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Lash E, Maufrais C, Janbon G, Robbins N, Herzel L, Cowen LE. The spliceosome impacts morphogenesis in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. mBio 2024:e0153524. [PMID: 38980041 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01535-24] [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: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
At human body temperature, the fungal pathogen Candida albicans can transition from yeast to filamentous morphologies in response to host-relevant cues. Additionally, elevated temperatures encountered during febrile episodes can independently induce C. albicans filamentation. However, the underlying genetic pathways governing this developmental transition in response to elevated temperatures remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a functional genomic screen to unravel the genetic mechanisms orchestrating C. albicans filamentation specifically in response to elevated temperature, implicating 45% of genes associated with the spliceosome or pre-mRNA splicing in this process. Employing RNA-Seq to elucidate the relationship between mRNA splicing and filamentation, we identified greater levels of intron retention in filaments compared to yeast, which correlated with reduced expression of the affected genes. Intriguingly, homozygous deletion of a gene encoding a spliceosome component important for filamentation (PRP19) caused even greater levels of intron retention compared with wild type and displayed globally dysregulated gene expression. This suggests that intron retention is a mechanism for fine-tuning gene expression during filamentation, with perturbations of the spliceosome exacerbating this process and blocking filamentation. Overall, this study unveils a novel biological process governing C. albicans filamentation, providing new insights into the complex regulation of this key virulence trait.IMPORTANCEFungal pathogens such as Candida albicans can cause serious infections with high mortality rates in immunocompromised individuals. When C. albicans is grown at temperatures encountered during human febrile episodes, yeast cells undergo a transition to filamentous cells, and this process is key to its virulence. Here, we expanded our understanding of how C. albicans undergoes filamentation in response to elevated temperature and identified many genes involved in mRNA splicing that positively regulate filamentation. Through transcriptome analyses, we found that intron retention is a mechanism for fine-tuning gene expression in filaments, and perturbation of the spliceosome exacerbates intron retention and alters gene expression substantially, causing a block in filamentation. This work adds to the growing body of knowledge on the role of introns in fungi and provides new insights into the cellular processes that regulate a key virulence trait in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Lash
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Corinne Maufrais
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- HUB Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Guilhem Janbon
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lydia Herzel
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kulig K, Bednaruk K, Rudolphi-Szydło E, Barbasz A, Wronowska E, Barczyk-Woznicka O, Karnas E, Pyza E, Zuba-Surma E, Rapala-Kozik M, Karkowska-Kuleta J. Stress Conditions Affect the Immunomodulatory Potential of Candida albicans Extracellular Vesicles and Their Impact on Cytokine Release by THP-1 Human Macrophages. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17179. [PMID: 38139005 PMCID: PMC10742962 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417179] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immune cells possess the ability to react complexly and effectively after contact with microbial virulence factors, including those transported in cell-derived structures of nanometer sizes termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are produced by organisms of all kingdoms, including fungi pathogenic to humans. In this work, the immunomodulatory properties of EVs produced under oxidative stress conditions or at host concentrations of CO2 by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans were investigated. The interaction of EVs with human pro-monocytes of the U-937 cell line was established, and the most notable effect was attributed to oxidative stress-related EVs. The immunomodulatory potential of tested EVs against human THP-1 macrophages was verified using cytotoxicity assay, ROS-production assay, and the measurement of cytokine production. All fungal EVs tested did not show a significant cytotoxic effect on THP-1 cells, although a slight pro-oxidative impact was indicated for EVs released by C. albicans cells grown under oxidative stress. Furthermore, for all tested types of EVs, the pro-inflammatory properties related to increased IL-8 and TNF-α production and decreased IL-10 secretion were demonstrated, with the most significant effect observed for EVs released under oxidative stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Kulig
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bednaruk
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Rudolphi-Szydło
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Barbasz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewelina Wronowska
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Olga Barczyk-Woznicka
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Karnas
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Pyza
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Zuba-Surma
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Karkowska-Kuleta
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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Sharma H, Pani T, Dasgupta U, Batra J, Sharma RD. Prediction of transcript structure and concentration using RNA-Seq data. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:6995379. [PMID: 36682028 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a key post-transcriptional modification that helps in increasing protein diversity. Almost 90% of the protein-coding genes in humans are known to undergo AS and code for different transcripts. Some transcripts are associated with diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer and glioblastoma. Hence, these transcripts can serve as novel therapeutic and prognostic targets for drug discovery. Herein, we have developed a pipeline, Finding Alternative Splicing Events (FASE), as the R package that includes modules to determine the structure and concentration of transcripts using differential AS. To predict the correct structure of expressed transcripts in given conditions, FASE combines the AS events with the information of exons, introns and junctions using graph theory. The estimated concentration of predicted transcripts is reported as the relative expression in terms of log2CPM. Using FASE, we were able to identify several unique transcripts of EMILIN1 and SLK genes in the TCGA-BRCA data, which were validated using RT-PCR. The experimental study demonstrated consistent results, which signify the high accuracy and precision of the developed methods. In conclusion, the developed pipeline, FASE, can efficiently predict novel transcripts that are missed in general transcript-level differential expression analysis. It can be applied selectively from a single gene to simple or complex genome even in multiple experimental conditions for the identification of differential AS-based biomarkers, prognostic targets and novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Sharma
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India
| | - Trishna Pani
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India
| | - Ujjaini Dasgupta
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India
| | - Jyotsna Batra
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ravi Datta Sharma
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India
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Ribeiro GF, Denes E, Heaney H, Childers DS. What 'Omics Can Tell Us About Antifungal Adaptation. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6484793. [PMID: 34958354 PMCID: PMC8755904 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab070] [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] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis, the most frequent healthcare-associated invasive fungal infection, is commonly caused by Candida albicans. However, in recent years other antifungal-resistant Candida species—namely Candida glabrata and Candidaauris—have emerged as a serious matter of concern. Much of our understanding of the mechanisms regulating antifungal resistance and tolerance relies on studies utilizing C. albicans, C. glabrataand the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ‘Omics studies have been used to describe alterations in metabolic, genomic and transcriptomic expression profiles upon antifungal treatment of fungal cells. The physiological changes identified by these approaches could significantly affect fungal fitness in the host and survival during antifungal challenge, as well as provide further understanding of clinical resistance. Thus, this review aims to comparatively address ‘omics data for C. albicans, C. glabrata andS. cerevisiae published from 2000 to 2021 to identify what these technologies can tell us regarding cellular responses to antifungal therapy. We will also highlight possible effects on pathogen survival and identify future avenues for antifungal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Fior Ribeiro
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, UK, AB25 2ZD
| | - Eszter Denes
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, UK, AB25 2ZD
| | - Helen Heaney
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, UK, AB25 2ZD
| | - Delma S Childers
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, UK, AB25 2ZD
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Fang S, Hou X, Qiu K, He R, Feng X, Liang X. The occurrence and function of alternative splicing in fungi. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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