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Dai M, Du W, Lu L, Zhang S. Transcription factors SltA and CrzA reversely regulate calcium homeostasis under calcium-limited conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0117023. [PMID: 37874299 PMCID: PMC10686095 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01170-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Calcium ions are ubiquitous intracellular signaling molecules for many signaling pathways regulating the fungal response to stress and antifungal drugs. The concentration of intracellular calcium is tightly regulated in its storage, release, and distribution. CrzA is the best-studied transcription factor that regulates this process under sufficient calcium or other external signals. However, CrzA was excluded from nuclei and then lost transcriptional activation under calcium-limited conditions. The regulators in the Ca2+ signaling pathway under calcium-limited conditions remain unclear. Here, we identified SltA as a key regulator in the Ca2+ signaling pathway under calcium-limited conditions, and the underlying mechanisms were further explored in Aspergillus fumigatus. These findings reveal a transcriptional control pathway that precisely regulates calcium homeostasis under calcium-limited conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenlong Du
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shizhu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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2
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Jeyaraj A, Elango T, Chen X, Zhuang J, Wang Y, Li X. Advances in understanding the mechanism of resistance to anthracnose and induced defence response in tea plants. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1330-1346. [PMID: 37522519 PMCID: PMC10502868 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is susceptible to anthracnose disease that causes considerable crop loss and affects the yield and quality of tea. Multiple Colletotrichum spp. are the causative agents of this disease, which spreads quickly in warm and humid climates. During plant-pathogen interactions, resistant cultivars defend themselves against the hemibiotrophic pathogen by activating defence signalling pathways, whereas the pathogen suppresses plant defences in susceptible varieties. Various fungicides have been used to control this disease on susceptible plants, but these fungicide residues are dangerous to human health and cause fungicide resistance in pathogens. The problem-solving approaches to date are the development of resistant cultivars and ecofriendly biocontrol strategies to achieve sustainable tea cultivation and production. Understanding the infection stages of Colletotrichum, tea plant resistance mechanisms, and induced plant defence against Colletotrichum is essential to support sustainable disease management practices in the field. This review therefore summarizes the current knowledge of the identified causative agent of tea plant anthracnose, the infection strategies and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides, anthracnose disease resistance mechanisms, and the caffeine-induced defence response against Colletotrichum infection. The information reported in this review will advance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and eventually help us to develop new disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anburaj Jeyaraj
- College of HorticultureNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | | | - Xuan Chen
- College of HorticultureNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jing Zhuang
- College of HorticultureNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuhua Wang
- College of HorticultureNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xinghui Li
- College of HorticultureNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
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3
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Kong Y, Yuan Y, Menghan Y, Yiming L, Liang X, Gleason ML, Rong Z, Sun G. CfCpmd1 Regulates Pathogenicity and Sexual Development of Plus and Minus Strains in Colletotrichum fructicola Causing Glomerella Leaf Spot on Apple in China. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:1985-1993. [PMID: 37129259 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-23-0071-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Colletotrichum fructicola is a devastating fungal pathogen of diverse plants. Sexually compatible plus and minus strains occur in the same ascus. However, the differentiation mechanism of plus and minus strains remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized a novel Cys2-His2-containing transcription factor CfCpmd1. The plus CfCpmd1 deletion mutant (Δ+CfCpmd1) resulted in slow hyphal growth and a fluffy cotton-like colony, and the minus deletion mutant (Δ-CfCpmd1) exhibited characters similar to the wild type (WT). Δ+CfCpmd1 led to defective perithecial formation, whereas Δ-CfCpmd1 produced more and smaller perithecia. The normal mating line was developed by pairing cultures of Δ-CfCpmd1 and plus WT, whereas a weak line was observed between Δ+CfCpmd1 and minus WT. Conidial production was completely abolished in both plus and minus mutants. When inoculated on non-wounded apple leaves with mycelial plugs, Δ-CfCpmd1 was nonpathogenic because of failure to develop conidia and appressoria, while Δ+CfCpmd1 could infect apple leaves by appressoria differentiated directly from hyphal tips, even though no conidia formed. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CfCpmd1 of C. fructicola is an important gene related to plus and minus strain differentiation, which also affects hyphal growth, sporulation, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yilong Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yang Menghan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Lu Yiming
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiaofei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Mark L Gleason
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, U.S.A
| | - Zhang Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Guangyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
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Baltussen TJ, van Rhijn N, Coolen JP, Dijksterhuis J, Verweij PE, Bromley MJ, Melchers WJ. The C 2H 2 transcription factor SltA is required for germination and hyphal development in Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere 2023; 8:e0007623. [PMID: 37260230 PMCID: PMC10449517 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00076-23] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Germination of inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus conidia is a necessary sequitur for infection. Germination of conidia starts with the breaking of dormancy, which is initiated by an increase of the cellular perimeter in a process termed isotropic growth. This swelling phase is followed by polarized growth, resulting in the formation of a germ tube. The multinucleate tubular cells exhibit tip growth from the hyphae, after which lateral branches emerge to form the mycelial network. The regulatory mechanisms governing conidial germination are not well defined. In this study, we identified a novel role for the transcription factor SltA in the orchestration of germination and hyphal development. Conidia lacking sltA fail to appropriately regulate isotropic growth and begin to swell earlier and subsequently switch to polarized growth faster. Additionally, hyphal development is distorted in a ∆sltA isolate as hyphae are hyper-branching and wider, and show branching at the apical tip. ∆sltA conidia are more tolerant to cell wall stressors on minimal medium compared to the wild-type (WT) strain. A transcriptome analysis of different stages of early growth was carried out to assess the regulatory role of SltA. Null mutants generated for three of the most dysregulated genes showed rapid germ tube emergence. Distinct from the phenotype observed for ∆sltA, conidia from these strains lacked defects in isotropic growth, but switched to polarized growth faster. Here, we characterize and describe several genes in the regulon of SltA, highlighting the complex nature of germination.IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatus is the main human fungal pathogen causing aspergillosis. For this fungus, azoles are the most commonly used antifungal drugs for treatment of aspergillosis. However, the prevalence of azole resistance is alarmingly increasing and linked with elevated mortality. Germination of conidia is crucial within its asexual life cycle and plays a critical role during the infection in the human host. Precluding germination could be a promising strategy considering the role of germination in Aspergillus spp. pathogenicity. Here, we identify a novel role for SltA in appropriate maintenance of dormancy, germination, and hyphal development. Three genes in the regulon of SltA were also essential for appropriate germination of conidia. With an expanding knowledge of germination and its different morphotypes, more advances can be made toward potential anti-germination targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim J.H. Baltussen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jordy P.M. Coolen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Dijksterhuis
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul E. Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael J. Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Willem J.G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Cai M, Tan Z, Wu X, Liang X, Liu Y, Xie Y, Li X, Xiao C, Gao X, Chen S, Hu H, Wu Q. Comparative transcriptome analysis of genes and metabolic pathways involved in sporulation in Ganoderma lingzhi. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkab448. [PMID: 35079793 PMCID: PMC8895980 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, Ganoderma lingzhi spores have received considerable attention as a great potential pharmaceutical resource. However, the genetic regulation of sporulation is not well understood. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis of the low-sporing HZ203 and high-sporing YW-1 was performed to characterize the mechanism underlying sporulation. A total of 917 differentially expressed genes were identified in HZ203 and 1,450 differentially expressed genes in YW-1. Differentially expressed genes involved in sporulation were identified, which included HOP1, Mek1, MSH4, MSH5, and Spo5 in meiosis. Positive regulatory pathways of sporulation were proposed as 2 transcriptional factors had high connectivity with MSH4 and Spo5. Furthermore, we found that the pathways associated with energy production were enriched in the high-sporing genotype, such as the glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism. Finally, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis and found that the hub genes of the module which exhibit strong positive relationship with the high-sporing phase purportedly participate in signal transduction, carbohydrate transport and metabolism. The dissection of differentially expressed genes during sporulation extends our knowledge about the genetic and molecular networks mediating spore morphogenesis and sheds light on the importance of energy source during sporulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjun Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Zengdong Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaoxian Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Xiaowei Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Yuanchao Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Yuewei Edible Fungi Technology Co. Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Yizhen Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
- Guangdong Yuewei Edible Fungi Technology Co. Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Chun Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Xiong Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Shaodan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Huiping Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
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6
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Chaudhary A, Singh D. In-silico analysis of the regulatory region of effector protein genes in Verticillium dahliae. GENE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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7
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Zheng XR, Zhang MJ, Qiao YH, Li R, Alkan N, Chen JY, Chen FM. Cyclocarya paliurus Reprograms the Flavonoid Biosynthesis Pathway Against Colletotrichum fructicola. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:933484. [PMID: 35845688 PMCID: PMC9280340 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.933484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cyclocarya paliurus is an endemic Chinese tree species with considerable medicinal, timber, and horticultural value. The anthracnose disease of C. paliurus is caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum fructicola, which results in great losses in yield and quality. Here, resistance evaluation of six cultivars of C. paliurus exhibited varying degrees of resistance to C. fructicola infection, where Wufeng was the most resistant and Jinggangshan was the most susceptive. Physiological measurements and histochemical staining assays showed that the Wufeng cultivar exhibits intense reactive oxygen species accumulation and defense capabilities. A multiomics approach using RNA sequencing and metabolome analyses showed that resistance in C. paliurus (Wufeng) is related to early induction of reprogramming of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. In vitro antifungal assays revealed that the flavonoid extracts from resistant cultivars strongly inhibited C. fructicola hyphal growth than susceptible cultivars. Relative gene expression analysis further demonstrated the pivotal antifungal role of C. paliurus flavonoids in targeting Colletotrichum appressorium formation. Together, these results represent a novel resistance mechanism of C. paliurus against anthracnose through the reprogramming of flavonoids, which will lay a foundation for breeding anthracnose-resistant varieties and the application of flavonoid extraction of C. paliurus as a natural antifungal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Rong Zheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mao-Jiao Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Hang Qiao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Noam Alkan
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Jie-Yin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jie-Yin Chen,
| | - Feng-Mao Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Feng-Mao Chen,
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John E, Singh KB, Oliver RP, Tan K. Transcription factor control of virulence in phytopathogenic fungi. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:858-881. [PMID: 33973705 PMCID: PMC8232033 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi are a significant threat to economic and food security worldwide. Novel protection strategies are required and therefore it is critical we understand the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause disease. Virulence factors and pathogenicity genes have been identified, but in many cases their roles remain elusive. It is becoming increasingly clear that gene regulation is vital to enable plant infection and transcription factors play an essential role. Efforts to determine their regulatory functions in plant-pathogenic fungi have expanded since the annotation of fungal genomes revealed the ubiquity of transcription factors from a broad range of families. This review establishes the significance of transcription factors as regulatory elements in plant-pathogenic fungi and provides a systematic overview of those that have been functionally characterized. Detailed analysis is provided on regulators from well-characterized families controlling various aspects of fungal metabolism, development, stress tolerance, and the production of virulence factors such as effectors and secondary metabolites. This covers conserved transcription factors with either specialized or nonspecialized roles, as well as recently identified regulators targeting key virulence pathways. Fundamental knowledge of transcription factor regulation in plant-pathogenic fungi provides avenues to identify novel virulence factors and improve our understanding of the regulatory networks linked to pathogen evolution, while transcription factors can themselves be specifically targeted for disease control. Areas requiring further insight regarding the molecular mechanisms and/or specific classes of transcription factors are identified, and direction for future investigation is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan John
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- Agriculture and FoodCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationFloreatWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Richard P. Oliver
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Kar‐Chun Tan
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
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Functional Genomic and Biochemical Analysis Reveals Pleiotropic Effect of Congo Red on Aspergillus fumigatus. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00863-21. [PMID: 34006660 PMCID: PMC8262895 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00863-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of fungal growth by Congo red (CR) has been putatively associated with specific binding to β-1,3-glucans, which blocks cell wall polysaccharide synthesis. In this study, we searched for transcription factors (TFs) that regulate the response to CR and interrogated their regulon. During the investigation of the susceptibility to CR of the TF mutant library, several CR-resistant and -hypersensitive mutants were discovered and further studied. Abnormal distorted swollen conidia called Quasimodo cells were seen in the presence of CR. Quasimodo cells in the resistant mutants were larger than the ones in the sensitive and parental strains; consequently, the conidia of the resistant mutants absorbed more CR than the germinating conidia of the sensitive or parental strains. Accordingly, this higher absorption rate by Quasimodo cells resulted in the removal of CR from the culture medium, allowing a subset of conidia to germinate and grow. In contrast, all resting conidia of the sensitive mutants and the parental strain were killed. This result indicated that the heterogeneity of the conidial population is essential to promote the survival of Aspergillus fumigatus in the presence of CR. Moreover, amorphous surface cell wall polysaccharides such as galactosaminogalactan control the influx of CR inside the cells and, accordingly, resistance to the drug. Finally, long-term incubation with CR led to the discovery of a new CR-induced growth effect, called drug-induced growth stimulation (DIGS), since the growth of one of them could be stimulated after recovery from CR stress.
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The C 2H 2 Transcription Factor SltA Contributes to Azole Resistance by Coregulating the Expression of the Drug Target Erg11A and the Drug Efflux Pump Mdr1 in Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01839-20. [PMID: 33431412 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01839-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of azole-resistant fungal pathogens has posed a great threat to public health worldwide. Although the molecular mechanism of azole resistance has been extensively investigated, the potential regulators of azole resistance remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified a new function of the fungal specific C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor SltA (involved in the salt tolerance pathway) in the regulation of azole resistance of the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus A lack of SltA results in an itraconazole hypersusceptibility phenotype. Transcriptional profiling combined with LacZ reporter analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that SltA is involved in its own transcriptional regulation and also regulates the expression of genes related to ergosterol biosynthesis (erg11A, erg13A, and erg24A) and drug efflux pumps (mdr1, mfsC, and abcE) by directly binding to the conserved 5'-AGGCA-3' motif in their promoter regions, and this binding is dependent on the conserved cysteine and histidine within the C2H2 DNA binding domain of SltA. Moreover, overexpression of erg11A or mdr1 rescues sltA deletion defects under itraconazole conditions, suggesting that erg11A and mdr1 are related to sltA-mediated itraconazole resistance. Most importantly, deletion of SltA in laboratory-derived and clinical azole-resistant isolates significantly attenuates drug resistance. Collectively, we have identified a new function of the transcription factor SltA in regulating azole resistance by coordinately mediating the key azole target Erg11A and the drug efflux pump Mdr1, and targeting SltA may provide a potential strategy for intervention of clinical azole-resistant isolates to improve the efficiency of currently approved antifungal drugs.
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11
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Zhao X, Tang B, Xu J, Wang N, Zhou Z, Zhang J. A SET domain-containing protein involved in cell wall integrity signaling and peroxisome biogenesis is essential for appressorium formation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 145:103474. [PMID: 33007450 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The chromatin modulator Set5 plays important regulatory roles in both cell growth and stress responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, its function in filamentous fungi remains poorly understood. Here, we report the pathogenicity-related gene CgSET5 discovered in a T-DNA insertional mutant M285 of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that CgSET5 encodes a SET domain-containing protein that is a homolog of the budding yeast S. cerevisiae Set5. CgSET5 is important for hyphae growth and conidiation and is necessary for appressorium formation and pathogenicity. CgSet5 regulates appressorium formation in a mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent manner. Inactivation of CgSET5 resulted in a significant reduction in chitin content within the cell wall, indicating CgSet5 plays a vital role in cell wall integrity. CgSet5 is involved in peroxisome biogenesis. We identified CgSet5 as the histone H4 methyltransferase, which methylates the critical H4 lysine residues 5 and 8 in C. gloeosporioides. We carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen to find CgSet5 interacting partners. We found CgSet5 putatively interacts with an inorganic pyrophosphatase named CgPpa1, which co-localized in the cytoplasm with CgSet5. Finally, CgPpa1 was found to strongly interact with CgSet5 in vivo during appressorium formation by bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. These data corroborate a complex control function of CgSet5 acting as a core pathogenic regulator, which connects cell wall integrity and peroxisome biogenesis in C. gloeosporioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanzhu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Germplasm Resources Utilization), Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng 125100, China
| | - Bozeng Tang
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jie Xu
- Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xingcheng 125100, China
| | - Na Wang
- Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xingcheng 125100, China
| | - Zongshan Zhou
- Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xingcheng 125100, China
| | - Junxiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Germplasm Resources Utilization), Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng 125100, China.
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12
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Wang P, Li B, Pan YT, Zhang YZ, Li DW, Huang L. Calcineurin-Responsive Transcription Factor CgCrzA Is Required for Cell Wall Integrity and Infection-Related Morphogenesis in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 36:385-397. [PMID: 33082723 PMCID: PMC7542025 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.04.2020.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infects a wide range of plant hosts and causes enormous economic losses in the world. The transcription factors (TFs) play an important role in development and pathogenicity of many organisms. In this study, we found that the C2H2 TF CgCrzA is localized in both cytoplasm and nucleus under standard condition, and it translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus in a calcineurin-dependent manner. Moreover, the ΔCgCrzA was hypersensitive to cell wall perturbing agents and showed severe cell wall integrity defects. Deletion of the CgCRZA inhibited the development of invasive structures and lost pathogenicity to plant hosts. Our results suggested that calcineurin-responsive TF CgCrzA was not only involved in regulating cell wall integrity, but also in morphogenesis and virulence in C. gloeosporioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - Bing Li
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 5009, China
| | - Yu-Ting Pan
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - Yun-Zhao Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
| | - De-Wei Li
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Valley Laboratory, Windsor, CT 06095, USA
| | - Lin Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 20037, China
- Corresponding author. Phone) +86-25-85427301, E-mail) , ORCID, De-Wei Li https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2788-7938, Lin Huang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7536-0914
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13
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Wang T, Ren D, Guo H, Chen X, Zhu P, Nie H, Xu L. CgSCD1 Is Essential for Melanin Biosynthesis and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020141. [PMID: 32093195 PMCID: PMC7169410 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, an important phytopathogenic fungus, mainly infects tropical fruits and results in serious anthracnose. Previous studies have shown that melanin biosynthesis inhibitor can inhibit the melanization of the appressoria of Magnaporthe grisea and Colletotrichumorbiculare, resulting in limited infection of the hosts. In this study, we identified and characterized a scytalone dehydratase gene (CgSCD1) from C. gloeosporioides which is involved in melanin synthesis. The CgSCD1 gene deletion mutant ΔCgscd1 was obtained using homologous recombination. The ΔCgscd1 mutant showed no melanin accumulation on appressoria formation and vegetative hyphae. Furthermore, the virulence of ΔCgscd1 was significantly reduced in comparison with the wild-type (WT) strain. Further investigations showed that the growth rate as well as germination and appressorium formation of ΔCgscd1 displayed no difference compared to the wild-type and complemented transformant Cgscd1com strains. Furthermore, we found that the appressorial turgor pressure in the ΔCgscd1 mutant showed no difference compared to that in the WT and Cgscd1com strains in the incipient cytorrhysis experiment. However, fewer infectious hyphae of ΔCgscd1 were observed in the penetration experiments, suggesting that the penetration ability of nonpigmented appressoria was partially impaired. In conclusion, we identified the CgSCD1 gene, which is involved in melanin synthesis and pathogenicity, and found that the melanization defect did not affect appressorial turgor pressure in C. gloeosporioides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Haozhen Nie
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (L.X.); Tel.: +86-021-5434-1012 (L.X.)
| | - Ling Xu
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (L.X.); Tel.: +86-021-5434-1012 (L.X.)
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14
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Fan CL, Han LT, Jiang ST, Chang AN, Zhou ZY, Liu TB. The Cys 2His 2 zinc finger protein Zfp1 regulates sexual reproduction and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 124:59-72. [PMID: 30630094 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous yeast pathogen that often infects the human central nervous system (CNS) to cause meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. Although numerous signaling pathways and factors important for fungal sexual reproduction and virulence have been investigated, their precise mechanism of action remains to be further elucidated. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel zinc finger protein Zfp1 that regulates fungal sexual reproduction and virulence in C. neoformans. qRT-PCR and ZFP1 promoter regulatory activity assays revealed a ubiquitous expression pattern of ZFP1 in all stages during mating. Subcellular localization analysis indicates that Zfp1 is targeted to the cytoplasm of C. neoformans. In vitro assays of stress responses showed that zfp1Δ mutants and the ZFP1 overexpressed strains ZFP1OE are hypersensitive to SDS, but not Congo red, indicating that Zfp1 may regulate cell membrane integrity. Zfp1 is also essential for fungal sexual reproduction because basidiospore production was blocked in bilateral mating between zfp1Δ mutants or ZFP1 overexpressed strains. Fungal nuclei development assay showed that nuclei in the bilateral mating of zfp1Δ mutants or ZFP1 overexpressed strains failed to undergo meiosis after fusion, indicating Zfp1 is important for regulating meiosis during mating. Although zfp1Δ mutants showed normal growth and produced normal major virulence factors, virulence was attenuated in a murine model. Interestingly, we found that the ZFP1 overexpressed strains were avirulent in a murine systemic-infection model. Overall, our study showed that the zinc finger protein Zfp1 is essential for fungal sporulation and virulence in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Li Fan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lian-Tao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Su-Ting Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - An-Ni Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ze-Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tong-Bao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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15
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Transcription Factors Controlling Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Filamentous Fungi: The β-Lactam Paradigm. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation4020047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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16
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The transcription factor FgCrz1A is essential for fungal development, virulence, deoxynivalenol biosynthesis and stress responses in Fusarium graminearum. Curr Genet 2018; 65:153-166. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-018-0853-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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17
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Druzhinina IS, Kubicek CP. Genetic engineering of Trichoderma reesei cellulases and their production. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:1485-1499. [PMID: 28557371 PMCID: PMC5658622 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass, which mainly consists of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, is the most abundant renewable source for production of biofuel and biorefinery products. The industrial use of plant biomass involves mechanical milling or chipping, followed by chemical or physicochemical pretreatment steps to make the material more susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis. Thereby the cost of enzyme production still presents the major bottleneck, mostly because some of the produced enzymes have low catalytic activity under industrial conditions and/or because the rate of hydrolysis of some enzymes in the secreted enzyme mixture is limiting. Almost all of the lignocellulolytic enzyme cocktails needed for the hydrolysis step are produced by fermentation of the ascomycete Trichoderma reesei (Hypocreales). For this reason, the structure and mechanism of the enzymes involved, the regulation of their expression and the pathways of their formation and secretion have been investigated in T. reesei in considerable details. Several of the findings thereby obtained have been used to improve the formation of the T. reesei cellulases and their properties. In this article, we will review the achievements that have already been made and also show promising fields for further progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S. Druzhinina
- Microbiology GroupResearch Area Biochemical TechnologyInstitute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological EngineeringTU WienViennaAustria
| | - Christian P. Kubicek
- Microbiology GroupResearch Area Biochemical TechnologyInstitute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological EngineeringTU WienViennaAustria
- Present address:
Steinschötelgasse 7Wien1100Austria
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18
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Boron Tolerance in Aspergillus nidulans Is Sustained by the SltA Pathway Through the SLC-Family Transporters SbtA and SbtB. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8070188. [PMID: 28753996 PMCID: PMC5541321 DOI: 10.3390/genes8070188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial cells interact with the environment by adapting to external changes. Signal transduction pathways participate in both sensing and responding in the form of modification of gene expression patterns, enabling cell survival. The filamentous fungal-specific SltA pathway regulates tolerance to alkalinity, elevated cation concentrations and, as shown in this work, also stress conditions induced by borates. Growth of sltA− mutants is inhibited by increasing millimolar concentrations of boric acid or borax (sodium tetraborate). In an attempt to identify genes required for boron-stress response, we determined the boric acid or borax-dependent expression of sbtA and sbtB, orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae bor1, and a reduction in their transcript levels in a ΔsltA mutant. Deletion of sbtA, but mainly that of sbtB, decreased the tolerance to boric acid or borax. In contrast, null mutants of genes coding for additional transporters of the Solute Carrier (SLC) family, sB, sbtD or sbtE, showed an unaltered growth pattern under the same stress conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that the SltA pathway induces, through SbtA and SbtB, the export of toxic concentrations of borates, which have largely recognized antimicrobial properties.
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