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de Souza Pitangui N, Fernandes FF, Aparecido da Silva T, Gonçales RA, Roque-Barreira MC. Role of paracoccin on Paracoccidioides brasiliensis virulence and susceptibility to antifungal drugs in the Galleria mellonella larvae model. Virulence 2023; 14:2150455. [PMID: 36599817 PMCID: PMC9815234 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2150455] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccin (PCN), a Paracoccidioides brasiliensis glycoprotein, has been reported to play roles in fungal biology and paracoccidioidomycosis pathogenesis. Lectin and chitinase domains account for the PCN's dual roles as an immunomodulatory agent and virulence factor. Soluble PCN injected in P. brasiliensis infected mice, by interacting with TLRs' N-glycans, drives the host immune response toward a protective Th1 axis. Otherwise, mice infection with yeasts overexpressing PCN (ov-PCN) revealed that PCN acts as a fungal virulence factor, thanks to its chitinase activity on the cell wall, resulting in resistance to phagocytes' fungicidal activity and development of severe paracoccidioidomycosis. Because antifungal drug administration follows the disease diagnosis, we studied the PCN effect on yeast resistance or susceptibility to antifungal agents. Using a paracoccidioidomycosis model developed in Galleria mellonella larvae, we confirmed the observation, in the murine host, that ov-PCN yeasts display maximum virulence compared to wild-type (wt-PCN) or PCN-silenced (kd-PCN) yeasts. PCN overexpression accounted for the highest susceptibility of P. brasiliensis to antifungal and reduced relative mRNA expression of genes encoding proteins related to cell wall remodeling. The lowest virulence, detected in infection with kd-PCN yeasts, correlated with the lowest susceptibility to antifungals and impact on genes for cell wall remodeling. So, we defined that the grade of endogenous PCN production influences the P. brasiliensis virulence and susceptibility to antifungal drugs, as well as the expression of genes related to cell wall remodeling. We postulate that this variable gene expression is mechanistically associated with P. brasiliensis virulence changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayla de Souza Pitangui
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freitas Fernandes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Gonçales RA, Portis IG, dos Reis TF, Basso Júnior LR, Martinez R, Zhu H, Pereira M, Soares CMDA, Coelho PSR. Identification and immunogenic potential of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Front Fungal Biol 2023; 4:1243475. [PMID: 37746134 PMCID: PMC10512324 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1243475] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In fungal pathogens the cell wall plays an important role in host-pathogen interactions because its molecular components (e.g., polysaccharides and proteins) may trigger immune responses during infection. GPI-anchored proteins represent the main protein class in the fungal cell wall where they can perform several functions, such as cell wall remodeling and adhesion to host tissues. Genomic analysis has identified the complement of GPI-anchored proteins in many fungal pathogens, but the function has remained unknown for most of them. Here, we conducted an RNA expression analysis of GPI-anchored proteins of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis which causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an important human systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. The expression of the GPI-anchored proteins was analyzed by quantitative PCR in both the mycelium and yeast forms. qPCR analysis revealed that the transcript levels of 22 of them were increased in hyphae and 10 in yeasts, respectively, while 14 did not show any significant difference in either form. Furthermore, we cloned 46 open reading frames and purified their corresponding GPI-anchored proteins in the budding yeast. Immunoblot and ELISA analysis of four purified GPI-anchored proteins revealed immune reactivity of these proteins against sera obtained from PCM patients. The information obtained in this study provides valuable information about the expression of many GPI-anchored proteins of unknown function. In addition, based on our immune analysis, some GPI-anchored proteins are expressed during infection and therefore, they might serve as good candidates for the development of new diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Igor Godinho Portis
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Roberto Basso Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto Martinez
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sergio Rodrigues Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Tavares M, Sousa-Filho JC, Machado IA, Gonçales RA, Antunes D, Mendes-Frias A, Silvestre R, Carvalho A, Torrado E, Cunha C, Rodrigues F. Development of a Versatile Toolbox for Genetic Manipulation of Sporothrix brasiliensis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0456422. [PMID: 36847570 PMCID: PMC10101026 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04564-22] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as the most virulent species in the Sporothrix schenckii complex, accounting for sporotrichosis. Albeit the new insights into the understanding of host-pathogen interactions and comparative genomics of this fungi, the lack of genetic tools has hindered significant advances in this field of research. Here, we established an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system to transform different strains of S. brasiliensis. We report parameters that account for a transformation efficiency of 3,179 ± 1,171 transformants/co-cultivation, which include the use of A. tumefaciens AGL-1 in a 2:1 ratio (bacteria:fungi) during 72 h at 26°C. Our data show that a single-copy transgene is transferred to S. brasiliensis that is mitotically stable in 99% of cells after 10 generations without selective pressure. In addition, we created a plasmid toolkit that allows the establishment of fusion proteins of any S. brasiliensis gene of interest with sGFP or mCherry under the control of the GAPDH or H2A endogenous promoters. These modules allow different levels of expression of the desired fusion. Moreover, we successfully targeted these fluorescent proteins to the nucleus and used fluorescence-tagged strains to assess phagocytosis. Overall, our data show that the ATMT system is an easy-to-use and efficient genetic toolbox for studies on recombinant expression and gene function in S. brasiliensis. IMPORTANCE Sporotrichosis is the most prevalent subcutaneous mycosis worldwide and has recently become a public health concern. Although immunocompetent hosts are also prone to sporotrichosis, immunodeficient hosts often develop a more severe and disseminated form of disease. To date, the Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil is the most significant feline zoonotic transmission epicenter in the world, with more than 4,000 human and feline diagnosed cases. Cats play an essential role in the S. brasiliensis infection due to their high susceptibility and transmissibility to other felines and humans. S. brasiliensis is the most virulent etiological agent of sporotrichosis, causing the most severe clinical manifestations. Despite the increasing incidence of sporotrichosis, the identification of virulence traits important for disease establishment, development, and severity has been lacking. In this work, we established an efficient genetic toolbox to manipulate S. brasiliensis that will guide future studies to define new virulence mechanisms and a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions from a molecular perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Tavares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Carlos Sousa-Filho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ian Alves Machado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Daniela Antunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Mendes-Frias
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Egídio Torrado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
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Silva LOS, Moreira TR, Gonçales RA, Tomazett MV, Parente-Rocha JA, Mattos K, Paccez JD, Ruiz OH, Pereira M, Soares CMDA, Weber SS, Cruz-Leite VRM, Borges CL. Paracoccidioides lutzii Formamidase Contributes to Fungal Survival in Macrophages. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102011. [PMID: 36296287 PMCID: PMC9608497 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102011] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for microorganisms that compose essential biomolecules. However, hosts limit this nutrient as a strategy to counter infections, therefore, pathogens use adaptive mechanisms to uptake nitrogen from alternative sources. In fungi, nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) activates transcription factors to acquire nitrogen from alternative sources when preferential sources are absent. Formamidase has been related to nitrogen depletion in Aspergillus nidulans through formamide degradation to use the released ammonia as a nitrogen source. In Paracoccidioides spp., formamidase is highly expressed in transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Here, we aim to investigate the importance of formamidase to Paracoccidioides lutzii. Thereby, we developed a P. lutzii silenced strain of fmd gene (AsFmd) by antisense RNA technology using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). The AsFmd strain led to increased urease expression, an enzyme related to nitrogen assimilation in other fungi, suggesting that P. lutzii might explore urease as an alternative route for ammonia metabolism as a nitrogen source. Moreover, formamidase was important for fungal survival inside macrophages, as fungal recovery after macrophage infection was lower in AsFmd compared to wild-type (WT) strain. Our findings suggest potential alternatives of nitrogen acquisition regulation in P. lutzii, evidencing formamidase influence in fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana O’Hara Souza Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Thalison Rodrigues Moreira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4700-000 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800-000 Braga, Portugal
| | - Mariana Vieira Tomazett
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Alves Parente-Rocha
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Karine Mattos
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Juliano Domiraci Paccez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Orville Hernandez Ruiz
- MICROBA Research Group—Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit—CIB, School of Microbiology, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Simone Schneider Weber
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem Cruz-Leite
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (V.R.M.C.-L.); (C.L.B.); Tel.: +55-62-3521-1110 (C.L.B.)
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (V.R.M.C.-L.); (C.L.B.); Tel.: +55-62-3521-1110 (C.L.B.)
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5
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Teixeira FC, Soares MSP, Blödorn EB, Domingues WB, Reichert KP, Zago AM, Carvalho FB, Gutierres JM, Gonçales RA, da Cruz Fernandes M, Campos VF, Chitolina MR, Stefanello FM, Spanevello RM. Investigating the Effect of Inosine on Brain Purinergic Receptors and Neurotrophic and Neuroinflammatory Parameters in an Experimental Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:841-855. [PMID: 34792730 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by progressive impairment of memory, associated with neurochemical alterations and limited therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inosine on memory, neuroinflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors, expression of purinergic receptors, and morphological changes in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the rats with AD induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Male rats were divided into four groups: I, control; II, STZ; III, STZ plus inosine (50 mg/kg); and IV, STZ plus inosine (100 mg/kg). The animals received intracerebroventricular injections of STZ or buffer. Three days after the surgical procedure, animals were treated with inosine (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) for 25 days. Inosine was able to prevent memory deficits and decreased the immunoreactivity of the brain A2A adenosine receptor induced by STZ. Inosine also increased the levels of brain anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor. Changes induced by STZ in the molecular layer of the hippocampus were attenuated by treatment with inosine. Inosine also protected against the reduction of immunoreactivity for synaptophysin induced by STZ in CA3 hippocampus region. However, inosine did not prevent the increase in GFAP in animals exposed to STZ. In conclusion, our findings suggest that inosine has therapeutic potential for AD through the modulation of different brain mechanisms involved in neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Cardoso Teixeira
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica, Inflamação E Câncer, Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospeção, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | - Mayara Sandrielly Pereira Soares
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica, Inflamação E Câncer, Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospeção, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Bierhaus Blödorn
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - William Borges Domingues
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Karine Paula Reichert
- Laboratório de Enzimologia Toxicológica, Programa de Pós- Graduação Em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Adriana Maria Zago
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Patologia, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Barbosa Carvalho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Patologia, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jessie Martins Gutierres
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Patologia, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Marilda da Cruz Fernandes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Patologia, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Farias Campos
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Maria Rosa Chitolina
- Laboratório de Enzimologia Toxicológica, Programa de Pós- Graduação Em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Francieli Moro Stefanello
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores, Programa de Pós - Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Roselia Maria Spanevello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica, Inflamação E Câncer, Programa de Pós Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospeção, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
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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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7
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Pitangui NDS, Fernandes FF, Gonçales RA, Roque-Barreira MC. Virulence Vs. Immunomodulation: Roles of the Paracoccin Chitinase and Carbohydrate-Binding Sites in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Infection. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:700797. [PMID: 34532342 PMCID: PMC8438136 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.700797] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccin (PCN) is a bifunctional protein primarily present in the cell wall of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a human pathogenic dimorphic fungus. PCN has one chitinase region and four potential lectin sites and acts as both a fungal virulence factor and an immunomodulator of the host response. The PCN activity on fungal virulence, mediated by the chitinase site, was discovered by infecting mice with yeast overexpressing PCN (PCN-ov). PCN-ov are characterized by increased chitin hydrolysis, a narrow cell wall, and augmented resistance to phagocytes' fungicidal activity. Compared to wild-type (wt) yeast, infection with PCN-ov yeast causes a more severe disease, which is attributed to the increased PCN chitinase activity. In turn, immunomodulation of the host response was demonstrated by injecting, subcutaneously, recombinant PCN in mice infected with wt-P. brasiliensis. Through its carbohydrate binding site, the injected recombinant PCN interacts with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) N-glycans on macrophages, triggers M1 polarization, and stimulates protective Th1 immunity against the fungus. The PCN-treatment of wt yeast-infected mice results in mild paracoccidioidomycosis. Therefore, PCN paradoxically influences the course of murine paracoccidioidomycosis. The disease is severe when caused by yeast that overexpress endogenous PCN, which exerts a robust local chitinase activity, followed by architectural changes of the cell wall and release of low size chito-oligomers. However, the disease is mild when exogenous PCN is injected, which recognizes N-glycans on systemic macrophages resulting in immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayla de Souza Pitangui
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freitas Fernandes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Castro RC, Gonçales RA, Zambuzi FA, Frantz FG. Notch signaling pathway in infectious diseases: role in the regulation of immune response. Inflamm Res 2021; 70:261-274. [PMID: 33558976 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-021-01442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Notch signaling pathway is a cell signaling system that is conserved in a variety of eukaryotes. Overall, Notch receptors and their ligands are single-pass transmembrane proteins, which often require cell-cell interactions and proteolytic processing to promote signaling. Since its discovery, it has been the subject of extensive research that revealed its importance in several cellular mechanisms, including cell fate determination, hematopoiesis, tissue self-renewal, proliferation, and apoptosis during embryogenesis. Many studies have described the influence of the Notch pathway in modulating the innate and adaptive immune systems. METHODS We analyzed the literature on the role of the Notch pathway in regulating immune responses during infections, aiming to discuss the importance of establishing a Notch signaling pathway-based approach for predicting the outcome of infectious diseases. CONCLUSION In this review, we present an overview of evidence that demonstrates the direct and indirect effects of interaction between the Notch signaling pathway and the immune responses against bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, as well as the importance of this pathway to predict the outcome of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Cardoso Castro
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, FMRP/USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Immunology and Epigenetics Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo-FCFRP/USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fabiana Albani Zambuzi
- Immunology and Epigenetics Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo-FCFRP/USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Fabiani Gai Frantz
- Immunology and Epigenetics Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo-FCFRP/USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil.
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9
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Gonçales RA, Ricci-Azevedo R, Vieira VCS, Fernandes FF, Thomaz SMDO, Carvalho A, Vendruscolo PE, Cunha C, Roque-Barreira MC, Rodrigues F. Paracoccin Overexpression in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Enhances Fungal Virulence by Remodeling Chitin Properties of the Cell Wall. J Infect Dis 2020; 224:164-174. [PMID: 33201217 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thermodimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides spp. are the etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis. Although poorly studied, paracoccin (PCN) from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has been shown to harbor lectinic, enzymatic, and immunomodulatory properties that affect disease development. METHODS Mutants of P. brasiliensis overexpressing PCN (ov-PCN) were constructed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. ov-PCN strains were analyzed and inoculated intranasally or intravenously to mice. Fungal burden, lung pathology, and survival were monitored to evaluate virulence. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the size of chito-oligomer particles released by ov-PCN or wild-type strains to growth media. RESULTS ov-PCN strains revealed no differences in cell growth and viability, although PCN overexpression favored cell separation, chitin processing that results in the release of smaller chito-oligomer particles, and enhanced virulence. Our data show that PCN triggers a critical effect in the cell wall biogenesis through the chitinase activity resulting from overexpression of PCN. As such, PCN overexpression aggravates the disease caused by P. brasiliensis. CONCLUSIONS Our data are consistent with a model in which PCN modulates the cell wall architecture via its chitinase activity. These findings highlight the potential for exploiting PCN function in future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rafael Ricci-Azevedo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa C S Vieira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fabrício F Fernandes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra M de O Thomaz
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia E Vendruscolo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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10
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Nojosa Oliveira L, Aguiar Gonçales R, Garcia Silva M, Melo Lima R, Vieira Tomazett M, Santana de Curcio J, Domiraci Paccez J, Milhomem Cruz-Leite VR, Rodrigues F, de Sousa Lima P, Pereira M, de Almeida Soares CM. Characterization of a heme-protein responsive to hypoxia in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 144:103446. [PMID: 32822859 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Oxygen is fundamental to the life of aerobic organisms and is not always available to Paracoccidioides cells. During the life cycle stages, reduced oxygen levels directly affect general metabolic processes and oxygen adaptation mechanisms may play a fundamental role on fungal ability to survive under such condition. Heme proteins can bind to oxygen and participate in important biological processes. Several fungi, including Paracoccidioides, express a heme-binding globin (fungoglobin - FglA) presumable to regulate fungal adaptation to hypoxia. However, the characterization of fungoglobin in Paracoccidioides spp. has not yet been performed. In this study, we predicted the structure of fungoglobin and determined its level of expression during hypoxic-mimetic conditions. Genomic screening revealed that the fungoglobin gene is conserved in all species of the Paracoccidioides genus. Molecular modeling showed biochemical and biophysical characteristics that support the hypothesis that FglA binds to the heme group and oxygen as well. The fungoglobin transcript and proteins are expressed at higher levels at the early treatment time, remaining elevated while oxygen is limited. A P. brasiliensis fglA knockdown strain depicted reduced growth in hypoxia indicating that this protein can be essential for growth at low oxygen. Biochemical analysis confirmed the binding of fungoglobin to heme. Initial analyzes were carried out to establish the relationship between FlglA and iron metabolism. The FglA transcript was up regulated in pulmonary infection, suggesting its potential role in the disease establishment. We believe that this study can contribute to the understanding of fungal biology and open new perspectives for scientific investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Nojosa Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marielle Garcia Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Raisa Melo Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Mariana Vieira Tomazett
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Juliana Santana de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Juliano Domiraci Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem Cruz-Leite
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia de Sousa Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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11
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Silva MG, de Curcio JS, Silva-Bailão MG, Lima RM, Tomazett MV, de Souza AF, Cruz-Leite VRM, Sbaraini N, Bailão AM, Rodrigues F, Pereira M, Gonçales RA, de Almeida Soares CM. Molecular characterization of siderophore biosynthesis in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. IMA Fungus 2020; 11:11. [PMID: 32742914 PMCID: PMC7359926 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-020-00035-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient for all organisms. For pathogenic fungi, iron is essential for the success of infection. Thus, these organisms have developed high affinity iron uptake mechanisms to deal with metal deprivation imposed by the host. Siderophore production is one of the mechanisms that fungal pathogens employ for iron acquisition. Paracoccidioides spp. present orthologous genes encoding the enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of hydroxamates, and plasma membrane proteins related to the transport of these molecules. All these genes are induced in iron deprivation. In addition, it has been observed that Paracoccidioides spp. are able to use siderophores to scavenge iron. Here we observed that addition of the xenosiderophore ferrioxamine B FOB) to P. brasiliensis culture medium results in repression (at RNA and protein levels) of the SidA, the first enzyme of the siderophore biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, SidA activity was reduced in the presence of FOB, suggesting that P. brasiliensis blocks siderophores biosynthesis and can explore siderophores in the environment to scavenge iron. In order to support the importance of siderophores on Paracoccidioides sp. life and infection cycle, silenced mutants for the sidA gene were obtained by antisense RNA technology. The obtained AsSidA strains displayed decreased siderophore biosynthesis in iron deprivation conditions and reduced virulence to an invertebrate model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marielle Garcia Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900 Brazil
| | - Juliana Santana de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Mirelle Garcia Silva-Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Raisa Melo Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Mariana Vieira Tomazett
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Aparecido Ferreira de Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | | | - 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
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICB II, Campus II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brazil
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12
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Abstract
Studies on the effects of components derived from the human pathogenic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis have identified paracoccin (PCN), as a bifunctional protein with lectin (GlcNAc-binding) and enzymatic (chitinase) activities, able to induce modulation of host immune response. Endogenous PCN acts as a fungal virulence factor, whereas exogenous purified PCN, administered to the host, confers protective immunity in a murine model of paracoccidioidomycosis. The immunomodulation induced by purified-PCN injection has characterized it as an agent applicable in the therapy and vaccine against paracoccidioidomycosis. This section describes methods for PCN purification and validation of its lectin and enzymatic activities. It includes detailed protocols to obtain homogeneous PCN from P. brasiliensis yeasts, as well as to purify recombinant PCN from transformed heterologous microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayla de Souza Pitangui
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freitas Fernandes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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13
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Nora LC, Gonçales RA, Martins-Santana L, Ferreira BH, Rodrigues F, Silva-Rocha R. Synthetic and minimalist vectors for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of fungi. Genet Mol Biol 2019; 42:395-398. [PMID: 31259357 PMCID: PMC6726164 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2018-0221] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a collection of minimalist binary vectors for transformation through
ATMT applicable to several fungi species. pLUO plasmid binary vectors consist of
a reporter module containing fluorescent proteins, mCherry or eGFP, flanked by a
multiple cloning site and a transcription terminator site. They also present a
synthetic gene allowing resistance to Hygromicin B flanked by alternate
promoters, one for yeast and another for filamentous fungi. Left and right
borders were added for Agrobacterium tumefaciens recognition,
and a minimal broad-host range RK2 replication origin. Transformation was
validated in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides lutzii.
Hence, we developed an efficient and reliable molecular tool for fungal
transformation: minimalist, synthetic, modular, and available in four different
versions, and these can still be readily modified using a few primers and few
cloning steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Czamanski Nora
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Departmento de Biologia Celular e Molecular Biology e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeião Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Immunochemistry and Glycobiology Laboratory, Departmento de Biologia Celular e Molecular Biology e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeião Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Martins-Santana
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Departmento de Biologia Celular e Molecular Biology e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeião Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Henriques Ferreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Departmento de Biologia Celular e Molecular Biology e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeião Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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14
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Oliveira RSD, Cunha RC, Moraes-Filho J, Gonçales RA, Lara APDSSD, Avila LFDCD, Labruna MB, Leite FPL. Recombinant gp19 as a potential antigen for detecting anti-Ehrlichia canis antibodies in dog sera. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2015; 24:290-7. [PMID: 26291145 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612015055] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia canis, is endemic in several regions of Brazil. Some serological diagnostic techniques using immunodominant proteins of E. canis as antigens are available, but their specificities and sensitivities are questionable. Based on this, the objective of this study was to test the antigenic potential of the recombinant gp19 protein (rGP19) for subsequent use in diagnostic tests. The rGP19 expressed in the Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) C41 was recognized in the sera from experimentally infected dogs using ELISA and Western blotting. Thus, it was possible to obtain a promising antigen with the ability to differentiate between E. canis-positive and -negative animals, even 1 week after infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jonas Moraes-Filho
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR
| | | | | | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR
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da Silva Pinto L, Gonçales RA, Conceição FR, Knabah PF, Borsuk S, Campos VF, Arruda FV, Leite FPL. Stability, oviposition attraction, and larvicidal activity of binary toxin from Bacillus sphaericus expressed in Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2011; 95:1235-41. [PMID: 22202967 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-011-3808-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus sphaericus produces a two-chain binary toxin composed of BinA (42 kDa) and BinB (51 kDa), which are deposited as parasporal crystals during sporulation. The toxin is highly active against Culex larvae and Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes, which are the principal vectors for the transmission of malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and dengue. The use of B. sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis in mosquito control programs is limited by their sedimentation in still water. In this study, the binA and binB genes were cloned and the recombinant BinAB protein was expressed in three strains of Escherichia coli. These recombinant strains were used in a toxicity assay against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The highest expression level was achieved when both proteins were expressed in a single operon construct. The BinAB protein expressed in the E. coli Arctic strain showed higher larvicidal activity than either of the recombinant proteins from the E. coli Ril or pLysS strains. Furthermore, it had the highest oviposition attraction (49.1%, P < 0.05). These data suggest that biologically active recombinant BinA and BinB toxins might be useful in mosquito control programs, delivered by inactivated bacterial cells or in traps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano da Silva Pinto
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo Biotecnologia, UFPel, Campus Universitário, s/n, Caixa Postal 354, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
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