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Zheng X, Hu Z, Gao S, Li Z, Chen J, Zhang G, Kong N, Sun J, Liu W. One-pot assay using a target-driven split aptamer recognition and assembly strategy for convenient and rapid detection of gliotoxin. Food Chem 2024; 454:139738. [PMID: 38820643 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
An aptamer targeting gliotoxin (GTX) was optimized to increase the binding affinity by approximately 20 times and achieve higher structural stability and targeting specificity. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the molecular mechanism and key action sites underlying the recognition of GTX by the optimized aptamer. Subsequently, the optimized aptamer was split into two fragments and a convenient and rapid one-pot assay for GTX detection was successfully established using a target-driven split aptamer recognition and assembly strategy. The method exhibited a good linear range of 0.128 nM to 2 μM, a low detection limit of 0.07 nM, and excellent selectivity for GTX. Furthermore, the method had good accuracy and stability in real sample analysis. Therefore, the developed one-pot method provides a reliable, convenient, and cost-effective approach for the widespread application of GTX detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zunqi Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Shunxiang Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guanyi Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Nana Kong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianguo Sun
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
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2
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Andreani T, Cheng R, Elbadri K, Ferro C, Menezes T, Dos Santos MR, Pereira CM, Santos HA. Natural compounds-based nanomedicines for cancer treatment: Future directions and challenges. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01649-z. [PMID: 39003425 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01649-z] [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] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Several efforts have been extensively accomplished for the amelioration of the cancer treatments using different types of new drugs and less invasives therapies in comparison with the traditional therapeutic modalities, which are widely associated with numerous drawbacks, such as drug resistance, non-selectivity and high costs, restraining their clinical response. The application of natural compounds for the prevention and treatment of different cancer cells has attracted significant attention from the pharmaceuticals and scientific communities over the past decades. Although the use of nanotechnology in cancer therapy is still in the preliminary stages, the application of nanotherapeutics has demonstrated to decrease the various limitations related to the use of natural compounds, such as physical/chemical instability, poor aqueous solubility, and low bioavailability. Despite the nanotechnology has emerged as a promise to improve the bioavailability of the natural compounds, there are still limited clinical trials performed for their application with various challenges required for the pre-clinical and clinical trials, such as production at an industrial level, assurance of nanotherapeutics long-term stability, physiological barriers and safety and regulatory issues. This review highlights the most recent advances in the nanocarriers for natural compounds secreted from plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine organisms, as well as their role on cell signaling pathways for anticancer treatments. Additionally, the clinical status and the main challenges regarding the natural compounds loaded in nanocarriers for clinical applications were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Andreani
- Chemistry Research Centre (CIQUP) and Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- GreenUPorto-Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre & Inov4Agro, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ruoyu Cheng
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, The Personalized Medicine Research Institute Groningen (PRECISION), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Khalil Elbadri
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claudio Ferro
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.Ulisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Thacilla Menezes
- Chemistry Research Centre (CIQUP) and Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mayara R Dos Santos
- Chemistry Research Centre (CIQUP) and Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos M Pereira
- Chemistry Research Centre (CIQUP) and Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hélder A Santos
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, The Personalized Medicine Research Institute Groningen (PRECISION), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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3
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Amich J. The many roles of sulfur in the fungal-host interaction. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102489. [PMID: 38754292 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Sulfur is an essential macronutrient for life, and consequently, all living organisms must acquire it from external sources to thrive and grow. Sulfur is a constituent of a multitude of crucial molecules, such as the S-containing proteinogenic amino acids cysteine and methionine; cofactors and prosthetic groups, such as coenzyme-A and iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters; and other essential organic molecules, such as glutathione or S-adenosylmethionine. Additionally, sulfur in cysteine thiols is an active redox group that plays paramount roles in protein stability, enzyme catalysis, and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, H2S is gaining more attention as a crucial signaling molecule that influences metabolism and physiological functions. Given its importance, it is not surprising that sulfur plays key roles in the host-pathogen interaction. However, in contrast to its well-recognized involvement in the plant-pathogen interaction, the specific contributions of sulfur to the human-fungal interaction are much less understood. In this short review, I highlight some of the most important known mechanisms and propose directions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Amich
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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4
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Wei Z, Jin Q, Liu W, Liu T, He K, Jin Z, Chen M, Jiang Y, Qian Y, Hong H, Zhang D, Liu Q, Yang Z, Li Q. Gliotoxin elicits immunotoxicity in the early innate immune system of ducks. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103717. [PMID: 38643746 PMCID: PMC11039318 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103717] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin (GT) belongs to the epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) family, which is considered a crucial virulence determinant among the secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus fumigatus. The metabolites are commonly found in food and feed, contributing to the invasion and immune escape of Aspergillus fumigatus, thereby posing a significant threat to the health of livestock, poultry, and humans. Heterophil extracellular traps (HETs), a novel form of innate immune defense, have been documented in the chicken's innate immune systems for capturing and eliminating invading microbes. However, the effects and mechanisms of GT on the production of duck HETs in vitro remain unknown. In this study, we first confirmed the presence of HETs in duck innate immune systems and further investigated the molecular mechanism underlying GT-induced HETs release. Our results demonstrate that GT can trigger typical release of HETs in duck. The structures of GT-induced HETs structures were characterized by DNA decoration, citrullinated histones 3, and elastase. Furthermore, NADPH oxidase, glycolysis, ERK1/2 and p38 signaling pathway were found to regulate GT-induced HETs. In summary, our findings reveal that gliotoxin activates HETs release in the early innate immune system of duck while providing new insights into the immunotoxicity of GT towards ducks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkai Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China.
| | - Qinqin Jin
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Tingting Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Kaifeng He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Zha Jin
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Meiyi Chen
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Yuqian Jiang
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Yuxiao Qian
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Hongrong Hong
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Dezhi Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Quan Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Qianyong Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
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5
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Sonnberger J, Kasper L, Lange T, Brunke S, Hube B. "We've got to get out"-Strategies of human pathogenic fungi to escape from phagocytes. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:341-358. [PMID: 37800630 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15149] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Human fungal pathogens are a deadly and underappreciated risk to global health that most severely affect immunocompromised individuals. A virulence attribute shared by some of the most clinically relevant fungal species is their ability to survive inside macrophages and escape from these immune cells. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms behind intracellular survival and elaborate how escape is mediated by lytic and non-lytic pathways as well as strategies to induce programmed host cell death. We also discuss persistence as an alternative to rapid host cell exit. In the end, we address the consequences of fungal escape for the host immune response and provide future perspectives for research and development of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Sonnberger
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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6
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Wulff SM, Perch M, Helweg-Larsen J, Bredahl P, Arendrup MC, Lundgren J, Helleberg M, Crone CG. Associations between invasive aspergillosis and cytomegalovirus in lung transplant recipients: a nationwide cohort study. APMIS 2023; 131:574-583. [PMID: 37022293 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and invasive aspergillosis (IA) cause morbidity among lung transplant recipients (LTXr). Early diagnosis and treatment could improve outcomes. We examined rates of CMV after IA and vice versa to assess whether screening for one infection is warranted after detecting the other. All Danish LTXr, 2010-2019, were followed for IA and CMV for 2 years after transplantation. IA was defined using ISHLT criteria. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were estimated by Poisson regression adjusted for time after transplantation. We included 295 LTXr, among whom CMV and IA were diagnosed in 128 (43%) and 48 (16%). The risk of CMV was high the first 3 months after IA, IR 98/100 person-years of follow-up (95% CI 47-206). The risk of IA was significantly increased in the first 3 months after CMV, aIRR 2.91 (95% CI 1.32-6.44). Numbers needed to screen to diagnose one case of CMV after IA, and one case of IA after CMV was approximately seven and eight, respectively. Systematic screening for CMV following diagnosis of IA, and vice versa, may improve timeliness of diagnosis and outcomes for LTXr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Marie Wulff
- Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Perch
- Department of Cardiology, Section for Lung Transplantation, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jannik Helweg-Larsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pia Bredahl
- Department of Thoracic Anaesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maiken Cavling Arendrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit of Mycology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Lundgren
- Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Helleberg
- Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cornelia Geisler Crone
- Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Kaczmarek A, Wrońska AK, Boguś MI. The Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology and Physiology Accompanying Apoptosis in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Immunocompetent Cells during Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10169. [PMID: 37373316 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210169] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria have been shown to play an important role in apoptosis using mammalian cell lines. However, their role in insects is not fully understood; thus, more indepth studies of insect cell apoptosis are necessary. The present study investigates mitochondrial involvement during Conidiobolus coronatus-induced apoptosis in Galleria mellonella hemocytes. Previous research has shown that fungal infection could induce apoptosis in insect hemocytes. Our findings indicate that mitochondria undergo several morphological and physiological changes during fungal infection, e.g., loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, megachannel formation, disturbances in intracellular respiration, increased nonrespiratory oxygen consumption in mitochondria, decreased ATP-coupled oxygen consumption and increased non-ATP-coupled oxygen consumption, decreased extracellular and intracellular oxygen consumption, and increased extracellular pH. Our findings confirm that G. mellonella immunocompetent cells demonstrate Ca2+ overload in mitochondria, translocation of cytochrome c-like protein from mitochondrial to cytosol fraction, and higher activation of caspase-9-like protein after C. coronatus infection. Most importantly, several of the changes observed in insect mitochondria are similar to those accompanying apoptosis in mammalian cells, suggesting that the process is evolutionarily conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kaczmarek
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-875 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Katarzyna Wrońska
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-875 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mieczysława Irena Boguś
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-875 Warsaw, Poland
- Biomibo, 04-872 Warsaw, Poland
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Wu H, Wang L, Wang W, Shao Z, Jia X, Xiao H, Chen J. The secretory Candida effector Sce1 licenses fungal virulence by masking the immunogenic β-1,3-glucan and promoting apoptosis of the host cells. MLIFE 2023; 2:159-177. [PMID: 38817625 PMCID: PMC10989805 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Candida albicans deploys a variety of mechanisms such as morphological switch and elicitor release to promote virulence. However, the intricate interactions between the fungus and the host remain poorly understood, and a comprehensive inventory of fungal virulence factors has yet to be established. In this study, we identified a C. albicans secretory effector protein Sce1, whose induction and secretion are associated with vagina-simulative conditions and chlamydospore formation. Sequence alignment showed that Sce1 belongs to a Pir family in C. albicans, which is conserved across several fungi and primarily characterized as a β-glucan binding protein in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mechanically, Sce1 is primarily localized to the cell wall in a cleaved form as an alkali-labile β-1,3-glucan binding protein and plays a role in masking β-glucan in acidic environments and chlamydospores, a feature that might underline C. albicans' ability to evade host immunity. Further, a cleaved short form of Sce1 protein could be released into extracellular compartments and presented in bone marrow-derived macrophages infected with chlamydospores. This cleaved short form of Sce1 also demonstrated a unique ability to trigger the caspases-8/9-dependent apoptosis in various host cells. Correspondingly, genetic deletion of SCE1 led to dampened vaginal colonization of C. albicans and diminished fungal virulence during systemic infection. The discovery of Sce1 as a versatile virulence effector that executes at various compartments sheds light on the fungus-host interactions and C. albicans pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Li Wang
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Center, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Zhugui Shao
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical SciencesShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Xin‐Ming Jia
- Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Center, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Xiao
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Jiangye Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
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9
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Dehghani Nazhvani A, Farhadi A, Badiee P, Keshvari H, Ashraf MJ, Pakdel F, Farzinnia G. Aspergillus Species and Human Papillomavirus Infections in Epithelial Tumors of Nasal and Paranasal Cavities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER MANAGEMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.5812/ijcm-133155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Background: There are diverse lesions originating from the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and malnutrition have been identified to play a role in the development of head and neck carcinomas. Recently, fungi and viruses have been recognized as potential causes of nasal cavity and paranasal tumors. Objectives: This study aimed at specifying the prevalence of Aspergillus and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in the epithelial tumors of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 57 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of malignant and benign lesions of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity were evaluated for the presence of Aspergillus and HPV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) technique with specific primers. Results: Despite the absence of angular hyphae (acute angle) of the fungus on histopathological slides, overall, 10 (17.54%) out of 57 paraffin-embedded samples were found to be positive for Aspergillus species. However, HPV-DNA was not found in any of the samples. Conclusions: Our data suggest that fungal infections (especially aspergillosis) as an etiological factor can be contributed to the development of sinonasal cancer and, therefore, they should be considered in the management of patients with sinonasal cancer. In addition, PCR can provide an alternative to culture-dependent identification methods.
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10
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Lange T, Kasper L, Gresnigt MS, Brunke S, Hube B. "Under Pressure" - How fungi evade, exploit, and modulate cells of the innate immune system. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101738. [PMID: 36878023 PMCID: PMC10109127 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The human immune system uses an arsenal of effector mechanisms to prevent and counteract infections. Yet, some fungal species are extremely successful as human pathogens, which can be attributed to a wide variety of strategies by which these fungi evade, exploit, and modulate the immune system. These fungal pathogens normally are either harmless commensals or environmental fungi. In this review we discuss how commensalism, but also life in an environmental niche without human contact, can drive the evolution of diverse and specialized immune evasion mechanisms. Correspondingly, we discuss the mechanisms contributing to the ability of these fungi to cause superficial to life-threatening infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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11
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Ma Y, Deng W, Zhang K, Song Y, Zhang L, Shao J, Liu X, Wan Z, Wang X, Li R. Dual RNA-Sequencing and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Unveil Specific Insights on the Pathogenicity of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Complex. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:470-479.e6. [PMID: 38295003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is increasingly considered to be a public health hazard because it causes the most severe manifestations of dermatophytosis. In this study, we performed a series of studies to determine the pathogenicity of the T. mentagrophytes complex. We show that the T. mentagrophytes complex interacts with keratinocytes through pattern-recognition receptors‒MAPK/noncanonical NF-κB pathways and that the hyphal form of T. mentagrophytes is responsible for the increased inflammatory responses in keratinocytes. Moreover, SN-38 is likely a toxin of T. mentagrophytes that induces apoptosis in keratinocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Our results explain the severe pathogenicity and destructiveness of T. mentagrophytes observed in the clinic and pave the way for designing novel toxin-directed therapies to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yinggai Song
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Shao
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Wan
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China.
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12
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Mycotoxin Illness: Recognition and Management from Functional Medicine Perspective. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2022; 33:647-663. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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13
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Lian X, Scott-Thomas A, Lewis JG, Bhatia M, MacPherson SA, Zeng Y, Chambers ST. Monoclonal Antibodies and Invasive Aspergillosis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105563. [PMID: 35628374 PMCID: PMC9146623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening fungal disease that causes high morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of IA remain challenging. Given the broad range of non-specific clinical symptoms and the shortcomings of current diagnostic techniques, most patients are either diagnosed as “possible” or “probable” cases but not “proven”. Moreover, because of the lack of sensitive and specific tests, many high-risk patients receive an empirical therapy or a prolonged treatment of high-priced antifungal agents, leading to unnecessary adverse effects and a high risk of drug resistance. More precise diagnostic techniques alongside a targeted antifungal treatment are fundamental requirements for reducing the morbidity and mortality of IA. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high specificity in targeting the corresponding antigen(s) may have the potential to improve diagnostic tests and form the basis for novel IA treatments. This review summarizes the up-to-date application of mAb-based approaches in assisting IA diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xihua Lian
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Amy Scott-Thomas
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
| | - John G. Lewis
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Steroid and Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Madhav Bhatia
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Sean A. MacPherson
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Haematology Department, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | - Yiming Zeng
- Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine), The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China;
| | - Stephen T. Chambers
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-3-364-0649
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14
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Redrado S, Esteban P, Domingo MP, Lopez C, Rezusta A, Ramirez-Labrada A, Arias M, Pardo J, Galvez EM. Integration of In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Gliotoxin Production Reveals a Narrow Range of Producing Fungal Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040361. [PMID: 35448592 PMCID: PMC9030297 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040361] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin is a fungal secondary metabolite with impact on health and agriculture since it might act as virulence factor and contaminate human and animal food. Homologous gliotoxin (GT) gene clusters are spread across a number of fungal species although if they produce GT or other related epipolythiodioxopiperazines (ETPs) remains obscure. Using bioinformatic tools, we have identified homologous gli gene clusters similar to the A. fumigatus GT gene cluster in several fungal species. In silico study led to in vitro confirmation of GT and Bisdethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (bmGT) production in fungal strain cultures by HPLC detection. Despite we selected most similar homologous gli gene cluster in 20 different species, GT and bmGT were only detected in section Fumigati species and in a Trichoderma virens Q strain. Our results suggest that in silico gli homology analyses in different fungal strains to predict GT production might be only informative when accompanied by analysis about mycotoxin production in cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Redrado
- Instituto de Carboquımica ICB-CSIC, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.R.); (M.P.D.)
| | - Patricia Esteban
- Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), Fundacion Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Aragon (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (P.E.); (A.R.-L.); (M.A.); (J.P.)
| | | | - Concepción Lopez
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (C.L.); (A.R.)
| | - Antonio Rezusta
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (C.L.); (A.R.)
| | - Ariel Ramirez-Labrada
- Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), Fundacion Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Aragon (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (P.E.); (A.R.-L.); (M.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Maykel Arias
- Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), Fundacion Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Aragon (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (P.E.); (A.R.-L.); (M.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Julián Pardo
- Biomedical Research Centre of Aragon (CIBA), Fundacion Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Aragon (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (P.E.); (A.R.-L.); (M.A.); (J.P.)
- Department of Microbiology, Pediatrics, Radiology and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Eva M. Galvez
- Instituto de Carboquımica ICB-CSIC, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.R.); (M.P.D.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Margalit A, Sheehan D, Carolan JC, Kavanagh K. Exposure to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretome alters the proteome and secondary metabolite production of Aspergillus fumigatus. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168:001164. [PMID: 35333152 PMCID: PMC9558348 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is frequently cultured from the sputum of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients along with the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A. fumigatus secretes a range of secondary metabolites, and one of these, gliotoxin, has inhibitory effects on the host immune response. The effect of P. aeruginosa culture filtrate (CuF) on fungal growth and gliotoxin production was investigated. Exposure of A. fumigatus hyphae to P. aeruginosa cells induced increased production of gliotoxin and a decrease in fungal growth. In contrast, exposure of A. fumigatus hyphae to P. aeruginosa CuF led to increased growth and decreased gliotoxin production. Quantitative proteomic analysis was used to characterize the proteomic response of A. fumigatus upon exposure to P. aeruginosa CuF. Changes in the profile of proteins involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis (e.g. gliotoxin, fumagillin, pseurotin A), and changes to the abundance of proteins involved in oxidative stress (e.g. formate dehydrogenase) and detoxification (e.g. thioredoxin reductase) were observed, indicating that the bacterial secretome had a profound effect on the fungal proteome. Alterations in the abundance of proteins involved in detoxification and oxidative stress highlight the ability of A. fumigatus to differentially regulate protein synthesis in response to environmental stresses imposed by competitors such as P. aeruginosa. Such responses may ultimately have serious detrimental effects on the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatte Margalit
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - David Sheehan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - James C. Carolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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16
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Zoran T, Seelbinder B, White PL, Price JS, Kraus S, Kurzai O, Linde J, Häder A, Loeffler C, Grigoleit GU, Einsele H, Panagiotou G, Loeffler J, Schäuble S. Molecular Profiling Reveals Characteristic and Decisive Signatures in Patients after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Suffering from Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020171. [PMID: 35205926 PMCID: PMC8880021 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020171] [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: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite available diagnostic tests and recent advances, diagnosis of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IPA) remains challenging. We performed a longitudinal case-control pilot study to identify host-specific, novel, and immune-relevant molecular candidates indicating IPA in patients post allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Supported by differential gene expression analysis of six relevant in vitro studies, we conducted RNA sequencing of three alloSCT patients categorized as probable IPA cases and their matched controls without Aspergillus infection (66 samples in total). We additionally performed immunoassay analysis for all patient samples to gain a multi-omics perspective. Profiling analysis suggested LGALS2, MMP1, IL-8, and caspase-3 as potential host molecular candidates indicating IPA in investigated alloSCT patients. MMP1, IL-8, and caspase-3 were evaluated further in alloSCT patients for their potential to differentiate possible IPA cases and patients suffering from COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and appropriate control patients. Possible IPA cases showed differences in IL-8 and caspase-3 serum levels compared with matched controls. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in IL-8 and caspase-3 levels among CAPA patients compared with control patients. With our conceptual work, we demonstrate the potential value of considering the human immune response during Aspergillus infection to identify immune-relevant molecular candidates indicating IPA in alloSCT patients. These human host candidates together with already established fungal biomarkers might improve the accuracy of IPA diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Zoran
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (B.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Bastian Seelbinder
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (B.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Philip Lewis White
- Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK; (P.L.W.); (J.S.P.)
| | - Jessica Sarah Price
- Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK; (P.L.W.); (J.S.P.)
| | - Sabrina Kraus
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (O.K.); (A.H.)
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilians University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2/E1, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Linde
- Friedrich—Loeffler Institute, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Antje Häder
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (O.K.); (A.H.)
| | - Claudia Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
| | - Goetz Ulrich Grigoleit
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (B.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany; (T.Z.); (S.K.); (C.L.); (G.U.G.); (H.E.)
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (B.S.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (S.S.)
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17
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Herman A, Herman AP. Could Candida Overgrowth Be Involved in the Pathophysiology of Autism? J Clin Med 2022; 11:442. [PMID: 35054136 PMCID: PMC8778531 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11020442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to summarize the current acquiredknowledge of Candida overgrowth in the intestine as a possible etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The influence of Candida sp. on the immune system, brain, and behavior of children with ASD isdescribed. The benefits of interventions such as a carbohydrates-exclusion diet, probiotic supplementation, antifungal agents, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and microbiota transfer therapy (MTT) will be also discussed. Our literature query showed that the results of most studies do not fully support the hypothesis that Candida overgrowth is correlated with gastrointestinal (GI) problems and contributes to autism behavioral symptoms occurrence. On the one hand, it was reported that the modulation of microbiota composition in the gut may decrease Candida overgrowth, help reduce GI problems and autism symptoms. On the other hand, studies on humans suggesting the beneficial effects of a sugar-free diet, probiotic supplementation, FMT and MTT treatment in ASD are limited and inconclusive. Due to the increasing prevalence of ASD, studies on the etiology of this disorder are extremely needed and valuable. However, to elucidate the possible involvement of Candida in the pathophysiology of ASD, more reliable and well-designed research is certainly required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Herman
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Warsaw School of Engineering and Health, Bitwy Warszawskiej 20 18, 19 Street, 02-366 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Przemysław Herman
- Department of Genetic Engineering, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3 Street, 05-110 Jabłonna, Poland;
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18
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The Toxic Mechanism of Gliotoxins and Biosynthetic Strategies for Toxicity Prevention. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413510. [PMID: 34948306 PMCID: PMC8705807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin is a kind of epipolythiodioxopiperazine derived from different fungi that is characterized by a disulfide bridge. Gliotoxins can be biosynthesized by a gli gene cluster and regulated by a positive GliZ regulator. Gliotoxins show cytotoxic effects via the suppression the function of macrophage immune function, inflammation, antiangiogenesis, DNA damage by ROS production, peroxide damage by the inhibition of various enzymes, and apoptosis through different signal pathways. In the other hand, gliotoxins can also be beneficial with different doses. Low doses of gliotoxin can be used as an antioxidant, in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV, and as an anti-tumor agent in the future. Gliotoxins have also been used in the control of plant pathogens, including Pythium ultimum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Thus, it is important to elucidate the toxic mechanism of gliotoxins. The toxic mechanism of gliotoxins and biosynthetic strategies to reduce the toxicity of gliotoxins and their producing strains are summarized in this review.
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19
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Aspergillus fumigatus Fumagillin Contributes to Host Cell Damage. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110936. [PMID: 34829223 PMCID: PMC8619997 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of fumagillin, a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus fumigatus, has not been studied in depth. In this study, we used a commercial fumagillin on cultures of two cell types (A549 pneumocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages). This toxin joins its target, MetAP2 protein, inside cells and, as a result, significantly reduces the electron chain activity, the migration, and the proliferation ability on the A549 cells, or affects the viability and proliferation ability of the RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, the toxin stimulates the germination and double branch hypha production of fungal cultures, pointing out an intrinsic resistant mechanism to fumagillin of fungal strains. In this study, we also used a fumagillin non-producer A. fumigatus strain (∆fmaA) as well as its complemented strain (∆fmaA::fmaA) and we tested the fumagillin secretion of the fungal strains using an Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) method. Furthermore, fumagillin seems to protect the fungus against phagocytosis in vitro, and during in vivo studies using infection of immunosuppressed mice, a lower fungal burden in the lungs of mice infected with the ∆fmaA mutant was demonstrated.
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20
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Hua L, Zeng H, He L, Jiang Q, Ye P, Liu Y, Sun X, Zhang M. Gliotoxin Is an Important Secondary Metabolite Involved in Suppression of Sclerotium rolfsii of Trichoderma virens T23. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:1720-1725. [PMID: 33620234 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-09-20-0399-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotium rolfsii causes destructive soilborne disease in numerous plant species, and biological control may be a promising and sustainable approach for suppressing this widespread pathogen. In this study, the antagonistic effect against S. rolfsii of 10 Trichoderma strains was tested by the dual culture method, and a gliotoxin-producing strain, T. virens T23, was shown to be the most effective, inhibiting growth of S. rolfsii in vitro by 70.2%. To clarify the antagonistic mechanism and gliotoxin biosynthesis regulation of T23, a gliotoxin-deficient mutant was constructed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene knockout in vivo. As expected, disruption of the gene located in the putative gliotoxin biosynthesis gene cluster, gliI-T, resulted in gliotoxin deficiency and attenuation of the antagonistic effect against S. rolfsii, indicating that gliotoxin biosynthesis is regulated by gliI-T and that gliotoxin is an important antifungal metabolite of T23. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that gliotoxin treatment caused marked alterations of the hyphal cells of S. rolfsii depending on the drug concentration, whereby one of the prominent structural alterations was a reduction in the number and length of mitochondrial cristae. When S. rolfsii was exposed to 30 μg/ml of gliotoxin for 12 h, striking plasmolysis and ultrastructural changes were induced. The results demonstrated that gliotoxin is an important secondary metabolite of T. virens T23 in its antagonism against S. rolfsii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Hua
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pests on Crops in Southwest China, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Hualan Zeng
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pests on Crops in Southwest China, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Lian He
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pests on Crops in Southwest China, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Qiuping Jiang
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
| | - Pengsheng Ye
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pests on Crops in Southwest China, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
| | - Xiaofang Sun
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Industrial Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, 610300, China
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21
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Page L, Wallstabe J, Lother J, Bauser M, Kniemeyer O, Strobel L, Voltersen V, Teutschbein J, Hortschansky P, Morton CO, Brakhage AA, Topp M, Einsele H, Wurster S, Loeffler J. CcpA- and Shm2-Pulsed Myeloid Dendritic Cells Induce T-Cell Activation and Enhance the Neutrophilic Oxidative Burst Response to Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Immunol 2021; 12:659752. [PMID: 34122417 PMCID: PMC8192083 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.659752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus causes life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. As therapeutic outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are often unsatisfactory, the development of targeted immunotherapy remains an important goal. Linking the innate and adaptive immune system, dendritic cells are pivotal in anti-Aspergillus defense and have generated interest as a potential immunotherapeutic approach in IA. While monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) require ex vivo differentiation, antigen-pulsed primary myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) may present a more immediate platform for immunotherapy. To that end, we compared the response patterns and cellular interactions of human primary mDCs and moDCs pulsed with an A. fumigatus lysate and two A. fumigatus proteins (CcpA and Shm2) in a serum-free, GMP-compliant medium. CcpA and Shm2 triggered significant upregulation of maturation markers in mDCs and, to a lesser extent, moDCs. Furthermore, both A. fumigatus proteins elicited the release of an array of key pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and CCL3 from both DC populations. Compared to moDCs, CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs exhibited greater expression of MHC class II antigens and stimulated stronger proliferation and IFN-γ secretion from autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Moreover, supernatants of CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs significantly enhanced the oxidative burst in allogeneic neutrophils co-cultured with A. fumigatus germ tubes. Taken together, our in vitro data suggest that ex vivo CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed primary mDCs have the potential to be developed into an immunotherapeutic approach to tackle IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Page
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Wallstabe
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Institute for Hygiene & Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Lother
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Centre for Image Guided Local Therapies, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Bauser
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Leibniz-Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Lea Strobel
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Vera Voltersen
- Leibniz-Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Janka Teutschbein
- Leibniz-Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Leibniz-Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Axel A Brakhage
- Leibniz-Institute for Natural Products Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Max Topp
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wurster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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22
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Pradhan A, Ma Q, de Assis LJ, Leaves I, Larcombe DE, Rodriguez Rondon AV, Nev OA, Brown AJP. Anticipatory Stress Responses and Immune Evasion in Fungal Pathogens. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:416-427. [PMID: 33059975 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In certain niches, microbes encounter environmental challenges that are temporally linked. In such cases, microbial fitness is enhanced by the evolution of anticipatory responses where the initial challenge simultaneously activates pre-emptive protection against the second impending challenge. The accumulation of anticipatory responses in domesticated yeasts, which have been termed 'adaptive prediction', has led to the emergence of 'core stress responses' that provide stress cross-protection. Protective anticipatory responses also seem to be common in fungal pathogens of humans. These responses reflect the selective pressures that these fungi have faced relatively recently in their evolutionary history. Consequently, some pathogens have evolved 'core environmental responses' which exploit host signals to trigger immune evasion strategies that protect them against imminent immune attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Pradhan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Qinxi Ma
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Leandro J de Assis
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Ian Leaves
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Daniel E Larcombe
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alejandra V Rodriguez Rondon
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Olga A Nev
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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23
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Brown R, Priest E, Naglik JR, Richardson JP. Fungal Toxins and Host Immune Responses. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:643639. [PMID: 33927703 PMCID: PMC8076518 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.643639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are ubiquitous organisms that thrive in diverse natural environments including soils, plants, animals, and the human body. In response to warmth, humidity, and moisture, certain fungi which grow on crops and harvested foodstuffs can produce mycotoxins; secondary metabolites which when ingested have a deleterious impact on health. Ongoing research indicates that some mycotoxins and, more recently, peptide toxins are also produced during active fungal infection in humans and experimental models. A combination of innate and adaptive immune recognition allows the host to eliminate invading pathogens from the body. However, imbalances in immune homeostasis often facilitate microbial infection. Despite the wide-ranging effects of fungal toxins on health, our understanding of toxin-mediated modulation of immune responses is incomplete. This review will explore the current understanding of fungal toxins and how they contribute to the modulation of host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jonathan P. Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Zou R, Wang Y, Duan M, Guo M, Zhang Q, Zheng H. Dysbiosis of Gut Fungal Microbiota in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:267-275. [PMID: 32447559 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04543-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we tested the feces of children with ASD and those of healthy children, and the overall changing of the gut fungal community was observed in ASD children compared with controls. However, there were no abundant fungi populations showed significant variations between the ASD and Control group both at phylum and class level. Among the 507 genera identified, Saccharomyces and Aspergillus showed significant differences between ASD (59.07%) and Control (40.36%), indicating that they may be involved in the abnormal gut fungal community structure of ASD. When analyzed at the species level, a decreased abundance in Aspergillus versicolor was observed while Saccharomyces cerevisiae was increased in children with ASD relative to controls. Overall, this study characterized the fungal microbiota profile of children with ASD and identified potential diagnostic species closely related to the immune response in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu road, Xuhui district, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuezhu Wang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu road, Xuhui district, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu road, Xuhui district, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Huajun Zheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu road, Xuhui district, Shanghai, China.
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25
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Williams TJ, Gonzales-Huerta LE, Armstrong-James D. Fungal-Induced Programmed Cell Death. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030231. [PMID: 33804601 PMCID: PMC8003624 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a cause of morbidity in humans, and despite the availability of a range of antifungal treatments, the mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Although our knowledge of the interactions between pathogenic fungi and the host continues to grow, further research is still required to fully understand the mechanism underpinning fungal pathogenicity, which may provide new insights for the treatment of fungal disease. There is great interest regarding how microbes induce programmed cell death and what this means in terms of the immune response and resolution of infection as well as microbe-specific mechanisms that influence cell death pathways to aid in their survival and continued infection. Here, we discuss how programmed cell death is induced by fungi that commonly cause opportunistic infections, including Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans, the role of programmed cell death in fungal immunity, and how fungi manipulate these pathways.
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26
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Takahashi-Nakaguchi A, Shishido E, Yahara M, Urayama SI, Ninomiya A, Chiba Y, Sakai K, Hagiwara D, Chibana H, Moriyama H, Gonoi T. Phenotypic and Molecular Biological Analysis of Polymycovirus AfuPmV-1M From Aspergillus fumigatus: Reduced Fungal Virulence in a Mouse Infection Model. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:607795. [PMID: 33424809 PMCID: PMC7794001 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.607795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most common causal agents of invasive fungal infection in humans; the infection is associated with an alarmingly high mortality rate. In this study, we investigated whether a mycovirus, named AfuPmV-1M, can reduce the virulence of A. fumigatus in a mouse infection model. AfuPmV-1M has high sequence similarity to AfuPmV-1, one of the polymycovirus that is a capsidless four-segment double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, previously isolated from the genome reference strain of A. fumigatus, Af293. However, we found the isolate had an additional fifth dsRNA segment, referred to as open reading frame 5 (ORF5), which has not been reported in AfuPmV-1. We then established isogenic lines of virus-infected and virus-free A. fumigatus strains. Mycovirus infection had apparent influences on fungal phenotypes, with the virus-infected strain producing a reduced mycelial mass and reduced conidial number in comparison with these features of the virus-free strain. Also, resting conidia of the infected strain showed reduced adherence to pulmonary epithelial cells and reduced tolerance to macrophage phagocytosis. In an immunosuppressed mouse infection model, the virus-infected strain showed reduced mortality in comparison with mortality due to the virus-free strain. RNA sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the virus suppressed the expression of genes for gliotoxin synthesis and its production at the mycelial stage. Conversely, the virus enhanced gene expression and biosynthesis of fumagillin. Viral RNA expression was enhanced during conidial maturation, conidial germination, and the mycelial stage. We presume that the RNA or translation products of the virus affected fungal phenotypes, including spore formation and toxin synthesis. To identify the mycovirus genes responsible for attenuation of fungal virulence, each viral ORF was ectopically expressed in the virus-free KU strain. We found that the expression of ORF2 and ORF5 reduced fungal virulence in the mouse model. In addition, ORF3 affected the stress tolerance of host A. fumigatus in culture. We hypothesize that the respective viral genes work cooperatively to suppress the pathogenicity of the fungal host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Shishido
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Misa Yahara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Syun-Ichi Urayama
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ninomiya
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuto Chiba
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kanae Sakai
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiroji Chibana
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Moriyama
- Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Tohru Gonoi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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27
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Camilli G, Blagojevic M, Naglik JR, Richardson JP. Programmed Cell Death: Central Player in Fungal Infections. Trends Cell Biol 2020; 31:179-196. [PMID: 33293167 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Fungal diseases contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in humans. Although recent research has improved our understanding of the complex and dynamic interplay that occurs between pathogenic fungi and the human host, much remains to be elucidated concerning the molecular mechanisms that drive fungal pathogenicity and host responses to fungal infections. In recent times, there has been a significant increase in studies investigating the immunological functions of microbial-induced host cell death. In addition, pathogens use many strategies to manipulate host cell death pathways to facilitate their survival and dissemination. This review will focus on the mechanisms of host programmed cell death that occur during opportunistic fungal infections, and explore how cell death pathways may affect immunity towards pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Camilli
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - Mariana Blagojevic
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Julian R Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jonathan P Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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28
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Tits J, Cammue BPA, Thevissen K. Combination Therapy to Treat Fungal Biofilm-Based Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228873. [PMID: 33238622 PMCID: PMC7700406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of people is affected by fungal biofilm-based infections, which are resistant to the majority of currently-used antifungal drugs. Such infections are often caused by species from the genera Candida, Aspergillus or Cryptococcus. Only a few antifungal drugs, including echinocandins and liposomal formulations of amphotericin B, are available to treat such biofilm-based fungal infections. This review discusses combination therapy as a novel antibiofilm strategy. More specifically, in vitro methods to discover new antibiofilm combinations will be discussed. Furthermore, an overview of the main modes of action of promising antibiofilm combination treatments will be provided as this knowledge may facilitate the optimization of existing antibiofilm combinations or the development of new ones with a similar mode of action.
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29
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Keown K, Reid A, Moore JE, Taggart CC, Downey DG. Coinfection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus in cystic fibrosis. Eur Respir Rev 2020; 29:29/158/200011. [PMID: 33208485 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0011-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterised by mucus stasis, chronic infection and inflammation, causing progressive structural lung disease and eventual respiratory failure. CF airways are inhabited by an ecologically diverse polymicrobial environment with vast potential for interspecies interactions, which may be a contributing factor to disease progression. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus are the most common bacterial and fungal species present in CF airways respectively and coinfection results in a worse disease phenotype. METHODS In this review we examine existing expert knowledge of chronic co-infection with P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in CF patients. We summarise the mechanisms of interaction and evaluate the clinical and inflammatory impacts of this co-infection. RESULTS P. aeruginosa inhibits A. fumigatus through multiple mechanisms: phenazine secretion, iron competition, quorum sensing and through diffusible small molecules. A. fumigatus reciprocates inhibition through gliotoxin release and phenotypic adaptations enabling evasion of P. aeruginosa inhibition. Volatile organic compounds secreted by P. aeruginosa stimulate A. fumigatus growth, while A. fumigatus stimulates P. aeruginosa production of cytotoxic elastase. CONCLUSION A complex bi-directional relationship exists between P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus, exhibiting both mutually antagonistic and cooperative facets. Cross-sectional data indicate a worsened disease state in coinfected patients; however, robust longitudinal studies are required to derive causality and to determine whether interspecies interaction contributes to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Keown
- Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.,Wellcome Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Alastair Reid
- Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK
| | - John E Moore
- Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Dept of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
| | - Clifford C Taggart
- Wellcome Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Damian G Downey
- Wellcome Wolfson Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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30
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Seelbinder B, Wallstabe J, Marischen L, Weiss E, Wurster S, Page L, Löffler C, Bussemer L, Schmitt AL, Wolf T, Linde J, Cicin-Sain L, Becker J, Kalinke U, Vogel J, Panagiotou G, Einsele H, Westermann AJ, Schäuble S, Loeffler J. Triple RNA-Seq Reveals Synergy in a Human Virus-Fungus Co-infection Model. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108389. [PMID: 33207195 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is routinely applied to study diverse biological processes; however, when performed separately on interacting organisms, systemic noise intrinsic to RNA extraction, library preparation, and sequencing hampers the identification of cross-species interaction nodes. Here, we develop triple RNA-seq to simultaneously detect transcriptomes of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) infected with the frequently co-occurring pulmonary pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and human cytomegalovirus (CMV). Comparing expression patterns after co-infection with those after single infections, our data reveal synergistic effects and mutual interferences between host responses to the two pathogens. For example, CMV attenuates the fungus-mediated activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines through NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) and NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) cascades, while A. fumigatus impairs viral clearance by counteracting viral nucleic acid-induced activation of type I interferon signaling. Together, the analytical power of triple RNA-seq proposes molecular hubs in the differential moDC response to fungal/viral single infection or co-infection that contribute to our understanding of the etiology and, potentially, clearance of post-transplant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Seelbinder
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Wallstabe
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lothar Marischen
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Esther Weiss
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wurster
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lukas Page
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Löffler
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lydia Bussemer
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Schmitt
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Wolf
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jörg Linde
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Luka Cicin-Sain
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover-Braunschweig Site, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH) Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jennifer Becker
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE-Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE-Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China
| | - Hermann Einsele
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander J Westermann
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- University Hospital Würzburg, Medical Hospital II, WÜ4i, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
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31
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Vasefi M, Ghaboolian-Zare E, Abedelwahab H, Osu A. Environmental toxins and Alzheimer's disease progression. Neurochem Int 2020; 141:104852. [PMID: 33010393 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which causes progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Effective strategies to treat or prevent remains one of the most challenging undertakings in the medical field. AD is a complex and multifactorial disease that involves several risk factors. Aging and genetic factors both play important roles in the onset of the AD, however; certain environmental factors have been reported to increase the risk of AD. Chronic exposure to toxins has been seen as an environmental factor that may increase the risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease such as AD. Exposure to metals and biotoxins produced by bacteria, molds, and viruses may contribute to the cognitive decline and pathophysiology associated with AD. Toxins may contribute to the pathology of the disease through various mechanisms such as deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tangles in the brain, induction of apoptosis, inflammation, or oxidative damage. Here, we will review how toxins affect brain physiology with a focus on mechanisms by which toxins may contribute to the development and progression of AD. A better understanding of these mechanisms may help contribute towards the development of an effective strategy to slow the progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Vasefi
- Department Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, United States.
| | | | | | - Anthony Osu
- Department Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, United States
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32
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Abstract
Opportunistic commensal and environmental fungi can cause superficial to systemic diseases in humans. But how did these pathogens adapt to infect us and how does host-pathogen co-evolution shape their virulence potential? During evolution toward pathogenicity, not only do microorganisms gain virulence genes, but they also tend to lose non-adaptive genes in the host niche. Additionally, virulence factors can become detrimental during infection when they trigger host recognition. The loss of non-adaptive genes as well as the loss of the virulence potential of genes by adaptations to the host has been investigated in pathogenic bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi, where they are known as antivirulence and avirulence genes, respectively. However, these concepts are nearly unknown in the field of pathogenic fungi of humans. We think that this unnecessarily limits our view of human-fungal interplay, and that much could be learned if we applied a similar framework to aspects of these interactions. In this review, we, therefore, define and adapt the concepts of antivirulence and avirulence genes for human pathogenic fungi. We provide examples for analogies to antivirulence genes of bacterial pathogens and to avirulence genes of phytopathogenic fungi. Introducing these terms to the field of pathogenic fungi of humans can help to better comprehend the emergence and evolution of fungal virulence and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Siscar-Lewin
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
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33
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Stoszko M, Al-Hatmi AMS, Skriba A, Roling M, Ne E, Crespo R, Mueller YM, Najafzadeh MJ, Kang J, Ptackova R, LeMasters E, Biswas P, Bertoldi A, Kan TW, de Crignis E, Sulc M, Lebbink JH, Rokx C, Verbon A, van Ijcken W, Katsikis PD, Palstra RJ, Havlicek V, de Hoog S, Mahmoudi T. Gliotoxin, identified from a screen of fungal metabolites, disrupts 7SK snRNP, releases P-TEFb, and reverses HIV-1 latency. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba6617. [PMID: 32851167 PMCID: PMC7423394 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba6617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A leading pharmacological strategy toward HIV cure requires "shock" or activation of HIV gene expression in latently infected cells with latency reversal agents (LRAs) followed by their subsequent clearance. In a screen for novel LRAs, we used fungal secondary metabolites as a source of bioactive molecules. Using orthogonal mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to latency reversal bioassays, we identified gliotoxin (GTX) as a novel LRA. GTX significantly induced HIV-1 gene expression in latent ex vivo infected primary cells and in CD4+ T cells from all aviremic HIV-1+ participants. RNA sequencing identified 7SK RNA, the scaffold of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) inhibitory 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex, to be significantly reduced upon GTX treatment of CD4+ T cells. GTX directly disrupted 7SK snRNP by targeting La-related protein 7 (LARP7), releasing active P-TEFb, which phosphorylated RNA polymerase II (Pol II) C-terminal domain (CTD), inducing HIV transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Stoszko
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud UMC/CWZ, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services, Ibri, Oman
| | - Anton Skriba
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Roling
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Enrico Ne
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yvonne M. Mueller
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Joyce Kang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring/Disease Control, Ministry of Education and Guizhou Talent Base of Microbes and Human Health, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, P. R. China
| | - Renata Ptackova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Elizabeth LeMasters
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pritha Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alessia Bertoldi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tsung Wai Kan
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elisa de Crignis
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Miroslav Sulc
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Joyce H.G. Lebbink
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Radiation Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Casper Rokx
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annelies Verbon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wilfred van Ijcken
- Erasmus MC Genomics Core Facility, Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter D. Katsikis
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan Palstra
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vladimir Havlicek
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, CZ 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Sybren de Hoog
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud UMC/CWZ, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Corresponding author.
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Youssif SF, Hassan EA, Moharram AM, Farhan MA, Badary DM, Hasan AAA. Is bronchoscopic view a reliable method in diagnosis of tracheobronchial aspergillosis in critically ill non-neutropenic patients? CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL 2020; 14:956-964. [PMID: 32568453 DOI: 10.1111/crj.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pulmonary aspergillosis is the main respiratory fungal infection however; its diagnosis is missed or delayed in critically ill non-neutropenic patients. Despite the utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for the evaluation of tracheobronchial aspergillosis (TBA) in immunocompromised patients has been extensively studied, however its utility in critically ill non-neutropenic patients is underestimated. OBJECTIVES To assess the bronchoscopic changes suspected TBA relative to the microbiological and histopathological aspects in critically ill non-neutropenic patients admitted to respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). METHODS We prospectively studied 139 critically ill non-neutropenic patients admitted to RICU and had a clinical suspicion of broncho-pulmonary Aspergillus infection. Those patients were subjected to clinical and bronchoscopic assessment for the evaluation of suspected TBA. Microbiological culture of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histopathological examination of tracheobronchial biopsies were done. RESULTS Bronchoscopic changes suspected TBA were found in 48.2% of patients (67/139), where Aspergillus infection was confirmed microbiologically in 59.7% (40/67) and histopathologically in 56.7% (38/67). Of these changes, whitish plaques ± ulcers, pseudomembrane and/or sticky secretion with hyperemic mucosa were detected in 68.7%, 26.9% and 16.4% respectively. These changes were mostly seen in the main bronchi (54/67; 80.6%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive values and overall accuracy of these bronchoscopic changes as compared with BAL fluid results were 83.3%, 70.3%, 53.2%, 91.2% and 74.1% respectively. CONCLUSIONS Bronchoscopy could be a reliable procedure for TBA diagnosis in critically ill non-neutropenic patients. Whitish plaques ± ulcers were the prominent bronchoscopic changes with reasonable diagnostic accuracy for prediction of TBA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elham Ahmed Hassan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Tropical Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mohamed Moharram
- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | - Dalia M Badary
- Department of Pathology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ali Adel Azeem Hasan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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35
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Cheng Z, Li M, Wang Y, Chai T, Cai Y, Li N. Pathogenicity and Immune Responses of Aspergillus fumigatus Infection in Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:143. [PMID: 32219102 PMCID: PMC7078108 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogen in poultry farms, causing aspergillosis in chickens. To study the pathogenicity of A. fumigatus, 14-days-old chickens were infected with fungal conidia (2 × 107 CFU/mL) via thoracic intra-air sacs inoculation. The clinical symptoms, gross and histopathological lesions, and fungal load in the lungs were examined. Additionally, the mRNAs of Toll like receptors (TLR) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by quantitative PCR to explore the immune responses induced by A. fumigatus. The results showed that overt depression, ruffled feathers, and dyspnea were observed in the infected chickens as early as 3 days post infection (dpi). Eleven out of 25 infected chickens died from 5 to 9 dpi, and A. fumigatus could also be reisolated from the infected lung. Histopathological examination revealed obvious airsacculitis and pneumonia, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration (heterophils and macrophages), and granulomatous lesions in the lung. The mRNA expressions of TLR1 and TLR2 were upregulated in the lung and spleen, and most pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, Cxcl-8, TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ were increased in both the lung and spleen during the tested period, suggesting that the innate immune responses were triggered by A. fumigatus infection, and these cytokines participated in the inflammatory responses against A. fumigatus. These results indicate that A. fumigatus infection by thoracic intra-air sacs inoculation can cause severe respiratory damage in chickens, activate TLR1 and TLR2 mediated immune responses, and elicit large expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, Cxcl-8, and IFN-γ. These data will help further understanding of the pathogenesis and immune responses of A. fumigatus infection in the chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Mengxuan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Yao Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Tongjie Chai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Yumei Cai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Ning Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
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36
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Dysbiotic microbiota in autistic children and their mothers: persistence of fungal and bacterial wall-deficient L-form variants in blood. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13401. [PMID: 31527606 PMCID: PMC6746791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49768-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on our hypothesis for existing microbiota of wall-deficient variants (L-forms) in human blood, we created an innovative methodology, which allowed for the development of L-form populations from blood of all investigated people. In contrast to healthy controls, blood L-forms from autistic children and their mothers converted under appropriate conditions of cultivation into detectable opportunistic bacteria and fungi, а process demonstrated by light and transmission electron microscopy. It can be distinguished into two types of states – “eubiotic” blood microbiota in healthy individuals, and “dysbiotic” in autistic children and their mothers. Remarkably, the unifying finding for autistic children and their mothers was the presence in blood of wall-free variants from life-cycle of filamentous fungi. Increased specific IgG, IgM and IgA, together with typical mold growth were a decisive argument for proven presence of Aspergillus fumigatus in almost all of the autistic children. As it was demonstrated in our previous study, filterable L-forms can be transmitted by vertical pathway from mother to child before birth. Thus, it can be suggested that autistic children may be born already colonized with fungi, while a “silent aspergillosis” could contribute or even be a leading cause for neurodevelopmental disorders in the early childhood.
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37
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Benaoudia S, Martin A, Puig Gamez M, Gay G, Lagrange B, Cornut M, Krasnykov K, Claude J, Bourgeois CF, Hughes S, Gillet B, Allatif O, Corbin A, Ricci R, Henry T. A genome-wide screen identifies IRF2 as a key regulator of caspase-4 in human cells. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e48235. [PMID: 31353801 PMCID: PMC6727027 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201948235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Caspase-4, the cytosolic LPS sensor, and gasdermin D, its downstream effector, constitute the non-canonical inflammasome, which drives inflammatory responses during Gram-negative bacterial infections. It remains unclear whether other proteins regulate cytosolic LPS sensing, particularly in human cells. Here, we conduct a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen in a human monocyte cell line to identify genes controlling cytosolic LPS-mediated pyroptosis. We find that the transcription factor, IRF2, is required for pyroptosis following cytosolic LPS delivery and functions by directly regulating caspase-4 levels in human monocytes and iPSC-derived monocytes. CASP4, GSDMD, and IRF2 are the only genes identified with high significance in this screen highlighting the simplicity of the non-canonical inflammasome. Upon IFN-γ priming, IRF1 induction compensates IRF2 deficiency, leading to robust caspase-4 expression. Deficiency in IRF2 results in dampened inflammasome responses upon infection with Gram-negative bacteria. This study emphasizes the central role of IRF family members as specific regulators of the non-canonical inflammasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sacha Benaoudia
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Amandine Martin
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Marta Puig Gamez
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC)Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7104Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964Université de StrasbourgIllkirchFrance
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie MoléculaireNouvel Hôpital CivilStrasbourgFrance
- Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
- INGESTEM National iPSC InfrastructureVillejuifFrance
| | - Gabrielle Gay
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Brice Lagrange
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Maxence Cornut
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Kyrylo Krasnykov
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Claude
- LBMC, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la celluleUniversité Claude Bernard Lyon 1INSERM U1210, CNRS, UMR5239École Normale Supérieure de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Cyril F Bourgeois
- LBMC, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la celluleUniversité Claude Bernard Lyon 1INSERM U1210, CNRS, UMR5239École Normale Supérieure de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Sandrine Hughes
- Sequencing PlatformInstitut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL)Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5242École Normale Supérieure de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Benjamin Gillet
- Sequencing PlatformInstitut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL)Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5242École Normale Supérieure de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
| | - Omran Allatif
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
- BIBS, Bioinformatic and Biostatic ServicesCIRILyonFrance
| | - Antoine Corbin
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
- BIBS, Bioinformatic and Biostatic ServicesCIRILyonFrance
| | - Romeo Ricci
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC)Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7104Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964Université de StrasbourgIllkirchFrance
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie MoléculaireNouvel Hôpital CivilStrasbourgFrance
- Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
- INGESTEM National iPSC InfrastructureVillejuifFrance
| | - Thomas Henry
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en InfectiologieInserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de LyonUniv LyonLyonFrance
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Gliotoxin Aggravates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Triggering Neuroinflammation. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11080443. [PMID: 31357414 PMCID: PMC6722733 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11080443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin (GTX) is the major and the most potent mycotoxin that is secreted by Aspergillus fumigatus, which is capable of injuring and killing microglial cells, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. During the last years, studies with patients and experimental models of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), suggested that fungal infections are among the possible initiators or aggravators of this pathology. The deleterious effect can occur through a direct interaction of the fungus with the CNS or by the toxin release from a non-neurological site. In the present work, we investigated the effect of GTX on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development. Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and then intraperitoneally injected with three doses of GTX (1 mg/kg b.w., each) on days 4, 7, and 10. GTX aggravated clinical symptoms of the disease in a dose-dependent way and this outcome was concomitant with an increased neuroinflammation. CNS analyses revealed that GTX locally increased the relative expression of inflammatory genes and the cytokine production. Our results indicate that GTX administered in a non-neuronal site was able to increase neuroinflammation in EAE. Other mycotoxins could also be deleterious to many neurological diseases by similar mechanisms.
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39
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Zhang C, Chen F, Liu X, Han X, Hu Y, Su X, Chen Y, Sun Y, Han L. Gliotoxin Induces Cofilin Phosphorylation to Promote Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Internalization of Aspergillus fumigatus Into Type II Human Pneumocyte Cells. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1345. [PMID: 31275272 PMCID: PMC6591310 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is able to internalize into lung epithelial cells to escape from immune attack for further dissemination. We previously reported that gliotoxin, a major mycotoxin of A. fumigatus, promotes this internalization; however, the mechanism remained unclear. Here, we report that gliotoxin is able to induce cofilin phosphorylation in A549 type II human pneumocytes. Either too high or too low a level of cofilin phosphorylation blocked the gliotoxin-induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and A. fumigatus internalization. LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) and its upstream small GTPases (Cdc42 and RhoA, but not Rac1) predominantly mediated the gliotoxin-induced cofilin phosphorylation and A. fumigatus internalization. Simultaneously, gliotoxin significantly stimulated an increase in cAMP; however, adding an antagonist of PKA did not block gliotoxin-induced A. fumigatus internalization. In vivo, exogenous gliotoxin helped gliotoxin synthesis deficient strain gliPΔ invade into the lung tissue and the lung fungal burden increased markedly in immunosuppressed mice. In conclusion, these data revealed a novel role of gliotoxin in inducing cofilin phosphorylation mostly through the Cdc42/RhoA-LIMK1 signaling pathway to promote actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and internalization of A. fumigatus into type II human pneumocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjian Zhang
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyan Chen
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Han
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yingsong Hu
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xueting Su
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yansong Sun
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Han
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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40
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Comas L, Polo E, Domingo MP, Hernández Y, Arias M, Esteban P, Martínez-Lostao L, Pardo J, Martínez de la Fuente J, Gálvez EM. Intracellular Delivery of Biologically-Active Fungal Metabolite Gliotoxin Using Magnetic Nanoparticles. MATERIALS 2019; 12:ma12071092. [PMID: 30987007 PMCID: PMC6480141 DOI: 10.3390/ma12071092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gliotoxin (GT), a secondary metabolite produced by Aspergillus molds, has been proposed as a potential anti-tumor agent. Here we have developed a nanoparticle approach to enhance delivery of GT in tumor cells and establish a basis for its potential use as therapeutical drug. GT bound to magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) retained a high anti-tumor activity, correlating with efficient intracellular delivery, which was increased in the presence of glucose. Our results show that the attachment of GT to MNPs by covalent bonding enhances intracellular GT delivery without affecting its biological activity. This finding represents the first step to use this potent anti-tumor agent in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Comas
- Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB-CSIC), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Esther Polo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - M Pilar Domingo
- Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB-CSIC), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Yulán Hernández
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Departamento de Ciencias - Sección Química, Lima 1761, Peru.
| | - Maykel Arias
- Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB-CSIC), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | | | - Luis Martínez-Lostao
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Departamento de Microbiología, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Servicio de Inmunologia, Hospital Clinico Lozano Blesa, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Julián Pardo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Fundacion Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo (ARAID), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón, ICMA-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Jesús Martínez de la Fuente
- Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón, ICMA-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Eva M Gálvez
- Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB-CSIC), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
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Papadopoulou A, Alvanou M, Koukoulias K, Athanasiou E, Lazaridou A, Savvopoulos N, Kaloyannidis P, Markantonatou AM, Vyzantiadis TA, Yiangou M, Anagnostopoulos A, Yannaki E. Clinical-scale production of Aspergillus-specific T cells for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in the immunocompromised host. Bone Marrow Transplant 2019; 54:1963-1972. [DOI: 10.1038/s41409-019-0501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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42
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Arias M, Santiago L, Vidal-García M, Redrado S, Lanuza P, Comas L, Domingo MP, Rezusta A, Gálvez EM. Preparations for Invasion: Modulation of Host Lung Immunity During Pulmonary Aspergillosis by Gliotoxin and Other Fungal Secondary Metabolites. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2549. [PMID: 30459771 PMCID: PMC6232612 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary aspergillosis is a severe infectious disease caused by some members of the Aspergillus genus, that affects immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised patients. Among the different disease forms, Invasive Aspergillosis is the one causing the highest mortality, mainly, although not exclusively, affecting neutropenic patients. This genus is very well known by humans, since different sectors like pharmaceutical or food industry have taken advantage of the biological activity of some molecules synthetized by the fungus, known as secondary metabolites, including statins, antibiotics, fermentative compounds or colorants among others. However, during infection, in response to a hostile host environment, the fungal secondary metabolism is activated, producing different virulence factors to increase its survival chances. Some of these factors also contribute to fungal dissemination and invasion of adjacent and distant organs. Among the different secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp. Gliotoxin (GT) is the best known and better characterized virulence factor. It is able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the disulfide bridge present in its structure. It also presents immunosuppressive activity related with its ability to kill mammalian cells and/or inactivate critical immune signaling pathways like NFkB. In this comprehensive review, we will briefly give an overview of the lung immune response against Aspergillus as a preface to analyse the effect of different secondary metabolites on the host immune response, with a special attention to GT. We will discuss the results reported in the literature on the context of the animal models employed to analyse the role of GT as virulence factor, which is expected to greatly depend on the immune status of the host: why should you hide when nobody is seeking for you? Finally, GT immunosuppressive activity will be related with different human diseases predisposing to invasive aspergillosis in order to have a global view on the potential of GT to be used as a target to treat IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maykel Arias
- Instituto de Carboquímica ICB-CSIC, Zaragoza, Spain
- Immune Effector Cells Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Immune Effector Cells Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Fac. Ciencias, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Matxalen Vidal-García
- Immune Effector Cells Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Servicio de Microbiología - Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Lanuza
- Immune Effector Cells Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Fac. Ciencias, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Comas
- Instituto de Carboquímica ICB-CSIC, Zaragoza, Spain
- Immune Effector Cells Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Biomedical Research Centre of Aragón (CIBA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Fac. Ciencias, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Rezusta
- Servicio de Microbiología - Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Patel R, Hossain MA, German N, Al-Ahmad AJ. Gliotoxin penetrates and impairs the integrity of the human blood-brain barrier in vitro. Mycotoxin Res 2018; 34:257-268. [PMID: 30006720 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-018-0320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral fungal infections represent an important public health concern, where a key element of pathophysiology is the ability of the fungi to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Yet the mechanism used by micro-organisms to cross such a barrier and invade the brain parenchyma remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of gliotoxin (GTX), a mycotoxin secreted by Aspergillus fumigatus, on the BBB using brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We observed that both acute (2 h) and prolonged (24 h) exposure to GTX at the level of 1 μM or higher compromised BMECs monolayer integrity. Notably, acute exposure was sufficient to disrupt the barrier function in iPSC-derived BMECs, resulting in decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased fluorescein permeability. Further, our data suggest that such disruption occurred without affecting tight junction complexes, via alteration of cell-matrix interactions, alterations in F-actin distribution, through a protein kinase C-independent signaling. In addition to its effect on the barrier function, we have observed a low permeability of GTX across the BBB. This fact can be partially explained by possible interactions of GTX with membrane proteins. Taken together, this study suggests that GTX may contribute in cerebral invasion processes of Aspergillus fumigatus by altering the blood-brain barrier integrity without disrupting tight junction complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronak Patel
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1300 South Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Mohammad Anwar Hossain
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1300 South Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Nadezhda German
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1300 South Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Abraham Jacob Al-Ahmad
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1300 South Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA.
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Zhang C, Liu X, Chen F, Hu Y, Li Z, Liu Y, Han X, Sun Y, Han L. Gliotoxin destructs the pulmonary epithelium barrier function by reducing cofilin oligomer formation to promote the dissolution of actin stress fibers. Microb Pathog 2018; 123:169-176. [PMID: 30017941 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The destruction of pulmonary epithelium is a major feature of lung diseases caused by the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus). Gliotoxin, a major mycotoxin of A. fumigatus, is widely postulated to be associated with the tissue invasion. However, the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we first discovered that cofilin, a regulator of actin dynamics in the pulmonary epithelial cells, existed mainly in the form of oligomer, which kept it unable to depolymerize actin filaments. Gliotoxin could reduce the formation of cofilin oligomer and promote the release of active cofilin monomer by regulating cofilin phosphorylation balance. Then, the active cofilin induced the dissolution of actin stress fibers to result in the disruption of pulmonary epithelium barrier function. Collectively, our study revealed a novel mechanism of gliotoxin destructing lung epithelium barrier function and for the first time indicated the role of cofilin oligomer in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjian Zhang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, PLA, Beijing, China; Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, PLA, Beijing, China; Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyan Chen
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yingsong Hu
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqian Li
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, PLA, Beijing, China; Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yanxi Liu
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Han
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yansong Sun
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, PLA, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Han
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China.
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Identification of Antifungal Targets Based on Computer Modeling. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4030081. [PMID: 29973534 PMCID: PMC6162656 DOI: 10.3390/jof4030081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic, cosmopolitan fungus that attacks patients with a weak immune system. A rational solution against fungal infection aims to manipulate fungal metabolism or to block enzymes essential for Aspergillus survival. Here we discuss and compare different bioinformatics approaches to analyze possible targeting strategies on fungal-unique pathways. For instance, phylogenetic analysis reveals fungal targets, while domain analysis allows us to spot minor differences in protein composition between the host and fungi. Moreover, protein networks between host and fungi can be systematically compared by looking at orthologs and exploiting information from host⁻pathogen interaction databases. Further data—such as knowledge of a three-dimensional structure, gene expression data, or information from calculated metabolic fluxes—refine the search and rapidly put a focus on the best targets for antimycotics. We analyzed several of the best targets for application to structure-based drug design. Finally, we discuss general advantages and limitations in identification of unique fungal pathways and protein targets when applying bioinformatics tools.
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The Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Promotes the Growth of the Pulmonary Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00097-18. [PMID: 29712727 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00097-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The pulmonary mucus of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients displays elevated levels of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and the aim of this work was to assess the effect of LL-37 on the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, a common pathogen of CF patients. Exposure of A. fumigatus to LL-37 and its derived fragment RK-31 (1.95 μg/ml) for 24 h had a positive effect on growth (199.94% ± 6.172% [P < 0.05] and 218.20% ± 4.63% [P < 0.05], respectively), whereas scrambled LL-37 peptide did not (85.12% ± 2.92%). Exposure of mycelium (preformed for 24 h) to 5 μg/ml intact LL-37 for 48 h increased hyphal wet weight (4.37 ± 0.23 g, P < 0.001) compared to the control (2.67 ± 0.05 g) and scrambled LL-37 (2.23 ± 0.09 g) treatments. Gliotoxin secretion from LL-37 exposed hyphae (169.1 ± 6.36 ng/mg hyphae, P < 0.05) was increased at 24 h compared to the results seen with the control treatment (102 ± 18.81 ng/mg hyphae) and the scrambled LL-37 treatment (96.09 ± 15.15 ng/mg hyphae). Shotgun proteomic analysis of 24-h LL-37-treated hyphae revealed an increase in the abundance of proteins associated with growth (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A [eIF-5A] [16.3-fold increased]), tissue degradation (aspartic endopeptidase [4.7-fold increased]), and allergic reactions (Asp F13 [10-fold increased]). By 48 h, there was an increase in protein levels indicative of cellular stress (glutathione peroxidase [9-fold increased]), growth (eIF-5A [6-fold increased]), and virulence (RNase mitogillin [3.7-fold increased]). These results indicate that LL-37 stimulates A. fumigatus growth and that this stimulation can result in increased fungal growth and secretion of toxins in the lungs of CF patients.
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Liu H, Xu W, Solis NV, Woolford C, Mitchell AP, Filler SG. Functional convergence of gliP and aspf1 in Aspergillus fumigatus pathogenicity. Virulence 2018; 9:1062-1073. [PMID: 30052103 PMCID: PMC6086310 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1482182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin contributes to the virulence of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus in non-neutropenic mice that are immunosuppressed with corticosteroids. To investigate how the absence of gliotoxin affects both the fungus and the host, we used a nanoString nCounter to analyze their transcriptional responses during pulmonary infection of a non-neutropenic host with a gliotoxin-deficient ΔgliP mutant. We found that the ΔgliP mutation led to increased expression of aspf1, which specifies a secreted ribotoxin. Prior studies have shown that aspf1, like gliP, is not required for virulence in a neutropenic infection model, but its role in a non-neutropenic infection model has not been fully investigated. To investigate the functional significance of this up-regulation of aspf1, a Δaspf1 single mutant and a Δaspf1 ΔgliP double mutant were constructed. Both Δaspf1 and ΔgliP single mutants had reduced lethality in non-neutropenic mice, and a Δaspf1 ΔgliP double mutant had a greater reduction in lethality than either single mutant. Analysis of mice infected with these mutants indicated that the presence of gliP is associated with massive apoptosis of leukocytes at the foci of infection and inhibition of chemokine production. Also, the combination of gliP and aspf1 is associated with suppression of CXCL1 chemokine expression. Thus, aspf1 contributes to A. fumigatus pathogenicity in non-neutropenic mice and its up-regulation in the ΔgliP mutant may partially compensate for the absence of gliotoxin. ABBREVIATIONS PAS: periodic acid-Schiff; PBS: phosphate buffered saline; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Wenjie Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Norma V. Solis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Carol Woolford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aaron P. Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Scott G. Filler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Sherrington SL, Kumwenda P, Kousser C, Hall RA. Host Sensing by Pathogenic Fungi. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2017; 102:159-221. [PMID: 29680125 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ability to cause disease extends from the ability to grow within the host environment. The human host provides a dynamic environment to which fungal pathogens must adapt to in order to survive. The ability to grow under a particular condition (i.e., the ability to grow at mammalian body temperature) is considered a fitness attribute and is essential for growth within the human host. On the other hand, some environmental conditions activate signaling mechanisms resulting in the expression of virulence factors, which aid pathogenicity. Therefore, pathogenic fungi have evolved fitness and virulence attributes to enable them to colonize and infect humans. This review highlights how some of the major pathogenic fungi respond and adapt to key environmental signals within the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Sherrington
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Pizga Kumwenda
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Courtney Kousser
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca A Hall
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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Schmidt S, Tramsen L, Lehrnbecher T. Natural Killer Cells in Antifungal Immunity. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1623. [PMID: 29213274 PMCID: PMC5702641 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients such as patients suffering from hematological malignancies or patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantion. In addition, other populations such as human immunodeficiency virus-patients are at higher risk for invasive fungal infection. Despite the availability of new antifungal compounds and better supportive care measures, the fatality rate of invasive fungal infection remained unacceptably high. It is therefore of major interest to improve our understanding of the host-pathogen interaction to develop new therapeutic approaches such as adoptive immunotherapy. As experimental methodologies have improved and we now better understand the complex network of the immune system, the insight in the interaction of the host with the fungus has significantly increased. It has become clear that host resistance to fungal infections is not only associated with strong innate immunity but that adaptive immunity (e.g., T cells) also plays an important role. The antifungal activity of natural killer (NK) cells has been underestimated for a long time. In vitro studies demonstrated that NK cells from murine and human origin are able to attack fungi of different genera and species. NK cells exhibit not only a direct antifungal activity via cytotoxic molecules but also an indirect antifungal activity via cytokines. However, it has been show that fungi exert immunosuppressive effects on NK cells. Whereas clinical data are scarce, animal models have clearly demonstrated that NK cells play an important role in the host response against invasive fungal infections. In this review, we summarize clinical data as well as results from in vitro and animal studies on the impact of NK cells on fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislaw Schmidt
- Division for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lars Tramsen
- Division for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Lehrnbecher
- Division for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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50
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Valtonen V. Clinical Diagnosis of the Dampness and Mold Hypersensitivity Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Suggested Diagnostic Criteria. Front Immunol 2017; 8:951. [PMID: 28848553 PMCID: PMC5554125 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A great variety of non-specific symptoms may occur in patients living or working in moisture-damaged buildings. In the beginning, these symptoms are usually reversible, mild, and present irritation of mucosa and increased morbidity due to respiratory tract infections and asthma-like symptoms. Later, the disease may become chronic and a patient is referred to a doctor where the assessment of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome (DMHS) often presents diagnostic challenges. Currently, unanimously accepted laboratory tests are not yet available. Therefore, the diagnosis of DMHS is clinical and is based on the patient’s history and careful examination. In this publication, I reviewed contemporary knowledge on clinical presentations, laboratory methods, and clinical assessment of DMHS. From the literature, I have not found any proposed diagnostic clinical criteria. Therefore, I propose five clinical criteria to diagnose DMHS: (1) the history of mold exposure in water-damaged buildings, (2) increased morbidity to due infections, (3) sick building syndrome, (4) multiple chemical sensitivity, and (5) enhanced scent sensitivity. If all the five criteria are met, the patient has a very probable DMHS. To resolve the current problems in assigning correct DMHS diagnosis, we also need novel assays to estimate potential risks of developing DMHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ville Valtonen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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