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Liu Y, Li R, Zhang Y, Jiao S, Xu T, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Wei J, Du W, Fujita M, Du Y, Wang ZA. Unveiling the inverse antimicrobial impact of a hetero-chitooligosaccharide on Candida tropicalis growth and biofilm formation. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 333:121999. [PMID: 38494241 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121999] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide (COS) are renowned for their potent antimicrobial prowess, yet the precise antimicrobial efficacy of COS remains elusive due to scant structural information about the utilized saccharides. This study delves into the antimicrobial potential of COS, spotlighting a distinct hetero-chitooligosaccharide dubbed DACOS. In contrast to other COS, DACOS remarkably fosters the growth of Candida tropicalis planktonic cells and fungal biofilms. Employing gradient alcohol precipitation, DACOS was fractionated, unveiling diverse structural characteristics and differential impacts on C. tropicalis. Notably, in a murine model of systemic candidiasis, DACOS, particularly its 70 % alcohol precipitates, manifests a promotive effect on Candida infection. This research unveils a new pathway for exploring the intricate nexus between the structural attributes of chitosan oligosaccharides and their physiological repercussions, underscoring the imperative of crafting chitosan and COS with meticulously defined structural configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122,China; State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Ruilian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Siming Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Tong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuhang Zhou
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China; Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, 100029 Beijing, China
| | - Yujing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinhua Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Du
- Agilent Technologies (China) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100102, China
| | - Morihisa Fujita
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122,China; Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Yuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Zhuo A Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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2
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Zhu X, Jin F, Yang G, Zhuang T, Zhang C, Zhou H, Niu X, Wang H, Wu D. Mitochondrial Protease Oct1p Regulates Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Influences Pathogenicity through Affecting Hyphal Growth and Biofilm Formation Activities in Candida albicans. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:391. [PMID: 38921377 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria, as the core metabolic organelles, play a crucial role in aerobic respiration/biosynthesis in fungi. Numerous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between mitochondria and Candida albicans virulence and drug resistance. Here, we report an octapeptide-aminopeptidase located in the mitochondrial matrix named Oct1p. Its homolog in the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the key proteins in maintaining mitochondrial respiration and protein stability. In this study, we utilized evolutionary tree analysis, gene knockout experiments, mitochondrial function detection, and other methods to demonstrate the impact of Oct1p on the mitochondrial function of C. albicans. Furthermore, through transcriptome analysis, real-time quantitative PCR, and morphological observation, we discovered that the absence of Oct1p results in functional abnormalities in C. albicans, affecting hyphal growth, cell adhesion, and biofilm formation. Finally, the in vivo results of the infection of Galleria mellonella larvae and vulvovaginal candidiasis in mice indicate that the loss of Oct1p led to the decreased virulence of C. albicans. In conclusion, this study provides a solid theoretical foundation for treating Candida diseases, developing new targeted drugs, and serves as a valuable reference for investigating the connection between mitochondria and virulence in other pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zhu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Guangyuan Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Tian Zhuang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Cangcang Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Hanjing Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Xiaojia Niu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Hongchen Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Daqiang Wu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230038, China
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Lin YT, Tsai WC, Lu HY, Fang SY, Chan HW, Huang CH. Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Cinnamon Essential Oil by Nanoemulsification for Intravaginal Treatment of Candida Vaginitis. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4941-4956. [PMID: 38828194 PMCID: PMC11144005 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s458593] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Due to its prevalence, recurrence, and the emergence of drug-resistance, Candida vaginitis significantly impacts the well-being of women. Although cinnamon essential oil (CEO) possesses antifungal activity, its hydrophobic properties limit its clinical application. Purpose To overcome this challenge, a nanoemulsification technology was employed to prepare cinnamon essential oil-nanoemulsion (CEO@NE), and its therapeutic efficacy and action mechanism for Candida vaginitis was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods CEO@NE, composed of 4% CEO, 78% distilled water, and 18% Tween 80, was prepared by ultrasonic nanoemulsification. The physical properties, anti-Candida activity, cytotoxicity, immunomodulatory potential and storage stability of CEO@NE were explored. Subsequently, the effect of intravaginal CEO@NE treatment on Candida vaginitis was investigated in mice. To comprehend the possible mechanism of CEO@NE, an analysis was conducted to ascertain the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C. albicans. Results CEO@NE, with the droplet size less than 100 nm and robust storage stability for up to 8 weeks, exhibited comparable anti-Candida activity with CEO. CEO@NE at the concentration lower than 400 μg/mL had no cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects on murine splenocytes. Intravaginal treatment of CEO@NE (400 μg/mL, 20 μL/day/mouse for 5 consecutive days) curbed Candida colonization, ameliorated histopathological changes, and suppressed inflammatory cytokine production in mice intravaginally challenged with C. albicans. Notably, this treatment preserved the density of vaginal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) crucial for vaginal health. Co-culturing C. albicans with CEO@NE revealed concentration-dependent augmentation of intracellular ROS generation and ensuing cell death. In addition, co-culturing LPS-stimulated murine splenocytes with CEO@NE yielded a decrease in the generation of cytokines. Conclusion This discovery provides insight into the conceivable antifungal and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of CEO@NE to tackle Candida vaginitis. CEO@NE offers a promising avenue to address the limitations of current treatments, providing novel strategy for treating Candida vaginitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Lin
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chung Tsai
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Yu Lu
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yuan Fang
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wen Chan
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Hsiung Huang
- Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Center for Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
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Guha S, Cristy SA, Buda De Cesare G, Cruz MR, Lorenz MC, Garsin DA. Optimization of the antifungal properties of the bacterial peptide EntV by variant analysis. mBio 2024; 15:e0057024. [PMID: 38587425 PMCID: PMC11077972 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00570-24] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal resistance to commonly used medicines is a growing public health threat, and there is a dire need to develop new classes of antifungals. We previously described a peptide produced by Enterococcus faecalis, EntV, that restricts Candida albicans to a benign form rather than having direct fungicidal activity. Moreover, we showed that one 12-amino acid (aa) alpha helix of this peptide retained full activity, with partial activity down to the 10aa alpha helix. Using these peptides as a starting point, the current investigation sought to identify the critical features necessary for antifungal activity and to screen for new variants with enhanced activity using both biofilm and C. elegans infection assays. First, the short peptides were screened for residues with critical activity by generating alanine substitutions. Based on this information, we used synthetic molecular evolution (SME) to rationally vary the specific residues of the 10aa variant in combination to generate a library that was screened to identify variants with more potent antifungal activity than the parent template. Five gain-of-function peptides were identified. Additionally, chemical modifications to the peptides to increase stability, including substitutions of D-amino acids and hydrocarbon stapling, were investigated. The most promising peptides were additionally tested in mouse models of oropharyngeal and systemic candidiasis where their efficacy in preventing infection was demonstrated. The expectation is that these discoveries will contribute to the development of new therapeutics in the fight against antimicrobial resistant fungi. IMPORTANCE Since the early 1980s, the incidence of disseminated life-threatening fungal infections has been on the rise. Worldwide, Candida and Cryptococcus species are among the most common agents causing these infections. Simultaneously, with this rise of clinical incidence, there has also been an increased prevalence of antifungal resistance, making treatment of these infections very difficult. For example, there are now strains of Candida auris that are resistant to all three classes of currently used antifungal drugs. In this study, we report on a strategy that allows for the development of novel antifungal agents by using synthetic molecular evolution. These discoveries demonstrate that the enhancement of antifungal activity from naturally occurring peptides is possible and can result in clinically relevant agents that have efficacy in multiple in vivo models as well as the potential for broad-spectrum activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Guha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shane A. Cristy
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Giuseppe Buda De Cesare
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Melissa R. Cruz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael C. Lorenz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Danielle A. Garsin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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5
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Wu D, Guan YX, Li CH, Zheng Q, Yin ZJ, Wang H, Liu NN. "Nutrient-fungi-host" tripartite interaction in cancer progression. IMETA 2024; 3:e170. [PMID: 38882486 PMCID: PMC11170973 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The human microbiome exhibits a profound connection with the cancer development, progression, and therapeutic response, with particular emphasis on its components of the mycobiome, which are still in the early stages of research. In this review, we comprehensively summarize cancer-related symbiotic and pathogenic fungal genera. The intricate mechanisms through which fungi impact cancer as an integral member of both gut and tissue-resident microbiomes are further discussed. In addition, we shed light on the pivotal physiological roles of various nutrients, including cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, in facilitating the growth, reproduction, and invasive pathogenesis of the fungi. While our exploration of the interplay between nutrients and cancer, mediated by the mycobiome, is ongoing, the current findings have yet to yield conclusive results. Thus, delving into the relationship between nutrients and fungal pathogenesis in cancer development and progression would provide valuable insights into anticancer therapy and foster precision nutrition and individualized treatments that target fungi from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Yun-Xuan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Chen-Hao Li
- Institute of Computing Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Quan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Zuo-Jing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Ning-Ning Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
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6
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Lim SJ, Muhd Noor ND, Sabri S, Mohamad Ali MS, Salleh AB, Oslan SN. Bibliometric analysis and thematic review of Candida pathogenesis: Fundamental omics to applications as potential antifungal drugs and vaccines. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myad126. [PMID: 38061839 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad126] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis caused by the pathogenic Candida yeast species has resulted in elevating global mortality. The pathogenicity of Candida spp. is not only originated from its primary invasive yeast-to-hyphal transition; virulence factors (transcription factors, adhesins, invasins, and enzymes), biofilm, antifungal drug resistance, stress tolerance, and metabolic adaptation have also contributed to a greater clinical burden. However, the current research theme in fungal pathogenicity could hardly be delineated with the increasing research output. Therefore, our study analysed the research trends in Candida pathogenesis over the past 37 years via a bibliometric approach against the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Based on the 3993 unique documents retrieved, significant international collaborations among researchers were observed, especially between Germany (Bernhard Hube) and the UK (Julian Naglik), whose focuses are on Candida proteinases, adhesins, and candidalysin. The prominent researchers (Neils Gow, Alistair Brown, and Frank Odds) at the University of Exeter and the University of Aberdeen (second top performing affiliation) UK contribute significantly to the mechanisms of Candida adaptation, tolerance, and stress response. However, the science mapping of co-citation analysis performed herein could not identify a hub representative of subsequent work since the clusters were semi-redundant. The co-word analysis that was otherwise adopted, revealed three research clusters; the cluster-based thematic analyses indicated the severeness of Candida biofilm and antifungal resistance as well as the elevating trend on molecular mechanism elucidation for drug screening and repurposing. Importantly, the in vivo pathogen adaptation and interactions with hosts are crucial for potential vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Jie Lim
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor Dina Muhd Noor
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Shukuri Mohamad Ali
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Abu Bakar Salleh
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nurbaya Oslan
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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7
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Li S, Liu Y, Weng L, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Chen Q, Liu X, Zhang H. The F 1F o-ATP synthase α subunit of Candida albicans induces inflammatory responses by controlling amino acid catabolism. Virulence 2023; 14:2190645. [PMID: 36914568 PMCID: PMC10072111 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2190645] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a leading cause of fatality in invasive candidiasis. The magnitude of the inflammatory response is a determinant of sepsis outcomes, and inflammatory cytokine imbalances are central to the pathophysiological processes. We previously demonstrated that a Candida albicans F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant was nonlethal to mice. Here, the potential effects of the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit on host inflammatory responses and the mechanism were studied. Compared with wild-type strain, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant failed to induce inflammatory responses in Galleria mellonella and murine systemic candidiasis models and significantly decreased the mRNA levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and increased those of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 in the kidney. During C. albicans-macrophage co-culture, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant was trapped inside macrophages in yeast form, and its filamentation, a key factor in inducing inflammatory responses, was inhibited. In the macrophage-mimicking microenvironment, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant blocked the cAMP/PKA pathway, the core filamentation-regulating pathway, because it failed to alkalinize environment by catabolizing amino acids, an important alternative carbon source inside macrophages. The mutant downregulated Put1 and Put2, two essential amino acid catabolic enzymes, possibly due to severely impaired oxidative phosphorylation. Our findings reveal that the C. albicans F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit induces host inflammatory responses by controlling its own amino acid catabolism and it is significant to find drugs that inhibit F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit activity to control the induction of host inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuixiu Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Luobei Weng
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yajing Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yishan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhanpeng Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiaoxin Chen
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaocong Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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8
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Case NT, Westman J, Hallett MT, Plumb J, Farheen A, Maxson ME, MacAlpine J, Liston SD, Hube B, Robbins N, Whitesell L, Grinstein S, Cowen LE. Respiration supports intraphagosomal filamentation and escape of Candida albicans from macrophages. mBio 2023; 14:e0274523. [PMID: 38038475 PMCID: PMC10746240 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02745-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a leading human fungal pathogen that often causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. The ability of C. albicans to transition between yeast and filamentous forms is key to its virulence, and this occurs in response to many host-relevant cues, including engulfment by host macrophages. While previous efforts identified C. albicans genes required for filamentation in other conditions, the genes important for this morphological transition upon internalization by macrophages remained largely enigmatic. Here, we employed a functional genomic approach to identify genes that enable C. albicans filamentation within macrophages and uncovered a role for the mitochondrial ribosome, respiration, and the SNF1 AMP-activated kinase complex. Additionally, we showed that glucose uptake and glycolysis by macrophages support C. albicans filamentation. This work provides insights into the metabolic dueling that occurs during the interaction of C. albicans with macrophages and identifies vulnerabilities in C. albicans that could serve as promising therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola T. Case
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Johannes Westman
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan Plumb
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aiman Farheen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle E. Maxson
- Program in Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sean D. Liston
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sergio Grinstein
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Keenan Research Center of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Miramón P, Pountain AW, Lorenz MC. Candida auris-macrophage cellular interactions and transcriptional response. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0027423. [PMID: 37815367 PMCID: PMC10652981 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00274-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic yeast Candida auris represents a global threat of the utmost clinical relevance. This emerging fungal species is remarkable in its resistance to commonly used antifungal agents and its persistence in the nosocomial settings. The innate immune system is one the first lines of defense preventing the dissemination of pathogens in the host. C. auris is susceptible to circulating phagocytes, and understanding the molecular details of these interactions may suggest routes to improved therapies. In this work, we examined the interactions of this yeast with macrophages. We found that macrophages avidly phagocytose C. auris; however, intracellular replication is not inhibited, indicating that C. auris resists the killing mechanisms imposed by the phagocyte. Unlike Candida albicans, phagocytosis of C. auris does not induce macrophage lysis. The transcriptional response of C. auris to macrophage phagocytosis is very similar to other members of the CUG clade (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. lusitaniae), i.e., downregulation of transcription/translation and upregulation of alternative carbon metabolism pathways, transporters, and induction of oxidative stress response and proteolysis. Gene family expansions are common in this yeast, and we found that many of these genes are induced in response to macrophage co-incubation. Among these, amino acid and oligopeptide transporters, as well as lipases and proteases, are upregulated. Thus, C. auris shares key transcriptional signatures shared with other fungal pathogens and capitalizes on the expansion of gene families coding for potential virulence attributes that allow its survival, persistence, and evasion of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Miramón
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
| | | | - Michael C. Lorenz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA
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10
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Katrak C, Garcia BA, Dornelas-Figueira LM, Nguyen M, Williams RB, Lorenz MC, Abranches J. Catalase produced by Candida albicans protects Streptococcus mutans from H 2O 2 stress-one more piece in the cross-kingdom synergism puzzle. mSphere 2023; 8:e0029523. [PMID: 37607054 PMCID: PMC10597455 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00295-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-infection with Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans is associated with dental caries, and their co-cultivation results in enhanced biofilm matrix production that contributes to increased virulence and caries risk. Moreover, the catalase-negative S. mutans demonstrates increased oxidative stress tolerance when co-cultivated in biofilms with C. albicans, a catalase-producing yeast. Here, we sought to obtain mechanistic insights into the increased H2O2 tolerance of S. mutans when co-cultivated with clinical isolates of Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and C. albicans. Additionally, the C. albicans SC5314 laboratory strain, its catalase mutant (SC5314Δcat1), and S. mutans UA159 and its glucosyltransferase B/C mutant (UA159ΔgtfB/C) were grown as single- and dual-species biofilms. Time-kill assays revealed that upon acute H2O2 challenge, the survival rates of S. mutans in dual-species biofilms with the clinical isolates and C. albicans SC5314 were greater than when paired with SC5314Δcat1 or as a single-species biofilm. Importantly, this protection was independent of glucan production through S. mutans GtfB/C. Transwell assays and treatment with H2O2-pre-stimulated C. albicans SC5314 supernatant revealed that this protection is contact-dependent. Biofilm stability assays with sublethal H2O2 or peroxigenic Streptococcus A12 challenge resulted in biomass reduction of single-species S. mutans UA159 and dual-species with SC5314Δcat1 biofilms compared to UA159 biofilms co-cultured with C. albicans SC5314. S. mutans oxidative stress genes were upregulated in single-species biofilms when exposed to H2O2, but not when S. mutans was co-cultivated with C. albicans SC5314. Here, we uncovered a novel, contact-dependent, synergistic interaction in which the catalase of C. albicans protects S. mutans against H2O2. IMPORTANCE It is well established that co-infection with the gram-positive caries-associated bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the yeast pathobiont Candida albicans results in aggressive forms of caries in humans and animal models. Together, these microorganisms form robust biofilms through enhanced production of extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Further, co-habitation in a biofilm community appears to enhance these microbes' tolerance to environmental stressors. Here, we show that catalase produced by C. albicans protects S. mutans from H2O2 stress in a biofilm matrix-independent manner. Our findings uncovered a novel synergistic trait between these two microorganisms that could be further exploited for dental caries prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callahan Katrak
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Bruna A. Garcia
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Mary Nguyen
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Robert B. Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael C. Lorenz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jacqueline Abranches
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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11
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Liu Z, Basso P, Hossain S, Liston SD, Robbins N, Whitesell L, Noble SM, Cowen LE. Multifactor transcriptional control of alternative oxidase induction integrates diverse environmental inputs to enable fungal virulence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4528. [PMID: 37500616 PMCID: PMC10374912 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40209-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic flexibility enables fungi to invade challenging host environments. In Candida albicans, a common cause of life-threatening infections in humans, an important contributor to flexibility is alternative oxidase (Aox) activity. Dramatic induction of this activity occurs under respiratory-stress conditions, which impair the classical electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we show that deletion of the inducible AOX2 gene cripples C. albicans virulence in mice by increasing immune recognition. To investigate further, we examined transcriptional regulation of AOX2 in molecular detail under host-relevant, ETC-inhibitory conditions. We found that multiple transcription factors, including Rtg1/Rtg3, Cwt1/Zcf11, and Zcf2, bind and regulate the AOX2 promoter, conferring thousand-fold levels of inducibility to AOX2 in response to distinct environmental stressors. Further dissection of this complex promoter revealed how integration of stimuli ranging from reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur to reduced copper availability is achieved at the transcriptional level to regulate AOX2 induction and enable pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pauline Basso
- UCSF Department of Microbiology & Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sean D Liston
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suzanne M Noble
- UCSF Department of Microbiology & Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- UCSF Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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12
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Sahoo S, Sharma S, Singh MP, Singh SK, Vamanu E, Rao KH. Metabolic and Phenotypic Changes Induced during N-Acetylglucosamine Signalling in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1997. [PMID: 37509635 PMCID: PMC10377528 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071997] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The human commensal yeast Candida albicans is pathogenic and results in a variety of mucosal and deep tissue problems when the host is immunocompromised. Candida exhibits enormous metabolic flexibility and dynamic morphogenetic transition to survive under host niche environmental conditions and to cause virulence. The amino sugar N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) available at the host infection sites, apart from acting as an extremely good carbon and nitrogen source, also induces cellular signalling in this pathogen. In C. albicans, GlcNAc performs multifaceted roles, including GlcNAc scavenging, GlcNAc import and metabolism, morphogenetic transition (yeast-hyphae and white-opaque switch), GlcNAc-induced cell death (GICD), and virulence. Understanding the molecular mechanism(s) involved in GlcNAc-induced cellular processes has become the main focus of many studies. In the current study, we focused on GlcNAc-induced metabolic changes associated with phenotypic changes. Here, we employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which is a high-throughput and sensitive technology, to unveil global metabolomic changes that occur in GlcNAc vs. glucose grown conditions in Candida cells. The morphogenetic transition associated with metabolic changes was analysed by high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Metabolite analysis revealed the upregulation of metabolites involved in the glyoxylate pathway, oxidative metabolism, and fatty acid catabolism to probably augment the synthesis of GlcNAc-induced hypha-specific materials. Furthermore, GlcNAc-grown cells showed slightly more sensitivity to amphotericin B treatment. These results all together provide new insights into the development of antifungal therapeutics for the control of candidiasis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somnath Sahoo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
| | - Sarika Sharma
- Department of Sponsored Research, Division of Research & Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India
| | - Mahendra P Singh
- Department of Zoology and Centre of Genomics and Bioinformatics, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273009, India
| | - Sandeep K Singh
- Indian Scientific Education and Technology Foundation, Lucknow 226002, India
| | - Emanuel Vamanu
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Kongara Hanumantha Rao
- Department of Biochemistry/Bioinformatics, School of Sciences, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam 530045, India
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13
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Druseikis M, Mottola A, Berman J. The Metabolism of Susceptibility: Clearing the FoG Between Tolerance and Resistance in Candida albicans. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 10:36-46. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-023-00189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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14
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Lange T, Kasper L, Gresnigt MS, Brunke S, Hube B. "Under Pressure" - How fungi evade, exploit, and modulate cells of the innate immune system. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101738. [PMID: 36878023 PMCID: PMC10109127 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The human immune system uses an arsenal of effector mechanisms to prevent and counteract infections. Yet, some fungal species are extremely successful as human pathogens, which can be attributed to a wide variety of strategies by which these fungi evade, exploit, and modulate the immune system. These fungal pathogens normally are either harmless commensals or environmental fungi. In this review we discuss how commensalism, but also life in an environmental niche without human contact, can drive the evolution of diverse and specialized immune evasion mechanisms. Correspondingly, we discuss the mechanisms contributing to the ability of these fungi to cause superficial to life-threatening infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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15
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Zeng L, Huang Y, Tan J, Peng J, Hu N, Liu Q, Cao Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Huang X. QCR7 affects the virulence of Candida albicans and the uptake of multiple carbon sources present in different host niches. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1136698. [PMID: 36923588 PMCID: PMC10009220 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Candida albicans is a commensal yeast that may cause life-threatening infections. Studies have shown that the cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 7 gene (QCR7) of C. albicans encodes a protein that forms a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III, making it an important target for studying the virulence of this yeast. However, to the best of our knowledge, the functions of QCR7 have not yet been characterized. Methods A QCR7 knockout strain was constructed using SN152, and BALb/c mice were used as model animals to determine the role of QCR7 in the virulence of C. albicans. Subsequently, the effects of QCR7 on mitochondrial functions and use of carbon sources were investigated. Next, its mutant biofilm formation and hyphal growth maintenance were compared with those of the wild type. Furthermore, the transcriptome of the qcr7Δ/Δ mutant was compared with that of the WT strain to explore pathogenic mechanisms. Results Defective QCR7 reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells and attenuated the virulence of C. albicans infection in vivo. Furthermore, the mutant influenced the use of multiple alternative carbon sources that exist in several host niches (GlcNAc, lactic acid, and amino acid, etc.). Moreover, it led to mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, the QCR7 knockout strain showed defects in biofilm formation or the maintenance of filamentous growth. The overexpression of cell-surface-associated genes (HWP1, YWP1, XOG1, and SAP6) can restore defective virulence phenotypes and the carbon-source utilization of qcr7Δ/Δ. Conclusion This study provides new insights into the mitochondria-based metabolism of C. albicans, accounting for its virulence and the use of variable carbon sources that promote C. albicans to colonize host niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbing Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongcheng Huang
- School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Junjun Tan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun Peng
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Niya Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - YanLi Cao
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Junzhu Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaotian Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- School of Public Health, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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16
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The adaptive response to alternative carbon sources in the pathogen Candida albicans involves a remodeling of thiol- and glutathione-dependent redox status. Biochem J 2023; 480:197-217. [PMID: 36625375 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220505] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunist pathogen responsible for a large spectrum of infections, from superficial mycosis to systemic diseases known as candidiasis. During infection in vivo, Candida albicans must adapt to host microenvironments and this adaptive response is crucial for the survival of this organism, as it facilitates the effective assimilation of alternative carbon sources others than glucose. We performed a global proteomic analysis on the global changes in protein abundance in response to changes in micronutrient levels, and, in parallel, explored changes in the intracellular redox and metabolic status of the cells. We show here that each of the carbon sources considered - glucose, acetate and lactate - induces a unique pattern of response in C. albicans cells, and that some conditions trigger an original and specific adaptive response involving the adaptation of metabolic pathways, but also a complete remodeling of thiol-dependent antioxidant defenses. Protein S-thiolation and the overproduction of reduced glutathione are two components of the response to high glucose concentration. In the presence of acetate, glutathione-dependent oxidative stress occurs, reduced thiol groups bind to proteins, and glutathione is exported out of the cells, these changes probably being triggered by an increase in glutathione-S-transferases. Overall, our results suggest that the role of cellular redox status regulation and defenses against oxidative stress, including the thiol- and glutathione-dependent response, in the adaptive response of C. albicans to alternative carbon sources should be reconsidered.
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17
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Brown AJP. Fungal resilience and host-pathogen interactions: Future perspectives and opportunities. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e12946. [PMID: 35962618 PMCID: PMC10078341 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
We are constantly exposed to the threat of fungal infection. The outcome-clearance, commensalism or infection-depends largely on the ability of our innate immune defences to clear infecting fungal cells versus the success of the fungus in mounting compensatory adaptive responses. As each seeks to gain advantage during these skirmishes, the interactions between host and fungal pathogen are complex and dynamic. Nevertheless, simply compromising the physiological robustness of fungal pathogens reduces their ability to evade antifungal immunity, their virulence, and their tolerance against antifungal therapy. In this article I argue that this physiological robustness is based on a 'Resilience Network' which mechanistically links and controls fungal growth, metabolism, stress resistance and drug tolerance. The elasticity of this network probably underlies the phenotypic variability of fungal isolates and the heterogeneity of individual cells within clonal populations. Consequently, I suggest that the definition of the fungal Resilience Network represents an important goal for the future which offers the clear potential to reveal drug targets that compromise drug tolerance and synergise with current antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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18
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Wu Y, Ma W, Liu W, Zhang S. Lactate: a pearl dropped in the ocean-an overlooked signal molecule in physiology and pathology. Cell Biol Int 2023; 47:295-307. [PMID: 36511218 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lactate, once recognized as a wasty product from anaerobic glycolysis, is proved to be a pivotal signal molecule. Lactate accumulation occurs in diverse physiological and pathological settings due to the imbalance between lactate production and clearance. Under the condition with drastic changes in local microenvironment, such as tumorigenesis, inflammation, and microbial infection, the glycolysis turns to be active in surrounding cells leading to increased lactate release. Meanwhile, lactate can be utilized by these cells as an energy substrate and acts as a signal molecule to regulate cell functions through receptor-dependent or independent pathways. In this review, we tended to tease out the contribution of lactate in tumor progression and immunomodulation. And we also discussed the accessory role of lactate, beyond as the energy source only, in the growth of invading pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanqi Ma
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuping Zhang
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
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19
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de Assis LJ, Bain JM, Liddle C, Leaves I, Hacker C, Peres da Silva R, Yuecel R, Bebes A, Stead D, Childers DS, Pradhan A, Mackenzie K, Lagree K, Larcombe DE, Ma Q, Avelar GM, Netea MG, Erwig LP, Mitchell AP, Brown GD, Gow NAR, Brown AJP. Nature of β-1,3-Glucan-Exposing Features on Candida albicans Cell Wall and Their Modulation. mBio 2022; 13:e0260522. [PMID: 36218369 PMCID: PMC9765427 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02605-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans exists as a commensal of mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract without causing pathology. However, this fungus is also a common cause of mucosal and systemic infections when antifungal immune defenses become compromised. The activation of antifungal host defenses depends on the recognition of fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as β-1,3-glucan. In C. albicans, most β-1,3-glucan is present in the inner cell wall, concealed by the outer mannan layer, but some β-1,3-glucan becomes exposed at the cell surface. In response to host signals, such as lactate, C. albicans induces the Xog1 exoglucanase, which shaves exposed β-1,3-glucan from the cell surface, thereby reducing phagocytic recognition. We show here that β-1,3-glucan is exposed at bud scars and punctate foci on the lateral wall of yeast cells, that this exposed β-1,3-glucan is targeted during phagocytic attack, and that lactate-induced masking reduces β-1,3-glucan exposure at bud scars and at punctate foci. β-1,3-Glucan masking depends upon protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. We reveal that inactivating PKA, or its conserved downstream effectors, Sin3 and Mig1/Mig2, affects the amounts of the Xog1 and Eng1 glucanases in the C. albicans secretome and modulates β-1,3-glucan exposure. Furthermore, perturbing PKA, Sin3, or Mig1/Mig2 attenuates the virulence of lactate-exposed C. albicans cells in Galleria. Taken together, the data are consistent with the idea that β-1,3-glucan masking contributes to Candida pathogenicity. IMPORTANCE Microbes that coexist with humans have evolved ways of avoiding or evading our immunological defenses. These include the masking by these microbes of their "pathogen-associated molecular patterns" (PAMPs), which are recognized as "foreign" and used to activate protective immunity. The commensal fungus Candida albicans masks the proinflammatory PAMP β-1,3-glucan, which is an essential component of its cell wall. Most of this β-1,3-glucan is hidden beneath an outer layer of the cell wall on these microbes, but some can become exposed at the fungal cell surface. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy, we examine the nature of the exposed β-1,3-glucan at C. albicans bud scars and at punctate foci on the lateral cell wall, and we show that these features are targeted by innate immune cells. We also reveal that downstream effectors of protein kinase A (Mig1/Mig2, Sin3) regulate the secretion of major glucanases, modulate the levels of β-1,3-glucan exposure, and influence the virulence of C. albicans in an invertebrate model of systemic infection. Our data support the view that β-1,3-glucan masking contributes to immune evasion and the virulence of a major fungal pathogen of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro José de Assis
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Judith M. Bain
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Corin Liddle
- Bioimaging Unit, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Leaves
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roberta Peres da Silva
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Raif Yuecel
- Exeter Centre for Cytomics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Attila Bebes
- Exeter Centre for Cytomics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David Stead
- Aberdeen Proteomics Facility, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Delma S. Childers
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pradhan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Mackenzie
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Lagree
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel E. Larcombe
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Qinxi Ma
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriela Mol Avelar
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department for Immunology & Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lars P. Erwig
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Johnson-Johnson Innovation, EMEA Innovation Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron P. Mitchell
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A. R. Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair J. P. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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20
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Du H, Bing J, Nobile CJ, Huang G. Candida auris infections in China. Virulence 2022; 13:589-591. [PMID: 35441578 PMCID: PMC9037403 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2054120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Han Du
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Bing
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Clarissa J. Nobile
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Guanghua Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Similarities and Differences among Species Closely Related to Candida albicans: C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis, and C. auris. Cell Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/2599136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Although Candida species are widespread commensals of the microflora of healthy individuals, they are also among the most important human fungal pathogens that under certain conditions can cause diseases (candidiases) of varying severity ranging from mild superficial infections of the mucous membranes to life-threatening systemic infections. So far, the vast majority of research aimed at understanding the molecular basis of pathogenesis has been focused on the most common species—Candida albicans. Meanwhile, other closely related species belonging to the CTG clade, namely, Candida tropicalis and Candida dubliniensis, are becoming more important in clinical practice, as well as a relatively newly identified species, Candida auris. Despite the close relationship of these microorganisms, it seems that in the course of evolution, they have developed distinct biochemical, metabolic, and physiological adaptations, which they use to fit to commensal niches and achieve full virulence. Therefore, in this review, we describe the current knowledge on C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis, and C. auris virulence factors, the formation of a mixed species biofilm and mutual communication, the environmental stress response and related changes in fungal cell metabolism, and the effect of pathogens on host defense response and susceptibility to antifungal agents used, highlighting differences with respect to C. albicans. Special attention is paid to common diagnostic problems resulting from similarities between these species and the emergence of drug resistance mechanisms. Understanding the different strategies to achieve virulence, used by important opportunistic pathogens of the genus Candida, is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Schubert OT, Bloom JS, Sadhu MJ, Kruglyak L. Genome-wide base editor screen identifies regulators of protein abundance in yeast. eLife 2022; 11:e79525. [PMID: 36326816 PMCID: PMC9633064 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins are key molecular players in a cell, and their abundance is extensively regulated not just at the level of gene expression but also post-transcriptionally. Here, we describe a genetic screen in yeast that enables systematic characterization of how protein abundance regulation is encoded in the genome. The screen combines a CRISPR/Cas9 base editor to introduce point mutations with fluorescent tagging of endogenous proteins to facilitate a flow-cytometric readout. We first benchmarked base editor performance in yeast with individual gRNAs as well as in positive and negative selection screens. We then examined the effects of 16,452 genetic perturbations on the abundance of eleven proteins representing a variety of cellular functions. We uncovered hundreds of regulatory relationships, including a novel link between the GAPDH isoenzymes Tdh1/2/3 and the Ras/PKA pathway. Many of the identified regulators are specific to one of the eleven proteins, but we also found genes that, upon perturbation, affected the abundance of most of the tested proteins. While the more specific regulators usually act transcriptionally, broad regulators often have roles in protein translation. Overall, our novel screening approach provides unprecedented insights into the components, scale and connectedness of the protein regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga T Schubert
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)ZürichSwitzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Joshua S Bloom
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Meru J Sadhu
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Leonid Kruglyak
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
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Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Trichoderma taxi and Its Metabolite on Trichophyton mentagrophyte. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101006. [PMID: 36294571 PMCID: PMC9605628 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101006] [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: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is an important zoonotic dermatophyte, which seriously harms the skin of humans and animals. Chemical drugs are generally used for the prevention and treatment of the disease caused by T. mentagrophytes. Discovering new compounds from natural products is an important approach for new drug development. Trichoderma includes a variety of fungal species used for biological control of phytopathogenic fungi. However, the antifungal effects of Trichoderma and their metabolites on zoonotic fungal pathogens are largely unknown. Here, the effect of trichodermin, a metabolite derived from the plant endophytic fungus Trichoderma taxi, on T. mentagrophytes was examined, and the underlying mechanism was explored. T. mentagrophytes growth was suppressed significantly by trichodermin and completely inhibited under 1000 μg/mL trichodermin. The production and germination of T. mentagrophytes spores were remarkably reduced upon exposure to trichodermin, in comparison with control samples. Treatment of lesions caused by T. mentagrophytes on the rabbit skin with 1 mg/mL trichodermin prompted the healing process significantly; however, 20 mg/mL trichodermin was likely toxic to the skin. Under trichodermin treatment, the number of mitochondria in T. mentagrophytes increased significantly, while a few mitochondria-related genes decreased, indicating possible mitochondrial damage. In transcriptome analysis, the GO terms enriched by DEGs in the trichodermin-treated group included carbohydrate metabolic process, integral component of membrane, intrinsic component of membrane, and carbohydrate binding, while the enriched KEGG pathways comprised biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and carbon metabolism. By comparing the wild type and a gene deletion strain of T. mentagrophytes, we found that CDR1, an ABC transporter encoding gene, was involved in T. mentagrophytes sensitivity to trichodermin.
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Genetic Interaction Analysis Reveals that Cryptococcus neoformans Utilizes Multiple Acetyl-CoA-Generating Pathways during Infection. mBio 2022; 13:e0127922. [PMID: 35766403 PMCID: PMC9426453 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01279-22] [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: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human fungal pathogen for which the external environment is its primary niche. Previous work has shown that two nonessential acetyl-CoA metabolism enzymes, ATP-citrate lyase (ACL1) and acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS1), play important roles in C. neoformans infection. Here, we took a genetic interaction approach to studying the interplay between these two enzymes along with an enzyme initially called ACS2 but which we have found is an acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase; we have renamed the gene 2-ketobutyryl CoA synthetase 1 (KBC1) based on its biochemical activity and the systematic name of its substrate. ACL1 and ACS1 represent a synthetic lethal pair of genes based on our genetic interaction studies. Double mutants of KBC1 with either ACS1 or ACL1 do not have significant synthetic phenotypes in vitro, although we find that deletion of any one of these enzymes reduces fitness within macrophages. Importantly, the acs1Δ kbc1Δ double mutant has significantly reduced fitness in the CNS relative to either single mutant as well as WT (~2 log10 CFU reduction in fungal burden), indicating the important role these enzymes play during infection. The expression of both ACS1 and KBC1 is increased in vivo relative to in vitro conditions. The acs1Δ mutant is hypersusceptible to fluconazole in vivo despite its minimal in vitro phenotypes. These data not only provide insights into the in vivo mechanism of action for a new class of antifungal Acs inhibitors but also into metabolic adaptations of C. neoformans to the host environment.
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A Special Phenotype of Aconidial Aspergillus niger SH2 and Its Mechanism of Formation via CRISPRi. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070679. [PMID: 35887436 PMCID: PMC9319794 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070679] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex morphological structure of Aspergillus niger influences its production of proteins, metabolites, etc., making the genetic manipulation and clonal purification of this species increasingly difficult, especially in aconidial Aspergillus niger. In this study, we found that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) could induce the formation of spore-like propagules in the aconidial Aspergillus niger SH2 strain. The spore-like propagules possessed life activities such as drug resistance, genetic transformation, and germination. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the spore-like propagules were resting conidia entering dormancy and becoming more tolerant to environmental stresses. The Dac1 gene and the metabolic pathway of GlcNAc converted to glycolysis are related to the formation of the spore-like propagules, as evidenced by the CRISPRi system, qPCR, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Moreover, a method based on the CRISPR-Cas9 tool to rapidly recycle screening tags and recover genes was suitable for Aspergillus niger SH2. To sum up, this suggests that the spore-like propagules are resting conidia and the mechanism of their formation is the metabolic pathway of GlcNAc converted to glycolysis, particularly the Dac1 gene. This study can improve our understanding of the critical factors involved in mechanisms of phenotypic change and provides a good model for researching phenotypic change in filamentous fungi.
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Stress- and metabolic responses of Candida albicans require Tor1 kinase N-terminal HEAT repeats. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010089. [PMID: 35687592 PMCID: PMC9223334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether to commit limited cellular resources toward growth and proliferation, or toward survival and stress responses, is an essential determination made by Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) for a eukaryotic cell in response to favorable or adverse conditions. Loss of TORC1 function is lethal. The TORC1 inhibitor rapamycin that targets the highly conserved Tor kinase domain kills fungal pathogens like Candida albicans, but is also severely toxic to human cells. The least conserved region of fungal and human Tor kinases are the N-terminal HEAT domains. We examined the role of the 8 most N-terminal HEAT repeats of C. albicans Tor1. We compared nutritional- and stress responses of cells that express a message for N-terminally truncated Tor1 from repressible tetO, with cells expressing wild type TOR1 from tetO or from the native promoter. Some but not all stress responses were significantly impaired by loss of Tor1 N-terminal HEAT repeats, including those to oxidative-, cell wall-, and heat stress; in contrast, plasma membrane stress and antifungal agents that disrupt plasma membrane function were tolerated by cells lacking this Tor1 region. Translation was inappropriately upregulated during oxidative stress in cells lacking N-terminal Tor1 HEAT repeats despite simultaneously elevated Gcn2 activity, while activation of the oxidative stress response MAP kinase Hog1 was weak. Conversely, these cells were unable to take advantage of favorable nutritional conditions by accelerating their growth. Consuming oxygen more slowly than cells containing wild type TOR1 alleles during growth in glucose, cells lacking N-terminal Tor1 HEAT repeats additionally were incapable of utilizing non-fermentable carbon sources. They were also hypersensitive to inhibitors of specific complexes within the respiratory electron transport chain, suggesting that inefficient ATP generation and a resulting dearth of nucleotide sugar building blocks for cell wall polysaccharides causes cell wall integrity defects in these mutants. Genome-wide expression analysis of cells lacking N-terminal HEAT repeats showed dysregulation of carbon metabolism, cell wall biosynthetic enzymes, translational machinery biosynthesis, oxidative stress responses, and hyphal- as well as white-opaque cell type-associated genes. Targeting fungal-specific Tor1 N-terminal HEAT repeats with small molecules might selectively abrogate fungal viability, especially when during infection multiple stresses are imposed by the host immune system. Whether growing harmlessly on our mucous membranes in competition with bacterial multitudes, or invading our tissues and bloodstream, the fungus Candida albicans must be capable of rapid growth when it finds abundant nutrients and favorable conditions. It must also be able to switch to stress- and survival mode when encountering host immune cells and when starving for nutrients. Tor1 kinase is the central regulator at the heart of these cellular decisions. As an essential protein, it is an attractive drug target. But the Tor1 kinase domain is very similar to its human counterpart, rendering its inhibitors like rapamycin toxic for humans. We identified a region of helical protein-protein interaction domains, the N-terminal HEAT repeats, as the least conserved part of C. albicans Tor1. Using genetic- and genome-wide expression analysis, we found that 8 N-terminal HEAT repeats are required for growth acceleration in nutrient-rich environments and for decreased translation in starvation- and stress conditions. This Tor1 region contributes to oxidative-, cell wall- and heat stress reponses, to hyphal growth and to respiration, but apparently not to plasma membrane stress endurance or fermentation. Small molecules that disrupt the protein-protein interactions mediated by this region could become fungal-selective inhibitors of Tor kinase.
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Lactobacillus rhamnosus colonisation antagonizes Candida albicans by forcing metabolic adaptations that compromise pathogenicity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3192. [PMID: 35680868 PMCID: PMC9184479 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30661-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis can initiate overgrowth of commensal Candida species - a major predisposing factor for disseminated candidiasis. Commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus can antagonize Candida albicans pathogenicity. Here, we investigate the interplay between C. albicans, L. rhamnosus, and intestinal epithelial cells by integrating transcriptional and metabolic profiling, and reverse genetics. Untargeted metabolomics and in silico modelling indicate that intestinal epithelial cells foster bacterial growth metabolically, leading to bacterial production of antivirulence compounds. In addition, bacterial growth modifies the metabolic environment, including removal of C. albicans' favoured nutrient sources. This is accompanied by transcriptional and metabolic changes in C. albicans, including altered expression of virulence-related genes. Our results indicate that intestinal colonization with bacteria can antagonize C. albicans by reshaping the metabolic environment, forcing metabolic adaptations that reduce fungal pathogenicity.
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28
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Gupta P, Gupta H, Kairamkonda M, Kumar N, Poluri KM. Elucidating the lactic acid tolerance mechanism in vaginal clinical isolates of Candida glabrata. Med Mycol 2022; 60:myac042. [PMID: 35679084 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis are strikingly high and treatment options are limited with nearly 50% Candida glabrata cases left untreated or experience treatment failures. The vaginal microenvironment is rich in lactic acid, and the adaptation of C. glabrata to lactic acid (LA) is the main reason for clinical treatment failure. In the present study, C. glabrata and its vaginal clinical isolates were comprehensively investigated for their growth response, metabolic adaptation and altered cellular pathway to LA using different biochemical techniques, metabolic profiling and transcriptional studies. C. glabrata shown considerable variations in its topological and biochemical features without compromising growth in LA media. Chemical profiling data highlighted involvement of cell wall/membrane, ergosterol and oxidative stress related pathways in mediating adaptative response of C. glabrata towards LA. Further, one dimensional proton (1H) NMR spectroscopy based metabolic profiling revealed significant modulation in 19 metabolites of C. glabrata cells upon growth in LA. Interestingly myo-inositol, xylose, putrescine and betaine which are key metabolites for cell growth and viability were found to be differentially expressed by clinical isolates. These observations were supported by the transcriptional expression study of selected genes evidencing cell wall/membrane re-organisation, altered oxidative stress, and reprogramming of carbon metabolic pathways. Collectively, the study advances our understanding on adaptative response of C. glabrata in vaginal microenvironment to lactic acid for survival and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Hrishikesh Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Manikyaprabhu Kairamkonda
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Navin Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era University, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India
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The Pathogenic Yeast Candida parapsilosis Forms Pseudohyphae through Different Signaling Pathways Depending on the Available Carbon Source. mSphere 2022; 7:e0002922. [PMID: 35766504 PMCID: PMC9241547 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00029-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida parapsilosis is an emerging fungal pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised patients in hospitals. A significant risk factor is the use of implanted medical devices, which support the growth of biofilms composed of a mixture of individual yeast cells and chains of elongated pseudohyphal cells. The morphological switch between these two forms is triggered by cues from the environment, including nutrient availability and temperature. We examined how different nutrient sources affect the balance between yeast and pseudohyphae and found that cells grown in the presence of five- or six-carbon sugars form more pseudohyphae at 30°C than at 37°C. Conversely, cells grown on glycerol, a three-carbon polyalcohol, form more pseudohyphae at 37°C. Furthermore, we found that different regulators influence pseudohyphal growth on glucose at 30°C compared with those on glycerol at 37°C. In particular, cAMP signaling and the sirtuin deacetylase Hst1 were required for pseudohyphal growth on glycerol at 37°C but not on glucose at 30°C. Finally, we found that the carbon source on which C. parapsilosis is grown can influence its ability to establish an infection in a wax moth model. Overall, this study reveals that environmental conditions affect not only the extent of pseudohyphal growth but also which pathways and regulators govern pseudohyphal formation. IMPORTANCECandida parapsilosis is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired yeast infections and poses a significant risk to immunocompromised people. Two of its properties that contribute to infection are metabolic flexibility, to use a range of nutrients available in the host, and cellular dimorphism, to switch between round yeast cells and chains of elongated pseudohyphal cells. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes could reveal new targets for antifungal drugs. We found that for C. parapsilosis, the balance between yeast and pseudohyphal cells depends on the nutrients available and the growth temperature. Moreover, these environmental changes can affect its ability to cause infections. Finally, we found that a potential sensor of the cell’s metabolic state, the sirtuin Hst1, contributes to pseudohyphal growth for cells grown on glycerol. These findings indicate that the shape and virulence of C. parapsilosis likely vary depending on its location in the host.
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Simm C, Weerasinghe H, Thomas DR, Harrison PF, Newton HJ, Beilharz TH, Traven A. Disruption of Iron Homeostasis and Mitochondrial Metabolism Are Promising Targets to Inhibit Candida auris. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0010022. [PMID: 35412372 PMCID: PMC9045333 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00100-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a global threat, but treatments are limited due to a paucity in antifungal drug targets and the emergence of drug-resistant fungi such as Candida auris. Metabolic adaptations enable microbial growth in nutrient-scarce host niches, and they further control immune responses to pathogens, thereby offering opportunities for therapeutic targeting. Because it is a relatively new pathogen, little is known about the metabolic requirements for C. auris growth and its adaptations to counter host defenses. Here, we establish that triggering metabolic dysfunction is a promising strategy against C. auris. Treatment with pyrvinium pamoate (PP) induced metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction evident in disrupted mitochondrial morphology and reduced tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme activity. PP also induced changes consistent with disrupted iron homeostasis. Nutrient supplementation experiments support the proposition that PP-induced metabolic dysfunction is driven by disrupted iron homeostasis, which compromises carbon and lipid metabolism and mitochondria. PP inhibited C. auris replication in macrophages, which is a relevant host niche for this yeast pathogen. We propose that PP causes a multipronged metabolic hit to C. auris: it restricts the micronutrient iron to potentiate nutritional immunity imposed by immune cells, and it further causes metabolic dysfunction that compromises the utilization of macronutrients, thereby curbing the metabolic plasticity needed for growth in host environments. Our study offers a new avenue for therapeutic development against drug-resistant C. auris, shows how complex metabolic dysfunction can be caused by a single compound triggering antifungal inhibition, and provides insights into the metabolic needs of C. auris in immune cell environments. IMPORTANCE Over the last decade, Candida auris has emerged as a human pathogen around the world causing life-threatening infections with wide-spread antifungal drug resistance, including pandrug resistance in some cases. In this study, we addressed the mechanism of action of the antiparasitic drug pyrvinium pamoate against C. auris and show how metabolism could be inhibited to curb C. auris proliferation. We show that pyrvinium pamoate triggers sweeping metabolic and mitochondrial changes and disrupts iron homeostasis. PP-induced metabolic dysfunction compromises the utilization of both micro- and macronutrients by C. auris and reduces its growth in vitro and in immune phagocytes. Our findings provide insights into the metabolic requirements for C. auris growth and define the mechanisms of action of pyrvinium pamoate against C. auris, demonstrating how this compound works by inhibiting the metabolic flexibility of the pathogen. As such, our study characterizes credible avenues for new antifungal approaches against C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Simm
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Harshini Weerasinghe
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - David R. Thomas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Hayley J. Newton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Traude H. Beilharz
- Development and Stem Cells Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ana Traven
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Lemberg C, Martinez de San Vicente K, Fróis-Martins R, Altmeier S, Tran VDT, Mertens S, Amorim-Vaz S, Rai LS, d’Enfert C, Pagni M, Sanglard D, LeibundGut-Landmann S. Candida albicans commensalism in the oral mucosa is favoured by limited virulence and metabolic adaptation. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010012. [PMID: 35404986 PMCID: PMC9041809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of the human microbiota, the fungus Candida albicans colonizes the oral cavity and other mucosal surfaces of the human body. Commensalism is tightly controlled by complex interactions of the fungus and the host to preclude fungal elimination but also fungal overgrowth and invasion, which can result in disease. As such, defects in antifungal T cell immunity render individuals susceptible to oral thrush due to interrupted immunosurveillance of the oral mucosa. The factors that promote commensalism and ensure persistence of C. albicans in a fully immunocompetent host remain less clear. Using an experimental model of C. albicans oral colonization in mice we explored fungal determinants of commensalism in the oral cavity. Transcript profiling of the oral isolate 101 in the murine tongue tissue revealed a characteristic metabolic profile tailored to the nutrient poor conditions in the stratum corneum of the epithelium where the fungus resides. Metabolic adaptation of isolate 101 was also reflected in enhanced nutrient acquisition when grown on oral mucosa substrates. Persistent colonization of the oral mucosa by C. albicans also correlated inversely with the capacity of the fungus to induce epithelial cell damage and to elicit an inflammatory response. Here we show that these immune evasive properties of isolate 101 are explained by a strong attenuation of a number of virulence genes, including those linked to filamentation. De-repression of the hyphal program by deletion or conditional repression of NRG1 abolished the commensal behaviour of isolate 101, thereby establishing a central role of this factor in the commensal lifestyle of C. albicans in the oral niche of the host. The oral microbiota represents an important part of the human microbiota and includes several hundreds to several thousands of bacterial and fungal species. One of the most prominent fungus colonizing the oral cavity is the yeast Candida albicans. While the presence of C. albicans usually remains unnoticed, the fungus can under certain circumstances cause lesions on the lining of the mouth referred to as oral thrush or contribute to other common oral diseases such as caries. Maintaining C. albicans commensalism in the oral mucosa is therefore of utmost importance for oral health and overall wellbeing. While overt fungal growth and disease is limited by immunosurveillance mechanisms during homeostasis, C. albicans strives to survive and evades elimination from the host. Here, we show that while commensalism in the oral cavity is characterized by a restricted fungal virulence and hyphal program, enforcing filamentation in a commensal isolate is sufficient for driving pathogenicity and fungus-induced inflammation in the oral mucosa thwarting persistent colonization. Our results further support a critical role for specialized nutrient acquisition allowing the fungus to thrive in the nutrient poor environment of the squamous epithelium. Together, this work revealed key determinants of C. albicans commensalism in the oral niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Lemberg
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kontxi Martinez de San Vicente
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo Fróis-Martins
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Altmeier
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Van Du T. Tran
- Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Mertens
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Amorim-Vaz
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laxmi Shanker Rai
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Christophe d’Enfert
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Marco Pagni
- Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Sanglard
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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32
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Abstract
The tight association of Candida albicans with the human host has driven the evolution of mechanisms that permit metabolic flexibility. Amino acids, present in a free or peptide-bound form, are abundant carbon and nitrogen sources in many host niches. In C. albicans, the capacity to utilize certain amino acids, like proline, is directly connected to fungal morphogenesis and virulence. Yet the precise nature of proline sensing and uptake in this pathogenic fungus has not been investigated. Since C. albicans encodes 10 putative orthologs of the four Saccharomyces cerevisiae proline transporters, we tested deletion strains of the respective genes and identified Gnp2 (CR_09920W) as the main C. albicans proline permease. In addition, we found that this specialization of Gnp2 was reflected in its transcriptional regulation and further assigned distinct substrate specificities for the other orthologs, indicating functional differences of the C. albicans amino acid permeases compared to the model yeast. The physiological relevance of proline uptake is exemplified by the findings that strains lacking GNP2 were unable to filament in response to extracellular proline and had a reduced capacity to damage macrophages and impaired survival following phagocytosis. Furthermore, GNP2 deletion rendered the cells more sensitive to oxidative stress, illustrating new connections between amino acid uptake and stress adaptation in C. albicans. IMPORTANCE The utilization of various nutrients is of paramount importance for the ability of Candida albicans to successfully colonize and infect diverse host niches. In this context, amino acids are of special interest due to their ubiquitous availability, relevance for fungal growth, and direct influence on virulence traits like filamentation. In this study, we identify a specialized proline transporter in C. albicans encoded by GNP2. The corresponding amino acid permease is essential for proline-induced filamentation, oxidative stress resistance, and fungal survival following interaction with macrophages. Altogether, this work highlights the importance of amino acid uptake for metabolic and stress adaptation in this fungus.
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Radakovic N, Nikolić A, Jovanović NT, Stojković P, Stankovic N, Šolaja B, Opsenica I, Pavic A. Unraveling the anti-virulence potential and antifungal efficacy of 5-aminotetrazoles using the zebrafish model of disseminated candidiasis. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 230:114137. [PMID: 35077918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114137] [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: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans remains the main causal agent of candidiasis, the most common fungal infection with disturbingly high mortality rates worldwide. The limited diversity and efficacy of clinical antifungal drugs, exacerbated by emerging drug resistance, have resulted in the failure of current antifungal therapies. This imposes an urgent demand for the development of innovative strategies for effective eradication of candidal infections. While the existing clinical drugs display fungicidal or fungistatic activity, the strategy specifically targeting C. albicans filamentation, as the most important virulence trait, represents an attractive approach for overcoming the drawbacks related to clinical antifungals. The results acquired in this study revealed the significant potential of 5-aminotetrazoles as a new class of effective and safe anti-virulence agents. Moreover, these novel agents were active when applied both alone and in combination with clinically approved polyenes. Complete prevention of C. albicans morphogenetic yeast-to-hyphae transition was achieved at doses as low as 1.3 μM under conditions mimicking various filamentation-responsive stimuli in the human body, while no cardio- or hepatotoxicity was observed at doses as high as 200 μM. The treatment of C. albicans-infected zebrafish embryos with nystatin alone had low efficacy, while the combination of nystatin and selected 5-aminotetrazoles prevented fungal filamentation, successfully eliminating the infection and rescuing the infected embryos from lethal disseminated candidiasis. In addition, the most potent anti-virulence 5-aminotetrazole prevented C. albicans in developing the resistance to nystatin when applied in combination, keeping the fungus sensitive to the antifungal drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Radakovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Andrea Nikolić
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, PO Box 51, Studentski trg 16, 11158, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša Terzić Jovanović
- University of Belgrade - Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Njegoševa 12, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Pavle Stojković
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, PO Box 51, Studentski trg 16, 11158, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nada Stankovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Bogdan Šolaja
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Knez Mihailova 35, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Igor Opsenica
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, PO Box 51, Studentski trg 16, 11158, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Aleksandar Pavic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia.
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Kumwenda P, Cottier F, Hendry AC, Kneafsey D, Keevan B, Gallagher H, Tsai HJ, Hall RA. Estrogen promotes innate immune evasion of Candida albicans through inactivation of the alternative complement system. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110183. [PMID: 34986357 PMCID: PMC8755443 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal of the urogenital tract and the predominant cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Factors that increase circulatory estrogen levels such as pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy predispose women to VVC, but the reasons for this are largely unknown. Here, we investigate how adaptation of C. albicans to estrogen impacts the fungal host-pathogen interaction. Estrogen promotes fungal virulence by enabling C. albicans to avoid the actions of the innate immune system. Estrogen-induced innate immune evasion is mediated via inhibition of opsonophagocytosis through enhanced acquisition of the human complement regulatory protein, Factor H, on the fungal cell surface. Estrogen-induced accumulation of Factor H is dependent on the fungal cell surface protein Gpd2. The discovery of this hormone-sensing pathway might pave the way in explaining gender biases associated with fungal infections and may provide an alternative approach to improving women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pizga Kumwenda
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Fabien Cottier
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alexandra C Hendry
- Kent Fungal Group, Division of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Davey Kneafsey
- Kent Fungal Group, Division of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Ben Keevan
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hannah Gallagher
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hung-Ji Tsai
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rebecca A Hall
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; Kent Fungal Group, Division of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.
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Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal yeast fungus of the human oral, gastrointestinal, and genital mucosal surfaces, and skin. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, iatrogenic immunosuppression, and/or medical interventions that impair the integrity of the mucocutaneous barrier and/or perturb protective host defense mechanisms enable C. albicans to become an opportunistic pathogen and cause debilitating mucocutaneous disease and/or life-threatening systemic infections. In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge of the tissue-specific determinants of C. albicans pathogenicity and host immune defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Pedro Lopes
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD, USA
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Interactions of Both Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic CUG Clade Candida Species with Macrophages Share a Conserved Transcriptional Landscape. mBio 2021; 12:e0331721. [PMID: 34903044 PMCID: PMC8669484 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03317-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida species are a leading cause of opportunistic, hospital-associated bloodstream infections with high mortality rates, typically in immunocompromised patients. Several species, including Candida albicans, the most prevalent cause of infection, belong to the monophyletic CUG clade of yeasts. Innate immune cells such as macrophages are crucial for controlling infection, and C. albicans responds to phagocytosis by a coordinated induction of pathways involved in catabolism of nonglucose carbon sources, termed alternative carbon metabolism, which together are essential for virulence. However, the interactions of other CUG clade species with macrophages have not been characterized. Here, we analyzed transcriptional responses to macrophage phagocytosis by six Candida species across a range of virulence and clinical importance. We define a core induced response common to pathogenic and nonpathogenic species alike, heavily weighted to alternative carbon metabolism. One prominent pathogen, Candida parapsilosis, showed species-specific expansion of phagocytosis-responsive genes, particularly metabolite transporters. C. albicans and Candida tropicalis, the other prominent pathogens, also had species-specific responses, but these were largely comprised of functionally uncharacterized genes. Transcriptional analysis of macrophages also demonstrated highly correlated proinflammatory transcriptional responses to different Candida species that were largely independent of fungal viability, suggesting that this response is driven by recognition of conserved cell wall components. This study significantly broadens our understanding of host interactions in CUG clade species, demonstrating that although metabolic plasticity is crucial for virulence in Candida, it alone is not sufficient to confer pathogenicity. Instead, we identify sets of mostly uncharacterized genes that may explain the evolution of pathogenicity.
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Uthayakumar D, Sharma J, Wensing L, Shapiro RS. CRISPR-Based Genetic Manipulation of Candida Species: Historical Perspectives and Current Approaches. Front Genome Ed 2021; 2:606281. [PMID: 34713231 PMCID: PMC8525362 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.606281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Candida genus encompasses a diverse group of ascomycete fungi that have captured the attention of the scientific community, due to both their role in pathogenesis and emerging applications in biotechnology; the development of gene editing tools such as CRISPR, to analyze fungal genetics and perform functional genomic studies in these organisms, is essential to fully understand and exploit this genus, to further advance antifungal drug discovery and industrial value. However, genetic manipulation of Candida species has been met with several distinctive barriers to progress, such as unconventional codon usage in some species, as well as the absence of a complete sexual cycle in its diploid members. Despite these challenges, the last few decades have witnessed an expansion of the Candida genetic toolbox, allowing for diverse genome editing applications that range from introducing a single point mutation to generating large-scale mutant libraries for functional genomic studies. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology is among the most recent of these advancements, bringing unparalleled versatility and precision to genetic manipulation of Candida species. Since its initial applications in Candida albicans, CRISPR-Cas9 platforms are rapidly evolving to permit efficient gene editing in other members of the genus. The technology has proven useful in elucidating the pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions of medically relevant Candida species, and has led to novel insights on antifungal drug susceptibility and resistance, as well as innovative treatment strategies. CRISPR-Cas9 tools have also been exploited to uncover potential applications of Candida species in industrial contexts. This review is intended to provide a historical overview of genetic approaches used to study the Candida genus and to discuss the state of the art of CRISPR-based genetic manipulation of Candida species, highlighting its contributions to deciphering the biology of this genus, as well as providing perspectives for the future of Candida genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deeva Uthayakumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jehoshua Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Wensing
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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38
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Llibre A, Grudzinska FS, O'Shea MK, Duffy D, Thickett DR, Mauro C, Scott A. Lactate cross-talk in host-pathogen interactions. Biochem J 2021; 478:3157-3178. [PMID: 34492096 PMCID: PMC8454702 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lactate is the main product generated at the end of anaerobic glycolysis or during the Warburg effect and its role as an active signalling molecule is increasingly recognised. Lactate can be released and used by host cells, by pathogens and commensal organisms, thus being essential for the homeostasis of host-microbe interactions. Infection can alter this intricate balance, and the presence of lactate transporters in most human cells including immune cells, as well as in a variety of pathogens (including bacteria, fungi and complex parasites) demonstrates the importance of this metabolite in regulating host-pathogen interactions. This review will cover lactate secretion and sensing in humans and microbes, and will discuss the existing evidence supporting a role for lactate in pathogen growth and persistence, together with lactate's ability to impact the orchestration of effective immune responses. The ubiquitous presence of lactate in the context of infection and the ability of both host cells and pathogens to sense and respond to it, makes manipulation of lactate a potential novel therapeutic strategy. Here, we will discuss the preliminary research that has been carried out in the context of cancer, autoimmunity and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Llibre
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
- Translational Immunology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Frances S. Grudzinska
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
| | - Matthew K. O'Shea
- Department of Infection, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, U.K
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
| | - Darragh Duffy
- Translational Immunology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - David R. Thickett
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
| | - Claudio Mauro
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
| | - Aaron Scott
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
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Li Q, Liu J, Chen M, Ma K, Wang T, Wu D, Yan G, Wang C, Shao J. Abundance interaction in Candida albicans and Candida glabrata mixed biofilms under diverse conditions. Med Mycol 2021; 59:158-167. [PMID: 32453815 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are frequently coisolated from the oral cavity in immunosuppressive or immunocompromised individuals. Their relationship is usually defined as competition as C. glabrata can inhibit growth of C. albicans in cohabitation. In this study, eight C. albicans isolates as well as two C. glabrata strains were used to investigate the effects of culture medium (Roswell Park Memorial Institute [RPMI]-1640, YPD, YND), incubation time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h), initial inoculum (C. glabrata: C. albicans = 2:1, 1:1, 1:2), and medium state (static and dynamic states) on viable cell enumeration and relative abundance in both Candida SB and MB. The results showed that in most cases, C. glabrata and C. albicans SB and MB flourished in RPMI-1640 at 24 h under dynamic state compared with other conditions. Except YPD medium, there were high proportions of preponderance of C. albicans over C. glabrata in MB compared with SB. High initial inoculum promoted corresponding Candida number in both SB and MB and its abundance in MB relative to SB. This study revealed an impact of several environmental conditions on the formation of C. albicans and C. glabrata SB and MB and their abundance in MB in comparison with SB, deepening our understanding of both Candida interaction and their resistance mechanism in MB. LAY SUMMARY This study described the effects of diverse experimental conditions on the numbers of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata single biofilms and mixed biofilms and their abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Li
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Mengli Chen
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Kelong Ma
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Tianming Wang
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Daqiang Wu
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Guiming Yan
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Changzhong Wang
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Jing Shao
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 436 Room, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, No. 1 Qianjiang Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Xin'An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Xin'An Building, No. 103 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei 230038, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Compound, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
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40
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Black B, Lee C, Horianopoulos LC, Jung WH, Kronstad JW. Respiring to infect: Emerging links between mitochondria, the electron transport chain, and fungal pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009661. [PMID: 34237096 PMCID: PMC8266039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Braydon Black
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christopher Lee
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Linda C. Horianopoulos
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Won Hee Jung
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea
| | - James W. Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- * E-mail:
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41
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d'Enfert C, Kaune AK, Alaban LR, Chakraborty S, Cole N, Delavy M, Kosmala D, Marsaux B, Fróis-Martins R, Morelli M, Rosati D, Valentine M, Xie Z, Emritloll Y, Warn PA, Bequet F, Bougnoux ME, Bornes S, Gresnigt MS, Hube B, Jacobsen ID, Legrand M, Leibundgut-Landmann S, Manichanh C, Munro CA, Netea MG, Queiroz K, Roget K, Thomas V, Thoral C, Van den Abbeele P, Walker AW, Brown AJP. The impact of the Fungus-Host-Microbiota interplay upon Candida albicans infections: current knowledge and new perspectives. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuaa060. [PMID: 33232448 PMCID: PMC8100220 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans. It exists as a commensal in the oral cavity, gut or genital tract of most individuals, constrained by the local microbiota, epithelial barriers and immune defences. Their perturbation can lead to fungal outgrowth and the development of mucosal infections such as oropharyngeal or vulvovaginal candidiasis, and patients with compromised immunity are susceptible to life-threatening systemic infections. The importance of the interplay between fungus, host and microbiota in driving the transition from C. albicans commensalism to pathogenicity is widely appreciated. However, the complexity of these interactions, and the significant impact of fungal, host and microbiota variability upon disease severity and outcome, are less well understood. Therefore, we summarise the features of the fungus that promote infection, and how genetic variation between clinical isolates influences pathogenicity. We discuss antifungal immunity, how this differs between mucosae, and how individual variation influences a person's susceptibility to infection. Also, we describe factors that influence the composition of gut, oral and vaginal microbiotas, and how these affect fungal colonisation and antifungal immunity. We argue that a detailed understanding of these variables, which underlie fungal-host-microbiota interactions, will present opportunities for directed antifungal therapies that benefit vulnerable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe d'Enfert
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ann-Kristin Kaune
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Leovigildo-Rey Alaban
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sayoni Chakraborty
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Nathaniel Cole
- Gut Microbiology Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Margot Delavy
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Daria Kosmala
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Benoît Marsaux
- ProDigest BV, Technologiepark 94, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ricardo Fróis-Martins
- Immunology Section, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Moran Morelli
- Mimetas, Biopartner Building 2, J.H. Oortweg 19, 2333 CH Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Diletta Rosati
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marisa Valentine
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Zixuan Xie
- Gut Microbiome Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119–129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoan Emritloll
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Peter A Warn
- Magic Bullet Consulting, Biddlecombe House, Ugbrook, Chudleigh Devon, TQ130AD, UK
| | - Frédéric Bequet
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Bougnoux
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Bornes
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMRF0545, 20 Côte de Reyne, 15000 Aurillac, France
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ilse D Jacobsen
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Mélanie Legrand
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Salomé Leibundgut-Landmann
- Immunology Section, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Gut Microbiome Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119–129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carol A Munro
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karla Queiroz
- Mimetas, Biopartner Building 2, J.H. Oortweg 19, 2333 CH Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karine Roget
- NEXBIOME Therapeutics, 22 allée Alan Turing, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vincent Thomas
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Claudia Thoral
- NEXBIOME Therapeutics, 22 allée Alan Turing, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Alan W Walker
- Gut Microbiology Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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Masetti P, Sanitá PV, Jorge JH. Dynamics and metabolic profile of oral keratinocytes (NOK-si) and Candida albicans after interaction in co-culture. BIOFOULING 2021; 37:572-589. [PMID: 34210229 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2021.1941908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interaction between oral keratinocytes (NOK-si) and Candida albicans is fundamental for the development of prevention strategies and new therapies for oral candidiasis. This study evaluated the dynamics and metabolic profile of these cells growing in co-culture by means of cell metabolism, number of CFU ml-1, and production of enzymes, cytokines, and metabolites. The data were analyzed by ANOVAs and post hoc tests (α = 0.05). In co-cultures, there were significant decreases in the cell metabolism of NOK-si and C. albicans and increases in the CFU ml-1 values of C. albicans biofilm. There were also significant increases in the production of cytokines by NOK-si and proteinase by C. albicans biofilm after their interaction. The metabolic balance of the main metabolites, amino acids, and extracellular and intracellular metabolites was shifted in favor of the co-cultures, while aromatic alcohols were secreted in higher amounts by the biofilm of C. albicans. It was concluded that the interaction of cells in co-culture influenced their dynamics over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Masetti
- Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Volpato Sanitá
- Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Janaina Habib Jorge
- Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
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Zhang Y, Tang C, Zhang Z, Li S, Zhao Y, Weng L, Zhang H. Deletion of the ATP2 Gene in Candida albicans Blocks Its Escape From Macrophage Clearance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:643121. [PMID: 33937095 PMCID: PMC8085345 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.643121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages provide the first-line defense against invasive fungal infections and, therefore, escape from macrophage becomes the basis for the establishment of Candida albicans invasive infection. Here, we found that deletion of ATP2 (atp2Δ/Δ) in C. albicans resulted in a dramatic decrease from 69.2% (WT) to 1.2% in the escape rate in vitro. The effect of ATP2 on macrophage clearance stands out among the genes currently known to affect clearance. In the normal mice, the atp2Δ/Δ cells were undetectable in major organs 72 h after systemic infection, while WT cells persisted in vivo. However, in the macrophage-depleted mice, atp2Δ/Δ could persist for 72 h at an amount comparable to that at 24 h. Regarding the mechanism, WT cells sustained growth and switched to hyphal form, which was more conducive to escape from macrophages, in media that mimic the glucose-deficient environment in macrophages. In contrast, atp2Δ/Δ cells can remained viable but were unable to complete morphogenesis in these media, resulting in them being trapped within macrophages in the yeast form. Meanwhile, atp2Δ/Δ cells were killed by oxidative stress in alternative carbon sources by 2- to 3-fold more than WT cells. Taken together, ATP2 deletion prevents C. albicans from escaping macrophage clearance, and therefore ATP2 has a functional basis as a drug target that interferes with macrophage clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanyan Tang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanpeng Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuixiu Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yajing Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luobei Weng
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Laurian R, Ravent J, Dementhon K, Lemaire M, Soulard A, Cotton P. Candida albicans Hexokinase 2 Challenges the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Moonlight Protein Model. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040848. [PMID: 33920979 PMCID: PMC8071269 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans depends upon assimilation of fermentable and non-fermentable carbon sources detected in host microenvironments. Among the various carbon sources encountered in a human body, glucose is the primary source of energy. Its effective detection, metabolism and prioritization via glucose repression are primordial for the metabolic adaptation of the pathogen. In C. albicans, glucose phosphorylation is mainly performed by the hexokinase 2 (CaHxk2). In addition, in the presence of glucose, CaHxK2 migrates in the nucleus and contributes to the glucose repression signaling pathway. Based on the known dual function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae hexokinase 2 (ScHxk2), we intended to explore the impact of both enzymatic and regulatory functions of CaHxk2 on virulence, using a site-directed mutagenesis approach. We show that the conserved aspartate residue at position 210, implicated in the interaction with glucose, is essential for enzymatic and glucose repression functions but also for filamentation and virulence in macrophages. Point mutations and deletion into the N-terminal region known to specifically affect glucose repression in ScHxk2 proved to be ineffective in CaHxk2. These results clearly show that enzymatic and regulatory functions of the hexokinase 2 cannot be unlinked in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Laurian
- INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, UMR5240 MAP, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (R.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Jade Ravent
- INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, UMR5240 MAP, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (R.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Karine Dementhon
- UMR-CNRS 5234, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France;
| | - Marc Lemaire
- INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, UMR5240 MAP, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (R.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Alexandre Soulard
- INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, UMR5240 MAP, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (R.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Pascale Cotton
- INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, UMR5240 MAP, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (R.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Alterations in the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles coincide with intestinal damage in mice with a bloodborne Candida albicans infection. Microb Pathog 2021; 154:104826. [PMID: 33689815 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus that can threaten life especially in patients with candidemia. The morbidity and mortality of candidemia originating from a central venous catheter (CVC) and illicit intravenous drug use (IVDU) are increasing. However, the mechanism underlying the bloodborne C. albicans infection remains unclear. Herein, we evaluated the gut microbiome, metabolites and intestinal mucosa by constructing the mouse models with candidemia. Model mice were injected with C. albicans via tail vein. Control mice underwent sham procedures. We observed basic life characteristics, intestinal damage-related alterations using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, intestinal tight junction protein levels, and intestinal permeability in these mice. Fecal samples were analyzed by performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the microbiota and LC-MS metabolomics to reveal the perturbations in intestinal flora and metabolism exacerbating intestinal damage. Weight loss, a decreased survival rate, C. albicans infection spread, and colonic epithelial damage occurred in the model group. Furthermore, the intestinal flora abundance was reduced. Several probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, and butyrate-producing bacteria, including Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Clostridia, were depleted, and some pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia-Shigella and Proteus, belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum, and the inflammation mediators Ruminococcus and Parabacteroides were enriched in model mice. Multiple differentially altered metabolic pathways were observed and mainly related to bile acid, arachidonic acid, bile secretion, and arachidonic acid metabolism. This study illustrated the effects of a bloodborne C. albicans on the intestinal microbiota, metabolites, and intestinal barrier, which may provide new insights into tests or treatments for candidemia originating from CVC or IVDU.
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Lew SQ, Lin CH. N-acetylglucosamine-mediated morphological transition in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Curr Genet 2021; 67:249-254. [PMID: 33388851 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Morphological transitions in Candida species are key factors in facilitating invasion and adapting to environmental changes. N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is a monosaccharide signalling molecule that can regulate morphological transitions in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Interestingly, although the uptake and metabolic pathways of GlcNAc and GlcNAc-mediated white-to-opaque cell switching are similar between the two Candida species, GlcNAc induces hyphal development in C. albicans, whereas it suppresses hyphal development in C. tropicalis. These findings indicate that the characteristics of C. albicans and C. tropicalis in response to GlcNAc are remarkably different. Here, we compare the conserved and divergent GlcNAc-mediated signalling pathways and catabolism between the two Candida species. Deletion of NGT1, a GlcNAc transportation gene, inhibited hyphal formation in C. albicans but promoted hyphal development in C. tropicalis. To further understand these opposite effects on filamentous growth in response to GlcNAc in the two Candida species, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signalling pathways in both C. albicans and C. tropicalis were compared. Interestingly, GlcNAc activated the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway of the two Candida species, suggesting that the hyphal development-regulated circuit is remarkably diverse between the two species. Indeed, the Ndt80-like gene REP1, which is critical for regulating GlcNAc catabolism, exhibits distinct roles in the hyphal development of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. These data suggest possible reasons for the divergent hyphal growth response in C. albicans and C. tropicalis upon GlcNAc induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Qian Lew
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Zangl I, Beyer R, Pap IJ, Strauss J, Aspöck C, Willinger B, Schüller C. Human Pathogenic Candida Species Respond Distinctively to Lactic Acid Stress. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040348. [PMID: 33302409 PMCID: PMC7762603 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several Candida species are opportunistic human fungal pathogens and thrive in various environmental niches in and on the human body. In this study we focus on the conditions of the vaginal tract, which is acidic, hypoxic, glucose-deprived, and contains lactic acid. We quantitatively analyze the lactic acid tolerance in glucose-rich and glucose-deprived environment of five Candida species: Candidaalbicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis. To characterize the phenotypic space, we analyzed 40–100 clinical isolates of each species. Each Candida species had a very distinct response pattern to lactic acid stress and characteristic phenotypic variability. C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis were best to withstand high concentrations of lactic acid with glucose as carbon source. A glucose-deprived environment induced lactic acid stress tolerance in all species. With lactate as carbon source the growth rate of C. krusei is even higher compared to glucose, whereas the other species grow slower. C. krusei may use lactic acid as carbon source in the vaginal tract. Stress resistance variability was highest among C. parapsilosis strains. In conclusion, each Candida spp. is adapted differently to cope with lactic acid stress and resistant to physiological concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Zangl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria; (I.Z.); (R.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Reinhard Beyer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria; (I.Z.); (R.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Ildiko-Julia Pap
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Hospital of St. Pölten, Dunant-Platz 1, 3100 St Pölten, Austria; (I.-J.P.); (C.A.)
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria; (I.Z.); (R.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Christoph Aspöck
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Hospital of St. Pölten, Dunant-Platz 1, 3100 St Pölten, Austria; (I.-J.P.); (C.A.)
| | - Birgit Willinger
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Christoph Schüller
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria; (I.Z.); (R.B.); (J.S.)
- Bioactive Microbial Metabolites (BiMM), Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 3430 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-47654-94484
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Austermeier S, Kasper L, Westman J, Gresnigt MS. I want to break free – macrophage strategies to recognize and kill Candida albicans, and fungal counter-strategies to escape. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:15-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Hodgins-Davis A, O'Meara TR. Systems biology of host-Candida interactions: understanding how we shape each other. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:1-7. [PMID: 32485592 PMCID: PMC7704567 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is both a member of the human mucosal microbiota and a common agent of invasive fungal disease. Systems biology approaches allow for analysis of the interactions between this fungus and its mammalian host. Framing these studies by considering how C. albicans and its host construct the niche the other occupies provides insight into how these interactions shape the ecosystems, behavior, and evolution of each organism. Here, we discuss recent work on multiscale systems biology approaches for examining C. albicans in relation to the host ecosystem to identify the emergent properties of the interactions and new variables that can be targeted for development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Hodgins-Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Teresa R O'Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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50
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N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) Sensing, Utilization, and Functions in Candida albicans. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6030129. [PMID: 32784532 PMCID: PMC7558947 DOI: 10.3390/jof6030129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensing and efficient utilization of environmental nutrients are critical for the survival of microorganisms in environments where nutrients are limited, such as within mammalian hosts. Candida albicans is a common member of the human microbiota as well as an opportunistic fungal pathogen. The amide derivative sugar N-acetlyglucosamine (GlcNAc) is an important signaling molecule for C. albicans that could be a major nutrient source for this fungus in host settings. In this article, we review progress made over the past two decades on GlcNAc utilization, sensing, and functions in C. albicans and its related fungal species. GlcNAc sensing and catabolic pathways have been intensively studied in C. albicans. The C. albicans protein Ngt1 represents the first identified GlcNAc-specific transporter in eukaryotic organisms. In C. albicans, GlcNAc not only induces morphological transitions including the yeast to hyphal transition and the white to opaque phenotypic switch, but it also promotes fungal cell death. The Ras-cAMP/PKA signaling pathway plays critical roles in regulating these processes. Given the importance of GlcNAc sensing and utilization in C. albicans, targeting GlcNAc associated pathways and key pathway components could be promising in the development of new antifungal strategies.
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