1
|
Cissé OH, Ma L, Kovacs JA. Retracing the evolution of Pneumocystis species, with a focus on the human pathogen Pneumocystis jirovecii. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0020222. [PMID: 38587383 PMCID: PMC11332345 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00202-22] [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] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYEvery human being is presumed to be infected by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii at least once in his or her lifetime. This fungus belongs to a large group of species that appear to exclusively infect mammals, with P. jirovecii being the only one known to cause disease in humans. The mystery of P. jirovecii origin and speciation is just beginning to unravel. Here, we provide a review of the major steps of P. jirovecii evolution. The Pneumocystis genus likely originated from soil or plant-associated organisms during the period of Cretaceous ~165 million years ago and successfully shifted to mammals. The transition coincided with a substantial loss of genes, many of which are related to the synthesis of nutrients that can be scavenged from hosts or cell wall components that could be targeted by the mammalian immune system. Following the transition, the Pneumocystis genus cospeciated with mammals. Each species specialized at infecting its own host. Host specialization is presumably built at least partially upon surface glycoproteins, whose protogene was acquired prior to the genus formation. P. jirovecii appeared at ~65 million years ago, overlapping with the emergence of the first primates. P. jirovecii and its sister species P. macacae, which infects macaques nowadays, may have had overlapping host ranges in the distant past. Clues from molecular clocks suggest that P. jirovecii did not cospeciate with humans. Molecular evidence suggests that Pneumocystis speciation involved chromosomal rearrangements and the mounting of genetic barriers that inhibit gene flow among species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane H. Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A. Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Holken Lorensi G, Soares Oliveira R, Leal AP, Zanatta AP, Moreira de Almeida CG, Barreto YC, Eduarda Rosa M, de Brum Vieira P, Brito Ramos CJ, de Carvalho Victoria F, Batista Pereira A, LaneuvilleTeixeira V, Dal Belo CA. Entomotoxic Activity of Prasiola crispa (Antarctic Algae) in Nauphoeta cinerea Cockroaches: Identification of Main Steroidal Compounds. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17100573. [PMID: 31658661 PMCID: PMC6835979 DOI: 10.3390/md17100573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prasiola crispa is a macroscopic green algae found in abundance in Antarctica ice free areas. Prasiola crispan-hexaneextract (HPC) induced insecticidal activity in Nauphoeta cinerea cockroaches after 24 h of exposure. The chemical analysis of HPC revealed the presence of the followingphytosterols: β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. The incubation of cockroach semi-isolated heart preparations with HPC caused a significant negative chronotropic activity in the heartbeats. HPC affected the insect neuromuscular function by inducing a complete inhibition of the cockroach leg-muscle twitch tension. When the isolated phytosterols were injected at in vivo cockroach neuromuscular preparations, there was a progressive inhibition of muscle twitches on the following order of potency: β-sitosterol > campesterol > stigmasterol. HPC also provoked significant behavioral alterations, characterized by the increase or decrease of cockroach grooming activity, depending on the dose assayed. Altogether, the results presented here corroborate the insecticide potential of Prasiola crispa Antarctic algae. They also revealed the presence of phytosterols and the involvement of these steroidal compounds in the entomotoxic activity of the algae, potentially by modulating octopaminergic-cholinergic pathways. Further phytochemical-combined bioguided analysis of the HPC will unveil novel bioactive compounds that might be an accessory to the insecticide activity of the algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Holken Lorensi
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Raquel Soares Oliveira
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Allan P Leal
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, PPGBtox, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 9705-900, Brazil.
| | - Ana Paula Zanatta
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | | | - Yuri Correia Barreto
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Maria Eduarda Rosa
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Patrícia de Brum Vieira
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Estresse Oxidativo e Sinalização Celular, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Carlos José Brito Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Neotropical, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-255, Brazil.
| | - Filipe de Carvalho Victoria
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica (NEVA), Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Antônio Batista Pereira
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica (NEVA), Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul 97307-020, Brazil.
| | - Valéria LaneuvilleTeixeira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Centro, Niterói, RJ 24020-141, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Neotropical, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-255, Brazil.
| | - Cháriston André Dal Belo
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia e Toxinologia (LANETOX),Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus São Gabriel, São Gabriel, RS 97307-020, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, PPGBtox, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 9705-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cissé OH, Hauser PM. Genomics and evolution of Pneumocystis species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 65:308-320. [PMID: 30138710 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The genus Pneumocystis comprises highly diversified fungal species that cause severe pneumonia in individuals with a deficient immune system. These fungi infect exclusively mammals and present a strict host species specificity. These species have co-diverged with their hosts for long periods of time (> 100 MYA). Details of their biology and evolution are fragmentary mainly because of a lack of an established long-term culture system. Recent genomic advances have unlocked new areas of research and allow new hypotheses to be tested. We review here new findings of the genomic studies in relation with the evolutionary trajectory of these fungi and discuss the impact of genomic data analysis in the context of the population genetics. The combination of slow genome decay and limited expansion of specific gene families and introns reflect intimate interactions of these species with their hosts. The evolutionary adaptation of these organisms is profoundly influenced by their population structure, which in turn is determined by intrinsic features such as their self-fertilizing mating system, high host specificity, long generation times, and transmission mode. Essential key questions concerning their adaptation and speciation remain to be answered. The next cornerstone will consist in the establishment of a long-term culture system and genetic manipulation that should allow unravelling the driving forces of Pneumocystis species evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Philippe M Hauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ma L, Cissé OH, Kovacs JA. A Molecular Window into the Biology and Epidemiology of Pneumocystis spp. Clin Microbiol Rev 2018; 31:e00009-18. [PMID: 29899010 PMCID: PMC6056843 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00009-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis, a unique atypical fungus with an elusive lifestyle, has had an important medical history. It came to prominence as an opportunistic pathogen that not only can cause life-threatening pneumonia in patients with HIV infection and other immunodeficiencies but also can colonize the lungs of healthy individuals from a very early age. The genus Pneumocystis includes a group of closely related but heterogeneous organisms that have a worldwide distribution, have been detected in multiple mammalian species, are highly host species specific, inhabit the lungs almost exclusively, and have never convincingly been cultured in vitro, making Pneumocystis a fascinating but difficult-to-study organism. Improved molecular biologic methodologies have opened a new window into the biology and epidemiology of Pneumocystis. Advances include an improved taxonomic classification, identification of an extremely reduced genome and concomitant inability to metabolize and grow independent of the host lungs, insights into its transmission mode, recognition of its widespread colonization in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient hosts, and utilization of strain variation to study drug resistance, epidemiology, and outbreaks of infection among transplant patients. This review summarizes these advances and also identifies some major questions and challenges that need to be addressed to better understand Pneumocystis biology and its relevance to clinical care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Giner JL, Ceballos H, Tang YZ, Gobler CJ. Sterols and Fatty Acids of the Harmful Dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides. Chem Biodivers 2016; 13:249-52. [PMID: 26880439 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201500215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Sterol and fatty acid compositions were determined for Cochlodinium polykrikoides, a toxic, bloom-forming dinoflagellate of global significance. The major sterols were dinosterol (40% of total sterols), dihydrodinosterol (32%), and the rare 4α-methyl Δ(8(14)) sterol, amphisterol (23%). A minor sterol, 4α-methylergost-24(28)-enol was also detected (5.0%). The fatty acids had a high proportion of PUFAs (47%), consisting mainly of EPA (20%) and the relatively uncommon octadecapentaenoic acid (18 : 5, 22%). While unlikely to be responsible for toxicity to fish, these lipids may contribute to the deleterious effects of this alga to invertebrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José-Luis Giner
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York - ESF, Syracuse NY 13210, USA, (phone: +1-315-470-6895; fax: +1-315-470-6856).
| | - Harriette Ceballos
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York - ESF, Syracuse NY 13210, USA, (phone: +1-315-470-6895; fax: +1-315-470-6856)
| | - Ying-Zhong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China.,School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kang HR, Lee D, Eom HJ, Lee SR, Lee KR, Kang KS, Kim KH. Identification and mechanism of action of renoprotective constituents from peat moss Sphagnum palustre in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. J Funct Foods 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2015.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
|
7
|
Kaneshiro ES, Johnston LQ, Nkinin SW, Romero BI, Giner JL. Sterols of Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg6 Knockout Mutant Expressing the Pneumocystis carinii S-Adenosylmethionine:Sterol C-24 Methyltransferase. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 62:298-306. [PMID: 25230683 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The AIDS-associated lung pathogen Pneumocystis is classified as a fungus although Pneumocystis has several distinct features such as the absence of ergosterol, the major sterol of most fungi. The Pneumocystis carinii S-adenosylmethionine:sterol C24-methyltransferase (SAM:SMT) enzyme, coded by the erg6 gene, transfers either one or two methyl groups to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain producing both C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols in approximately the same proportions, whereas most fungal SAM:SMT transfer only one methyl group to the side chain. The sterol compositions of wild-type Sacchromyces cerevisiae, the erg6 knockout mutant (Δerg6), and Δerg6 expressing the P. carinii or the S. cerevisiae erg6 gene were analyzed by a variety of chromatographic and spectroscopic procedures to examine functional complementation in the yeast expression system. Detailed sterol analyses were obtained using high performance liquid chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-NMR). The P. carinii SAM:SMT in the Δerg6 restored its ability to produce the C28 sterol ergosterol as the major sterol, and also resulted in low levels of C29 sterols. This indicates that while the P. carinii SAM:SMT in the yeast Δerg6 cells was able to transfer a second methyl group to the side chain, the action of Δ(24(28)) -sterol reductase (coded by the erg4 gene) in the yeast cells prevented the formation and accumulation of as many C29 sterols as that found in P. carinii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna S Kaneshiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221-0006
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Porollo A. EC2KEGG: a command line tool for comparison of metabolic pathways. SOURCE CODE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2014; 9:19. [PMID: 25202338 PMCID: PMC4157228 DOI: 10.1186/1751-0473-9-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Next-generation sequencing and metagenome projects yield a large number of new genomes that need further annotations, such as identification of enzymes and metabolic pathways, or analysis of metabolic strategies of newly sequenced species in comparison to known organisms. While methods for enzyme identification are available, development of the command line tools for high-throughput comparative analysis and visualization of identified enzymes is lagging. Methods A set of perl scripts has been developed to perform automated data retrieval from the KEGG database using its new REST program application interface. Enrichment or depletion in metabolic pathways is evaluated using the two-tailed Fisher exact test followed by Benjamini and Hochberg correction. Results Comparative analysis of a given set of enzymes with a specified reference organism includes mapping to known metabolic pathways, finding shared and unique enzymes, generating links to visualize maps at KEGG Pathway, computing enrichment of the pathways, listing the non-mapped enzymes. Conclusions EC2KEGG provides a platform independent toolkit for automated comparison of identified sets of enzymes from newly sequenced organisms against annotated reference genomes. The tool can be used both for manual annotations of individual species and for high-throughput annotations as part of a computational pipeline. The tool is publicly available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/ec2kegg/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Porollo
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang F, Han S, Hu S, Xue Y, Wang J, Xu H, Chen L, Zhang G, Zhang Y. Two new secondary metabolites from Xylaria sp. cfcc 87468. Molecules 2014; 19:1250-7. [PMID: 24448065 PMCID: PMC6270958 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19011250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A new isocoumarin glycoside, 3R-(+)-5-O-[6'-O-acetyl]-α-d-glucopyranosyl-5-hydroxymellein (1), and a new phenylethanol glycoside, (−)-phenylethyl-8-O-α-l-rhamno-pyranoside (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fungus Xylaria sp. cfcc 87468, together with five known steroids, β-sitosterol (3), stigmast-4-en-3-one (4), ergosterol (5), (22E)-cholesta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (6), and 4α-methyl- ergosta-8(14),24(28)-dien-3β-ol (7). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by MS, extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and the circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fuqian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Shishi Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Song Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Yongbo Xue
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Jianping Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Hongfeng Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Geng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Evidente A, Cimmino A, Andolfi A. The Effect of Stereochemistry on the Biological Activity of Natural Phytotoxins, Fungicides, Insecticides and Herbicides. Chirality 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.22124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo; della Pianta, dell'Ambiente e delle Produzioni Animali; Via Università 100 80055 Portici Italy
| | - Alessio Cimmino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo; della Pianta, dell'Ambiente e delle Produzioni Animali; Via Università 100 80055 Portici Italy
| | - Anna Andolfi
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo; della Pianta, dell'Ambiente e delle Produzioni Animali; Via Università 100 80055 Portici Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Evidente A, Cimmino A, Fernández-Aparicio M, Rubiales D, Andolfi A, Melck D. Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-dehydrocam- pesterol from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) root exudates stimulate broomrape seed germination. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2011; 67:1015-1022. [PMID: 21480462 DOI: 10.1002/ps.2153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2010] [Revised: 01/27/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orobanche and Phelipanche species (the broomrapes) are root parasitic plants, some of which represent serious weed problems causing severe yield losses on important crops. Control strategies have largely focused on agronomic practices, resistant crop varieties and herbicides, albeit with marginal success. An alternative control method is the induction of suicidal seed germination with natural substances isolated from root exudates of host and non-host plants. RESULTS Soyasapogenol B [olean-12-ene-3,22,24-triol(3β,4β,22β)] and trans-22-dehydrocampesterol [(ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol, (3β,22E,24S)] were isolated from Vicia sativa root exudates. They were identified by comparing their spectroscopic and optical properties with those reported in the literature. Soyasapogenol B was very specific, stimulating the germination of O. minor seeds only, whereas trans-22-dehydrocampesterol stimulated P. aegyptiaca, O. crenata, O. foetida and O. minor. CONCLUSION Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-deydrocampesterol were isolated for the first time from Vicia sativa root exudates, and their biological activity as stimulants of Orobanche or Phelipanche sp. seed germination was reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta, dell'Ambiente e delle Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
NKININ STEPHENSONW, STRINGER JAMESR, KEELY SCOTTP, SETCHELL KENNETHD, GINER JOSÉLUIS, KANESHIRO EDNAS. Pneumocystis carinii Sterol 14α-Demethylase Activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg11 Knockout Mutant: Sterol Biochemistry. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2011; 58:383-92. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2011.00556.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
13
|
Joffrion TM, Cushion MT. Sterol biosynthesis and sterol uptake in the fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2010; 311:1-9. [PMID: 20528942 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02007.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the fungal genus Pneumocystis colonize healthy mammalian hosts without causing apparent disease, but colonization in immunocompromised hosts may result in a potentially fatal pneumonia known as Pneumocystis pneumonia. Although Pneumocystis are fungi, this genus has characteristics that make it atypical among other fungi. Pneumocystis do not appear to synthesize the major fungal sterol, ergosterol, and biochemical analyses have shown that they utilize cholesterol rather than ergosterol as the bulk sterol. Pneumocystis carinii appears to scavenge exogenous sterols, including cholesterol, from its mammalian host. As a result, it has long been held that their ability to scavenge cholesterol from their hosts, and their inability to undergo sterol biosynthesis, makes them resistant to antifungal drugs that target ergosterol or ergosterol biosynthesis. However, genome scans and in vitro assays indicate the presence of sterol biosynthetic genes within the P. carinii genome, and targeted inhibition of these enzymes resulted in reduced viability of P. carinii, suggesting that these enzymes are functional within the organism. Heterologous expression of P. carinii sterol genes, along with biochemical analyses of the lipid content of P. carinii cellular membranes, have provided an insight into sterol biosynthesis and the sterol-scavenging mechanisms used by these fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany M Joffrion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Functional characterization and localization of Pneumocystis carinii lanosterol synthase. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2009; 9:107-15. [PMID: 19897737 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00264-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Organisms in the genus Pneumocystis are ubiquitous, opportunistic pathogenic fungi capable of causing a lethal pneumonia in immunocompromised mammalian hosts. Pneumocystis spp. are unique members of the fungal kingdom due to the absence of ergosterol in their cellular membranes. Although these organisms were thought to obtain cholesterol by scavenging, transcriptional analyses indicate that Pneumocystis carinii encodes gene homologs involved in sterol biosynthesis. To better understand the sterol pathway in these uncultivable fungi, yeast deletion strains were used to interrogate the function and localization of P. carinii lanosterol synthase (ERG7). The expression of PcErg7p in an ERG7-null mutant of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not alter its growth rate and produced a functional lanosterol synthase, as evidenced by the presence of lanosterol detected by gas chromatographic analysis in levels comparable to that produced by the yeast enzyme. Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy revealed that, like the S. cerevisiae Erg7p, the PcErg7p localized to lipid particles in yeast. Using fluorescence microscopy, we show for the first time the presence of apparent lipid particles in P. carinii and the localization of PcErg7p to lipid particles in P. carinii. The detection of lipid particles in P. carinii and their association with PcErg7p therein provide strong evidence that the enzyme serves a similar function in P. carinii. Moreover, the yeast heterologous system should be a useful tool for further analysis of the P. carinii sterol pathway.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sobolev AP, Brosio E, Gianferri R, Segre AL. Metabolic profile of lettuce leaves by high-field NMR spectra. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2005; 43:625-38. [PMID: 15986496 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.1618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A detailed analysis of the proton high-field NMR spectra of aqueous and organic extracts of lettuce leaves is reported for the first time. A combination of COSY, TOCSY, (1)H-(13)C HSQC, (1)H-(13)C HMBC bidimensional sequences and DOSY was used to assign each spin system and to separate the components of the complex patterns. A large number of water-soluble metabolites belonging to different classes such as carbohydrates, polyols, organic acids and amino acids were fully assigned. Moreover, the complex spectra of metabolites extracted in organic solvents belonging to sterols, fatty acids, diacylglycerophospholipids, galactosyldiacylglycerols, sulpholipids, pheophytins, carotenoids and hydrocarbons were also assigned.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anatoli P Sobolev
- Institute of Chemical Methodologies of CNR, Rome 1 Research Area, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00016 Monterotondo (Rome), Italy.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Pneumocystis can transiently colonize healthy individuals without causing adverse symptoms, and most people test positive for exposure to this organism early in life. However, it can cause Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) in people with impaired immune systems and is a major cause of death in HIV/AIDS. Although it has close affinities to the Ascomycetes, Pneumocystis has features unlike those of any single group of fungi. For example, Pneumocystis does not synthesize ergosterol, which is consistent with the inefficacy of amphotericin B and some triazoles in clearing PcP. Pneumocystis sterols include distinct delta7 24-alkylsterols. Metabolic radiolabeling experiments demonstrated that P. carinii synthesizes sterols de novo. Cholesterol is the most abundant sterol in Pneumocystis; most, if not all, is scavenged from the mammalian host lung by the pathogen. The P. carinii erg7, erg6, and erg11 genes have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in heterologous systems. The recombinant P. carinii S-adenosyl-L-methionine:C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) has a preference for lanosterol over zymosterol as substrate, and the enzyme can catalyze the transfer of either one or two methyl groups to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain. Two different sterol compositions were detected among human-derived P. jirovecii; one was dominated by C28 and C29 sterols, and the other had high proportions of higher molecular mass components, notably the C32 sterol pneumocysterol. The latter phenotype apparently represents organisms blocked at 14alpha-demethylation of the sterol nucleus. These studies suggest that SAM:SMT is an attractive drug target for developing new chemotherapy for PcP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna S Kaneshiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Giner JL, Zhao H, Amit Z, Kaneshiro ES. Sterol composition of Pneumocystis jirovecii with blocked 14alpha-demethylase activity. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2005; 51:634-43. [PMID: 15666720 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2004.tb00597.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Several drugs that interact with membrane sterols or inhibit their syntheses are effective in clearing a number of fungal infections. The AIDS-associated lung infection caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii is not cleared by many of these therapies. Pneumocystis normally synthesizes distinct C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols, but ergosterol, the major fungal sterol, is not among them. Two distinct sterol compositional phenotypes were previously observed in P. jirovecii. One was characterized by delta7 C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols with only low proportions of higher molecular mass components. In contrast, the other type was dominated by high C31 and C32 24-alkylsterols, especially pneumocysterol. In the present study, 28 molecular species were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of a human lung specimen containing P. jirovecii representing the latter sterol profile phenotype. Fifteen of the 28 had the methyl group at C-14 of the sterol nucleus and these represented 96% of the total sterol mass in the specimen (excluding cholesterol). These results strongly suggest that sterol 14alpha-demethylase was blocked in these organisms. Twenty-four of the 28 were 24-alkylsterols, indicating that methylation of the C-24 position of the sterol side chain by S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase was fully functional.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José-Luis Giner
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Teliospores of cedar-apple rust Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae were collected from the eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana, and aeciospores of quince rust G. clavipes were collected from the fruit of English hawthorn Crataegus laevigata. The sterol fractions were separated by HPLC, and their identities were determined by 600 MHz 1H NMR. Twenty-six sterols were isolated from G. juniperi-virginianae and 18 sterols were isolated from G. clavipes. The principal sterol of both fungi was (Z)-stigmasta-7,24(28)-dien-3beta-ol. Other major sterols were (24S)-ergost-7-en-3beta-ol, (24S)-stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol, and (24S)-stigmasta-5,7-dien-3beta-ol. The sterols of the hosts were found to be very different from those of the fungi. The 24-alkyl sterols of the fungi had the 24alpha-configuration, whereas those of the hosts had the 24beta-configuration. Similarities to the sterol composition of the AIDS pneumonia fungus Pneumocystis carinii are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José-Luis Giner
- State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhao H, Giner JL, Kaneshiro ES. Definitive Structural Identities of Pneumocystis jirovecii Sterols. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2003; 50 Suppl:680. [PMID: 14736217 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00684.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York-ESF, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Worsham DN, Basselin M, Smulian AG, Beach DH, Kaneshiro ES. Evidence for Cholesterol Scavenging by Pneumocystis and Potential Modifications of Host-Synthesized Sterols by the P. carinii SAM:SMT. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2003; 50 Suppl:678-9. [PMID: 14736216 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00683.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D Nicole Worsham
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Pneumocystis lacks ergosterol, and several antimycotics that bind ergosterol in fungal membranes or inhibit its synthesis are ineffective against Pneumocystis pneumonia. The organism synthesizes C(28) and C(29) Delta(7) 24-alkylsterols, 24-alkyllanosterol derivatives, and Delta(5) 24-alkylsterols, which may be produced by modifying scavenged Delta(5) sterols. Mammals cannot desaturate C-22 and alkylate C-24 of sterols, thus, these processes are particularly attractive targets for antifungal drug development. Recent data indicate that C-22 desaturation is not, but C-24 alkylation is an attractive target in P. carinii. The P. carinii S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) has unique properties; it prefers lanosterol as its sterol substrate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna S Kaneshiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Pneumocystis, an AIDS-associated opportunistic pathogen of the lung has some unusual features. This article focuses on work done by my group to understand the organism's distinct sterols. Although Pneumocystis is closely related to fungi, it lacks the major fungal sterol, ergosterol. Several delta(7) 24-alkysterols synthesized by P. carinii are the same as those reported in some basidiomycete rust fungi. The 24-alkylsterols are synthesized by the action of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SAM:SMT). Fungal SAM:SMT enzymes normally transfer only one methyl group to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain and the cells accumulate C28 24-alkylsterols. In contrast, the P. carinii SAM:SMT and those of some plants catalyze one or two methyl transfer reactions producing both C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols. However, unlike most fungi, plants, and the kinetoplastid flagellates Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi, P. carinii does not appear to form double bonds at C-5 of the sterol nucleus and C-22 of the sterol side chain. Furthermore, the P. carinii SAM:SMT substrate preference for C30 lanosterol differs from that of homologous enzymes in any other organisms studied. C31 24-Methylenelanosterol and C32 pneumocysterol, products of SAM:SMT activity on lanosterol, can accumulate in high amounts in some, but not all, human-derived Pneumocystis jiroveci populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna S Kaneshiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA.
| |
Collapse
|