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Stratigaki M, Armirotti A, Ottonello G, Manente S, Traviglia A. Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7003. [PMID: 38523163 PMCID: PMC10961312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57228-2] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Historical paper documents are susceptible to complex degradation processes, including biodeterioration, which can progressively compromise their aesthetic and structural integrity. This study analyses seventeenth century handwritten historical letters stored at the Correr Museum Library in Venice, Italy, exhibiting pronounced signs of biodeterioration. The techniques used encompassed traditional colony isolation on agar plates and proteomics analyses, employing nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS). Fluorescence microscopy was used for the first time in the historical paper biodeterioration context to supplement the conventional stereoscopic, optical, and scanning electron microscopic imaging techniques. This method enables the visualisation of microorganisms beyond and beneath the paper's surface through their natural intrinsic autofluorescence in a non-invasive and non-destructive way. The results demonstrate a diverse, complex, and abundant microbiota composed of coexisting fungal and bacterial species (Ascomycota, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria), along with mite carcasses, insects, parasites, and possibly protists. Furthermore, this study reveals certain species that were not previously documented in the biodeterioration of historical paper, including human pathogens, such as Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella, Candida albicans, and species of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. oryzae, A. terreus, A. niger) known to cause infections or produce mycotoxins, posing substantial risk to both artefacts and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stratigaki
- Center for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venice, Italy.
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ottonello
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Manente
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Arianna Traviglia
- Center for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venice, Italy
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Lim SJ, Muhd Noor ND, Sabri S, Mohamad Ali MS, Salleh AB, Oslan SN. Bibliometric analysis and thematic review of Candida pathogenesis: Fundamental omics to applications as potential antifungal drugs and vaccines. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myad126. [PMID: 38061839 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad126] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis caused by the pathogenic Candida yeast species has resulted in elevating global mortality. The pathogenicity of Candida spp. is not only originated from its primary invasive yeast-to-hyphal transition; virulence factors (transcription factors, adhesins, invasins, and enzymes), biofilm, antifungal drug resistance, stress tolerance, and metabolic adaptation have also contributed to a greater clinical burden. However, the current research theme in fungal pathogenicity could hardly be delineated with the increasing research output. Therefore, our study analysed the research trends in Candida pathogenesis over the past 37 years via a bibliometric approach against the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Based on the 3993 unique documents retrieved, significant international collaborations among researchers were observed, especially between Germany (Bernhard Hube) and the UK (Julian Naglik), whose focuses are on Candida proteinases, adhesins, and candidalysin. The prominent researchers (Neils Gow, Alistair Brown, and Frank Odds) at the University of Exeter and the University of Aberdeen (second top performing affiliation) UK contribute significantly to the mechanisms of Candida adaptation, tolerance, and stress response. However, the science mapping of co-citation analysis performed herein could not identify a hub representative of subsequent work since the clusters were semi-redundant. The co-word analysis that was otherwise adopted, revealed three research clusters; the cluster-based thematic analyses indicated the severeness of Candida biofilm and antifungal resistance as well as the elevating trend on molecular mechanism elucidation for drug screening and repurposing. Importantly, the in vivo pathogen adaptation and interactions with hosts are crucial for potential vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Jie Lim
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor Dina Muhd Noor
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Shukuri Mohamad Ali
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Abu Bakar Salleh
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nurbaya Oslan
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Brahma P, Aggarwal R, Sanyal K. Biased eviction of variant histone H3 nucleosomes triggers biofilm growth in Candida albicans. mBio 2023; 14:e0206323. [PMID: 37768046 PMCID: PMC10653867 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02063-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans lives as a commensal in most healthy humans but can cause superficial skin infections to life-threatening systemic infections. C. albicans also forms biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Biofilm cells are difficult to treat and highly resistant to antifungals. A specific set of genes is differentially regulated in biofilm cells as compared to free-floating planktonic cells of C. albicans. In this study, we addressed how a variant histone H3VCTG, a previously identified negative regulator of biofilm formation, modulates gene expression changes. By providing compelling evidence, we show that biased eviction of H3VCTG nucleosomes at the promoters of biofilm-relevant genes facilitates the accessibility of both transcription activators and repressors to modulate gene expression. Our study is a comprehensive investigation of genome-wide nucleosome occupancy in both planktonic and biofilm states, which reveals transition to an open chromatin landscape during biofilm mode of growth in C. albicans, a medically relevant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Brahma
- Molecular Mycology Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rashi Aggarwal
- Molecular Mycology Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Kaustuv Sanyal
- Molecular Mycology Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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4
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Montoya C, Kurylec J, Ossa A, Orrego S. Cyclic strain of poly (methyl methacrylate) surfaces triggered the pathogenicity of Candida albicans. Acta Biomater 2023; 170:415-426. [PMID: 37625677 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast and the primary etiological factor in oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis. The pathogenesis of C. albicans could be triggered by several variables, including environmental, nutritional, and biomaterial surface cues. Specifically, biomaterial interactions are driven by different surface properties, including wettability, stiffness, and roughness. Dental biomaterials experience repetitive (cyclic) stresses from chewing and biomechanical movements. Pathogenic biofilms are formed over these biomaterial surfaces under cyclic strain. This study investigated the effect of the cyclic strain (deformation) of biomaterial surfaces on the virulence of Candida albicans. Candida biofilms were grown over Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces subjected to static (no strain) and cyclic strain with different levels (ε˜x=0.1 and 0.2%). To evaluate the biomaterial-biofilm interactions, the biofilm characteristics, yeast-to-hyphae transition, and the expression of virulent genes were measured. Results showed the biofilm biomass and metabolic activity to be significantly higher when Candida adhered to surfaces subjected to cyclic strain compared to static surfaces. Examination of the yeast-to-hyphae transition showed pseudo-hyphae cells (pathogenic) in cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces, whereas static surfaces showed spherical yeast cells (commensal). RNA sequencing was used to determine and compare the transcriptome profiles of cyclically strained and static surfaces. Genes and transcription factors associated with cell adhesion (CSH1, PGA10, and RBT5), biofilm formation (EFG1), and secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) (CRH1, ADH5, GCA1, and GCA2) were significantly upregulated in the cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces compared to static ones. Genes and transcription factors associated with virulence (UME6 and HGC1) and the secretion of extracellular enzymes (LIP, PLB, and SAP families) were also significantly upregulated in the cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces compared to static. For the first time, this study reveals a biomaterial surface factor triggering the pathogenesis of Candida albicans, which is essential for understanding, controlling, and preventing oral infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Fungal infections produced by Candida albicans are a significant contributor to various health conditions. Candida becomes pathogenic when certain environmental conditions change, including temperature, pH, nutrients, and CO2 levels. In addition, surface properties, including wettability, stiffness, and roughness, drive the interactions between Candida and biomaterials. Clinically, Candida adheres to biomaterials that are under repetitive deformation due to body movements. In this work, we revealed that when Candida adhered to biomaterial surfaces subjected to repetitive deformation, the microorganism becomes pathogenic by increasing the formation of biofilms and the expression of virulent factors related to hyphae formation and secretion of enzymes. Findings from this work could aid the development of new strategies for treating fungal infections in medical devices or implanted biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Montoya
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Julia Kurylec
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alex Ossa
- Production Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Santiago Orrego
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Bioengineering Department, College of Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Naik S, Mohammed A. Consensus Gene Network Analysis Identifies the Key Similarities and Differences in Endothelial and Epithelial Cell Dynamics after Candida albicans Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11748. [PMID: 37511508 PMCID: PMC10380918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial and epithelial cells are morphologically different and play a critical role in host defense during Candida albicans infection. Both cells respond to C. albicans infection by activating various signaling pathways and gene expression patterns. Their interactions with these pathogens can have beneficial and detrimental effects, and a better understanding of these interactions can help guide the development of new therapies for C. albicans infection. To identify the differences and similarities between human endothelial and oral epithelial cell transcriptomics during C. albicans infection, we performed consensus WGCNA on 32 RNA-seq samples by relating the consensus modules to endothelial-specific modules and analyzing the genes connected. This analysis resulted in the identification of 14 distinct modules. We demonstrated that the magenta module correlates significantly with C. albicans infection in each dataset. In addition, we found that the blue and cyan modules in the two datasets had opposite correlation coefficients with a C. albicans infection. However, the correlation coefficients and p-values between the two datasets were slightly different. Functional analyses of the hub of genes from endothelial cells elucidated the enrichment in TNF, AGE-RAGE, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling. On the other hand, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, amino acid, fructose, mannose, and vitamin B6 metabolism were enriched in epithelial cells. However, mitophagy, necroptosis, apoptotic processes, and hypoxia were enriched in both endothelial and epithelial cells. Protein-protein interaction analysis using STRING and CytoHubba revealed STAT3, SNRPE, BIRC2, and NFKB2 as endothelial hub genes, while RRS1, SURF6, HK2, and LDHA genes were identified in epithelial cells. Understanding these similarities and differences may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of C. albicans infections and the development of new therapeutic targets and interventional strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Naik
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
| | - Akram Mohammed
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
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6
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Wang WH, Lai TX, Wu YC, Chen ZT, Tseng KY, Lan CY. Associations of Rap1 with Cell Wall Integrity, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence in Candida albicans. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0328522. [PMID: 36416583 PMCID: PMC9769648 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03285-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rap1 (repressor activator protein 1) is a multifunctional protein, playing important roles in telomeric and nontelomeric functions in many eukaryotes. Candida albicans Rap1 has been previously shown to be involved in telomeric regulation, but its other functions are still mostly unknown. In this study, we found that the deletion of the RAP1 gene altered cell wall properties, composition, and gene expression. In addition, deletion of RAP1 affected C. albicans biofilm formation and modulated phagocytosis and cytokine release by host immune cells. Finally, the RAP1 gene deletion mutant showed attenuation of C. albicans virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Therefore, these findings provide new insights into Rap1 functions that are particularly relevant to pathogenesis and virulence of C. albicans. IMPORTANCE C. albicans is an important fungal pathogen of humans. The cell wall is the outermost layer of C. albicans and is important for commensalism and infection by this pathogen. Moreover, the cell wall is also an important target for antifungals. Studies of how C. albicans maintains its cell wall integrity are critical for a better understanding of fungal pathogenesis and virulence. This work focuses on exploring unknown functions of C. albicans Rap1 and reveals its contribution to cell wall integrity, biofilm formation, and virulence. Notably, these findings will also improve our general understanding of complex machinery to control pathogenesis and virulence of fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Han Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Xiu Lai
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chia Wu
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Zzu-Ting Chen
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Yun Tseng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Taiwan Mycology Reference Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Lan
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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7
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Macias-Paz IU, Pérez-Hernández S, Tavera-Tapia A, Luna-Arias JP, Guerra-Cárdenas JE, Reyna-Beltrán E. Candida albicans the main opportunistic pathogenic fungus in humans. Rev Argent Microbiol 2022:S0325-7541(22)00084-0. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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8
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Shao TY, Haslam DB, Bennett RJ, Way SS. Friendly fungi: symbiosis with commensal Candida albicans. Trends Immunol 2022; 43:706-717. [PMID: 35961916 PMCID: PMC10027380 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mucosal tissues are constitutively colonized by a wide assortment of host-adapted microbes. This includes the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans which is a primary target of human adaptive responses. Immunogenicity is replicated after intestinal colonization in preclinical models with a surprising array of protective benefits for most hosts, but harmful consequences for a few. The interaction between fungus and host is complex, and traditionally, the masking of antigenic fungal ligands has been viewed as a tactic for fungal immune evasion during invasive infection. However, we propose that dynamic expression of cell wall moieties, host cell lysins, and other antigenic C. albicans determinants is necessary during the more ubiquitous context of intestinal colonization to prime immunogenicity and optimize mammalian host symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yu Shao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunobiology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - David B Haslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Richard J Bennett
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Sing Sing Way
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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9
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Qian Z, Mengxun Z, Yingchao W, Tingting Z, Roujuan W, Shuhong W, Yi D, Ruirui Y, Peng Y, Yifan S, Yunshi Z, Xun S, Yaping G, Zhendan H, Tie C, Chenyang L. Natural Compound 2-Chloro-1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene, Isolated from Hericium Erinaceus, Inhibits Fungal Growth by Disrupting Membranes and Triggering Apoptosis. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:6444-6454. [PMID: 35580153 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 2-chloro-1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene (CDM), a natural product with anti-Candida albicans activity, was discovered from the Hericium erinaceus mycelium. The minimum inhibitory concentration of CDM was 62.5 μg/mL. Moreover, structural analogues of CDM obtained from chemical synthesis were applied to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of CDM against C. albicans. It was found that methoxy groups, halogen atoms (except fluorine atoms), and methoxy-meta-position methyl groups in the structure of CDM were the key active groups. Furthermore, we investigated the anti-C. albicans mechanism of CDM. Experiments suggested that CDM destroyed the cell membrane of C. albicans, including the cytoplasmic membrane and mitochondrial membrane, and caused the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction, which ultimately led to apoptosis of C. albicans. In addition, CDM had no toxicity on human normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells exposed to a concentration of 125 μg/mL. Experiments showed that CDM reduced the damage of C. albicans to the visceral tissue of infected mice and improved the survival rate of mice. Our research provides a scientific basis for the discovery of effective and safe anti-C. albicans drugs from H. erinaceus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Qian
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Zhang Mengxun
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Wang Yingchao
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Zhen Tingting
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Wang Roujuan
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Wang Shuhong
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Du Yi
- University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Yu Ruirui
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Yi Peng
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Song Yifan
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Zhi Yunshi
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Song Xun
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Guo Yaping
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - He Zhendan
- Guangdong Province Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Chen Tie
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
| | - Li Chenyang
- Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, China
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10
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Shao TY, Kakade P, Witchley JN, Frazer C, Murray KL, Ene IV, Haslam DB, Hagan T, Noble SM, Bennett RJ, Way SS. Candida albicans oscillating UME6 expression during intestinal colonization primes systemic Th17 protective immunity. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110837. [PMID: 35584674 PMCID: PMC9196946 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic immunity is stringently regulated by commensal intestinal microbes, including the pathobiont Candida albicans. This fungus utilizes various transcriptional and morphological programs for host adaptation, but how this heterogeneity affects immunogenicity remains uncertain. We show that UME6, a transcriptional regulator of filamentation, is essential for intestinal C. albicans-primed systemic Th17 immunity. UME6 deletion and constitutive overexpression strains are non-immunogenic during commensal colonization, whereas immunogenicity is restored by C. albicans undergoing oscillating UME6 expression linked with β-glucan and mannan production. In turn, intestinal reconstitution with these fungal cell wall components restores protective Th17 immunity to mice colonized with UME6-locked variants. These fungal cell wall ligands and commensal C. albicans stimulate Th17 immunity through multiple host pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, Dectin-1, and Dectin-2, which work synergistically for colonization-induced protection. Thus, dynamic gene expression fluctuations by C. albicans during symbiotic colonization are essential for priming host immunity against disseminated infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yu Shao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Immunobiology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Pallavi Kakade
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jessica N Witchley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Corey Frazer
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Kathryn L Murray
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Iuliana V Ene
- Fungal Heterogeneity Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France
| | - David B Haslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Thomas Hagan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Suzanne M Noble
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Richard J Bennett
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Sing Sing Way
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Tolerance, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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11
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Glazier VE. EFG1, Everyone’s Favorite Gene in Candida albicans: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:855229. [PMID: 35392604 PMCID: PMC8980467 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.855229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida sp. are among the most common fungal commensals found in the human microbiome. Although Candida can be found residing harmlessly on the surface of the skin and mucosal membranes, these opportunistic fungi have the potential to cause superficial skin, nail, and mucus membrane infections as well as life threatening systemic infections. Severity of infection is dependent on both fungal and host factors including the immune status of the host. Virulence factors associated with Candida sp. pathogenicity include adhesin proteins, degradative enzymes, phenotypic switching, and morphogenesis. A central transcriptional regulator of morphogenesis, the transcription factor Efg1 was first characterized in Candida albicans in 1997. Since then, EFG1 has been referenced in the Candida literature over three thousand times, with the number of citations growing daily. Arguably one of the most well studied genes in Candida albicans, EFG1 has been referenced in nearly all contexts of Candida biology from the development of novel therapeutics to white opaque switching, hyphae morphology to immunology. In the review that follows we will synthesize the research that has been performed on this extensively studied transcription factor and highlight several important unanswered questions.
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12
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Abstract
Invasive fungal diseases are rare in individuals with intact immunity. This, together with the fact that there are only a few species that account for most mycotic diseases, implies a remarkable natural resistance to pathogenic fungi. Mammalian immunity to fungi rests on two pillars, powerful immune mechanisms and elevated temperatures that create a thermal restriction zone for most fungal species. Conditions associated with increased susceptibility generally reflect major disturbances of immune function involving both the cellular and humoral innate and adaptive arms, which implies considerable redundancy in host defense mechanisms against fungi. In general, tissue fungal invasion is controlled through either neutrophil or granulomatous inflammation, depending on the fungal species. Neutrophils are critical against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. while macrophages are essential for controlling mycoses due to Cryptococcus spp., Histoplasma spp., and other fungi. The increasing number of immunocompromised patients together with climate change could significantly increase the prevalence of fungal diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology, Volume 40 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Interplay between Candida albicans and Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Impact on Colonization Resistance, Microbial Carriage, Opportunistic Infection, and Host Immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021; 34:e0032320. [PMID: 34259567 PMCID: PMC8404691 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00323-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging studies have highlighted the disproportionate role of Candida albicans in influencing both early community assembly of the bacterial microbiome and dysbiosis during allergic diseases and intestinal inflammation. Nonpathogenic colonization of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract by C. albicans is common, and the role of this single fungal species in modulating bacterial community reassembly after broad-spectrum antibiotics can be readily recapitulated in mouse studies. One of the most notable features of C. albicans-associated dysbiotic states is a marked change in the levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). C. albicans and LAB share metabolic niches throughout the GI tract, and in vitro studies have identified various interactions between these microbes. The two predominant LAB affected are Lactobacillus species and Enterococcus species. Lactobacilli can antagonize enterococci and C. albicans, while Enterococcus faecalis and C. albicans have been reported to exhibit a mutualistic relationship. E. faecalis and C. albicans are also causative agents of a variety of life-threatening infections, are frequently isolated together from mixed-species infections, and share certain similarities in clinical presentation-most notably their emergence as opportunistic pathogens following disruption of the microbiota. In this review, we discuss and model the mechanisms used by Lactobacillus species, E. faecalis, and C. albicans to modulate each other's growth and virulence in the GI tract. With multidrug-resistant E. faecalis and C. albicans strains becoming increasingly common in hospital settings, examining the interplay between these three microbes may provide novel insights for enhancing the efficacy of existing antimicrobial therapies.
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14
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Liao B, Ye X, Chen X, Zhou Y, Cheng L, Zhou X, Ren B. The two-component signal transduction system and its regulation in Candida albicans. Virulence 2021; 12:1884-1899. [PMID: 34233595 PMCID: PMC8274445 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1949883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans, which can cause superficial and life-threatening systemic infections, is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen in the human microbiome. The two-component system is one of the most important C. albicans signal transduction pathways, regulating the response to oxidative and osmotic stresses, adhesion, morphogenesis, cell wall synthesis, virulence, drug resistance, and the host-pathogen interactions. Notably, some components of this signaling pathway have not been found in the human genome, indicating that the two-component system of C. albicans can be a potential target for new antifungal agents. Here, we summarize the composition, signal transduction, and regulation of the two-component system of C. albicans to emphasize its essential roles in the pathogenesis of C. albicans and the new therapeutic target for antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biaoyou Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingchen Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yujie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Biao Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases& West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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15
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D’Angeli F, Guadagni F, Genovese C, Nicolosi D, Trovato Salinaro A, Spampinato M, Mannino G, Lo Furno D, Petronio Petronio G, Ronsisvalle S, Sipala F, Falzone L, Calabrese V. Anti-Candidal Activity of the Parasitic Plant Orobanche crenata Forssk. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1373. [PMID: 34827311 PMCID: PMC8615231 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) are part of the human microbiome. However, they possess numerous virulence factors, which confer them the ability to cause both local and systemic infections. Candidiasis can involve multiple organs, including the eye. In the present study, we investigated the anti-candidal activity and the re-epithelizing effect of Orobanche crenata leaf extract (OCLE). By the microdilution method, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of OCLE on both C. albicans and C. glabrata growth. By crystal violet and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we showed the ability of OCLE to inhibit the biofilm formation and the viability of yeast cells, respectively. By germ tube and adhesion assays, we proved the capacity of OCLE to affect the morphological transition of C. albicans and the adhesion of both pathogens to human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19), respectively. Besides, by MTT and wound healing assay, we evaluated the cytotoxic and re-epithelizing effects of OCLE on ARPE-19. Finally, the Folin-Ciocalteu and the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed a high content of phenols and the presence of several bioactive molecules in the extract. Our results highlighted new properties of O. crenata, useful in the control of Candida infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriana D’Angeli
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.D.); (F.G.)
| | - Fiorella Guadagni
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.D.); (F.G.)
- InterInstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Genovese
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, “Kore” University of Enna, Contrada Santa Panasia, 94100 Enna, Italy
- Nacture S.r.l, Spin-Off University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Daria Nicolosi
- Nacture S.r.l, Spin-Off University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy;
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Angela Trovato Salinaro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.T.S.); (M.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Mariarita Spampinato
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.T.S.); (M.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Giuliana Mannino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (D.L.F.)
| | - Debora Lo Furno
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (D.L.F.)
| | - Giulio Petronio Petronio
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Via Francesco de Sanctis 1, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
| | - Simone Ronsisvalle
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (S.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Federica Sipala
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (S.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Luca Falzone
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Calabrese
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.T.S.); (M.S.); (V.C.)
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16
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Candida albicans Sfp1 Is Involved in the Cell Wall and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Responses Induced by Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910633. [PMID: 34638975 PMCID: PMC8508991 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal fungus of humans but can cause infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, ranging from superficial to life-threatening systemic infections. The cell wall is the outermost layer of C. albicans that interacts with the host environment. Moreover, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components in innate immunity and play crucial roles in host defense. Our previous studies showed that the human AMP LL-37 binds to the cell wall of C. albicans, alters the cell wall integrity (CWI) and affects cell adhesion of this pathogen. In this study, we aimed to further investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the C. albicans response to LL-37. We found that LL-37 causes cell wall stress, activates unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling related to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), induces ER-derived reactive oxygen species and affects protein secretion. Interestingly, the deletion of the SFP1 gene encoding a transcription factor reduced C. albicans susceptibility to LL-37, which is cell wall-associated. Moreover, in the presence of LL-37, deletion of SFP1 attenuated the UPR pathway, upregulated oxidative stress responsive (OSR) genes and affected bovine serum albumin (BSA) degradation by secreted proteases. Therefore, these findings suggested that Sfp1 positively regulates cell wall integrity and ER homeostasis upon treatment with LL-37 and shed light on pathogen-host interactions.
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17
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Hameed S, Hans S, Singh S, Dhiman R, Monasky R, Pandey RP, Thangamani S, Fatima Z. Revisiting the Vital Drivers and Mechanisms of β-Glucan Masking in Human Fungal Pathogen, Candida albicans. Pathogens 2021; 10:942. [PMID: 34451406 PMCID: PMC8399646 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the several human fungal pathogens, Candida genus represents one of the most implicated in the clinical scenario. There exist several distinctive features that govern the establishment of Candida infections in addition to their capacity to adapt to multiple stress conditions inside humans which also include evasion of host immune responses. The complex fungal cell wall of the prevalent pathogen, Candida albicans, is one of the main targets of antifungal drugs and recognized by host immune cells. The wall consists of tiered arrangement of an outer thin but dense covering of mannan and inner buried layers of β-glucan and chitin. However, the pathogenic fungi adopt strategies to evade immune recognition by masking these molecules. This capacity to camouflage the immunogenic polysaccharide β-glucan from the host is a key virulence factor of C. albicans. The present review is an attempt to collate various underlying factors and mechanisms involved in Candida β-glucan masking from the available pool of knowledge and provide a comprehensive understanding. This will further improve therapeutic approaches to candidiasis by identifying new antifungal targets that blocks fungal immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif Hameed
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India; (S.H.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Sandeep Hans
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India; (S.H.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Shweta Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India; (S.H.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Ruby Dhiman
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, Sonepat 131029, India; (R.D.); (R.P.P.)
| | - Ross Monasky
- Department of Pathology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, 19555 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308, USA; (R.M.); (S.T.)
| | - Ramendra Pati Pandey
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, Sonepat 131029, India; (R.D.); (R.P.P.)
| | - Shankar Thangamani
- Department of Pathology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, 19555 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308, USA; (R.M.); (S.T.)
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Zeeshan Fatima
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram 122413, India; (S.H.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
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18
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Shchukarev A, Backman E, Watts S, Salentinig S, Urban CF, Ramstedt M. Applying Cryo-X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy to Study the Surface Chemical Composition of Fungi and Viruses. Front Chem 2021; 9:666853. [PMID: 34124001 PMCID: PMC8194281 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.666853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction between microorganisms and their surroundings are generally mediated via the cell wall or cell envelope. An understanding of the overall chemical composition of these surface layers may give clues on how these interactions occur and suggest mechanisms to manipulate them. This knowledge is key, for instance, in research aiming to reduce colonization of medical devices and device-related infections from different types of microorganisms. In this context, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful technique as its analysis depth below 10 nm enables studies of the outermost surface structures of microorganism. Of specific interest for the study of biological systems is cryogenic XPS (cryo-XPS). This technique allows studies of intact fast-frozen hydrated samples without the need for pre-treatment procedures that may cause the cell structure to collapse or change due to the loss of water. Previously, cryo-XPS has been applied to study bacterial and algal surfaces with respect to their composition of lipids, polysaccharides and peptide (protein and/or peptidoglycan). This contribution focuses onto two other groups of microorganisms with widely different architecture and modes of life, namely fungi and viruses. It evaluates to what extent existing models for data treatment of XPS spectra can be applied to understand the chemical composition of their very different surface layers. XPS data from model organisms as well as reference substances representing specific building blocks of their surface were collected and are presented. These results aims to guide future analysis of the surface chemical composition of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emelie Backman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Samuel Watts
- Biointerfaces Lab, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, Fribourg University, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Constantin F Urban
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Ramstedt
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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19
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Aequorin as a Useful Calcium-Sensing Reporter in Candida albicans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040319. [PMID: 33924126 PMCID: PMC8074299 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Candida albicans, calcium ions (Ca2+) regulate the activity of several signaling pathways, especially the calcineurin signaling pathway. Ca2+ homeostasis is also important for cell polarization, hyphal extension, and plays a role in contact sensing. It is therefore important to obtain accurate tools with which Ca2+ homeostasis can be addressed in this fungal pathogen. Aequorin from Aequorea victoria has been used in eukaryotic cells for detecting intracellular Ca2+. A codon-adapted aequorin Ca2+-sensing expression system was therefore designed for probing cytosolic Ca2+ flux in C. albicans. The availability of a novel water-soluble formulation of coelenterazine, which is required as a co-factor, made it possible to measure bioluminescence as a readout of intracellular Ca2+ levels in C. albicans. Alkaline stress resulted in an immediate influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium. This increase was exacerbated in a mutant lacking the vacuolar Ca2+ transporter VCX1, thus confirming its role in Ca2+ homeostasis. Using mutants in components of a principal Ca2+ channel (MID1, CCH1), the alkaline-dependent Ca2+ spike was greatly reduced, thus highlighting the crucial role of this channel complex in Ca2+ uptake and homeostasis. Exposure to the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone, known to perturb Ca2+ trafficking, resulted in increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ within seconds that was abrogated by the chelation of Ca2+ in the external medium. Ca2+ import was also dependent on the Cch1/Mid1 Ca2+ channel in amiodarone-exposed cells. In conclusion, the aequorin Ca2+ sensing reporter developed here is an adequate tool with which Ca2+ homeostasis can be investigated in C. albicans.
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20
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Differences in fungal immune recognition by monocytes and macrophages: N-mannan can be a shield or activator of immune recognition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 6:100042. [PMID: 33364531 PMCID: PMC7750734 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2020.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytokine response to N-mannan mutants was dependent on the immune cell type used. N-mannan mutants stimulated less cytokines from monocytes but more from macrophages. N-mannan can therefore act as both an immune agonist or an immune shield.
We designed experiments to assess whether fungal cell wall mannans function as an immune shield or an immune agonist. Fungal cell wall β-(1,3)-glucan normally plays a major and dominant role in immune activation. The outer mannan layer has been variously described as an immune shield, because it has the potential to mask the underlying β-(1,3)-glucan, or an immune activator, as it also has the potential to engage with a wide range of mannose detecting PRRs. To resolve this conundrum we examined species-specific differences in host immune recognition in the och1Δ N-mannosylation-deficient mutant background in four species of yeast-like fungi. Irrespective of the fungal species, the cytokine response (TNFα and IL-6) induced by the och1Δ mutants in human monocytes was reduced compared to that of the wild type. In contrast, TNFα production induced by och1Δ was increased, relative to wild type, due to increased β-glucan exposure, when mouse or human macrophages were used. These observations suggest that N-mannan is not a major PAMP for macrophages and that in these cells mannan does shield the fungus from recognition of the inner cell wall β-glucan. However, N-mannan is a significant inducer of cytokine for monocytes. Therefore the metaphor of the fungal “mannan shield” can only be applied to some, but not all, myeloid cells used in immune profiling experiments of fungal species.
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