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Wang D, Lin H, Shan Y, Song J, Zhang DD, Dai XF, Han D, Chen JY. The potential of Burkholderia gladioli KRS027 in plant growth promotion and biocontrol against Verticillium dahliae revealed by dual transcriptome of pathogen and host. Microbiol Res 2024; 287:127836. [PMID: 39018831 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Verticillium dahliae is a destructive, soil-borne pathogen that causes significant losses on numerous important dicots. Recently, beneficial microbes inhabiting the rhizosphere have been exploited and used to control plant diseases. In the present study, Burkholderia gladioli KRS027 demonstrated excellent inhibitory effects against Verticillium wilt in cotton seedlings. Plant growth and development was promoted by affecting the biosynthesis and signaling pathways of brassinosteroids (BRs), gibberellins (GAs), and auxins, consequently promoting stem elongation, shoot apical meristem, and root apical tissue division in cotton. Furthermore, based on the host transcriptional response to V. dahliae infection, it was found that KRS027 modulates the plants to maintain cell homeostasis and respond to other pathogen stress. Moreover, KRS027 induced disruption of V. dahliae cellular structures, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Based on the comparative transcriptomic analysis between KRS027 treated and control group of V. dahliae, KRS027 induced substantial alterations in the transcriptome, particularly affecting genes encoding secreted proteins, small cysteine-rich proteins (SCRPs), and protein kinases. In addition, KRS027 suppressed the growth of different clonal lineages of V. dahliae strains through metabolites, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by KRS027 inhibited melanin biosynthesis and microsclerotia development. These findings provide valuable insights into an alternative biocontrol strategy for Verticillium wilt, demonstrating that the antagonistic bacterium KRS027 holds promise as a biocontrol agent for promoting plant growth and managing disease occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Haiping Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yujia Shan
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jian Song
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Dai
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Dongfei Han
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China; State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Jie-Yin Chen
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China.
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2
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Jayaraman A, Walachowski S, Bosmann M. The complement system: A key player in the host response to infections. Eur J Immunol 2024:e2350814. [PMID: 39188171 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350814] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Infections are one of the most significant healthcare and economic burdens across the world as underscored by the recent coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, with the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need to better understand host-pathogen interactions to design effective treatment strategies. The complement system is a key arsenal of the host defense response to pathogens and bridges both innate and adaptive immunity. However, in the contest between pathogens and host defense mechanisms, the host is not always victorious. Pathogens have evolved several approaches, including co-opting the host complement regulators to evade complement-mediated killing. Furthermore, deficiencies in the complement proteins, both genetic and therapeutic, can lead to an inefficient complement-mediated pathogen eradication, rendering the host more susceptible to certain infections. On the other hand, overwhelming infection can provoke fulminant complement activation with uncontrolled inflammation and potentially fatal tissue and organ damage. This review presents an overview of critical aspects of the complement-pathogen interactions during infection and discusses perspectives on designing therapies to mitigate complement dysfunction and limit tissue injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Jayaraman
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Walachowski
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Markus Bosmann
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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3
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Reedy JL, Jensen KN, Crossen AJ, Basham KJ, Ward RA, Reardon CM, Brown Harding H, Hepworth OW, Simaku P, Kwaku GN, Tone K, Willment JA, Reid DM, Stappers MHT, Brown GD, Rajagopal J, Vyas JM. Fungal melanin suppresses airway epithelial chemokine secretion through blockade of calcium fluxing. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5817. [PMID: 38987270 PMCID: PMC11237042 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50100-x] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infections caused by the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of mortality for immunocompromised patients. Exposure to these pathogens occurs through inhalation, although the role of the respiratory epithelium in disease pathogenesis has not been fully defined. Employing a primary human airway epithelial model, we demonstrate that fungal melanins potently block the post-translational secretion of the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL8 independent of transcription or the requirement of melanin to be phagocytosed, leading to a significant reduction in neutrophil recruitment to the apical airway both in vitro and in vivo. Aspergillus-derived melanin, a major constituent of the fungal cell wall, dampened airway epithelial chemokine secretion in response to fungi, bacteria, and exogenous cytokines. Furthermore, melanin muted pathogen-mediated calcium fluxing and hindered actin filamentation. Taken together, our results reveal a critical role for melanin interaction with airway epithelium in shaping the host response to fungal and bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Reedy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kirstine Nolling Jensen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arianne J Crossen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kyle J Basham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Ward
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher M Reardon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hannah Brown Harding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olivia W Hepworth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia Simaku
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geneva N Kwaku
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kazuya Tone
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Janet A Willment
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Delyth M Reid
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mark H T Stappers
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon D Brown
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jayaraj Rajagopal
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jatin M Vyas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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Curtis A, Dobes P, Marciniak J, Hurychova J, Hyrsl P, Kavanagh K. Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus secretome during sublethal infection of Galleria mellonella larvae. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73:001844. [PMID: 38836745 PMCID: PMC11261830 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. The fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus can induce prolonged colonization of the lungs of susceptible patients, resulting in conditions such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.Hypothesis. Analysis of the A. fumigatus secretome released during sub-lethal infection of G. mellonella larvae may give an insight into products released during prolonged human colonisation.Methodology. Galleria mellonella larvae were infected with A. fumigatus, and the metabolism of host carbohydrate and proteins and production of fungal virulence factors were analysed. Label-free qualitative proteomic analysis was performed to identify fungal proteins in larvae at 96 hours post-infection and also to identify changes in the Galleria proteome as a result of infection.Results. Infected larvae demonstrated increasing concentrations of gliotoxin and siderophore and displayed reduced amounts of haemolymph carbohydrate and protein. Fungal proteins (399) were detected by qualitative proteomic analysis in cell-free haemolymph at 96 hours and could be categorized into seven groups, including virulence (n = 25), stress response (n = 34), DNA repair and replication (n = 39), translation (n = 22), metabolism (n = 42), released intracellular (n = 28) and cellular development and cell cycle (n = 53). Analysis of the Gallerial proteome at 96 hours post-infection revealed changes in the abundance of proteins associated with immune function, metabolism, cellular structure, insect development, transcription/translation and detoxification.Conclusion. Characterizing the impact of the fungal secretome on the host may provide an insight into how A. fumigatus damages tissue and suppresses the immune response during long-term pulmonary colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Curtis
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Pavel Dobes
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jacek Marciniak
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Hurychova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hyrsl
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Reedy JL, Jensen KN, Crossen AJ, Basham KJ, Ward RA, Reardon CM, Harding HB, Hepworth OW, Simaku P, Kwaku GN, Tone K, Willment JA, Reid DM, Stappers MHT, Brown GD, Rajagopal J, Vyas JM. Fungal melanin suppresses airway epithelial chemokine secretion through blockade of calcium fluxing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.28.534632. [PMID: 37034634 PMCID: PMC10081279 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory infections caused by the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of mortality for immunocompromised patients. Exposure to these pathogens occurs through inhalation, although the role of the respiratory epithelium in disease pathogenesis has not been fully defined. Employing a primary human airway epithelial model, we demonstrate that fungal melanins potently block the post-translational secretion of the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL8 independent of transcription or the requirement of melanin to be phagocytosed, leading to a significant reduction in neutrophil recruitment to the apical airway both in vitro and in vivo . Aspergillus -derived melanin, a major constituent of the fungal cell wall, dampened airway epithelial chemokine secretion in response to fungi, bacteria, and exogenous cytokines. Furthermore, melanin muted pathogen-mediated calcium fluxing and hindered actin filamentation. Taken together, our results reveal a critical role for melanin interaction with airway epithelium in shaping the host response to fungal and bacterial pathogens.
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Seo HW, Wassano NS, Amir Rawa MS, Nickles GR, Damasio A, Keller NP. A Timeline of Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Discovery in Aspergillus fumigatus: From Characterization to Future Perspectives. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:266. [PMID: 38667937 PMCID: PMC11051388 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040266] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In 1999, the first biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), synthesizing the virulence factor DHN melanin, was characterized in Aspergillus fumigatus. Since then, 19 additional BGCs have been linked to specific secondary metabolites (SMs) in this species. Here, we provide a comprehensive timeline of A. fumigatus BGC discovery and find that initial advances centered around the commonly expressed SMs where chemical structure informed rationale identification of the producing BGC (e.g., gliotoxin, fumigaclavine, fumitremorgin, pseurotin A, helvolic acid, fumiquinazoline). Further advances followed the transcriptional profiling of a ΔlaeA mutant, which aided in the identification of endocrocin, fumagillin, hexadehydroastechrome, trypacidin, and fumisoquin BGCs. These SMs and their precursors are the commonly produced metabolites in most A. fumigatus studies. Characterization of other BGC/SM pairs required additional efforts, such as induction treatments, including co-culture with bacteria (fumicycline/neosartoricin, fumigermin) or growth under copper starvation (fumivaline, fumicicolin). Finally, four BGC/SM pairs were discovered via overexpression technologies, including the use of heterologous hosts (fumicycline/neosartoricin, fumihopaside, sphingofungin, and sartorypyrone). Initial analysis of the two most studied A. fumigatus isolates, Af293 and A1160, suggested that both harbored ca. 34-36 BGCs. However, an examination of 264 available genomes of A. fumigatus shows up to 20 additional BGCs, with some strains showing considerable variations in BGC number and composition. These new BGCs present a new frontier in the future of secondary metabolism characterization in this important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Won Seo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (H.-W.S.); (N.S.W.); (M.S.A.R.); (G.R.N.)
| | - Natalia S. Wassano
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (H.-W.S.); (N.S.W.); (M.S.A.R.); (G.R.N.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil;
| | - Mira Syahfriena Amir Rawa
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (H.-W.S.); (N.S.W.); (M.S.A.R.); (G.R.N.)
| | - Grant R. Nickles
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (H.-W.S.); (N.S.W.); (M.S.A.R.); (G.R.N.)
| | - André Damasio
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil;
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (H.-W.S.); (N.S.W.); (M.S.A.R.); (G.R.N.)
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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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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Earle K, Valero C, Conn DP, Vere G, Cook PC, Bromley MJ, Bowyer P, Gago S. Pathogenicity and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2023; 14:2172264. [PMID: 36752587 PMCID: PMC10732619 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2172264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary infections caused by the mould pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Compromised lung defences arising from immunosuppression, chronic respiratory conditions or more recently, concomitant viral or bacterial pulmonary infections are recognised risks factors for the development of pulmonary aspergillosis. In this review, we will summarise our current knowledge of the mechanistic basis of pulmonary aspergillosis with a focus on emerging at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh Earle
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Clara Valero
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel P. Conn
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - George Vere
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Peter C. Cook
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Michael J. Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Aranda C, Méndez I, Barra PJ, Hernández-Montiel L, Fallard A, Tortella G, Briones E, Durán P. Melanin Induction Restores the Pathogenicity of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in Wheat Plants. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030350. [PMID: 36983518 PMCID: PMC10058861 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most challenging aspects of long-term research based on microorganisms is the maintenance of isolates under ex situ conditions, particularly the conservation of phytopathological characteristics. Our research group has worked for more than 10 years with Gaumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), the main biotic factor affecting wheat. In this sense we preserved the microorganisms in oil overlaid. However, several strains preserved for a long time lost their pathogenicity. These strains show white and non-infective mycelia. In this sense, we hypothesized that this is attributable to low melanin content. Melanin is a natural pigment mainly involved in UV protection, desiccation, salinity, oxidation, and fungal pathogenicity. Therefore, understanding the melanin role on Ggt pathogenicity is fundamental to developing melanin activation strategies under laboratory studies. In this study, we induce melanin activation by UV-A light chamber, 320 to 400 nm (T1) and temperature changes of 30 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C (T2). Fungal pathogenicity was evaluated by determination of blackening roots and Ggt was quantified by real-time PCR in inoculated wheat plants. Results revealed that Ggt grown under UV-A (T1) conditions showed around 40% higher melanin level with a concomitant effect on root infection (98% of blackened roots) and 4-fold more Ggt genome copy number compared with the control (non-infective mycelia) being T1, a more inductor factor compared with T2. These findings would support the role of melanin in pathogenicity in darkly pigmented fungi such as Ggt and could serve as a basis for activating pathogenicity under laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Aranda
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Isabel Méndez
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Patricio Javier Barra
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Luis Hernández-Montiel
- Nanotechnology and Microbial Biocontrol Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Av. Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23090, Mexico
| | - Ana Fallard
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Tortella
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Evelyn Briones
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Paola Durán
- Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Departamento de Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
- Correspondence:
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10
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Humicolopsis cephalosporioides synthesizes DHN-melanin in its chlamydospores. Mycol Prog 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11557-022-01853-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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11
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Zhao Y, Liu Y, Chen X, Xiao J. Genome resequencing and transcriptome analysis reveal the molecular mechanism of albinism in Cordyceps militaris. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1153153. [PMID: 37113230 PMCID: PMC10126257 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1153153] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Light is an important regulator of most fungal life activities and transmits signals through certain photoreceptor proteins such as phytochromes and cryptochromes. However, the light response mechanism varies across different fungi. The WCC complex composed of white collar-1 (WC-1) and white collar-2 (WC-2) is considered to be the key factor regulating fungal albinism. The photoreceptor protein Vivid (VVD) is the negative regulator of the WCC complex. In this study, we discovered an albino mutant (Alb) generated by 60Co-γ-ray irradiation from Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris). This mutant showed albinism of the mycelia and fruiting bodies under light, and the fruiting bodies developed normally. However, this phenotype in Alb differed from that in the CmWC-1 mutant. This suggests that CmWC1 may not be mutated in Alb. A mutated polyketide synthase (CmPKS) was found through genome resequencing analysis. CmPKS was significantly induced by a light signal, and its mutation reduced melanin accumulation in C. militaris. In addition, we found that a zinc-finger domain-containing protein (CmWC-3) was induced by a light signal and interacted with CmWC-1 and CmVVD. Moreover, CmWC-2 also interacted with CmWC-1 to form the WCC complex and was inhibited by CmVVD. In addition, CmWC-3 directly bound with the CmPKS promoter, but CmWC1 did not. These results suggest that albinism and fruiting body development are two independent processes; the WCC complex of CmWC-1 with CmWC-3 regulates CmPKS expression to regulate color change, whereas CmWC-1 with CmWC-2 affects fruiting body development via the carotenoid pathway. These findings will help us to better understand the albinism mechanism of C. militaris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhao
- Institute of Edible Fungi, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - YuDong Liu
- College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization of Xinjiang Production and Construction Crops, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Xun Chen
- Institute of Edible Fungi, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Institute of Edible Fungi, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Xiao,
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12
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Shende R, Wong SSW, Meitei HT, Lal G, Madan T, Aimanianda V, Pal JK, Sahu A. Protective role of host complement system in Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:978152. [PMID: 36211424 PMCID: PMC9539816 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.978152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening fungal infection for immunocompromised hosts. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the immune pathways that control this infection. Although the primary infection site is the lungs, aspergillosis can disseminate to other organs through unknown mechanisms. Herein we have examined the in vivo role of various complement pathways as well as the complement receptors C3aR and C5aR1 during experimental systemic infection by Aspergillus fumigatus, the main species responsible for IA. We show that C3 knockout (C3-/-) mice are highly susceptible to systemic infection of A. fumigatus. Intriguingly, C4-/- and factor B (FB)-/- mice showed susceptibility similar to the wild-type mice, suggesting that either the complement pathways display functional redundancy during infection (i.e., one pathway compensates for the loss of the other), or complement is activated non-canonically by A. fumigatus protease. Our in vitro study substantiates the presence of C3 and C5 cleaving proteases in A. fumigatus. Examination of the importance of the terminal complement pathway employing C5-/- and C5aR1-/- mice reveals that it plays a vital role in the conidial clearance. This, in part, is due to the increased conidial uptake by phagocytes. Together, our data suggest that the complement deficiency enhances the susceptibility to systemic infection by A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajashri Shende
- Complement Biology Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule (S. P.) Pune University Campus, Pune, India
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Sarah Sze Wah Wong
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Unité Mycologie Moléculaire, Department of Mycology, Paris, France
| | - Heikrujam Thoihen Meitei
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule (S. P.) Pune University Campus, Pune, India
| | - Girdhari Lal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule (S. P.) Pune University Campus, Pune, India
| | - Taruna Madan
- Department of Innate Immunity, ICMR – National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Unité Mycologie Moléculaire, Department of Mycology, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Arvind Sahu, ; Vishukumar Aimanianda,
| | - Jayanta Kumar Pal
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Arvind Sahu
- Complement Biology Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule (S. P.) Pune University Campus, Pune, India
- *Correspondence: Arvind Sahu, ; Vishukumar Aimanianda,
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13
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Wei TY, Zheng Y, Wan M, Yang S, Tang J, Wu Y, Li J, Chen SX. Analysis of FR901379 Biosynthetic Genes in Coleophoma empetri by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9-Based Genomic Manipulation. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2130-2141. [PMID: 35822391 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The compound FR901379, a sulfated echinocandin produced by the filamentous fungus Coleophoma empetri F-11899, is an important intermediate for the synthesis of the antifungal drug micafungin. In this study, we established an efficient clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-based gene editing tool for the industrial production strain C. empetri SIPI1284. With this method, the efficiency of gene mutagenesis in the target locus is up to 84%, which enables the rapid gene disruption for the analysis of FR901379 biosynthetic genes. Next, we verified the putative functional genes of the FR901379 biosynthetic gene cluster via gene disruption and gene complementation in vivo. These core functional genes included the nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene (CEnrps), the fatty-acyl-AMP ligase gene (CEligase) responsible for the formation of the activated form of palmitic acid and its transfer to CEnrps, four nonheme mononuclear iron oxygenase genes (CEoxy1, CEoxy2, CEoxy3, and CEoxy4) responsible for the synthesis of nonproteinogenic amino acids, l-homotyrosine biosynthesis genes (CEhtyA-D), two cytochrome P450 enzyme genes (CEp450-1 and CEp450-2), and a transcription regulator gene (CEhyp). In addition, by screening the whole genome, we identified two unknown genes (CEp450-3 and CEsul) responsible for the sulfonyloxy group of FR901379, which were separated from the core FR901379 biosynthetic cluster. Furthermore, during gene disruptions in the research, we obtained a series of FR901379 analogues and elucidated the relationship between the groups and antifungal activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Yun Wei
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Miyang Wan
- Department of Biological Medicines & Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Immunotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Songbai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiawei Tang
- Department of Biological Medicines & Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Immunotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuanjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiyang Li
- Department of Biological Medicines & Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Immunotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shao-Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
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14
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Yang F, Cheng L, Du Y, Xia L, Long CA. Functional identification of the DHN melanin synthesis gene cluster and its role in UV-C tolerance in citrus postharvest pathogenic fungus Penicillium digitatum. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:566-575. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Sonbol H, Mohammed AE, Korany SM. Soil Fungi as Biomediator in Silver Nanoparticles Formation and Antimicrobial Efficacy. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:2843-2863. [PMID: 35795079 PMCID: PMC9250898 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s356724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives Biogenic agents in nanoparticles fabrication are gaining great interest due to their lower possible negative environmental impacts. The present study aimed to isolate fungal strains from deserts in Saudi Arabia and assess their ability in silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) fabrication and evaluate their antibacterial effect. Methods Soil fungi were identified using 18s rDNA, and their ability in NPs fabrication was assessed as extracellular synthesis, then UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used for AgNPs characterization. The antibacterial activity of fungal-based NPs was assessed against one Gram-positive methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and three Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Ultrastructural changes caused by fungal-based NPs on K. pneumoniae were investigated using TEM along with SDS-PAGE for protein profile patterns. Results The three fungal isolates were identified as Phoma sp. (MN995524), Chaetomium globosum (MN995493), and Chaetomium sp. (MN995550), and their filtrate reduced Ag ions into spherical P-AgNPs, G-AgNPs, and C-AgNPs, respectively. DLS data showed an average size between 12.26 and 70.24 nm, where EDX spectrums represent Ag at 3.0 keV peak. G-AgNPs displayed strong antibacterial activities against Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the ultrastructural changes caused by NPs were noted. Additionally, SDS-PAGE analysis of treated K. pneumoniae revealed fewer bands compared to control, which could be related to protein degradation. Conclusion Present findings have consequently developed an eco-friendly approach in NPs formation by environmentally isolated fungal strains to yield NPs as antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Sonbol
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afrah E Mohammed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shereen M Korany
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, 11795, Egypt
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16
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Gibbons JG, D’Avino P, Zhao S, Cox GW, Rinker DC, Fortwendel JR, Latge JP. Comparative Genomics Reveals a Single Nucleotide Deletion in pksP That Results in White-Spore Phenotype in Natural Variants of Aspergillus fumigatus. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:897954. [PMID: 37746219 PMCID: PMC10512363 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.897954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a potentially deadly opportunistic human pathogen. A. fumigatus has evolved a variety of mechanisms to evade detection by the immune system. For example, the conidium surface is covered in a layer of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin which masks the antigen macrophages use for recognition. DHN melanin also protects conidia from ultraviolet radiation and gives A. fumigatus conidia their characteristic green-grayish color. Here, we conducted genomic analysis of two closely related white-spore natural variants of A. fumigatus in comparison to two closely related green-spore isolates to identify a genetic basis of the white-spore phenotype. Illumina whole-genome resequencing data of the four isolates was used to identify variants that were shared in the white-spore isolates and different from both the green-spore isolates and the Af293 reference genome (which is also a green-spore isolate). We identified 4,279 single nucleotide variants and 1,785 insertion/deletions fitting this pattern. Among these, we identified 64 variants predicted to be high impact, loss-of-function mutations. One of these variants is a single nucleotide deletion that results in a frameshift in pksP (Afu2g17600), the core biosynthetic gene in the DHN melanin encoding gene cluster. The frameshift mutation in the white-spore isolates leads to a truncated protein in which a phosphopantetheine attachment site (PP-binding domain) is interrupted and an additional PP-binding domain and a thioesterase domain are omitted. Growth rate analysis of white-spore and green-spore isolates at 37°C and 48°C revealed that white-spore isolates are thermosensitive. Growth rate of A. fumigatus Af293 and a pksP null mutant in the Af293 background suggests pksP is not directly involved in the thermosensitivity phenotype. Further, our study identified a mutation in a gene (Afu4g04740) associated with thermal sensitivity in yeasts which could also be responsible for the thermosensitivity of the white-spore mutants. Overall, we used comparative genomics to identify the mutation and protein alterations responsible for the white-spore phenotype of environmental isolates of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G. Gibbons
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
- Organismic & Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Paolo D’Avino
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Shu Zhao
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Grace W. Cox
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - David C. Rinker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jarrod R. Fortwendel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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17
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Li H, Wang D, Zhang DD, Geng Q, Li JJ, Sheng RC, Xue HS, Zhu H, Kong ZQ, Dai XF, Klosterman SJ, Subbarao KV, Chen FM, Chen JY. A polyketide synthase from Verticillium dahliae modulates melanin biosynthesis and hyphal growth to promote virulence. BMC Biol 2022; 20:125. [PMID: 35637443 PMCID: PMC9153097 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During the disease cycle, plant pathogenic fungi exhibit a morphological transition between hyphal growth (the phase of active infection) and the production of long-term survival structures that remain dormant during “overwintering.” Verticillium dahliae is a major plant pathogen that produces heavily melanized microsclerotia (MS) that survive in the soil for 14 or more years. These MS are multicellular structures produced during the necrotrophic phase of the disease cycle. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are responsible for catalyzing production of many secondary metabolites including melanin. While MS contribute to long-term survival, hyphal growth is key for infection and virulence, but the signaling mechanisms by which the pathogen maintains hyphal growth are unclear. Results We analyzed the VdPKSs that contain at least one conserved domain potentially involved in secondary metabolism (SM), and screened the effect of VdPKS deletions in the virulent strain AT13. Among the five VdPKSs whose deletion affected virulence on cotton, we found that VdPKS9 acted epistatically to the VdPKS1-associated melanin pathway to promote hyphal growth. The decreased hyphal growth in VdPKS9 mutants was accompanied by the up-regulation of melanin biosynthesis and MS formation. Overexpression of VdPKS9 transformed melanized hyphal-type (MH-type) into the albinistic hyaline hyphal-type (AH-type), and VdPKS9 was upregulated in the AH-type population, which also exhibited higher virulence than the MH-type. Conclusions We show that VdPKS9 is a powerful negative regulator of both melanin biosynthesis and MS formation in V. dahliae. These findings provide insight into the mechanism of how plant pathogens promote their virulence by the maintenance of vegetative hyphal growth during infection and colonization of plant hosts, and may provide novel targets for the control of melanin-producing filamentous fungi. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01330-2.
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18
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Futagami T. The white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2022; 86:574-584. [PMID: 35238900 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The white koji fungus, Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii, is used in the production of shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit. White koji fungus plays an important role in the shochu production process by supplying amylolytic enzymes such as α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes convert starch contained in primary ingredients such as rice, barley, buckwheat, and sweet potato into glucose, which is subsequently utilized by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce ethanol. White koji fungus also secretes large amounts of citric acid, which lowers the pH of the shochu mash, thereby preventing the growth of undesired microbes and enabling stable production of shochu in relatively warm regions of Japan. This review describes the historical background, research tools, and recent advances in studies of the mechanism of citric acid production by white koji fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiki Futagami
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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19
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Tang S, Men P, Zhang W, Li H, Li Z, Huang X, Lu X. Identification of a polyketide biosynthesis gene cluster by transcriptional regulator activation in Aspergillus terreus. Fungal Genet Biol 2022; 160:103690. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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20
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Lim S, Bijlani S, Blachowicz A, Chiang YM, Lee MS, Torok T, Venkateswaran K, Wang CCC. Identification of the pigment and its role in UV resistance in Paecilomyces variotii, a Chernobyl isolate, using genetic manipulation strategies. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 152:103567. [PMID: 33989788 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Fungi produce secondary metabolites that are not directly involved in their growth, but often contribute to their adaptation to extreme environmental stimuli and enable their survival. Conidial pigment or melanin is one of the secondary metabolites produced naturally by a polyketide synthesis (PKS) gene cluster in several filamentous fungi and is known to protect these fungi from extreme radiation conditions. Several pigmented or melanized fungi have been shown to grow under extreme radiation conditions at the Chernobyl nuclear accident site. Some of these fungi, including Paecilomyces variotii, were observed to grow towards the source of radiation. Therefore, in this study, we wanted to identify if the pigment produced by P. variotii, contributes to providing protection against radiation condition. We first identified the PKS gene responsible for synthesis of pigment in P. variotii and confirmed its role in providing protection against UV irradiation through CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene deletion. This is the first report that describes the use of CRISPR methodology to create gene deletions in P. variotii. Further, we showed that the pigment produced by this fungus, was not inhibited by DHN-melanin pathway inhibitors, indicating that the fungus does not produce melanin. We then identified the pigment synthesized by the PKS gene of P. variotii, as a naptho-pyrone Ywa1, by heterologously expressing the gene in Aspergillus nidulans. The results obtained will further aid in understanding the mechanistic basis of radiation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeung Lim
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Swati Bijlani
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Adriana Blachowicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Yi-Ming Chiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ming-Shian Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tamas Torok
- Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Clay C C Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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21
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Liu S, Youngchim S, Zamith-Miranda D, Nosanchuk JD. Fungal Melanin and the Mammalian Immune System. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040264. [PMID: 33807336 PMCID: PMC8066723 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanins are ubiquitous complex polymers that are commonly known in humans to cause pigmentation of our skin. Melanins are also present in bacteria, fungi, and helminths. In this review, we will describe the diverse interactions of fungal melanin with the mammalian immune system. We will particularly focus on Cryptococcus neoformans and also discuss other major melanotic pathogenic fungi. Melanin interacts with the immune system through diverse pathways, reducing the effectiveness of phagocytic cells, binding effector molecules and antifungals, and modifying complement and antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sichen Liu
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; (S.L.); (D.Z.-M.)
| | - Sirida Youngchim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; (S.L.); (D.Z.-M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; (S.L.); (D.Z.-M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Correspondence:
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22
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Naglah AM, Moustafa GO, Elhenawy AA, Mounier MM, El-Sayed H, Al-Omar MA, Almehizia AA, Bhat MA. N α-1, 3-Benzenedicarbonyl-Bis-(Amino Acid) and Dipeptide Candidates: Synthesis, Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Molecular Docking Investigation. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:1315-1332. [PMID: 33790542 PMCID: PMC8006965 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s276504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The objective of our work was to prepare a potent and safe antimicrobial and anticancer agents, through synthesis of several peptides and examine their biological activities, namely as, cytotoxically potent and antimicrobial and antifungal agents. Introduction Multidrug-resistant microbial strains have arisen against all antibiotics in clinical use. Infections caused by these bacteria threaten global public health and are associated with high mortality rates. Methods The main backbone structure for the novel synthesized linear peptide is Nα-1, 3-benzenedicarbonyl-bis-(Amino acids)-X, (3–11). A computational docking study against DNA gyrase was performed to formulate a mode of action of the small compounds as antimicrobial agents. Results The peptide-bearing methionine-ester (4) exhibited potent antimicrobial activity compared to the other synthesized compounds, while, peptide (8), which had methionine-hydrazide fragment was the most potent as antifungal agent against Aspergillus niger with 100% inhibition percent. Compounds (6 and 7) showed the highest potency against breast human tumor cell line “MCF-7” with 95.1% and 79.8% of cell inhibition, respectively. The nine compounds possessed weak to moderate antiproliferative effect over colon tumor cell line. The docking results suggest good fitting through different hydrogen bond interactions with the protein residues. In silico ADMET study also evaluated and suggested that these compounds had promising oral bioavailability features. Conclusion The tested compounds need further modification to have significant antimicrobial and antitumor efficacy compared to the reference drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Naglah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Exploration & Development Chair (DEDC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,Peptide Chemistry Department, Chemical Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gaber O Moustafa
- Peptide Chemistry Department, Chemical Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Elhenawy
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Boys'Branch), Cairo, Egypt.,Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Albaha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa M Mounier
- Pharmacognosy Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Heba El-Sayed
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Al-Omar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Exploration & Development Chair (DEDC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A Almehizia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Exploration & Development Chair (DEDC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashooq A Bhat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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23
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Suarez-Fernandez M, Sambles C, Lopez-Moya F, Nueda MJ, Studholme DJ, Lopez-Llorca LV. Chitosan modulates Pochonia chlamydosporia gene expression during nematode egg parasitism. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4980-4997. [PMID: 33496078 PMCID: PMC8518118 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Climate change makes plant‐parasitic nematodes (PPN) an increasing threat to commercial crops. PPN can be managed sustainably by the biocontrol fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (Pc). Chitosan generated from chitin deacetylation enhances PPN parasitism by Pc. In this work, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of Pc for chitosan resistance and root‐knot nematode (RKN) parasitism, using transcriptomics. Chitosan and RKN modify the expression of Pc genes, mainly those involved in oxidation–reduction processes. Both agents significantly modify the expression of genes associated to 113 GO terms and 180 Pc genes. Genes encoding putative glycoproteins (Pc adhesives) to nematode eggshell, as well as genes involved in redox, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism trigger the response to chitosan. We identify genes expressed in both the parasitic and endophytic phases of the Pc lifecycle; these include proteases, chitosanases and transcription factors. Using the Pathogen—Host Interaction database (PHI‐base), our previous RNA‐seq data and RT‐PCR of Pc colonizing banana we have investigated genes expressed both in the parasitic and endophytic phases of Pc lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Suarez-Fernandez
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain.,Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) Ramon Margalef, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | | | - Federico Lopez-Moya
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | - María J Nueda
- Mathematics Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | | | - Luis Vicente Lopez-Llorca
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain.,Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) Ramon Margalef, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
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24
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Mills B, Radhakrishnan N, Karthikeyan Rajapandian SG, Rameshkumar G, Lalitha P, Prajna NV. The role of fungi in fungal keratitis. Exp Eye Res 2020; 202:108372. [PMID: 33249061 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fungal keratitis (FK) accounts for approximately half of the microbial keratitis encountered in low middle income countries (LMICs) and predominantly affect the working rural-poor. FK causes significant morbidity with the majority of patients left with moderate or worse visual impairment and approximately 25% requiring expensive and often unsuccessful surgical interventions. The severity of FK and the resultant corneal damage or resolution can be attributed to i) the virulence and bioburden of the fungal pathogen, ii) the host defense mechanism and immune response and iii) sub-optimal diagnostics and anti-fungal treatment strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted components that drive FK progression and resolution, highlighting where knowledge gaps exist and areas that warrant further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Mills
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Naveen Radhakrishnan
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India
| | | | | | - Prajna Lalitha
- Department of Ocular Microbiology, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India
| | - N Venkatesh Prajna
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India.
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25
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Zhu S, Yan Y, Qu Y, Wang J, Feng X, Liu X, Lin F, Lu J. Role refinement of melanin synthesis genes by gene knockout reveals their functional diversity in Pyricularia oryzae strains. Microbiol Res 2020; 242:126620. [PMID: 33189072 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Pyricularia oryzae is a plant pathogenic fungus that severely affects rice production. Past studies, primarily using mutants generated by spontaneous mutations or artificial physical and chemical mutagenesis, have determined that melanin is required for appressorium turgor, penetration, and virulence of P. oryzae. However, these roles need to be verified by gene knockout and/or overexpression in different strains considering the potential differences in the level of virulence. Here, we confirmed the indispensable roles of melanin in the development and virulence of P. oryzae by knocking out and over-expressing three melanin synthesis genes (ALB1, RSY1, and BUF1) in two wild-type strains (Guy11 and 70-15). Deletion of ALB1, RSY1, or BUF1 led to loss of melanin and virulence in both strains. ALB1, RSY1 and BUF1 in Guy11, and BUF1 in 70-15 were required for conidiation, respectively. ALB1, RSY1, and BUF1 were required for conidial resistance to environmental stresses (UV exposure, oxidization, and freezing damage) in both strains. Guy11 cells had greater amounts of melanin and more transcripts of melanin synthesis genes than 70-15 cells. Paired culture experiments between the deletion or over-expression mutants of melanin synthesis genes suggested that the reaction catalyzed by Buf1, but not Alb1 and Rsy1, was likely a rate-limiting step in melanin biosynthesis in 70-15. These results expand our understanding on melanin and its synthesis genes in P. oryzae as well as its responses to biotic and abiotic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuxin Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yingmin Qu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Feng
- Agricultural Experiment Station, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fucheng Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
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26
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Keizer EM, Wösten HAB, de Cock H. EphA2-Dependent Internalization of A. fumigatus Conidia in A549 Lung Cells Is Modulated by DHN-Melanin. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:534118. [PMID: 33123097 PMCID: PMC7573251 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.534118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dectin-1 and ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) receptors recognize β-glucan present in the fungal cell wall. Inhibition of Dectin-1 with the monoclonal 2a11 antibody was shown to reduce internalization of conidia of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus into epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the role of the EphA2 receptor present on A549 epithelial type II lung cells in the interaction with A. fumigatus conidia. We assessed whether EphA2 is involved in association and internalization of conidia by receptor inhibition by an antibody or by using the kinase inhibitor dasatinib. A 50% reduction of internalization of conidia was observed when this receptor was blocked with either the EphA2-specific monoclonal antibody or dasatinib, which was similar when Dectin-1 was inhibited with the 2a11 monoclonal antibody. Inhibition of both receptors reduced the internalization to 40%. EphA2 inhibition was also assessed in a hydrophobin deletion strain (ΔrodA) that exposes more β-glucan and a dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin deletion strain (ΔpksP) that exposes more glucosamine and glycoproteins. The ΔrodA strain behaved similar to the wild-type strain with or without EphA2 inhibition. In contrast, the ΔpksP mutant showed an increase in association to the A549 cells and a decrease in internalization. Internalization was not further decreased by EphA2 inhibition. Taken together, the presence of DHN-melanin in the spore cell wall results in an EphA2-dependent internalization of conidia of A. fumigatus into A549 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther M Keizer
- Microbiology & Institute of Biomembranes, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Han A B Wösten
- Microbiology & Institute of Biomembranes, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Hans de Cock
- Microbiology & Institute of Biomembranes, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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27
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Furukawa T, Scheven MT, Misslinger M, Zhao C, Hoefgen S, Gsaller F, Lau J, Jöchl C, Donaldson I, Valiante V, Brakhage AA, Bromley MJ, Haas H, Hortschansky P. The fungal CCAAT-binding complex and HapX display highly variable but evolutionary conserved synergetic promoter-specific DNA recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3567-3590. [PMID: 32086516 PMCID: PMC7144946 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To sustain iron homeostasis, microorganisms have evolved fine-tuned mechanisms for uptake, storage and detoxification of the essential metal iron. In the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, the fungal-specific bZIP-type transcription factor HapX coordinates adaption to both iron starvation and iron excess and is thereby crucial for virulence. Previous studies indicated that a HapX homodimer interacts with the CCAAT-binding complex (CBC) to cooperatively bind bipartite DNA motifs; however, the mode of HapX-DNA recognition had not been resolved. Here, combination of in vivo (genetics and ChIP-seq), in vitro (surface plasmon resonance) and phylogenetic analyses identified an astonishing plasticity of CBC:HapX:DNA interaction. DNA motifs recognized by the CBC:HapX protein complex comprise a bipartite DNA binding site 5′-CSAATN12RWT-3′ and an additional 5′-TKAN-3′ motif positioned 11–23 bp downstream of the CCAAT motif, i.e. occasionally overlapping the 3′-end of the bipartite binding site. Phylogenetic comparison taking advantage of 20 resolved Aspergillus species genomes revealed that DNA recognition by the CBC:HapX complex shows promoter-specific cross-species conservation rather than regulon-specific conservation. Moreover, we show that CBC:HapX interaction is absolutely required for all known functions of HapX. The plasticity of the CBC:HapX:DNA interaction permits fine tuning of CBC:HapX binding specificities that could support adaptation of pathogens to their host niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Furukawa
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Mareike Thea Scheven
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Matthias Misslinger
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria
| | - Can Zhao
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sandra Hoefgen
- Leibniz Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria
| | - Jeffrey Lau
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Christoph Jöchl
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria
| | - Ian Donaldson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Vito Valiante
- Leibniz Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena D-07745, Germany.,Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena D-07745, Germany.,Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Michael J Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena D-07745, Germany
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28
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Dos Santos RAC, Steenwyk JL, Rivero-Menendez O, Mead ME, Silva LP, Bastos RW, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Genomic and Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Clinical Isolates of the Human Pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus lentulus, and Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis. Front Genet 2020; 11:459. [PMID: 32477406 PMCID: PMC7236307 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a global threat to human health. For example, fungi from the genus Aspergillus cause a spectrum of diseases collectively known as aspergillosis. Most of the >200,000 life-threatening aspergillosis infections per year worldwide are caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Recently, molecular typing techniques have revealed that aspergillosis can also be caused by organisms that are phenotypically similar to A. fumigatus but genetically distinct, such as Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis. Importantly, some of these so-called cryptic species are thought to exhibit different virulence and drug susceptibility profiles than A. fumigatus, however, our understanding of their biology and pathogenic potential has been stymied by the lack of genome sequences and phenotypic profiling of multiple clinical strains. To fill this gap, we phenotypically characterized the virulence and drug susceptibility of 15 clinical strains of A. fumigatus, A. lentulus, and A. fumigatiaffinis from Spain and sequenced their genomes. We found heterogeneity in drug susceptibility across species and strains. We further found heterogeneity in virulence within each species but no significant differences in the virulence profiles between the three species. Genes known to influence drug susceptibility (cyp51A and fks1) vary in paralog number and sequence among these species and strains and correlate with differences in drug susceptibility. Similarly, genes known to be important for virulence in A. fumigatus showed variability in number of paralogs across strains and across species. Characterization of the genomic similarities and differences of clinical strains of A. lentulus, A. fumigatiaffinis, and A. fumigatus that vary in disease-relevant traits will advance our understanding of the variance in pathogenicity between Aspergillus species and strains that are collectively responsible for the vast majority of aspergillosis infections in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato A C Dos Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jacob L Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Olga Rivero-Menendez
- Medical Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthew E Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Lilian P Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael W Bastos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo
- Medical Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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29
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Abstract
Polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) are indispensable for controlling life-threatening fungal infections. In addition to various effector mechanisms, PMNs also produce extracellular vesicles (EVs). Their contribution to antifungal defense has remained unexplored. We reveal that the clinically important human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus triggers PMNs to release a distinct set of antifungal EVs (afEVs). Proteome analyses indicated that afEVs are enriched in antimicrobial proteins. The cargo and the release kinetics of EVs are modulated by the fungal strain confronted. Tracking of afEVs indicated that they associated with fungal cells and even entered fungal hyphae, resulting in alterations in the morphology of the fungal cell wall and dose-dependent antifungal effects. To assess as a proof of concept whether the antimicrobial proteins found in afEVs might contribute to growth inhibition of hyphae when present in the fungal cytoplasm, two human proteins enriched in afEVs, cathepsin G and azurocidin, were heterologously expressed in fungal hyphae. This led to reduced fungal growth relative to that of a control strain producing the human retinol binding protein 7. In conclusion, extracellular vesicles produced by neutrophils in response to A. fumigatus infection are able to associate with the fungus, limit growth, and elicit cell damage by delivering antifungal cargo. This finding offers an intriguing, previously overlooked mechanism of antifungal defense against A. fumigatus IMPORTANCE Invasive fungal infections caused by the mold Aspergillus fumigatus are a growing concern in the clinic due to the increasing use of immunosuppressive therapies and increasing antifungal drug resistance. These infections result in high rates of mortality, as treatment and diagnostic options remain limited. In healthy individuals, neutrophilic granulocytes are critical for elimination of A. fumigatus from the host; however, the exact extracellular mechanism of neutrophil-mediated antifungal activity remains unresolved. Here, we present a mode of antifungal defense employed by human neutrophils against A. fumigatus not previously described. We found that extracellular vesicles produced by neutrophils in response to A. fumigatus infection are able to associate with the fungus, limit growth, and elicit cell damage by delivering antifungal cargo. In the end, antifungal extracellular vesicle biology provides a significant step forward in our understanding of A. fumigatus host pathogenesis and opens up novel diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.
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30
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Abstract
Fungi are rich sources of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance, such as antibiotics, antitumor agents, and immunosuppressants, as well as of harmful toxins. Secondary metabolites play important roles in the development and pathogenesis of fungi. LaeA is a global regulator of secondary metabolism and was originally reported in Aspergillus nidulans; however, its role in secondary metabolism in Magnaporthe oryzae has not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the role of a gene homologous to LAEA (loss of AflR expression) of Aspergillus spp. in Magnaporthe oryzae, named M. oryzaeLAEA (MoLAEA). Studies on MoLAEA overexpression and knockdown strains have suggested that this gene acts as a negative regulator of sporulation and melanin synthesis. However, it is not involved in the growth and pathogenesis of M. oryzae Transcriptomic data indicated that MoLAEA regulated genes involved in secondary metabolism. Interestingly, we observed (for the first time, to our knowledge) that this gene is involved in benzylpenicillin (penicillin G) synthesis in M. oryzae Overexpression of MoLAEA increased penicillin G production, whereas the silenced strain showed a complete absence of penicillin G compared to its presence in the wild type. We also observed that MoLaeA interacted with MoVeA, a velvet family protein involved in fungal development and secondary metabolism, in the nucleus. This study showed that though MoLAEA may not make any contribution in rice blast fungal pathogenesis, it regulates secondary metabolism in M. oryzae and thus can be further studied for identifying other new uncharacterized metabolites in this fungus.IMPORTANCEM. oryzae causes blast disease, the most serious disease of cultivated rice affecting global rice production. The genome of M. oryzae has been shown to have a number of genes involved in secondary metabolism, but most of them are uncharacterized. In fact, compared to studies of other filamentous fungi, hardly any work has been done on secondary metabolism in M. oryzae It is shown here (for the first time, to our knowledge) that penicillin G is being synthesized in M. oryzae and that MoLAEA is involved in this process. This is the first step in understanding the penicillin G biosynthesis pathway in M. oryzae This study also unraveled the details of how MoLaeA works by forming a nuclear complex with MoVeA in M. oryzae, thus indicating functional conservation of such a gene across filamentous fungi. All these findings open up avenues for more relevant investigations on the genetic regulation of secondary metabolism in M. oryzae.
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31
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Ambrico PF, Šimek M, Rotolo C, Morano M, Minafra A, Ambrico M, Pollastro S, Gerin D, Faretra F, De Miccolis Angelini RM. Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma: a suitable measure against fungal plant pathogens. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3673. [PMID: 32111863 PMCID: PMC7048822 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases seriously affect agricultural production and the food industry. Crop protection is usually achieved by synthetic fungicides, therefore more sustainable and innovative technologies are increasingly required. The atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma is a novel suitable measure. We report on the effect of plasma treatment on phytopathogenic fungi causing quantitative and qualitative losses of products both in the field and postharvest. We focus our attention on the in vitro direct inhibitory effect of non-contact Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge on conidia germination of Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructicola, Aspergillus carbonarius and Alternaria alternata. A few minutes of treatment was required to completely inactivate the fungi on an artificial medium. Morphological analysis of spores by Scanning Electron Microscopy suggests that the main mechanism is plasma etching due to Reactive Oxygen Species or UV radiation. Spectroscopic analysis of plasma generated in humid air gives the hint that the rotational temperature of gas should not play a relevant role being very close to room temperature. In vivo experiments on artificially inoculated cherry fruits demonstrated that inactivation of fungal spores by the direct inhibitory effect of plasma extend their shelf life. Pre-treatment of fruits before inoculation improve the resistance to infections maybe by activating defense responses in plant tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo F Ambrico
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Scienza e la Tecnologia dei Plasmi, via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - Milan Šimek
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Plasma Physics v.v.i., Department of Pulse Plasma Systems, Za Slovankou 1782/3, 18200, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Caterina Rotolo
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Morano
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelantonio Minafra
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Marianna Ambrico
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Scienza e la Tecnologia dei Plasmi, via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Pollastro
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Donato Gerin
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Faretra
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - Rita M De Miccolis Angelini
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ALDO MORO, via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
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32
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Parente R, Doni A, Bottazzi B, Garlanda C, Inforzato A. The complement system in Aspergillus fumigatus infections and its crosstalk with pentraxins. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2480-2501. [PMID: 31994174 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillosis is a life-threatening infection mostly affecting immunocompromised individuals and primarily caused by the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. At the host-pathogen interface, both cellular and humoral components of the innate immune system are increasingly acknowledged as essential players in the recognition and disposal of this opportunistic mold. Fundamental hereof is the contribution of the complement system, which deploys all three activation pathways in the battle against A. fumigatus, and functionally cooperates with other soluble pattern recognition molecules, including pentraxins. In particular, preclinical and clinical observations point to the long pentraxin PTX3 as a nonredundant and complement-dependent effector with protective functions against A. fumigatus. Based on past and current literature, here we discuss how the complement participates in the immune response to this fungal pathogen, and illustrate its crosstalk with the pentraxins, with a focus on PTX3. Emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms underlying such processes, the genetic evidence from human epidemiology, and the translational potential of the currently available knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Parente
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Doni
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bottazzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Garlanda
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Inforzato
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
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33
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Harting R, Höfer A, Tran VT, Weinhold LM, Barghahn S, Schlüter R, Braus GH. The Vta1 transcriptional regulator is required for microsclerotia melanization in Verticillium dahliae. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:490-500. [PMID: 32389312 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Many fungi are able to produce resting structures, which ensure survival and protect them against various stresses in their habitat such as exposure to UV light, temperature variations, drought as well as changing pH and nutrient conditions. Verticillium dahliae is a plant pathogenic fungus that forms melanized resting structures, called microsclerotia, for survival of time periods without a host. These highly stress resistant microsclerotia persist in the soil for many years and are therefore problematic for an effective treatment of the fungus. The Verticillium transcription activator of adhesion 1 (Vta1) was initially identified as one of several transcriptional regulators that rescue adhesion in non-adhesive Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Vta2 and Vta3 are required for early steps in plant infection and colonization and additionally control microsclerotia formation. Here, we show that Vta1 function is different, because it is dispensable for root colonization and infection. Vta1 is produced in the fungal cell during microsclerotia development. Analysis of the deletion mutant revealed that the absence of Vta1 allows microsclerotia production, but they are colorless and no more melanized. Vta1 is required for melanin production and activates transcription of melanin biosynthesis genes including the polyketide synthase encoding PKS1 and the laccase LAC1. The primary function of Vta1 in melanin production is important for survival of microsclerotia as resting structures of V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annalena Höfer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Van-Tuan Tran
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lisa-Maria Weinhold
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sina Barghahn
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rabea Schlüter
- Imaging Center of the Department of Biology, University of Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 15, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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Aspergillus fumigatus Cell Wall Promotes Apical Airway Epithelial Recruitment of Human Neutrophils. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00813-19. [PMID: 31767773 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00813-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen capable of causing multiple pulmonary diseases, including invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, fungal colonization, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Intact mucociliary barrier function and early airway neutrophil responses are critical for clearing fungal conidia from the host airways prior to establishing disease. Following inhalation, Aspergillus conidia deposit in the small airways, where they are likely to make their initial host encounter with epithelial cells. Challenges in airway infection models have limited the ability to explore early steps in the interactions between A. fumigatus and the human airway epithelium. Here, we use inverted air-liquid interface cultures to demonstrate that the human airway epithelium responds to apical stimulation by A. fumigatus to promote the transepithelial migration of neutrophils from the basolateral membrane surface to the apical airway surface. Promoting epithelial transmigration with Aspergillus required prolonged exposure with live resting conidia. Swollen conidia did not expedite epithelial transmigration. Using A. fumigatus strains containing deletions of genes for cell wall components, we identified that deletion of the hydrophobic rodlet layer or dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin in the conidial cell wall amplified the epithelial transmigration of neutrophils, using primary human airway epithelium. Ultimately, we show that an as-yet-unidentified nonsecreted cell wall protein is required to promote the early epithelial transmigration of human neutrophils into the airspace in response to A. fumigatus Together, these data provide critical insight into the initial epithelial host response to Aspergillus.
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Abstract
Dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN-melanin) is an integral component of the conidial cell wall surface, which has a central role in the pathogenicity of the major human airborne fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Although the biosynthetic pathway for A. fumigatus DHN-melanin production has been well characterized, the molecular interactions of DHN-melanin with the immune system have been incompletely understood. Recent studies demonstrated that apart from concealing immunostimulatory cell wall polysaccharides, calcium sequestration by DHN-melanin inhibits essential host effector pathways regulating phagosome biogenesis and prevents A. fumigatus conidia killing by phagocytes. From the host perspective, DHN-melanin is specifically recognized by a C-type lectin receptor (MelLeC) present in murine endothelia and in human myeloid cells. Furthermore, DHN-melanin activates platelets and facilitates opsonophagocytosis by macrophages via binding to soluble pattern recognition receptors. Dissecting the dynamics of DHN-melanin organization on the fungal cell wall and the molecular interplay with the immune system will lead to a better understanding of A. fumigatus pathophysiology.
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rmtA-Dependent Transcriptome and Its Role in Secondary Metabolism, Environmental Stress, and Virulence in Aspergillus flavus. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2019; 9:4087-4096. [PMID: 31601618 PMCID: PMC6893206 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus colonizes numerous oil seed crops such as maize, peanuts, treenuts and cottonseed worldwide, contaminating them with aflatoxins and other harmful toxins. Previously our lab characterized the gene rmtA, which encodes an arginine methyltransferase in A. flavus, and demonstrated its role governing the expression of regulators in the aflatoxin gene cluster and subsequent synthesis of toxin. Furthermore, our studies revealed that rmtA also controls conidial and sclerotial development implicating it as an epigenetic regulator in A. flavus. To confirm this, we performed a RNA sequencing analysis to ascertain the extent of rmtA’s influence on the transcriptome of A. flavus. In this analysis we identified over 2000 genes that were rmtA-dependent, including over 200 transcription factor genes, as well as an uncharacterized secondary metabolite gene cluster possibly responsible for the synthesis of an epidithiodiketopiperazine-like compound. Our results also revealed rmtA-dependent genes involved in multiple types of abiotic stress response in A. flavus. Importantly, hundreds of genes active during maize infection were also regulated by rmtA. In addition, in the animal infection model, rmtA was dispensable for virulence, however forced overexpression of rmtA increased mortality with respect to the wild type.
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Li L, Zhang SY, Zhang CQ. Establishment of a Rapid Detection Method for Rice Blast Fungus Based on One-Step Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). PLANT DISEASE 2019; 103:1967-1973. [PMID: 31188736 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-11-18-1964-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Rice blast is one of the most serious diseases for rice, and controlling the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae that causes rice blast is crucial for global food security. Typically, early infected rice does not show symptoms. Therefore, the early diagnosis of rice blast is particularly important to avoid uncontrollable propagation of rice blast fungus. In the present work, a rapid and efficient loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was developed to detect the pathogen at the early infected stage of rice. The Alb1 superfamily hypothetical protein MGG_04322, a nuclear shuttling factor involved in ribosome and melanin biogenesis, was chosen as the target for designing the LAMP primers. The LAMP assay enabled rapid detection of as little as 10 pg of pure genomic DNA of M. oryzae. In addition, we established the quantitative LAMP (q-LAMP) detection system to quantify the conidia of rice blast fungus. The q-LAMP assay enabled rapid detection (within 35 min) of the fungal spores at a sensitivity of 3.2 spores/ml. In addition, the assay sets up the linearization formula of the standard curve as y = 0.3066 + 15.33x (where x = amplification of time), inferring that spore number = 100.60y. In addition, the q-LAMP assay was successfully used to detect the presence of the virulence strains of M. oryzae (wild type) in comparison with that of the two mutant strains by quantifying the biomass within host tissue. These results provide a useful and convenient tool for detecting M. oryzae that could be applied in the incubation period of rice blast before symptoms appear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Shu Ya Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Chuan-Qing Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forest University, Hangzhou 311300, China
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Melanin and pyomelanin in Aspergillus fumigatus: from its genetics to host interaction. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:55-63. [PMID: 31020477 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a worldwide-distributed saprophytic fungus and the major cause of invasive aspergillosis. This fungus can produce two types of melanin-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN-melanin) and pyomelanin. These pigments are considered important resistance mechanisms to stress, as well as virulence factors. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge of the genetic basis and metabolic pathways of melanin production, their activation, function, and interaction with the host immune system. The DHN-melanin pathway is encoded in a cluster that includes six genes (abr1, abr2, ayg1, arp1, arp2, and pksP/alb1 genes) whose encoded proteins seem to be the origin of the pigment in endosomes. These vesicles are secreted and the pigment is subsequently located in the wall of the conidium beneath the rodlet layer. Unlike DHN-melanin, pyomelanin does not have its own biosynthetic pathway but is related to the activation of the L-tyrosine/L-phenylalanine degradation pathway that includes a cluster of six genes (hppD, hmgX, hmgA, fahA, maiA, and hmgR). Its production is due to the polymerization of homogentisic acid and is linked to conidial germination. Despite the knowledge gained in recent years, further studies will be necessary to confirm the pathways that produce these pigments and their role in the virulence mechanisms of A. fumigatus.
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The Basic-Region Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor DevR Significantly Affects Polysaccharide Metabolism in Aspergillus oryzae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00089-19. [PMID: 30737353 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00089-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Basic-region helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are a superfamily of transcription factors that are often involved in the control of growth and differentiation. Recently, it was reported that the bHLH transcription factor DevR is involved in both asexual and sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans and regulates the conidial melanin production in Aspergillus fumigatus In this study, we identified and characterized an Aspergillus oryzae gene that showed high similarity with devR of A. nidulans and A. fumigatus (AodevR). In the AodevR-disrupted strain, growth was delayed and the number of conidia was decreased on Czapek-Dox (CD) minimal agar plates, but the conidiation was partially recovered by adding 0.6 M KCl. Simultaneously, the overexpression of AodevR was induced and resulted in extremely poor growth when the carbon source changed from glucose to polysaccharide (dextrin) in the CD agar plate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the overexpression of AodevR resulted in extremely thin aberrant hyphal morphology. Conversely, the deletion of AodevR resulted in thicker hyphae and in more resistance to Congo red relative to the control strain. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) further indicated that AoDevR significantly affects chitin and starch metabolism, and importantly, the overexpression of AodevR inhibited the expression of genes related to starch degradation. A yeast one-hybrid assay suggested that the DevR protein possibly interacted with the promoter of amyR, which encodes a transcription factor involved in amylase production. Importantly, AoDevR is involved in polysaccharide metabolism and affects the growth of the A. oryzae strain.IMPORTANCE Aspergillus oryzae is an industrially important filamentous fungus; therefore, a clear understanding of its polysaccharide metabolism and utilization is very important for its industrial utilization. In this study, we revealed that the basic-region helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor AoDevR is importantly involved in chitin and starch metabolism in A. oryzae The overexpression of AodevR strongly suppressed the expression of amylase-related genes. The results of a yeast one-hybrid assay suggested that the DevR protein potentially interacts with the promoter of amyR, which encodes a transcription factor involved in amylase production and starch utilization. This study provides new insight for further revealing the regulation mechanism of amylase production in A. oryzae.
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Griffiths SA, Cox RJ, Overdijk EJR, Mesarich CH, Saccomanno B, Lazarus CM, de Wit PJGM, Collemare J. Assignment of a dubious gene cluster to melanin biosynthesis in the tomato fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209600. [PMID: 30596695 PMCID: PMC6312243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigments and phytotoxins are crucial for the survival and spread of plant pathogenic fungi. The genome of the tomato biotrophic fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum contains a predicted gene cluster (CfPKS1, CfPRF1, CfRDT1 and CfTSF1) that is syntenic with the characterized elsinochrome toxin gene cluster in the citrus pathogen Elsinoë fawcettii. However, a previous phylogenetic analysis suggested that CfPks1 might instead be involved in pigment production. Here, we report the characterization of the CfPKS1 gene cluster to resolve this ambiguity. Activation of the regulator CfTSF1 specifically induced the expression of CfPKS1 and CfRDT1, but not of CfPRF1. These co-regulated genes that define the CfPKS1 gene cluster are orthologous to genes involved in 1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin biosynthesis in other fungi. Heterologous expression of CfPKS1 in Aspergillus oryzae yielded 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene, a typical precursor of DHN melanin. Δcfpks1 deletion mutants showed similar altered pigmentation to wild type treated with DHN melanin inhibitors. These mutants remained virulent on tomato, showing this gene cluster is not involved in pathogenicity. Altogether, our results showed that the CfPKS1 gene cluster is involved in the production of DHN melanin and suggests that elsinochrome production in E. fawcettii likely involves another gene cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Griffiths
- Fungal Natural Products, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Russell J. Cox
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover
| | - Elysa J. R. Overdijk
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carl H. Mesarich
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Benedetta Saccomanno
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Colin M. Lazarus
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jérôme Collemare
- Fungal Natural Products, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Medina R, Lucentini CG, Franco ME, Petroselli G, Rosso JA, Erra-Balsells R, Balatti PA, Saparrat MC. Identification of an intermediate for 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin synthesis in a race-2 isolate of Fulvia fulva (syn. Cladosporium fulvum). Heliyon 2018; 4:e01036. [PMID: 30582052 PMCID: PMC6299106 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Fulvia fulva (syn. Cladosporium fulvum, Mycosphaerellaceae) is a dematiaceous fungus that causes tomato leaf mould. It is characterized by its biotrophic lifestyle and the synthesis of the bianthraquinone secondary metabolite, cladofulvin. The aim of the study was to characterize the dark pigment photochemically synthesized by F. fulva and to elucidate its biochemical pathway. We isolated a black pigment from in vitro cultures of the fungus. We determined the pigment to be 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin based on its chemical and photochemical characteristics, as well as the presence of flaviolin, when fungal reductases were inhibited by tricyclazole. Furthermore, the pks1 gene involved in pigment synthesis has a KS domain already associated with DHN-melanin. Our findings support the relevance of studying melanization in F. fulva.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Medina
- Centro de Investigaciones en Fitopatologías, CIDEFI, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, CC 31, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - César G. Lucentini
- Centro de Investigaciones en Fitopatologías, CIDEFI, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, CC 31, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mario E.E. Franco
- Centro de Investigaciones en Fitopatologías, CIDEFI, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, CC 31, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Petroselli
- Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, 3 Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Janina A. Rosso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Diag. 113 y 64, CC 16 suc. 4, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Rosa Erra-Balsells
- Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, 3 Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro A. Balatti
- Centro de Investigaciones en Fitopatologías, CIDEFI, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, CC 31, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
- Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mario C.N. Saparrat
- Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 119, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal (INFIVE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata CCT-La Plata, Diag. 113 y 61, CC 327, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
- Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 53 # 477, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
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Steger M, Bermejo-Jambrina M, Yordanov T, Wagener J, Brakhage AA, Pittl V, Huber LA, Haas H, Lass-Flörl C, Posch W, Wilflingseder D. β-1,3-glucan-lacking Aspergillus fumigatus mediates an efficient antifungal immune response by activating complement and dendritic cells. Virulence 2018; 10:957-969. [PMID: 30372658 PMCID: PMC8647855 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1528843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Complement system and dendritic cells (DCs) form - beside neutrophils and macrophages - the first line of defense to combat fungal infections. Therefore, we here studied interactions of these first immune elements with Aspergillus fumigatus lacking ß-1,3-glucans (fks1tetOnrep under repressed conditions) to mechanistically explain the mode of action of echinocandins in more detail. Echinocandins are cell wall active agents blocking β-glucan synthase, making the A. fumigatus fks1tetOn mutant a good model to study immune-modulatory actions of these drugs. We now demonstrate herein, that complement was activated to significantly higher levels by the fks1-deficient strain compared to its respective wild type. This enhanced covalent linking of complement fragments to the A. fumigatus fks1tetOnrep mutant further resulted in enhanced DC binding and internalization of the fungus. Additionally, we found that fks1tetOnrep induced a Th1-/Th17-polarizing cytokine profile program in DCs. The effect was essentially dependent on massive galactomannan shedding, since blocking of DC-SIGN significantly reduced the fks1tetOnrep-mediated induction of an inflammatory cytokine profile.Our data demonstrate that lack of ß-1,3-glucan, also found under echinocandin therapy, results in improved recognition of Aspergillus fumigatus by complement and DCs and therefore not only directly affects the fungus by its fungistatic actions, but also is likely to exert indirect antifungal mechanisms by strengthening innate host immune mechanisms.Abbreviations: C: complement; CR:complement receptor; DC: dendritic cell; iDC: immature dendritic cell; DC-SIGN: Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin; ERK: extracellular signal-regulated kinases; JNK : c-Jun N-terminal kinases; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; NHS: normal human serum; PRR: pattern recognition receptor; Th :T helper; TLR :Toll-like receptor; WT: wild type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Steger
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marta Bermejo-Jambrina
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Teodor Yordanov
- Division of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes Wagener
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Germany.,Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Pittl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas A Huber
- Division of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wilfried Posch
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Doris Wilflingseder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Shende R, Wong SSW, Rapole S, Beau R, Ibrahim-Granet O, Monod M, Gührs KH, Pal JK, Latgé JP, Madan T, Aimanianda V, Sahu A. Aspergillus fumigatus conidial metalloprotease Mep1p cleaves host complement proteins. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:15538-15555. [PMID: 30139746 PMCID: PMC6177592 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity in animals including humans encompasses the complement system, which is considered an important host defense mechanism against Aspergillus fumigatus, one of the most ubiquitous opportunistic human fungal pathogens. Previously, it has been shown that the alkaline protease Alp1p secreted from A. fumigatus mycelia degrades the complement components C3, C4, and C5. However, it remains unclear how the fungal spores (i.e. conidia) defend themselves against the activities of the complement system immediately after inhalation into the lung. Here, we show that A. fumigatus conidia contain a metalloprotease Mep1p, which is released upon conidial contact with collagen and inactivates all three complement pathways. In particular, Mep1p efficiently inactivated the major complement components C3, C4, and C5 and their activation products (C3a, C4a, and C5a) as well as the pattern-recognition molecules MBL and ficolin-1, either by directly cleaving them or by cleaving them to a form that is further broken down by other proteases of the complement system. Moreover, incubation of Mep1p with human serum significantly inhibited the complement hemolytic activity and conidial opsonization by C3b and their subsequent phagocytosis by macrophages. Together, these results indicate that Mep1p associated with and released from A. fumigatus conidia likely facilitates early immune evasion by disarming the complement defense in the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajashri Shende
- From the Complement Biology Laboratory and
- the Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Tathawade, Pune-411033, India
| | | | - Srikanth Rapole
- Proteomics Laboratory, National Centre for Cell Science, S. P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune-411007, India
| | | | | | - Michel Monod
- the Service de Dermatologie, Laboratoire de Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Karl-Heinz Gührs
- the Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena-07745, Germany, and
| | - Jayanta Kumar Pal
- the Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Tathawade, Pune-411033, India
| | | | - Taruna Madan
- the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai-400012, India
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Guzman‐Chavez F, Salo O, Samol M, Ries M, Kuipers J, Bovenberg RAL, Vreeken RJ, Driessen AJM. Deregulation of secondary metabolism in a histone deacetylase mutant of Penicillium chrysogenum. Microbiologyopen 2018; 7:e00598. [PMID: 29575742 PMCID: PMC6182556 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pc21 g14570 gene of Penicillium chrysogenum encodes an ortholog of a class 2 histone deacetylase termed HdaA which may play a role in epigenetic regulation of secondary metabolism. Deletion of the hdaA gene induces a significant pleiotropic effect on the expression of a set of polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-encoding genes. The deletion mutant exhibits a decreased conidial pigmentation that is related to a reduced expression of the PKS gene Pc21 g16000 (pks17) responsible for the production of the pigment precursor naphtha-γ-pyrone. Moreover, the hdaA deletion caused decreased levels of the yellow pigment chrysogine that is associated with the downregulation of the NRPS-encoding gene Pc21 g12630 and associated biosynthetic gene cluster. In contrast, transcriptional activation of the sorbicillinoids biosynthetic gene cluster occurred concomitantly with the overproduction of associated compounds . A new compound was detected in the deletion strain that was observed only under conditions of sorbicillinoids production, suggesting crosstalk between biosynthetic gene clusters. Our present results show that an epigenomic approach can be successfully applied for the activation of secondary metabolism in industrial strains of P. chrysogenum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Guzman‐Chavez
- Molecular MicrobiologyGroningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial FermentationsDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Oleksandr Salo
- Molecular MicrobiologyGroningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial FermentationsDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Marta Samol
- Molecular MicrobiologyGroningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial FermentationsDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Marco Ries
- Division of Analytical BiosciencesLeiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug ResearchLeidenThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Metabolomics CentreLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kuipers
- Department of Cell biologyUniversity Medical Center GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Roel A. L. Bovenberg
- Synthetic Biology and Cell EngineeringGroningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- DSM Biotechnology CenterDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Rob J. Vreeken
- Division of Analytical BiosciencesLeiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug ResearchLeidenThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Metabolomics CentreLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Present address:
Rob J. Vreeken, Discovery SciencesJanssen R &DBeerseBelgium
| | - Arnold J. M. Driessen
- Molecular MicrobiologyGroningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial FermentationsDelftThe Netherlands
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45
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Kyrmizi I, Ferreira H, Carvalho A, Figueroa JAL, Zarmpas P, Cunha C, Akoumianaki T, Stylianou K, Deepe GS, Samonis G, Lacerda JF, Campos A, Kontoyiannis DP, Mihalopoulos N, Kwon-Chung KJ, El-Benna J, Valsecchi I, Beauvais A, Brakhage AA, Neves NM, Latge JP, Chamilos G. Calcium sequestration by fungal melanin inhibits calcium-calmodulin signalling to prevent LC3-associated phagocytosis. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:791-803. [PMID: 29849062 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0167-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) is a non-canonical autophagy pathway regulated by Rubicon, with an emerging role in immune homeostasis and antifungal host defence. Aspergillus cell wall melanin protects conidia (spores) from killing by phagocytes and promotes pathogenicity through blocking nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-dependent activation of LAP. However, the signalling regulating LAP upstream of Rubicon and the mechanism of melanin-induced inhibition of this pathway remain incompletely understood. Herein, we identify a Ca2+ signalling pathway that depends on intracellular Ca2+ sources from endoplasmic reticulum, endoplasmic reticulum-phagosome communication, Ca2+ release from phagosome lumen and calmodulin (CaM) recruitment, as a master regulator of Rubicon, the phagocyte NADPH oxidase NOX2 and other molecular components of LAP. Furthermore, we provide genetic evidence for the physiological importance of Ca2+-CaM signalling in aspergillosis. Finally, we demonstrate that Ca2+ sequestration by Aspergillus melanin inside the phagosome abrogates activation of Ca2+-CaM signalling to inhibit LAP. These findings reveal the important role of Ca2+-CaM signalling in antifungal immunity and identify an immunological function of Ca2+ binding by melanin pigments with broad physiological implications beyond fungal disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Kyrmizi
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Helena Ferreira
- 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Julio Alberto Landero Figueroa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati/Agilent Technologies Metallomics Center of the Americas, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Pavlos Zarmpas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Cristina Cunha
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Tonia Akoumianaki
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kostas Stylianou
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - George S Deepe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - George Samonis
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - João F Lacerda
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Serviço de Hematologia e Transplantação de Medula, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António Campos
- Serviço de Transplantação de Medula Óssea (STMO), Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Kyung J Kwon-Chung
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jamel El-Benna
- INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, DHU FIRE, Faculté de Médecine, Site Xavier Bichat, Paris, France
| | | | - Anne Beauvais
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI) and Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Nuno M Neves
- 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Georgios Chamilos
- Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. .,Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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46
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Shankar J, Tiwari S, Shishodia SK, Gangwar M, Hoda S, Thakur R, Vijayaraghavan P. Molecular Insights Into Development and Virulence Determinants of Aspergilli: A Proteomic Perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:180. [PMID: 29896454 PMCID: PMC5986918 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus species are the major cause of health concern worldwide in immunocompromised individuals. Opportunistic Aspergilli cause invasive to allergic aspergillosis, whereas non-infectious Aspergilli have contributed to understand the biology of eukaryotic organisms and serve as a model organism. Morphotypes of Aspergilli such as conidia or mycelia/hyphae helped them to survive in favorable or unfavorable environmental conditions. These morphotypes contribute to virulence, pathogenicity and invasion into hosts by excreting proteins, enzymes or toxins. Morphological transition of Aspergillus species has been a critical step to infect host or to colonize on food products. Thus, we reviewed proteins from Aspergilli to understand the biological processes, biochemical, and cellular pathways that are involved in transition and morphogenesis. We majorly analyzed proteomic studies on A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. niger to gain insight into mechanisms involved in the transition from conidia to mycelia along with the role of secondary metabolites. Proteome analysis of morphotypes of Aspergilli provided information on key biological pathways required to exit conidial dormancy, consortia of virulent factors and mycotoxins during the transition. The application of proteomic approaches has uncovered the biological processes during development as well as intermediates of secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathway. We listed key proteins/ enzymes or toxins at different morphological types of Aspergillus that could be applicable in discovery of novel therapeutic targets or metabolite based diagnostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jata Shankar
- Genomic Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, India
| | - Shraddha Tiwari
- Genomic Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, India
| | - Sonia K Shishodia
- Genomic Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, India
| | - Manali Gangwar
- Genomic Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, India
| | - Shanu Hoda
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Raman Thakur
- Genomic Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, India
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47
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Comparative genomics provides insights into the lifestyle and reveals functional heterogeneity of dark septate endophytic fungi. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6321. [PMID: 29679020 PMCID: PMC5910433 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24686-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are a form-group of root endophytic fungi with elusive functions. Here, the genomes of two common DSE of semiarid areas, Cadophora sp. and Periconia macrospinosa were sequenced and analyzed with another 32 ascomycetes of different lifestyles. Cadophora sp. (Helotiales) and P. macrospinosa (Pleosporales) have genomes of 70.46 Mb and 54.99 Mb with 22,766 and 18,750 gene models, respectively. The majority of DSE-specific protein clusters lack functional annotation with no similarity to characterized proteins, implying that they have evolved unique genetic innovations. Both DSE possess an expanded number of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), including plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). Those were similar in three other DSE, and contributed a signal for the separation of root endophytes in principal component analyses of CAZymes, indicating shared genomic traits of DSE fungi. Number of secreted proteases and lipases, aquaporins, and genes linked to melanin synthesis were also relatively high in our fungi. In spite of certain similarities between our two DSE, we observed low levels of convergence in their gene family evolution. This suggests that, despite originating from the same habitat, these two fungi evolved along different evolutionary trajectories and display considerable functional differences within the endophytic lifestyle.
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48
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Abstract
The balance between reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species production by the host and stress response by fungi is a key axis of the host-pathogen interaction. This review will describe emerging themes in fungal pathogenesis underpinning this axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adilia Warris
- Medical Research Centre for Medical Mycology, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Elizabeth R Ballou
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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49
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Novohradská S, Ferling I, Hillmann F. Exploring Virulence Determinants of Filamentous Fungal Pathogens through Interactions with Soil Amoebae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:497. [PMID: 29259922 PMCID: PMC5723301 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with filamentous fungi are common to all animals, but attention is rising especially due to the increasing incidence and high mortality rates observed in immunocompromised human individuals. Here, Aspergillus fumigatus and other members of its genus are the leading causative agents. Attributes like their saprophytic life-style in various ecological niches coupled with nutritional flexibility and a broad host range have fostered the hypothesis that environmental predators could have been the actual target for some of their virulence determinants. In this mini review, we have merged the recent findings focused on the potential dual-use of fungal defense strategies against innate immune cells and soil amoebae as natural phagocytes. Well-established virulence attributes like the melanized surface of fungal conidia or their capacity to produce toxic secondary metabolites have also been found to be protective against the model amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Some of the recent advances during interaction studies with human cells have further promoted the adaptation of other amoeba infection models, including the wide-spread generalist Acanthamoeba castellanii, or less prominent representatives like Vermamoeba vermiformis. We further highlight prospects and limits of these natural phagocyte models with regard to the infection biology of filamentous fungi and in comparison to the phagocytes of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Novohradská
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Iuliia Ferling
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Hillmann
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
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50
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Abstract
The molecular composition of the cell wall is critical for the biology and ecology of each fungal species. Fungal walls are composed of matrix components that are embedded and linked to scaffolds of fibrous load-bearing polysaccharides. Most of the major cell wall components of fungal pathogens are not represented in humans, other mammals, or plants, and therefore the immune systems of animals and plants have evolved to recognize many of the conserved elements of fungal walls. For similar reasons the enzymes that assemble fungal cell wall components are excellent targets for antifungal chemotherapies and fungicides. However, for fungal pathogens, the cell wall is often disguised since key signature molecules for immune recognition are sometimes masked by immunologically inert molecules. Cell wall damage leads to the activation of sophisticated fail-safe mechanisms that shore up and repair walls to avoid catastrophic breaching of the integrity of the surface. The frontiers of research on fungal cell walls are moving from a descriptive phase defining the underlying genes and component parts of fungal walls to more dynamic analyses of how the various components are assembled, cross-linked, and modified in response to environmental signals. This review therefore discusses recent advances in research investigating the composition, synthesis, and regulation of cell walls and how the cell wall is targeted by immune recognition systems and the design of antifungal diagnostics and therapeutics.
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