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Jakab Á, Kovács F, Balla N, Nagy-Köteles C, Ragyák Á, Nagy F, Borman AM, Majoros L, Kovács R. Comparative transcriptional analysis of Candida auris biofilms following farnesol and tyrosol treatment. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0227823. [PMID: 38440972 PMCID: PMC10986546 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02278-23] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is frequently associated with biofilm-related invasive infections. The resistant profile of these biofilms necessitates innovative therapeutic options, where quorum sensing may be a potential target. Farnesol and tyrosol are two fungal quorum-sensing molecules with antifungal effects at supraphysiological concentrations. Here, we performed genome-wide transcript profiling with C. auris biofilms following farnesol or tyrosol exposure using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). Since transition metals play a central role in fungal virulence and biofilm formation, levels of intracellular calcium, magnesium, and iron were determined following farnesol or tyrosol treatment using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Farnesol caused an 89.9% and 73.8% significant reduction in the calcium and magnesium content, respectively, whereas tyrosol resulted in 82.6%, 76.6%, and 81.2% decrease in the calcium, magnesium, and iron content, respectively, compared to the control. Genes involved in biofilm events, glycolysis, ergosterol biosynthesis, fatty acid oxidation, iron metabolism, and autophagy were primarily affected in treated cells. To prove ergosterol quorum-sensing molecule interactions, microdilution-based susceptibility testing was performed, where the complexation of farnesol, but not tyrosol, with ergosterol was impeded in the presence of exogenous ergosterol, resulting in a minimum inhibitory concentration increase in the quorum-sensing molecules. This study revealed several farnesol- and tyrosol-specific responses, which will contribute to the development of alternative therapies against C. auris biofilms. IMPORTANCE Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, which is frequently associated with biofilm-related infections. Candida-derived quorum-sensing molecules (farnesol and tyrosol) play a pivotal role in the regulation of fungal morphogenesis and biofilm development. Furthermore, they may have remarkable anti-biofilm effects, especially at supraphysiological concentrations. Innovative therapeutic approaches interfering with quorum sensing may be a promising future strategy against C. auris biofilms; however, limited data are currently available concerning farnesol-induced and tyrosol-related molecular effects in C. auris. Here, we detected several genes involved in biofilm events, glycolysis, ergosterol biosynthesis, fatty acid oxidation, iron metabolism, and autophagy, which were primarily influenced following farnesol or tyrosol exposure. Moreover, calcium, magnesium, and iron homeostasis were also significantly affected. These results reveal those molecular and physiological events, which may support the development of novel therapeutic approaches against C. auris biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Jakab
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Fruzsina Kovács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Noémi Balla
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Csaba Nagy-Köteles
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ágota Ragyák
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Agilent Atomic Spectroscopy Partner Laboratory, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Fruzsina Nagy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Andrew M. Borman
- UK National Mycology Reference Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Science Quarter, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRCCMM), University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - László Majoros
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Renátó Kovács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Man BY, Xiang X, Cheng XY, Wang HM, Su CT, Huang QB, Luo Y, Zhang C, Cheng G, Ni YY, Shao XH. Deconstructing the Dimensions of Mycobiome Fingerprints in Luohandu Cave, Guilin, Southern China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:211. [PMID: 38276196 PMCID: PMC10818497 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010211] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Subterranean karst caves are windows into the terrestrial subsurface to deconstruct the dimensions of mycobiome fingerprints. However, impeded by the constraints of remote locations, the inaccessibility of specimens and technical limitations, the mycobiome of subterranean karst caves has remained largely unknown. Weathered rock and sediment samples were collected from Luohandu cave (Guilin, Southern China) and subjected to Illumina Hiseq sequencing of ITS1 genes. A total of 267 known genera and 90 known orders in 15 phyla were revealed in the mycobiomes. Ascomycota dominated all samples, followed by Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The sediments possessed the relatively highest alpha diversity and were significantly different from weathered rocks according to the diversity indices and richness metrics. Fifteen families and eight genera with significant differences were detected in the sediment samples. The Ca/Mg ratio appeared to significantly affect the structure of the mycobiome communities. Ascomycota appeared to exert a controlling influence on the mycobiome co-occurrence network of the sediments, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were found to be the main phyla in the mycobiome co-occurrence network of weathered rocks. Our results provide a more comprehensive dimension to the mycobiome fingerprints of Luohandu cave and a new window into the mycobiome communities and the ecology of subterranean karst cave ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Ying Man
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Xing Xiang
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Cheng
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Geobiology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hong-Mei Wang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Geobiology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Chun-Tian Su
- Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS/Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GZAR, Guilin 541004, Guangxi, China; (C.-T.S.); (Q.-B.H.)
- Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo 531406, Guangxi, China
| | - Qi-Bo Huang
- Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS/Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GZAR, Guilin 541004, Guangxi, China; (C.-T.S.); (Q.-B.H.)
- Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo 531406, Guangxi, China
| | - Yang Luo
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Gang Cheng
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Yu-Yang Ni
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
| | - Xing-Hua Shao
- College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China; (X.X.); (Y.L.); (C.Z.); (G.C.); (Y.-Y.N.); (X.-H.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Regional Plants Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Northeast Jiangxi, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, China
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Matsumoto Y, Sugiyama Y, Nagamachi T, Yoshikawa A, Sugita T. Hog1-mediated stress tolerance in the pathogenic fungus Trichosporon asahii. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13539. [PMID: 37598230 PMCID: PMC10439922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40825-y] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that causes severe and sometimes fatal infections in immunocompromised patients. Hog1, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, regulates the stress resistance of some pathogenic fungi, however its role in T. asahii has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrated that the hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant is sensitive to high temperature, cell membrane stress, oxidative stress, and antifungal drugs. Growth of the hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant was delayed at 40 °C. The hog1 gene-deficient T. asahii mutant also exhibited sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, menadione, methyl methanesulfonate, UV exposure, and antifungal drugs such as amphotericin B under a glucose-rich condition. Under a glucose-restricted condition, the hog1 gene-deficient mutant exhibited sensitivity to NaCl and KCl. The virulence of the hog1 gene-deficient mutant against silkworms was attenuated. Moreover, the viability of the hog1 gene-deficient mutant decreased in the silkworm hemolymph. These phenotypes were restored by re-introducing the hog1 gene into the gene-deficient mutant. Our findings suggest that Hog1 plays a critical role in regulating cellular stress responses in T. asahii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Matsumoto
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan.
| | - Yu Sugiyama
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan
| | - Tae Nagamachi
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan
| | - Asami Yoshikawa
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugita
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan
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