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Arita GS, Ma Q, Leaves I, Pradhan A, Hickey E, Dambuza I, Bebes A, Vincenzi Conrado PC, Barros Galinari C, Vicente Seixas FA, Kioshima ÉS, de Souza Bonfim-Mendonça P, Svidzinski TIE, Brown AJP. The impact of ORF19.36.1 in the pathobiology of Candida albicans. Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106437. [PMID: 37913825 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106437] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous proteomics data obtained from Candida albicans recovered after serial passage in a murine model of systemic infection revealed that Orf19.36.1 expression correlates with the virulence of the fungus. Therefore, the impact of ORF19.36.1 upon virulence was tested in this study. MATERIALS & METHODS CRISPR-Cas9 technology was used to construct homozygous C. albicans orf19.36.1 null mutants and the phenotypes of these mutants examined in vitro (filamentation, invasion, adhesion, biofilm formation, hydrolase activities) and in vivo assays. RESULTS The deletion of ORF19.36.1 did not significantly impact the phenotypes examined or the virulence of C. albicans in two infection models. CONCLUSION These results suggest that, although Orf19.36.1 expression correlates with virulence, this protein is not essential for C. albicans pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glaucia Sayuri Arita
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Qinxi Ma
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Ian Leaves
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Arnab Pradhan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Emer Hickey
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Ivy Dambuza
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Attila Bebes
- Centre for Cytomics, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Pollyanna Cristina Vincenzi Conrado
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Camila Barros Galinari
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Flávio Augusto Vicente Seixas
- Department of Technology, State University of Maringa, Ângelo Moreira da Fonseca Avenue, 1800 - Danielle Park, Umuarama, PR, 87506-370, Brazil
| | - Érika Seki Kioshima
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de Souza Bonfim-Mendonça
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Terezinha Inez Estivalet Svidzinski
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringa, T20 Building, Room 203, Colombo Avenue, 5790 - Zone 7, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil.
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
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Ma Z, Huang Y, Zhang Z, Liu X, Xuan Y, Liu B, Gao Z. Comparative genomic analysis reveals cellulase plays an important role in the pathogenicity of Setosphaeria turcica f. sp. zeae. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:925355. [PMID: 35935234 PMCID: PMC9355644 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.925355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Setosphaeria turcica f. sp. zeae and S. turcica f. sp. sorghi, the two formae speciales of S. turcica, cause northern leaf blight disease of corn and sorghum, respectively, and often cause serious economic losses. They have obvious physiological differentiation and show complete host specificity. Host specificity is often closely related to pathogen virulence factors, including secreted protein effectors and secondary metabolites. Genomic sequencing can provide more information for understanding the virulence mechanisms of pathogens. However, the complete genomic sequence of S. turcica f. sp. sorghi has not yet been reported, and no comparative genomic information is available for the two formae speciales. In this study, S. turcica f. sp. zeae was predicted to have fewer secreted proteins, pathogen-host interaction (PHI) genes and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZys) than S. turcica f. sp. sorghi. Fifteen and 20 polyketide synthase (PKS) genes were identified in S. turcica f. sp. zeae and S. turcica f. sp. sorghi, respectively, which maintained high homology. There were eight functionally annotated effector protein-encoding genes specifically in S. turcica f. sp. zeae, among which the encoding gene StCEL2 of endo-1, 4-β-D-glucanase, an important component of cellulase, was significantly up-regulated during the interaction process. Finally, gluconolactone inhibited cellulase activity and decreased infection rate and pathogenicity, which indicates that cellulase is essential for maintaining virulence. These findings demonstrate that cellulase plays an important role in the pathogenicity of S. turcica f. sp. zeae. Our results also provide a theoretical basis for future research on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of the two formae speciales and for identifying any associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoujie Ma
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yufei Huang
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhaoran Zhang
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaodi Liu
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanhu Xuan
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Liu,
| | - Zenggui Gao
- Institute of Plant Immunology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Zenggui Gao,
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Comparative genomic analysis reveals cellulase plays an important role in the pathogenicity of Setosphaeria turcica f. sp. zeae. Fungal Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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A Proteomic Landscape of Candida albicans in the Stepwise Evolution to Fluconazole Resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0210521. [PMID: 35343782 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02105-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As an opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans is a major cause of superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. The increasing rate of azole resistance in C. albicans has brought further challenges to clinical therapy. In this study, we collected five isogenic C. albicans strains recovered over discrete intervals from an HIV-infected patient who suffered 2-year recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis. Azole resistance was known from the clinical history to have developed gradually in this patient, and this was confirmed by MIC assays of each strain. Proteomic techniques can be used to investigate more comprehensively how resistance develops in pathogenic fungi over time. Our study is the first to use tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology to investigate the acquired resistance mechanisms of serial C. albicans isolates at the proteomic level. A total of 4,029 proteins have been identified, of which 3,766 have been quantified. Compared with Ca1, bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins were mainly associated with aspects such as the downregulation of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and oxidative stress response proteins in all four subsequent strains but, remarkably, the activation of amino acid metabolism in Ca8 and Ca14 and increased protection against osmotic stress or excessive copper toxicity, upregulation of respiratory chain activity, and suppression of iron transport in Ca17. By tracing proteomic alterations in this set of isogenic resistance isolates, we acquire mechanistic insight into the steps involved in the acquisition of azole resistance in C. albicans.
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A. L. Bataineh MT, Soares NC, Semreen MH, Cacciatore S, Dash NR, Hamad M, Mousa MK, Salam JSA, Al Gharaibeh MF, Zerbini LF, Hamad M. Candida albicans PPG1, a serine/threonine phosphatase, plays a vital role in central carbon metabolisms under filament-inducing conditions: A multi-omics approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259588. [PMID: 34874940 PMCID: PMC8651141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the leading cause of life-threatening bloodstream candidiasis, especially among immunocompromised patients. The reversible morphological transition from yeast to hyphal filaments in response to host environmental cues facilitates C. albicans tissue invasion, immune evasion, and dissemination. Hence, it is widely considered that filamentation represents one of the major virulence properties in C. albicans. We have previously characterized Ppg1, a PP2A-type protein phosphatase that controls filament extension and virulence in C. albicans. This study conducted RNA sequencing analysis of samples obtained from C. albicans wild type and ppg1Δ/Δ strains grown under filament-inducing conditions. Overall, ppg1Δ/Δ strain showed 1448 upregulated and 710 downregulated genes, representing approximately one-third of the entire annotated C. albicans genome. Transcriptomic analysis identified significant downregulation of well-characterized genes linked to filamentation and virulence, such as ALS3, HWP1, ECE1, and RBT1. Expression analysis showed that essential genes involved in C. albicans central carbon metabolisms, including GDH3, GPD1, GPD2, RHR2, INO1, AAH1, and MET14 were among the top upregulated genes. Subsequent metabolomics analysis of C. albicans ppg1Δ/Δ strain revealed a negative enrichment of metabolites with carboxylic acid substituents and a positive enrichment of metabolites with pyranose substituents. Altogether, Ppg1 in vitro analysis revealed a link between metabolites substituents and filament formation controlled by a phosphatase to regulate morphogenesis and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Tahseen A. L. Bataineh
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences at University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College Of Medicine And Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Nelson Cruz Soares
- Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences at University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Mohammad Harb Semreen
- Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences at University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Stefano Cacciatore
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute for Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mohamad Hamad
- Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences at University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Muath Khairi Mousa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | | | | | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mawieh Hamad
- Research Institute for Medical & Health Sciences at University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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Ke CL, Liao YT, Lin CH. MSS2 maintains mitochondrial function and is required for chitosan resistance, invasive growth, biofilm formation and virulence in Candida albicans. Virulence 2021; 12:281-297. [PMID: 33427576 PMCID: PMC7808435 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1870082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal pathogen in humans, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this study, by screening a C. albicans mutant library, we first identified that the MSS2 gene, an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MSS2 required for mitochondrial respiration, mediates chitosan resistance. Upon treatment with 0.2% chitosan, the growth of mss2Δ strains was strikingly impaired, and MSS2 expression was significantly repressed by chitosan. Furthermore, mss2Δ strains exhibited slow growth on medium supplemented with glycerol as the sole carbon source. Similar to the chitosan-treated wild-type strain, the mss2Δ strain exhibited a significantly impaired ATP production ability. These data suggest that an antifungal mechanism of chitosan against C. albicans acts by inhibiting MSS2 gene expression, leading to repression of mitochondrial function. Normal respiratory function is suggested to be required for fungal virulence. Interestingly, the mss2Δ mutant strains exhibited significantly impaired invasive ability in vitro and ex vivo but retained normal hyphal development ability in liquid medium. Furthermore, the MSS2 deletion strains could not form robust biofilms and exhibited significantly reduced virulence. Collectively, these results demonstrated that the antifungal effect of chitosan against C. albicans is mediated via inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis. These data may provide another strategy for antifungal drug development via inhibition of fungal mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Ling Ke
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University , Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Liao
- 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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7
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Puerner C, Kukhaleishvili N, Thomson D, Schaub S, Noblin X, Seminara A, Bassilana M, Arkowitz RA. Mechanical force-induced morphology changes in a human fungal pathogen. BMC Biol 2020; 18:122. [PMID: 32912212 PMCID: PMC7488538 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The initial step of a number of human or plant fungal infections requires active penetration of host tissue. For example, active penetration of intestinal epithelia by Candida albicans is critical for dissemination from the gut into the bloodstream. However, little is known about how this fungal pathogen copes with resistive forces upon host cell invasion. Results In the present study, we have used PDMS micro-fabrication to probe the ability of filamentous C. albicans cells to penetrate and grow invasively in substrates of different stiffness. We show that there is a threshold for penetration that corresponds to a stiffness of ~ 200 kPa and that invasive growth within a stiff substrate is characterized by dramatic filament buckling, along with a stiffness-dependent decrease in extension rate. We observed a striking alteration in cell morphology, i.e., reduced cell compartment length and increased diameter during invasive growth, that is not due to depolarization of active Cdc42, but rather occurs at a substantial distance from the site of growth as a result of mechanical compression. Conclusions Our data reveal that in response to this compression, active Cdc42 levels are increased at the apex, whereas active Rho1 becomes depolarized, similar to that observed in membrane protrusions. Our results show that cell growth and morphology are altered during invasive growth, suggesting stiffness dictates the host cells that C. albicans can penetrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Puerner
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Nino Kukhaleishvili
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France.,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institute Physics of Nice (INPHYNI), Ave. J. Vallot, Nice, France
| | - Darren Thomson
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France.,Present Address: Manchester Fungal Infection Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sebastien Schaub
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France.,Present Address: Sorbonne University, CNRS, Developmental Biology Laboratory (LBDV), Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Xavier Noblin
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institute Physics of Nice (INPHYNI), Ave. J. Vallot, Nice, France.
| | - Agnese Seminara
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institute Physics of Nice (INPHYNI), Ave. J. Vallot, Nice, France
| | - Martine Bassilana
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Robert A Arkowitz
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), Parc Valrose, Nice, France.
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Genome-wide functional analysis of phosphatases in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4212. [PMID: 32839469 PMCID: PMC7445287 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18028-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatases, together with kinases and transcription factors, are key components in cellular signalling networks. Here, we present a systematic functional analysis of the phosphatases in Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening fungal meningoencephalitis. We analyse 230 signature-tagged mutant strains for 114 putative phosphatases under 30 distinct in vitro growth conditions, revealing at least one function for 60 of these proteins. Large-scale virulence and infectivity assays using insect and mouse models indicate roles in pathogenicity for 31 phosphatases involved in various processes such as thermotolerance, melanin and capsule production, stress responses, O-mannosylation, or retromer function. Notably, phosphatases Xpp1, Ssu72, Siw14, and Sit4 promote blood-brain barrier adhesion and crossing by C. neoformans. Together with our previous systematic studies of transcription factors and kinases, our results provide comprehensive insight into the pathobiological signalling circuitry of C. neoformans. Phosphatases are key components in cellular signalling networks. Here, the authors present a systematic functional analysis of phosphatases of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, revealing roles in virulence, stress responses, O-mannosylation, retromer function and other processes.
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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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Arita GS, Meneguello JE, Sakita KM, Faria DR, Pilau EJ, Ghiraldi-Lopes LD, Campanerut-Sá PAZ, Kioshima ÉS, Bonfim-Mendonça PDS, Svidzinski TIE. Serial Systemic Candida albicans Infection Highlighted by Proteomics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:230. [PMID: 31293987 PMCID: PMC6606696 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the major pathogen isolated from nosocomial bloodstream infections, leading to higher mortality rates. Thus, due to its clinical relevance, studies aiming to understand host–pathogen interactions in C. albicans infection are necessary. Therefore, we performed proteomic analysis using a murine model of serial systemic infection by C. albicans to evaluate possible changes in the protein profile of the pathogen over time. Firstly, we observed a reduction in the median survival time of infected animals with increasing passage number, suggesting a higher pathogenicity acquired during repeated infections. By LC-MS/MS, it was possible to obtain protein profiles from the wild-type strain (WT) and compare them to proteins extracted from Candida cells recovered from infected tissues during passages one, three, and four (P1, P3, and P4). We obtained 56, 29, and 97 proteins in P1, P3, P4, respectively, all varying in abundance. Regarding biological processes, the majority of proteins were related to carbohydrate metabolism, stress responses and amino acid metabolism. The proteins were also categorized according to their potential role in virulence traits, such as biofilm production, yeast-to-hyphae transition, phenotypic switching, proteins related to stress responses, and uncharacterized proteins. Therefore, serial infection in combination with proteomic approach enabled us to deepen the existing knowledge about host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glaucia Sayuri Arita
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Jean Eduardo Meneguello
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Karina Mayumi Sakita
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Daniella Renata Faria
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Érika Seki Kioshima
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
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11
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Elkabti AB, Issi L, Rao RP. Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model Host to Monitor the Candida Infection Processes. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:E123. [PMID: 30405043 PMCID: PMC6309157 DOI: 10.3390/jof4040123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
C. elegans has several advantages as an experimental host for the study of infectious diseases. Worms are easily maintained and propagated on bacterial lawns. The worms can be frozen for long term storage and still maintain viability years later. Their short generation time and large brood size of thousands of worms grown on a single petri dish, makes it relatively easy to maintain at a low cost. The typical wild type adult worm grows to approximately 1.5 mm in length and are transparent, allowing for the identification of several internal organs using an affordable dissecting microscope. A large collection of loss of function mutant strains are readily available from the C. elegans genetic stock center, making targeted genetic studies in the nematode possible. Here we describe ways in which this facile model host has been used to study Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that poses a serious public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Issi
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA.
| | - Reeta P Rao
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA.
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12
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Candida albicans Hyphae: From Growth Initiation to Invasion. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4010010. [PMID: 29371503 PMCID: PMC5872313 DOI: 10.3390/jof4010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal resident of the human gastrointestinal and genital tracts. Under conditions such as dysbiosis, host immune perturbances, or the presence of catheters/implanted medical devices, the fungus may cause debilitating mucosal or fatal systemic infections. The ability of C. albicans to grow as long filamentous hyphae is critical for its pathogenic potential as it allows the fungus to invade the underlying substratum. In this brief review, I will outline the current understanding regarding the mechanistic regulation of hyphal growth and invasion in C. albicans.
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13
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Jung SI, Rodriguez N, Irrizary J, Liboro K, Bogarin T, Macias M, Eivers E, Porter E, Filler SG, Park H. Yeast casein kinase 2 governs morphology, biofilm formation, cell wall integrity, and host cell damage of Candida albicans. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187721. [PMID: 29107946 PMCID: PMC5673188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulatory networks governing morphogenesis of a pleomorphic fungus, Candida albicans are extremely complex and remain to be completely elucidated. This study investigated the function of C. albicans yeast casein kinase 2 (CaYck2p). The yck2Δ/yck2Δ strain displayed constitutive pseudohyphae in both yeast and hyphal growth conditions, and formed enhanced biofilm under non-biofilm inducing condition. This finding was further supported by gene expression analysis of the yck2Δ/yck2Δ strain which showed significant upregulation of UME6, a key transcriptional regulator of hyphal transition and biofilm formation, and cell wall protein genes ALS3, HWP1, and SUN41, all of which are associated with morphogenesis and biofilm architecture. The yck2Δ/yck2Δ strain was hypersensitive to cell wall damaging agents and had increased compensatory chitin deposition in the cell wall accompanied by an upregulation of the expression of the chitin synthase genes, CHS2, CHS3, and CHS8. Absence of CaYck2p also affected fungal-host interaction; the yck2Δ/yck2Δ strain had significantly reduced ability to damage host cells. However, the yck2Δ/yck2Δ strain had wild-type susceptibility to cyclosporine and FK506, suggesting that CaYck2p functions independently from the Ca+/calcineurin pathway. Thus, in C. albicans, Yck2p is a multifunctional kinase that governs morphogenesis, biofilm formation, cell wall integrity, and host cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook-In Jung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Natalie Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jihyun Irrizary
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Karl Liboro
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Thania Bogarin
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Marlene Macias
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Edward Eivers
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Edith Porter
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Scott G. Filler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, United States of America
| | - Hyunsook Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Xu H, Sobue T, Bertolini M, Thompson A, Vickerman M, Nobile CJ, Dongari-Bagtzoglou A. S. oralis activates the Efg1 filamentation pathway in C. albicans to promote cross-kingdom interactions and mucosal biofilms. Virulence 2017; 8:1602-1617. [PMID: 28481721 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1326438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans and Streptococcus oralis are ubiquitous oral commensal organisms. Under host-permissive conditions these organisms can form hypervirulent mucosal biofilms. C. albicans biofilm formation is controlled by 6 master transcriptional regulators: Bcr1, Brg1, Efg1, Tec1, Ndt80, and Rob1. The objective of this work was to test whether any of these regulators play a role in cross-kingdom interactions between C. albicans and S. oralis in oral mucosal biofilms, and identify downstream target gene(s) that promote these interactions. Organotypic mucosal constructs and a mouse model of oropharyngeal infection were used to analyze mucosal biofilm growth and fungal gene expression. By screening 6 C. albicans transcription regulator reporter strains we discovered that EFG1 was strongly activated by interaction with S. oralis in late biofilm growth stages. EFG1 gene expression was increased in polymicrobial biofilms on abiotic surfaces, mucosal constructs and tongue tissues of mice infected with both organisms. EFG1 was required for robust Candida-streptococcal biofilm growth in organotypic constructs and mouse oral tissues. S. oralis stimulated C. albicans ALS1 gene expression in an EFG1-dependent manner, and Als1 was identified as a downstream effector of the Efg1 pathway which promoted C. albicans-S. oralis coaggregation interactions in mixed biofilms. We conclude that S. oralis induces an increase in EFG1 expression in C. albicans in late biofilm stages. This in turn increases expression of ALS1, which promotes coaggregation interactions and mucosal biofilm growth. Our work provides novel insights on C. albicans genes which play a role in cross-kingdom interactions with S. oralis in mucosal biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Xu
- a School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Takanori Sobue
- a School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Martinna Bertolini
- a School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut , Farmington , CT , USA
| | - Angela Thompson
- a School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut , Farmington , CT , USA
| | | | - Clarissa J Nobile
- c School of Natural Sciences, University of California , Merced, Merced , CA , USA
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15
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Hebecker B, Vlaic S, Conrad T, Bauer M, Brunke S, Kapitan M, Linde J, Hube B, Jacobsen ID. Dual-species transcriptional profiling during systemic candidiasis reveals organ-specific host-pathogen interactions. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36055. [PMID: 27808111 PMCID: PMC5093689 DOI: 10.1038/srep36055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a common cause of life-threatening fungal bloodstream infections. In the murine model of systemic candidiasis, the kidney is the primary target organ while the fungal load declines over time in liver and spleen. To better understand these organ-specific differences in host-pathogen interaction, we performed gene expression profiling of murine kidney, liver and spleen and determined the fungal transcriptome in liver and kidney. We observed a delayed transcriptional immune response accompanied by late induction of fungal stress response genes in the kidneys. In contrast, early upregulation of the proinflammatory response in the liver was associated with a fungal transcriptome resembling response to phagocytosis, suggesting that phagocytes contribute significantly to fungal control in the liver. Notably, C. albicans hypha-associated genes were upregulated in the absence of visible filamentation in the liver, indicating an uncoupling of gene expression and morphology and a morphology-independent effect by hypha-associated genes in this organ. Consistently, integration of host and pathogen transcriptional data in an inter-species gene regulatory network indicated connections of C. albicans cell wall remodelling and metabolism to the organ-specific immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Hebecker
- Research Group Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Vlaic
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Experimental Transplantation Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany.,Department of Bioinformatics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany
| | - Theresia Conrad
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Therapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany
| | - Mario Kapitan
- Research Group Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany
| | - Jörg Linde
- Research Group Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany.,Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Ilse D Jacobsen
- Research Group Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
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16
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Gao Q, Lu Y, Yao H, Xu YJ, Huang W, Wang C. Phospholipid homeostasis maintains cell polarity, development and virulence inmetarhizium robertsii. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:3976-3990. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Yuzhen Lu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Hongyan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Yong-Jiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Chengshu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology; Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai 200032 China
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