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Anderson MZ, Dietz SM. Evolution and strain diversity advance exploration of Candida albicans biology. mSphere 2024; 9:e0064123. [PMID: 39012122 PMCID: PMC11351040 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00641-23] [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] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungi were some of the earliest organismal systems used to explore mutational processes and its phenotypic consequences on members of a species. Yeasts that cause significant human disease were quickly incorporated into these investigations to define the genetic and phenotypic drivers of virulence. Among Candida species, Candida albicans has emerged as a model for studying genomic processes of evolution because of its clinical relevance, relatively small genome, and ability to tolerate complex chromosomal changes. Here, we describe major recent findings that used evolution of strains from defined genetic backgrounds to delineate mutational and adaptative processes and include how nascent exploration into naturally occurring variation is contributing to these conceptual frameworks. Ultimately, efforts to discern adaptive mechanisms used by C. albicans will continue to divulge new biology and can better inform treatment regimens for the increasing prevalence of fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Z. Anderson
- Department of Medical Genetics, Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Genomic Science Innovation, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Siobhan M. Dietz
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Domán M, Kaszab E, Laczkó L, Bali K, Makrai L, Kovács R, Majoros L, Bányai K. Genomic epidemiology of antifungal resistance in human and avian isolates of Candida albicans: a pilot study from the One Health perspective. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1345877. [PMID: 38435368 PMCID: PMC10904516 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1345877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced genomic changes in Candida albicans contribute to the adaptation of this species to various environmental conditions. Variations of the genome composition of animal-origin C. albicans strains are largely unexplored and drug resistance or other selective pressures driving the evolution of these yeasts remained an intriguing question. Comparative genome analysis was carried out to uncover chromosomal aneuploidies and regions with loss of heterozygosity (LOH), two mechanisms that manage genome plasticity. We detected aneuploidy only in human isolates. Bird-derived isolates showed LOH in genes commonly associated with antifungal drug resistance similar to human isolates. Our study suggests that environmental fungicide usage might exert selective pressure on C. albicans infecting animals, thus contributing to the spread of potentially resistant strains between different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Domán
- HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Kaszab
- HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, Budapest, Hungary
- One Health Institute, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- One Health Institute, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UD Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Bali
- HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Renátó Kovács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Majoros
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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Schikora-Tamarit MÀ, Gabaldón T. Recent gene selection and drug resistance underscore clinical adaptation across Candida species. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:284-307. [PMID: 38177305 PMCID: PMC10769879 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01547-z] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how microbial pathogens adapt to treatments, humans and clinical environments is key to infer mechanisms of virulence, transmission and drug resistance. This may help improve therapies and diagnostics for infections with a poor prognosis, such as those caused by fungal pathogens, including Candida. Here we analysed genomic variants across approximately 2,000 isolates from six Candida species (C. glabrata, C. auris, C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. orthopsilosis) and identified genes under recent selection, suggesting a highly complex clinical adaptation. These involve species-specific and convergently affected adaptive mechanisms, such as adhesion. Using convergence-based genome-wide association studies we identified known drivers of drug resistance alongside potentially novel players. Finally, our analyses reveal an important role of structural variants and suggest an unexpected involvement of (para)sexual recombination in the spread of resistance. Our results provide insights on how opportunistic pathogens adapt to human-related environments and unearth candidate genes that deserve future attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Àngel Schikora-Tamarit
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Barcelona, Spain.
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