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Lim JY, Kim YJ, Woo SA, Jeong JW, Lee YR, Kim CH, Park HM. The LAMMER Kinase, LkhA, Affects Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenicity by Modulating Reproduction and Biosynthesis of Cell Wall PAMPs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:756206. [PMID: 34722342 PMCID: PMC8548842 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.756206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The LAMMER kinase in eukaryotes is a well-conserved dual-specificity kinase. Aspergillus species cause a wide spectrum of diseases called aspergillosis in humans, depending on the underlying immune status of the host, such as allergy, aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis. Although LAMMER kinase has various functions in morphology, development, and cell cycle regulation in yeast and filamentous fungi, its function in A. fumigatus is not known. We performed molecular studies on the function of the A. fumigatus LAMMER kinase, AfLkhA, and reported its involvement in multiple cellular processes, including development and virulence. Deletion of AflkhA resulted in defects in colonial growth, production of conidia, and sexual development. Transcription and genetic analyses indicated that AfLkhA modulates the expression of key developmental regulatory genes. The AflkhA-deletion strain showed increased production of gliotoxins and protease activity. When conidia were challenged with alveolar macrophages, enodocytosis of conidia by macrophages was increased in the AflkhA-deletion strain, resulting from changes in expression of the cell wall genes and thus content of cell wall pathogen-associated molecular patterns, including β-1,3-glucan and GM. While T cell-deficient zebrafish larvae were significantly susceptible to wild-type A. fumigatus infection, AflkhA-deletion conidia infection reduced host mortality. A. fumigatus AfLkhA is required for the establishment of virulence factors, including conidial production, mycotoxin synthesis, protease activity, and interaction with macrophages, which ultimately affect pathogenicity at the organismal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yeon Lim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.,Institute of Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yeon Ju Kim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seul Ah Woo
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jae Wan Jeong
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yu-Ri Lee
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hee-Moon Park
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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Redes JL, Basu T, Ram-Mohan S, Ghosh CC, Chan EC, Sek AC, Zhao M, Krishnan R, Rosenberg HF, Druey KM. Aspergillus fumigatus-Secreted Alkaline Protease 1 Mediates Airways Hyperresponsiveness in Severe Asthma. Immunohorizons 2019; 3:368-377. [PMID: 31603851 PMCID: PMC10985461 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.1900046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The hallmark features of allergic asthma are type 2 (eosinophilic) inflammation and airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Although these features often comanifest in mouse lungs in vivo, we demonstrate in this study that the serine protease Alp1 from the ubiquitous mold and allergen, Aspergillus fumigatus, can induce AHR in mice unable to generate eosinophilic inflammation. Strikingly, Alp1 induced AHR in mice devoid of protease-activated receptor 2/F2 trypsin-like receptor 1 (PAR2/F2RL1), a receptor expressed in lung epithelium that is critical for allergic responses to protease-containing allergens. Instead, using precision-cut lung slices and human airway smooth muscle cells, we demonstrate that Alp1 directly increased contractile force. Taken together, these findings suggest that Alp1 induces bronchoconstriction through mechanisms that are largely independent of allergic inflammation and point to a new target for direct intervention of fungal-associated asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Redes
- Lung and Vascular Inflammation Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Trisha Basu
- Lung and Vascular Inflammation Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Sumati Ram-Mohan
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Chandra C Ghosh
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Eunice C Chan
- Lung and Vascular Inflammation Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Albert C Sek
- Inflammation Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Ming Zhao
- Protein Chemistry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Ramaswamy Krishnan
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Helene F Rosenberg
- Inflammation Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Kirk M Druey
- Lung and Vascular Inflammation Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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da Silva RR. Commentary: Fungal lifestyle reflected in serine protease repertoire. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:467. [PMID: 29593699 PMCID: PMC5859359 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ronivaldo R da Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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SABBAGH BASSEL, COSTINA VICTOR, BUCHHEIDT DIETER, REINWALD MARK, NEUMAIER MICHAEL, FINDEISEN PETER. Functional protease profiling for laboratory based diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Int J Oncol 2015; 47:143-50. [DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2015.2984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Górniak MGV, Czernicka A, Młynarz P, Balcerzak W, Kafarski P. Synthesis of fluorescent (benzyloxycarbonylamino)(aryl)methylphosphonates. Beilstein J Org Chem 2014; 10:741-5. [PMID: 24778727 PMCID: PMC3999870 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.10.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of a library of structurally variable aromatic esters of (benzyloxycarbonylamino)(aryl)methylphosphonic acids is described by means of the Oleksyszyn reaction. The library was enlarged by the application of a Suzuki–Miayra approach and by preparation of mixed esters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Górny Vel Górniak
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland ; Department of Chemistry, University of Opole, pl. Kopernika 11a, 45-040 Opole, Poland
| | - Anna Czernicka
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Piotr Młynarz
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Waldemar Balcerzak
- First Department of General, Gastroenterological and Endocrinological Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 66, 50-369 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paweł Kafarski
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland ; Department of Chemistry, University of Opole, pl. Kopernika 11a, 45-040 Opole, Poland
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Jambunathan K, Watson DS, Najvar LK, Wiederhold NP, Kirkpatrick WR, Patterson TF, Askew DS, Kodukula K, Galande AK. Prolyl endopeptidase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: a novel diagnostic biomarker in a guinea pig model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Med Mycol 2013; 51:592-602. [DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.761360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Jambunathan K, Watson DS, Kodukula K, Galande AK. Proteolytic fingerprinting of complex biological samples using combinatorial libraries of fluorogenic probes. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN PROTEIN SCIENCE 2012; Chapter 21:21.22.1-21.22.14. [PMID: 23151745 PMCID: PMC3518868 DOI: 10.1002/0471140864.ps2122s70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteases have garnered interest as candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets for many human diseases. A key challenge is the identification and characterization of disease-relevant proteases in the complex milieu of biological fluids such as serum, plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage, in which a multitude of hydrolases act in concert. This unit describes a protocol to map the global proteolytic substrate specificities of complex biological samples using a concise combinatorial library of internally quenched fluorogenic peptide probes (IQFPs). This substrate profiling approach provides a global and quantitative comparison of protease specificities between different biological samples. Such a comparative analysis can lead to the identification of disease-specific 'fingerprints' of proteolytic activities with potential utility in diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amit K. Galande
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Center for Advanced Drug Research, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802, USA. Phone: 540-438-6621; Fax: 540-438-6601;
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Farnell E, Rousseau K, Thornton DJ, Bowyer P, Herrick SE. Expression and secretion of Aspergillus fumigatus proteases are regulated in response to different protein substrates. Fungal Biol 2012; 116:1003-12. [PMID: 22954343 PMCID: PMC3605576 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Revised: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus secretes a number of allergens with protease activity and has been linked to a variety of allergic conditions such as Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitization (SAFS) and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). However, it is unclear which allergen proteases are being secreted during fungal invasion and whether the local biological environment regulates their expression. Understanding the dynamic expression of allergen proteases during growth of A. fumigatus may lead to further characterisation of the pathogenesis of these disorders as well as improved standardisation in the commercial production of these allergens. Secretion of proteases during germination and early growth of A. fumigatus was investigated in response to various complex protein sources (pig lung homogenate, mucin or casein). Protease inhibitor studies demonstrated that A. fumigatus (AF293 strain) secretes predominately serine proteases during growth in pig lung based medium and mainly metalloproteases during growth in casein based medium but suppressed protease secretion in unmodified Vogel's minimal medium and secreted both types in mucin based medium. Analysis of gene transcription and protein identification by mass spectrometry showed that the matrix metalloprotease, Mep/Asp f 5 and the serine protease, Alp1/Asp f 13, were upregulated and secreted during growth in pig lung medium, whereas Alp1 was predominately expressed and secreted in mucin based medium. In casein medium, the matrix metalloprotease, Lap1, was also upregulated and secreted in addition to Mep and Alp1. These findings suggest that A. fumigatus is able to detect different complex proteins available as substrates in its environment and regulate protease secretion accordingly. There is a requirement for the standardisation of A. fumigatus allergen extracts used both in clinical diagnosis of A. fumigatus allergy and in research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Farnell
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Karine Rousseau
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - David J. Thornton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Sarah E. Herrick
- Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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Powers-Fletcher MV, Jambunathan K, Brewer JL, Krishnan K, Feng X, Galande AK, Askew DS. Impact of the lectin chaperone calnexin on the stress response, virulence and proteolytic secretome of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28865. [PMID: 22163332 PMCID: PMC3233604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calnexin is a membrane-bound lectin chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that is part of a quality control system that promotes the accurate folding of glycoproteins entering the secretory pathway. We have previously shown that ER homeostasis is important for virulence of the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, but the contribution of calnexin has not been explored. Here, we determined the extent to which A. fumigatus relies on calnexin for growth under conditions of environmental stress and for virulence. The calnexin gene, clxA, was deleted from A. fumigatus and complemented by reconstitution with the wild type gene. Loss of clxA altered the proteolytic secretome of the fungus, but had no impact on growth rates in either minimal or complex media at 37°C. However, the ΔclxA mutant was growth impaired at temperatures above 42°C and was hypersensitive to acute ER stress caused by the reducing agent dithiothreitol. In contrast to wild type A. fumigatus, ΔclxA hyphae were unable to grow when transferred to starvation medium. In addition, depleting the medium of cations by chelation prevented ΔclxA from sustaining polarized hyphal growth, resulting in blunted hyphae with irregular morphology. Despite these abnormal stress responses, the ΔclxA mutant remained virulent in two immunologically distinct models of invasive aspergillosis. These findings demonstrate that calnexin functions are needed for growth under conditions of thermal, ER and nutrient stress, but are dispensable for surviving the stresses encountered in the host environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret V. Powers-Fletcher
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Jordan L. Brewer
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Karthik Krishnan
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Xizhi Feng
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amit K. Galande
- SRI International, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - David S. Askew
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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