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Hady RE, Fattouh N, Finianos M, Bitar I, Husni R, Khalaf R. Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Candida parapsilosis complex isolates from a Lebanese Hospital. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4169036. [PMID: 38903078 PMCID: PMC11188110 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4169036/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis is a major causative agent of candidiasis leading to death in immunocompromised individuals. Azoles are the first line of defense in treatment by inhibiting ERG11 , involved in the synthesis of ergosterol, the main sterol fungal sterol. Resistance to azoles is on the increase worldwide including in Lebanon. The purpose of this study is to characterize nine hospital isolates labeled as C. parapsilosis : four resistant and five sensitive to fluconazole. Phenotypic characterization was achieved through a battery of tests that target pathogenicity attributes such as virulence, biofilm formation, stress resistance, and ergosterol content. Genotypic analysis was done through whole genome sequencing to mutations in key virulence and resistance genes. Phylogenetic comparison was performed to determine strain relatedness and clonality. Genomic data and phylogenetic analysis revealed that three of the nine C. parapsilosis isolates were misidentified; two as C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis belonging to the C. parapsilosis complex, while the third was C. albicans. Moreover, several known and novel mutations in key drug resistance and virulence genes were identified such as ERG11 , ERG3 , ERG6 , CDR1 , and FAS2 . Phylogenetic analysis revealed a high degree of relatedness and clonality within our C. parapsilosis isolates. Our results showed that resistant isolates had no increased ergosterol content, no statistically significant difference in virulence, but exhibited an increase in biofilm content compared to the sensitive isolates. In conclusion, our study, the first of its kind in Lebanon, suggests several mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance in C. parapsilosis hospital isolates.
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El Hachem S, Fattouh N, Chedraoui C, Finianos M, Bitar I, Khalaf RA. Sequential Induction of Drug Resistance and Characterization of an Initial Candida albicans Drug-Sensitive Isolate. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:347. [PMID: 38786702 PMCID: PMC11122215 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050347] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans is a leading agent of death in immunocompromised individuals with a growing trend of antifungal resistance. METHODS The purpose is to induce resistance to drugs in a sensitive C. albicans strain followed by whole-genome sequencing to determine mechanisms of resistance. Strains will be assayed for pathogenicity attributes such as ergosterol and chitin content, growth rate, virulence, and biofilm formation. RESULTS We observed sequential increases in ergosterol and chitin content in fluconazole-resistant isolates by 78% and 44%. Surface thickening prevents the entry of the drug, resulting in resistance. Resistance imposed a fitness trade-off that led to reduced growth rates, biofilm formation, and virulence in our isolates. Sequencing revealed mutations in genes involved in resistance and pathogenicity such as ERG11, CHS3, GSC2, CDR2, CRZ2, and MSH2. We observed an increase in the number of mutations in key genes with a sequential increase in drug-selective pressures as the organism increased its odds of adapting to inhospitable environments. In ALS4, we observed two mutations in the susceptible strain and five mutations in the resistant strain. CONCLUSION This is the first study to induce resistance followed by genotypic and phenotypic analysis of isolates to determine mechanisms of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setrida El Hachem
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon; (S.E.H.); (N.F.); (C.C.)
| | - Nour Fattouh
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon; (S.E.H.); (N.F.); (C.C.)
- Department of Biology, Saint George University of Beirut, Beirut 1100-2807, Lebanon
| | - Christy Chedraoui
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon; (S.E.H.); (N.F.); (C.C.)
| | - Marc Finianos
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (M.F.); (I.B.)
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Ibrahim Bitar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (M.F.); (I.B.)
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Roy A. Khalaf
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon; (S.E.H.); (N.F.); (C.C.)
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Barnés-Guirado M, Stchigel AM, Cano-Lira JF. A New Genus of the Microascaceae (Ascomycota) Family from a Hypersaline Lagoon in Spain and the Delimitation of the Genus Wardomyces. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:236. [PMID: 38667907 PMCID: PMC11051006 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040236] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Saladas de Sástago-Bujaraloz is an endorheic and arheic complex of lagoons located in the Ebro Basin and protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Due to the semi-arid climate of the region and the high salinity of their waters, these lagoons constitute an extreme environment. We surveyed the biodiversity of salt-tolerant and halophilic fungi residents of the Laguna de Pito, a lagoon belonging to this complex. Therefore, we collected several samples of water, sediments, and soil of the periphery. Throughout the study, we isolated 21 fungal species, including a strain morphologically related to the family Microascaceae. However, this strain did not morphologically match any of genera within this family. After an in-depth morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated sequence dataset of four phylogenetically informative molecular markers (the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA); the D1-D2 domains of the 28S gene of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU); and a fragment of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and the β-tubulin (tub2) genes), we established the new genus Dactyliodendromyces, with Dactyliodendromyces holomorphus as its species. Additionally, as a result of our taxonomic study, we reclassified the paraphyletic genus Wardomyces into three different genera: Wardomyces sensu stricto, Parawardomyces gen. nov., and Pseudowardomyces gen. nov., with Parawardomyces ovalis (formerly Wardomyces ovalis) and Pseudowardomyces humicola (formerly Wardomyces humicola) as the type species of their respective genera. Furthermore, we propose new combinations, including Parawardomyces giganteus (formerly Wardomyces giganteus) and Pseudowardomyces pulvinatus (formerly Wardomyces pulvinatus).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Miguel Stchigel
- Mycology Unit, Medical School, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Spain; (M.B.-G.); (J.F.C.-L.)
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Martin-Pozas T, Nováková A, Jurado V, Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S. A Second Fungal Outbreak in Castañar Cave, Spain, Discloses the Fragility of Subsurface Ecosystems. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:53. [PMID: 38507071 PMCID: PMC10954929 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02367-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Castañar is a cave with strict visitor control measures since it was open to public visits in 2003. However, in recent years, the cave suffered two fungal outbreaks, the first in 2008 and controlled by cleaning the contaminated sediments and subsequent closure of the cave until 2014. The cave was reopened but limited to a maximum of 450 visitors/year. Despite these restrictions on visit, the cave experienced a second outbreak in 2021, originating from the installation of a steel grating walkway, aiming at protecting the ground sediments from the visitors' footsteps. Here, we conducted an analysis using Next-Generation Sequencing and culture-dependent techniques to investigate the fungal communities related to the second outbreak and compare with those present before the cave suffered the outbreak. The results show that the most abundant fungi involved in the 2021 outbreak were already detected in 2020, and even in 2008 and 2009, although the main species that originating both outbreaks were different, likely due to the different carbon sources introduced into the cave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biologia y Geologia, Universidad de Almeria, 04120, Almeria, Spain
| | - Alena Nováková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Valme Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Soledad Cuezva
- Spanish Geological Survey, IGME-CSIC, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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Leo P, de Melo Texeira M, Chander AM, Singh NK, Simpson AC, Yurkov A, Karouia F, Stajich JE, Mason CE, Venkateswaran K. Genomic characterization and radiation tolerance of Naganishia kalamii sp. nov. and Cystobasidium onofrii sp. nov. from Mars 2020 mission assembly facilities. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:15. [PMID: 37568226 PMCID: PMC10422843 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00119-4] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During the construction and assembly of the Mars 2020 mission components at two different NASA cleanrooms, several fungal strains were isolated. Based on their colony morphology, two strains that showed yeast-like appearance were further characterized for their phylogenetic position. The species-level classification of these two novel strains, using traditional colony and cell morphology methods combined with the phylogenetic reconstructions using multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on several gene loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB1, RPB2, CYTB and TEF1), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was carried out. This polyphasic taxonomic approach supported the conclusion that the two basidiomycetous yeasts belong to hitherto undescribed species. The strain FJI-L2-BK-P3T, isolated from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Spacecraft Assembly Facility, was placed in the Naganishia albida clade (Filobasidiales, Tremellomycetes), but is genetically and physiologically different from other members of the clade. Another yeast strain FKI-L6-BK-PAB1T, isolated from the Kennedy Space Center Payload Hazardous and Servicing Facility, was placed in the genus Cystobasidium (Cystobasidiales, Cystobasidiomycetes) and is distantly related to C. benthicum. Here we propose two novel species with the type strains, Naganishia kalamii sp. nov. (FJI-L2-BK-P3T = NRRL 64466 = DSM 115730) and Cystobasidium onofrii sp. nov. (FKI-L6-BK-PAB1T = NRRL 64426 = DSM 114625). The phylogenetic analyses revealed that single gene phylogenies (ITS or LSU) were not conclusive, and MLSA and WGS-based phylogenies were more advantageous for species discrimination in the two genera. The genomic analysis predicted proteins associated with dehydration and desiccation stress-response and the presence of genes that are directly related to osmotolerance and psychrotolerance in both novel yeasts described. Cells of these two newly-described yeasts were exposed to UV-C radiation and compared with N. onofrii, an extremophilic UV-C resistant cold-adapted Alpine yeast. Both novel species were UV resistant, emphasizing the need for collecting and characterizing extremotolerant microbes, including yeasts, to improve microbial reduction techniques used in NASA planetary protection programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Leo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Mestre, Italy
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Marcus de Melo Texeira
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Atul M Chander
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Nitin K Singh
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-104, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Anna C Simpson
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-103, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Andrey Yurkov
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Fathi Karouia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, PO BOX 1 MS 239/4, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
- Space Research Within Reach, San Francisco, CA, 941110, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of CA-Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, California Institute of Technology, M/S 245-104, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA.
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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Schultz J, Modolon F, Peixoto RS, Rosado AS. Shedding light on the composition of extreme microbial dark matter: alternative approaches for culturing extremophiles. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1167718. [PMID: 37333658 PMCID: PMC10272570 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 20,000 species of prokaryotes (less than 1% of the estimated number of Earth's microbial species) have been described thus far. However, the vast majority of microbes that inhabit extreme environments remain uncultured and this group is termed "microbial dark matter." Little is known regarding the ecological functions and biotechnological potential of these underexplored extremophiles, thus representing a vast untapped and uncharacterized biological resource. Advances in microbial cultivation approaches are key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping the environment and, ultimately, for their biotechnological exploitation, such as for extremophile-derived bioproducts (extremozymes, secondary metabolites, CRISPR Cas systems, and pigments, among others), astrobiology, and space exploration. Additional efforts to enhance culturable diversity are required due to the challenges imposed by extreme culturing and plating conditions. In this review, we summarize methods and technologies used to recover the microbial diversity of extreme environments, while discussing the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these approaches. Additionally, this review describes alternative culturing strategies to retrieve novel taxa with their unknown genes, metabolisms, and ecological roles, with the ultimate goal of increasing the yields of more efficient bio-based products. This review thus summarizes the strategies used to unveil the hidden diversity of the microbiome of extreme environments and discusses the directions for future studies of microbial dark matter and its potential applications in biotechnology and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júnia Schultz
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Flúvio Modolon
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandre Soares Rosado
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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McDonagh F, Cormican M, Morris D, Burke L, Singh NK, Venkateswaran K, Miliotis G. Medical Astro-Microbiology: Current Role and Future Challenges. J Indian Inst Sci 2023; 103:1-26. [PMID: 37362850 PMCID: PMC10082442 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-023-00360-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The second and third decades of the twenty-first century are marked by a flourishing of space technology which may soon realise human aspirations of a permanent multiplanetary presence. The prevention, control and management of infection with microbial pathogens is likely to play a key role in how successful human space aspirations will become. This review considers the emerging field of medical astro-microbiology. It examines the current evidence regarding the risk of infection during spaceflight via host susceptibility, alterations to the host's microbiome as well as exposure to other crew members and spacecraft's microbiomes. It also considers the relevance of the hygiene hypothesis in this regard. It then reviews the current evidence related to infection risk associated with microbial adaptability in spaceflight conditions. There is a particular focus on the International Space Station (ISS), as one of the only two crewed objects in low Earth orbit. It discusses the effects of spaceflight related stressors on viruses and the infection risks associated with latent viral reactivation and increased viral shedding during spaceflight. It then examines the effects of the same stressors on bacteria, particularly in relation to changes in virulence and drug resistance. It also considers our current understanding of fungal adaptability in spaceflight. The global public health and environmental risks associated with a possible re-introduction to Earth of invasive species are also briefly discussed. Finally, this review examines the largely unknown microbiology and infection implications of celestial body habitation with an emphasis placed on Mars. Overall, this review summarises much of our current understanding of medical astro-microbiology and identifies significant knowledge gaps. Graphical Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca McDonagh
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Martin Cormican
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland
| | - Dearbháile Morris
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Liam Burke
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Georgios Miliotis
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Seyler LM, Kraus EA, McLean C, Spear JR, Templeton AS, Schrenk MO. An untargeted exometabolomics approach to characterize dissolved organic matter in groundwater of the Samail Ophiolite. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1093372. [PMID: 36970670 PMCID: PMC10033605 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1093372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of serpentinization supports life on Earth and gives rise to the habitability of other worlds in our Solar System. While numerous studies have provided clues to the survival strategies of microbial communities in serpentinizing environments on the modern Earth, characterizing microbial activity in such environments remains challenging due to low biomass and extreme conditions. Here, we used an untargeted metabolomics approach to characterize dissolved organic matter in groundwater in the Samail Ophiolite, the largest and best characterized example of actively serpentinizing uplifted ocean crust and mantle. We found that dissolved organic matter composition is strongly correlated with both fluid type and microbial community composition, and that the fluids that were most influenced by serpentinization contained the greatest number of unique compounds, none of which could be identified using the current metabolite databases. Using metabolomics in conjunction with metagenomic data, we detected numerous products and intermediates of microbial metabolic processes and identified potential biosignatures of microbial activity, including pigments, porphyrins, quinones, fatty acids, and metabolites involved in methanogenesis. Metabolomics techniques like the ones used in this study may be used to further our understanding of life in serpentinizing environments, and aid in the identification of biosignatures that can be used to search for life in serpentinizing systems on other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Seyler
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Biology Program, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ, United States
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lauren M. Seyler,
| | - Emily A. Kraus
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Craig McLean
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - John R. Spear
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Matthew O. Schrenk
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Tessaro APG, de Araujo LG, Silva TT, Coelho E, Corrêa B, Rolindo NC, Vicente R. Prospects for fungal bioremediation of unburied waste packages from the Goiânia radiological accident. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:41045-41059. [PMID: 36627427 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25247-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Goiânia, the Goiás State capital, starred in 1987, where one of the largest radiological accidents in the world happened. A teletherapy machine was subtracted from a derelict radiotherapy clinic and disassembled by scavengers who distributed fragments of the 50 TBq 137CsCl source among relatives and acquaintances, enchanted by the blue shine of the substance. During the 15 days before the accident was acknowledged, contaminated recycling materials were delivered to recycling factories in four cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the form of recycling paper bales. The contaminated bales were spotted, collected, and stored in fifty 1.6 m3 steel boxes at the interim storage facility of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN). In 2017, a check of the content was performed in a few boxes and the presence of high moisture content was observed even though the bales were dry when conditioned and the packages were kept sealed since then. The main objective of this work was to report the fungi found in the radioactive waste after they evolved for 30 years in isolation inside the waste boxes and their role in the decay of the waste. Examination of the microbiome showed the presence of nematodes and fungal communities. The fungi species isolated were Aspergillus quadricinctus, Fusarium oxysporum, Lecanicillium coprophilumi, Scedosporium boydii, Scytalidium lignicola, Xenoacremonium recifei, and Pleurostoma richardsiae. These microorganisms showed a significant capacity to digest cellulose in our trials, which could be one of the ways they survive in such a harsh environment, reducing the volume of radioactive paper waste. These metabolic abilities give us a future perspective of using these fungi in biotechnology to remediate radioactively contaminated materials, particularly cellulose-based waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Gimenes Tessaro
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Leandro Goulart de Araujo
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
- Current Affiliation, Université de Lorraine, CNRS, 88000, Epinal, IJL, France.
| | - Thalita Tieko Silva
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ednei Coelho
- Microbiology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, São Paulo, 1374, Brazil
| | - Benedito Corrêa
- Microbiology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, São Paulo, 1374, Brazil
| | - Natalie Costa Rolindo
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Roberto Vicente
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
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Description and Genome Characterization of Three Novel Fungal Strains Isolated from Mars 2020 Mission-Associated Spacecraft Assembly Facility Surfaces-Recommendations for Two New Genera and One Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010031. [PMID: 36675851 PMCID: PMC9864340 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) spacecraft assembly facilities are monitored for the presence of any bacteria or fungi that might conceivably survive a transfer to an extraterrestrial environment. Fungi present a broad and diverse range of phenotypic and functional traits to adapt to extreme conditions, hence the detection of fungi and subsequent eradication of them are needed to prevent forward contamination for future NASA missions. During the construction and assembly for the Mars 2020 mission, three fungal strains with unique morphological and phylogenetic properties were isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities. The reconstruction of phylogenetic trees based on several gene loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB, TUB, TEF1) using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses supported the hypothesis that these were novel species. Here we report the genus or species-level classification of these three novel strains via a polyphasic approach using phylogenetic analysis, colony and cell morphology, and comparative analysis of WGS. The strain FJI-L9-BK-P1 isolated from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Spacecraft Assembly Facility (JPL-SAF) exhibited a putative phylogenetic relationship with the strain Aaosphaeria arxii CBS175.79 but showed distinct morphology and microscopic features. Another JPL-SAF strain, FJII-L3-CM-DR1, was phylogenetically distinct from members of the family Trichomeriaceae and exhibited morphologically different features from the genera Lithohypha and Strelitziana. The strain FKI-L1-BK-DR1 isolated from the Kennedy Space Center facility was identified as a member of Dothideomycetes incertae sedis and is closely related to the family Kirschsteiniotheliaceae according to a phylogenetic analysis. The polyphasic taxonomic approach supported the recommendation for establishing two novel genera and one novel species. The names Aaosphaeria pasadenensis (FJI-L9-BK-P1 = NRRL 64424 = DSM 114621), Pasadenomyces melaninifex (FJII-L3-CM-DR1 = NRRL 64433 = DSM 114623), and Floridaphiala radiotolerans (FKI-L1-BK-DR1 = NRRL 64434 = DSM 114624) are proposed as type species. Furthermore, resistance to ultraviolet-C and presence of specific biosynthetic gene cluster(s) coding for metabolically active compounds are unique to these strains.
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12
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Draft Genome Sequences of Fungi Isolated from Mars 2020 Spacecraft Assembly Facilities. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0046422. [PMID: 36200893 PMCID: PMC9671001 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00464-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During the Mars 2020 mission, several fungal strains were isolated from surfaces where spacecraft components were assembled. Draft genome sequencing and characterization will help identify the genes responsible for radiation resistance, supporting the development of countermeasures to prevent fungal contamination of extraterrestrial environments.
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13
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Cortesão M, Holland G, Schütze T, Laue M, Moeller R, Meyer V. Colony growth and biofilm formation of Aspergillus niger under simulated microgravity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:975763. [PMID: 36212831 PMCID: PMC9539656 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.975763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The biotechnology- and medicine-relevant fungus Aspergillus niger is a common colonizer of indoor habitats such as the International Space Station (ISS). Being able to colonize and biodegrade a wide range of surfaces, A. niger can ultimately impact human health and habitat safety. Surface contamination relies on two key-features of the fungal colony: the fungal spores, and the vegetative mycelium, also known as biofilm. Aboard the ISS, microorganisms and astronauts are shielded from extreme temperatures and radiation, but are inevitably affected by spaceflight microgravity. Knowing how microgravity affects A. niger colony growth, in particular regarding the vegetative mycelium (biofilm) and spore production, will help prevent and control fungal contaminations in indoor habitats on Earth and in space. Because fungal colonies grown on agar can be considered analogs for surface contamination, we investigated A. niger colony growth on agar in normal gravity (Ground) and simulated microgravity (SMG) conditions by fast-clinorotation. Three strains were included: a wild-type strain, a pigmentation mutant (ΔfwnA), and a hyperbranching mutant (ΔracA). Our study presents never before seen scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of A. niger colonies that reveal a complex ultrastructure and biofilm architecture, and provide insights into fungal colony development, both on ground and in simulated microgravity. Results show that simulated microgravity affects colony growth in a strain-dependent manner, leading to thicker biofilms (vegetative mycelium) and increased spore production. We suggest that the Rho GTPase RacA might play a role in A. niger’s adaptation to simulated microgravity, as deletion of ΔracA leads to changes in biofilm thickness, spore production and total biomass. We also propose that FwnA-mediated melanin production plays a role in A. niger’s microgravity response, as ΔfwnA mutant colonies grown under SMG conditions showed increased colony area and spore production. Taken together, our study shows that simulated microgravity does not inhibit A. niger growth, but rather indicates a potential increase in surface-colonization. Further studies addressing fungal growth and surface contaminations in spaceflight should be conducted, not only to reduce the risk of negatively impacting human health and spacecraft material safety, but also to positively utilize fungal-based biotechnology to acquire needed resources in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cortesão
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Cologne, Germany
- Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Marta Cortesão,
| | - Gudrun Holland
- Robert Koch Institute, Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tabea Schütze
- Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Laue
- Robert Koch Institute, Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Moeller
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Cologne, Germany
| | - Vera Meyer
- Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Bland J, Gribble LA, Hamel MC, Wright JB, Moormann G, Bachand M, Wright G, Bachand GD. Evaluating changes in growth and pigmentation of Cladosporium cladosporioides and Paecilomyces variotii in response to gamma and ultraviolet irradiation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12142. [PMID: 35840596 PMCID: PMC9287308 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16063-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin-containing fungi (black molds) have the capacity to thrive under extreme environmental conditions such as the elevated radiation levels inside the former Chernobyl reactors. These fungi have been hypothesized to grow toward and use gamma radiation as an energy source, but the literature does not clearly address which energies of the electromagnetic spectrum, if any, positively affect fungal growth. The goal of this work was to characterize the response of non-melanized and melanized fungi to two distinct electromagnetic wavelengths, i.e., ultraviolet (UV) and gamma ray, keeping absorption and other potentially confounding variables constant. Exposure to UV or gamma radiation induced significant changes in fungi pigmentation, but not growth rate of Cladosporium cladosporioides and Paecilomyces variotii. Specifically, increased pigmentation of both fungi was observed in samples exposed to UV, while decreased pigmentation was observed for gamma-irradiated samples. These results provide new insights into the role of electromagnetic energies on growth of fungi and provide an impetus to examine additional energies and types of radiation to develop a fundamental understanding of this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Bland
- Center for Global Security and Cooperation, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA.
| | - Lisa Astuto Gribble
- Center for Global Security and Cooperation, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - Michael C Hamel
- Center for Global Security and Cooperation, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - Jeremy B Wright
- Center for Monitoring Systems and Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - Garrett Moormann
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - Marlene Bachand
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - Ginger Wright
- Center for Global Security and Cooperation, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA
| | - George D Bachand
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA.
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15
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Averesch NJH, Shunk GK, Kern C. Cultivation of the Dematiaceous Fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum Aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:877625. [PMID: 35865919 PMCID: PMC9294542 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.877625] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In Space, cosmic radiation is a strong, ubiquitous form of energy with constant flux, and the ability to harness it could greatly enhance the energy-autonomy of expeditions across the solar system. At the same time, radiation is the greatest permanent health risk for humans venturing into deep space. To protect astronauts beyond Earth's magnetosphere, advanced shielding against ionizing as well as non-ionizing radiation is highly sought after. In search of innovative solutions to these challenges, biotechnology appeals with suitability for in situ resource utilization (ISRU), self-regeneration, and adaptability. Where other organisms fail, certain microscopic fungi thrive in high-radiation environments on Earth, showing high radioresistance. The adaptation of some of these molds to areas, such as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has coined the terms positive "radiotropism" and "radiotrophy", reflecting the affinity to and stimulation by radiation, and sometimes even enhanced growth under ionizing conditions. These abilities may be mediated by the pigment melanin, many forms of which also have radioprotective properties. The expectation is that these capabilities are extendable to radiation in space. To study its growth in space, an experiment cultivating Cladosporium sphaerospermum Penzig ATCC® 11289™ aboard the International Space Station (ISS) was conducted while monitoring radiation beneath the formed biomass in comparison to a no-growth negative control. A qualitative growth advantage in space was observable. Quantitatively, a 1.21 ± 0.37-times higher growth rate than in the ground control was determined, which might indicate a radioadaptive response to space radiation. In addition, a reduction in radiation compared to the negative control was discernable, which is potentially attributable to the fungal biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils J. H. Averesch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Graham K. Shunk
- Physics Department, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC, United States
- Higher Orbits “Go for Launch!” Program, Leesburg, VA, United States
| | - Christoph Kern
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
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16
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Blachowicz A, Romsdahl J, Chiang AJ, Masonjones S, Kalkum M, Stajich JE, Torok T, Wang CCC, Venkateswaran K. The International Space Station Environment Triggers Molecular Responses in Aspergillus niger. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:893071. [PMID: 35847112 PMCID: PMC9280654 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to immense phenotypic plasticity and adaptability, Aspergillus niger is a cosmopolitan fungus that thrives in versatile environments, including the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first report of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alterations observed in A. niger strain JSC-093350089 grown in a controlled experiment aboard the ISS. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that ISS conditions, including microgravity and enhanced irradiation, triggered non-synonymous point mutations in specific regions, chromosomes VIII and XII of the JSC-093350089 genome when compared to the ground-grown control. Proteome analysis showed altered abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress response, and cellular amino acid and protein catabolic processes following growth aboard the ISS. Metabolome analysis further confirmed that space conditions altered molecular suite of ISS-grown A. niger JSC-093350089. After regrowing both strains on Earth, production of antioxidant—Pyranonigrin A was significantly induced in the ISS-flown, but not the ground control strain. In summary, the microgravity and enhanced irradiation triggered unique molecular responses in the A. niger JSC-093350089 suggesting adaptive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Blachowicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Jillian Romsdahl
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Abby J. Chiang
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Sawyer Masonjones
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Markus Kalkum
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Tamas Torok
- Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Clay C. C. Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kasthuri Venkateswaran,
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17
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Fungi are key players in extreme ecosystems. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:517-528. [PMID: 35246323 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extreme environments on Earth are typically devoid of macro life forms and are inhabited predominantly by highly adapted and specialized microorganisms. The discovery and persistence of these extremophiles provides tools to model how life arose on Earth and inform us on the limits of life. Fungi, in particular, are among the most extreme-tolerant organisms with highly versatile lifestyles and stunning ecological and morphological plasticity. Here, we overview the most notable examples of extremophilic and stress-tolerant fungi, highlighting their key roles in the functionality and balance of extreme ecosystems. The remarkable ability of fungi to tolerate and even thrive in the most extreme environments, which preclude most organisms, have reshaped current concepts regarding the limits of life on Earth.
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18
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Martin-Pozas T, Nováková A, Jurado V, Fernandez-Cortes A, Cuezva S, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S. Diversity of Microfungi in a High Radon Cave Ecosystem. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:869661. [PMID: 35572646 PMCID: PMC9093739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.869661] [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: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Castañar Cave is a clear example of an oligotrophic ecosystem with high hygrothermal stability both seasonal and interannual and the particularity of registering extraordinary levels of environmental radiation. These environmental conditions make the cave an ideal laboratory to evaluate both the responses of the subterranean environment to sudden changes in the matter and energy fluxes with the exterior and also any impact derived from its use as a tourist resource under a very restrictive access regime. In 2008, a fungal outbreak provoked by a vomit contaminated the sediments which were removed and subsequently treated with hydrogen peroxide. Fungal surveys were carried out in 2008 and 2009. The visits were resumed in 2014. Here, 12 years after the outbreak, we present an exhaustive study on the cave sediments in order to know the distribution of the different fungal taxa, as well as the prevalence and spatio-temporal evolution of the fungi caused by the vomit over the years under the conditions of relative isolation and high radiation that characterize this cave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alena Nováková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, Prague, Czechia
| | - Valme Jurado
- Department of Agrochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Soil Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Agricultural Biology (IRNAS-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Soledad Cuezva
- Department of Geology, Geography and Environment, University of Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Department of Agrochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Soil Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Agricultural Biology (IRNAS-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Sergio Sanchez-Moral
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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19
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Blachowicz A, Mhatre S, Singh NK, Wood JM, Parker CW, Ly C, Butler D, Mason CE, Venkateswaran K. The Isolation and Characterization of Rare Mycobiome Associated With Spacecraft Assembly Cleanrooms. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:777133. [PMID: 35558115 PMCID: PMC9087587 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.777133] [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: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ensuring biological cleanliness while assembling and launching spacecraft is critical for robotic exploration of the solar system. To date, when preventing forward contamination of other celestial bodies, NASA Planetary Protection policies have focused on endospore-forming bacteria while fungi were neglected. In this study, for the first time the mycobiome of two spacecraft assembly facilities at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was assessed using both cultivation and sequencing techniques. To facilitate enumeration of viable fungal populations and downstream molecular analyses, collected samples were first treated with chloramphenicol for 24 h and then with propidium monoazide (PMA). Among cultivable fungi, 28 distinct species were observed, 16 at JPL and 16 at KSC facilities, while 13 isolates were potentially novel species. Only four isolated species Aureobasidium melanogenum, Penicillium fuscoglaucum, Penicillium decumbens, and Zalaria obscura were present in both cleanroom facilities, which suggests that mycobiomes differ significantly between distant locations. To better visualize the biogeography of all isolated strains the network analysis was undertaken and confirmed higher abundance of Malassezia globosa and Cyberlindnera jadinii. When amplicon sequencing was performed, JPL-SAF and KSC-PHSF showed differing mycobiomes. Metagenomic fungal reads were dominated by Ascomycota (91%) and Basidiomycota (7.15%). Similar to amplicon sequencing, the number of fungal reads changed following antibiotic treatment in both cleanrooms; however, the opposite trends were observed. Alas, treatment with the antibiotic did not allow for definitive ascribing changes observed in fungal populations between treated and untreated samples in both cleanrooms. Rather, these substantial differences in fungal abundance might be attributed to several factors, including the geographical location, climate and the in-house cleaning procedures used to maintain the cleanrooms. This study is a first step in characterizing cultivable and viable fungal populations in cleanrooms to assess fungal potential as biocontaminants during interplanetary explorations. The outcomes of this and future studies could be implemented in other cleanrooms that require to reduce microbial burden, like intensive care units, operating rooms, or cleanrooms in the semiconducting and pharmaceutical industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Blachowicz
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Snehit Mhatre
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Jason M Wood
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Ceth W Parker
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia Ly
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Butler
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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20
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Reslan L, Araj GF, Finianos M, El Asmar R, Hrabak J, Dbaibo G, Bitar I. Molecular Characterization of Candida auris Isolates at a Major Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:770635. [PMID: 35145489 PMCID: PMC8822126 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.770635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The globally emerging Candida auris pathogens poses heavy burden to the healthcare system. Their molecular analyses assist in understanding their epidemiology, dissemination, treatment, and control. This study was warranted to describe the genomic features and drug resistance profiles using whole genome sequencing (WGS) among C. auris isolates from Lebanon. Methods A total of 28 C. auris clinical isolates, from different hospital units, were phenotypically identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and tested for antifungal resistance using Vitek-2 system and E test. The complete genomes were determined by WGS using long reads sequencing (PacBio) to reveal the clade distribution and antifungal resistance genes. Results Candida auris revealed uniform resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B, with full susceptibility to echinocandins. Among key resistance genes studied, only two mutations were detected: Y132F in ERG11 gene and a novel mutation, D709E, found in CDR1 gene encoding for an ABC efflux pump. Phylogenetically, C. auris genomes belonged to South Asian clade I and showed limited genetic diversity, suggesting person to person transmission. Conclusion This characterization of C. auris isolates from Lebanon revealed the exclusivity of clade I lineage together with uniform resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B. The control of such highly resistant pathogen necessitates an appropriate and rapid recovery and identification to contain spread and outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Reslan
- American University of Beirut, Center for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR) and WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Bacterial Pathogens, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - George F. Araj
- American University of Beirut, Center for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR) and WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Bacterial Pathogens, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: George F. Araj,
| | - Marc Finianos
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Plzen, Charles University, Plzeň, Czechia
| | - Rima El Asmar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jaroslav Hrabak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Plzen, Charles University, Plzeň, Czechia
| | - Ghassan Dbaibo
- American University of Beirut, Center for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR) and WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Bacterial Pathogens, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ibrahim Bitar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Plzen, Charles University, Plzeň, Czechia
- Ibrahim Bitar,
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21
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Parker CW, Teixeira MDM, Singh NK, Raja HA, Cank KB, Spigolon G, Oberlies NH, Barker BM, Stajich JE, Mason CE, Venkateswaran K. Genomic Characterization of Parengyodontium torokii sp. nov., a Biofilm-Forming Fungus Isolated from Mars 2020 Assembly Facility. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8010066. [PMID: 35050006 PMCID: PMC8778116 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fungal strain (FJII-L10-SW-P1) was isolated from the Mars 2020 spacecraft assembly facility and exhibited biofilm formation on spacecraft-qualified Teflon surfaces. The reconstruction of a six-loci gene tree (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB1 and RPB2, and TEF1) using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analyses of the strain FJII-L10-SW-P1 supported a close relationship to other known Parengyodontium album subclade 3 isolates while being phylogenetically distinct from subclade 1 strains. The zig-zag rachides morphology of the conidiogenous cells and spindle-shaped conidia were the distinct morphological characteristics of the P. album subclade 3 strains. The MLST data and morphological analysis supported the conclusion that the P. album subclade 3 strains could be classified as a new species of the genus Parengyodontium and placed in the family Cordycipitaceae. The name Parengyodontium torokii sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the strain, with FJII-L10-SW-P1 as the holotype. The genome of the FJII-L10-SW-P1 strain was sequenced, annotated, and the secondary metabolite clusters were identified. Genes predicted to be responsible for biofilm formation and adhesion to surfaces were identified. Homology-based assignment of gene ontologies to the predicted proteome of P. torokii revealed the presence of gene clusters responsible for synthesizing several metabolic compounds, including a cytochalasin that was also verified using traditional metabolomic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceth W. Parker
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; (C.W.P.); (N.K.S.)
| | - Marcus de Melo Teixeira
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; (M.d.M.T.); (B.M.B.)
- School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Nitin K. Singh
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; (C.W.P.); (N.K.S.)
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (H.A.R.); (K.B.C.); (N.H.O.)
| | - Kristof B. Cank
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (H.A.R.); (K.B.C.); (N.H.O.)
| | - Giada Spigolon
- Biological Imaging Facility, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA;
| | - Nicholas H. Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (H.A.R.); (K.B.C.); (N.H.O.)
| | - Bridget M. Barker
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; (M.d.M.T.); (B.M.B.)
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California—Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; (C.W.P.); (N.K.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(818)-393-1481; Fax: +1-(818)-393-4176
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22
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Abstract
Microbial research in space is being conducted for almost 50 years now. The closed system of the International Space Station (ISS) has acted as a microbial observatory for the past 10 years, conducting research on adaptation and survivability of microorganisms exposed to space conditions. This adaptation can be either beneficial or detrimental to crew members and spacecraft. Therefore, it becomes crucial to identify the impact of two primary stress conditions, namely, radiation and microgravity, on microbial life aboard the ISS. Elucidating the mechanistic basis of microbial adaptation to space conditions aids in the development of countermeasures against their potentially detrimental effects and allows us to harness their biotechnologically important properties. Several microbial processes have been studied, either in spaceflight or using devices that can simulate space conditions. However, at present, research is limited to only a few microorganisms, and extensive research on biotechnologically important microorganisms is required to make long-term space missions self-sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Bijlani
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Elisa Stephens
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Clay C C Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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Lim S, Bijlani S, Blachowicz A, Chiang YM, Lee MS, Torok T, Venkateswaran K, Wang CCC. Identification of the pigment and its role in UV resistance in Paecilomyces variotii, a Chernobyl isolate, using genetic manipulation strategies. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 152:103567. [PMID: 33989788 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Fungi produce secondary metabolites that are not directly involved in their growth, but often contribute to their adaptation to extreme environmental stimuli and enable their survival. Conidial pigment or melanin is one of the secondary metabolites produced naturally by a polyketide synthesis (PKS) gene cluster in several filamentous fungi and is known to protect these fungi from extreme radiation conditions. Several pigmented or melanized fungi have been shown to grow under extreme radiation conditions at the Chernobyl nuclear accident site. Some of these fungi, including Paecilomyces variotii, were observed to grow towards the source of radiation. Therefore, in this study, we wanted to identify if the pigment produced by P. variotii, contributes to providing protection against radiation condition. We first identified the PKS gene responsible for synthesis of pigment in P. variotii and confirmed its role in providing protection against UV irradiation through CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene deletion. This is the first report that describes the use of CRISPR methodology to create gene deletions in P. variotii. Further, we showed that the pigment produced by this fungus, was not inhibited by DHN-melanin pathway inhibitors, indicating that the fungus does not produce melanin. We then identified the pigment synthesized by the PKS gene of P. variotii, as a naptho-pyrone Ywa1, by heterologously expressing the gene in Aspergillus nidulans. The results obtained will further aid in understanding the mechanistic basis of radiation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeung Lim
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Swati Bijlani
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Adriana Blachowicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Yi-Ming Chiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ming-Shian Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tamas Torok
- Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Clay C C Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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24
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Tesei D, Chiang AJ, Kalkum M, Stajich JE, Mohan GBM, Sterflinger K, Venkateswaran K. Effects of Simulated Microgravity on the Proteome and Secretome of the Polyextremotolerant Black Fungus Knufia chersonesos. Front Genet 2021; 12:638708. [PMID: 33815472 PMCID: PMC8012687 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.638708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Black fungi are a group of melanotic microfungi characterized by remarkable polyextremotolerance. Due to a broad ecological plasticity and adaptations at the cellular level, it is predicted that they may survive in a variety of extreme environments, including harsh niches on Earth and Mars, and in outer space. However, the molecular mechanisms aiding survival, especially in space, are yet to be fully elucidated. Based on these premises, the rock-inhabiting black fungus Knufia chersonesos (Wt) and its non-melanized mutant (Mut) were exposed to simulated microgravity-one of the prevalent features characterizing space conditions-by growing the cultures in high-aspect-ratio vessels (HARVs). Qualitative and quantitative proteomic analyses were performed on the mycelia and supernatant of culture medium (secretome) to assess alterations in cell physiology in response to low-shear simulated microgravity (LSSMG) and to ultimately evaluate the role of cell-wall melanization in stress survival. Differential expression was observed for proteins involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolic processes, transport, and ribosome biogenesis and translation via ribosomal translational machinery. However, no evidence of significant activation of stress components or starvation response was detected, except for the scytalone dehydratase, enzyme involved in the synthesis of dihydroxynaphthalene (DNH) melanin, which was found to be upregulated in the secretome of the wild type and downregulated in the mutant. Differences in protein modulation were observed between K. chersonesos Wt and Mut, with several proteins being downregulated under LSSMG in the Mut when compared to the Wt. Lastly, no major morphological alterations were observed following exposure to LSSMG. Similarly, the strains' survivability was not negatively affected. This study is the first to characterize the response to simulated microgravity in black fungi, which might have implications on future astrobiological missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Abby J. Chiang
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Markus Kalkum
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Ganesh Babu Malli Mohan
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Research and Infectious Diseases, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Institute for Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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25
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Extremophilic Fungi and Their Role in Control of Pathogenic Microbes. Fungal Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-60659-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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26
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Malo ME, Schultzhaus Z, Frank C, Romsdahl J, Wang Z, Dadachova E. Transcriptomic and genomic changes associated with radioadaptation in Exophiala dermatitidis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 19:196-205. [PMID: 33425251 PMCID: PMC7772362 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Exophiala dermatitidis is a constitutively melanized yeast that is highly resistant to ionizing radiation. We analyzed the genome and transcriptomes of E. dermatitidis strains adapted to chronic ionizing radiation exposure. Radioadaptation induces transcriptomic but few genomic changes in E. dermatitidis. Radioadaptation also results in an altered transcriptomic response to subsequent ionizing radiation exposure. This regulation involves downregulation of basal metabolic processes and upregulation of translation and DNA repair.
Melanized fungi have been isolated from some of the harshest radioactive environments, and their ability to thrive in these locations is in part due to the pigment melanin. Melanin imparts a selective advantage to fungi by providing a physical shield, a chemical shield, and possibly a signaling mechanism. In previous work we demonstrated that protracted exposure of the melanized yeast Exophiala dermatitidis to mixed alpha-, beta-, and gamma-emitting radiation resulted in an adapted strain able to mount a unique response to ionizing radiation in the environment in a melanin-dependent fashion. By exploring the genome and transcriptome of this adapted melanized strain relative to a non-irradiated control we determined the altered response was transcriptomic in nature, as whole genome sequencing revealed limited variation. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that of the adapted isolates analyzed, two lineages existed: one like the naïve, non-adapted strain, and one with a unique transcriptomic signature that exhibited downregulation of metabolic processes, and upregulation of translation-associated genes. Analysis of differential gene expression in the adapted strain showed an overlap in response between the control conditions and reactive oxygen species conditions, whereas exposure to an alpha particle source resulted in a robust downregulation of metabolic processes and upregulation of DNA replication and repair genes, and RNA metabolic processes. This suggest previous exposure to radiation primes the fungus to respond to subsequent exposures in a unique way. By exploring this unique response, we have expanded our knowledge of how melanized fungi interact with and respond to ionizing radiation in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Malo
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Connor Frank
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ekaterina Dadachova
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Saskatoon, Canada
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27
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Muggia L, Ametrano CG, Sterflinger K, Tesei D. An Overview of Genomics, Phylogenomics and Proteomics Approaches in Ascomycota. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E356. [PMID: 33348904 PMCID: PMC7765829 DOI: 10.3390/life10120356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are among the most successful eukaryotes on Earth: they have evolved strategies to survive in the most diverse environments and stressful conditions and have been selected and exploited for multiple aims by humans. The characteristic features intrinsic of Fungi have required evolutionary changes and adaptations at deep molecular levels. Omics approaches, nowadays including genomics, metagenomics, phylogenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics have enormously advanced the way to understand fungal diversity at diverse taxonomic levels, under changeable conditions and in still under-investigated environments. These approaches can be applied both on environmental communities and on individual organisms, either in nature or in axenic culture and have led the traditional morphology-based fungal systematic to increasingly implement molecular-based approaches. The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies was key to boost advances in fungal genomics and proteomics research. Much effort has also been directed towards the development of methodologies for optimal genomic DNA and protein extraction and separation. To date, the amount of proteomics investigations in Ascomycetes exceeds those carried out in any other fungal group. This is primarily due to the preponderance of their involvement in plant and animal diseases and multiple industrial applications, and therefore the need to understand the biological basis of the infectious process to develop mechanisms for biologic control, as well as to detect key proteins with roles in stress survival. Here we chose to present an overview as much comprehensive as possible of the major advances, mainly of the past decade, in the fields of genomics (including phylogenomics) and proteomics of Ascomycota, focusing particularly on those reporting on opportunistic pathogenic, extremophilic, polyextremotolerant and lichenized fungi. We also present a review of the mostly used genome sequencing technologies and methods for DNA sequence and protein analyses applied so far for fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudio G. Ametrano
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Department of Science and Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605, USA;
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Institute of Natual Sciences and Technology in the Arts, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria;
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28
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Seyler L, Kujawinski EB, Azua-Bustos A, Lee MD, Marlow J, Perl SM, Cleaves II HJ. Metabolomics as an Emerging Tool in the Search for Astrobiologically Relevant Biomarkers. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:1251-1261. [PMID: 32551936 PMCID: PMC7116171 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
It is now routinely possible to sequence and recover microbial genomes from environmental samples. To the degree it is feasible to assign transcriptional and translational functions to these genomes, it should be possible, in principle, to largely understand the complete molecular inputs and outputs of a microbial community. However, gene-based tools alone are presently insufficient to describe the full suite of chemical reactions and small molecules that compose a living cell. Metabolomic tools have developed quickly and now enable rapid detection and identification of small molecules within biological and environmental samples. The convergence of these technologies will soon facilitate the detection of novel enzymatic activities, novel organisms, and potentially extraterrestrial life-forms on solar system bodies. This review explores the methodological problems and scientific opportunities facing researchers who hope to apply metabolomic methods in astrobiology-related fields, and how present challenges might be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Seyler
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Address correspondence to: Lauren Seyler, Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 86 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Elizabeth B. Kujawinski
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Armando Azua-Bustos
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael D. Lee
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey Marlow
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott M. Perl
- Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA
- Mineral Sciences, Los Angeles Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Henderson James Cleaves II
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Geographical Research Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
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29
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Systems level profiling of arginine starvation reveals MYC and ERK adaptive metabolic reprogramming. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:662. [PMID: 32814773 PMCID: PMC7438517 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02899-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Arginine auxotrophy due to the silencing of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) occurs in many carcinomas and in the majority of sarcomas. Arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) therapy exploits this metabolic vulnerability by depleting extracellular arginine, causing arginine starvation. ASS1-negative cells develop resistance to ADI-PEG20 through a metabolic adaptation that includes re-expressing ASS1. As arginine-based multiagent therapies are being developed, further characterization of the changes induced by arginine starvation is needed. In order to develop a systems-level understanding of these changes, activity-based proteomic profiling (ABPP) and phosphoproteomic profiling were performed before and after ADI-PEG20 treatment in ADI-PEG20-sensitive and resistant sarcoma cells. When integrated with metabolomic profiling, this multi-omic analysis reveals that cellular response to arginine starvation is mediated by adaptive ERK signaling and activation of the Myc–Max transcriptional network. Concomitantly, these data elucidate proteomic changes that facilitate oxaloacetate production by enhancing glutamine and pyruvate anaplerosis and altering lipid metabolism to recycle citrate for oxidative glutaminolysis. Based on the complexity of metabolic and cellular signaling interactions, these multi-omic approaches could provide valuable tools for evaluating response to metabolically targeted therapies.
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30
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Zhu D, Adebisi WA, Ahmad F, Sethupathy S, Danso B, Sun J. Recent Development of Extremophilic Bacteria and Their Application in Biorefinery. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:483. [PMID: 32596215 PMCID: PMC7303364 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The biorefining technology for biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass has made great progress in the world. However, mobilization of laboratory research toward industrial setup needs to meet a series of criteria, including the selection of appropriate pretreatment technology, breakthrough in enzyme screening, pathway optimization, and production technology, etc. Extremophiles play an important role in biorefinery by providing novel metabolic pathways and catalytically stable/robust enzymes that are able to act as biocatalysts under harsh industrial conditions on their own. This review summarizes the potential application of thermophilic, psychrophilic alkaliphilic, acidophilic, and halophilic bacteria and extremozymes in the pretreatment, saccharification, fermentation, and lignin valorization process. Besides, the latest studies on the engineering bacteria of extremophiles using metabolic engineering and synthetic biology technologies for high-efficiency biofuel production are also introduced. Furthermore, this review explores the comprehensive application potential of extremophiles and extremozymes in biorefinery, which is partly due to their specificity and efficiency, and points out the necessity of accelerating the commercialization of extremozymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daochen Zhu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wasiu Adewale Adebisi
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Fiaz Ahmad
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Sivasamy Sethupathy
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Blessing Danso
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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31
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Milojevic T, Weckwerth W. Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Survivability in Outer Space: A Systems Biology Approach. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:923. [PMID: 32499769 PMCID: PMC7242639 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the dawn of space exploration, the survivability of terrestrial life in outer space conditions has attracted enormous attention. Space technology has enabled the development of advanced space exposure facilities to investigate in situ responses of microbial life to the stress conditions of space during interplanetary transfer. Significant progress has been made toward the understanding of the effects of space environmental factors, e.g., microgravity, vacuum and radiation, on microorganisms exposed to real and simulated space conditions. Of extreme importance is not only knowledge of survival potential of space-exposed microorganisms, but also the determination of mechanisms of survival and adaptation of predominant species to the extreme space environment, i.e., revealing the molecular machinery, which elicit microbial survivability and adaptation. Advanced technologies in -omics research have permitted genome-scale studies of molecular alterations of space-exposed microorganisms. A variety of reports show that microorganisms grown in the space environment exhibited global alterations in metabolic functions and gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. Proteomic, metabolomic and especially metabolic modeling approaches as essential instruments of space microbiology, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are rather underrepresented. Here we summarized the molecular space-induced alterations of exposed microorganisms in terms of understanding the molecular mechanisms of microbial survival and adaptation to drastic outer space environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetyana Milojevic
- Extremophiles/Space Biochemistry Group, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Metabolomics Center, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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32
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Habitability of Mars: How Welcoming Are the Surface and Subsurface to Life on the Red Planet? GEOSCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences9090361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mars is a planet of great interest in the search for signatures of past or present life beyond Earth. The years of research, and more advanced instrumentation, have yielded a lot of evidence which may be considered by the scientific community as proof of past or present habitability of Mars. Recent discoveries including seasonal methane releases and a subglacial lake are exciting, yet challenging findings. Concurrently, laboratory and environmental studies on the limits of microbial life in extreme environments on Earth broaden our knowledge of the possibility of Mars habitability. In this review, we aim to: (1) Discuss the characteristics of the Martian surface and subsurface that may be conducive to habitability either in the past or at present; (2) discuss laboratory-based studies on Earth that provide us with discoveries on the limits of life; and (3) summarize the current state of knowledge in terms of direction for future research.
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