importance of the cell wall in A. fumigatus thermophily.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Caroline Mota Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Gabriela Felix Persinoti
- Laboratório Nacional de Biorrenováveis (LNBR), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Anderson Ferreira da Cunha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Henrique Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, United States
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
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18
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Rocha MC, Fabri JHTM, Silva LP, Angolini CFF, Bertolini MC, da Cunha AF, Valiante V, Goldman GH, Fill TP, Malavazi I. Transcriptional Control of the Production of Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia-Borne Secondary Metabolite Fumiquinazoline C Important for Phagocytosis Protection. Genetics 2021; 218:6168429. [PMID: 33705521 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus produces diverse secondary metabolites whose biological functions and regulation remain to be understood. Despite the importance of the conidia for this fungus, the role of the conidia-born metabolite fumiquinazoline C (FqC) is unclear. Here, we describe a dual function of the cell-wall integrity pathway in regulating FqC biosynthesis dictated by the MAPK kinase MpkA, which phosphorylates one of the nonribosomal peptide synthetases enzymes of the cluster (FmqC), and the transcription factor RlmA, which directly regulates the expression of fmq genes. Another level of crosstalk between the FqC regulation and the cell physiology is described since the deletion of the stress-responsive transcription factor sebA provokes derepression of the fmq cluster and overproduction of FqC. Thus, we describe a mechanism by which A. fumigatus controls FqC biosynthesis orchestrated by MpkA-RlmA and SebA and hence enabling survival and adaptation to the environmental niche, given that FqC is a deterrent of ameba predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Henrique Tadini Marilhano Fabri
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lilian Pereira Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Célia Bertolini
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Tecnologia, Instituto de Química de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson Ferreira da Cunha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vito Valiante
- Leibniz Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Gustavo Henrique Goldman
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Taicia Pacheco Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Rocha MC, Minari K, Fabri JHTM, Kerkaert JD, Gava LM, da Cunha AF, Cramer RA, Borges JC, Malavazi I. Aspergillus fumigatus Hsp90 interacts with the main components of the cell wall integrity pathway and cooperates in heat shock and cell wall stress adaptation. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13273. [PMID: 33010083 PMCID: PMC7855945 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The initiation of Aspergillus fumigatus infection occurs via dormant conidia deposition into the airways. Therefore, conidial germination and subsequent hyphal extension and growth occur in a sustained heat shock (HS) environment promoted by the host. The cell wall integrity pathway (CWIP) and the essential eukaryotic chaperone Hsp90 are critical for fungi to survive HS. Although A. fumigatus is a thermophilic fungus, the mechanisms underpinning the HS response are not thoroughly described and important to define its role in pathogenesis, virulence and antifungal drug responses. Here, we investigate the contribution of the CWIP in A. fumigatus thermotolerance. We observed that the CWIP components PkcA, MpkA and RlmA are Hsp90 clients and that a PkcAG579R mutation abolishes this interaction. PkcAG579R also abolishes MpkA activation in the short-term response to HS. Biochemical and biophysical analyses indicated that Hsp90 is a dimeric functional ATPase, which has a higher affinity for ADP than ATP and prevents MpkA aggregation in vitro. Our data suggest that the CWIP is constitutively required for A. fumigatus to cope with the temperature increase found in the mammalian lung environment, emphasising the importance of this pathway in supporting thermotolerance and cell wall integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Karine Minari
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | | | - Joshua D Kerkaert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Lisandra Marques Gava
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Anderson Ferreira da Cunha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Robert A Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Júlio César Borges
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
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20
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Cell Wall Composition Heterogeneity between Single Cells in Aspergillus fumigatus Leads to Heterogeneous Behavior during Antifungal Treatment and Phagocytosis. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.03015-19. [PMID: 32398317 PMCID: PMC7218287 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03015-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus can cause invasive lung diseases in immunocompromised patients resulting in high mortality. Treatment using antifungal compounds is often unsuccessful. Average population measurements hide what is happening at the individual cell level. We set out to test what impact individual differences between the cell walls of fungal conidia have on their behavior. We show that a population of cells having the same genetic background gives rise to subpopulations of cells that exhibit distinct behavior (phenotypic heterogeneity). This cell heterogeneity is dependent on the strain type, gene deletions, cell age, and environmental conditions. By looking at the individual cell level, we discovered subpopulations of cells that show differential fitness during antifungal treatment and uptake by immune cells. Aspergillus fumigatus can cause a variety of lung diseases in immunocompromised patients, including life-threatening invasive aspergillosis. There are only three main classes of antifungal drugs currently used to treat aspergillosis, and antifungal resistance is increasing. Experimental results in fungal biology research are usually obtained as average measurements across whole populations while ignoring what is happening at the single cell level. In this study, we show that conidia with the same genetic background in the same cell population at a similar developmental stage show heterogeneity in their cell wall labeling at the single cell level. We present a rigorous statistical method, newly applied to quantify the level of cell heterogeneity, which allows for direct comparison of the heterogeneity observed between treatments. We show the extent of cell wall labeling heterogeneity in dormant conidia and how the level of heterogeneity changes during germination. The degree of heterogeneity is influenced by deletions of cell wall synthesizing genes and environmental conditions, including medium composition, method of inoculation, age of conidia, and the presence of antifungals. This heterogeneity results in subpopulations of germinating conidia with heterogeneous fitness to the antifungal caspofungin, which targets cell wall synthesis and heterogeneous sensitivity of dormant conidia to phagocytosis by macrophages.
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