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Vargas-Maya NI, Olmedo-Monfil V, Ramírez-Prado JH, Reyes-Cortés R, Padilla-Vaca F, Franco B. Catalases in the pathogenesis of Sporothrix schenckii research. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14478. [PMID: 36523453 PMCID: PMC9745942 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic fungal infection success depends on the ability to escape the immune response. Most strategies for fungal infection control are focused on the inhibition of virulence factors and increasing the effectiveness of antifungal drugs. Nevertheless, little attention has been focused on their physiological resistance to the host immune system. Hints may be found in pathogenic fungi that also inhabit the soil. In nature, the saprophyte lifestyle of fungi is also associated with predators that can induce oxidative stress upon cell damage. The natural sources of nutrients for fungi are linked to cellulose degradation, which in turn generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, the antioxidant arsenal needed to thrive both in free-living and pathogenic lifestyles in fungi is fundamental for success. In this review, we present recent findings regarding catalases and oxidative stress in fungi and how these can be in close relationship with pathogenesis. Additionally, special focus is placed on catalases of Sporothrix schenckii as a pathogenic model with a dual lifestyle. It is assumed that catalase expression is activated upon exposure to H2O2, but there are reports where this is not always the case. Additionally, it may be relevant to consider the role of catalases in S. schenckii survival in the saprophytic lifestyle and why their study can assess their involvement in the survival and therefore, in the virulence phenotype of different species of Sporothrix and when each of the three catalases are required. Also, studying antioxidant mechanisms in other isolates of pathogenic and free-living fungi may be linked to the virulence phenotype and be potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets. Thus, the rationale for this review to place focus on fungal catalases and their role in pathogenesis in addition to counteracting the effect of immune system reactive oxygen species. Fungi that thrive in soil and have mammal hosts could shed light on the importance of these enzymes in the two types of lifestyles. We look forward to encouraging more research in a myriad of areas on catalase biology with a focus on basic and applied objectives and placing these enzymes as virulence determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruth Reyes-Cortés
- Biology Department, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Felipe Padilla-Vaca
- Biology Department, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Bernardo Franco
- Biology Department, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, México
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Bohner F, Papp C, Gácser A. The effect of antifungal resistance development on the virulence of Candida species. FEMS Yeast Res 2022; 22:6552956. [PMID: 35325128 PMCID: PMC9466593 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the relevance of diseases associated with fungal pathogens increased worldwide. Members of the Candida genus are responsible for the greatest number of fungal bloodstream infections every year. Epidemiological data consistently indicate a modest shift toward non-albicans species, albeit Candidaalbicans is still the most recognizable species within the genus. As a result, the number of clinically relevant pathogens has increased, and, despite their distinct pathogenicity features, the applicable antifungal agents remained the same. For bloodstream infections, only three classes of drugs are routinely used, namely polyenes, azoles and echinocandins. Antifungal resistance toward all three antifungal drug classes frequently occurs in clinical settings. Compared with the broad range of literature on virulence and antifungal resistance of Candida species separately, only a small portion of studies examined the effect of resistance on virulence. These studies found that resistance to polyenes and echinocandins concluded in significant decrease in the virulence in different Candida species. Meanwhile, in some cases, resistance to azole type antifungals resulted in increased virulence depending on the species and isolates. These findings underline the importance of studies aiming to dissect the connections of virulence and resistance in Candida species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Bohner
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Papp
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Gácser
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Mycobiome Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Chen J, Hu N, Xu H, Liu Q, Yu X, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Tan J, Huang X, Zeng L. Molecular Epidemiology, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Virulence Evaluation of Candida Isolates Causing Invasive Infection in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:721439. [PMID: 34604110 PMCID: PMC8479822 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.721439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of invasive candidiasis is increasing worldwide. However, the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, and virulence of Candida spp. in most hospitals remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate invasive candidiasis in a tertiary care hospital in Nanchang City, China. Methods MALDI-TOF MS and 18S rDNA ITS sequencing were used to identify Candida strains. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was used for molecular typing; biofilm production, caseinase, and hemolysin activities were used to evaluate virulence. The Sensititre™ YeastOne YO10 panel was used to examine antifungal susceptibility. Mutations in ERG11 and the hotspot regions of FKS1 of drug-resistant strains were sequenced to evaluate the possible mechanisms of antifungal resistance. Results We obtained 110 Candida strains, which included 40 Candida albicans (36.36%), 37 C. parapsilosis (33.64%), 21 C. tropicalis (19.09%), 9 C. glabrata (8.18%), 2 C. rugose (1.82%), and 1 C. haemulonii (0.91%) isolates. At a limiting point of 0.80, C. albicans isolates could be grouped into five clusters, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates into seven clusters, and C. glabrata isolates into only one cluster comprising six strains by RAPD typing. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed that the isolates showed the greatest overall resistance against fluconazole (6.36%), followed by voriconazole (4.55%). All C. albicans and C. parapsilosis isolates exhibited 100% susceptibility to echinocandins (i.e., anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin), whereas one C. glabrata strain was resistant to echinocandins. The most common amino acid substitutions noted in our study was 132aa (Y132H, Y132F) in the azole-resistant strains. No missense mutation was identified in the hotpot regions of FKS1. Comparison of the selected virulence factors detectable in a laboratory environment, such as biofilm, caseinase, and hemolysin production, revealed that most Candida isolates were caseinase and hemolysin producers with a strong activity (Pz < 0.69). Furthermore, C. parapsilosis had greater total biofilm biomass (average Abs620 = 0.712) than C. albicans (average Abs620 = 0.214, p < 0.01) or C. tropicalis (average Abs620 = 0.450, p < 0.05), although all C. glabrata strains were either low- or no-biofilm producers. The virulence level of the isolates from different specimen sources or clusters showed no obvious correlation. Interesting, 75% of the C. albicans from cluster F demonstrated azole resistance, whereas two azole-resistant C. tropicalis strains belonged to the cluster Y. Conclusion This study provides vital information regarding the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. in patients admitted to Nanchang City Hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhu Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Niya Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hongzhi Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaomin Yu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongcheng Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Junjun Tan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaotian Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lingbing Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Chaves ALS, Trilles L, Alves GM, Figueiredo-Carvalho MHG, Brito-Santos F, Coelho RA, Martins IS, Almeida-Paes R. A case-series of bloodstream infections caused by the Meyerozyma guilliermondii species complex at a reference center of oncology in Brazil. Med Mycol 2021; 59:235-243. [PMID: 32497174 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by Candida species are the fourth cause of healthcare associated infections worldwide. Non-albicans Candida species emerged in the last decades as agents of serious diseases. In this study, clinical and microbiological aspects of six patients with BSI due to the Meyerozyma (Candida) guilliermondii species complex from an oncology reference center in Brazil, were evaluated. To describe demographic and clinical characteristics, medical records of the patients were reviewed. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility was evaluated by the EUCAST method and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) assessed according to the epidemiological cutoff values. Virulence associated phenotypes of the isolates were also studied. Ten isolates from the six patients were evaluated. Five of them were identified as Meyerozyma guilliermondii and the others as Meyerozyma caribbica. One patient was infected with two M. caribbica isolates with different genetic backgrounds. High MICs were observed for fluconazole and echinocandins. Non-wild type isolates to voriconazole appeared in one patient previously treated with this azole. Additionally, two patients survived, despite infected with non-wild type strains for fluconazole and treated with this drug. All isolates produced hemolysin, which was not associated with a poor prognosis, and none produced phospholipases. Aspartic proteases, phytase, and esterase were detected in a few isolates. This study shows the reduced antifungal susceptibility and a variable production of virulence-related enzymes by Meyerozyma spp. In addition, it highlights the poor prognosis of neutropenic patients with BSI caused by this emerging species complex. LAY ABSTRACT Our manuscript describes demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with bloodstream infection by the Meyerozyma guilliermondii species complex at a reference center in oncology in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Leal Silva Chaves
- Clinical Pathology Laboratory, HCI, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Trilles
- Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Machado Alves
- Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Brito-Santos
- Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rowena Alves Coelho
- Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ianick S Martins
- Nosocomial Infection Surveillance and Control Program, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Medical School of Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Mycology Laboratory, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Kaan Ö, Koç AN, Atalay MA, Mutlu Sarigüzel F. Molecular epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility and virulence factors of Candida glabrata complex strains in Kayseri/Turkey. Microb Pathog 2021; 154:104870. [PMID: 33774107 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis are included in Candida glabrata complex, which are usually misidentified as C. glabrata based on phenotypic identification methods. It was aimed to identify C. glabrata complex isolated from various clinical samples in Kayseri/Turkey to the species level and to determine antifungal susceptibilities, virulence factors, and molecular epidemiology. METHODS Eighty three C. glabrata complex strains were studied in this study. Strains were phenotypically and molecularly identified. Phylogenetic analysis was done by the neighbor-joining method. Proteinase, phospholipase, esterase enzyme activity, and biofilm formation of strains were determined phenotypically. Antifungal susceptibility of strains were determined according to M60-Ed2 recommendations. RESULTS All the 83 strains identified as C. glabrata complex by phenotypic tests were confirmed as C. glabrata sensu stricto (C. glabrata) by PCR amplification and sequence analysis, but other complex members C. nivariensis and C. bracarensis were not detected. Phylogenetic analysis results revealed 19 different genotypes. No clonal relationship was detected among the strains. Biofilm formation in 75.9% of strains and esterase activity in 7.2% were found positive. Antifungal resistance rates of strains were determined as 9.2% for fluconazole and 45.8% for itraconazole; 43.4% of the strains for voriconazole were determined as non-wild type. CONCLUSION It was determined that biofilm and esterase activity might play an active role in the virulence of C. glabrata. In addition, high resistance rates to azoles in C. glabrata strains isolated in our hospital at Kayseri/Turkey emphasized the significance of epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özge Kaan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - A Nedret Koç
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Mustafa Altay Atalay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Fatma Mutlu Sarigüzel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Comparative Analysis of Putative Virulence-Associated Factors of Microsporum canis Isolates from Human and Animal Patients. Mycopathologia 2020; 185:665-673. [PMID: 32643011 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-020-00470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Microsporum canis is a zoophilic dermatophyte and the most common fungus isolated from dogs and cats worldwide. To invade skin, this pathogen uses different enzymes, which may be associated with virulence, that contribute to the fungal pathogenicity. The aim of this study is to compare the expression of enzymes that may be associated with virulence, and thermotolerance of M. canis strains isolated from dogs, cats, and humans. The in vitro expression of the enzymes keratinase, catalase, urease, hemolysin, and aspartic protease was evaluated in 52 M. canis strains recently isolated from 14 human patients, 12 dogs, 15 symptomatic, and 11 asymptomatic cats. In addition, thermotolerance was assessed by comparative analysis of fungal growth at 25 °C and 35 °C. Keratinase activity was low in 34 and moderate in 18 strains. Aspartic-protease activity was low in 7, moderate in 33, and high in 12 strains. Hemolysin activity was low in 44 and moderate in 8 strains. All strains were classified as low producers of catalase. All but three strains produced urease in vitro, with a broad range of activity. The strains presented in vitro growth at the two studied temperatures were classified as presenting low (36.5%), medium (44.3%), or high (19.2%) thermotolerance. There was no statistically significant difference in the new putative virulence-associated factors studied among the different hosts, which suggests that they may have a similar role on human, cat, and dog infection. Also, no difference was observed between strains isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic cats. This suggests that these factors have a limited impact on the fate of feline dermatophytosis caused by M. canis.
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In Vitro Determination of Hydrolytic Enzymes and Echinocandin Susceptibility in Mexican Clinical Isolates of Candida glabrata Sensu Stricto. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2019. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.85092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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