1
|
Luciano-Rosario D, Jurick WM, Gottschalk C. The Near-Gapless Penicillium fuscoglaucum Genome Enables the Discovery of Lifestyle Features as an Emerging Post-Harvest Phytopathogen. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:430. [PMID: 38921416 PMCID: PMC11204653 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060430] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Penicillium spp. occupy many diverse biological niches that include plant pathogens, opportunistic human pathogens, saprophytes, indoor air contaminants, and those selected specifically for industrial applications to produce secondary metabolites and lifesaving antibiotics. Recent phylogenetic studies have established Penicillium fuscoglaucum as a synonym for Penicillium commune, which is an indoor air contaminant and toxin producer and can infect apple fruit during storage. During routine culturing on selective media in the lab, we obtained an isolate of P. fuscoglaucum Pf_T2 and sequenced its genome. The Pf_T2 genome is far superior to available genomic resources for the species. Our assembly exhibits a length of 35.1 Mb, a BUSCO score of 97.9% complete, and consists of five scaffolds/contigs representing the four expected chromosomes. It was determined that the Pf_T2 genome was colinear with a type specimen P. fuscoglaucum and contained a lineage-specific, intact cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) gene cluster. For comparison, a highly virulent postharvest apple pathogen, P. expansum strain TDL 12.1, was included and showed a similar growth pattern in culture to our Pf_T2 isolate but was far more aggressive in apple fruit than P. fuscoglaucum. The genome of Pf_T2 serves as a major improvement over existing resources, has superior annotation, and can inform forthcoming omics-based work and functional genetic studies to probe secondary metabolite production and disparities in aggressiveness during apple fruit decay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dianiris Luciano-Rosario
- Food Quality Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA;
- ORISE Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Wayne M. Jurick
- Food Quality Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA;
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Barreiro C, Albillos SM, García-Estrada C. Penicillium chrysogenum: Beyond the penicillin. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2024; 127:143-221. [PMID: 38763527 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Almost one century after the Sir Alexander Fleming's fortuitous discovery of penicillin and the identification of the fungal producer as Penicillium notatum, later Penicillium chrysogenum (currently reidentified as Penicillium rubens), the molecular mechanisms behind the massive production of penicillin titers by industrial strains could be considered almost fully characterized. However, this filamentous fungus is not only circumscribed to penicillin, and instead, it seems to be full of surprises, thereby producing important metabolites and providing expanded biotechnological applications. This review, in addition to summarizing the classical role of P. chrysogenum as penicillin producer, highlights its ability to generate an array of additional bioactive secondary metabolites and enzymes, together with the use of this microorganism in relevant biotechnological processes, such as bioremediation, biocontrol, production of bioactive nanoparticles and compounds with pharmaceutical interest, revalorization of agricultural and food-derived wastes or the enhancement of food industrial processes and the agricultural production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Instituto de Biología Molecular, Genómica y Proteómica (INBIOMIC), Universidad de León, León, Spain.
| | - Silvia M Albillos
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, León, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bartholomew HP, Luciano-Rosario D, Bradshaw MJ, Gaskins VL, Peng H, Fonseca JM, Jurick WM. Avirulent Isolates of Penicillium chrysogenum to Control the Blue Mold of Apple Caused by P. expansum. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2792. [PMID: 38004803 PMCID: PMC10673114 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Blue mold is an economically significant postharvest disease of pome fruit that is primarily caused by Penicillium expansum. To manage this disease and sustain product quality, novel decay intervention strategies are needed that also maintain long-term efficacy. Biocontrol organisms and natural products are promising tools for managing postharvest diseases. Here, two Penicillium chrysogenum isolates, 404 and 413, were investigated as potential biocontrol agents against P. expansum in apple. Notably, 404 and 413 were non-pathogenic in apple, yet they grew vigorously in vitro when compared to the highly aggressive P. expansum R19 and Pe21 isolates. Whole-genome sequencing and species-specific barcoding identified both strains as P. chrysogenum. Each P. chrysogenum strain was inoculated in apple with the subsequent co-inoculation of R19 or Pe21 simultaneously, 3, or 7 days after prior inoculation with 404 or 413. The co-inoculation of these isolates showed reduced decay incidence and severity, with the most significant reduction from the longer establishment of P. chrysogenum. In vitro growth showed no antagonism between species, further suggesting competitive niche colonization as the mode of action for decay reduction. Both P. chrysogenum isolates had incomplete patulin gene clusters but tolerated patulin treatment. Finally, hygromycin resistance was observed for both P. chrysogenum isolates, yet they are not multiresistant to apple postharvest fungicides. Overall, we demonstrate the translative potential of P. chrysogenum to serve as an effective biocontrol agent against blue mold decay in apples, pending practical optimization and formulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly P. Bartholomew
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Dianiris Luciano-Rosario
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Michael J. Bradshaw
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Verneta L. Gaskins
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Hui Peng
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Jorge M. Fonseca
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Wayne M. Jurick
- Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shaaban R, Elnaggar MS, Khalil N, Singab ANB. A comprehensive review on the medicinally valuable endosymbiotic fungi Penicillium chrysogenum. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:240. [PMID: 37195521 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03580-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Recently, it has been shown that metabolites derived from endosymbiotic fungi attracted high attention, since plenty of them have promising pharmaceutical applications. The variation of metabolic pathways in fungi is considered an optimistic source for lead compounds. Among these classes are terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, and steroids, which have proved several pharmacological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral actions. This review concludes the major isolated compounds from different strains of Penicillium chrysogenum during the period 2013-2023, together with their reported pharmacological activities. From literature surveys, 277 compounds have been identified from P. chrysogenum, which has been isolated as an endosymbiotic fungus from different host organisms, with specific attention paid to those showing marked biological activities that could be useful in the pharmaceutical industry in the future. This review represents documentation for a valuable reference for promising pharmaceutical applications or further needed studies on P. chrysogenum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rawan Shaaban
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Pharmacy, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Elnaggar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
- Center of Drug Discovery Research and Development, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Noha Khalil
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Pharmacy, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Abdel Nasser B Singab
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
- Center of Drug Discovery Research and Development, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ploessl D, Zhao Y, Shao Z. Engineering of non-model eukaryotes for bioenergy and biochemical production. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102869. [PMID: 36584447 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The prospect of leveraging naturally occurring phenotypes to overcome bottlenecks constraining the bioeconomy has marshalled increased exploration of nonconventional organisms. This review discusses the status of non-model eukaryotic species in bioproduction, the evaluation criteria for effectively matching a candidate host to a biosynthetic process, and the genetic engineering tools needed for host domestication. We present breakthroughs in genome editing and heterologous pathway design, delving into innovative spatiotemporal modulation strategies that potentiate more refined engineering capabilities. We cover current understanding of genetic instability and its ramifications for industrial scale-up, highlighting key factors and possible remedies. Finally, we propose future opportunities to expand the current collection of available hosts and provide guidance to benefit the broader bioeconomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deon Ploessl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Yuxin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zengyi Shao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Interdepartmental Microbiology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; Bioeconomy Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; The Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Requena E, Alonso-Guirado L, Veloso J, Villarino M, Melgarejo P, Espeso EA, Larena I. Comparative analysis of Penicillium genomes reveals the absence of a specific genetic basis for biocontrol in Penicillium rubens strain 212. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1075327. [PMID: 36713150 PMCID: PMC9880469 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1075327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Penicillium rubens strain 212 (PO212) is a filamentous fungus belonging to the division Ascomycete. PO212 acts as an effective biocontrol agent against several pathogens in a variety of horticultural crops including Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, causing vascular wilt disease in tomato plants. We assembled draft genomes of two P. rubens strains, the biocontrol agent PO212 and the soil isolate S27, which lacks biocontrol activity. We also performed comparative analyses of the genomic sequence of PO212 with that of the other P. rubens and P. chrysogenum strains. This is the first Penicillium strain with biocontrol activity whose genome has been sequenced and compared. PO212 genome size is 2,982 Mb, which is currently organized into 65 scaffolds and a total of 10,164 predicted Open Reading Frames (ORFs). Sequencing confirmed that PO212 belongs to P. rubens clade. The comparative analysis of the PO212 genome with the genomes of other P. rubens and Penicillium chrysogenum strains available in databases showed strong conservation among genomes, but a correlation was not found between these genomic data and the biocontrol phenotype displayed by PO212. Finally, the comparative analysis between PO212 and S27 genomes showed high sequence conservation and a low number of variations mainly located in ORF regions. These differences found in coding regions between PO212 and S27 genomes can explain neither the biocontrol activity of PO212 nor the absence of such activity in S27, opening a possible avenue toward transcriptomic and epigenetic studies that may shed light on this mechanism for fighting plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. The genome sequences described in this study provide a useful novel resource for future research into the biology, ecology, and evolution of biological control agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Requena
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lola Alonso-Guirado
- Grupo de Epidemiología Genética y Molecular, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Veloso
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - María Villarino
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Melgarejo
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Antonio Espeso
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular de Aspergillus, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Larena
- Grupo Hongos Fitopatógenos, Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Inmaculada Larena, ✉
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Huygens J, Rasschaert G, Heyndrickx M, Dewulf J, Van Coillie E, Quataert P, Daeseleire E, Becue I. Impact of fertilization with pig or calf slurry on antibiotic residues and resistance genes in the soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153518. [PMID: 35101484 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes can enter the environment via fertilization with calf and pig manure. In a longitudinal study, nine antibiotic resistance genes (tet(B), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), tet(W), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2) and 56 antibiotic residues were investigated in 288 soil samples and 8 corresponding slurry samples from 6 pig farms and 2 veal farms using qPCR and LC-MS/MS, respectively. A significant increase in gene copy number of tet(M), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2 was observed in all the soil layers between sampling times prior to (T1) and 2-3 weeks after fertilization (T3). Tet(B), tet(Q) and tet(L) were least abundant in the soil among the genes tested. From 7 classes of antibiotics, 20 residues were detected in soil and slurry using an optimized and validated extraction method. Flumequine was detected in all soil samples in concentrations below 100 μg/kg despite being detected in only half of the corresponding slurry samples. Doxycycline, oxytetracycline, lincomycin and sulfadiazine were also frequently detected in concentrations ranging from 0.1 μg/kg to 500 μg/kg and from 2 μg/kg and 9480 μg/kg in soil and slurry, respectively. Furthermore a positive association between the presence of antibiotic residues (total antibiotic load) and antibiotic resistance genes in soil was found. One possible explanation for this is a simultaneous introduction of antibiotic residues and resistance genes upon application of animal slurry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Huygens
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - Geertrui Rasschaert
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium.
| | - Marc Heyndrickx
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium; Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Dewulf
- Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Els Van Coillie
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - Paul Quataert
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Science Unit, Caritasstraat 39, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - Els Daeseleire
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - Ilse Becue
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fierro F, Vaca I, Castillo NI, García-Rico RO, Chávez R. Penicillium chrysogenum, a Vintage Model with a Cutting-Edge Profile in Biotechnology. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030573. [PMID: 35336148 PMCID: PMC8954384 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of penicillin entailed a decisive breakthrough in medicine. No other medical advance has ever had the same impact in the clinical practise. The fungus Penicillium chrysogenum (reclassified as P. rubens) has been used for industrial production of penicillin ever since the forties of the past century; industrial biotechnology developed hand in hand with it, and currently P. chrysogenum is a thoroughly studied model for secondary metabolite production and regulation. In addition to its role as penicillin producer, recent synthetic biology advances have put P. chrysogenum on the path to become a cell factory for the production of metabolites with biotechnological interest. In this review, we tell the history of P. chrysogenum, from the discovery of penicillin and the first isolation of strains with high production capacity to the most recent research advances with the fungus. We will describe how classical strain improvement programs achieved the goal of increasing production and how the development of different molecular tools allowed further improvements. The discovery of the penicillin gene cluster, the origin of the penicillin genes, the regulation of penicillin production, and a compilation of other P. chrysogenum secondary metabolites will also be covered and updated in this work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Fierro
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico
- Correspondence:
| | - Inmaculada Vaca
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Nancy I. Castillo
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Ramón Ovidio García-Rico
- Grupo de Investigación GIMBIO, Departamento De Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Pamplona, Pamplona 543050, Colombia;
| | - Renato Chávez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170020, Chile;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kück U, Dahlmann TA. The Confusion in Renaming Species: Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium rubens. Microbiol Resour Announc 2021; 10:e0046421. [PMID: 34854731 PMCID: PMC8638606 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00464-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Kück
- Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tim A. Dahlmann
- Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Holzknecht J, Kühbacher A, Papp C, Farkas A, Váradi G, Marcos JF, Manzanares P, Tóth GK, Galgóczy L, Marx F. The Penicillium chrysogenum Q176 Antimicrobial Protein PAFC Effectively Inhibits the Growth of the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Candida albicans. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6030141. [PMID: 32824977 PMCID: PMC7557831 DOI: 10.3390/jof6030141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small, cysteine-rich and cationic antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) from filamentous ascomycetes promise treatment alternatives to licensed antifungal drugs. In this study, we characterized the Penicillium chrysogenum Q176 antifungal protein C (PAFC), which is phylogenetically distinct to the other two Penicillium antifungal proteins, PAF and PAFB, that are expressed by this biotechnologically important ascomycete. PAFC is secreted into the culture broth and is co-expressed with PAF and PAFB in the exudates of surface cultures. This observation is in line with the suggested role of AMPs in the adaptive response of the host to endogenous and/or environmental stimuli. The in silico structural model predicted five β-strands stabilized by four intramolecular disulfide bonds in PAFC. The functional characterization of recombinant PAFC provided evidence for a promising new molecule in anti-Candida therapy. The thermotolerant PAFC killed planktonic cells and reduced the metabolic activity of sessile cells in pre-established biofilms of two Candidaalbicans strains, one of which was a fluconazole-resistant clinical isolate showing higher PAFC sensitivity than the fluconazole-sensitive strain. Candidacidal activity was linked to severe cell morphology changes, PAFC internalization, induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species and plasma membrane disintegration. The lack of hemolytic activity further corroborates the potential applicability of PAFC in clinical therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeanett Holzknecht
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (J.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Alexander Kühbacher
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (J.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Csaba Papp
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Attila Farkas
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Györgyi Váradi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (G.V.); (G.K.T.)
| | - Jose F. Marcos
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, E-46980 Valencia, Spain; (J.F.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Paloma Manzanares
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, E-46980 Valencia, Spain; (J.F.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Gábor K. Tóth
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (G.V.); (G.K.T.)
- MTA-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Galgóczy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence: (L.G.); (F.M.); Tel.: +36-62-599-600 (ext. 415) (L.G.); +43-512-9003 (ext. 70207) (F.M.)
| | - Florentine Marx
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80–82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (J.H.); (A.K.)
- Correspondence: (L.G.); (F.M.); Tel.: +36-62-599-600 (ext. 415) (L.G.); +43-512-9003 (ext. 70207) (F.M.)
| |
Collapse
|