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Borges BM, Ramos RBC, Preite NW, Kaminski VDL, Alves de Castro P, Camacho M, Maximo MF, Fill TP, Calich VLG, Traynor AM, Sarikaya-Bayram Ö, Doyle S, Bayram Ö, de Campos CBL, Zelanis A, Goldman GH, Loures FV. Transcriptional profiling of a fungal granuloma reveals a low metabolic activity of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeasts and an actively regulated host immune response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1268959. [PMID: 37868350 PMCID: PMC10585178 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1268959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Granulomas are important immunological structures in the host defense against the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the main etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a granulomatous systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. We have performed transcriptional and proteomic studies of yeasts present in the pulmonary granulomas of PCM aiming to identify relevant genes and proteins that act under stressing conditions. C57BL/6 mice were infected with 1x106 yeasts and after 8- and 12-weeks of infection, granulomatous lesions were obtained for extraction of fungal and murine RNAs and fungal proteins. Dual transcriptional profiling was done comparing lung cells and P. brasiliensis yeasts from granulomas with uninfected lung cells and the original yeast suspension used in the infection, respectively. Mouse transcripts indicated a lung malfunction, with low expression of genes related to muscle contraction and organization. In addition, an increased expression of transcripts related to the activity of neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, lymphocytes as well as an elevated expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17 transcripts were observed. The increased expression of transcripts for CTLA-4, PD-1 and arginase-1, provided evidence of immune regulatory mechanisms within the granulomatous lesions. Also, our results indicate iron as a key element for the granuloma to function, where a high number of transcripts related to fungal siderophores for iron uptake was observed, a mechanism of fungal virulence not previously described in granulomas. Furthermore, transcriptomics and proteomics analyzes indicated a low fungal activity within the granuloma, as demonstrated by the decreased expression of genes and proteins related to energy metabolism and cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Montanari Borges
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael Berton Correia Ramos
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Nycolas Willian Preite
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Valéria de Lima Kaminski
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Maurício Camacho
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Taicia Pacheco Fill
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Vera Lúcia Garcia Calich
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aimee M. Traynor
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | | | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | | | - André Zelanis
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávio Vieira Loures
- Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
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Downes SG, Doyle S, Jones GW, Owens RA. Gliotoxin and related metabolites as zinc chelators: implications and exploitation to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:769-780. [PMID: 36876884 PMCID: PMC10500201 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220222] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global problem and threat to humanity. The search for new antibiotics is directed towards targeting of novel microbial systems and enzymes, as well as augmenting the activity of pre-existing antimicrobials. Sulphur-containing metabolites (e.g., auranofin and bacterial dithiolopyrrolones [e.g., holomycin]) and Zn2+-chelating ionophores (PBT2) have emerged as important antimicrobial classes. The sulphur-containing, non-ribosomal peptide gliotoxin, biosynthesised by Aspergillus fumigatus and other fungi exhibits potent antimicrobial activity, especially in the dithiol form (dithiol gliotoxin; DTG). Specifically, it has been revealed that deletion of the enzymes gliotoxin oxidoreductase GliT, bis-thiomethyltransferase GtmA or the transporter GliA dramatically sensitise A. fumigatus to gliotoxin presence. Indeed, the double deletion strain A. fumigatus ΔgliTΔgtmA is especially sensitive to gliotoxin-mediated growth inhibition, which can be reversed by Zn2+ presence. Moreover, DTG is a Zn2+ chelator which can eject zinc from enzymes and inhibit activity. Although multiple studies have demonstrated the potent antibacterial effect of gliotoxin, no mechanistic details are available. Interestingly, reduced holomycin can inhibit metallo-β-lactamases. Since holomycin and gliotoxin can chelate Zn2+, resulting in metalloenzyme inhibition, we propose that this metal-chelating characteristic of these metabolites requires immediate investigation to identify new antibacterial drug targets or to augment the activity of existing antimicrobials. Given that (i) gliotoxin has been shown in vitro to significantly enhance vancomycin activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and (ii) that it has been independently proposed as an ideal probe to dissect the central 'Integrator' role of Zn2+ in bacteria - we contend such studies are immediately undertaken to help address AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane G Downes
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Gary W Jones
- Centre for Biomedical Science Research, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, U.K
| | - Rebecca A Owens
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Liao Z, Lin K, Liao W, Xie Y, Yu G, Shao Y, Dai M, Sun F. Transcriptomic analyses reveal the potential antibacterial mechanism of citral against Staphylococcus aureus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1171339. [PMID: 37250032 PMCID: PMC10213633 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1171339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The emergence of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has posed a challenging clinical problem for treating its infection. The development of novel or new antibacterial agents becomes one of the useful methods to solve this problem, and has received more attention over the past decade. Citral is reported to have antibacterial activity against S. aureus, but its mechanism is yet entirely clear. Methods To reveal the antibacterial mechanism of citral against S. aureus, comparative transcriptomic analysis was carried out to analyze the gene expression differences between the citral-treated and untreated groups. The changes of protein, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in S. aureus caused by citral were also examined. Results Six hundred and fifty-nine differentially expressed genes were obtained according to the comparative transcriptomic analysis, including 287 up-regulated genes and 372 down-regulated genes. The oxidoreductase activity and fatty acid degradation pathway were enriched in up-regulated genes, and ribosome and S. aureus infection pathway were enriched in down-regulated genes. Meanwhile, physiological trials revealed a decline in ATP and protein levels, but an increase in ROS content within the citral-treated group. Thus, it can be inferred that the antibacterial effects of citral against S. aureus were likely due to its ability to decrease ATP content by down-regulating ATP synthase genes (atpD and atpG), reduce protein content, induce cell membrane and cell wall damages, accumulate ROS, and down-regulate virulence factor genes to reduce pathogenicity. Conclusion These findings revealed the antibacterial mechanism of citral was likely a type of multi-target mode that affected multiple molecular processes in S. aureus, which lays the groundwork for further exploitation of citral as a therapeutic candidate against S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zedong Liao
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Keshan Lin
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Weijiang Liao
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying Xie
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Guoqing Yu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Shao
- The Second People’s Hospital of Pinghu, Pinghu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Dai
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fenghui Sun
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Prevention and Control Technology of Veterinary Drug Residue in Animal-origin Food, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Proteomics as a New-Generation Tool for Studying Moulds Related to Food Safety and Quality. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054709. [PMID: 36902140 PMCID: PMC10003330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mould development in foodstuffs is linked to both spoilage and the production of mycotoxins, provoking food quality and food safety concerns, respectively. The high-throughput technology proteomics applied to foodborne moulds is of great interest to address such issues. This review presents proteomics approaches useful for boosting strategies to minimise the mould spoilage and the hazard related to mycotoxins in food. Metaproteomics seems to be the most effective method for mould identification despite the current problems related to the bioinformatics tool. More interestingly, different high resolution mass spectrometry tools are suitable for evaluating the proteome of foodborne moulds able to unveil the mould's response under certain environmental conditions and the presence of biocontrol agents or antifungals, being sometimes combined with a method with limited ability to separate proteins, the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. However, the matrix complexity, the high ranges of protein concentrations needed and the performing of multiple steps are some of the proteomics limitations for the application to foodborne moulds. To overcome some of these limitations, model systems have been developed and proteomics applied to other scientific fields, such as library-free data independent acquisition analyses, the implementation of ion mobility, and the evaluation of post-translational modifications, are expected to be gradually implemented in this field for avoiding undesirable moulds in foodstuffs.
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de Castro PA, Colabardini AC, Moraes M, Horta MAC, Knowles SL, Raja HA, Oberlies NH, Koyama Y, Ogawa M, Gomi K, Steenwyk JL, Rokas A, Gonçales RA, Duarte-Oliveira C, Carvalho A, Ries LNA, Goldman GH. Regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis and protection in Aspergillus species. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009965. [PMID: 35041649 PMCID: PMC8797188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus causes a range of human and animal diseases collectively known as aspergillosis. A. fumigatus possesses and expresses a range of genetic determinants of virulence, which facilitate colonisation and disease progression, including the secretion of mycotoxins. Gliotoxin (GT) is the best studied A. fumigatus mycotoxin with a wide range of known toxic effects that impair human immune cell function. GT is also highly toxic to A. fumigatus and this fungus has evolved self-protection mechanisms that include (i) the GT efflux pump GliA, (ii) the GT neutralising enzyme GliT, and (iii) the negative regulation of GT biosynthesis by the bis-thiomethyltransferase GtmA. The transcription factor (TF) RglT is the main regulator of GliT and this GT protection mechanism also occurs in the non-GT producing fungus A. nidulans. However, the A. nidulans genome does not encode GtmA and GliA. This work aimed at analysing the transcriptional response to exogenous GT in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, two distantly related Aspergillus species, and to identify additional components required for GT protection. RNA-sequencing shows a highly different transcriptional response to exogenous GT with the RglT-dependent regulon also significantly differing between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans. However, we were able to observe homologs whose expression pattern was similar in both species (43 RglT-independent and 11 RglT-dependent). Based on this approach, we identified a novel RglT-dependent methyltranferase, MtrA, involved in GT protection. Taking into consideration the occurrence of RglT-independent modulated genes, we screened an A. fumigatus deletion library of 484 transcription factors (TFs) for sensitivity to GT and identified 15 TFs important for GT self-protection. Of these, the TF KojR, which is essential for kojic acid biosynthesis in Aspergillus oryzae, was also essential for virulence and GT biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, and for GT protection in A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, and A. oryzae. KojR regulates rglT, gliT, gliJ expression and sulfur metabolism in Aspergillus species. Together, this study identified conserved components required for GT protection in Aspergillus species. A. fumigatus secretes mycotoxins that are essential for its virulence and pathogenicity. Gliotoxin (GT) is a sulfur-containing mycotoxin, which is known to impair several aspects of the human immune response. GT is also toxic to different fungal species, which have evolved several GT protection strategies. To further decipher these responses, we used transcriptional profiling aiming to compare the response to GT in the GT producer A. fumigatus and the GT non-producer A. nidulans. This analysis allowed us to identify additional genes with a potential role in GT protection. We also identified 15 transcription factors (TFs) encoded in the A. fumigatus genome that are important for conferring resistance to exogenous gliotoxin. One of these TFs, KojR, which is essential for A. oryzae kojic acid production, is also important for virulence in A. fumigatus and GT protection in A. fumigatus, A. nidulans and A. oryzae. KojR regulates the expression of genes important for gliotoxin biosynthesis and protection, and sulfur metabolism. Together, this work identified conserved components required for gliotoxin protection in Aspergillus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maísa Moraes
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Sonja L. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Nicholas H. Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina United States of America
| | - Yasuji Koyama
- Noda Institute for Scientific Research, 338 Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ogawa
- Noda Institute for Scientific Research, 338 Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Katsuya Gomi
- Department of Bioindustrial Informatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Relber A. Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudio Duarte-Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Laure N. A. Ries
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LNAR); (GHG)
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LNAR); (GHG)
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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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Traynor AM, Owens RA, Coughlin CM, Holton MC, Jones GW, Calera JA, Doyle S. At the metal-metabolite interface in Aspergillus fumigatus: towards untangling the intersecting roles of zinc and gliotoxin. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2021; 167. [PMID: 34738889 PMCID: PMC8743625 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cryptic links between apparently unrelated metabolic systems represent potential new drug targets in fungi. Evidence of such a link between zinc and gliotoxin (GT) biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus is emerging. Expression of some genes of the GT biosynthetic gene cluster gli is influenced by the zinc-dependent transcription activator ZafA, zinc may relieve GT-mediated fungal growth inhibition and, surprisingly, GT biosynthesis is influenced by zinc availability. In A. fumigatus, dithiol gliotoxin (DTG), which has zinc-chelating properties, is converted to either GT or bis-dethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (BmGT) by oxidoreductase GliT and methyltransferase GtmA, respectively. A double deletion mutant lacking both GliT and GtmA was previously observed to be hypersensitive to exogenous GT exposure. Here we show that compared to wild-type exposure, exogenous GT and the zinc chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (TPEN) inhibit A. fumigatus ΔgliTΔgtmA growth, specifically under zinc-limiting conditions, which can be reversed by zinc addition. While GT biosynthesis is evident in zinc-depleted medium, addition of zinc (1 µM) suppressed GT and activated BmGT production. In addition, secretion of the unferrated siderophore, triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), was evident by A. fumigatus wild-type (at >5 µM zinc) and ΔgtmA (at >1 µM zinc) in a low-iron medium. TAFC secretion suggests that differential zinc-sensing between both strains may influence fungal Fe3+ requirement. Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of both strains under equivalent differential zinc conditions revealed protein abundance alterations in accordance with altered metabolomic observations, in addition to increased GliT abundance in ΔgtmA at 5 µM zinc, compared to wild-type, supporting a zinc-sensing deficiency in the mutant strain. The relative abundance of a range of oxidoreductase- and secondary metabolism-related enzymes was also evident in a zinc- and strain-dependent manner. Overall, we elaborate new linkages between zinc availability, natural product biosynthesis and oxidative stress homeostasis in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee M Traynor
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Rebecca A Owens
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Claudia M Coughlin
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Maeve C Holton
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Gary W Jones
- Centre for Biomedical Science Research, School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - José A Calera
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica (IBFG-CSIC), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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O'Connor E, Doyle S, Amini A, Grogan H, Fitzpatrick DA. Transmission of mushroom virus X and the impact of virus infection on the transcriptomes and proteomes of different strains of Agaricus bisporus. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:704-717. [PMID: 34420697 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus is a large horticultural industry for many countries worldwide, where a single variety is almost grown exclusively. Mushroom virus X (MVX), a complex of multiple positive-sense single stranded RNA (ss(+)RNA) viruses, is a major pathogen of typical A. bisporus crops. MVX can manifest a variety of symptoms in crops and is highly infective and difficult to eradicate once established in host mycelium. Currently our knowledge regarding the molecular response of A. bisporus fruit bodies to MVX infection is limited. In order to study the response of different A. bisporus strains with different susceptibilities to MVX, we designed a model system to evaluate the in-vitro transmission of viruses in A. bisporus hyphae over a time-course, at two crucial phases in the crop cycle. The symptom expression of MVX in these varieties and the transcriptomic and proteomic response of fruit bodies to MVX-infection were examined. Transmission studies revealed the high potential of MVX to spread to uninfected mycelium yet not into the fruit bodies of certain strains in a crop. MVX affected colour and quality of multiple fruit bodies. Gene expression is significantly altered in all strains and between times of inoculation in the crop. Genes related to stress responses displayed differential expression. Proteomic responses revealed restriction of cellular signalling and vesicle transport in infected fruit bodies. This in-depth analysis examining many factors relevant to MVX infection in different A. bisporus strains, will provide key insights into host responses for this commercially important food crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoin O'Connor
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 KN3K, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Aniça Amini
- Sylvan-Somycel (ESSC - Unité 2), ZI SUD, Rue Lavoisier, BP 25, 37130 Langeais, France
| | - Helen Grogan
- Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 KN3K, Ireland
| | - David A Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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Owens RA, Doyle S. Effects of antifungal agents on the fungal proteome: informing on mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 18:185-199. [PMID: 33797307 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.1912601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antifungal agents are essential in the fight against serious fungal disease, however emerging resistance is threatening an already limited collection of therapeutics. Proteomic analyses of effects of antifungal agents can expand our understanding of multifactorial mechanisms of action and have also proven valuable to elucidate proteomic changes associated with antifungal resistance. AREAS COVERED This review covers the application of proteomic techniques to examine sensitivity and resistance to antifungals including commonly used therapeutics, amphotericin B, echinocandins and the azoles, based predominantly on studies involving Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata from the last 10 years. In addition, non-clinical antimicrobial agents are also discussed, which highlight the potential of proteomics to identify new antifungal targets. EXPERT COMMENTARY Fungal proteomics has evolved in the last decade with increased genome availability and developments in mass spectrometry. Collectively, these have led to the advancement of proteomic techniques, allowing increased coverage of the proteome. Gel-based proteomics laid the foundation for these types of studies, which has now shifted to the more powerful gel-free proteomics. This has resulted in the identification of key mediators and potential biomarkers of antifungal resistance, as well as elucidating the mechanisms of action of novel and established antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Owens
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.,The Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Proteomic investigation of interhyphal interactions between strains of Agaricus bisporus. Fungal Biol 2020; 124:579-591. [PMID: 32448449 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hyphae of filamentous fungi undergo polar extension, bifurcation and hyphal fusion to form reticulating networks of mycelia. Hyphal fusion or anastomosis, a ubiquitous process among filamentous fungi, is a vital strategy for how fungi expand over their substrate and interact with or recognise self- and non-self hyphae of neighbouring mycelia in their environment. Morphological and genetic characterisation of anastomosis has been studied in many model fungal species, but little is known of the direct proteomic response of two interacting fungal isolates. Agaricus bisporus, the most widely cultivated edible mushroom crop worldwide, was used as an in vitro model to profile the proteomes of interacting cultures. The globally cultivated strain (A15) was paired with two distinct strains; a commercial hybrid strain and a wild isolate strain. Each co-culture presented a different interaction ranging from complete vegetative compatibility (self), lack of interactions, and antagonistic interactions. These incompatible strains are the focus of research into disease-resistance in commercial crops as the spread of intracellular pathogens, namely mycoviruses, is limited by the lack of interhyphal anastomosis. Unique proteomic responses were detected between all co-cultures. An array of cell wall modifying enzymes, plus fungal growth and morphogenesis proteins were found in significantly (P < 0.05) altered abundances. Nitrogen metabolism dominated in the intracellular proteome, with evidence of nitrogen starvation between competing, non-compatible cultures. Changes in key enzymes of A. bisporus morphogenesis were observed, particularly via increased abundance of glucanosyltransferase in competing interactions and certain chitinases in vegetative compatible interactions only. Carbohydrate-active enzyme arsenals are expanded in antagonistic interactions in A. bisporus. Pathways involved in carbohydrate metabolism and genetic information processing were higher in interacting cultures, most notably during self-recognition. New insights into the differential response of interacting strains of A. bisporus will enhance our understanding of potential barriers to viral transmission through vegetative incompatibility. Our results suggest that a differential proteomic response occurs between A. bisporus at strain-level and findings from this work may guide future proteomic investigation of fungal anastomosis.
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11
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Pfliegler WP, Pócsi I, Győri Z, Pusztahelyi T. The Aspergilli and Their Mycotoxins: Metabolic Interactions With Plants and the Soil Biota. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2921. [PMID: 32117074 PMCID: PMC7029702 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Species of the highly diverse fungal genus Aspergillus are well-known agricultural pests, and, most importantly, producers of various mycotoxins threatening food safety worldwide. Mycotoxins are studied predominantly from the perspectives of human and livestock health. Meanwhile, their roles are far less known in nature. However, to understand the factors behind mycotoxin production, the roles of the toxins of Aspergilli must be understood from a complex ecological perspective, taking mold-plant, mold-microbe, and mold-animal interactions into account. The Aspergilli may switch between saprophytic and pathogenic lifestyles, and the production of secondary metabolites, such as mycotoxins, may vary according to these fungal ways of life. Recent studies highlighted the complex ecological network of soil microbiotas determining the niches that Aspergilli can fill in. Interactions with the soil microbiota and soil macro-organisms determine the role of secondary metabolite production to a great extent. While, upon infection of plants, metabolic communication including fungal secondary metabolites like aflatoxins, gliotoxin, patulin, cyclopiazonic acid, and ochratoxin, influences the fate of both the invader and the host. In this review, the role of mycotoxin producing Aspergillus species and their interactions in the ecosystem are discussed. We intend to highlight the complexity of the roles of the main toxic secondary metabolites as well as their fate in natural environments and agriculture, a field that still has important knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter P. Pfliegler
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Győri
- Institute of Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tünde Pusztahelyi
- Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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12
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Traynor AM, Sheridan KJ, Jones GW, Calera JA, Doyle S. Involvement of Sulfur in the Biosynthesis of Essential Metabolites in Pathogenic Fungi of Animals, Particularly Aspergillus spp.: Molecular and Therapeutic Implications. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2859. [PMID: 31921039 PMCID: PMC6923255 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02859] [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: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal sulfur uptake is required for incorporation into the sidechains of the amino acids cysteine and methionine, and is also essential for the biosynthesis of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the key source of methyl groups in cellular transmethylation reactions, and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). Biosynthesis of redox-active gliotoxin in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been elucidated over the past 10 years. Some fungi which produce gliotoxin-like molecular species have undergone unexpected molecular rewiring to accommodate this high-risk biosynthetic process. Specific disruption of gliotoxin biosynthesis, via deletion of gliK, which encodes a γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase, leads to elevated intracellular antioxidant, ergothioneine (EGT), levels, and confirms crosstalk between the biosynthesis of both sulfur-containing moieties. Gliotoxin is ultimately formed by gliotoxin oxidoreductase GliT-mediated oxidation of dithiol gliotoxin (DTG). In fact, DTG is a substrate for both GliT and a bis-thiomethyltransferase, GtmA. GtmA converts DTG to bisdethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (BmGT), using 2 mol SAM and resultant SAH must be re-converted to SAM via the action of the Methyl/Met cycle. In the absence of GliT, DTG fluxes via GtmA to BmGT, which results in both SAM depletion and SAH overproduction. Thus, the negative regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis via GtmA must be counter-balanced by GliT activity to avoid Methyl/Met cycle dysregulation, SAM depletion and trans consequences on global cellular biochemistry in A. fumigatus. DTG also possesses potent Zn2+ chelation properties which positions this sulfur-containing metabolite as a putative component of the Zn2+ homeostasis system within fungi. EGT plays an essential role in high-level redox homeostasis and its presence requires significant consideration in future oxidative stress studies in pathogenic filamentous fungi. In certain filamentous fungi, sulfur is additionally indirectly required for the formation of EGT and the disulfide-bridge containing non-ribosomal peptide, gliotoxin, and related epipolythiodioxopiperazines. Ultimately, interference with emerging sulfur metabolite functionality may represent a new strategy for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee M Traynor
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | | | - Gary W Jones
- Centre for Biomedical Science Research, School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - José A Calera
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica (IBFG-CSIC), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
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13
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Waldron R, McGowan J, Gordon N, Mitchell EB, Fitzpatrick DA, Doyle S. Characterisation of three novel β-1,3 glucanases from the medically important house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (airmid). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 115:103242. [PMID: 31520716 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The European house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is a major source of airborne allergens worldwide and is found in half of European homes. Interactions between microbes and house dust mites (HDM) are considered important factors that allow them to persist in the home. Laboratory studies indicate the European HDM, D. pteronyssinus is a mycophagous mite, capable of utilising a variety of fungi for nutrients, however specific mycolytic digestive enzymes are unknown. Our previous work identified a number of putative glycosyl hydrolases present in the predicted proteome of D. pteronyssinus airmid and validated the expression of 42 of these. Of note, three GH16 proteins with predicted β-1,3 glucanase activity were found to be consistently present in the mite body and excretome. Here, we performed an extensive bioinformatic, proteomic and biochemical study to characterize three-novel β-1,3 glucanases from this medically important house dust mite. The genes encoding novel β-1,3 glucanases designated Glu1, Glu2 and Glu3 were identified in D. pteronyssinus airmid, each exhibited more than 59% amino acid identity to one another. These enzymes are encoded by Glu genes present in a tri-gene cluster and protein homologs are found in other acari. The patchy phyletic distribution of Glu proteins means their evolutionary history remains elusive, however horizontal gene transfer cannot be completely excluded. Recombinant Glu1 and Glu2 exhibit hydrolytic activity toward laminarin, pachyman and barley glucan. Excreted β-1,3 glucanase activity was increased in response to D. pteronyssinus airmid feeding on baker's yeast. Active β-1,3 glucanases are expressed and excreted in the faeces of D. pteronyssinus airmid indicating they are digestive enzymes capable of breaking down β-1,3 glucans of fungi present in house dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Waldron
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Airmid Healthgroup Ltd., Trinity Enterprise Campus, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jamie McGowan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Natasha Gordon
- Airmid Healthgroup Ltd., Trinity Enterprise Campus, Dublin, Ireland
| | - E Bruce Mitchell
- Airmid Healthgroup Ltd., Trinity Enterprise Campus, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David A Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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14
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Waldron R, McGowan J, Gordon N, McCarthy C, Mitchell EB, Fitzpatrick DA. Proteome and allergenome of the European house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216171. [PMID: 31042761 PMCID: PMC6493757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The European house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is of significant medical importance as it is a major elicitor of allergic illnesses. In this analysis we have undertaken comprehensive bioinformatic and proteomic examination of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus airmid, identified 12,530 predicted proteins and validated the expression of 4,002 proteins. Examination of homology between predicted proteins and allergens from other species revealed as much as 2.6% of the D. pteronyssinus airmid proteins may cause an allergenic response. Many of the potential allergens have evidence for expression (n = 259) and excretion (n = 161) making them interesting targets for future allergen studies. Comparative proteomic analysis of mite body and spent growth medium facilitated qualitative assessment of mite group allergen localisation. Protein extracts from house dust contain a substantial number of uncharacterised D. pteronyssinus proteins in addition to known and putative allergens. Novel D. pteronyssinus proteins were identified to be highly abundant both in house dust and laboratory cultures and included numerous carbohydrate active enzymes that may be involved in cuticle remodelling, bacteriophagy or mycophagy. These data may have clinical applications in the development of allergen-specific immunotherapy that mimic natural exposure. Using a phylogenomic approach utilising a supermatrix and supertree methodologies we also show that D. pteronyssinus is more closely related to Euroglyphus maynei than Dermatophagoides farinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Waldron
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Airmid Healthgroup Ltd., Trinity Enterprise Campus, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jamie McGowan
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Natasha Gordon
- Airmid Healthgroup Ltd., Trinity Enterprise Campus, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Charley McCarthy
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | | | - David A. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Human Health Research Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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15
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Hovhannisyan H, Gabaldón T. Transcriptome Sequencing Approaches to Elucidate Host-Microbe Interactions in Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogens. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2019; 422:193-235. [PMID: 30128828 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by opportunistic human fungal pathogens are a source of increasing medical concern, due to their growing incidence, the emergence of novel pathogenic species, and the lack of effective diagnostics tools. Fungal pathogens are phylogenetically diverse, and their virulence mechanisms can differ widely across species. Despite extensive efforts, the molecular bases of virulence in pathogenic fungi and their interactions with the human host remain poorly understood for most species. In this context, next-generation sequencing approaches hold the promise of helping to close this knowledge gap. In particular, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) enables monitoring the transcriptional profile of both host and microbes to elucidate their interactions and discover molecular mechanisms of virulence and host defense. Here, we provide an overview of transcriptome sequencing techniques and approaches, and survey their application in studying the interplay between humans and fungal pathogens. Finally, we discuss novel RNA-Seq approaches in studying host-pathogen interactions and their potential role in advancing the clinical diagnostics of fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrant Hovhannisyan
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Cullen L, O'Connor A, McCormack S, Owens RA, Holt GS, Collins C, Callaghan M, Doyle S, Smith D, Schaffer K, Fitzpatrick DA, McClean S. The involvement of the low-oxygen-activated locus of Burkholderia cenocepacia in adaptation during cystic fibrosis infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13386. [PMID: 30190507 PMCID: PMC6127331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31556-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with opportunistic pathogens including Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF). We investigated the adaptive mechanisms facilitating chronic lung infection in sequential Bcc isolates from two siblings with CF (P1 and P2), one of whom also experienced intermittent blood-stream infections (P2). We previously showed increased lung cell attachment with colonisation time in both P1 and P2. WGS analysis confirmed that the isolates are closely related. Twelve genes showed three or more mutations, suggesting these were genes under selection. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNVs) in 45 regulatory genes were also observed. Proteomic analysis showed that the abundance of 149 proteins increased over 61-months in sputum isolates, and both time- and source-related alterations in protein abundance between the second patient’s isolates. A consistent time-dependent increase in abundance of 19 proteins encoded by a low-oxygen-activated (lxa) locus was observed in both sets of isolates. Attachment was dramatically reduced in a B. cenocepacia K56-2Δlxa-locus deletion mutant, further indicating that it encodes protein(s) involved in host-cell attachment. Time-related changes in virulence in Galleria mellonella or motility were not observed. We conclude that the lxa-locus, associated with anoxic persistence in vitro, plays a role in host-cell attachment and adaptation to chronic colonization in the hypoxic niche of the CF lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Cullen
- Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland
| | - Andrew O'Connor
- Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland.,School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Sarah McCormack
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Rebecca A Owens
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Giles S Holt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| | - Cassandra Collins
- Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland
| | - Máire Callaghan
- Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Darren Smith
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| | - Kirsten Schaffer
- Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Siobhán McClean
- Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland. .,School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland.
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17
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Zhao S, Gibbons JG. A population genomic characterization of copy number variation in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201611. [PMID: 30071059 PMCID: PMC6072042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a potentially deadly opportunistic fungal pathogen. Molecular studies have shaped our understanding of the genes, proteins, and molecules that contribute to A. fumigatus pathogenicity, but few studies have characterized genome-wide patterns of genetic variation at the population level. Of A. fumigatus genomic studies to-date, most focus mainly on single nucleotide polymorphisms and large structural variants, while overlooking the contribution of copy number variation (CNV). CNV is a class of small structural variation defined as loci that vary in their number of copies between individuals due to duplication, gain, or deletion. CNV can influence phenotype, including fungal virulence. In the present study, we characterized the population genomic patterns of CNV in a diverse collection of 71 A. fumigatus isolates using publicly available sequencing data. We used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to infer the population structure of these isolates and identified three populations consisting of at least 8 isolates. We then computationally predicted genome-wide CNV profiles for each isolate and conducted analyses at the species-, population-, and individual levels. Our results suggest that CNV contributes to genetic variation in A. fumigatus, with ~10% of the genome being CN variable. Our analysis indicates that CNV is non-randomly distributed across the A. fumigatus genome, and is overrepresented in subtelomeric regions. Analysis of gene ontology categories in genes that overlapped CN variants revealed an enrichment of genes related to transposable element and secondary metabolism functions. We further identified 72 loci containing 33 genes that showed divergent copy number profiles between the three A. fumigatus populations. Many of these genes encode proteins that interact with the cell surface or are involved in pathogenicity. Our results suggest that CNV is an important source of genetic variation that could account for some of the phenotypic differences between A. fumigatus populations and isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhao
- Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John G. Gibbons
- Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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18
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Ye W, Zhang W, Liu T, Huang Z, Zhu M, Chen Y, Li H, Li S. De Novo Transcriptome Sequencing of the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Dichotomomyces cejpii and Analysis of Gliotoxin Biosynthesis Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1910. [PMID: 29966253 PMCID: PMC6073683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliotoxin, produced by fungi, is an epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) toxin with bioactivities such as anti-liver fibrosis, antitumor, antifungus, antivirus, antioxidation, and immunoregulation. Recently, cytotoxic gliotoxins were isolated from a deep-sea-derived fungus, Dichotomomyces cejpii. However, the biosynthetic pathway for gliotoxins in D. cejpii remains unclear. In this study, the transcriptome of D. cejpii was sequenced using an Illumina Hiseq 2000. A total of 19,125 unigenes for D. cejpii were obtained from 9.73 GB of clean reads. Ten genes related to gliotoxin biosynthesis were annotated. The expression levels of gliotoxin-related genes were detected through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The GliG gene, encoding a glutathione S-transferase (DC-GST); GliI, encoding an aminotransferase (DC-AI); and GliO, encoding an aldehyde reductase (DC-AR), were cloned and expressed, purified, and characterized. The results suggested the important roles of DC-GST, DC-AT, and DC-AR in the biosynthesis of gliotoxins. Our study on the genes related to gliotoxin biosynthesis establishes a molecular foundation for the wider application of gliotoxins from D. cejpii in the biomedical industry in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Weimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Taomei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Zilei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Muzi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Yuchan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Haohua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
| | - Saini Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, 100 Central Xianlie Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510070, China.
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19
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Saleh AA, Jones GW, Tinley FC, Delaney SF, Alabbadi SH, Fenlon K, Doyle S, Owens RA. Systems impact of zinc chelation by the epipolythiodioxopiperazine dithiol gliotoxin in Aspergillus fumigatus: a new direction in natural product functionality. Metallomics 2018; 10:854-866. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00052b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dithiol gliotoxin (DTG) is a zinc chelator and an inability to dissipate DTG in Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with multiple impacts which are linked to zinc chelation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gary W. Jones
- Department of Biology
- Maynooth University
- Co. Kildare
- Ireland
- Centre for Biomedical Research
| | | | | | | | - Keith Fenlon
- Department of Biology
- Maynooth University
- Co. Kildare
- Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology
- Maynooth University
- Co. Kildare
- Ireland
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20
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Takahashi H, Kusuya Y, Hagiwara D, Takahashi-Nakaguchi A, Sakai K, Gonoi T. Global gene expression reveals stress-responsive genes in Aspergillus fumigatus mycelia. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:942. [PMID: 29202712 PMCID: PMC5715996 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4316-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aspergillus fumigatus is a human fungal pathogen that causes aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts. A. fumigatus is believed to be exposed to diverse environmental stresses in the host cells. The adaptation mechanisms are critical for infections in human bodies. Transcriptional networks in response to diverse environmental challenges remain to be elucidated. To gain insights into the adaptation to environmental stresses in A. fumigatus mycelia, we conducted time series transcriptome analyses. Results With the aid of RNA-seq, we explored the global gene expression profiles of mycelia in A. fumigatus upon exposure to diverse environmental changes, including heat, superoxide, and osmotic stresses. From the perspective of global transcriptomes, transient responses to superoxide and osmotic stresses were observed while responses to heat stresses were gradual. We identified the stress-responsive genes for particular stresses, and the 266 genes whose expression levels drastically fluctuated upon exposure to all tested stresses. Among these, the 77 environmental stress response genes are conserved in S. cerevisiae, suggesting that these genes might be more general prerequisites for adaptation to environmental stresses. Finally, we revealed the strong correlations among expression profiles of genes related to ‘rRNA processing’. Conclusions The time series transcriptome analysis revealed the stress-responsive genes underlying the adaptation mechanisms in A. fumigatus mycelia. These results will shed light on the regulatory networks underpinning the adaptation of the filamentous fungi. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4316-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Takahashi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan. .,Molecular Chirality Research Center, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Yoko Kusuya
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | | | - Kanae Sakai
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Tohru Gonoi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
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21
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Genome expansion and lineage-specific genetic innovations in the forest pathogenic fungi Armillaria. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1931-1941. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0347-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Wang XJ, Jiang SC, Wei HX, Deng SQ, He C, Peng HJ. The Differential Expression and Possible Function of Long Noncoding RNAs in Liver Cells Infected by Dengue Virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:1904-1912. [PMID: 29016307 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in liver injury resulted by dengue virus (DENV) infection have not yet been explored. The differential expression profiles of lncRNAs (as well as mRNAs) in the L-02 liver cells infected by DENV1, DENV2, or uninfected were compared and analyzed after a high throughput RNA seq. The significantly up-regulated and down-regulated lncRNAs (or mRNAs) resulted by DENV infection were identified with a cutoff value at log2 (ratio) ≥ 1.5 and log2 (ratio) ≤ -1.5 (ratio = the reads of the lncRNAs or mRNAs from the infection groups divided by the reads from the control group). Several differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified with reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Target gene analysis, pre-miRNA prediction, and the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network construction were performed to predict the function of the differentially expressed lncRNAs. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were associated with biosynthesis, DNA/RNA related processes, inhibition of estrogen signaling pathway, sterol biosynthetic process, protein dimerization activity, vesicular fraction in DENV1 infection group; and with protein secretion, methyltransferase process, host cell cytoskeleton reorganization and the small GTPase Ras superfamily, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis in DENV2 infection. LncRNAs might be novel diagnostic markers and targets for further researches on dengue infection and liver injury resulted by dengue virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shi-Chen Jiang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hai-Xia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sheng-Qun Deng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Guangdong Higher Institutes, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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23
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Valsecchi I, Sarikaya-Bayram Ö, Wong Sak Hoi J, Muszkieta L, Gibbons J, Prevost MC, Mallet A, Krijnse-Locker J, Ibrahim-Granet O, Mouyna I, Carr P, Bromley M, Aimanianda V, Yu JH, Rokas A, Braus GH, Saveanu C, Bayram Ö, Latgé JP. MybA, a transcription factor involved in conidiation and conidial viability of the human pathogenAspergillus fumigatus. Mol Microbiol 2017; 105:880-900. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John Gibbons
- Department of Biological Sciences; Vanderbilt University; Nashville TN 37235 USA
| | | | - Adeline Mallet
- Plate-Forme de Microscopie Ultrastructurale; Institut Pasteur; Paris 75015 France
| | | | | | | | - Paul Carr
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group; Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester; Manchester UK
| | - Michael Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group; Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester; Manchester UK
| | | | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Department of Bacteriology and Genetics; University of Wisconsin; Madison WI 53706 USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences; Vanderbilt University; Nashville TN 37235 USA
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics; Georg August University; Göttingen 37077 Germany
| | - Cosmin Saveanu
- Unité de Génétique des Interactions Macromoléculaires; CNRS UMR3525, Institut Pasteur; Paris France
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Department of Biology; Maynooth University; Maynooth Co. Kildare Ireland
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics; Georg August University; Göttingen 37077 Germany
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24
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Mulvihill ED, Moloney NM, Owens RA, Dolan SK, Russell L, Doyle S. Functional Investigation of Iron-Responsive Microsomal Proteins, including MirC, in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:418. [PMID: 28367141 PMCID: PMC5355445 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The functionality of many microsome-associated proteins which exhibit altered abundance in response to iron limitation in Aspergillus fumigatus is unknown. Here, we generate and characterize eight gene deletion strains, and of most significance reveal that MirC (AFUA_2G05730) contributes to the maintenance of intracellular siderophore [ferricrocin (FC)] levels, augments conidiation, confers protection against oxidative stress, exhibits an intracellular localization and contributes to fungal virulence in the Galleria mellonella animal model system. FC levels were unaffected following deletion of all other genes encoding microsome-associated proteins. MirC does not appear to play a role in either siderophore export from, or uptake into, A. fumigatus. Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis unexpectedly revealed increased abundance of siderophore biosynthetic enzymes. In addition, increased expression of hapX (7.2 and 13.8-fold at 48 and 72 h, respectively; p < 0.001) was observed in ΔmirC compared to wild-type under iron-replete conditions by qRT-PCR. This was complemented by significantly elevated extracellular triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC; p < 0.01) and fusarinine C (FSC; p < 0.05) siderophore secretion. We conclude that MirC plays an important role in FC biosynthesis and contributes to the maintenance of iron homeostasis in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stephen K Dolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth UniversityKildare, Ireland; Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | - Lauren Russell
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University Kildare, Ireland
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25
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Domínguez Á, Muñoz E, López MC, Cordero M, Martínez JP, Viñas M. Transcriptomics as a tool to discover new antibacterial targets. Biotechnol Lett 2017; 39:819-828. [PMID: 28289911 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-017-2319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, multiple drug-resistance, and extremely drug-resistant strains demonstrates the need for improved strategies to discover new drug-based compounds. The development of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics has provided new tools for global studies of living organisms. However, the compendium of expression profiles produced by these methods has introduced new scientific challenges into antimicrobial research. In this review, we discuss the practical value of transcriptomic techniques as well as their difficulties and pitfalls. We advocate the construction of new databases of transcriptomic data, using standardized formats in addition to standardized models of bacterial and yeast similar to those used in systems biology. The inclusion of proteomic and metabolomic data is also essential, as the resulting networks can provide a landscape to rationally predict and exploit new drug targets and to understand drug synergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Domínguez
- Department of Microbiology and Genetics, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Drs. de la Reina s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Elisa Muñoz
- Department of Cell Biology & Pathology, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - M Carmen López
- Department of Microbiology and Genetics, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Drs. de la Reina s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Miguel Cordero
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José Pedro Martínez
- Department of Microbiology & Ecology, Universitat de Valencia/Estudi General (UVEG), Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel Viñas
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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26
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Comparative transcriptome analysis between an evolved abscisic acid-overproducing mutant Botrytis cinerea TBC-A and its ancestral strain Botrytis cinerea TBC-6. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37487. [PMID: 27892476 PMCID: PMC5124961 DOI: 10.1038/srep37487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a classical phytohormone which plays an important role in plant stress resistance. Moreover, ABA is also found to regulate the activation of innate immune cells and glucose homeostasis in mammals. Therefore, this ‘stress hormone’ is of great importance to theoretical research and agricultural and medical applications. Botrytis cinerea is a well-known phytopathogenic ascomycete that synthesizes ABA via a pathway substantially different from higher plants. Identification of the functional genes involved in ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea would be of special interest. We developed an ABA-overproducing mutant strain, B. cinerea TBC-A, previously and obtained a 41.5-Mb genome sequence of B. cinerea TBC-A. In this study, the transcriptomes of B. cinerea TBC-A and its ancestral strain TBC-6 were sequenced under identical fermentation conditions. A stringent comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes participating in the metabolic pathways related to ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea. This study provides the first global view of the transcriptional changes underlying the very different ABA productivity of the B. cinerea strains and will expand our knowledge of the molecular basis for ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea.
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27
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Malmierca MG, Izquierdo-Bueno I, Mccormick SP, Cardoza RE, Alexander NJ, Moraga J, Gomes EV, Proctor RH, Collado IG, Monte E, Gutiérrez S. Botrydial and botcinins produced by Botrytis cinerea regulate the expression of Trichoderma arundinaceum genes involved in trichothecene biosynthesis. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2016; 17:1017-31. [PMID: 26575202 PMCID: PMC6638445 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Trichoderma arundinaceum IBT 40837 (Ta37) and Botrytis cinerea produce the sesquiterpenes harzianum A (HA) and botrydial (BOT), respectively, and also the polyketides aspinolides and botcinins (Botcs), respectively. We analysed the role of BOT and Botcs in the Ta37-B. cinerea interaction, including the transcriptomic changes in the genes involved in HA (tri) and ergosterol biosynthesis, as well as changes in the level of HA and squalene-ergosterol. We found that, when confronted with B. cinerea, the tri biosynthetic genes were up-regulated in all dual cultures analysed, but at higher levels when Ta37 was confronted with the BOT non-producer mutant bcbot2Δ. The production of HA was also higher in the interaction area with this mutant. In Ta37-bcbot2Δ confrontation experiments, the expression of the hmgR gene, encoding the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, which is the first enzyme of the terpene biosynthetic pathway, was also up-regulated, resulting in an increase in squalene production compared with the confrontation with B. cinerea B05.10. Botcs had an up-regulatory effect on the tri biosynthetic genes, with BotcA having a stronger effect than BotcB. The results indicate that the interaction between Ta37 and B. cinerea exerts a stimulatory effect on the expression of the tri biosynthetic genes, which, in the interaction zone, can be attenuated by BOT produced by B. cinerea B05.10. The present work provides evidence for a metabolic dialogue between T. arundinaceum and B. cinerea that is mediated by sesquiterpenes and polyketides, and that affects the outcome of the interaction of these fungi with each other and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica G Malmierca
- Area of Microbiology, University School of Agricultural Engineers, University of León, Campus de Ponferrada, 24400 Ponferrada, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Izquierdo-Bueno
- Biomolecules Institute, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Susan P Mccormick
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, USDA/ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, 61604, IL, USA
| | - Rosa E Cardoza
- Area of Microbiology, University School of Agricultural Engineers, University of León, Campus de Ponferrada, 24400 Ponferrada, Spain
| | - Nancy J Alexander
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, USDA/ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, 61604, IL, USA
| | - Javier Moraga
- Biomolecules Institute, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Eriston V Gomes
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 14040-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Robert H Proctor
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, USDA/ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, 61604, IL, USA
| | - Isidro G Collado
- Biomolecules Institute, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Enrique Monte
- Spanish-Portuguese Centre of Agricultural Research (CIALE), Department of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Salamanca, 37185, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Santiago Gutiérrez
- Area of Microbiology, University School of Agricultural Engineers, University of León, Campus de Ponferrada, 24400 Ponferrada, Spain
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28
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Moloney NM, Owens RA, Doyle S. Proteomic analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus – clinical implications. Expert Rev Proteomics 2016; 13:635-49. [DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2016.1203783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
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29
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Kaltdorf M, Srivastava M, Gupta SK, Liang C, Binder J, Dietl AM, Meir Z, Haas H, Osherov N, Krappmann S, Dandekar T. Systematic Identification of Anti-Fungal Drug Targets by a Metabolic Network Approach. Front Mol Biosci 2016; 3:22. [PMID: 27379244 PMCID: PMC4911368 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2016.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
New antimycotic drugs are challenging to find, as potential target proteins may have close human orthologs. We here focus on identifying metabolic targets that are critical for fungal growth and have minimal similarity to targets among human proteins. We compare and combine here: (I) direct metabolic network modeling using elementary mode analysis and flux estimates approximations using expression data, (II) targeting metabolic genes by transcriptome analysis of condition-specific highly expressed enzymes, and (III) analysis of enzyme structure, enzyme interconnectedness ("hubs"), and identification of pathogen-specific enzymes using orthology relations. We have identified 64 targets including metabolic enzymes involved in vitamin synthesis, lipid, and amino acid biosynthesis including 18 targets validated from the literature, two validated and five currently examined in own genetic experiments, and 38 further promising novel target proteins which are non-orthologous to human proteins, involved in metabolism and are highly ranked drug targets from these pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kaltdorf
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mugdha Srivastava
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
| | - Shishir K Gupta
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chunguang Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Binder
- Microbiology Institute - Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, University Hospital of Erlangen Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Dietl
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Zohar Meir
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nir Osherov
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Microbiology Institute - Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, University Hospital of Erlangen Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg Würzburg, Germany
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30
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Moloney NM, Owens RA, Meleady P, Henry M, Dolan SK, Mulvihill E, Clynes M, Doyle S. The iron-responsive microsomal proteome of Aspergillus fumigatus. J Proteomics 2016; 136:99-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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31
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Smith EB, Dolan SK, Fitzpatrick DA, Doyle S, Jones GW. Towards understanding the gliotoxin detoxification mechanism: in vivo thiomethylation protects yeast from gliotoxin cytotoxicity. MICROBIAL CELL 2016; 3:120-125. [PMID: 28357342 PMCID: PMC5349022 DOI: 10.15698/mic2016.03.485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gliotoxin (GT) is a mycotoxin produced by some species of ascomycete fungi
including the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus
fumigatus. In order to produce GT the host organism needs to have
evolved a self-protection mechanism. GT contains a redox-cycling disulfide
bridge that is important in mediating toxicity. Recently is has been
demonstrated that A. fumigatus possesses a novel
thiomethyltransferase protein called GtmA that has the ability to thiomethylate
GT in vivo, which aids the organism in regulating GT
biosynthesis. It has been suggested that thiomethylation of GT and similar
sulfur-containing toxins may play a role in providing self-protection in host
organisms. In this work we have engineered Saccharomyces
cerevisiae, a GT-naïve organism, to express A.
fumigatus GtmA. We demonstrate that GtmA can readily thiomethylate
GT in yeast, which results in protection of the organism from exogenous GT. Our
work has implications for understanding the evolution of GT self-protection
mechanisms in organisms that are GT producers and non-producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B Smith
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Stephen K Dolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - David A Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Gary W Jones
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
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32
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Frisvad JC, Larsen TO. Extrolites of Aspergillus fumigatus and Other Pathogenic Species in Aspergillus Section Fumigati. Front Microbiol 2016; 6:1485. [PMID: 26779142 PMCID: PMC4703822 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important opportunistic human pathogen known for its production of a large array of extrolites. Up to 63 species have been described in Aspergillus section Fumigati, some of which have also been reliably reported to be pathogenic, including A. felis, A. fischeri, A. fumigatiaffinis, A. fumisynnematus, A. hiratsukae, A. laciniosus, A. lentulus, A. novofumigatus, A. parafelis, A. pseudofelis, A. pseudoviridinutans, A. spinosus, A. thermomutatus, and A. udagawae. These species share the production of hydrophobins, melanins, and siderophores and ability to grow well at 37°C, but they only share some small molecule extrolites, that could be important factors in pathogenicity. According to the literature gliotoxin and other exometabolites can be contributing factors to pathogenicity, but these exometabolites are apparently not produced by all pathogenic species. It is our hypothesis that species unable to produce some of these metabolites can produce proxy-exometabolites that may serve the same function. We tabulate all exometabolites reported from species in Aspergillus section Fumigati and by comparing the profile of those extrolites, suggest that those producing many different kinds of exometabolites are potential opportunistic pathogens. The exometabolite data also suggest that the profile of exometabolites are highly specific and can be used for identification of these closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens C. Frisvad
- Section of Eukaryotic Biotechnology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of DenmarkKongens Lyngby, Denmark
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33
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Manzanares-Miralles L, Sarikaya-Bayram Ö, Smith EB, Dolan SK, Bayram Ö, Jones GW, Doyle S. Quantitative proteomics reveals the mechanism and consequence of gliotoxin-mediated dysregulation of the methionine cycle in Aspergillus niger. J Proteomics 2016; 131:149-162. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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34
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Increased chitin biosynthesis contributes to the resistance of Penicillium polonicum against the antifungal protein PgAFP. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:371-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7020-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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35
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Interplay between Gliotoxin Resistance, Secretion, and the Methyl/Methionine Cycle in Aspergillus fumigatus. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2015; 14:941-57. [PMID: 26150413 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00055-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic studies on gliotoxin biosynthesis and self-protection in Aspergillus fumigatus, both of which require the gliotoxin oxidoreductase GliT, have revealed a rich landscape of highly novel biochemistries, yet key aspects of this complex molecular architecture remain obscure. Here we show that an A. fumigatus ΔgliA strain is completely deficient in gliotoxin secretion but still retains the ability to efflux bisdethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (BmGT). This correlates with a significant increase in sensitivity to exogenous gliotoxin because gliotoxin trapped inside the cell leads to (i) activation of the gli cluster, as disabling gli cluster activation, via gliZ deletion, attenuates the sensitivity of an A. fumigatus ΔgliT strain to gliotoxin, thus implicating cluster activation as a factor in gliotoxin sensitivity, and (ii) increased methylation activity due to excess substrate (dithiol gliotoxin) for the gliotoxin bis-thiomethyltransferase GtmA. Intracellular dithiol gliotoxin is oxidized by GliT and subsequently effluxed by GliA. In the absence of GliA, gliotoxin persists in the cell and is converted to BmGT, with levels significantly higher than those in the wild type. Similarly, in the ΔgliT strain, gliotoxin oxidation is impeded, and methylation occurs unchecked, leading to significant S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) depletion and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) overproduction. This in turn significantly contributes to the observed hypersensitivity of gliT-deficient A. fumigatus to gliotoxin. Our observations reveal a key role for GliT in preventing dysregulation of the methyl/methionine cycle to control intracellular SAM and SAH homeostasis during gliotoxin biosynthesis and exposure. Moreover, we reveal attenuated GliT abundance in the A. fumigatus ΔgliK strain, but not the ΔgliG strain, following exposure to gliotoxin, correlating with relative sensitivities. Overall, we illuminate new systems interactions that have evolved in gliotoxin-producing, compared to gliotoxin-naive, fungi to facilitate their cellular presence.
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36
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Impact of the antifungal protein PgAFP from Penicillium chrysogenum on the protein profile in Aspergillus flavus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:8701-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6731-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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37
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Resistance is not futile: gliotoxin biosynthesis, functionality and utility. Trends Microbiol 2015; 23:419-28. [PMID: 25766143 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Gliotoxin biosynthesis is encoded by the gli gene cluster in Aspergillus fumigatus. The biosynthesis of gliotoxin is influenced by a suite of transcriptionally-active regulatory proteins and a bis-thiomethyltransferase. A self-protection system against gliotoxin is present in A. fumigatus. Several additional metabolites are also produced via the gliotoxin biosynthetic pathway. Moreover, the biosynthesis of unrelated natural products appears to be influenced either by gliotoxin or by the activity of specific reactions within the biosynthetic pathway. The activity of gliotoxin against animal cells and fungi, often mediated by interference with redox homeostasis or protein modification, is revealing new metabolic interactions within eukaryotic systems. Nature has provided a most useful natural product with which to reveal some of its many molecular secrets.
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Sheridan KJ, Dolan SK, Doyle S. Endogenous cross-talk of fungal metabolites. Front Microbiol 2015; 5:732. [PMID: 25601857 PMCID: PMC4283610 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) synthesis in fungi requires a ready supply of proteogenic and non-proteogenic amino acids which are subsequently incorporated into the nascent NRP via a thiotemplate mechanism catalyzed by NRP synthetases. Substrate amino acids can be modified prior to or during incorporation into the NRP, or following incorporation into an early stage amino acid-containing biosynthetic intermediate. These post-incorporation modifications involve a range of additional enzymatic activities including but not exclusively, monooxygenases, methyltransferases, epimerases, oxidoreductases, and glutathione S-transferases which are essential to effect biosynthesis of the final NRP. Likewise, polyketide biosynthesis is directly by polyketide synthase megaenzymes and cluster-encoded ancillary decorating enzymes. Additionally, a suite of additional primary metabolites, for example: coenzyme A (CoA), acetyl CoA, S-adenosylmethionine, glutathione (GSH), NADPH, malonyl CoA, and molecular oxygen, amongst others are required for NRP and polyketide synthesis (PKS). Clearly these processes must involve exquisite orchestration to facilitate the simultaneous biosynthesis of different types of NRPs, polyketides, and related metabolites requiring identical or similar biosynthetic precursors or co-factors. Moreover, the near identical structures of many natural products within a given family (e.g., ergot alkaloids), along with localization to similar regions within fungi (e.g., conidia) suggests that cross-talk may exist, in terms of biosynthesis and functionality. Finally, we speculate if certain biosynthetic steps involved in NRP and PKS play a role in cellular protection or environmental adaptation, and wonder if these enzymatic reactions are of equivalent importance to the actual biosynthesis of the final metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen K Dolan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University Maynooth, Ireland
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