1
|
Castelli RF, Pereira A, Honorato L, Valdez A, de Oliveira HC, Bazioli JM, Garcia AWA, Klimeck TDF, Reis FCG, Camillo-Andrade AC, Santos MDM, Carvalho PC, Zaragoza O, Staats CC, Nimrichter L, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. Corrected and republished from: "Extracellular Vesicle Formation in Cryptococcus deuterogattii Impacts Fungal Virulence". Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0003724. [PMID: 38470135 PMCID: PMC11003230 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00037-24] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Small molecules are components of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs), but their biological roles are only superficially known. NOP16 is a eukaryotic gene that is required for the activity of benzimidazoles against Cryptococcus deuterogattii. In this study, during the phenotypic characterization of C. deuterogattii mutants expected to lack NOP16 expression, we observed a reduced EV production. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA-Seq, and cellular proteomics revealed that, contrary to our initial findings, these mutants expressed Nop16 but exhibited altered expression of 14 genes potentially involved in sugar transport. Based on this observation, we designated these mutant strains as Past1 and Past2, representing potentially altered sugar transport. Analysis of the small molecule composition of EVs produced by wild-type cells and the Past1 and Past2 mutant strains revealed not only a reduced number of EVs but also an altered small molecule composition. In a Galleria mellonella model of infection, the Past1 and Past2 mutant strains were hypovirulent. The hypovirulent phenotype was reverted when EVs produced by wild-type cells, but not mutant EVs, were co-injected with the mutant cells in G. mellonella. These results connect EV biogenesis, cargo, and cryptococcal virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jaqueline M. Bazioli
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ane W. A. Garcia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marlon D. M. Santos
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit. IIBCE/Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paulo C. Carvalho
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Oscar Zaragoza
- Mycology Reference Laboratory. National Centre for Microbiology. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in Network in Infectious Diseases, CB21/13/00105, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Charley C. Staats
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taícia P. Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pereyra MM, Díaz MA, Vero S, Dib JR. Enhancing biological control of postharvest green mold in lemons: Synergistic efficacy of native yeasts with diverse mechanisms of action. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301584. [PMID: 38578716 PMCID: PMC10997081 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Argentina is among the most important lemon fruit producers in the world. Penicillium digitatum is the primary lemon fungal phytopathogen, causing green mold during the postharvest. Several alternatives to the use of synthetic fungicides have been developed, being the use of biocontrol yeasts one of the most promising. Although many of the reports are based on the use of a single yeast species, it has been shown that the combination of agents with different mechanisms of action can increase control efficiency through synergistic effects. The combined use of native yeasts with different mechanisms of action had not been studied as a biological control strategy in lemons. In this work, the mechanisms of action of native yeasts (Clavispora lusitaniae AgL21, Clavispora lusitaniae AgL2 and Clavispora lusitaniae AcL2) with biocontrol activity against P. digitatum were evaluated. Isolate AgL21 was selected for its ability to form biofilm, colonize lemon wounds, and inhibit fungal spore germination. The compatibility of C. lusitaniae AgL21 with two killer yeasts of the species Kazachstania exigua (AcL4 and AcL8) was evaluated. In vivo assays were then carried out with the yeasts applied individually or mixed in equal cell concentrations. AgL21 alone was able to control green mold with 87.5% efficiency, while individual killer yeasts were significantly less efficient (43.3% and 38.3%, respectively). Inhibitory effects were increased when C. lusitaniae AgL21 and K. exigua strains were jointly applied. The most efficient treatment was the combination of AgL21 and AcL4, reaching 100% efficiency in wound protection. The combination of AgL21 with AcL8 was as well promising, with an efficiency of 97.5%. The combined application of native yeasts showed a synergistic effect considering that the multiple mechanisms of action involved could hinder the development of green mold in lemon more efficiently than using single yeasts. Therefore, this work demonstrates that the integration of native yeasts with diverse modes of action can provide new insights to formulate effective microbial consortia. This could lead to the development of tailor-made biofungicides, allowing control of postharvest fungal diseases in lemons while remaining competitive with traditionally used synthetic chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina María Pereyra
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Mariana Andrea Díaz
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Silvana Vero
- Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Julián Rafael Dib
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Instituto de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhou T, Pan J, Wang J, Yu Q, Zhang P, Lai T. Inhibitory Properties of Cinnamon Bark Oil against Postharvest Pathogen Penicillium digitatum In Vitro. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:249. [PMID: 38667920 PMCID: PMC11051492 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040249] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Penicillium digitatum is a major postharvest pathogen that threatens the global citrus fruit industry and causes great economic losses annually. In the present study, inhibitory properties of cinnamon bark oil (CBO) against P. digitatum in vitro were investigated. Results indicated that 0.03% CBO could efficiently inhibit the spore germination, germ tube elongation, mycelial growth, colonial expansion and conidial accumulation of P. digitatum. The results of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and MitoTraker Orange (MTO) staining also proved the suppression effects of CBO against P. digitatum. Meanwhile, CBO could inhibit green mold rots induced by P. digitatum in citrus fruit when the working concentration of CBO exceeded 0.06%. In addition, the expressions of 12 genes critical for the growth and virulence of P. digitatum were also significantly regulated under CBO stress. Through a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 1802 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in P. digitatum after 4 h and 8 h of CBO treatment. Most of the DEG products were associated with carbohydrate, amino acid and lipid metabolism. They directly or indirectly led to the disturbance of the membrane and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our results may deepen the understanding of antifungal properties of CBO against P. digitatum and provide the theoretical foundation to uncover the antifungal mechanism of CBO at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tongfei Lai
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China; (T.Z.); (J.P.); (Q.Y.); (P.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Silva E, Dantas R, Barbosa JC, Berlinck RGS, Fill T. Metabolomics approach to understand molecular mechanisms involved in fungal pathogen-citrus pathosystems. Mol Omics 2024; 20:154-168. [PMID: 38273771 DOI: 10.1039/d3mo00182b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Citrus is a crucial crop with a significant economic impact globally. However, postharvest decay caused by fungal pathogens poses a considerable threat, leading to substantial financial losses. Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Geotrichum citri-aurantii and Phyllosticta citricarpa are the main fungal pathogens, causing green mold, blue mold, sour rot and citrus black spot diseases, respectively. The use of chemical fungicides as a control strategy in citrus raises concerns about food and environmental safety. Therefore, understanding the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions is essential to find safer alternatives. This review highlights the potential of the metabolomics approach in the search for bioactive compounds involved in the pathogen-citrus interaction, and how the integration of metabolomics and genomics contributes to the understanding of secondary metabolites associated with fungal virulence and the fungal infection mechanisms. Our goal is to provide a pipeline combining metabolomics and genomics that can effectively guide researchers to perform studies aiming to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental chemical and biochemical aspects of pathogen-host interactions, in order to effectively develop new alternatives for fungal diseases in citrus cultivation. We intend to inspire the scientific community to question unexplored biological systems, and to employ diverse analytical approaches and metabolomics techniques to address outstanding questions about the non-studied pathosystems from a chemical biology perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evandro Silva
- State University of Campinas, Institute of Chemistry, CEP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
- University of São Paulo, Institute of Chemistry, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Dantas
- State University of Campinas, Institute of Chemistry, CEP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Júlio César Barbosa
- State University of Campinas, Institute of Chemistry, CEP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Roberto G S Berlinck
- University of São Paulo, Institute of Chemistry, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Taicia Fill
- State University of Campinas, Institute of Chemistry, CEP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rodrigues ML, May RC, Janbon G. The multiple frontiers in the study of extracellular vesicles produced by fungi. Microbes Infect 2024; 26:105233. [PMID: 37805124 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105233] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by fungi has been recognized for about a decade. Here we discuss the roles played by fungal EVs in biofilm formation, antifungal resistance, and release of immunogens with vaccine potential. We also explore their significance in promoting international collaboration and understanding of fungal biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcio L Rodrigues
- Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Curitiba, PR, 81310-020, Brazil; Microbiology Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Robin C May
- Institute of Microbiology & Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
| | - Guilhem Janbon
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Valdez AF, de Souza TN, Bonilla JJA, Zamith-Miranda D, Piffer AC, Araujo GRS, Guimarães AJ, Frases S, Pereira AK, Fill TP, Estevao IL, Torres A, Almeida IC, Nosanchuk JD, Nimrichter L. Traversing the Cell Wall: The Chitinolytic Activity of Histoplasma capsulatum Extracellular Vesicles Facilitates Their Release. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1052. [PMID: 37998859 PMCID: PMC10672645 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111052] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplasmosis. Treating this fungal infection conventionally has significant limitations, prompting the search for alternative therapies. In this context, fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold relevant potential as both therapeutic agents and targets for the treatment of fungal infections. To explore this further, we conducted a study using pharmacological inhibitors of chitinase (methylxanthines) to investigate their potential to reduce EV release and its subsequent impact on fungal virulence in an in vivo invertebrate model. Our findings revealed that a subinhibitory concentration of the methylxanthine, caffeine, effectively reduces EV release, leading to a modulation of H. capsulatum virulence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a pharmacological inhibitor that reduces fungal EV release without any observed fungicidal effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro F. Valdez
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Taiane Nascimento de Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Alicia Corbellini Piffer
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Départament de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Glauber R. S. Araujo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (G.R.S.A.); (S.F.)
| | - Allan J. Guimarães
- Instituto Biomédico, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia—MIP, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24210-130, RJ, Brazil;
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (G.R.S.A.); (S.F.)
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alana Kelyene Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (A.K.P.); (T.P.F.)
| | - Taicia Pacheco Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (A.K.P.); (T.P.F.)
| | - Igor L. Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Angel Torres
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nenciarini S, Cavalieri D. Immunomodulatory Potential of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: Insights for Therapeutic Applications. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1487. [PMID: 37892168 PMCID: PMC10605264 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicular organelles that perform a variety of biological functions including cell communication across different biological kingdoms. EVs of mammals and, to a lesser extent, bacteria have been deeply studied over the years, whereas investigations of fungal EVs are still in their infancy. Fungi, encompassing both yeast and filamentous forms, are increasingly recognized for their production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a wealth of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These EVs play pivotal roles in orchestrating fungal communities, bolstering pathogenicity, and mediating interactions with the environment. Fungal EVs have emerged as promising candidates for innovative applications, not only in the management of mycoses but also as carriers for therapeutic molecules. Yet, numerous questions persist regarding fungal EVs, including their mechanisms of generation, release, cargo regulation, and discharge. This comprehensive review delves into the present state of knowledge regarding fungal EVs and provides fresh insights into the most recent hypotheses on the mechanisms driving their immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, we explore the considerable potential of fungal EVs in the realms of medicine and biotechnology. In the foreseeable future, engineered fungal cells may serve as vehicles for tailoring cargo- and antigen-specific EVs, positioning them as invaluable biotechnological tools for diverse medical applications, such as vaccines and drug delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Duccio Cavalieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ropero-Pérez C, Bolós B, Giner-Llorca M, Locascio A, Garrigues S, Gandía M, Manzanares P, Marcos JF. Transcriptomic Profile of Penicillium digitatum Reveals Novel Aspects of the Mode of Action of the Antifungal Protein AfpB. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0484622. [PMID: 37022187 PMCID: PMC10269557 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04846-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal proteins (AFPs) from filamentous fungi are promising biomolecules to control fungal pathogens. Understanding their biological role and mode of action is essential for their future application. AfpB from the citrus fruit pathogen Penicillium digitatum is highly active against fungal phytopathogens, including its native fungus. Our previous data showed that AfpB acts through a multitargeted three-stage process: interaction with the outer mannosylated cell wall, energy-dependent cell internalization, and intracellular actions that result in cell death. Here, we extend these findings by characterizing the functional role of AfpB and its interaction with P. digitatum through transcriptomic studies. For this, we compared the transcriptomic response of AfpB-treated P. digitatum wild type, a ΔafpB mutant, and an AfpB-overproducing strain. Transcriptomic data suggest a multifaceted role for AfpB. Data from the ΔafpB mutant suggested that the afpB gene contributes to the overall homeostasis of the cell. Additionally, these data showed that AfpB represses toxin-encoding genes, and they suggest a link to apoptotic processes. Gene expression and knockout mutants confirmed that genes coding for acetolactate synthase (ALS) and acetolactate decarboxylase (ALD), which belong to the acetoin biosynthetic pathway, contribute to the inhibitory activity of AfpB. Moreover, a gene encoding a previously uncharacterized extracellular tandem repeat peptide (TRP) protein showed high induction in the presence of AfpB, whereas its TRP monomer enhanced AfpB activity. Overall, our study offers a rich source of information to further advance in the characterization of the multifaceted mode of action of AFPs. IMPORTANCE Fungal infections threaten human health worldwide and have a negative impact on food security, damaging crop production and causing animal diseases. At present, only a few classes of fungicides are available due to the complexity of targeting fungi without affecting plant, animal, or human hosts. Moreover, the intensive use of fungicides in agriculture has led to the development of resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop antifungal biomolecules with new modes of action to fight human-, animal-, and plant-pathogenic fungi. Fungal antifungal proteins (AFPs) offer great potential as new biofungicides to control deleterious fungi. However, current knowledge about their killing mechanism is still limited, which hampers their potential applicability. AfpB from P. digitatum is a promising molecule with potent and specific fungicidal activity. This study further characterizes its mode of action, opening avenues for the development of new antifungals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Ropero-Pérez
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña Bolós
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Moisés Giner-Llorca
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Antonella Locascio
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sandra Garrigues
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Gandía
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paloma Manzanares
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose F. Marcos
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Arriel-Elias MT, Pereira AK, Arriel GCTF, Alexandre G, de Andrade Bezerra G, Fill TP, Severino VGP, de Filippi MCC. Molecular networking as a tool to annotate the metabolites of Bacillus sp. and Serratia marcescens isolates and evaluate their fungicidal effects against Magnapothe oryzae and Bipolaris oryzae. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:148. [PMID: 37128476 PMCID: PMC10147858 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03547-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhizobacteria are valuable sources of compounds that can be used for the integrated management of diseases in rice. Here, we aimed to explore the metabolism and organize and annotate the metabolites of Bacillus sp. and Serratia marcescens isolates using molecular networking and evaluate their fungicidal effects against Magnaporthe oryzae and Bipolaris oryzae. We obtained bacterial extracts after 6 and 16-h incubation via liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate as solvent. We performed UHPLC-MS analysis and data processing using molecular networking and conducted biological assays in rice plants. Using the Global Natural Product Social spectral libraries, we annotated the following compounds: austinoneol, Phe-Pro, N-acetyl-l-leucine, Leu-Gly, Ile-Leu, Phe-Pro, 2,5-piperazinedione, 3-(1H-indol-3-methyl)-6-methyl-cyclo(d-Trp-l-Pro), and cholic acid. Results of the biological assays showed that the bacterial extracts reduced the mycelial growth of both pathogens in all treatments compared to the control. In the greenhouse setup, 8 days after the challenge for leaf gray spot and leaf blast, all treatments affected up to 4.4% of the leaf area, with an area under disease progress curve of 13.24, showing significant difference compared to the control, which affected 23% of the leaf area, with an AUDPC of 44.65. Our study provides potential new sources of natural products to be applied in the integrated management of rice. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03547-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alana Kelyene Pereira
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Gerso Alexandre
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | - Taícia Pacheco Fill
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Cristina Corsi de Filippi
- Phytopathology Laboratory (Laboratório de Fitopatologia), Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research-Rice and Beans (Embrapa Arroz E Feijão), Goiânia, GO 75375-000 Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Garcia-Ceron D, Truong TT, Ratcliffe J, McKenna JA, Bleackley MR, Anderson MA. Metabolomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles from the Cereal Fungal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050507. [PMID: 37233218 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) is a filamentous fungus that infects cereals such as corn, wheat, and barley, with serious impact on yield as well as quality when the grain is contaminated with mycotoxins. Despite the huge impact of F. graminearum on food security and mammalian health, the mechanisms used by F. graminearum to export virulence factors during infection are not fully understood and may involve non-classical secretory pathways. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bound compartments produced by cells of all kingdoms that transport several classes of macromolecules and are implicated in cell-cell communication. EVs produced by human fungal pathogens carry cargo that facilitate infection, leading us to ask whether plant fungal pathogens also deliver molecules that increase virulence via EVs. We examined the metabolome of the EVs produced by F. graminearum to determine whether they carry small molecules that could modulate plant-pathogen interactions. We discovered that EVs from F. graminearum were produced in liquid medium-containing inducers of trichothecene production, but in lower quantities compared to other media. Nanoparticle tracking analysis and cryo-electron microscopy revealed that the EVs were morphologically similar to EVs from other organisms; hence, the EVs were metabolically profiled using LC-ESI-MS/MS. This analysis revealed that EVs carry 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1) and metabolites that have been suggested by others to have a role in host-pathogen interactions. BP-1 reduced the growth of F. graminearum in an in vitro assay, suggesting that F. graminearum might use EVs to limit metabolite self-toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donovan Garcia-Ceron
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - Thy T Truong
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine, and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - Julian Ratcliffe
- La Trobe Bioimaging Platform, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - James A McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - Mark R Bleackley
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - Marilyn A Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Maximo MF, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. A Close Look into the Composition and Functions of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Phytopathogens. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:228-234. [PMID: 36847651 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-22-0184-fi] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) were first described in human pathogens. In a few years, the field of fungal EVs evolved to include several studies with plant pathogens, in which extracellularly released vesicles play fundamental biological roles. In recent years, solid progress has been made in the determination of the composition of EVs produced by phytopathogens. In addition, EV biomarkers are now known in fungal plant pathogens, and the production of EVs during plant infection has been demonstrated. In this manuscript, we review the recent progress in the field of fungal EVs, with a focus on plant pathogens. [Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2023.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina F Maximo
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taícia P Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Z, Zeng J, Deng J, Hou X, Zhang J, Yan W, Cai Q. Pathogen-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Emerging Mediators of Plant-Microbe Interactions. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:218-227. [PMID: 36574017 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-22-0162-fi] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles that deliver bioactive proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other small molecules from donor to recipient cells. They have attracted significant interest recently due to their important roles in regulating plant-microbe interaction. During microbial infection, plant EVs play a prominent role in defense by delivering small regulatory RNA into pathogens, resulting in the silencing of pathogen virulence genes. Pathogens also deliver small RNAs into plant cells to silence host immunity genes. Recent evidence indicates that microbial EVs may be involved in pathogenesis and host immunity modulation by transporting RNAs and other biomolecules. However, the biogenesis and function of microbial EVs in plant-microbe interaction remain ill-defined. In this review, we discuss various aspects of microbial EVs, with a particular focus on current methods for EV isolation, composition, biogenesis, and their roles in plant-microbe interaction. We also discussed the potential role of microbial EVs in cross-kingdom RNA trafficking from pathogens to plants, as it is a highly likely possibility to explore in the future. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhangying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jiayue Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jiliang Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Xiangjie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jiefu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Qiang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cha L, Paris JC, Zanella B, Spletzer M, Yao A, Guo Y, Chang WC. Mechanistic Studies of Aziridine Formation Catalyzed by Mononuclear Non-Heme Iron Enzymes. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6240-6246. [PMID: 36913534 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Aziridines are compounds with a nitrogen-containing three-membered ring. When it is incorporated into natural products, the reactivity of the strained ring often drives the biological activities of aziridines. Despite its importance, the enzymes and biosynthetic strategies deployed to install this reactive moiety remain understudied. Herein, we report the use of in silico methods to identify enzymes with potential aziridine-installing (aziridinase) functionality. To validate candidates, we reconstitute enzymatic activity in vitro and demonstrate that an iron(IV)-oxo species initiates aziridine ring closure by the C-H bond cleavage. Furthermore, we divert the reaction pathway from aziridination to hydroxylation using mechanistic probes. This observation, isotope tracing experiments using H218O and 18O2, and quantitative product analysis, provide evidence for the polar capture of a carbocation species by the amine in the pathway to aziridine installation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lide Cha
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Jared C Paris
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Brady Zanella
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Martha Spletzer
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Angela Yao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yisong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Wei-Chen Chang
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Černoša A, Gostinčar C, Lavrin T, Kostanjšek R, Lenassi M, Gunde-Cimerman N. Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles from biotechnologically important fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2022; 9:16. [PMID: 36320088 PMCID: PMC9628041 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-022-00146-7] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as an important mechanism for cell-cell interactions. Their role in fungi is still poorly understood and they have been isolated from only a handful of species. Here, we isolated and characterized EVs from Aureobasidium pullulans, a biotechnologically important black yeast-like fungus that is increasingly used for biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. After optimization of the isolation protocol, characterization of EVs from A. pullulans by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a typical cup-shaped morphology and different subpopulations of EVs. These results were confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), which revealed that A. pullulans produced 6.1 × 108 nanoparticles per milliliter of culture medium. Proteomic analysis of EVs detected 642 proteins. A small fraction of them had signal peptides for secretion and transmembrane domains. Proteins characteristic of different synthesis pathways were found, suggesting that EVs are synthesized by multiple pathways in A. pullulans. Enrichment analysis using Gene Ontology showed that most of the proteins found in the EVs were associated with primary metabolism. When sequencing the small RNA fraction of A. pullulans EVs, we found two hypothetical novel mil-RNAs. Finally, we tested the biocontrol potential of EVs from A. pullulans. The EVs did not inhibit the germination of spores of three important phytopathogenic fungi-Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, and Penicillium expansum. However, exposure of grown cultures of C. acutatum and P. expansum to A. pullulans EVs resulted in visible changes in morphology of colonies. These preliminary results suggest that EVs may be part of the antagonistic activity of A. pullulans, which is so far only partially understood. Thus, the first isolation and characterization of EVs from A. pullulans provides a starting point for further studies of EVs in the biotechnologically important traits of the biocontrol black fungus A. pullulans in particular and in the biological role of fungal EVs in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anja Černoša
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Teja Lavrin
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rok Kostanjšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Lenassi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Penicillium digitatum, First Clinical Report in Chile: Fungal Co-Infection in COVID-19 Patient. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090961. [PMID: 36135686 PMCID: PMC9503875 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium digitatum is one of the most important phytopathogens. It causes deterioration and rotting of citrus fruits, generating significant economic losses worldwide. As a human pathogen, it is extremely rare. We present a case of pulmonary co-infection in a patient diagnosed with pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2. A 20-year-old female patient, primigravid, 36 weeks of gestation, without comorbidities, and diagnosed with severe pneumonia due to the SARS-CoV-2, showed rapid lung deterioration for which their pregnancy was interrupted by surgery. The patient was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), connected to mechanical ventilation and receiving corticosteroids and antibiotics. The diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infection was made through bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture, and the species identification was performed by sequencing of β-tubulin. Phylogenetic analysis with related species was performed for the confirmation of species identification. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed for itraconazole (4 µg/mL), voriconazole (2 µg/mL), and amphotericin B (2 µg/mL). The patient was successfully treated with itraconazole. This is the second worldwide report of pulmonary infection by P. digitatum and the first in Chile. Although it is a fungus that rarely infects humans, it could represent an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen, with associated risk factors that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Penicillium species isolated from infections in humans.
Collapse
|
16
|
Castelli RF, Pereira A, Honorato L, Valdez A, de Oliveira HC, Bazioli JM, Garcia AWA, Klimeck TDF, Reis FCG, Staats CC, Nimrichter L, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. Extracellular Vesicle Formation in Cryptococcus deuterogattii Impacts Fungal Virulence and Requires the NOP16 Gene. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0023222. [PMID: 35862719 PMCID: PMC9387281 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00232-22] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Small molecules are components of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs), but their biological roles are only superficially known. NOP16 is a eukaryotic gene that is required for the activity of benzimidazoles against Cryptococcus deuterogattii. In this study, during the phenotypic characterization of C. deuterogattii mutants lacking NOP16 expression, we observed that this gene was required for EV production. Analysis of the small molecule composition of EVs produced by wild-type cells and two independent nop16Δ mutants revealed that the deletion of NOP16 resulted not only in a reduced number of EVs but also an altered small molecule composition. In a Galleria mellonella model of infection, the nop16Δ mutants were hypovirulent. The hypovirulent phenotype was reverted when EVs produced by wild-type cells, but not mutant EVs, were coinjected with the nop16Δ cells in G. mellonella. These results reveal a role for NOP16 in EV biogenesis and cargo, and also indicate that the composition of EVs is determinant for cryptococcal virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jaqueline M. Bazioli
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ane W. A. Garcia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Charley C. Staats
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taícia P. Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
The RNA Content of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: At the “Cutting-Edge” of Pathophysiology Regulation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142184. [PMID: 35883627 PMCID: PMC9318717 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in interkingdom communication is widely accepted, and their role in intraspecies communication has been strengthened by recent research. Based on the regulation promoted by EV-associated molecules, the interactions between host and pathogens can reveal different pathways that ultimately affect infection outcomes. As a great part of the regulation is ascribable to RNA contained in EVs, many studies have focused on profiling RNAs in fungal and host EVs, tracking their accumulation during infection, and identifying potential target genes. Herein, we overview the main classes of RNA contained in fungal EVs and the biological processes regulated by these molecules, portraying a state-of-the-art picture of RNAs loaded in fungal EVs, while also raising several questions to drive future investigations. Our compiled data show unambiguously that EVs act as key elements in signaling pathways, and play a crucial role in pathosystems. A complete understanding of the processes that govern RNA content loading and trafficking, and its effect on recipient cells, will lead to improved technologies to ward off infectious agents that threaten human health.
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the influence of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) during biofilm formation and morphogenesis in Candida albicans. Using crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we demonstrated that C. albicans EVs inhibited biofilm formation in vitro. By time-lapse microscopy and SEM, we showed that C. albicans EV treatment stopped filamentation and promoted pseudohyphae formation with multiple budding sites. The ability of C. albicans EVs to regulate dimorphism was further compared to EVs isolated from different C. albicans strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Histoplasma capsulatum. C. albicans EVs from distinct strains inhibited yeast-to-hyphae differentiation with morphological changes occurring in less than 4 h. EVs from S. cerevisiae and H. capsulatum modestly reduced morphogenesis, and the effect was evident after 24 h of incubation. The inhibitory activity of C. albicans EVs on phase transition was promoted by a combination of lipid compounds, which were identified by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis as sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and fatty acids. Remarkably, C. albicans EVs were also able to reverse filamentation. Finally, C. albicans cells treated with C. albicans EVs for 24 h lost their capacity to penetrate agar and were avirulent when inoculated into Galleria mellonella. Our results indicate that fungal EVs can regulate yeast-to-hypha differentiation, thereby inhibiting biofilm formation and attenuating virulence.
Collapse
|
19
|
Rodrigues ML, Nimrichter L. From fundamental biology to the search for innovation: the story of fungal extracellular vesicles. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
|
20
|
Rush TA, Shrestha HK, Gopalakrishnan Meena M, Spangler MK, Ellis JC, Labbé JL, Abraham PE. Bioprospecting Trichoderma: A Systematic Roadmap to Screen Genomes and Natural Products for Biocontrol Applications. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:716511. [PMID: 37744103 PMCID: PMC10512312 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.716511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Natural products derived from microbes are crucial innovations that would help in reaching sustainability development goals worldwide while achieving bioeconomic growth. Trichoderma species are well-studied model fungal organisms used for their biocontrol properties with great potential to alleviate the use of agrochemicals in agriculture. However, identifying and characterizing effective natural products in novel species or strains as biological control products remains a meticulous process with many known challenges to be navigated. Integration of recent advancements in various "omics" technologies, next generation biodesign, machine learning, and artificial intelligence approaches could greatly advance bioprospecting goals. Herein, we propose a roadmap for assessing the potential impact of already known or newly discovered Trichoderma species for biocontrol applications. By screening publicly available Trichoderma genome sequences, we first highlight the prevalence of putative biosynthetic gene clusters and antimicrobial peptides among genomes as an initial step toward predicting which organisms could increase the diversity of natural products. Next, we discuss high-throughput methods for screening organisms to discover and characterize natural products and how these findings impact both fundamental and applied research fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomás A. Rush
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Him K. Shrestha
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | | | - Margaret K. Spangler
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - J. Christopher Ellis
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Jesse L. Labbé
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Paul E. Abraham
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Reis FCG, Gimenez B, Jozefowicz LJ, Castelli RF, Martins ST, Alves LR, de Oliveira HC, Rodrigues ML. Analysis of Cryptococcal Extracellular Vesicles: Experimental Approaches for Studying Their Diversity Among Multiple Isolates, Kinetics of Production, Methods of Separation, and Detection in Cultures of Titan Cells. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0012521. [PMID: 34346749 PMCID: PMC8552642 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00125-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by members of the Cryptococcus genus are associated with fundamental processes of fungal physiology and virulence. However, several questions about the properties of cryptococcal EVs remain unanswered, mostly because of technical limitations. We recently described a fast and efficient protocol of high-yield EV isolation from solid medium. In this study, we aimed at using the solid medium protocol to address some of the open questions about EVs, including the kinetics of EV production, the diversity of EVs produced by multiple isolates under different culture conditions, the separation of vesicles in a density gradient followed by the recovery of functional EVs, the direct detection of EVs in culture supernatants, and the production of vesicles in solid cultures of Titan cells. Our results indicate that the production of EVs is directly impacted by the culture medium and time of growth, resulting in variable detection of EVs per cell and a peak of EV detection at 24 h of growth. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) of EV samples revealed that multiple isolates produce vesicles with variable properties, including particles of diverging dimensions. EVs were produced in the solid medium in amounts that were separated on a centrifugation density gradient, resulting in the recovery of functional EVs containing the major cryptococcal capsular antigen. We also optimized the solid medium protocol for induction of the formation of Titan cells, and analyzed the production of EVs by NTA and transmission electron microscopy. This analysis confirmed that EVs were isolated from solid cultures of cryptococcal enlarged cells. With these approaches, we expect to implement simple methods that will facilitate the analysis of EVs produced by fungal cells. IMPORTANCE Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered to be important players in the biology of fungal pathogens. However, the limitations in the methodological approaches to studying fungal EVs impair the expansion of knowledge in this field. In the present study, we used the Cryptococcus genus as a model for the study of EVs. We explored the simplification of protocols for EV analysis, which helped us to address some important, but still unanswered, questions about fungal EVs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bianca Gimenez
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Sharon T. Martins
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Lysangela R. Alves
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bunno R, Awakawa T, Mori T, Abe I. Aziridine Formation by a Fe II /α-Ketoglutarate Dependent Oxygenase and 2-Aminoisobutyrate Biosynthesis in Fungi. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:15827-15831. [PMID: 33973699 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202104644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Aziridine is a characteristically reactive molecule with increased bioactivity due to its strained ring structure. Here, we investigated the biosynthesis of 2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) in Penicillium, and successfully reconstituted the three-step biosynthesis from L-Val to AIB in vitro. This previously unknown aziridine formation pathway proceeded with the non-heme iron and α-ketoglutarate-dependent (FeII /αKG) oxygenase TqaL, followed by aziridine ring opening by the haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase (HAD)-type hydrolase TqaF, and subsequent oxidative decarboxylation by the NovR/CloR-like non-heme iron oxygenase TqaM. Furthermore, the X-ray crystal structure of the C-N bond forming FeII /αKG oxygenase TqaL was solved at 2.0 Å resolution. This work presents the first molecular basis for aziridine biogenesis, thereby expanding the catalytic repertoire of the FeII /αKG oxygenases. We also report the unique aziridine ring opening by a HAD-type hydrolase and the remarkable oxidative decarboxylation by a non-heme iron oxygenase to produce AIB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reito Bunno
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Awakawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Takahiro Mori
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
- PRESTO (Japan) Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan
| | - Ikuro Abe
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Bunno R, Awakawa T, Mori T, Abe I. Aziridine Formation by a Fe
II
/α‐Ketoglutarate Dependent Oxygenase and 2‐Aminoisobutyrate Biosynthesis in Fungi. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202104644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Reito Bunno
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| | - Takayoshi Awakawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology The University of Tokyo Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Takahiro Mori
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology The University of Tokyo Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
- PRESTO (Japan) Science and Technology Agency Kawaguchi Saitama 332-0012 Japan
| | - Ikuro Abe
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology The University of Tokyo Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
The paradoxical and still obscure properties of fungal extracellular vesicles. Mol Immunol 2021; 135:137-146. [PMID: 33895578 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Early compositional studies of fungal EVs revealed a complex combination of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, glycans, polysaccharides, nucleic acid and pigments, indicating that these compartments could be involved with multiple functions. Curiously, some of the activities attributed to fungal EVs were already attested experimentally and are implicated with contrasting effects in vitro and in vivo. For instance, the presence of virulence factors is correlated with increased pathogenic potential. Indeed, the administration to hosts of EVs along with some fungal pathogens seems to help the disease development. However, it has been clearly shown that immunization of insects and mice with fungal EVs can protect these animals against a subsequent infection. Fungal EVs not only influence the host response, as concluded from the observation that these compartments also work as messengers between fungal organisms. In this context, despite their size characterization, other physical properties of EVs are poorly known. For instance, their stability and half-life under physiological conditions can be a crucial parameter determining their long-distance effects. In this review, we will discuss the paradoxical and still unexploited functions and properties of fungal EVs that could be determinant for their biological functions.
Collapse
|
25
|
Reis FCG, Costa JH, Honorato L, Nimrichter L, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. Small Molecule Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Cryptococcus gattii: Identification of a Tripeptide Controlling Cryptococcal Infection in an Invertebrate Host Model. Front Immunol 2021; 12:654574. [PMID: 33796117 PMCID: PMC8008140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.654574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The small molecule (molecular mass <900 Daltons) composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus gattii is unknown, which limits the understanding of the functions of cryptococcal EVs. In this study, we analyzed the composition of small molecules in samples obtained from solid cultures of C. gattii by a combination of chromatographic and spectrometric approaches, and untargeted metabolomics. This analysis revealed previously unknown components of EVs, including small peptides with known biological functions in other models. The peptides found in C. gattii EVs had their chemical structure validated by chemical approaches and comparison with authentic standards, and their functions tested in a Galleria mellonella model of cryptococcal infection. One of the vesicular peptides (isoleucine-proline-isoleucine, Ile-Pro-Ile) improved the survival of G. mellonella lethally infected with C. gattii or C. neoformans. These results indicate that small molecules exported in EVs are biologically active in Cryptococcus. Our study is the first to characterize a fungal EV molecule inducing protection, pointing to an immunological potential of extracellular peptides produced by C. gattii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia C G Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil.,Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jonas H Costa
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taícia P Fill
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bhatta UK. Alternative Management Approaches of Citrus Diseases Caused by Penicillium digitatum (Green Mold) and Penicillium italicum (Blue Mold). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:833328. [PMID: 35273621 PMCID: PMC8904086 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.833328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Green mold (Penicillium digitatum) and blue mold (Penicillium italicum) are among the most economically impactful post-harvest diseases of citrus fruit worldwide. Post-harvest citrus diseases are largely controlled with synthetic fungicides such as pyrimethanil, imazalil, fludioxonil, and thiabendazole. Due to their toxic effects, prolonged and excessive application of these fungicides is gradually restricted in favor of safe and more eco-friendly alternatives. This review comprehensively describes alternative methods for the control of P. digitatum and P. italicum: (a) antagonistic micro-organisms, (b) plant extracts and essential oils, (c) biofungicides, (d) chitosan and chitosan-based citrus coatings, (e) heat treatments, (f) ionizing and non-ionizing irradiations, (g) food additives, and (h) synthetic elicitors. Integrating multiple approaches such as the application of biocontrol agents with food additives or heat treatments have overcome some drawbacks to single treatments. In addition, integrating treatment approaches could produce an additive or synergistic effect on controlling both molds for a satisfactory level of disease reduction in post-harvest citrus. Further research is warranted on plant resistance and fruit-pathogen interactions to develop safer strategies for the sustainable control of P. digitatum and P. italicum in citrus.
Collapse
|