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Jáger O, Szebenyi C, Abu Saleem TKS, Molnár A, Kovács V, Kiss K, Homa M, Vágó B, Kiss-Vetráb S, Varga M, Sinka R, Vágvölgyi C, Nagy G, Papp T. Functional characterization of two survival factor 1 genes in Mucor lusitanicus. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0110324. [PMID: 39189757 PMCID: PMC11448193 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01103-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Survival factor 1 (Svf1) protein has been described in some ascomycetous fungi where it was found to be contributing to several essential physiological processes, such as response to osmotic, oxidative and cold stresses, sphingolipid biosynthesis, morphogenesis, sporulation, antifungal resistance, and pathogenicity. It was also suggested that it can be a novel central regulator affecting the expression of various genes. In the present study, function of this protein and the encoding genes is described for the first time in a fungus (i.e., in Mucor lusitanicus) belonging to the order Mucorales. M. lusitanicus has two putative svf1 genes named svf1a and svf1b. Expression of both genes was proven. Although the expression of svf1a was affected by several environmental stresses and knocking out the gene affected adaptation to low temperatures and the sporulation ability, the main survival factor functions, such as participation in the maintenance of the viability, the response to oxidative and cold stresses, and the sphingolipid biosynthesis, could be associated with Svf1b, suggesting a central regulatory role to this protein. Interestingly, knockout of both genes affected the pathogenicity of the fungus in a Drosophila model. IMPORTANCE Mucor lusitanicus is a widely used model organism to study various biological processes in the basal fungal group Mucorales. Several members of this group can be agents of mucormycosis, an opportunistic fungal infection, which is associated with high mortality, rapid progression, and wide resistance to the commonly used antifungal agents. Svf1 proteins have so far only been identified in fungi, where they have been involved in pathogenicity and resistance to antifungal agents in many cases. Only a limited number of factors affecting the stress response, antifungal resistance, and virulence of Mucorales fungi have been revealed. Elucidating the function of a fungus-specific protein that may regulate these processes may bring us closer to understanding the pathogenesis of these fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivér Jáger
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csilla Szebenyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Anna Molnár
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Vanda Kovács
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Karina Kiss
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Homa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bernadett Vágó
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kiss-Vetráb
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Varga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rita Sinka
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- University of Szeged, Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation (SZTE IKIKK), Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás Papp
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- University of Szeged, Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation (SZTE IKIKK), Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
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Panda S, Sahu MC, Turuk J, Pati S. Mucormycosis: A Rare disease to Notifiable Disease. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:1065-1081. [PMID: 38561499 PMCID: PMC11153412 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01315-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is the third most frequent invasive mycosis, following candidiasis and aspergillosis. It is frequently neglected due to its rare occurrence; but recently attend the status of notifiable disease due to its higher incidence in both developed and developing nations. India has received global notice since its estimated instances were greater than the global estimated figures. Mucormycosis has several clinical manifestations, including rhino-orbital-cerebral (ROCM), pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, renal, and diffuse Mucormycosis. ROCM is the most frequent clinical manifestation in India, although pulmonary mucormycosis is prevalent worldwide. This review also discusses host defenses, pre disposing risk factors and fungal virulence factors that impair host's ability to prevent fungus invasion and disease establishment. The diagnosis of the disease depends on clinical interventions, histological or microbiological procedures along with molecular methods to obtain timely results. But there are still unmet challenges for rapid diagnosis of the disease. Treatment of the disease is achieved by multimodal approaches such as reversal of underlying predisposing factors, rapid administration of antifungals in optimal doses and surgical procedures to remove infected tissues. Liposomal Amphotericin B, Posaconazole and Isavuconazoles are preferred as the first line of treatment procedures. clinical trials. Different studies have improved the existing drug and under clinical trials while several studies predicted the new potential targets as CotH and Ftr1 as shown in infection and in vitro models. Therefore, current scenario demands a multidisciplinary approach is needed to investigate the prevalence, pathogenesis which is highly important for the advancement of rapid diagnosis and effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Panda
- Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India
| | | | - Jyotirmayee Turuk
- Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.
| | - Sanghamitra Pati
- Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.
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Tanwar M, Singh A, Singh TP, Sharma S, Sharma P. Comprehensive Review on the Virulence Factors and Therapeutic Strategies with the Aid of Artificial Intelligence against Mucormycosis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1431-1457. [PMID: 38682683 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00082] [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] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Mucormycosis, a rare but deadly fungal infection, was an epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in cases (COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, CAM) is attributed to excessive steroid and antibiotic use, poor hospital hygiene, and crowded settings. Major contributing factors include diabetes and weakened immune systems. The main manifesting forms of CAM─cutaneous, pulmonary, and the deadliest, rhinocerebral─and disseminated infections elevated mortality rates to 85%. Recent focus lies on small-molecule inhibitors due to their advantages over standard treatments like surgery and liposomal amphotericin B (which carry several long-term adverse effects), offering potential central nervous system penetration, diverse targets, and simpler dosing owing to their small size, rendering the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion facilitated by the phospholipid membrane. Adaptation and versatility in mucormycosis are facilitated by a multitude of virulence factors, enabling the pathogen to dynamically respond to various environmental stressors. A comprehensive understanding of these virulence mechanisms is imperative for devising effective therapeutic interventions against this highly opportunistic pathogen that thrives in immunocompromised individuals through its angio-invasive nature. Hence, this Review delineates the principal virulence factors of mucormycosis, the mechanisms it employs to persist in challenging host environments, and the current progress in developing small-molecule inhibitors against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Tanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Anamika Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Tej Pal Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
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4
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Lax C, Nicolás FE, Navarro E, Garre V. Molecular mechanisms that govern infection and antifungal resistance in Mucorales. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0018822. [PMID: 38445820 PMCID: PMC10966947 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00188-22] [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] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe World Health Organization has established a fungal priority pathogens list that includes species critical or highly important to human health. Among them is the order Mucorales, a fungal group comprising at least 39 species responsible for the life-threatening infection known as mucormycosis. Despite the continuous rise in cases and the poor prognosis due to innate resistance to most antifungal drugs used in the clinic, Mucorales has received limited attention, partly because of the difficulties in performing genetic manipulations. The COVID-19 pandemic has further escalated cases, with some patients experiencing the COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, highlighting the urgent need to increase knowledge about these fungi. This review addresses significant challenges in treating the disease, including delayed and poor diagnosis, the lack of accurate global incidence estimation, and the limited treatment options. Furthermore, it focuses on the most recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms and genes involved in the development of the disease, antifungal resistance, and the host defense response. Substantial advancements have been made in identifying key fungal genes responsible for invasion and tissue damage, host receptors exploited by the fungus to invade tissues, and mechanisms of antifungal resistance. This knowledge is expected to pave the way for the development of new antifungals to combat mucormycosis. In addition, we anticipate significant progress in characterizing Mucorales biology, particularly the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and antifungal resistance, with the possibilities offered by CRISPR-Cas9 technology for genetic manipulation of the previously intractable Mucorales species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco E. Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Osorio-Concepción M, Lax C, Lorenzo-Gutiérrez D, Cánovas-Márquez JT, Tahiri G, Navarro E, Binder U, Nicolás FE, Garre V. H3K4 methylation regulates development, DNA repair, and virulence in Mucorales. IMA Fungus 2024; 15:6. [PMID: 38481304 PMCID: PMC10938801 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00136-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are basal fungi that opportunistically cause a potentially fatal infection known as mucormycosis (black fungus disease), which poses a significant threat to human health due to its high mortality rate and its recent association with SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the other hand, histone methylation is a regulatory mechanism with pleiotropic effects, including the virulence of several pathogenic fungi. However, the role of epigenetic changes at the histone level never has been studied in Mucorales. Here, we dissected the functional role of Set1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of H3K4, which is associated with the activation of gene transcription and virulence. A comparative analysis of the Mucor lusitanicus genome (previously known as Mucor circinelloides f. lusitanicus) identified only one homolog of Set1 from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that contains the typical SET domain. Knockout strains in the gene set1 lacked H3K4 monomethylation, dimethylation, and trimethylation enzymatic activities. These strains also showed a significant reduction in vegetative growth and sporulation. Additionally, set1 null strains were more sensitive to SDS, EMS, and UV light, indicating severe impairment in the repair process of the cell wall and DNA lesions and a correlation between Set1 and these processes. During pathogen-host interactions, strains lacking the set1 gene exhibited shortened polar growth within the phagosome and attenuated virulence both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that the histone methyltransferase Set1 coordinates several cell processes related to the pathogenesis of M. lusitanicus and may be an important target for future therapeutic strategies against mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macario Osorio-Concepción
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Damaris Lorenzo-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Ghizlane Tahiri
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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6
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Scheler J, Binder U. Alternative in-vivo models of mucormycosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1343834. [PMID: 38362495 PMCID: PMC10867140 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1343834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is still regarded a rare fungal infection, but the high incidences of COVID-associated cases in India and other countries have shown its potential threat to large patient cohorts. In addition, infections by these fast-growing fungi are often fatal and cause disfigurement, badly affecting patients' lives. In advancing our understanding of pathogenicity factors involved in this disease, to enhance the diagnostic toolset and to evaluate novel treatment regimes, animal models are indispensable. As ethical and practical considerations typically favor the use of alternative model systems, this review provides an overview of alternative animal models employed for mucormycosis and discusses advantages and limitations of the respective model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
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Alejandre-Castañeda V, Patiño-Medina JA, Valle-Maldonado MI, García A, Ortiz-Alvarado R, Ruíz-Herrera LF, Castro-Cerritos KV, Ramírez-Emiliano J, Ramírez-Díaz MI, Garre V, Lee SC, Meza-Carmen V. Transcription Factors Tec1 and Tec2 Play Key Roles in the Hyphal Growth and Virulence of Mucor lusitanicus Through Increased Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism. J Microbiol 2023; 61:1043-1062. [PMID: 38114662 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-023-00096-8] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a lethal and difficult-to-treat fungal infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Mucor lusitanicus, a member of Mucorales, is commonly used as a model to understand disease pathogenesis. However, transcriptional control of hyphal growth and virulence in Mucorales is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of Tec proteins, which belong to the TEA/ATTS transcription factor family, in the hyphal development and virulence of M. lusitanicus. Unlike in the genome of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, which have a single Tec homologue, in the genome of Mucorales, two Tec homologues, Tec1 and Tec2, were found, except in that of Phycomyces blakesleeanus, with only one Tec homologue. tec1 and tec2 overexpression in M. lusitanicus increased mycelial growth, mitochondrial content and activity, expression of the rhizoferrin synthetase-encoding gene rfs, and virulence in nematodes and wax moth larvae but decreased cAMP levels and protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Furthermore, tec1- and tec2-overexpressing strains required adequate mitochondrial metabolism to promote the virulent phenotype. The heterotrimeric G beta subunit 1-encoding gene deletant strain (Δgpb1) increased cAMP-PKA activity, downregulation of both tec genes, decreased both virulence and hyphal development, but tec1 and tec2 overexpression restored these defects. Overexpression of allele-mutated variants of Tec1(S332A) and Tec2(S168A) in the putative phosphorylation sites for PKA increased both virulence and hyphal growth of Δgpb1. These findings suggest that Tec homologues promote mycelial development and virulence by enhancing mitochondrial metabolism and rhizoferrin accumulation, providing new information for the rational control of the virulent phenotype of M. lusitanicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Alejandre-Castañeda
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico
| | - J Alberto Patiño-Medina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico
| | | | - Alexis García
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, 78249, USA
| | - Rafael Ortiz-Alvarado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico
| | - León F Ruíz-Herrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico
| | | | | | - Martha I Ramírez-Díaz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Soo Chan Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, 78249, USA
| | - Víctor Meza-Carmen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mexico.
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8
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Puerner C, Vellanki S, Strauch JL, Cramer RA. Recent Advances in Understanding the Human Fungal Pathogen Hypoxia Response in Disease Progression. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:403-425. [PMID: 37713457 PMCID: PMC11034785 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032521-021745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Fungal-mediated disease progression and antifungal drug efficacy are significantly impacted by the dynamic infection microenvironment. At the site of infection, oxygen often becomes limiting and induces a hypoxia response in both the fungal pathogen and host cells. The fungal hypoxia response impacts several important aspects of fungal biology that contribute to pathogenesis, virulence, antifungal drug susceptibility, and ultimately infection outcomes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the hypoxia response in the most common human fungal pathogens, discuss potential therapeutic opportunities, and highlight important areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Puerner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA;
| | - Sandeep Vellanki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA;
| | - Julianne L Strauch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA;
- Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Robert A Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA;
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Serine/Threonine Phosphatase Calcineurin Orchestrates the Intrinsic Resistance to Micafungin in the Human-Pathogenic Fungus Mucor circinelloides. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0068622. [PMID: 36688672 PMCID: PMC9933632 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00686-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Procedures such as solid-organ transplants and cancer treatments can leave many patients in an immunocompromised state. This leads to their increased susceptibility to opportunistic diseases such as fungal infections. Mucormycosis infections are continually emerging and pose a serious threat to immunocompromised patients. Recently there has been a sharp increase in mucormycosis cases as a secondary infection in patients battling severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Mucorales fungi are notorious for presenting resistance to most antifungal drugs. The absence of effective means to treat these infections results in mortality rates approaching 100% in cases of disseminated infection. One of the most effective antifungal drug classes currently available is the echinocandins. Echinocandins seem to be efficacious in the treatment of many other fungal infections. Unfortunately, susceptibility testing has found that echinocandins have little to no effect on Mucorales fungi. In this study, we found that the model Mucorales Mucor circinelloides genome carries three copies of the genes encoding the echinocandin target protein β-(1,3)-d-glucan synthase (fksA, fksB, and fksC). Interestingly, we found that exposing M. circinelloides to micafungin significantly increased the expression of the fksA and fksB genes, resulting in an increased accumulation of β-(1,3)-d-glucan on the cell walls. However, this overexpression of the fks genes is not directly connected to the intrinsic resistance. Subsequent investigation discovered that the serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin regulates the expression of fksA and fksB, and the deletion of calcineurin results in a decrease in expression of all three fks genes. Deletion of calcineurin also results in a lower minimum effective concentration (MEC) of micafungin. In addition, we found that duplication of the fks gene is also responsible for the intrinsic resistance, in which lack of either fksA or fksB led a lower MEC of micafungin. Together, these findings demonstrate that calcineurin and fks gene duplication contribute to the intrinsic resistance to micafungin we observe in M. circinelloides.
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10
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Trieu TA, Nguyen PA, Le MN, Chu HN. Myosin-II proteins are involved in the growth, morphogenesis, and virulence of the human pathogenic fungus Mucor circinelloides. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1031463. [PMID: 36590583 PMCID: PMC9800795 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1031463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an emerging lethal invasive fungal infection. The infection caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales has been reported recently as one of the most common fungal infections among COVID-19 patients. The lack of understanding of pathogens, particularly at the molecular level, is one of the reasons for the difficulties in the management of the infection. Myosin is a diverse superfamily of actin-based motor proteins that have various cellular roles. Four families of myosin motors have been found in filamentous fungi, including myosin I, II, V, and fungus-specific chitin synthase with myosin motor domains. Our previous study on Mucor circinelloides, a common pathogen of mucormycosis, showed that the Myo5 protein (ID 51513) belonging to the myosin type V family had a critical impact on the growth and virulence of this fungus. In this study, to investigate the roles of myosin II proteins in M. circinelloides, silencing phenotypes and null mutants corresponding to myosin II encoding genes, designated mcmyo2A (ID 149958) and mcmyo2B (ID 136314), respectively, were generated. Those mutant strains featured a significantly reduced growth rate and impaired sporulation in comparison with the wild-type strain. Notably, the disruption of mcmyo2A led to an almost complete lack of sporulation. Both mutant strains displayed abnormally short, septate, and inflated hyphae with the presence of yeast-like cells and an unusual accumulation of pigment-filled vesicles. In vivo virulence assays of myosin-II mutant strains performed in the invertebrate model Galleria mellonella indicated that the mcmyo2A-knockout strain was avirulent, while the pathogenesis of the mcmyo2B null mutant was unaltered despite the low growth rate and impaired sporulation. The findings provide suggestions for critical contributions of the myosin II proteins to the polarity growth, septation, morphology, pigment transportation, and pathogenesis of M. circinelloides. The findings also implicate the myosin family as a potential target for future therapy to treat mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Anh Trieu
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam,*Correspondence: Trung Anh Trieu,
| | - Phuong Anh Nguyen
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mai Ngoc Le
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Huy Nhat Chu
- Environmental Bioremediation Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam,Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
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11
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Abstract
Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. These molds exist throughout the environment and generally do not cause serious problems in humans. Mucormycosis mainly affects individuals who are immunocompromised. The clinical manifestations of mucormycosis are wide-ranging; they include sinusitis (pansinusitis, rhino-orbital, or rhino-cerebral) as well as cutaneous, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and disseminate infections. Many uncertainties remain regarding how to control these infections despite the recent addition of triazoles to the antifungal arsenal for treating this infection. Currently, lipid formulations of amphotericin B have become the standard treatment for mucormycosis due to their efficiency. Moreover, a growing body of data supports the need for surgical excision of infected and/or necrosed tissue whenever practical. In this mini review, the current status of treatment options for mucormycosis and recent studies of novel therapeutic options will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Smith
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Soo Chan Lee
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Current Treatment Options for COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis: Present Status and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11133620. [PMID: 35806905 PMCID: PMC9267579 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11133620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis has become increasingly associated with COVID-19, leading to the use of the term “COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM)”. Treatment of CAM is challenging due to factors such as resistance to many antifungals and underlying co-morbidities. India is particularly at risk for this disease due to the large number of patients with COVID-19 carrying comorbidities that predispose them to the development of mucormycosis. Additionally, mucormycosis treatment is complicated due to the atypical symptoms and delayed presentation after the resolution of COVID-19. Since this disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, early identification and diagnosis are desirable to initiate a suitable combination of therapies and control the disease. At present, the first-line treatment involves Amphotericin B and surgical debridement. To overcome limitations associated with surgery (invasive, multiple procedures required) and amphotericin B (toxicity, extended duration and limited clinical success), additional therapies can be utilized as adjuncts or alternatives to reduce treatment duration and improve prognosis. This review discusses the challenges associated with treating CAM and the critical aspects for controlling this invasive fungal infection—early diagnosis and initiation of therapy, reversal of risk factors, and adoption of a multipronged treatment strategy. It also details the various therapeutic options (in vitro, in vivo and human case reports) that have been used for the treatment of CAM.
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13
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Zhang Q, Qin W, Hu X, Yan J, Liu Y, Wang Z, Liu L, Ding J, Huang P, Wu J. Efficacy and Mechanism of Thymol/KGM/LG Edible Coating Solution on Inhibition of Mucor circinelloides Isolated From Okra. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:880376. [PMID: 35651497 PMCID: PMC9149372 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.880376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increasing demand and quality requirement for the natural nutritious food in modern society, okra has attracted much attention because of its high nutritional value and remarkable functionality. However, the occurrence of postharvest diseases of fresh okra severely limited the application and the value of okra. Therefore, in this study, the dominant pathogens causing postharvest diseases such as soft rot were isolated from naturally decaying okra. It was identified as Mucor circinelloides by its morphological characteristics and standard internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA sequence. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of M. circinelloides were studied, and the inhibitory effect of thymol/KGM/LG (TKL) edible coating solution on M. circinelloides and its possible mechanism was discussed. In addition, TKL edible coating solution had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on M. circinelloides, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50) of 113.55 mg/L. The TKL edible coating solution at 960 mg/L of thymol completely inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of M. circinelloides. The results showed that the best carbon source of M. circinelloides was maltose, the best nitrogen source was beef extract and potassium nitrate, the best pH was 6, the best temperature was 28°C, the best NaCl concentration was 0.5%, and the light was conducive to the growth of M. circinelloides. It was also observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) that TKL was more likely to destroy the cell wall integrity of M. circinelloides, inhibit spore morphology and change mycelium structure. Meanwhile, the activity of chitinase (CHI), an enzyme related to cell wall synthesis of M. circinelloides, was significantly decreased after being treated by TKL with thymol at 100 mg/L (TKL100). The content of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in M. circinelloides decreased significantly from 12 h to 48 h, which may cause oxidative damage to the cell membrane. The activity polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylgalacturonase (PMG), and cellulase (Cx) of M. circinelloides decreased significantly. Therefore, the results showed that TKL had a good bacteriostatic effect on okra soft rot pathogen, and the main bacteriostatic mechanism might be the damage of cell membrane, degradation of the cell wall, inhibition of metabolic activities, and reduction of metabolites, which is helpful to further understand the inhibitory effect of TKL on okra soft rot pathogen and its mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqiu Zhang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Xinjie Hu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Jing Yan
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Yaowen Liu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Zhuwei Wang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Lang Liu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Jie Ding
- College of Food Science and Technology, Sichuan Tourism University, Chengdu, China
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Quality Management and Inspection and Detection, Yibin University, Yibin, China
| | - Jiya Wu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Physiology, College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
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Marena GD, Ramos MADS, Carvalho GC, Junior JAP, Resende FA, Corrêa I, Ono GYB, Sousa Araujo VH, Camargo BAF, Bauab TM, Chorilli M. Natural product‐based nanomedicine applied to fungal infection treatment: A review of the last 4 years. Phytother Res 2022; 36:2710-2745. [DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Davi Marena
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Matheus Aparecido dos Santos Ramos
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Gabriela Corrêa Carvalho
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | | | | | - Ione Corrêa
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Gabriela Yuki Bressanim Ono
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo Sousa Araujo
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Bruna Almeida Furquim Camargo
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Tais Maria Bauab
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health University of Araraquara (UNIARA) Araraquara Brazil
| | - Marlus Chorilli
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Araraquara Brazil
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15
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Homa M, Ibragimova S, Szebenyi C, Nagy G, Zsindely N, Bodai L, Vágvölgyi C, Nagy G, Papp T. Differential Gene Expression of Mucor lusitanicus under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040404. [PMID: 35448635 PMCID: PMC9031258 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucor lusitanicus and some other members of the fungal order Mucorales display the phenomenon of morphological dimorphism. This means that these fungi aerobically produce filamentous hyphae, developing a coenocytic mycelium, but they grow in a multipolar yeast-like form under anaerobiosis. Revealing the molecular mechanism of the reversible yeast-hyphal transition can be interesting for both the biotechnological application and in the understanding of the pathomechanism of mucormycosis. In the present study, transcriptomic analyses were carried out after cultivating the fungus either aerobically or anaerobically revealing significant changes in gene expression under the two conditions. In total, 539 differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05, |log2FC| ≥ 3) were identified, including 190 upregulated and 349 downregulated transcripts. Within the metabolism-related genes, carbohydrate metabolism was proven to be especially affected. Anaerobiosis also affected the transcription of transporters: among the 14 up- and 42 downregulated transporters, several putative sugar transporters were detected. Moreover, a considerable number of transcripts related to amino acid transport and metabolism, lipid transport and metabolism, and energy production and conversion were proven to be downregulated when the culture had been transferred into an anaerobic atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Homa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Sandugash Ibragimova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Csilla Szebenyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (G.N.); (L.B.)
| | - Nóra Zsindely
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - László Bodai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (G.N.); (L.B.)
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Tamás Papp
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Garre V. Recent Advances and Future Directions in the Understanding of Mucormycosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:850581. [PMID: 35281441 PMCID: PMC8907824 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.850581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an emerging infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales that has recently gained public relevance due to the high incidence among COVID-19 patients in some countries. The reduced knowledge about Mucorales pathogenesis is due, in large part, to the historically low interest for these fungi fostered by their reluctance to be genetically manipulated. The recent introduction of more tractable genetic models together with an increasing number of available whole genome sequences and genomic analyses have improved our understanding of Mucorales biology and mucormycosis in the last ten years. This review summarizes the most significant advances in diagnosis, understanding of the innate and acquired resistance to antifungals, identification of new virulence factors and molecular mechanisms involved in the infection. The increased awareness about the disease and the recent successful genetic manipulation of previous intractable fungal models using CRISPR-Cas9 technology are expected to fuel the characterization of Mucorales pathogenesis, facilitating the development of effective treatments to fight this deadly infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoriano Garre
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Prakash H, Skiada A, Paul RA, Chakrabarti A, Rudramurthy SM. Connecting the Dots: Interplay of Pathogenic Mechanisms between COVID-19 Disease and Mucormycosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:616. [PMID: 34436155 PMCID: PMC8400165 DOI: 10.3390/jof7080616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) is an emerging threat globally, especially in India. More than 40,000 CAM cases have been reported in India. The emergence of CAM cases in India has been attributed to environmental, host, and iatrogenic factors. Mucorales spore burden has been reported globally; however, their presence is higher in tropical countries such as India, contributing to the emergence of CAM. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with diabetes mellitus, haematological malignancies, solid organ transplants, corticosteroid therapy and neutropenia were more prone to mucormycosis, whereas in COVID-19 patients, virus-induced endothelial dysfunction, hyperglycaemia, and immune dysfunction following corticosteroid use increase the risk of acquiring mucormycosis. The interaction of Mucorales spores with the epithelial cells, followed by endothelial invasion, is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of mucormycosis. Endothelial damage and increased endothelial receptor expression induced by COVID-19 infection may predispose patients to CAM. COVID-19 infection may directly induce hyperglycaemia by damaging beta cells of the pancreas or by corticosteroid therapy, which may contribute to CAM pathogenesis. Iron acquisition from the host, especially in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or deferoxamine therapy, is an important virulence trait of Mucorales. Similarly, the hyperferritinaemia caused by COVID-19 may act as a source of iron for Mucorales growth and invasion. In addition, corticosteroid treatment reduces or abolishes the innate immune functions of phagocytic cells contributing to the pathogenesis of CAM. This review aims to discuss primarily the host and iatrogenic factors shared between COVID-19 and mucormycosis that could explain the emergence of CAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hariprasath Prakash
- Medical Microbiology, Department of Public Health, International Higher School of Medicine, Issyk-Kul Regional Campus, Cholpon-Ata 722125, Kyrgyzstan;
| | - Anna Skiada
- First Department of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Raees Ahmad Paul
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India; (R.A.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India; (R.A.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Shivaprakash Mandya Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India; (R.A.P.); (A.C.)
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Cellular Calcium Levels Influenced by NCA-2 Impact Circadian Period Determination in Neurospora. mBio 2021; 12:e0149321. [PMID: 34182778 PMCID: PMC8262947 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01493-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium signaling has been implicated in the control of a variety of circadian processes in animals and plants, but its role in microbial clocks has remained largely cryptic. To examine the role of intracellular Ca2+ in the Neurospora clock, we screened mutants with knockouts of calcium transporter genes and identified a gene encoding a calcium exporter, nca-2, uniquely as having significant period effects. The loss of NCA-2 results in an increase in the cytosolic calcium level, and this leads to hyper-phosphorylation of core clock components, FRQ and WC-1, and a short period, as measured by both the core oscillator and the overt clock. Genetic analyses showed that mutations in certain frq phospho-sites and in Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent kinase 2 (camk-2) are epistatic to nca-2 in controlling the pace of the oscillator. These data are consistent with a model in which elevated intracellular Ca2+ leads to the increased activity of CAMK-2, leading to enhanced FRQ phosphorylation, accelerated closure of the circadian feedback loop, and a shortened circadian period length. At a mechanistic level, some CAMKs undergo more auto-phosphorylations in the Δnca-2 mutant, consistent with high calcium levels in the Δnca-2 mutant influencing the enzymatic activities of CAMKs. NCA-2 interacts with multiple proteins, including CSP-6, a protein known to be required for circadian output. Most importantly, the expression of nca-2 is circadian clock-controlled at both the transcriptional and translational levels, and this in combination with the period effects seen in strains lacking NCA-2 firmly places calcium signaling within the larger circadian system, where it acts as both an input to and an output from the core clock.
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Arana C, Cuevas Ramírez RE, Xipell M, Casals J, Moreno A, Herrera S, Bodro M, Cofan F, Diekmann F, Esforzado N. Mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 in two kidney transplant patients. Transpl Infect Dis 2021; 23:e13652. [PMID: 34038014 PMCID: PMC8209809 DOI: 10.1111/tid.13652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) predisposes patients to bacterial and fungal superinfections due to the impairment of the immunological system. Among the associated opportunistic fungal infections, mucormycosis is one of the least frequent but with the highest mortality. We describe two cases of mucormycosis in two kidney transplant recipients, while they were hospitalized for SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia, with rhinosinusal and musculoskeletal involvement, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolt Arana
- Department of Nephrology, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael E Cuevas Ramírez
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Xipell
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Casals
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asunción Moreno
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabina Herrera
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Bodro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frederic Cofan
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fritz Diekmann
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Esforzado
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Cánovas-Márquez JT, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Pérez-Arques C, Lax C, Tahiri G, Pérez-Ruiz JA, Lorenzo-Gutiérrez D, Calo S, López-García S, Navarro E, Nicolás FE, Garre V, Murcia L. Role of the Non-Canonical RNAi Pathway in the Antifungal Resistance and Virulence of Mucorales. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040586. [PMID: 33920552 PMCID: PMC8072676 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are the causal agents for the lethal disease known as mucormycosis. Mortality rates of mucormycosis can reach up to 90%, due to the mucoralean antifungal drug resistance and the lack of effective therapies. A concerning urgency among the medical and scientific community claims to find targets for the development of new treatments. Here, we reviewed different studies describing the role and machinery of a novel non-canonical RNAi pathway (NCRIP) only conserved in Mucorales. Its non-canonical features are the independence of Dicer and Argonaute proteins. Conversely, NCRIP relies on RNA-dependent RNA Polymerases (RdRP) and an atypical ribonuclease III (RNase III). NCRIP regulates the expression of mRNAs by degrading them in a specific manner. Its mechanism binds dsRNA but only cuts ssRNA. NCRIP exhibits a diversity of functional roles. It represses the epimutational pathway and the lack of NCRIP increases the generation of drug resistant strains. NCRIP also regulates the control of retrotransposons expression, playing an essential role in genome stability. Finally, NCRIP regulates the response during phagocytosis, affecting the multifactorial process of virulence. These critical NCRIP roles in virulence and antifungal drug resistance, along with its exclusive presence in Mucorales, mark this pathway as a promising target to fight against mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Tomás Cánovas-Márquez
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - María Isabel Navarro-Mendoza
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (M.I.N.-M.); (C.P.-A.)
| | - Carlos Pérez-Arques
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (M.I.N.-M.); (C.P.-A.)
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Ghizlane Tahiri
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - José Antonio Pérez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Damaris Lorenzo-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Silvia Calo
- School of Natural and Exact Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago de los Caballeros 51033, Dominican Republic;
| | - Sergio López-García
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
| | - Laura Murcia
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.T.C.-M.); (C.L.); (G.T.); (J.A.P.-R.); (D.L.-G.); (S.L.-G.); (E.N.); (F.E.N.); (V.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Nagy G, Kiss S, Varghese R, Bauer K, Szebenyi C, Kocsubé S, Homa M, Bodai L, Zsindely N, Nagy G, Vágvölgyi C, Papp T. Characterization of Three Pleiotropic Drug Resistance Transporter Genes and Their Participation in the Azole Resistance of Mucor circinelloides. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:660347. [PMID: 33937100 PMCID: PMC8079984 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.660347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection caused by certain members of the fungal order Mucorales. This infection is associated with high mortality rate, which can reach nearly 100% depending on the underlying condition of the patient. Treatment of mucormycosis is challenging because these fungi are intrinsically resistant to most of the routinely used antifungal agents, such as most of the azoles. One possible mechanism of azole resistance is the drug efflux catalyzed by members of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. The pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporter subfamily of ABC transporters is the most closely associated to drug resistance. The genome of Mucor circinelloides encodes eight putative PDR-type transporters. In this study, transcription of the eight pdr genes has been analyzed after azole treatment. Only the pdr1 showed increased transcript level in response to all tested azoles. Deletion of this gene caused increased susceptibility to posaconazole, ravuconazole and isavuconazole and altered growth ability of the mutant. In the pdr1 deletion mutant, transcript level of pdr2 and pdr6 significantly increased. Deletion of pdr2 and pdr6 was also done to create single and double knock out mutants for the three genes. After deletion of pdr2 and pdr6, growth ability of the mutant strains decreased, while deletion of pdr2 resulted in increased sensitivity against posaconazole, ravuconazole and isavuconazole. Our result suggests that the regulation of the eight pdr genes is interconnected and pdr1 and pdr2 participates in the resistance of the fungus to posaconazole, ravuconazole and isavuconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE “Lendület” Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kiss
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rakesh Varghese
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Kitti Bauer
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csilla Szebenyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE “Lendület” Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kocsubé
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Homa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE “Lendület” Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Bodai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nóra Zsindely
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás Papp
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE “Lendület” Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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22
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Pérez-Arques C, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Murcia L, Lax C, Sanchis M, Capilla J, Navarro E, Garre V, Nicolás FE. A Mucoralean White Collar-1 Photoreceptor Controls Virulence by Regulating an Intricate Gene Network during Host Interactions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:459. [PMID: 33672193 PMCID: PMC7927057 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucolares are an ancient group of fungi encompassing the causal agents for the lethal infection mucormycosis. The high lethality rates, the emerging character of this disease, and the broad antifungal resistance of its causal agents are mucormycosis features that are alarming clinicians and researchers. Thus, the research field around mucormycosis is currently focused on finding specific weaknesses and targets in Mucorales for developing new treatments. In this work, we tested the role of the white-collar genes family in the virulence potential of Mucor lusitanicus. Study of the three genes of this family, mcwc-1a, mcwc-1b, and mcwc-1c, resulted in a marked functional specialization, as only mcwc-1a was essential to maintain the virulence potential of M. lusitanicus. The traditional role of wc-1 genes regulating light-dependent responses is a thoroughly studied field, whereas their role in virulence remains uncharacterized. In this work, we investigated the mechanism involving mcwc-1a in virulence from an integrated transcriptomic and functional approach during the host-pathogen interaction. Our results revealed mcwc-1a as a master regulator controlling an extensive gene network. Further dissection of this gene network clustering its components by type of regulation and functional criteria disclosed a multifunctional mechanism depending on diverse pathways. In the absence of phagocytic cells, mcwc-1a controlled pathways related to cell motility and the cytoskeleton that could be associated with the essential tropism during tissue invasion. After phagocytosis, several oxidative response pathways dependent on mcwc-1a were activated during the germination of M. lusitanicus spores inside phagocytic cells, which is the first stage of the infection. The third relevant group of genes involved in virulence and regulated by mcwc-1a belonged to the "unknown function," indicating that new and hidden pathways are involved in virulence. The unknown function category is especially pertinent in the study of mucormycosis, as it is highly enriched in specific fungal genes that represent the most promising targets for developing new antifungal compounds. These results unveil a complex multifunctional mechanism used by wc-1 genes to regulate the pathogenic potential in Mucorales that could also apply to other fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Pérez-Arques
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - María Isabel Navarro-Mendoza
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Laura Murcia
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Marta Sanchis
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, 43003 Tarragona, Spain; (M.S.); (J.C.)
| | - Javier Capilla
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, 43003 Tarragona, Spain; (M.S.); (J.C.)
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (C.P.-A.); (M.I.N.-M.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (E.N.)
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Vellanki S, Garcia AE, Lee SC. Interactions of FK506 and Rapamycin With FK506 Binding Protein 12 in Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogens. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:588913. [PMID: 33195437 PMCID: PMC7596385 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.588913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades advances in modern medicine have resulted in a global increase in the prevalence of fungal infections. Particularly people undergoing organ transplants or cancer treatments with a compromised immune system are at an elevated risk for lethal fungal infections such as invasive candidiasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, etc. The emergence of drug resistance in fungal pathogens poses a serious threat to mankind and it is critical to identify new targets for the development of antifungals. Calcineurin and TOR proteins are conserved across eukaryotes including pathogenic fungi. Two small molecules FK506 and rapamycin bind to FKBP12 immunophilin and the resulting complexes (FK506-FKBP12 and rapamycin-FKBP12) target calcineurin and TOR, respectively in both humans and fungi. However, due to their immunosuppressive nature these drugs in the current form cannot be used as an antifungal. To overcome this, it is important to identify key differences between human and fungal FKBP12, calcineurin, and TOR proteins which will facilitate the development of new small molecules with higher affinity toward fungal components. The current review highlights FK506/rapamycin-FKBP12 interactions with calcineurin/TOR kinase in human and fungi, and development of non-immunosuppressive analogs of FK506, rapamycin, and novel small molecules in inhibition of fungal calcineurin and TOR kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Vellanki
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Alexis E Garcia
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Soo Chan Lee
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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25
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Valle-Maldonado MI, Patiño-Medina JA, Pérez-Arques C, Reyes-Mares NY, Jácome-Galarza IE, Ortíz-Alvarado R, Vellanki S, Ramírez-Díaz MI, Lee SC, Garre V, Meza-Carmen V. The heterotrimeric G-protein beta subunit Gpb1 controls hyphal growth under low oxygen conditions through the protein kinase A pathway and is essential for virulence in the fungus Mucor circinelloides. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13236. [PMID: 32562333 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mucor circinelloides, a dimorphic opportunistic pathogen, expresses three heterotrimeric G-protein beta subunits (Gpb1, Gpb2 and Gpb3). The Gpb1-encoding gene is up-regulated during mycelial growth compared with that in the spore or yeast stage. gpb1 deletion mutation analysis revealed its relevance for an adequate development during the dimorphic transition and for hyphal growth under low oxygen concentrations. Infection assays in mice indicated a phenotype with considerably reduced virulence and tissue invasiveness in the deletion mutants (Δgpb1) and decreased host inflammatory response. This finding could be attributed to the reduced filamentous growth in animal tissues compared with that of the wild-type strain. Mutation in a regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) subunit (PkaR1) resulted in similar phenotypes to Δgpb1. The defects exhibited by the Δgpb1 strain were genetically suppressed by pkaR1 overexpression, indicating that the PKA pathway is controlled by Gpb1 in M. circinelloides. Moreover, during growth under low oxygen levels, cAMP levels were much higher in the Δgpb1 than in the wild-type strain, but similar to those in the ΔpkaR1 strain. These findings reveal that M. circinelloides possesses a signal transduction pathway through which the Gpb1 heterotrimeric G subunit and PkaR1 control mycelial growth in response to low oxygen levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Iván Valle-Maldonado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mexico
| | - José Alberto Patiño-Medina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mexico
| | - Carlos Pérez-Arques
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Nancy Yadira Reyes-Mares
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mexico
| | | | - Rafael Ortíz-Alvarado
- Facultad de Quimico Farmacobiología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico
| | - Sandeep Vellanki
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Martha Isela Ramírez-Díaz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mexico
| | - Soo Chan Lee
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Víctor Meza-Carmen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mexico
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Nicolás FE, Murcia L, Navarro E, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Pérez-Arques C, Garre V. Mucorales Species and Macrophages. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E94. [PMID: 32604972 PMCID: PMC7344864 DOI: 10.3390/jof6020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection caused by Mucorales with an unacceptable high mortality rate. Mucorales is a complex fungal group, including eleven different genera that can infect humans. This heterogeneity is associated with species-specific invasion pathways and responses to the host defense mechanisms. The host innate immune system plays a major role in preventing Mucorales growth and host invasion. In this system, macrophages are the main immune effector cells in controlling these fungi by rapid and efficient phagocytosis of the spores. However, Mucorales have evolved mechanisms to block phagosomal maturation and species-specific mechanisms to either survive as dormant spores inside the macrophage, as Rhizopus species, or geminate and escape, as Mucor species. Classical fungal models of mucormycosis, mostly Rhizopus, have made important contributions to elucidate key aspects of the interaction between Mucorales and macrophages, but they lack robust tools for genetic manipulation. The recent introduction of the genetically tractable Mucor circinelloides as a model of mucormycosis offers the possibility to analyze gene function. This has allowed the identification of regulatory pathways that control the fungal response to phagocytosis, including a non-canonical RNAi pathway (NCRIP) that regulates the expression of most genes regulated by phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (F.E.N.); (L.M.); (E.N.); (M.I.N.-M.); (C.P.-A.)
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