1
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Licona-Juárez KC, Bezerra AVS, Oliveira ITC, Massingue CD, Medina HR, Rangel DEN. Congo red induces trans-priming to UV-B radiation in Metarhizium robertsii. Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1544-1550. [PMID: 38097328 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.06.005] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Metarhizium spp. is used as a biocontrol agent but is limited because of low tolerance to abiotic stress. Metarhizium robertsii is an excellent study model of fungal pathogenesis in insects, and its tolerance to different stress conditions has been extensively investigated. Priming is the time-limited pre-exposure of an organism to specific stress conditions that increases adaptive response to subsequent exposures. Congo red is a water-soluble azo dye extensively used in stress assays in fungi. It induces morphological changes and weakens the cell wall at sublethal concentrations. Therefore, this chemical agent has been proposed as a stressor to induce priming against other stress conditions in entomopathogenic fungi. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of Congo red to induce priming in M. robertsii. Conidia were grown on potato dextrose agar with or without Congo red.The tolerance of conidia produced from mycelia grown in these three conditions was evaluated against stress conditions, including osmotic, oxidative, heat, and UV-B radiation. Conidia produced on medium supplemented with Congo red were significantly more tolerant to UV-B radiation but not to the other stress conditions assayed. Our results suggest that Congo red confers trans-priming to UV-B radiation but not for heat, oxidative, or osmotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Cecilia Licona-Juárez
- Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, SP, 08230-030, Brazil; Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Tecnológico Nacional de Mexico, A. García Cubas 600, Celaya, Guanajuato, 38010, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Humberto R Medina
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Tecnológico Nacional de Mexico, A. García Cubas 600, Celaya, Guanajuato, 38010, Mexico
| | - Drauzio E N Rangel
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos, PR, 85660-000, Brazil.
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2
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Latgé JP. Cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus: Variability and response to stress. Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1259-1266. [PMID: 37495316 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The fungal cell is surrounded by a thick cell wall which obviously play an essential role in the protection of the fungus against external aggressive environments. In spite of 50 years of studies, the cell wall remains poorly known and especially its constant modifications during growth as well as environmental changes is not well appreciated. This review focus on the cell wall changes seen between different fungal stages and cell populations with a specific view to explain the resistance to stresses.
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3
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Scott J, Valero C, Mato-López Á, Donaldson IJ, Roldán A, Chown H, Van Rhijn N, Lobo-Vega R, Gago S, Furukawa T, Morogovsky A, Ben Ami R, Bowyer P, Osherov N, Fontaine T, Goldman GH, Mellado E, Bromley M, Amich J. Aspergillus fumigatus Can Display Persistence to the Fungicidal Drug Voriconazole. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0477022. [PMID: 36912663 PMCID: PMC10100717 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04770-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus that can infect the lungs of patients with immunosuppression and/or underlying lung diseases. The mortality associated with chronic and invasive aspergillosis infections remain very high, despite availability of antifungal treatments. In the last decade, there has been a worrisome emergence and spread of resistance to the first-line antifungals, the azoles. The mortality caused by resistant isolates is even higher, and patient management is complicated as the therapeutic options are reduced. Nevertheless, treatment failure is also common in patients infected with azole-susceptible isolates, which can be due to several non-mutually exclusive reasons, such as poor drug absorption. In addition, the phenomena of tolerance or persistence, where susceptible pathogens can survive the action of an antimicrobial for extended periods, have been associated with treatment failure in bacterial infections, and their occurrence in fungal infections already proposed. Here, we demonstrate that some isolates of A. fumigatus display persistence to voriconazole. A subpopulation of the persister isolates can survive for extended periods and even grow at low rates in the presence of supra-MIC of voriconazole and seemingly other azoles. Persistence cannot be eradicated with adjuvant drugs or antifungal combinations and seemed to reduce the efficacy of treatment for certain individuals in a Galleria mellonella model of infection. Furthermore, persistence implies a distinct transcriptional profile, demonstrating that it is an active response. We propose that azole persistence might be a relevant and underestimated factor that could influence the outcome of infection in human aspergillosis. IMPORTANCE The phenomena of antibacterial tolerance and persistence, where pathogenic microbes can survive for extended periods in the presence of cidal drug concentrations, have received significant attention in the last decade. Several mechanisms of action have been elucidated, and their relevance for treatment failure in bacterial infections demonstrated. In contrast, our knowledge of antifungal tolerance and, in particular, persistence is still very limited. In this study, we have characterized the response of the prominent fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to the first-line therapy antifungal voriconazole. We comprehensively show that some isolates display persistence to this fungicidal antifungal and propose various potential mechanisms of action. In addition, using an alternative model of infection, we provide initial evidence to suggest that persistence may cause treatment failure in some individuals. Therefore, we propose that azole persistence is an important factor to consider and further investigate in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Scott
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Clara Valero
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Álvaro Mato-López
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ian J. Donaldson
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandra Roldán
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Harry Chown
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Norman Van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebeca Lobo-Vega
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Takanori Furukawa
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alma Morogovsky
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ronen Ben Ami
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Thierry Fontaine
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Emilia Mellado
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- CiberInfec ISCIII, CIBER en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge Amich
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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4
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Duca M, Haksar D, van Neer J, Thies-Weesie DM, Martínez-Alarcón D, de Cock H, Varrot A, Pieters RJ. Multivalent Fucosides Targeting β-Propeller Lectins from Lung Pathogens with Promising Anti-Adhesive Properties. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:3515-3526. [PMID: 36414265 PMCID: PMC9764287 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fungal and bacterial pathogens causing lung infections often use lectins to mediate adhesion to glycoconjugates at the surface of host tissues. Given the rapid emergence of resistance to the treatments in current use, β-propeller lectins such as FleA from Aspergillus fumigatus, SapL1 from Scedosporium apiospermum, and BambL from Burkholderia ambifaria have become appealing targets for the design of anti-adhesive agents. In search of novel and cheap anti-infectious agents, we synthesized multivalent compounds that can display up to 20 units of fucose, the natural ligand. We obtained nanomolar inhibitors that are several orders of magnitude stronger than their monovalent analogue according to several biophysical techniques (i.e., fluorescence polarization, isothermal titration calorimetry, and bio-layer interferometry). The reason for high affinity might be attributed to a strong aggregating mechanism, which was examined by analytical ultracentrifugation. Notably, the fucosylated inhibitors reduced the adhesion of A. fumigatus spores to lung epithelial cells when administered 1 h before or after the infection of human lung epithelial cells. For this reason, we propose them as promising anti-adhesive drugs for the prevention and treatment of aspergillosis and related microbial lung infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Duca
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands,Univ.
Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Diksha Haksar
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacq van Neer
- Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dominique M.E. Thies-Weesie
- Debye
Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht
University, Padualaan
8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hans de Cock
- Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands,
| | | | - Roland J. Pieters
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands,
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5
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Kamiński K, Hąc-Wydro K, Skóra M, Tymecka M, Obłoza M. Preliminary Studies on the Mechanism of Antifungal Activity of New Cationic β-Glucan Derivatives Obtained from Oats and Barley. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:40333-40343. [PMID: 36385808 PMCID: PMC9648169 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
New chemical structures with antifungal properties are highly desirable from the point of view of modern pharmaceutical science, especially due to the increasingly widespread instances of drug resistance in the case of these diseases. One way to solve this problem is to use polymeric drugs, widely described as biocidal, positively charged macromolecules. In this work, we present the synthesis of new cationic β-glucan derivatives that show selective antifungal activity and at the same time low toxicity toward animal and human cells. Two β-glucans isolated from oats and barley and modified using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride were obtained and evaluated for biocidal properties on the cells of mammals and pathogenic fungi and bacteria. These compounds were found to be nontoxic to fibroblast and bacterial cells but showed selective toxicity to certain species of filamentous fungi (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis) and yeasts (Cryptococcus neoformans). The most important aspect of this work is the attempt to explain the mechanisms of action of these compounds by studying their interaction with biological membranes. This was achieved by examining the interactions with model biological membranes representative of given families of microorganisms using Langmuir monolayers. The data obtained partly show correlations between the results for model systems and biological experiments and allow indicating that the selective antifungal activity of cationic β-glucans is related to their interaction with fungal biological membranes and partly lack of such interaction toward cells of other organisms. In addition, the obtained macromolecules were characterized by spectral methods (Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies) to confirm that the desired structure was obtained, and their degree of modification and molecular weights were determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kamiński
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2 Street, 30-387Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Hąc-Wydro
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2 Street, 30-387Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Skóra
- Department
of Infections Control and Mycology, Chair of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta 18 Street, 31-121Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Tymecka
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2 Street, 30-387Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Obłoza
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2 Street, 30-387Kraków, Poland
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6
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Verburg K, van Neer J, Duca M, de Cock H. Novel Treatment Approach for Aspergilloses by Targeting Germination. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:758. [PMID: 35893126 PMCID: PMC9331470 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Germination of conidia is an essential process within the Aspergillus life cycle and plays a major role during the infection of hosts. Conidia are able to avoid detection by the majority of leukocytes when dormant. Germination can cause severe health problems, specifically in immunocompromised people. Aspergillosis is most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) and affects neutropenic patients, as well as people with cystic fibrosis (CF). These patients are often unable to effectively detect and clear the conidia or hyphae and can develop chronic non-invasive and/or invasive infections or allergic inflammatory responses. Current treatments with (tri)azoles can be very effective to combat a variety of fungal infections. However, resistance against current azoles has emerged and has been increasing since 1998. As a consequence, patients infected with resistant A. fumigatus have a reported mortality rate of 88% to 100%. Especially with the growing number of patients that harbor azole-resistant Aspergilli, novel antifungals could provide an alternative. Aspergilloses differ in defining characteristics, but germination of conidia is one of the few common denominators. By specifically targeting conidial germination with novel antifungals, early intervention might be possible. In this review, we propose several morphotypes to disrupt conidial germination, as well as potential targets. Hopefully, new antifungals against such targets could contribute to disturbing the ability of Aspergilli to germinate and grow, resulting in a decreased fungal burden on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Verburg
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
| | - Jacq van Neer
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
| | - Margherita Duca
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Hans de Cock
- Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.V.); (J.v.N.)
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7
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Ijadpanahsaravi M, Teertstra WR, Wösten HAB. Inter- and intra-species heterogeneity in germination of Aspergillus conidia. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2022; 115:1151-1164. [PMID: 35857156 PMCID: PMC9363317 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-022-01762-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aspergilli are among the most abundant fungi worldwide. They degrade organic material and can be pathogens of plants and animals. Aspergilli spread by forming high numbers of conidia. Germination of these stress resistant asexual spores is characterized by a swelling and a germ tube stage. Here, we show that conidia of Aspergillusniger,Aspergillusoryzae,Aspergillusclavatus, Aspergillusnidulans and Aspergillusterreus show different swelling and germ tube formation dynamics in pure water or in water supplemented with (in)organic nutrients. Apart from inter-species heterogeneity, intra-species heterogeneity was observed within spore populations of the aspergilli except for A.terreus. Sub-populations of conidia differing in size and/or contrast showed different swelling and germ tube formation dynamics. Together, data imply that aspergilli differ in their competitive potential depending on the substrate. Moreover, results suggest that intra-species heterogeneity provides a bet hedging mechanism to optimize survival of aspergilli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ijadpanahsaravi
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wieke R. Teertstra
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Han A. B. Wösten
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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8
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Harish E, Osherov N. Fungal Priming: Prepare or Perish. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050448. [PMID: 35628704 PMCID: PMC9145559 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Priming (also referred to as acclimation, acquired stress resistance, adaptive response, or cross-protection) is defined as an exposure of an organism to mild stress that leads to the development of a subsequent stronger and more protective response. This memory of a previously encountered stress likely provides a strong survival advantage in a rapidly shifting environment. Priming has been identified in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Examples include innate immune priming and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in animals and biotic and abiotic stress priming in plants, fungi, and bacteria. Priming mechanisms are diverse and include alterations in the levels of specific mRNAs, proteins, metabolites, and epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation of target genes.
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9
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Hopke A, Mela A, Ellett F, Carter-House D, Peña JF, Stajich JE, Altamirano S, Lovett B, Egan M, Kale S, Kronholm I, Guerette P, Szewczyk E, McCluskey K, Breslauer D, Shah H, Coad BR, Momany M, Irimia D. Crowdsourced analysis of fungal growth and branching on microfluidic platforms. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257823. [PMID: 34587206 PMCID: PMC8480888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal hyphal growth and branching are essential traits that allow fungi to spread and proliferate in many environments. This sustained growth is essential for a myriad of applications in health, agriculture, and industry. However, comparisons between different fungi are difficult in the absence of standardized metrics. Here, we used a microfluidic device featuring four different maze patterns to compare the growth velocity and branching frequency of fourteen filamentous fungi. These measurements result from the collective work of several labs in the form of a competition named the "Fungus Olympics." The competing fungi included five ascomycete species (ten strains total), two basidiomycete species, and two zygomycete species. We found that growth velocity within a straight channel varied from 1 to 4 μm/min. We also found that the time to complete mazes when fungal hyphae branched or turned at various angles did not correlate with linear growth velocity. We discovered that fungi in our study used one of two distinct strategies to traverse mazes: high-frequency branching in which all possible paths were explored, and low-frequency branching in which only one or two paths were explored. While the high-frequency branching helped fungi escape mazes with sharp turns faster, the low-frequency turning had a significant advantage in mazes with shallower turns. Future work will more systematically examine these trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hopke
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alex Mela
- Fungal Biology Group and Plant Biology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Felix Ellett
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Derreck Carter-House
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Jesús F. Peña
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Sophie Altamirano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Brian Lovett
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Martin Egan
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Shiv Kale
- Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ilkka Kronholm
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Paul Guerette
- Bolt Threads Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Edyta Szewczyk
- Bolt Threads Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Kevin McCluskey
- Bolt Threads Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - David Breslauer
- Bolt Threads Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Hiral Shah
- Bharat Chattoo Genome Research Centre, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
| | - Bryan R. Coad
- School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Michelle Momany
- Fungal Biology Group and Plant Biology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DI); (MM)
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DI); (MM)
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10
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Blatzer M, Latgé JP. Fungal spores are future-proofed. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:979-980. [PMID: 34326519 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00946-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blatzer
- EA DYNAMiC 7380, Faculté de Santé, Univ. Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Créteil, France
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH and School of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
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11
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Transcription in fungal conidia before dormancy produces phenotypically variable conidia that maximize survival in different environments. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:1066-1081. [PMID: 34183813 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00922-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Fungi produce millions of clonal asexual conidia (spores) that remain dormant until favourable conditions occur. Conidia contain abundant stable messenger RNAs but the mechanisms underlying the production of these transcripts and their composition and functions are unknown. Here, we report that the conidia of three filamentous fungal species (Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Talaromyces marneffei) are transcriptionally active and can synthesize mRNAs. We find that transcription in fully developed conidia is modulated in response to changes in the environment until conidia leave the developmental structure. Environment-specific transcriptional responses can alter conidial content (mRNAs, proteins and secondary metabolites) and change gene expression when dormancy is broken. Conidial transcription affects the fitness and capabilities of fungal cells after germination, including stress and antifungal drug (azole) resistance, mycotoxin and secondary metabolite production and virulence. The transcriptional variation that we characterize in fungal conidia explains how genetically identical conidia mature into phenotypically variable conidia. We find that fungal conidia prepare for the future by synthesizing and storing transcripts according to environmental conditions present before dormancy.
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12
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Characterisation of Aspergillus fumigatus Endocytic Trafficking within Airway Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Automated Quantitative Confocal Microscopy. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060454. [PMID: 34200399 PMCID: PMC8229978 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise characterization of the mechanisms modulating Aspergillus fumigatus survival within airway epithelial cells has been impaired by the lack of live-cell imaging technologies and user-friendly quantification approaches. Here we described the use of an automated image analysis pipeline to estimate the proportion of A. fumigatus spores taken up by airway epithelial cells, those contained within phagolysosomes or acidified phagosomes, along with the fungal factors contributing to these processes. Coupling the use of fluorescent A. fumigatus strains and fluorescent epithelial probes targeting lysosomes, acidified compartments and cell membrane, we found that both the efficacy of lysosome recruitment to phagosomes and phagosome acidification determines the capacity of airway epithelial cells to contain A. fumigatus growth. Overall, the capability of the airway epithelium to prevent A. fumigatus survival was higher in bronchial epithelial than alveolar epithelial cells. Certain A. fumigatus cell wall mutants influenced phagosome maturation in airway epithelial cells. Taken together, this live-cell 4D imaging approach allows observation and measurement of the very early processes of A. fumigatus interaction within live airway epithelial monolayers.
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Functional Genomic and Biochemical Analysis Reveals Pleiotropic Effect of Congo Red on Aspergillus fumigatus. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00863-21. [PMID: 34006660 PMCID: PMC8262895 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00863-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of fungal growth by Congo red (CR) has been putatively associated with specific binding to β-1,3-glucans, which blocks cell wall polysaccharide synthesis. In this study, we searched for transcription factors (TFs) that regulate the response to CR and interrogated their regulon. During the investigation of the susceptibility to CR of the TF mutant library, several CR-resistant and -hypersensitive mutants were discovered and further studied. Abnormal distorted swollen conidia called Quasimodo cells were seen in the presence of CR. Quasimodo cells in the resistant mutants were larger than the ones in the sensitive and parental strains; consequently, the conidia of the resistant mutants absorbed more CR than the germinating conidia of the sensitive or parental strains. Accordingly, this higher absorption rate by Quasimodo cells resulted in the removal of CR from the culture medium, allowing a subset of conidia to germinate and grow. In contrast, all resting conidia of the sensitive mutants and the parental strain were killed. This result indicated that the heterogeneity of the conidial population is essential to promote the survival of Aspergillus fumigatus in the presence of CR. Moreover, amorphous surface cell wall polysaccharides such as galactosaminogalactan control the influx of CR inside the cells and, accordingly, resistance to the drug. Finally, long-term incubation with CR led to the discovery of a new CR-induced growth effect, called drug-induced growth stimulation (DIGS), since the growth of one of them could be stimulated after recovery from CR stress.
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Howell G, Bleichrodt RJ. Single Cell Analysis and Sorting of Aspergillus fumigatus by Flow Cytometry. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e3993. [PMID: 34124294 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental results in fungal biology research are usually obtained as average measurements across whole populations of cells, whilst ignoring what is happening at the single cell level. Microscopy has allowed us to study single-cell behavior, but it has low throughput and cannot be used to select individual cells for downstream experiments. Here we present a method that allows for the analysis and selection of single fungal cells in high throughput by flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), respectively. This protocol can be adapted for every fungal species that produces cells of up to 70 microns in diameter. After initial setting of the flow cytometry gates, which takes a single day, accurate single cell analysis and sorting can be performed. This method yields a throughput of thousands of cells per second. Selected cells can be subjected to downstream experiments to study single-cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Howell
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR), Infection, Immunity, Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Robert-Jan Bleichrodt
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG), Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.,Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Aspergillus fumigatus, One Uninucleate Species with Disparate Offspring. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010030. [PMID: 33419224 PMCID: PMC7825634 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishment of a fungal infection due to Aspergillus fumigatus relies on the efficient germination of the airborne conidia once they penetrate the respiratory tract. However, the features of conidial germination have been poorly explored and understood in this fungal species as well as in other species of filamentous fungi. We show here that the germination of A. fumigatus is asynchronous. If the nutritional environment and extensive gene deletions can modify the germination parameters for A. fumigatus, the asynchrony is maintained in all germinative conditions tested. Even though the causes for this asynchrony of conidial germination remain unknown, asynchrony is essential for the completion of the biological cycle of this filamentous fungus.
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Wang S, Yuan A, Zeng L, Hou S, Wang M, Li L, Cai Z, Zhong G. The putative polysaccharide synthase AfCps1 regulates Aspergillus fumigatus morphogenesis and conidia immune response in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. J Microbiol 2020; 59:64-75. [PMID: 33201436 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-021-0347-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a well-known opportunistic pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis (IA) infections with high mortality in immunosuppressed individuals. Morphogenesis, including hyphal growth, conidiation, and cell wall biosynthesis is crucial in A. fumigatus pathogenesis. Based on a previous random insertional mutagenesis library, we identified the putative polysaccharide synthase gene Afcps1 and its para-log Afcps2. Homologs of the cps gene are commonly found in the genomes of most fungal and some bacterial pathogens. Afcps1/cpsA is important in sporulation, cell wall composition, and virulence. However, the precise regulation patterns of cell wall integrity by Afcps1/cpsA and further effects on the immune response are poorly understood. Specifically, our in-depth study revealed that Afcps1 affects cell-wall stability, showing an increased resistance of ΔAfcps1 to the chitinmicrofibril destabilizing compound calcofluor white (CFW) and susceptibility of ΔAfcps1 to the β-(1,3)-glucan synthase inhibitor echinocandin caspofungin (CS). Additionally, deletion of Afcps2 had a normal sporulation phenotype but caused hypersensitivity to Na+ stress, CFW, and Congo red (CR). Specifically, quantitative analysis of cell wall composition using high-performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD) analysis revealed that depletion of Afcps1 reduced cell wall glucan and chitin contents, which was consistent with the down-regulation of expression of the corresponding biosynthesis genes. Moreover, an elevated immune response stimulated by conidia of the ΔAfcps1 mutant in marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) during phagocytosis was observed. Thus, our study provided new insights into the function of polysaccharide synthase Cps1, which is necessary for the maintenance of cell wall stability and the adaptation of conidia to the immune response of macrophages in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou University, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, P. R. China
| | - Anjie Yuan
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Liping Zeng
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Sikai Hou
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Meng Wang
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Lei Li
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Zhendong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315800, P. R. China.
| | - Guowei Zhong
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China.
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17
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Obar JJ. Sensing the threat posed by Aspergillus infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:47-55. [PMID: 32898768 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian immune system can tune its inflammatory response to the threat level posed by an invading pathogen. It is well established that the host utilizes numerous 'patterns of pathogenicity', such as microbial growth, invasion, and viability, to achieve this tuning during bacterial infections. This review discusses how this notion fits during fungal infection, particularly regarding Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Moreover, how the environmental niches filled by A. fumigatus may drive the evolution of the fungal traits responsible for inducing the strain-specific inflammatory responses that have been experimentally observed will be discussed. Moving forward understanding the mechanisms of the fungal strain-specific inflammatory response due to the initial interactions with the host innate immune system will be essential for enhancing our therapeutic options for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Obar
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Hinman Box 7556, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
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Seidel C, Moreno-Velásquez SD, Ben-Ghazzi N, Gago S, Read ND, Bowyer P. Phagolysosomal Survival Enables Non-lytic Hyphal Escape and Ramification Through Lung Epithelium During Aspergillus fumigatus Infection. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1955. [PMID: 32973709 PMCID: PMC7468521 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important mould pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. Suboptimal clearance of inhaled spores results in the colonisation of the lung airways by invasive hyphae. The first point of contact between A. fumigatus and the host is the lung epithelium. In vitro and ex vivo studies have characterised critical aspects of the interaction of invasive hyphae on the surface of epithelial cells. However, the cellular interplay between internalised A. fumigatus and the lung epithelium remains largely unexplored. Here, we use high-resolution live-cell confocal microscopy, 3D rendered imaging and transmission electron microscopy to define the development of A. fumigatus after lung epithelium internalisation in vitro. Germination, morphology and growth of A. fumigatus were significantly impaired upon internalisation by alveolar (A549) and bronchial (16HBE) lung epithelial cells compared to those growing on the host surface. Internalised spores and germlings were surrounded by the host phagolysosome membrane. Sixty per cent of the phagosomes containing germlings were not acidified at 24 h post infection allowing hyphal development. During escape, the phagolysosomal membrane was not ruptured but likely fused to host plasma membrane allowing hyphal exit from the intact host cell in an non-lytic Manner. Subsequently, escaping hyphae elongated between or through adjacent epithelial lung cells without penetration of the host cytoplasm. Hyphal tips penetrating new epithelial cells were surrounded by the recipient cell plasma membrane. Altogether, our results suggest cells of lung epithelium survive fungal penetration because the phagolysosomal and plasma membranes are never breached and that conversely, fungal spores survive due to phagosome maturation failure. Consequently, fungal hyphae can grow through the epithelial cell layer without directly damaging the host. These processes likely prevent the activation of downstream immune responses alongside limiting the access of professional phagocytes to the invading fungal hypha. Further research is needed to investigate if these events also occur during penetration of fungi in endothelial cells, fibroblasts and other cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanze Seidel
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio D Moreno-Velásquez
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nagwa Ben-Ghazzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nick D Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
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19
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Du Toit A. Changing things up. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 18:362. [DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-0390-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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