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Motta H, Catarina Vieira Reuwsaat J, Daidrê Squizani E, da Silva Camargo M, Wichine Acosta Garcia A, Schrank A, Henning Vainstein M, Christian Staats C, Kmetzsch L. The small heat shock protein Hsp12.1 has a major role in the stress response and virulence of Cryptococcus gattii. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 165:103780. [PMID: 36780981 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is one of the etiological agents of cryptococcosis. To achieve a successful infection, C. gattii cells must overcome the inhospitable host environment and deal with the highly specialized immune system and poor nutrients availability. Inside the host, C. gattii uses a diversified set of tools to maintain homeostasis and establish infection, such as the expression of remarkable and diverse heat shock proteins (Hsps). Grouped by molecular weight, little is known about the Hsp12 subset in pathogenic fungi. In this study, the function of the C. gattii HSP12.1 and HSP12.2 genes was characterized. Both genes were upregulated during murine infection and heat shock. The hsp12.1 Δ null mutant cells were sensitive to plasma membrane and oxidative stressors. Moreover, HSP12 deletion induced C. gattii reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation associated with a differential expression pattern of oxidative stress-responsive genes compared to the wild type strain. Apart from these findings, the deletion of the paralog gene HSP12.2 did not lead to any detectable phenotype. Additionally, the double-deletion mutant strain hsp12.1 Δ /hsp12.2 Δ presented a similar phenotype to the single-deletion mutant hsp12.1 Δ, suggesting a minor participation of Hsp12.2 in these processes. Furthermore, HSP12.1 disruption remarkably affected C. gattii virulence and phagocytosis by macrophages in an invertebrate model of infection, demonstrating its importance for C. gattii pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heryk Motta
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Eamim Daidrê Squizani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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2
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da Silva Camargo M, Geremia F, Sbaraini N, Staats CC, Filho MS, Schrank A. Molecular characterization of a novel victorivirus (order Ghabrivirales, family Totiviridae) infecting Metarhizium anisopliae. Arch Virol 2023; 168:83. [PMID: 36757570 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05716-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Here, we report the occurrence and complete genome sequence of a novel victorivirus infecting Metarhizium anisopliae, named "Metarhizium anisopliae victorivirus 1" (MaVV1). The genome is 5353 bp in length and contains two open reading frames (ORFs), encoding a coat protein and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), that overlap at the octanucleotide sequence AUGAGUAA. These ORFs showed sequence similarity to the corresponding ORFs of Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus L (68.23%) and Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus 13 (58.11%), respectively, both of which belong to the family Totiviridae. Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp sequences revealed that MaVV1 clustered with members of the genus Victorivirus. This is the first genome sequence reported for a virus belonging to the genus Victorivirus infecting the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus da Silva Camargo
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Felipe Geremia
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nicolau Sbaraini
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio Silva Filho
- Department of Genetics, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology of Filamentous Fungi Laboratory, Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 9500 Bento Gonçalves AveLab 217, Campus Box 43421, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Brazil.
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3
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Kinskovski UP, Staats CC. Manganese and fungal pathogens: Metabolism and potential association with virulence. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Sbaraini N, Tomazett MV, Penteriche AB, Gonçales RA, Camargo MDS, Bailão AM, Borges CL, Schrank A, Soares CMDA, Staats CC. An efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method for Simplicillium subtropicum (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). Genet Mol Biol 2021; 44:e20210073. [PMID: 34606563 PMCID: PMC8489804 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2021-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are the organisms of choice for most industrial biotechnology. Some species can produce a variety of secondary metabolites and enzymes of commercial interest, and the production of valuable molecules has been enhanced through different molecular tools. Methods for genetic manipulation and transformation have been essential for the optimization of these organisms. The genus Simplicillium has attracted increased attention given several potential biotechnological applications. The Simplicillium genus harbors several entomopathogenic species and some isolates have been explored for bioremediation of heavy metal contaminants. Furthermore, the myriad of secondary metabolites isolated from Simplicillium spp. render these organisms as ideal targets for deep exploration and further biotechnological mining possibilities. However, the lack of molecular tools hampered the exploration of this genus. Thus, an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method was established for Simplicillium subtropicum, employing the far-red fluorescent protein TURBOFP635/Katushka, as a visual marker, and the selection marker SUR gene, that confers resistance to chlorimuron ethyl. Notably, one round of transformation using the established method yielded almost 400 chlorimuron resistant isolates. Furthermore, these transformants displayed mitotic stability for, at least, five generations. We anticipate that this method can be useful for deep molecular exploration and improvement of strains in the Simplicillium genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Sbaraini
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional (RABICÓ), Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Vieira Tomazett
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Augusto Bartz Penteriche
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- University of Minho, School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Matheus da Silva Camargo
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional (RABICÓ), Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional (RABICÓ), Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
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Sauthier JT, Daudt C, da Silva FRC, Alves CDBT, Mayer FQ, Bianchi RM, Driemeier D, Streit RSA, Staats CC, Canal CW, Weber MN. The genetic diversity of "papillomavirome" in bovine teat papilloma lesions. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:51. [PMID: 34321106 PMCID: PMC8317299 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00114-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Papillomaviruses are small nonenveloped, circular double-stranded DNA viruses that belong to the Papillomaviridae family. To date, 29 Bos taurus papillomavirus (BPV) types have been described. Studies involving mixed BPV infections have rarely been reported in contrast to human papillomavirus (HPV), which is commonly described in numerous studies showing coinfections. Moreover, previous studies had shown that HPV coinfections increase the risk of carcinogenesis. In the present study, we used rolling-circle amplification followed by a high-throughput sequencing (RCA-HTS) approach in 23 teat papillomas from southern Brazil.
Results Eleven well-characterized BPV types and 14 putative new BPV types were genetically characterized into the Xi, Epsilon and Dyoxipapillomavirus genera according to phylogenetic analysis of the L1 gene, which expands the previous 29 BPV types to 43. Moreover, BPV coinfections were detected in the majority (56.3%) of the papilloma lesions analyzed, suggesting a genetic diverse “papillomavirome” in bovine teat warts. Conclusions The data generated in this study support the possibility that a wide range of BPV is probably underdetected by conventional molecular detection tools, and that BPV coinfections are underestimated and probably genetic diverse. Additionally, 14 new BPV types were characterized, increasing the knowledge regarding BPV genetic diversity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-021-00114-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Tatiane Sauthier
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cíntia Daudt
- Laboratório de Virologia Geral eParasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, AC, Brazil
| | - Flavio Roberto Chaves da Silva
- Laboratório de Virologia Geral eParasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, AC, Brazil
| | | | - Fabiana Quoos Mayer
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Michel Bianchi
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - David Driemeier
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Wageck Canal
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Matheus Nunes Weber
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
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Gröhs Ferrareze PA, Maufrais C, Silva Araujo Streit R, Priest SJ, Cuomo CA, Heitman J, Staats CC, Janbon G. Application of an optimized annotation pipeline to the Cryptococcus deuterogattii genome reveals dynamic primary metabolic gene clusters and genomic impact of RNAi loss. G3 (Bethesda) 2021; 11:6080769. [PMID: 33585873 PMCID: PMC8022950 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating the quality of a de novo annotation of a complex fungal genome based on RNA-seq data remains a challenge. In this study, we sequentially optimized a Cufflinks-CodingQuary-based bioinformatics pipeline fed with RNA-seq data using the manually annotated model pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus deneoformans as test cases. Our results show that the quality of the annotation is sensitive to the quantity of RNA-seq data used and that the best quality is obtained with 5–10 million reads per RNA-seq replicate. We also showed that the number of introns predicted is an excellent a priori indicator of the quality of the final de novo annotation. We then used this pipeline to annotate the genome of the RNAi-deficient species Cryptococcus deuterogattii strain R265 using RNA-seq data. Dynamic transcriptome analysis revealed that intron retention is more prominent in C. deuterogattii than in the other RNAi-proficient species C. neoformans and C. deneoformans. In contrast, we observed that antisense transcription was not higher in C. deuterogattii than in the two other Cryptococcus species. Comparative gene content analysis identified 21 clusters enriched in transcription factors and transporters that have been lost. Interestingly, analysis of the subtelomeric regions in these three annotated species identified a similar gene enrichment, reminiscent of the structure of primary metabolic clusters. Our data suggest that there is active exchange between subtelomeric regions, and that other chromosomal regions might participate in adaptive diversification of Cryptococcus metabolite assimilation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze
- Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, F-75015 Paris, France.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 15005, Brazil
| | - Corinne Maufrais
- Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, F-75015 Paris, France.,Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, HUB Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, C3BI, USR 3756 IP CNRS, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Rodrigo Silva Araujo Streit
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 15005, Brazil
| | - Shelby J Priest
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Christina A Cuomo
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 15005, Brazil
| | - Guilhem Janbon
- Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, F-75015 Paris, France
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Oliveira NK, Frank LA, Squizani ED, Reuwsaat JCV, Marques BM, Motta H, Garcia AWA, Kinskovski UP, Barcellos VA, Schrank A, Pohlmann AR, Staats CC, Guterres SS, Vainstein MH, Kmetzsch L. New nanotechnological formulation based on amiodarone-loaded lipid core nanocapsules displays anticryptococcal effect. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 162:105816. [PMID: 33757827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the etiological agent of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The recommended available treatment has low efficiency, with high toxicity and resistance as recurrent problems. In the search of new treatment protocols, the proposal of new pharmacological approaches is considered an innovative strategy, mainly nanotechnological systems considering fungal diseases. The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has demonstrated antifungal activity against a range of fungi, including C. neoformans. Here, considering the importance of calcium storage mediated by transporters on cryptococcal virulence, we evaluated the use of the calcium channel blocker amiodarone as an alternative therapy for cryptococcosis. C. neoformans displayed high sensitivity to amiodarone, which was also synergistic with fluconazole. Amiodarone treatment influenced some virulence factors, interrupting the calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway. Experiments with murine cryptococcosis models revealed that amiodarone treatment increased the fungal burden in the lungs, while its combination with fluconazole did not improve treatment compared to fluconazole alone. In addition, we have developed different innovative nanotechnological formulations, one of which combining two drugs with different mechanisms of action. Lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) loaded with amiodarone (LNCAMD), fluconazole (LNCFLU) and both (LNCAMD+FLU) were produced to achieve a better efficacy in vivo. In an intranasal model of treatment, all the LNC formulations had an antifungal effect. In an intraperitoneal treatment, LNCAMD showed an enhanced anticryptococcal effect compared to the free drug, whereas LNCFLU or LNCAMD+FLU displayed no differences from the free drugs. In this way, nanotechnology using amiodarone formulations could be an effective therapy for cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiza Abrahão Frank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Eamim Daidrê Squizani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Heryk Motta
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Uriel Perin Kinskovski
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Adriana Raffin Pohlmann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sílvia Stanisçuaski Guterres
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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8
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Sbaraini N, Junges Â, de Oliveira ES, Webster A, Vainstein MH, Staats CC, Schrank A. The deletion of chiMaD1, a horizontally acquired chitinase of Metarhizium anisopliae, led to higher virulence towards the cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus). FEMS Microbiol Lett 2021; 368:6294904. [PMID: 34100915 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnab066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The first line of the Arthropods defense against infections is the hard-structured exoskeleton, a physical barrier, usually rich in insoluble chitin. For entomopathogenic fungi that actively penetrate the host body, an arsenal of hydrolytic enzymes (as chitinases and N-acetylglucosaminidases), that break down chitin, is essential. Notably, twenty-one putative chitinase genes have been identified in the genome of Metarhizium anisopliae, a generalist entomopathogenic fungus. As a multigenic family, with enzymes that, presumably, perform redundant functions, the main goal is to understand the singularity of each one of such genes and to discover their precise role in the fungal life cycle. Specially chitinases that can act as virulence determinants are of interest since these enzymes can lead to more efficient biocontrol agents. Here we explored a horizontally acquired chitinase from M. anisopliae, named chiMaD1. The deletion of this gene did not lead to phenotypic alterations or diminished supernatant's chitinolytic activity. Surprisingly, chiMaD1 deletion enhanced M. anisopliae virulence to the cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) larvae and engorged females, while did not alter the virulence to the mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). These results add up to recent reports of deleted genes that enhanced entomopathogenic virulence, showing the complexity of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Sbaraini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Ângela Junges
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Eder Silva de Oliveira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Anelise Webster
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, Eldorado do Sul, RS, 92990-000, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 - Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
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Sbaraini N, Hu J, Roux I, Phan CS, Motta H, Rezaee H, Schrank A, Chooi YH, Staats CC. Polyketides produced by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae induce Candida albicans growth. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 152:103568. [PMID: 33991663 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Metarhizium anisopliae is an important entomopathogenic species and model for arthropod-fungus interaction studies. This fungus harbors a diverse arsenal of unexplored secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, which are suggested to perform diverse roles during host interaction and soil subsistence as a saprophytic species. Here we explored an unusual carnitine acyltransferase domain-containing highly reducing polyketide synthase found in the genome of M. anisopliae. Employing heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans, two new polyketides were obtained, named BAA and BAB, as well as one known polyketide [(2Z,4E,6E)-octa-2,4,6-trienedioic acid]. Intra-hemocoel injection of the most abundant compound (BAA) in the model-arthropod Galleria mellonella larvae did not induce mortality or noticeable alterations, suggesting that this compound may not harbor insecticidal activity. Also, the potential role of such molecules in polymicrobial interactions was evaluated. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration assays using distinct fungal species revealed that BAA and BAB did not alter Cryptococcus neoformans growth, while BAA exhibited weak antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unexpectedly, these compounds increased Candida albicans growth compared to control conditions. Furthermore, BAA can mitigate the fungicidal effects of fluconazole over C. albicans. Although the exact role of these compounds on the M. anisopliae life cycle is elusive, the described results add up to the complexity of secondary metabolites produced by Metarhizium spp. Moreover, up to our knowledge, these are the first polyketides isolated from filamentous fungi that can boost the growth of another fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Sbaraini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jinyu Hu
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Indra Roux
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Chin-Soon Phan
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Heryk Motta
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Hamideh Rezaee
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Yit-Heng Chooi
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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10
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Squizani ED, Reuwsaat JCV, Lev S, Motta H, Sperotto J, Kaufman-Francis K, Desmarini D, Vainstein MH, Staats CC, Djordjevic JT, Kmetzsch L. Calcium Binding Protein Ncs1 Is Calcineurin Regulated in Cryptococcus neoformans and Essential for Cell Division and Virulence. mSphere 2020; 5:e00761-20. [PMID: 32907953 PMCID: PMC7485688 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00761-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) is crucial for signal transduction in Cryptococcus neoformans, the major cause of fatal fungal meningitis. The calcineurin pathway is the only Ca2+-requiring signaling cascade implicated in cryptococcal stress adaptation and virulence, with Ca2+ binding mediated by the EF-hand domains of the Ca2+ sensor protein calmodulin. In this study, we identified the cryptococcal ortholog of neuronal calcium sensor 1 (Ncs1) as a member of the EF-hand superfamily. We demonstrated that Ncs1 has a role in Ca2+ homeostasis under stress and nonstress conditions, as the ncs1Δ mutant is sensitive to a high Ca2+ concentration and has an elevated basal Ca2+ level. Furthermore, NCS1 expression is induced by Ca2+, with the Ncs1 protein adopting a punctate subcellular distribution. We also demonstrate that, in contrast to the case with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, NCS1 expression in C. neoformans is regulated by the calcineurin pathway via the transcription factor Crz1, as NCS1 expression is reduced by FK506 treatment and CRZ1 deletion. Moreover, the ncs1Δ mutant shares a high temperature and high Ca2+ sensitivity phenotype with the calcineurin and calmodulin mutants (cna1Δ and cam1Δ), and the NCS1 promoter contains two calcineurin/Crz1-dependent response elements (CDRE1). Ncs1 deficiency coincided with reduced growth, characterized by delayed bud emergence and aberrant cell division, and hypovirulence in a mouse infection model. In summary, our data show that Ncs1 has a significant role as a Ca2+ sensor in C. neoformans, working with calcineurin to regulate Ca2+ homeostasis and, consequently, promote fungal growth and virulence.IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans is the major cause of fungal meningitis in HIV-infected patients. Several studies have highlighted the important contributions of Ca2+ signaling and homeostasis to the virulence of C. neoformans Here, we identify the cryptococcal ortholog of neuronal calcium sensor 1 (Ncs1) and demonstrate its role in Ca2+ homeostasis, bud emergence, cell cycle progression, and virulence. We also show that Ncs1 function is regulated by the calcineurin/Crz1 signaling cascade. Our work provides evidence of a link between Ca2+ homeostasis and cell cycle progression in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eamim Daidrê Squizani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Sophie Lev
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School-Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Heryk Motta
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Julia Sperotto
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Keren Kaufman-Francis
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School-Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Desmarini Desmarini
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School-Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Julianne T Djordjevic
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School-Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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11
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Garcia AWA, Kinskovski UP, Diehl C, Reuwsaat JCV, Motta de Souza H, Pinto HB, Trentin DDS, de Oliveira HC, Rodrigues ML, Becker EM, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Participation of Zip3, a ZIP domain-containing protein, in stress response and virulence in Cryptococcus gattii. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 144:103438. [PMID: 32738289 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is an etiologic agent of cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal disease that affects humans and animals. The successful infection of mammalian hosts by cryptococcal cells relies on their ability to infect and survive in macrophages. Such phagocytic cells present a hostile environment to intracellular pathogens via the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, as well as low pH and reduced nutrient bioavailability. To overcome the low-metal environment found during infection, fungal pathogens express high-affinity transporters, including members of the ZIP family. Previously, we determined that functional zinc uptake driven by Zip1 and Zip2 is necessary for full C.gattiivirulence. Here, we characterized the ZIP3 gene of C. gattii, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATX2, which codes a manganese transporter localized to the membrane of the Golgi apparatus. Cryptococcal cells lacking Zip3 were tolerant to toxic concentrations of manganese and had imbalanced expression of intracellular metal transporters, such as the vacuolar Pmc1 and Vcx1, as well as the Golgi Pmr1. Moreover, null mutants of the ZIP3 gene displayed higher sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and substantial alteration in the expression of ROS-detoxifying enzyme-coding genes. In line with these phenotypes, cryptococcal cells displayed decreased virulence in a non-vertebrate model of cryptococcosis. Furthermore, we found that the ZIP3 null mutant strain displayed decreased melanization and secretion of the major capsular component glucuronoxylomannan, as well as an altered extracellular vesicle dimensions profile. Collectively, our data suggest that Zip3 activity impacts the physiology, and consequently, several virulence traits of C. gattii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uriel Perin Kinskovski
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Camila Diehl
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Heryk Motta de Souza
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Helber Barboza Pinto
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
| | - Danielle da Silva Trentin
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
| | | | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Instituto de Microbiologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emilene Mendes Becker
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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12
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Borowski RGV, Barros MP, da Silva DB, Lopes NP, Zimmer KR, Staats CC, de Oliveira CB, Giudice E, Gillet R, Macedo AJ, Gnoatto SCB, Zimmer AR. Red pepper peptide coatings control Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion and biofilm formation. Int J Pharm 2019; 574:118872. [PMID: 31812797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Medical devices (indwelling) have greatly improved healthcare. Nevertheless, infections related to the use of these apparatuses continue to be a major clinical concern. Biofilms form on surfaces after bacterial adhesion, and they function as bacterial reservoirs and as resistance and tolerance factors against antibiotics and the host immune response. Technological strategies to control biofilms and bacterial adhesion, such as the use of surface coatings, are being explored more frequently, and natural peptides may promote their development. In this study, we purified and identified antibiofilm peptides from Capsicum baccatum (red pepper) using chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, MALDI-MS, MS/MS and bioinformatics. These peptides strongly controlled biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most prevalent pathogen in device-related infections, without any antibiotic activity. Furthermore, natural peptide-coated surfaces dislayed effective antiadhesive proprieties and showed no cytotoxic effects against different representative human cell lines. Finally, we determined the lead peptide predicted by Mascot and identified CSP37, which may be useful as a prime structure for the design of new antibiofilm agents. Together, these results shed light on natural Capsicum peptides as a possible antiadhesive coat to prevent medical device colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Gomes Von Borowski
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Université de Rennes, CNRS, Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes (IGDR), UMR6290, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Muriel Primon Barros
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Denise Brentan da Silva
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos (NPPNS), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040903 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratório de Produtos Naturais e Espectrometria de Massas (LAPNEM), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Cidade Universitária, CP 549, 79070-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Norberto Peporine Lopes
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos (NPPNS), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040903 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karine Rigon Zimmer
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 Prédios 43421/43431, Setor IV, Campus do Vale, Caixa Postal 15005, CEP 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 Prédios 43421/43431, Setor IV, Campus do Vale, Caixa Postal 15005, CEP 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Bernardes de Oliveira
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Emmanuel Giudice
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes (IGDR), UMR6290, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Reynald Gillet
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes (IGDR), UMR6290, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Alexandre José Macedo
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 Prédios 43421/43431, Setor IV, Campus do Vale, Caixa Postal 15005, CEP 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Simone Cristina Baggio Gnoatto
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Aline Rigon Zimmer
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, n. 2752, CEP 90610-000, Bairro Azenha, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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13
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Sbaraini N, Bellini R, Penteriche AB, Guedes RLM, Garcia AWA, Gerber AL, Vainstein MH, de Vasconcelos ATR, Schrank A, Staats CC. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of Metarhizium anisopliae during tick mimicked infection condition. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:836. [PMID: 31711419 PMCID: PMC6849299 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6220-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Metarhizium genus harbors important entomopathogenic fungi. These species have been widely explored as biological control agents, and strategies to improve the fungal virulence are under investigation. Thus, the interaction between Metarhizium species and susceptible hosts have been explored employing different methods in order to characterize putative virulence determinants. However, the impact of epigenetic modulation on the infection cycle of Metarhizium is still an open topic. Among the different epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation of cytosine bases is an important mechanism to control gene expression in several organisms. To better understand if DNA methylation can govern Metarhizium-host interactions, the genome-wide DNA methylation profile of Metarhizium anisopliae was explored in two conditions: tick mimicked infection and a saprophytic-like control. RESULTS Using a genome wide DNA methylation profile based on bisulfite sequencing (BS-Seq), approximately 0.60% of the total cytosines were methylated in saprophytic-like condition, which was lower than the DNA methylation level (0.89%) in tick mimicked infection condition. A total of 670 mRNA genes were found to be putatively methylated, with 390 mRNA genes uniquely methylated in the tick mimicked infection condition. GO terms linked to response to stimuli, cell wall morphogenesis, cytoskeleton morphogenesis and secondary metabolism biosynthesis were over-represented in the tick mimicked infection condition, suggesting that energy metabolism is directed towards the regulation of genes associated with infection. However, recognized virulence determinants known to be expressed at distinct infection steps, such as the destruxin backbone gene and the collagen-like protein gene Mcl1, were found methylated, suggesting that a dynamic pattern of methylation could be found during the infectious process. These results were further endorsed employing RT-qPCR from cultures treated or not with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Azacytidine. CONCLUSIONS The set of genes here analyzed focused on secondary metabolites associated genes, known to be involved in several processes, including virulence. The BS-Seq pipeline and RT-qPCR analysis employing 5-Azacytidine led to identification of methylated virulence genes in M. anisopliae. The results provided evidences that DNA methylation in M. anisopliae comprises another layer of gene expression regulation, suggesting a main role of DNA methylation regulating putative virulence determinants during M. anisopliae infection cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Sbaraini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Bellini
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, LNCC, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Lucas Muniz Guedes
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, LNCC, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, LNCC, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Rede Avançada em Biologia Computacional, RABICÓ, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
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14
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Oliveira ESD, Junges Â, Sbaraini N, Andreis FC, Thompson CE, Staats CC, Schrank A. Molecular evolution and transcriptional profile of GH3 and GH20 β-N-acetylglucosaminidases in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Genet Mol Biol 2018; 41:843-857. [PMID: 30534852 PMCID: PMC6415606 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2017-0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell walls are involved in manifold aspects of fungi maintenance. For several fungi, chitin synthesis, degradation and recycling are essential processes required for cell wall biogenesis; notably, the activity of β-N-acetylglucosaminidases (NAGases) must be present for chitin utilization. For entomopathogenic fungi, such as Metarhizium anisopliae, chitin degradation is also used to breach the host cuticle during infection. In view of the putative role of NAGases as virulence factors, this study explored the transcriptional profile and evolution of putative GH20 NAGases (MaNAG1 and MaNAG2) and GH3 NAGases (MaNAG3 and MaNAG4) identified in M. anisopliae. While MaNAG2 orthologs are conserved in several ascomycetes, MaNAG1 clusters only with Aspergilllus sp. and entomopathogenic fungal species. By contrast, MaNAG3 and MaNAG4 were phylogenetically related with bacterial GH3 NAGases. The transcriptional profiles of M. anisopliae NAGase genes were evaluated in seven culture conditions showing no common regulatory patterns, suggesting that these enzymes may have specific roles during the Metarhizium life cycle. Moreover, the expression of MaNAG3 and MaNAG4 regulated by chitinous substrates is the first evidence of the involvement of putative GH3 NAGases in physiological cell processes in entomopathogens, indicating their potential influence on cell differentiation during the M. anisopliae life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eder Silva de Oliveira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ângela Junges
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nicolau Sbaraini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fábio Carrer Andreis
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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15
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Silva Junior WJD, Falcão RM, Sousa-Paula LCD, Sbaraini N, Vieira WADS, Lima WG, Paiva Junior SDSL, Staats CC, Schrank A, Benko-Iseppon AM, Balbino VDQ, Câmara MPS. Draft genome assembly of Colletotrichum musae, the pathogen of banana fruit. Data Brief 2018; 17:256-260. [PMID: 29387740 PMCID: PMC5790810 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Colletotrichum musae is an important cosmopolitan pathogenic fungus that causes anthracnose in banana fruit. The entire genome of C. musae isolate GM20 (CMM 4420), originally isolated from infected banana fruit from Alagoas State, Brazil, was sequenced and annotated. The pathogen genomic DNA was sequenced on HiSeq Illumina platform. The C. musae GM20 genome has 50,635,197 bp with G + C content of 53.74% and in its present assembly has 2763 scaffolds, harboring 13,451 putative genes with an average length of 1626 bp. Gene prediction and annotation was performed by Funannotate pipeline, using a pattern for gene identification based on BUSCO.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raul Maia Falcão
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Nicolau Sbaraini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil
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16
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Ferrareze PAG, Streit RSA, Santos PRD, Santos FMD, Almeida RMCD, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Transcriptional Analysis Allows Genome Reannotation and Reveals that Cryptococcus gattii VGII Undergoes Nutrient Restriction during Infection. Microorganisms 2017; 5:microorganisms5030049. [PMID: 28832534 PMCID: PMC5620640 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms5030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a human and animal pathogen that infects healthy hosts and caused the Pacific Northwest outbreak of cryptococcosis. The inhalation of infectious propagules can lead to internalization of cryptococcal cells by alveolar macrophages, a niche in which C. gattii cells can survive and proliferate. Although the nutrient composition of macrophages is relatively unknown, the high induction of amino acid transporter genes inside the phagosome indicates a preference for amino acid uptake instead of synthesis. However, the presence of countable errors in the R265 genome annotation indicates significant inhibition of transcriptomic analysis in this hypervirulent strain. Thus, we analyzed RNA-Seq data from in vivo and in vitro cultures of C. gattii R265 to perform the reannotation of the genome. In addition, based on in vivo transcriptomic data, we identified highly expressed genes and pathways of amino acid metabolism that would enable C. gattii to survive and proliferate in vivo. Importantly, we identified high expression in three APC amino acid transporters as well as the GABA permease. The use of amino acids as carbon and nitrogen sources, releasing ammonium and generating carbohydrate metabolism intermediaries, also explains the high expression of components of several degradative pathways, since glucose starvation is an important host defense mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Silva Araujo Streit
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Patricia Ribeiro Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Francine Melise Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Dos Santos FM, Piffer AC, Schneider RDO, Ribeiro NS, Garcia AWA, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Alterations of zinc homeostasis in response to Cryptococcus neoformans in a murine macrophage cell line. Future Microbiol 2017; 12:491-504. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate alterations of zinc homeostasis in macrophages exposed to Cryptococcus neoformans. Materials & methods: Using a fluorescent zinc probe-based flow cytometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, zinc levels were evaluated in J774.A1 cell lines exposed to C. neoformans H99 cells. The transcription profile of macrophage zinc related homeostasis genes – metallothioneins and zinc transporters (ZnTs) of the SLC30 and SLC39 (Zrt-Irt-protein) families – was analyzed by quantitative PCR. Results: Macrophage intracellular labile zinc levels decreased following exposure to C. neoformans. A significant decrease in transcription levels was detected in specific ZnTs from both the Zrt-Irt-protein and ZnT families, especially 24 h after infection. Conclusion: These findings suggest that macrophages may exhibit zinc depletion in response to C. neoformans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Melise Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Alícia Corbellini Piffer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Rafael de Oliveira Schneider
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Nicole Sartori Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Ane Wichine Acosta Garcia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
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Ferrareze PAG, Streit RSA, Dos Santos FM, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. sRNAs as possible regulators of retrotransposon activity in Cryptococcus gattii VGII. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:294. [PMID: 28403818 PMCID: PMC5389150 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3688-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The absence of Argonaute genes in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii R265 and other VGII strains indicates that yeasts of this genotype cannot have a functional RNAi pathway, an evolutionarily conserved gene silencing mechanism performed by small RNAs. The success of the R265 strain as a pathogen that caused the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island outbreaks may imply that RNAi machinery loss could be beneficial under certain circumstances during evolution. As a result, a hypermutant phenotype would be created with high rates of genome retrotransposition, for instance. This study therefore aimed to evaluate in silicio the effect of retrotransposons and their control mechanisms by small RNAs on genomic stability and synteny loss of C. gattii R265 through retrotransposons sequence comparison and orthology analysis with other 16 C. gattii genomic sequences available. Results Retrotransposon mining identified a higher sequence count to VGI genotype compared to VGII, VGIII, and VGIV. However, despite the lower retrotransposon number, VGII exhibited increased synteny loss and genome rearrangement events. RNA-Seq analysis indicated highly expressed retrotransposons as well as sRNA production. Conclusions Genome rearrangement and synteny loss may suggest a greater retrotransposon mobilization caused by RNAi pathway absence, but the effective presence of sRNAs that matches retrotransposon sequences means that an alternative retrotransposon silencing mechanism could be active in genomic integrity maintenance of C. gattii VGII strains. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3688-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Silva Araujo Streit
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Francine Melise Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Feder V, Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Vidal-Figueiredo N, Ligabue-Braun R, Carlini CR, Vainstein MH. Cryptococcus gattii urease as a virulence factor and the relevance of enzymatic activity in cryptococcosis pathogenesis. FEBS J 2015; 282:1406-18. [PMID: 25675897 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ureases (EC 3.5.1.5) are Ni(2+) -dependent metalloenzymes produced by plants, fungi and bacteria that hydrolyze urea to produce ammonia and CO2 . The insertion of nickel atoms into the apo-urease is better characterized in bacteria, and requires at least three accessory proteins: UreD, UreF, and UreG. Our group has demonstrated that ureases possess ureolytic activity-independent biological properties that could contribute to the pathogenicity of urease-producing microorganisms. The presence of urease in pathogenic bacteria strongly correlates with pathogenesis in some human diseases. Some medically important fungi also produce urease, including Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. C. gattii is an etiological agent of cryptococcosis, most often affecting immunocompetent individuals. The cryptococcal urease might play an important role in pathogenesis. It has been proposed that ammonia produced via urease action might damage the host endothelium, which would enable yeast transmigration towards the central nervous system. To analyze the role of urease as a virulence factor in C. gattii, we constructed knockout mutants for the structural urease-coding gene URE1 and for genes that code the accessory proteins Ure4 and Ure6. All knockout mutants showed reduced multiplication within macrophages. In intranasally infected mice, the ure1Δ (lacking urease protein) and ure4Δ (enzymatically inactive apo-urease) mutants caused reduced blood burdens and a delayed time of death, whereas the ure6Δ (enzymatically inactive apo-urease) mutant showed time and dose dependency with regard to fungal burden. Our results suggest that C. gattii urease plays an important role in virulence, in part possibly through enzyme activity-independent mechanism(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Feder
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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de Paula DAJ, Rosa e Silva LK, Staats CC, Vainstein MH, Joanoni ALP, Nakazato L, Dutra V. Identification of genes expressed by Cryptococcus gattii during iron deprivation. Braz J Microbiol 2014; 45:813-20. [PMID: 25477912 PMCID: PMC4204963 DOI: 10.1590/s1517-83822014000300008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are pathogenic yeasts that cause life-threatening diseases in humans and animals. Iron is an essential nutrient for virtually every organism as it functions as a cofactor in numerous essential enzymatic reactions. In the literature, the competition for iron between microbes and mammalian hosts during infection is well documented. In this study, we used representational difference analysis (RDA) in order to gain a better understanding of how C. gattii responds to iron starvation. A total of 15 and 29 genes were identified as having altered expression levels due to iron depletion after 3 h and 12 h, respectively. Of these, eight genes were identified in both libraries. The transcripts were related to many biological processes, such as cell cycle, ergosterol metabolism, cell wall organization, transportation, translation, cell respiration and the stress response. These data suggest a remodeling of C. gattii metabolism during conditions of iron deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch Rosa e Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia Pinto Joanoni
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso CuiabáMT Brazil Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Luciano Nakazato
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso CuiabáMT Brazil Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Valéria Dutra
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso CuiabáMT Brazil Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
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Staats CC, Junges A, Guedes RLM, Thompson CE, de Morais GL, Boldo JT, de Almeida LGP, Andreis FC, Gerber AL, Sbaraini N, da Paixão RLDA, Broetto L, Landell M, Santi L, Beys-da-Silva WO, Silveira CP, Serrano TR, de Oliveira ES, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, de Vasconcelos ATR, Schrank A. Comparative genome analysis of entomopathogenic fungi reveals a complex set of secreted proteins. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:822. [PMID: 25263348 PMCID: PMC4246632 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metarhizium anisopliae is an entomopathogenic fungus used in the biological control of some agricultural insect pests, and efforts are underway to use this fungus in the control of insect-borne human diseases. A large repertoire of proteins must be secreted by M. anisopliae to cope with the various available nutrients as this fungus switches through different lifestyles, i.e., from a saprophytic, to an infectious, to a plant endophytic stage. To further evaluate the predicted secretome of M. anisopliae, we employed genomic and transcriptomic analyses, coupled with phylogenomic analysis, focusing on the identification and characterization of secreted proteins. Results We determined the M. anisopliae E6 genome sequence and compared this sequence to other entomopathogenic fungi genomes. A robust pipeline was generated to evaluate the predicted secretomes of M. anisopliae and 15 other filamentous fungi, leading to the identification of a core of secreted proteins. Transcriptomic analysis using the tick Rhipicephalus microplus cuticle as an infection model during two periods of infection (48 and 144 h) allowed the identification of several differentially expressed genes. This analysis concluded that a large proportion of the predicted secretome coding genes contained altered transcript levels in the conditions analyzed in this study. In addition, some specific secreted proteins from Metarhizium have an evolutionary history similar to orthologs found in Beauveria/Cordyceps. This similarity suggests that a set of secreted proteins has evolved to participate in entomopathogenicity. Conclusions The data presented represents an important step to the characterization of the role of secreted proteins in the virulence and pathogenicity of M. anisopliae. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-822) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), P, O, Box 15005, Porto Alegre, RS CEP 91501-970, Brazil.
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Junges Â, Boldo JT, Souza BK, Guedes RLM, Sbaraini N, Kmetzsch L, Thompson CE, Staats CC, de Almeida LGP, de Vasconcelos ATR, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Genomic analyses and transcriptional profiles of the glycoside hydrolase family 18 genes of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107864. [PMID: 25232743 PMCID: PMC4169460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal chitin metabolism involves diverse processes such as metabolically active cell wall maintenance, basic nutrition, and different aspects of virulence. Chitinases are enzymes belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18) and 19 (GH19) and are responsible for the hydrolysis of β-1,4-linkages in chitin. This linear homopolymer of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine is an essential constituent of fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons. Several chitinases have been directly implicated in structural, morphogenetic, autolytic and nutritional activities of fungal cells. In the entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae, chitinases are also involved in virulence. Filamentous fungi genomes exhibit a higher number of chitinase-coding genes than bacteria or yeasts. The survey performed in the M. anisopliae genome has successfully identified 24 genes belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 18, including three previously experimentally determined chitinase-coding genes named chit1, chi2 and chi3. These putative chitinases were classified based on domain organization and phylogenetic analysis into the previously described A, B and C chitinase subgroups, and into a new subgroup D. Moreover, three GH18 proteins could be classified as putative endo-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidases, enzymes that are associated with deglycosylation and were therefore assigned to a new subgroup E. The transcriptional profile of the GH18 genes was evaluated by qPCR with RNA extracted from eight culture conditions, representing different stages of development or different nutritional states. The transcripts from the GH18 genes were detected in at least one of the different M. anisopliae developmental stages, thus validating the proposed genes. Moreover, not all members from the same chitinase subgroup presented equal patterns of transcript expression under the eight distinct conditions studied. The determination of M. anisopliae chitinases and ENGases and a more detailed study concerning the enzymes’ roles in morphological or nutritional functions will allow comprehensive insights into the chitinolytic potential of this highly infective entomopathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ângela Junges
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Bárbara Kunzler Souza
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Nicolau Sbaraini
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Staats CC, Kmetzsch L, Lubeck I, Junges A, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Metarhizium anisopliae chitinase CHIT30 is involved in heat-shock stress and contributes to virulence against Dysdercus peruvianus. Fungal Biol 2013; 117:137-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Bailão EFLC, Parente AFA, Parente JA, Silva-Bailão MG, de Castro KP, Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Schrank A, Vainstein MH, Borges CL, Bailão AM, de Almeida Soares CM. Metal Acquisition and Homeostasis in Fungi. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-012-0108-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Crestani J, Carvalho PC, Han X, Seixas A, Broetto L, Fischer JDSDG, Staats CC, Schrank A, Yates JR, Vainstein MH. Proteomic profiling of the influence of iron availability on Cryptococcus gattii. J Proteome Res 2011; 11:189-205. [PMID: 21970549 DOI: 10.1021/pr2005296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Iron is essential and ubiquitous in living organisms. The competition for this micronutrient between the host and its pathogens has been related to disease establishment. Cryptococcus gattii is an encapsulated yeast that causes cryptococcosis mainly in immunocompetent individuals. In this study, we analyzed the proteomic profile of the C. gattii R265 Vancouver Island isolate under iron-depleted and -repleted conditions by multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) and by 2D-GE. Proteins and key mechanisms affected by alteration of iron levels such as capsule production, cAMP-signaling pathway, response to stress, and metabolic pathways related to mitochondrial function were identified. Our results also show both proteomic methodologies employed to be complementary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Crestani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
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Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Rodrigues ML, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. Calcium signaling components in the human pathogen: Cryptococcus neoformans. Commun Integr Biol 2011; 4:186-7. [PMID: 21655435 DOI: 10.4161/cib.4.2.14271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium signaling through calmodulin and the phosphatase calcineurin are required for key events of the biology of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, including mating, morphogenesis, growth at 37°C and virulence. In a recent work we described the functional characterization of a new component of this calcium signaling network: the vacuolar calcium exchanger Vcx1. This transporter is involved in calcium tolerance and virulence in C. neoformans. Two other uncharacterized calcium transporters which are putative orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PMC1 (a vacuolar calcium ATPase) and PMR1 (a Golgi calcium ATPase) are also functional in C. neoformans. No ortholog of CRZ1, the target of calcineurin in other fungi, has been identified in C. neoformans, indicating a high complexity in cryptococcal calcium-related pathways. Future studies are necessary for the complete understanding of calcium signaling regulation in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Silva MG, Schrank A, Bailão EFLC, Bailão AM, Borges CL, Staats CC, Parente JA, Pereira M, Salem-Izacc SM, Mendes-Giannini MJS, Oliveira RMZ, Silva LKRE, Nosanchuk JD, Vainstein MH, de Almeida Soares CM. The homeostasis of iron, copper, and zinc in paracoccidioides brasiliensis, cryptococcus neoformans var. Grubii, and cryptococcus gattii: a comparative analysis. Front Microbiol 2011; 2:49. [PMID: 21833306 PMCID: PMC3153025 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2010] [Accepted: 03/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron, copper, and zinc are essential for all living organisms. Moreover, the homeostasis of these metals is vital to microorganisms during pathogenic interactions with a host. Most pathogens have developed specific mechanisms for the uptake of micronutrients from their hosts in order to counteract the low availability of essential ions in infected tissues. We report here an analysis of genes potentially involved in iron, copper, and zinc uptake and homeostasis in the fungal pathogens Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, and Cryptococcus gattii. Although prior studies have identified certain aspects of metal regulation in Cryptococcus species, little is known regarding the regulation of these elements in P. brasiliensis. We also present amino acid sequences analyses of deduced proteins in order to examine possible conserved domains. The genomic data reveals, for the first time, genes associated to iron, copper, and zinc assimilation and homeostasis in P. brasiliensis. Furthermore, analyses of the three fungal species identified homologs to genes associated with high-affinity uptake systems, vacuolar and mitochondrial iron storage, copper uptake and reduction, and zinc assimilation. However, homologs to genes involved in siderophore production were only found in P. brasiliensis. Interestingly, in silico analysis of the genomes of P. brasiliensisPb01, Pb03, and Pb18 revealed significant differences in the presence and/or number of genes involved in metal homeostasis, such as in genes related to iron reduction and oxidation. The broad analyses of the genomes of P. brasiliensis, C. neoformans var. grubii, and C. gattii for genes involved in metal homeostasis provide important groundwork for numerous interesting future areas of investigation that are required in order to validate and explore the function of the identified genes and gene pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirelle Garcia Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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Figueiredo JG, Goulin EH, Tanaka F, Stringari D, Kava-Cordeiro V, Galli-Terasawa LV, Staats CC, Schrank A, Glienke C. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Guignardia citricarpa. J Microbiol Methods 2009; 80:143-7. [PMID: 19995579 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2009.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2009] [Revised: 11/21/2009] [Accepted: 11/29/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Guignardia citricarpa, the causal agent of Citrus Black Spot, was successfully transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens with cassettes for gfp and bar expression. Transformation is essential to understand the role of genes during interaction between plants and its pathogens. Using a binary plasmid vector based in the pPZP201BK, both germinated conidia and physically fragmented hyphae of G. citricarpa were transformed. Eight independent transformants of G. citricarpa resistant to ammonium glifosinate displayed GFP fluorescence. The majority (93.75%) of the G. citricarpa transformants was mitotically stable and contained a single T-DNA copy ectopically integrated to the chromosome. This is the first report of G. citricarpa transformation and will allow future work on virulence determinants of the fungus and possibly its control.
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Rosa e Silva LK, Staats CC, Goulart LS, Morello LG, Pelegrinelli Fungaro MH, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. Identification of novel temperature-regulated genes in the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans using representational difference analysis. Res Microbiol 2008; 159:221-9. [PMID: 18280708 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2007.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2007] [Revised: 11/26/2007] [Accepted: 12/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycetous fungus and an opportunistic human pathogen that causes infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. The ability to survive and proliferate at the human body temperature is an essential virulence attribute of this microorganism. Representational difference analysis (RDA) was used to profile gene expression in C. neoformans grown at 37 degrees C or 25 degrees C. Contig assembly of 300 high-quality sequenced cDNAs and comparison analysis to the GenBank database led to the identification of transcripts that may be critical for both pathogen-host interactions and responses to either low or high temperature growth. Gene products involved in cell wall integrity, stress response, filamentation, oxidative metabolism, protein targeting and fatty acids metabolism were induced at 37 degrees C. In addition, genes related to chromatin silencing and phospholipid transport were upregulated at 25 degrees C. Therefore, our RDA analysis, comparing saprophytic and host temperature conditions, revealed new genes with potential involvement in C. neoformans virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Kmetzsch Rosa e Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 43421, Caixa Postal 15005, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
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30
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Staats CC, Junges A, Fitarelli M, Furlaneto MC, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Gene inactivation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the filamentous fungi Metarhizium anisopliae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 76:945-50. [PMID: 17607574 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-007-1043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2007] [Revised: 05/03/2007] [Accepted: 05/23/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The list of fungal species with known complete genome and/or expressed sequence tag collections is extending rapidly during the last couple of years. Postgenomic gene function assignment is an obvious follow-up and depends on methodologies to test gene function in vivo. One of such methods is the generation of null mutants via homologous recombination at the wild-type loci by using inactivation cassettes. In this paper, the ability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to genetically transform filamentous fungi was exploited to drive homologous recombination at the trp1 locus of the enthomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. The trp1 disruptants exhibited a clearly distinguishable phenotype from wild-type cells and were recovered with high efficiency of homologous recombination (22%). The complementation of such mutants with the wild-type gene generates only transformants with homologous integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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31
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Duarte RTD, Staats CC, Fungaro MHP, Schrank A, Vainsten MH, Furlaneto-Maia L, Nakamura CV, de Souza W, Furlaneto MC. Development of a simple and rapid Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system for the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum. Lett Appl Microbiol 2007; 44:248-54. [PMID: 17309500 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2006.02092.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To examine the ability of Agrobacterium to attach to Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum strain CG423 under co-cultivation and to develop an Agrobacterium-mediated method of gene delivery into strain CG423, a promising agent for biological control of grasshoppers. METHODS AND RESULTS The co-cultivation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and M. anisopliae var. acridum was analysed under scanning electron microscopy. We observed that Agrobacterium attached to and formed aggregates around Metarhizium conidia and germ tubes. We also observed the occurrence of fibril-like structures connecting neighbouring bacterial-fungal cells. The Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was applied using two binary vectors carrying a benomyl resistance gene as a selection marker. The efficiency of transformation was up to 53 transformants per 10(5) target conidia. High mitotic stability of the transformants (89-97%) was demonstrated after five successive transfers on non-selective media. Molecular analysis revealed the occurrence of high frequency of gene conversion. CONCLUSIONS In our study, we report that A. tumefaciens strain AGL-1 attaches to and genetically transforms the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY We report for the first time, the attachment of Agrobacterium to fungal cells opening new avenues for the study of this essential step of the T-DNA transfer process. Considering the efficiency of the transformation protocol herein described, this is a useful tool for gene disruption in M. anisopliae var. acridum.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T D Duarte
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brazil
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Staats CC, Boldo J, Broetto L, Vainstein M, Schrank A. Comparative genome analysis of proteases, oligopeptide uptake and secretion systems in Mycoplasma spp. Genet Mol Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572007000200009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
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Nakazato L, Dutra V, Broetto L, Staats CC, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Development of an expression vector for Metarhizium anisopliae based on the tef-1alpha homologous promoter. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2006; 72:521-8. [PMID: 16402168 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-005-0292-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2005] [Revised: 12/05/2005] [Accepted: 12/07/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The high-conserved translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef-1alpha) gene from the enthomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae was characterized to select the promoter region. A 640-bp DNA fragment upstream to the start codon was employed to drive the expression of the reporter protein sGFP or a dominant selectable marker, the gene bar (resistance to ammonium glufosinate). Transformants carrying this homologous promoter system showed no difference in virulence bioassays against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus comparing to the M. anisopliae wild-type strain. Moreover, GFP fluorescence was detected during tick infection bioassay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Nakazato
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, P.O. Box 15005, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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da Silva MV, Santi L, Staats CC, da Costa AM, Colodel EM, Driemeier D, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Cuticle-induced endo/exoacting chitinase CHIT30 from Metarhizium anisopliae is encoded by an ortholog of the chi3 gene. Res Microbiol 2005; 156:382-92. [PMID: 15808943 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2004.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Revised: 10/20/2004] [Accepted: 10/25/2004] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of chitinase genes and enzymes is an important step toward global understanding of the chitinolytic system in entomopathogenic fungi. Chitinase CHIT30 from Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (strain E6) has both endo- and exochitinase activities and is a potential determinant of pathogenicity. Serum anti-CHIT30 specifically detected this chitinase amongst five isoenzymes shown in glycol-chitin activity gels. Chitinase CHIT30 secretion is upregulated by chitin, tick cuticle and low concentrations of N-acetylglucosamine (0.25%) and is downregulated by both high N-acetylglucosamine (1%) and glucose (1%) concentrations. Chitinase CHIT30 was produced at tick cuticle during fungal infection. The chi3 gene was assigned to code chitinase CHIT30 in M. anisopliae var. anisopliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia Vanusa da Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Campus do Vale, P.O. Box 15005, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Abstract
The trp1 gene from the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, cloned by heterologous hybridization with the plasmid carrying the trpC gene from Aspergillus nidulans, was sequence characterized. The predicted translation product has the conserved catalytic domains of glutamine amidotransferase (G domain), indoleglycerolphosphate synthase (C domain), and phosphoribosyl anthranilate isomerase (F domain) organized as NH2-G-C-F-COOH. The ORF is interrupted by a single intron of 60 nt that is position conserved in relation to trp genes from Ascomycetes and length conserved in relation to Basidiomycetes species. RT-PCR analysis suggests constitutive expression of trp1 gene in M. anisopliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Campus do Vale, P.O. Box 15005, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Barreto CC, Staats CC, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. Distribution of chitinases in the entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae and effect of N-acetylglucosamine in protein secretion. Curr Microbiol 2004; 48:102-7. [PMID: 15057476 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-003-4063-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
For a long time, fungi have been characterized by their ability to secrete enzymes, mostly hydrolytic in function, and thus are defined as extracellular degraders. Chitin and chitinolytic enzymes are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications. Particularly, chitinases are used in agriculture to control plant pathogens. Metarhizium anisopliae produces an extracellular chitinase when grown on a medium containing chitin, indicating that synthesis is subject to induction by the substrate. Various sugar combinations were investigated for induction and repression of chitinase. N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) shows a special dual regulation on chitinase production. M. anisopliae has at least two distinct, cell-bound, chitinolytic enzymes when cultured with GlcNAc as one of the carbon sources, and we suggest that this carbohydrate has an important role in protein secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristine Chaves Barreto
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Campus do Vale, P.O. Box 15005, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Horta JA, Staats CC, Casali AK, Ribeiro AM, Schrank IS, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. Epidemiological aspects of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolates in the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul. Med Mycol 2002; 40:565-71. [PMID: 12521120 DOI: 10.1080/mmy.40.6.565.571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients (HIV-positive patients), and lymphoproliferative disorders in patients subjected to organ transplantation and other immunosuppressive therapies. This fungus is commonly found in soil and avian excreta, mainly from pigeon and turkey. We describe the isolation and characterization of 17 clinical and 10 environmental (pigeon excreta) isolates from the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul. We analyzed capsule formation, carbon assimilation pattern, canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue (CGB) reaction, and nitrate and urease tests, as well as susceptibility to antifungal drugs. The genetic variability among C. neoformans isolates was studied using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Eight of 22 arbitrary polymerase chain reaction primers used confirmed genetic polymorphism among the environmental isolates tested, suggesting that it remains feasible to use RAPD analysis as a typing method. Three of the selected primers yielded 10 molecular subclasses. The majority of the clinical isolates were assigned to the molecular subclass F. The RAPD data obtained reinforce the developing consensus about the population structure of this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Horta
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas do Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Campus do Vale, PO Box 15005, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Vermeer BJ, Staats CC. The efficacy of a topical application of terbinafine 1% solution in subjects with pityriasis versicolor: a placebo-controlled study. Dermatology 1997; 194 Suppl 1:22-4. [PMID: 9154397 DOI: 10.1159/000246179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A prospective randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study was designed to investigate whether topical terbinafine 1% solution is an effective treatment for subjects with pityriasis versicolor. The intention-to-treat population consisted of 110 subjects. The number of subjects who received terbinafine 1% solution was 76 and the number who received placebo was 34; treatments were given twice a day for 1 week. The primary efficacy variables were categorised at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8. Eight weeks after the start of therapy, 81% of the subjects using terbinafine solution and 41% of those receiving placebo had a negative mycological examination (p < 0.001). A clinical effect of treatment was recorded in 72% of the subjects using terbinafine 1% solution and 26% of those receiving placebo (p < 0.001). We conclude that terbinafine 1% solution is an effective and safe local treatment modality for pityriasis versicolor.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Vermeer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Vermeer BJ, Staats CC, van Houwelingen JC. [Terbinafine versus miconazole in patients with tinea pedis]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1996; 140:1605-8. [PMID: 8768815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of terbinafine cream during 1 week with the efficacy of miconazole cream during 4 weeks in the treatment of tinea pedis. DESIGN Prospective randomised double-blind study. SETTING Department of dermatology, Academic Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands. METHODS Patients who visited the general practitioner for tinea pedis and who had a positive KOH preparation were treated with terbinafine cream during 1 week and placebo during 3 weeks, or with miconazole cream during 4 weeks. Evaluation was done 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after the start of the treatment. Mycological cure was defined as presence of a positive KOH preparation and a positive culture before treatment, and a negative result for both after treatment. Clinical efficacy was defined as mycological cure and presence of at most two minor symptoms (erythema, vesicles, squamae, itching) of the previously most serious skin lesion. Evaluation was done of all patients with a positive KOH preparation and of all patients with a positive KOH and a positive culture. RESULTS 263 patients were included. Of these 207 had a positive culture; 56 patients had a positive KOH preparation but a negative culture. The group of patients treated with terbinafine and placebo consisted of 129 patients, the miconazole group of 134 patients. Both groups had an equal distribution as to age, sex, race, duration and seriousness of the fungal infection and previous treatment. Mycological cure and clinical efficacy throughout the evaluation were similar in both treatment groups, in both patients with positive KOH preparation and in patients with a positive KOH preparation and a positive culture. After 6 weeks mycological cure was seen in about 95% and clinical efficacy in about 87%. CONCLUSION In the treatment of tinea pedis local application of terbinafine cream during 1 week is as good as treatment with miconazole cream during 4 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Vermeer
- Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Huidziekten, Leiden
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Species of fungi have specific characteristics in geographic distribution, and they have a predilection for certain body areas. OBJECTIVE To obtain information about the prevailing fungi and their pattern of infection in the Netherlands. METHODS An analysis was made of the results of mycological examinations carried out in subjects referred to the mycological laboratory of the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands, in the period of 1972-1992. RESULTS The feet, extremities and groin were most commonly infected. The feet and extremities were mainly infected with dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum), but in the groin Candida albicans accounted for 49.9% of the fungal infections. Onychomycosis ranked third in prevalence (17.3% of all fungal infections). The main etiologic agent in the toenails was T. rubrum, but in fingernails C. albicans seems to be at least as important as T. rubrum. On the trunk (mainly the chest, especially in women) and buttocks C. albicans was again the main etiologic agent for fungal infections. Dermatophytes accounted for only 32.4% and 14.2% of the fungal infections on the buttock and trunk, respectively. On the buttock and trunk T. rubrum was the main etiologic agent as far as dermatophytes are concerned. On the trunk, Microsporum canis and M. ferrugineum were of some importance as well. The prevalence of tinea capitis was very low and accounted for only 0.7% of all fungal infections. CONCLUSION Cutaneous candidosis accounted for 30.3% of all fungal infections and is therefore important. On the chest, buttocks, groin and finger-nails, the prevalence of C. albicans is higher than that of dermatophytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Korstanje
- Department of Dermatology, St. Anna Hospital, Geldrop, The Netherlands
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Staats CC, Vermeer BJ, Korstanje MJ. [Swimmer's eczema: intertrigo, erythrasma or a yeast or fungus infection?]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1994; 138:2343-5. [PMID: 7969634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the proportional contributions of tinea pedis, intertrigo, erythrasma and Candida to 'swimmer's eczema.' DESIGN Descriptive. SETTING Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands. METHOD General practitioners were encouraged to refer every patient with clinical signs of foot mycosis. Mycological tests (culture and microscopy) were performed. RESULTS A total of 296 patients with interdigital mycosis and 30 with tinea pedis of the moccasin type were included. In 56% of the patients with swimmer's eczema dermatophytes were recognised, 10% showed erythrasma and in 30% no cause could be found. Candida only played a minor role. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was found more often in swimmer's eczema than in tinea pedis of the moccasin type. CONCLUSION Swimmer's eczema has several causes, which can be determined with mycological tests. Microscopy is the most sensitive method in regard to demonstrating dermatophytes and erythrasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Staats
- Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Dermatologie, Leiden
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Staats CC, Korstanje MJ. [Fungi causing onychomycoses in The Netherlands]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1994; 138:2340-3. [PMID: 7969633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To obtain information about prevalences of fungi responsible for onychomycosis in the Netherlands. DESIGN Retrospective. SETTING Mycological laboratory of the Dermatological department, University Hospital, Leiden, the Netherlands. METHODS The results of mycological tests of nail samples collected in the period of 1987-1992 were analysed. If the culture was positive, the nature of the yeast or dermatophyte was determined. RESULTS Nail samples were obtained from 861 patients (22% fingernails, 78% toenails). No mycological confirmation of clinical diagnosis could be obtained in 60% of fingernail samples and 45% of toenail samples. Of the mycologically confirmed finger onychomycoses 77.5% were caused by yeasts, the remaining part by Trichophyton rubrum. Toenail onychomycosis in 9.9% of the cases was caused by yeasts, in 11.8% by T. mentagrophytes, in 1.2% by Epidermophyton floccosum, and in under 1% by non-dermatophytes. Just as in fingernail onychomycosis, the major cause of toenail onychomycosis is T. rubrum. CONCLUSION Onychomycosis cannot be diagnosed on clinical grounds, without mycological testing. Since antimycotic treatment is not always effective in onychomycosis caused by yeasts and non-dermatophytes, mycological diagnosis is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Staats
- Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Dermatologie, Leiden
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