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de Andrade IB, Alves V, Pereira L, Miranda B, Corrêa-Junior D, Galdino Figueiredo-Carvalho MH, Santos MV, Almeida-Paes R, Frases S. Effect of rapamycin on Cryptococcus neoformans: cellular organization, biophysics and virulence factors. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1061-1075. [PMID: 37721517 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0097] [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: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes infections mainly in immunosuppressed individuals, such as transplant recipients. Aims: This study investigated the effects of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, on the cellular organization, biophysical characteristics, and main virulence factors of C. neoformans. Methods: Morphological, structural, physicochemical and biophysical analyses of cells and secreted polysaccharides of the reference H99 C. neoformans strain were investigated under the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of rapamycin. Results: Rapamycin at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.5 μM reduced C. neoformans cell viability by 53%, decreased capsule, increased cell size, chitin and lipid body formation, and changed peptidase and urease activity. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to assess how rapamycin affects the virulence factors and pathogenicity of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iara Bastos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiza Pereira
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruna Miranda
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Dario Corrêa-Junior
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Vinicius Santos
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede Micologia - FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede Micologia - FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Alves V, Martins PH, Miranda B, de Andrade IB, Pereira L, Maeda CT, de Sousa Araújo GR, Frases S. Assessing the In Vitro Potential of Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone ®) as a Chemotherapeutic Candidate for the Treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:783. [PMID: 37623554 PMCID: PMC10455304 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis affecting immunosuppressed individuals, caused by various Cryptococcus species. The current treatment utilizes a combination of antifungal drugs, but issues such as nephrotoxicity, restricted or limited availability in certain countries, and resistance limit their effectiveness. Repurposing approved drugs presents a viable strategy for developing new antifungal options. This study investigates the potential of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) as a chemotherapy candidate for Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Various techniques are employed to evaluate the effects of glatiramer acetate on the fungus, including microdilution, XTT analysis, electron and light microscopy, and physicochemical measurements. The results demonstrate that glatiramer acetate exhibits antifungal properties, with an IC50 of 0.470 mg/mL and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, it promotes enhanced cell aggregation, facilitates biofilm formation, and increases the secretion of fungal polysaccharides. These findings indicate that glatiramer acetate not only shows an antifungal effect but also modulates the key virulence factor-the polysaccharide capsule. In summary, repurposing glatiramer acetate as a potential chemotherapy option offers new prospects for combating C. neoformans infection. It addresses the limitations associated with current antifungal therapies by providing an alternative treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Pedro Henrique Martins
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Bruna Miranda
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Iara Bastos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Luiza Pereira
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Christina Takiya Maeda
- Laboratório de Fisiopatologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil;
| | - Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araújo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (V.A.); (P.H.M.); (B.M.); (I.B.d.A.); (L.P.); (G.R.d.S.A.)
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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3
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Corrêa-Junior D, Bastos de Andrade I, Alves V, Avellar-Moura I, Brito de Souza Rabello V, Valdez AF, Nimrichter L, Zancopé-Oliveira RM, Ribeiro de Sousa Araújo G, Almeida-Paes R, Frases S. Unveiling the Morphostructural Plasticity of Zoonotic Sporotrichosis Fungal Strains: Possible Implications for Sporothrix brasiliensis Virulence and Pathogenicity. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:701. [PMID: 37504690 PMCID: PMC10381685 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix species, with Sporothrix brasiliensis as a prevalent pathogen in Latin America. Despite its clinical importance, the virulence factors of S. brasiliensis and their impact on the pathogenesis of sporotrichosis are still poorly understood. This study evaluated the morphostructural plasticity of S. brasiliensis, a fungus that causes sporotrichosis. Three cell surface characteristics, namely cell surface hydrophobicity, Zeta potential, and conductance, were assessed. Biofilm formation was also analyzed, with measurements taken for biomass, extracellular matrix, and metabolic activity. In addition, other potential and poorly studied characteristics correlated with virulence such as lipid bodies, chitin, and cell size were evaluated. The results revealed that the major phenotsypic features associated with fungal virulence in the studied S. brasiliensis strains were chitin, lipid bodies, and conductance. The dendrogram clustered the strains based on their overall similarity in the production of these factors. Correlation analyses showed that hydrophobicity was strongly linked to the production of biomass and extracellular matrix, while there was a weaker association between Zeta potential and size, and lipid bodies and chitin. This study provides valuable insights into the virulence factors of S. brasiliensis and their potential role in the pathogenesis of sporotrichosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Corrêa-Junior
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Iara Bastos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Igor Avellar-Moura
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Brito de Souza Rabello
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Fernandes Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araújo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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4
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de Andrade IB, Corrêa-Junior D, Alves V, Figueiredo-Carvalho MHG, Santos MV, Almeida MA, Valdez AF, Nimrichter L, Almeida-Paes R, Frases S. Cyclosporine Affects the Main Virulence Factors of Cryptococcus neoformans In Vitro. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9040487. [PMID: 37108941 PMCID: PMC10140927 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyclosporine on the morphology, cell wall structure, and secretion characteristics of Cryptococcus neoformans. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cyclosporine was found to be 2 µM (2.4 µg/mL) for the H99 strain. Yeast cells treated with cyclosporine at half the MIC showed altered morphology, including irregular shapes and elongated projections, without an effect on cell metabolism. Cyclosporine treatment resulted in an 18-fold increase in chitin and an 8-fold increase in lipid bodies, demonstrating changes in the fungal cell wall structure. Cyclosporine also reduced cell body and polysaccharide capsule diameters, with a significant reduction in urease secretion in C. neoformans cultures. Additionally, the study showed that cyclosporine increased the viscosity of secreted polysaccharides and reduced the electronegativity and conductance of cells. The findings suggest that cyclosporine has significant effects on C. neoformans morphology, cell wall structure, and secretion, which could have implications for the development of new antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iara Bastos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Dario Corrêa-Junior
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Vinicius Santos
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Marcos Abreu Almeida
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Fernandes Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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5
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Phospholipase B Is Critical for Cryptococcus neoformans Survival in the Central Nervous System. mBio 2023; 14:e0264022. [PMID: 36786559 PMCID: PMC10127605 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02640-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is an opportunistic, encapsulated, yeast-like fungus that causes severe meningoencephalitis, especially in countries with high HIV prevalence. In addition to its well-known polysaccharide capsule, Cn has other virulence factors such as phospholipases, a heterogeneous group of enzymes that hydrolyze ester linkages in glycerophospholipids. Phospholipase B (PLB1) has been demonstrated to play a key role in Cn pathogenicity. In this study, we used a PLB1 mutant (plb1) and its reconstituted strain (Rec1) to assess the importance of this enzyme on Cn brain infection in vivo and in vitro. Mice infected with the plb1 strain survive significantly longer, have lower peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) fungal loads, and have fewer and smaller cryptococcomas or biofilm-like brain lesions compared to H99- and Rec1-infected animals. PLB1 causes extensive brain tissue damage and changes microglia morphology during cryptococcal disease, observations which can have important implications in patients with altered mental status or dementia as these manifestations are related to poorer survival outcomes. plb1 cryptococci are significantly more phagocytosed and killed by NR-9460 microglia-like cells. plb1 cells have altered capsular polysaccharide biophysical properties which impair their ability to stimulate glial cell responses or morphological changes. Here, we provide significant evidence demonstrating that Cn PLB1 is an important virulence factor for fungal colonization of and survival in the CNS as well as in the progression of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. These findings may potentially help fill in a gap of knowledge in our understanding of cerebral cryptococcosis and provide novel research avenues in Cn pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CME) is a serious disease caused by infection by the neurotropic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Due to the increasing number of cases in HIV-infected individuals, as well as the limited therapies available, investigation into potential targets for new therapeutics has become critical. Phospholipase B is an enzyme synthesized by Cn that confers virulence to the fungus through capsular enlargement, immunomodulation, and intracellular replication. In this study, we examined the properties of PLB1 by comparing infection of a Cn PLB1 mutant strain with both the wild-type and a PLB1-reconstituted strain. We show that PLB1 augments the survival and proliferation of the fungus in the CNS and strengthens virulence by modulating the immune response and enhancing specific biophysical properties of the fungus. PLB1 expression causes brain tissue damage and impacts glial cell functions, which may be responsible for the dementia observed in patients which may persist even after resolving from CME. The implications of PLB1 inhibition reveal its involvement in Cn infection and suggest that it may be a possible molecular target in the development of antifungal therapies. The results of this study support additional investigation into the mechanism of PLB1 to further understand the intricacies of cerebral Cn infection.
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Wang Y, Pawar S, Dutta O, Wang K, Rivera A, Xue C. Macrophage Mediated Immunomodulation During Cryptococcus Pulmonary Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:859049. [PMID: 35402316 PMCID: PMC8987709 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.859049] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are key cellular components of innate immunity, acting as the first line of defense against pathogens to modulate homeostatic and inflammatory responses. They help clear pathogens and shape the T-cell response through the production of cytokines and chemokines. The facultative intracellular fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has developed a unique ability to interact with and manipulate host macrophages. These interactions dictate how Cryptococcus infection can remain latent or how dissemination within the host is achieved. In addition, differences in the activities of macrophages have been correlated with differential susceptibilities of hosts to Cryptococcus infection, highlighting the importance of macrophages in determining disease outcomes. There is now abundant information on the interaction between Cryptococcus and macrophages. In this review we discuss recent advances regarding macrophage origin, polarization, activation, and effector functions during Cryptococcus infection. The importance of these strategies in pathogenesis and the potential of immunotherapy for cryptococcosis treatment is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Siddhi Pawar
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Orchi Dutta
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Keyi Wang
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Chaoyang Xue
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
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Araújo GRDS, Alcantara CDL, Rodrigues N, de Souza W, Pontes B, Frases S. Ultrastructural Study of Cryptococcus neoformans Surface During Budding Events. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:609244. [PMID: 33732220 PMCID: PMC7957021 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.609244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. It is surrounded by three concentric structures that separate the cell from the extracellular space: the plasma membrane, the cell wall and the polysaccharide (PS) capsule. Although several studies have revealed the chemical composition of these structures, little is known about their ultrastructural organization and remodeling during C. neoformans budding events. Here, by combining the latest and most accurate light and electron microscopy techniques, we describe the morphological remodeling that occurs among the capsule, cell wall and plasma membrane during budding in C. neoformans. Our results show that the cell wall deforms to generate a specialized region at one of the cell’s poles. This region subsequently begins to break into layers that are slightly separated from each other and with thick tips. We also observe a reorganization of the capsular PS around the specialized regions. While daughter cells present their PS fibers aligned in the direction of budding, mother cells show a similar pattern but in the opposite direction. Also, daughter cells form multilamellar membrane structures covering the continuous opening between both cells. Together, our findings provide compelling ultrastructural evidence for C. neoformans surface remodeling during budding, which may have important implications for future studies exploring these remodeled specialized regions as drug-targets against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber R de S Araújo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina de L Alcantara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Noêmia Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Pontes
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Pinças Óticas (LPO-COPEA), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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8
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Araújo GRDS, Alves V, Martins-de-Souza PH, Guimarães AJ, Honorato L, Nimrichter L, Takiya CM, Pontes B, Frases S. Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone Promote Cell Proliferation, Capsule Enlargement, and in vivo Dissemination of C. neoformans. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:643537. [PMID: 37744119 PMCID: PMC10512211 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.643537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, who often have some inflammatory condition and, therefore, end up using glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and methylprednisolone. Although the effects of this class of molecules during cryptococcosis have been investigated, their consequences for the biology of C. neoformans is less explored. Here, we studied the effects of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone on the metabolism and on the induction of virulence factors in C. neoformans. Our results showed that both glucocorticoids increased fungal cell proliferation and surface electronegativity but reduced capsule and secreted polysaccharide sizes, as well as capsule compaction, by decreasing the density of polysaccharide fibers. We also tested whether glucocorticoids could affect the fungal virulence in Galleria mellonella and mice. Although the survival rate of Galleria larvae increased, those from mice showed a tendency to decrease, with infected animals dying earlier after glucocorticoid treatments. The pathogenesis of spread of cryptococcosis and the interleukin secretion pattern were also assessed for lungs and brains of infected mice. While increases in the spread of the fungus to lungs were observed after treatment with glucocorticoids, a significant difference in brain was observed only for methylprednisolone, although a trend toward increasing was also observed for dexamethasone. Moreover, increases in both pulmonary and cerebral IL-10 production, reduction of IL-6 production but no changes in IL-4, IL-17, and INF-γ were also observed after glucocorticoid treatments. Finally, histopathological analysis confirmed the increase in number of fungal cells in lung and brain tissues of mice previously subjected to dexamethasone or methylprednisolone treatments. Together, our results provide compelling evidence for the effects of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone on the biology of C. neoformans and may have important implications for future clinical treatments, calling attention to the risks of using these glucocorticoids against cryptococcosis or in immunocompromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber R. de S. Araújo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Cellular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Cellular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. Martins-de-Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Cellular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Allan J. Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Depto. de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christina Maeda Takiya
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Pontes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Cellular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Araújo GRDS, Viana NB, Gómez F, Pontes B, Frases S. The mechanical properties of microbial surfaces and biofilms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5:100028. [PMID: 32743144 PMCID: PMC7389442 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2019.100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microbes can modify their surface structure as an adaptive mechanism for survival and dissemination in the environment or inside the host. Altering their ability to respond to mechanical stimuli is part of this adaptive process. Since the 1990s, powerful micromanipulation tools have been developed that allow mechanical studies of microbial cell surfaces, exploring little known aspects of their dynamic behavior. This review concentrates on the study of mechanical and rheological properties of bacteria and fungi, focusing on their cell surface dynamics and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber R de S Araújo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Nathan B Viana
- Laboratório de Pinças Óticas (LPO-COPEA), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fran Gómez
- Laboratório de Pinças Óticas (LPO-COPEA), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno Pontes
- Laboratório de Pinças Óticas (LPO-COPEA), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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