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Webb RJ, Rush C, Berger L, Skerratt LF, Roberts AA. Glutathione is required for growth and cadmium tolerance in the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Biochimie 2023; 220:22-30. [PMID: 38104714 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal amphibian pathogen, partly due to its ability to evade the immune system of susceptible frog species. In many pathogenic fungi, the antioxidant glutathione is a virulence factor that helps neutralise oxidative stressors generated from host immune cells, as well as other environmental stressors such as heavy metals. The role of glutathione in stress tolerance in Bd has not been investigated. Here, we examine the changes in the glutathione pool after stress exposure and quantify the effect of glutathione depletion on cell growth and stress tolerance. Depletion of glutathione repressed growth and release of zoospores, suggesting that glutathione is essential for life cycle completion in Bd. Supplementation with <2 mM exogenous glutathione accelerated zoospore development, but concentrations >2 mM were strongly inhibitory to Bd cells. While hydrogen peroxide exposure lowered the total cellular glutathione levels by 42 %, glutathione depletion did not increase the sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. Exposure to cadmium increased total cellular glutathione levels by 93 %. Glutathione-depleted cells were more sensitive to cadmium, and this effect was attenuated by glutathione supplementation, suggesting that glutathione plays an important role in cadmium tolerance. The effects of heat and salt were exacerbated by the addition of exogenous glutathione. The impact of glutathione levels on Bd stress sensitivity may help explain differences in host susceptibility to chytridiomycosis and may provide opportunities for synergistic therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Webb
- James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia; Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, 3030, Australia.
| | | | - Lee Berger
- Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, 3030, Australia
| | - Lee F Skerratt
- Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, 3030, Australia
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Torres-Sánchez M, Villate J, McGrath-Blaser S, Longo AV. Panzootic chytrid fungus exploits diverse amphibian host environments through plastic infection strategies. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4558-4570. [PMID: 35796691 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While some pathogens are limited to single species, others can colonize many hosts, likely contributing to the emergence of novel disease outbreaks. Despite this biodiversity threat, traits associated with host niche expansions are not well understood in multi-host pathogens. Here, we aimed to uncover functional machinery driving multi-host invasion by focusing on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a pathogen that infects the skin of hundreds of amphibians worldwide. We performed a meta-analysis of Bd gene expression using data from published infection experiments and newly generated profiles. We analyzed Bd transcriptomic landscapes across the skin of 14 host species, reconstructed Bd isolates phylogenetic relationships, and inferred the origin and evolutionary history of differentially expressed genes under a phylogenetic framework comprising other 12 zoosporic fungi. Bd displayed plastic infection strategies when challenged by hosts with different disease susceptibility. Our analyses identified sets of differentially expressed genes under host environments with similar infection outcome. We stressed nutritional immunity and gene silencing as important processes required to overcome challenging skin environments in less susceptible hosts. Overall, Bd genes expressed during amphibian skin exploitation have arisen mainly via gene duplications with great family expansions, increasing the gene copy events previously described for this fungal species. Finally, we provide a comprehensive gene dataset that can be used to further examine eco-evolutionary hypotheses for this host-pathogen system. Our study supports the idea that host environments exert contrasting selective pressures, such that gene expression plasticity could be one of the evolutionary keys leading to the success of multi-host pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Villate
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL
| | | | - Ana V Longo
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL
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Kelly M, Pasmans F, Muñoz JF, Shea TP, Carranza S, Cuomo CA, Martel A. Diversity, multifaceted evolution, and facultative saprotrophism in the European Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans epidemic. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6688. [PMID: 34795258 PMCID: PMC8602665 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27005-0] [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: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
While emerging fungi threaten global biodiversity, the paucity of fungal genome assemblies impedes thoroughly characterizing epidemics and developing effective mitigation strategies. Here, we generate de novo genomic assemblies for six outbreaks of the emerging pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). We reveal the European epidemic currently damaging amphibian populations to comprise multiple, highly divergent lineages demonstrating isolate-specific adaptations and metabolic capacities. In particular, we show extensive gene family expansions and acquisitions, through a variety of evolutionary mechanisms, and an isolate-specific saprotrophic lifecycle. This finding both explains the chytrid's ability to divorce transmission from host density, producing Bsal's enigmatic host population declines, and is a key consideration in developing successful mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moira Kelly
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Frank Pasmans
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jose F. Muñoz
- grid.66859.34Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, 02142 MA USA
| | - Terrance P. Shea
- grid.66859.34Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, 02142 MA USA
| | - Salvador Carranza
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- grid.66859.34Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, 02142 MA USA
| | - An Martel
- Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Wang Y, Verbrugghe E, Meuris L, Chiers K, Kelly M, Strubbe D, Callewaert N, Pasmans F, Martel A. Epidermal galactose spurs chytrid virulence and predicts amphibian colonization. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5788. [PMID: 34608163 PMCID: PMC8490390 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26127-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The chytrid fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans cause the skin disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians, which is driving a substantial proportion of an entire vertebrate class to extinction. Mitigation of its impact is largely unsuccessful and requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the disease ecology. By identifying skin factors that mediate key events during the early interaction with B. salamandrivorans zoospores, we discovered a marker for host colonization. Amphibian skin associated beta-galactose mediated fungal chemotaxis and adhesion to the skin and initiated a virulent fungal response. Fungal colonization correlated with the skin glycosylation pattern, with cutaneous galactose content effectively predicting variation in host susceptibility to fungal colonization between amphibian species. Ontogenetic galactose patterns correlated with low level and asymptomatic infections in salamander larvae that were carried over through metamorphosis, resulting in juvenile mortality. Pronounced variation of galactose content within some, but not all species, may promote the selection for more colonization resistant host lineages, opening new avenues for disease mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Elin Verbrugghe
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Leander Meuris
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, VIB-Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Koen Chiers
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Moira Kelly
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Diederik Strubbe
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, VIB-Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - An Martel
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Rogers RL, Zhou L, Chu C, Márquez R, Corl A, Linderoth T, Freeborn L, MacManes MD, Xiong Z, Zheng J, Guo C, Xun X, Kronforst MR, Summers K, Wu Y, Yang H, Richards-Zawacki CL, Zhang G, Nielsen R. Genomic Takeover by Transposable Elements in the Strawberry Poison Frog. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:2913-2927. [PMID: 30517748 PMCID: PMC6278860 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We sequenced the genome of the strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, at a depth of 127.5× using variable insert size libraries. The total genome size is estimated to be 6.76 Gb, of which 4.76 Gb are from high copy number repetitive elements with low differentiation across copies. These repeats encompass DNA transposons, RNA transposons, and LTR retrotransposons, including at least 0.4 and 1.0 Gb of Mariner/Tc1 and Gypsy elements, respectively. Expression data indicate high levels of gypsy and Mariner/Tc1 expression in ova of O. pumilio compared with Xenopus laevis. We further observe phylogenetic evidence for horizontal transfer (HT) of Mariner elements, possibly between fish and frogs. The elements affected by HT are present in high copy number and are highly expressed, suggesting ongoing proliferation after HT. Our results suggest that the large amphibian genome sizes, at least partially, can be explained by a process of repeated invasion of new transposable elements that are not yet suppressed in the germline. We also find changes in the spliceosome that we hypothesize are related to permissiveness of O. pumilio to increases in intron length due to transposon proliferation. Finally, we identify the complement of ion channels in the first genomic sequenced poison frog and discuss its relation to the evolution of autoresistance to toxins sequestered in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah L Rogers
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
| | - Long Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chong Chu
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Roberto Márquez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Ammon Corl
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Tyler Linderoth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Layla Freeborn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Matthew D MacManes
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.,Hubbard Center for Genomic Studies, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | - Zijun Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jiao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Chunxue Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xu Xun
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | | | - Kyle Summers
- Department of Biology, Eastern Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Yufeng Wu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
| | - Huanming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,James D. Watson Institute of Genome Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Guojie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Department of Biology, Centre for Social Evolution, Universitetsparken 15, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
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