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Zhang R, Liu X, Xu J, Chen C, Tang Z, Wu C, Li X, Su L, Liu M, Yang L, Li G, Zhang H, Wang P, Zhang Z. MoRgs3 functions in intracellular reactive oxygen species perception-integrated cAMP signaling to promote appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae. mBio 2024:e0099624. [PMID: 38980036 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00996-24] [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: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins exhibit GTPase-accelerating protein activities to govern G-protein function. In the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, there is a family of at least eight RGS and RGS-like proteins (MoRgs1 to MoRgs8), each exhibiting distinct or shared functions in the growth, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity. MoRgs3 recently emerged as one of the crucial regulators that senses intracellular oxidation during appressorium formation. To explore this unique regulatory mechanism of MoRgs3, we identified the nucleoside diphosphate kinase MoNdk1 that interacts with MoRgs3. MoNdk1 phosphorylates MoRgs3 under induced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and MoRgs3 phosphorylation is required for appressorium formation and pathogenicity. In addition, we showed that MoRgs3 phosphorylation determines its interaction with MoCrn1, a coronin-like actin-binding protein homolog, which regulates MoRgs3 internalization. Finally, we provided evidence demonstrating that MoRgs3 functions in MoMagA-mediated cAMP signaling to regulate normal appressorium induction. By revealing a novel signal perception mechanism, our studies highlighted the complexity of regulation during the appressorium function and pathogenicity of the blast fungus. IMPORTANCE We report that MoRgs3 becomes phosphorylated in an oxidative intracellular environment during the appressorium formation stage. We found that this phosphorylation is carried out by MoNdk1, a nucleoside diphosphate kinase. In addition, this phosphorylation leads to a higher binding affinity between MoRgs3 and MoCrn1, a coronin-like actin-binding protein that was implicated in the endocytic transport of several other RGS proteins of Magnaporthe oryzae. We further found that the internalization of MoRgs3 is indispensable for its GTPase-activating protein function toward the Gα subunit MoMagA. Importantly, we characterized how such cellular regulatory events coincide with cAMP signaling-regulated appressorium formation and pathogenicity in the blast fungus. Our studies uncovered a novel intracellular reactive oxygen species signal-transducing mechanism in a model pathogenic fungus with important basic and applied implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiming Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiayun Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoxuan Tang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengtong Wu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyue Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Su
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Muxing Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Leiyun Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Zhengguang Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
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2
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Wang FH, Wang BB, Gao J, Yang XJ, Jia YB, Tian SY, Li X, Zhang N, Zhang XC, Wei YM, Zhang J, Cai KZ. Determination of cyclic adenosine phosphate and protein content in dormant chlamydospore and nondormant chlamydospore of Arthrobotrys flagrans. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2400008. [PMID: 38548685 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202400008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Arthrobotrys flagrans, a nematode-eating fungus, is an effective component of animal parasitic nematode biocontrol agents. In the dried formulation, the majority of spores are in an endogenous dormant state. This study focuses on dormant chlamydospore and nondormant chlamydospore of A. flagrans to investigate the differences in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein content between the two types of spores. cAMP and soluble proteins were extracted from the nondormant chlamydospore and dormant chlamydospore of two isolates of A. flagrans. The cAMP Direct Immunoassay Kit and Bradford protein concentration assay kit (Coomassie brilliant blue method) were used to detect the cAMP and protein content in two types of spores. Results showed that the content of cAMP in dormant spores of both isolates was significantly higher than that in nondormant spores (p < 0.05). The protein content of dormant spores in DH055 bacteria was significantly higher than that of nondormant spores (p < 0.05). In addition, the protein content of dormant spores of the SDH035 strain was slightly higher than that of nondormant spores, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The results obtained in this study provide evidence for the biochemical mechanism of chlamydospore dormancy or the germination of the nematophagous fungus A. flagrans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Hui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Bo-Bo Wang
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
- Yan'an Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Parasitology Laboratory, Yan'an, China
| | | | - Xiao-Jun Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Yi-Bo Jia
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Shu-Yue Tian
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research by Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xi-Chen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research by Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan-Ming Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Kui-Zheng Cai
- Department of Medical college, Medical College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
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3
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Wang Z, Zhang Q, Zhang H, Lu Y. Roles of alcohol dehydrogenase 1 in the biological activities of Candida albicans. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38916139 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2024.2371510] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Candida albicans stands as the foremost prevalent human commensal pathogen and a significant contributor to nosocomial fungal infections. In the metabolism of C. albicans, alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (Adh1) is one of the important enzymes that converts acetaldehyde produced by pyruvate decarboxylation into ethanol at the end of glycolysis. Leveraging the foundational processes of alcoholic fermentation, Adh1 plays an active role in multiple biological phenomena, including biofilm formation, interactions between different species, the development of drug resistance, and the potential initiation of gastrointestinal cancer. Additionally, Adh1 within C. albicans has demonstrated associations with regulating the cell cycle, stress responses, and various intracellular states. Furthermore, Adh1 is extracellularly localized on the cell wall surface, where it plays roles in processes such as tissue invasion and host immune responses. Drawing from an analysis of ADH1 gene structure, expression patterns, and fundamental functions, this review elucidates the intricate connections between Adh1 and various biological processes within C. albicans, underscoring its potential implications for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haoying Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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Queiroz da Silva ML, Ferreira de Sousa N, Dos Santos ATL, de Sousa GR, Fonseca VJA, Douglas Melo Coutinho H, Barbosa Filho JM, de Souza Ferrari J, Scotti MT, Ribeiro-Filho J, Martins de Lima JP, da Rocha JBT, Bezerra Morais-Braga MF. Inhibition of the morphological transition of Candida spp. by riparins I-IV. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2024:e13007. [PMID: 38738393 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.13007] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Candida spp. is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing superficial to invasive infections. Morphological transition is one of the main virulence factors of this genus and, therefore, is an important variable to be considered in pharmacological interventions. Riparins I, II, III, and IV are alkamide-type alkaloids extracted from the unripe fruit of Aniba riparia, whose remarkable pharmacological properties were previously demonstrated. This work aimed to evaluate in silico and in vitro the inhibitory effects of Riparins on the morphological transition of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. Molecular docking was applied to analyze the inhibitory effects of riparins against proteins such as N-acetylglucosamine, CYP-51, and protein kinase A (PKA) using the Ramachandran plot. The ligands were prepared by MarvinSketch and Spartan software version 14.0, and MolDock Score and Rerank Score were used to analyze the affinity of the compounds. In vitro analyses were performed by culturing the strains in humid chambers in the presence of riparins or fluconazole (FCZ). The morphology was observed through optical microscopy, and the size of the hyphae was determined using the ToupView software. In silico analysis demonstrated that all riparins are likely to interact with the molecular targets: GlcNAc (>50%), PKA (>60%), and CYP-51 (>70%). Accordingly, in vitro analysis showed that these compounds significantly inhibited the morphological transition of all Candida strains. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that riparins inhibit Candida morphological transition and, therefore, can be used to overcome the pathogenicity of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natália Ferreira de Sousa
- Laboratório de Quimioinformática, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), São João do Cariri, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriela Ribeiro de Sousa
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), São João do Cariri, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Maria Barbosa Filho
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), São João do Cariri, Brazil
| | | | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Laboratório de Quimioinformática, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), São João do Cariri, Brazil
| | | | | | - João Batista Teixeira da Rocha
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri (URCA), Crato, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
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5
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Edrich ESM, Duvenage L, Gourlay CW. Alternative Oxidase - Aid or obstacle to combat the rise of fungal pathogens? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2024; 1865:149031. [PMID: 38195037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2024.149031] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens present a growing threat to both humans and global health security alike. Increasing evidence of antifungal resistance in fungal populations that infect both humans and plant species has increased reliance on combination therapies and shown the need for new antifungal therapeutic targets to be investigated. Here, we review the roles of mitochondria and fungal respiration in pathogenesis and discuss the role of the Alternative Oxidase enzyme (Aox) in both human fungal pathogens and phytopathogens. Increasing evidence exists for Aox within mechanisms that underpin fungal virulence. Aox also plays important roles in adaptability that may prove useful within dual targeted fungal-specific therapeutic approaches. As improved fungal specific mitochondrial and Aox inhibitors are under development we may see this as an emerging target for future approaches to tackling the growing challenge of fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucian Duvenage
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Campbell W Gourlay
- Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Kent CT2 9HY, UK.
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Li S, Liu Y, Weng L, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Chen Q, Liu X, Zhang H. The F 1F o-ATP synthase α subunit of Candida albicans induces inflammatory responses by controlling amino acid catabolism. Virulence 2023; 14:2190645. [PMID: 36914568 PMCID: PMC10072111 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2190645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a leading cause of fatality in invasive candidiasis. The magnitude of the inflammatory response is a determinant of sepsis outcomes, and inflammatory cytokine imbalances are central to the pathophysiological processes. We previously demonstrated that a Candida albicans F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant was nonlethal to mice. Here, the potential effects of the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit on host inflammatory responses and the mechanism were studied. Compared with wild-type strain, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant failed to induce inflammatory responses in Galleria mellonella and murine systemic candidiasis models and significantly decreased the mRNA levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and increased those of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 in the kidney. During C. albicans-macrophage co-culture, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant was trapped inside macrophages in yeast form, and its filamentation, a key factor in inducing inflammatory responses, was inhibited. In the macrophage-mimicking microenvironment, the F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit deletion mutant blocked the cAMP/PKA pathway, the core filamentation-regulating pathway, because it failed to alkalinize environment by catabolizing amino acids, an important alternative carbon source inside macrophages. The mutant downregulated Put1 and Put2, two essential amino acid catabolic enzymes, possibly due to severely impaired oxidative phosphorylation. Our findings reveal that the C. albicans F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit induces host inflammatory responses by controlling its own amino acid catabolism and it is significant to find drugs that inhibit F1Fo-ATP synthase α subunit activity to control the induction of host inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuixiu Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Luobei Weng
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yajing Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yishan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhanpeng Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiaoxin Chen
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaocong Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Mycology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Bohner F, Papp C, Takacs T, Varga M, Szekeres A, Nosanchuk JD, Vágvölgyi C, Tóth R, Gacser A. Acquired Triazole Resistance Alters Pathogenicity-Associated Features in Candida auris in an Isolate-Dependent Manner. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1148. [PMID: 38132749 PMCID: PMC10744493 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121148] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluconazole resistance is commonly encountered in Candida auris, and the yeast frequently displays resistance to other standard drugs, which severely limits the number of effective therapeutic agents against this emerging pathogen. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of acquired azole resistance on the viability, stress response, and virulence of this species. Fluconazole-, posaconazole-, and voriconazole- resistant strains were generated from two susceptible C. auris clinical isolates (0381, 0387) and compared under various conditions. Several evolved strains became pan-azole-resistant, as well as echinocandin-cross-resistant. While being pan-azole-resistant, the 0381-derived posaconazole-evolved strain colonized brain tissue more efficiently than any other strain, suggesting that fitness cost is not necessarily a consequence of resistance development in C. auris. All 0387-derived evolved strains carried a loss of function mutation (R160S) in BCY1, an inhibitor of the PKA pathway. Sequencing data also revealed that posaconazole treatment can result in ERG3 mutation in C. auris. Despite using the same mechanisms to generate the evolved strains, both genotype and phenotype analysis highlighted that the development of resistance was unique for each strain. Our data suggest that C. auris triazole resistance development is a highly complex process, initiated by several pleiotropic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Bohner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Csaba Papp
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Tamas Takacs
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Mónika Varga
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - András Szekeres
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Renáta Tóth
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Attila Gacser
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-USZ Pathomechanisms of Fungal Infections Research Group, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
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8
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Yu SF, Sun ZB, Li SD, Hu YF, Ren Q, Xu JL, Song HJ, Sun MH. The Adenylate Cyclase-Encoding Gene crac Is Involved in Clonostachys rosea Mycoparasitism. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:861. [PMID: 37623632 PMCID: PMC10455997 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080861] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is an excellent biocontrol fungus against numerous fungal plant pathogens. The cAMP signaling pathway is a crucial signal transduction pathway in fungi. To date, the role of the cAMP signaling pathway in C. rosea mycoparasitism remains unknown. An adenylate cyclase-encoding gene, crac (an important component of the cAMP signaling pathway), was previously screened from C. rosea 67-1, and its expression level was dramatically upregulated during the C. rosea mycoparasitization of the sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In this study, the function of crac in C. rosea mycoparasitism was explored through gene knockout and complementation. The obtained results show that the deletion of crac influenced the growth rate and colony morphology of C. rosea, as well as the tolerance to NaCl and H2O2 stress. The mycoparasitic effects on the sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum and the biocontrol capacity on soybean Sclerotinia stem rot in ∆crac-6 and ∆crac-13 were both attenuated compared with that of the wild-type strain and complementation transformants. To understand the regulatory mechanism of crac during C. rosea mycoparasitism, transcriptomic analysis was conducted between the wild-type strain and knockout mutant. A number of biocontrol-related genes, including genes encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes and transporters, were significantly differentially expressed during C. rosea mycoparasitism, suggesting that crac may be involved in C. rosea mycoparasitism by regulating the expression of these DEGs. These findings provide insight for further exploring the molecular mechanism of C. rosea mycoparasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Fan Yu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhan-Bin Sun
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ya-Feng Hu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qing Ren
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Jia-Liang Xu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Han-Jian Song
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Lin CJ, Yang SY, Hsu LH, Yu SJ, Chen YL. The Gcn5-Ada2-Ada3 histone acetyltransferase module has divergent roles in pathogenesis of Candida glabrata. Med Mycol 2023; 61:myad004. [PMID: 36715154 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida glabrata is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and the second most prevalent species isolated from candidiasis patients. C. glabrata has intrinsic tolerance to antifungal drugs and oxidative stresses and the ability to adhere to mucocutaneous surfaces. However, knowledge about the regulation of its virulence traits is limited. The Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex modulates gene transcription by histone acetylation through the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) module comprised of Gcn5-Ada2-Ada3. Previously, we showed that the ada2 mutant was hypervirulent but displayed decreased tolerance to antifungal drugs and cell wall perturbing agents. In this study, we further characterized the functions of Ada3 and Gcn5 in C. glabrata. We found that single, double, or triple deletions of the HAT module, as expected, resulted in a decreased level of acetylation on histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) and defective growth. These mutants were more susceptible to antifungal drugs, oxidative stresses, and cell wall perturbing agents compared with the wild-type. In addition, HAT module mutants exhibited enhanced agar invasion and upregulation of adhesin and proteases encoding genes, whereas the biofilm formation of those mutants was impaired. Interestingly, HAT module mutants exhibited enhanced induction of catalases (CTA1) expression upon treatment with H2O2 compared with the wild-type. Lastly, although ada3 and gcn5 exhibited marginal hypervirulence, the HAT double and triple mutants were hypervirulent in a murine model of candidiasis. In conclusion, the HAT module of the SAGA complex plays unique roles in H3K9 acetylation, drug tolerance, oxidative stress response, adherence, and virulence in C. glabrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Jan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Hsing University, 40227 Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yung Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hang Hsu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Jie Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lien Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan
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10
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cAMP Signalling Pathway in Biocontrol Fungi. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2622-2634. [PMID: 35735620 PMCID: PMC9221721 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44060179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biocontrol is a complex process, in which a variety of physiological and biochemical characteristics are altered. The cAMP signalling pathway is an important signal transduction pathway in biocontrol fungi and consists of several key components. The G-protein system contains G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), heterotrimeric G-proteins, adenylate cyclase (AC), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and downstream transcription factors (TFs). The cAMP signalling pathway can regulate fungal growth, development, differentiation, sporulation, morphology, secondary metabolite production, environmental stress tolerance, and the biocontrol of pathogens. However, few reviews of the cAMP signalling pathway in comprehensive biocontrol processes have been reported. This work reviews and discusses the functions and applications of genes encoding each component in the cAMP signalling pathway from biocontrol fungi, including the G-protein system components, AC, PKA, and TFs, in biocontrol behaviour. Finally, future suggestions are provided for constructing a complete cAMP signalling pathway in biocontrol fungi containing all the components and downstream effectors involved in biocontrol behavior. This review provides useful information for the understanding the biocontrol mechanism of biocontrol fungi by utilising the cAMP signalling pathway.
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11
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Mo F, Zhang P, Li Q, Yang X, Ma J, Zhang J. Development and Evaluation of a Film Forming System Containing Myricetin and Miconazole Nitrate for Preventing Candida albicans Catheter-Related Infection. Microb Drug Resist 2022; 28:468-483. [PMID: 35451882 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2021.0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Candida albicans catheter-related infection (CRI) is a great challenge in clinic now, mainly due to the difficulty in eradicating the biofilms. Purpose: In this study, the mechanism of the antibiofilm effect of myricetin (MY) on C. albicans was illustrated. A film forming system (FFS) containing MY and miconazole nitrate (MN) was developed, optimized, and evaluated. The anti-infection effect of MY+MN@FFS against C. albicans CRI was investigated in vivo. Study Design and Methods: To clarify the mechanism of the action of MY, the influence of MY on each key process of the formation of C. albicans biofilms was evaluated. To deliver MY and MN into the skin and form a drug reservoir on the surface of the skin, the FFS was used as a carrier and MY+MN@FFS was developed, optimized, and evaluated. After preliminary confirmation of drug safety, a percutaneously inserted C. albicans CRI mouse model was established to investigate the in vivo anti-infection effect of MY+MN@FFS by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy on the outer surface of the catheters, hematoxylin/eosin staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining of the mice skin tissues. Results: MY was found to inhibit the morphological transition of C. albicans and the secretion of exopolysaccharides, resulting in a reduction in biofilms. MY+MN@FFS exhibited excellent properties and no irritation to mice skin. In an in vivo anti-infection study, MY+MN@FFS exhibited an excellent preventive effect against percutaneously inserted C. albicans CRI. Conclusion: MY+MN@FFS might be a potential approach for effectively preventing percutaneously inserted C. albicans CRI in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Mo
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Peipei Zhang
- Biobank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P. R. China
| | - Qingqing Li
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Xianwei Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jia Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jiye Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
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12
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Adenylyl Cyclase and Protein Kinase A Play Redundant and Distinct Roles in Growth, Differentiation, Antifungal Drug Resistance, and Pathogenicity of Candida auris. mBio 2021; 12:e0272921. [PMID: 34663094 PMCID: PMC8524339 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02729-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a globally emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Its pathogenicity-related signaling networks are largely unknown. Here, we characterized the pathobiological functions of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in C. auris. We focused on adenylyl cyclase (CYR1), the PKA regulatory subunit (BCY1), and the PKA catalytic subunits (TPK1 and TPK2). We concluded that PKA acts both dependently and independently of Cyr1 in C. auris. Tpk1 and Tpk2 have major and minor roles, respectively, in PKA activity and functions. Both Cyr1 and PKA promote growth, thermotolerance, filamentous growth, and resistance to stress and antifungal drugs by regulating expression of multiple effector genes. In addition, Cyr1 and PKA subunits were involved in disinfectant resistance of C. auris. However, deletion of both TPK1 and TPK2 generally resulted in more severe defects than CYR1 deletion, indicating that Cyr1 and PKA play redundant and distinct roles. Notably, Tpk1 and Tpk2 have redundant but Cyr1-independent roles in haploid-to-diploid cell transition, which increases virulence of C. auris. However, Tpk1 and Tpk2 often play opposing roles in formation of biofilms and the cell wall components chitin and chitosan. Surprisingly, deletion of CYR1 or TPK1/TPK2, which resulted in severe in vitro growth defects at 37°C, did not attenuate virulence, and BCY1 deletion reduced virulence of C. auris in a systemic murine infection model. In conclusion, this study provides comprehensive insights into the role of the cAMP/PKA pathway in drug resistance and pathogenicity of C. auris and suggests a potential therapeutic option for treatment of C. auris-mediated candidemia.
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13
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Alqahtani FM, Handy ST, Sutton CL, Farone MB. Combining Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis (RNA-seq) and a Gene Editing Platform (CRISPR-Cas9) to Uncover the Selectively Pro-oxidant Activity of Aurone Compounds Against Candida albicans. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:708267. [PMID: 34335543 PMCID: PMC8319688 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.708267] [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: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the major fungal cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections worldwide with a 40% mortality rate. The scarcity of antifungal treatments due to the eukaryotic origin of fungal cells has challenged the development of selectively antifungal drugs. In an attempt to identify novel antifungal agents, aurones SH1009 and SH9051, as synthetically bioactive compounds, have been recently documented as anti-Candida agents. Since the molecular mechanisms behind the inhibitory activities of these aurones in C. albicans are unclear, this study aimed to determine the comprehensive cellular processes affected by these aurones and their molecular targets. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of SH1009- and SH9051-treated C. albicans revealed uniquely repressed expression in different metabolic pathways, particularly trehalose and sulfur amino acid metabolic processes for SH1009 and SH9051, respectively. In contrast, the most commonly enriched process for both aurones was the up-regulation of RNA processing and ribosomal cleavages as an indicator of high oxidative stress, suggesting that a common aspect in the chemical structure of both aurones led to pro-oxidative properties. Additionally, uniquely induced responses (iron ion homeostasis for SH1009 and arginine biosynthesis for SH9051) garnered attention on key roles for the aurone functional groups. Deletion of the transcription factor for the trehalose biosynthesis pathway, Tye7p, resulted in an SH1009-resistant mutant, which also exhibited low trehalose content, validating the primary molecular target of SH1009. Aurone SH9051 uniquely simulated an exogenous supply of methionine or cysteine, leading to sulfur amino acid catabolism as evidenced by quantifying an overproduction of sulfite. Phenyl aurone, the common structure of aurones, contributed proportionally in the pro-oxidative activity through ferric ion reduction effects leading to high ROS levels. Our results determined selective and novel molecular mechanisms for aurone SH1009 and also elucidated the diverse cellular effects of different aurones based on functional groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatmah M Alqahtani
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States
| | - Scott T Handy
- Department of Chemistry, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States
| | - Caleb L Sutton
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States
| | - Mary B Farone
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States
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14
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Farh MEA, Abdellaoui N, Seo JA. pH Changes Have a Profound Effect on Gene Expression, Hydrolytic Enzyme Production, and Dimorphism in Saccharomycopsis fibuligera. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:672661. [PMID: 34248880 PMCID: PMC8265565 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.672661] [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: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharomycopsis fibuligera is an amylolytic yeast that plays an important role within nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter) used for the production of makgeolli (Korean rice wine), which is characterized by high acidity. However, the effect of pH change (neutral to acidic) on the yeast cell to hyphal transition and carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme activities for S. fibuligera has not been investigated yet. In this study, S. fibuligera strains were cultured under the different pH conditions, and the effect on the enzyme production and gene expression were investigated. An acidic pH induced a hyphal transition from yeast cell of S. fibuligera KPH12 and the hybrid strain KJJ81. In addition, both strains showed a gradual decrease in the ability to degrade starch and cellulose as the pH went down. Furthermore, a transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the pH decline caused global expression changes in genes, which were classified into five clusters. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under acidic pH, the downregulated genes were involved in protein synthesis, carbon metabolism, and RIM101 and cAMP-PKA signaling transduction pathways for the yeast-hyphal transition. A decrease in pH induced a dimorphic lifestyle switch from yeast cell formation to hyphal growth in S. fibuligera and caused a decrease in carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme production, as well as marked changes in the expression of genes related to enzyme production and pH adaptation. This study will help to elucidate the mechanism of adaptation of S. fibuligera to acidification that occur during the fermentation process of makgeolli using nuruk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Najib Abdellaoui
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Ah Seo
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
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15
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Zou L, Mei Z, Guan T, Zhang B, Deng Q. Underlying mechanisms of the effect of minocycline against Candida albicans biofilms. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:413. [PMID: 33747154 PMCID: PMC7967842 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Minocycline (MH) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and semisynthetic tetracycline derivative, which has been widely used in the clinic due to its efficacy. Having the strongest anti-microbial effect, MH exceeded the traditional scope of antibiotics and its previously unknown antifungal activity is also gradually being discovered. To preliminarily investigate the inhibitory effect of MH on Candida albicans (C. albicans), changes of cell growth, hyphal formation and transition, biofilm production and signaling pathway gene expression of C. albicans in the presence of MH were assessed in the present study. An XTT reduction assay was performed to quantitatively detect the metabolic activity of biofilms and evaluate the inhibition of MH on this. The results suggested that biofilm formation was clearly inhibited by 67% (P<0.0001) in the presence of 250 µg/ml MH, while mature biofilms were not significantly affected. In addition, MH inhibited the transition from yeast to hypha in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR revealed that several hyphae- and adhesion-specific genes associated with the Ras/cyclic (c)AMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway were differentially expressed following MH treatment, including downregulation of ras family GTPase (RAS1), adenylyl cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), thiamin pyrophosphokinase 1 (TPK1), adenylate cyclase (CDC35), transcription factor (TEC1), agglutinin-like protein 3 (ALS3) and hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1) and upregulation of EFG1 (enhanced filamentous growth protein 1 gene) and PDE2 (high-affinity phosphodiesterase gene). The most obviously changed genes were TPK1, HWP1 and RAS1, downregulated by 0.33-, 0.48- and 0.55-fold, respectively. It was suggested that MH is associated with alterations in the morphology of C. albicans, such as the repression of hypha and biofilm formation of cells, and MH affected the Ras/cAMP pathway to regulate the expression of cAMP-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China
| | - Zhao Mei
- Department of Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China
| | - Tao Guan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China
| | - Qun Deng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443000, P.R. China
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16
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Abstract
In the last decades, Candida albicans has served as the leading causal agent of life-threatening invasive infections with mortality rates approaching 40% despite treatment. Candida albicans (C. albicans) exists in three biological phases: yeast, pseudohyphae, and hyphae. Hyphae, which represent an important phase in the disease process, can cause tissue damage by invading mucosal epithelial cells then leading to blood infection. In this review, we summarized recent results from different fields of fungal cell biology that are instrumental in understanding hyphal growth. This includes research on the differences among C. albicans phases; the regulatory mechanism of hyphal growth, extension, and maintaining cutting-edge polarity; cross regulations of hyphal development and the virulence factors that cause serious infection. With a better understanding of the mechanism on mycelium formation, this review provides a theoretical basis for the identification of targets in candidiasis treatment. It also gives some reference to the study of antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Biao Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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17
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Talapko J, Juzbašić M, Matijević T, Pustijanac E, Bekić S, Kotris I, Škrlec I. Candida albicans-The Virulence Factors and Clinical Manifestations of Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:79. [PMID: 33499276 PMCID: PMC7912069 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a common commensal fungus that colonizes the oropharyngeal cavity, gastrointestinal and vaginal tract, and healthy individuals' skin. In 50% of the population, C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the microbiota. The various clinical manifestations of Candida species range from localized, superficial mucocutaneous disorders to invasive diseases that involve multiple organ systems and are life-threatening. From systemic and local to hereditary and environmental, diverse factors lead to disturbances in Candida's normal homeostasis, resulting in a transition from normal flora to pathogenic and opportunistic infections. The transition in the pathophysiology of the onset and progression of infection is also influenced by Candida's virulence traits that lead to the development of candidiasis. Oral candidiasis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, divided into primary and secondary candidiasis. The main supply of C. albicans in the body is located in the gastrointestinal tract, and the development of infections occurs due to dysbiosis of the residential microbiota, immune dysfunction, and damage to the muco-intestinal barrier. The presence of C. albicans in the blood is associated with candidemia-invasive Candida infections. The commensal relationship exists as long as there is a balance between the host immune system and the virulence factors of C. albicans. This paper presents the virulence traits of Candida albicans and clinical manifestations of specific candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasminka Talapko
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia; (J.T.); (M.J.)
| | - Martina Juzbašić
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia; (J.T.); (M.J.)
| | - Tatjana Matijević
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Emina Pustijanac
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, HR-52100 Pula, Croatia;
| | - Sanja Bekić
- Family Medicine Practice, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia;
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Ivan Kotris
- Department of Internal Medicine, General County Hospital Vukovar, HR-3200 Vukovar, Croatia;
| | - Ivana Škrlec
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia; (J.T.); (M.J.)
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18
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Lew SQ, Lin CH. N-acetylglucosamine-mediated morphological transition in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Curr Genet 2021; 67:249-254. [PMID: 33388851 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Morphological transitions in Candida species are key factors in facilitating invasion and adapting to environmental changes. N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is a monosaccharide signalling molecule that can regulate morphological transitions in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Interestingly, although the uptake and metabolic pathways of GlcNAc and GlcNAc-mediated white-to-opaque cell switching are similar between the two Candida species, GlcNAc induces hyphal development in C. albicans, whereas it suppresses hyphal development in C. tropicalis. These findings indicate that the characteristics of C. albicans and C. tropicalis in response to GlcNAc are remarkably different. Here, we compare the conserved and divergent GlcNAc-mediated signalling pathways and catabolism between the two Candida species. Deletion of NGT1, a GlcNAc transportation gene, inhibited hyphal formation in C. albicans but promoted hyphal development in C. tropicalis. To further understand these opposite effects on filamentous growth in response to GlcNAc in the two Candida species, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signalling pathways in both C. albicans and C. tropicalis were compared. Interestingly, GlcNAc activated the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway of the two Candida species, suggesting that the hyphal development-regulated circuit is remarkably diverse between the two species. Indeed, the Ndt80-like gene REP1, which is critical for regulating GlcNAc catabolism, exhibits distinct roles in the hyphal development of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. These data suggest possible reasons for the divergent hyphal growth response in C. albicans and C. tropicalis upon GlcNAc induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Qian Lew
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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19
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Roth C, Murray D, Scott A, Fu C, Averette AF, Sun S, Heitman J, Magwene PM. Pleiotropy and epistasis within and between signaling pathways defines the genetic architecture of fungal virulence. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009313. [PMID: 33493169 PMCID: PMC7861560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal disease is estimated to affect nearly a quarter of a million people annually. Environmental isolates of Cryptococcus deneoformans, which make up 15 to 30% of clinical infections in temperate climates such as Europe, vary in their pathogenicity, ranging from benign to hyper-virulent. Key traits that contribute to virulence, such as the production of the pigment melanin, an extracellular polysaccharide capsule, and the ability to grow at human body temperature have been identified, yet little is known about the genetic basis of variation in such traits. Here we investigate the genetic basis of melanization, capsule size, thermal tolerance, oxidative stress resistance, and antifungal drug sensitivity using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in progeny derived from a cross between two divergent C. deneoformans strains. Using a "function-valued" QTL analysis framework that exploits both time-series information and growth differences across multiple environments, we identified QTL for each of these virulence traits and drug susceptibility. For three QTL we identified the underlying genes and nucleotide differences that govern variation in virulence traits. One of these genes, RIC8, which encodes a regulator of cAMP-PKA signaling, contributes to variation in four virulence traits: melanization, capsule size, thermal tolerance, and resistance to oxidative stress. Two major effect QTL for amphotericin B resistance map to the genes SSK1 and SSK2, which encode key components of the HOG pathway, a fungal-specific signal transduction network that orchestrates cellular responses to osmotic and other stresses. We also discovered complex epistatic interactions within and between genes in the HOG and cAMP-PKA pathways that regulate antifungal drug resistance and resistance to oxidative stress. Our findings advance the understanding of virulence traits among diverse lineages of Cryptococcus, and highlight the role of genetic variation in key stress-responsive signaling pathways as a major contributor to phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cullen Roth
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Debra Murray
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alexandria Scott
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ci Fu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anna F. Averette
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sheng Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Magwene
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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20
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Loss of Arp1, a putative actin-related protein, triggers filamentous and invasive growth and impairs pathogenicity in Candida albicans. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:4002-4015. [PMID: 33363697 PMCID: PMC7744652 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The polymorphous cellular shape of Candida albicans, in particular the transition from a yeast to a filamentous form, is crucial for either commensalism or life-threatening infections of the host. Various external or internal stimuli, including serum and nutrition starvation, have been shown to regulate filamentous growth primarily through two classical signaling pathways, the cAMP-PKA and the MAPK pathways. Genotoxic stress also induces filamentous growth, but through independent pathways, and little is known about negative regulation during this reversible morphological transition. In this study, we established that ARP1 in C. albicans, similar to its homolog in S. cerevisiae, has a role in nuclei separation and spindle orientation. Deletion of ARP1 generated filamentous and invasive growth as well as increased biofilm formation, accompanied by up-regulation of hyphae specific genes, such as HWP1, UME6 and ALS3. The filamentous and invasive growth of the ARP1 deletion strain was independent of transcription factors Efg1, Cph1 and Ume6, but was suppressed by deleting checkpoint BUB2 or overexpressing NRG1. Deletion of ARP1 impaired the colonization of Candida cells in mice and also attenuated virulence in a mouse model. All the data suggest that loss of ARP1 activates filamentous and invasive growth in vitro, and that it positively regulates virulence in vivo, which provides insight into actin-related morphology and pathogenicity in C. albicans.
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21
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H89 Treatment Reduces Intestinal Inflammation and Candida albicans Overgrowth in Mice. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8122039. [PMID: 33352792 PMCID: PMC7766101 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8122039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the dynamic crosstalk between the gut microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells, and immune cells is critically involved in the development of inflammatory bowel disease and the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, including the human opportunistic fungus Candida albicans. In the present study, we assessed the effect of N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H89), a protein kinase A inhibitor, on the migration of macrophages to C. albicans through dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-challenged Caco-2 cells. We also investigated the impact of H89 on intestinal inflammation and C. albicans clearance from the gut, and determined the diversity of the gut microbiota in a murine model of DSS-induced colitis. H89 reduced the migration of macrophages to C. albicans through DSS-challenged Caco-2 cells. In addition, H89 decreased C. albicans viability and diminished the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and innate immune receptors in macrophages and colonic epithelial Caco-2 cells. In mice with DSS-induced colitis, H89 attenuated the clinical and histological scores of inflammation and promoted the elimination of C. albicans from the gut. H89 administration to mice decreased the overgrowth of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis populations while Lactobacillus johnsonii populations increased significantly. Overall, H89 reduced intestinal inflammation and promoted the elimination of C. albicans from the gut.
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22
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Molin M, Logg K, Bodvard K, Peeters K, Forsmark A, Roger F, Jörhov A, Mishra N, Billod JM, Amir S, Andersson M, Eriksson LA, Warringer J, Käll M, Blomberg A. Protein kinase A controls yeast growth in visible light. BMC Biol 2020; 18:168. [PMID: 33198745 PMCID: PMC7667738 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00867-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A wide variety of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species sense and respond to light, having developed protective mechanisms to adapt to damaging effects on DNA and proteins. While the biology of UV light-induced damage has been well studied, cellular responses to stress from visible light (400–700 nm) remain poorly understood despite being a regular part of the life cycle of many organisms. Here, we developed a high-throughput method for measuring growth under visible light stress and used it to screen for light sensitivity in the yeast gene deletion collection. Results We found genes involved in HOG pathway signaling, RNA polymerase II transcription, translation, diphthamide modifications of the translational elongation factor eEF2, and the oxidative stress response to be required for light resistance. Reduced nuclear localization of the transcription factor Msn2 and lower glycogen accumulation indicated higher protein kinase A (cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKA) activity in many light-sensitive gene deletion strains. We therefore used an ectopic fluorescent PKA reporter and mutants with constitutively altered PKA activity to show that repression of PKA is essential for resistance to visible light. Conclusion We conclude that yeast photobiology is multifaceted and that protein kinase A plays a key role in the ability of cells to grow upon visible light exposure. We propose that visible light impacts on the biology and evolution of many non-photosynthetic organisms and have practical implications for how organisms are studied in the laboratory, with or without illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Molin
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Katarina Logg
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristofer Bodvard
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ken Peeters
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annabelle Forsmark
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Friederike Roger
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Jörhov
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Neha Mishra
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Horizon Discovery, Cambridge, CB25 9TL, UK
| | - Jean-Marc Billod
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Bio-Me A/S, Oslo Science Park, Gaustadalléen, 210349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sabiha Amir
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mikael Andersson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Leif A Eriksson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Warringer
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mikael Käll
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Blomberg
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Zhang Q, Xu L, Yuan S, Zhou Q, Wang X, Wang L, Hu Z, Yan Y. NGT1 Is Essential for N-Acetylglucosamine-Mediated Filamentous Growth Inhibition and HXK1 Functions as a Positive Regulator of Filamentous Growth in Candida tropicalis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114036. [PMID: 32516879 PMCID: PMC7312872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida tropicalis is a pathogenic fungus that can cause opportunistic infections in humans. The ability of Candida species to transition between yeast and filamentous growth forms is essential to their ability to undergo environmental adaptation and to maintain virulence. In other fungal species, such as Candida albicans, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) can induce filamentous growth, whereas it suppresses such growth in C. tropicalis. In the present study, we found that knocking out the GlcNA-specific transporter gene NGT1 was sufficient to enhance C. tropicalis filamentous growth on Lee’s plus GlcNAc medium. This suggests that GlcNAc uptake into C. tropicalis cells is essential to the disruption of mycelial growth. As such, we further studied how GlcNAc catabolism-related genes were able to influence C. tropicalis filamentation. We found that HXK1 overexpression drove filamentous growth on Lee’s media containing glucose and GlcNAc, whereas the deletion of the same gene disrupted this filamentous growth. Interestingly, the deletion of the DAC1 or NAG1 genes impaired C. tropicalis growth on Lee’s plus GlcNAc plates. Overall, these results indicate that HXK1 can serve as a positive regulator of filamentous growth, with excess GlcNAc-6-PO4 accumulation being toxic to C. tropicalis. These findings may highlight novel therapeutic targets worthy of future investigation.
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Mba IE, Nweze EI. Mechanism of Candida pathogenesis: revisiting the vital drivers. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 39:1797-1819. [PMID: 32372128 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-03912-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Candida is the most implicated fungal pathogen in the clinical setting. Several factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of Candida spp. Multiple transcriptional circuits, morphological and phenotypic switching, biofilm formation, tissue damaging extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, metabolic flexibility, genome plasticity, adaptation to environmental pH fluctuation, robust nutrient acquisition system, adherence and invasions (mediated by adhesins and invasins), heat shock proteins (HSPs), cytolytic proteins, escape from phagocytosis, evasion from host immune system, synergistic coaggregation with resident microbiota, resistance to antifungal agents, and the ability to efficiently respond to multiple stresses are some of the major pathogenic determinants of Candida species. The existence of multiple connections, in addition to the interactions and associations among all of these factors, are distinctive features that play important roles in the establishment of Candida infections. This review describes all the underlying factors and mechanisms involved in Candida pathogenesis by evaluating pathogenic determinants of Candida species. It reinforces the already available pool of data on the pathogenesis of Candida species by providing a clear and simplified understanding of the most important factors implicated in the pathogenesis of Candida species. The Candida pathogenesis network, an illustration linking all the major determinants of Candida pathogenesis, is also presented. Taken together, they will further improve our current understanding of how these factors modulate virulence and consequent infection(s). Development of new antifungal drugs and better therapeutic approaches to candidiasis can be achieved in the near future with continuing progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of Candida pathogenesis.
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25
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Ishchuk OP, Sterner O, Ellervik U, Manner S. Simple Carbohydrate Derivatives Diminish the Formation of Biofilm of the Pathogenic Yeast Candida albicans. Antibiotics (Basel) 2019; 9:antibiotics9010010. [PMID: 31905828 PMCID: PMC7167926 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans relies on cell morphological transitions to develop biofilm and invade the host. In the current study, we developed new regulatory molecules, which inhibit the morphological transition of C. albicans from yeast-form cells to cells forming hyphae. These compounds, benzyl α-l-fucopyranoside and benzyl β-d-xylopyranoside, inhibit the hyphae formation and adhesion of C. albicans to a polystyrene surface, resulting in a reduced biofilm formation. The addition of cAMP to cells treated with α-l-fucopyranoside restored the yeast-hyphae switch and the biofilm level to that of the untreated control. In the β-d-xylopyranoside treated cells, the biofilm level was only partially restored by the addition of cAMP, and these cells remained mainly as yeast-form cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena P. Ishchuk
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden;
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; (O.S.); (U.E.)
| | - Olov Sterner
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; (O.S.); (U.E.)
| | - Ulf Ellervik
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; (O.S.); (U.E.)
| | - Sophie Manner
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; (O.S.); (U.E.)
- Correspondence:
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26
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Das S, Bhuyan R, Bagchi A, Saha T. Network analysis of hyphae forming proteins in Candida albicans identifies important proteins responsible for pathovirulence in the organism. Heliyon 2019; 5:e01916. [PMID: 31338453 PMCID: PMC6580234 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans causes two types of major infections in humans: superficial infections, such as skin and mucosal infection, and life-threatening systemic infections, like airway and catheter-related blood stream infections. It is a polymorphic fungus with two distinct forms (yeast and hyphal) and the morphological plasticity is strongly associated with many disease causing proteins. In this study, 137 hyphae associated proteins from Candida albicans (C. albicans) were collected from different sources to create a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network. Out of these, we identified 18 hub proteins (Hog1, Hsp90, Cyr1, Cdc28, Pkc1, Cla4, Cdc42, Tpk1, Act1, Pbs2, Bem1, Tpk2, Ras1, Cdc24, Rim101, Cdc11, Cdc10 and Cln3) that were the most important ones in hyphae development. Ontology and functional enrichment analysis of these proteins could categorize these hyphae associated proteins into groups like signal transduction, kinase activity, biofilm formation, filamentous growth, MAPK signaling etc. Functional annotation analysis of these proteins showed that the protein kinase activity to be essential for hyphae formation in Candida. Additionally, most of the proteins from the network were predicted to be localized on cell surface or periphery, suggesting them as the main protagonists in inducing infections within the host. The complex hyphae formation phenomenon of C. albicans is an attractive target for exploitation to develop new antifungals and anti-virulence strategies to combat C. albicans infections. We further tried to characterize few of the most crucial proteins, especially the kinases by their sequence and structural prospects. Therefore, through this article an attempt to understand the hyphae forming protein network analysis has been made to unravel and elucidate the complex pathogenesis processes with the principal aim of systems biological research involving novel Bioinformatics strategies to combat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Das
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, 741235, India
| | - Rajabrata Bhuyan
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, 741235, India
| | - Angshuman Bagchi
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, 741235, India
| | - Tanima Saha
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, 741235, India
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Uschner F, Klipp E. Signaling pathways in context. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 58:155-160. [PMID: 30974381 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has seen a rise in the development of methods and models to analyze cellular networks on all levels. The applications of this knowledge are, however, often confined to specifics of the network in concrete conditions and leveraging it is hampered by the lack of information about this context and its implications on the system. While not all cellular networks have been deciphered yet, even for well-studied networks their versatility in different contexts is barely considered. Here, we focus on challenges and potentials when integrating signaling networks into their encompassing structures. We highlight three different consequences of this process: a) its fundamental importance for whole-cell and large-scale models, b) significant changes in contextual behavior imposed on entire systems by genetic variations, and c) species-specific conservation or divergence of signaling motifs can give important clues on how to handle cellular context. While important studies have been conducted on these topics to some extent, an increased focus on developing and exploiting solutions for integrative contextualization should turn out as a fruitful path for both theoretical and experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedemann Uschner
- Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda Klipp
- Theoretical Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
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28
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Abstract
Fungi are prone to phenotypic instability, that is, the vegetative phase of these organisms, be they yeasts or molds, undergoes frequent switching between two or more behaviors, often with different morphologies, but also sometime having different physiologies without any obvious morphological outcome. In the context of industrial utilization of fungi, this can have a negative impact on the maintenance of strains and/or on their productivity. Instabilities have been shown to result from various mechanisms, either genetic or epigenetic. This chapter will review different types of instabilities and discuss some lesser-known ones, mostly in filamentous fungi, while it will direct readers to additional literature in the case of well-known phenomena such as the amyloid prions or fungal senescence. It will present in depth the "white/opaque" switch of Candida albicans and the "crippled growth" degeneration of the model fungus Podospora anserina. These are two of the most thoroughly studied epigenetic phenotypic switches. I will also discuss the "sectors" presented by many filamentous ascomycetes, for which a prion-based model exists but is not demonstrated. Finally, I will also describe intriguing examples of phenotypic instability for which an explanation has yet to be provided.
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29
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Special Issue: Candida and Candidiasis. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4030074. [PMID: 29933544 PMCID: PMC6162767 DOI: 10.3390/jof4030074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This special issue highlights emerging topics related to Candida, the most prevalent fungal pathogen in the hospital setting. The advantages and limitations of new, non-culture based diagnostic techniques are discussed. The issue reviews mammalian and non-mammalian infection models. The manuscripts present updates on several molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, including filamentation, biofilm formation, and phospholipid production.
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