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Osorio-Concepción M, Lax C, Lorenzo-Gutiérrez D, Cánovas-Márquez JT, Tahiri G, Navarro E, Binder U, Nicolás FE, Garre V. H3K4 methylation regulates development, DNA repair, and virulence in Mucorales. IMA Fungus 2024; 15:6. [PMID: 38481304 PMCID: PMC10938801 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00136-3] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are basal fungi that opportunistically cause a potentially fatal infection known as mucormycosis (black fungus disease), which poses a significant threat to human health due to its high mortality rate and its recent association with SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the other hand, histone methylation is a regulatory mechanism with pleiotropic effects, including the virulence of several pathogenic fungi. However, the role of epigenetic changes at the histone level never has been studied in Mucorales. Here, we dissected the functional role of Set1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of H3K4, which is associated with the activation of gene transcription and virulence. A comparative analysis of the Mucor lusitanicus genome (previously known as Mucor circinelloides f. lusitanicus) identified only one homolog of Set1 from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that contains the typical SET domain. Knockout strains in the gene set1 lacked H3K4 monomethylation, dimethylation, and trimethylation enzymatic activities. These strains also showed a significant reduction in vegetative growth and sporulation. Additionally, set1 null strains were more sensitive to SDS, EMS, and UV light, indicating severe impairment in the repair process of the cell wall and DNA lesions and a correlation between Set1 and these processes. During pathogen-host interactions, strains lacking the set1 gene exhibited shortened polar growth within the phagosome and attenuated virulence both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that the histone methyltransferase Set1 coordinates several cell processes related to the pathogenesis of M. lusitanicus and may be an important target for future therapeutic strategies against mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macario Osorio-Concepción
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Damaris Lorenzo-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Ghizlane Tahiri
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Eusebio Navarro
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Francisco Esteban Nicolás
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Scheler J, Binder U. Alternative in-vivo models of mucormycosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1343834. [PMID: 38362495 PMCID: PMC10867140 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1343834] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is still regarded a rare fungal infection, but the high incidences of COVID-associated cases in India and other countries have shown its potential threat to large patient cohorts. In addition, infections by these fast-growing fungi are often fatal and cause disfigurement, badly affecting patients' lives. In advancing our understanding of pathogenicity factors involved in this disease, to enhance the diagnostic toolset and to evaluate novel treatment regimes, animal models are indispensable. As ethical and practical considerations typically favor the use of alternative model systems, this review provides an overview of alternative animal models employed for mucormycosis and discusses advantages and limitations of the respective model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
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Patiño-Medina JA, Alejandre-Castañeda V, Valle-Maldonado MI, Martínez-Pacheco MM, Ruiz-Herrera LF, Ramírez-Emiliano J, Ramírez-Marroquín OA, Castro-Cerritos KV, Campos-García J, Ramírez-Díaz MI, Garre V, Binder U, Meza-Carmen V. Blood Serum Stimulates the Virulence Potential of Mucorales through Enhancement in Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism and Rhizoferrin Production. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1127. [PMID: 38132728 PMCID: PMC10744254 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121127] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This study analyzed the role of blood serum in enhancing the mitochondrial metabolism and virulence of Mucorales through rhizoferrin secretion. We observed that the spores of clinically relevant Mucorales produced in the presence of serum exhibited higher virulence in a heterologous infection model of Galleria mellonella. Cell-free supernatants of the culture broth obtained from spores produced in serum showed increased toxicity against Caenorhabditis elegans, which was linked with the enhanced secretion of rhizoferrin. Spores from Mucoralean species produced or germinated in serum showed increased respiration rates and reactive oxygen species levels. The addition of non-lethal concentrations of potassium cyanide and N-acetylcysteine during the aerobic or anaerobic growth of Mucorales decreased the toxicity of the cell-free supernatants of the culture broth, suggesting that mitochondrial metabolism is important for serum-induced virulence. In support of this hypothesis, a mutant strain of Mucor lusitanicus that lacks fermentation and solely relies on oxidative metabolism exhibited virulence levels comparable to those of the wild-type strain under serum-induced conditions. Contrary to the lower virulence observed, even in the serum, the ADP-ribosylation factor-like 2 deletion strain exhibited decreased mitochondrial activity. Moreover, spores produced in the serum of M. lusitanicus and Rhizopus arrhizus that grew in the presence of a mitophagy inducer showed low virulence. These results suggest that serum-induced mitochondrial activity increases rhizoferrin levels, making Mucorales more virulent.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alberto Patiño-Medina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | - Viridiana Alejandre-Castañeda
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | | | - Mauro Manuel Martínez-Pacheco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | - León Francisco Ruiz-Herrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | | | | | | | - Jesús Campos-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | - Martha Isela Ramírez-Díaz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Víctor Meza-Carmen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58030, Mexico; (J.A.P.-M.); (V.A.-C.); (M.M.M.-P.); (L.F.R.-H.); (J.C.-G.); (M.I.R.-D.)
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Daneshnia F, Arastehfar A, Lombardi L, Binder U, Scheler J, Vahedi Shahandashti R, Hagen F, Lass-Flörl C, Mansour MK, Butler G, Perlin DS. Candida parapsilosis isolates carrying mutations outside FKS1 hotspot regions confer high echinocandin tolerance and facilitate the development of echinocandin resistance. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2023; 62:106831. [PMID: 37121442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Candida parapsilosis is a significant cause of candidemia worldwide. Echinocandin-resistant (ECR) and echinocandin-tolerant (ECT) C. parapsilosis isolates have been reported in various countries but are rare. Resistance and tolerance are predominantly caused by mutations related to the hotspot (HS) regions of the FKS1 gene. A relatively high proportion of clinical C. parapsilosis isolates carrying mutations outside the HS regions has been noted in some studies, but an association with echinocandin (EC) resistance or tolerance was not explored. Herein, CRISPR-Cas9 was used and the association between amino acid substitution in FKS1 outside HS 1/2 (V595I, S745L, M1328I, F1386S, and A1422G) with EC susceptibility profile was delineated. None of the mutations conferred EC resistance, but they resulted in a significantly higher level of EC tolerance than the parental isolate, ATCC 22019. When incubated on agar plates containing ECs, specifically caspofungin and micafungin, ECR colonies were exclusively observed among ECT isolates, particularly mutants carrying V595I, S745L, and F1386S. Additionally, mutants had significantly better growth rates in yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) and YPD containing agents inducing membrane and oxidative stresses. The mutants had a trivial fitness cost in the Galleria mellonella model relative to ATCC 22019. Collectively, this study supports epidemiological studies to catalog mutations occurring outside the HS regions of FKS1, even if they do not confer EC resistance. These mutations are important as they potentially confer a higher level of EC tolerance and a higher propensity to develop EC resistance, therefore unveiling a novel mechanism of EC tolerance in C. parapsilosis. The identification of EC tolerance in C. parapsilosis may have direct clinical benefit in patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Daneshnia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Arastehfar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Lisa Lombardi
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob Scheler
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roya Vahedi Shahandashti
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands; Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, 3584CT, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael K Mansour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
| | - Geraldine Butler
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David S Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07710, USA; Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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5
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Daneshnia F, Hilmioğlu-Polat S, Ilkit M, Fuentes D, Lombardi L, Binder U, Scheler J, Hagen F, Mansour MK, Butler G, Lass-Flörl C, Gabaldon T, Arastehfar A. Whole-genome sequencing confirms a persistent candidaemia clonal outbreak due to multidrug-resistant Candida parapsilosis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023:7143692. [PMID: 37100456 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although perceived as a rare clinical entity, recent studies have noted the emergence of MDR C. parapsilosis (MDR-Cp) isolates from single patients (resistant to both azole and echinocandins). We previously reported a case series of MDR-Cp isolates carrying a novel FKS1R658G mutation. Herein, we identified an echinocandin-naive patient infected with MDR-Cp a few months after the previously described isolates. WGS and CRISPR-Cas9 editing were used to explore the origin of the new MDR-Cp isolates, and to determine if the novel mutation confers echinocandin resistance. METHODS WGS was applied to assess the clonality of these isolates and CRISPR-Cas9 editing and a Galleria mellonella model were used to examine whether FKS1R658G confers echinocandin resistance. RESULTS Fluconazole treatment failed, and the patient was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B (LAMB). WGS proved that all historical and novel MDR-Cp strains were clonal and distant from the fluconazole-resistant outbreak cluster in the same hospital. CRISPR-Cas9 editing and G. mellonella virulence assays confirmed that FKS1R658G confers echinocandin resistance in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the FKS1R658G mutant showed a very modest fitness cost compared with the parental WT strain, consistent with the persistence of the MDR-Cp cluster in our hospital. CONCLUSIONS Our study showcases the emergence of MDR-Cp isolates as a novel threat in clinical settings, which undermines the efficacy of the two most widely used antifungal drugs against candidiasis, leaving only LAMB as a last resort. Additionally, surveillance studies and WGS are warranted to effectively establish infection control and antifungal stewardship strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Daneshnia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114USA
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
| | | | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Diego Fuentes
- Comparative Genomics group, Life Sciences department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Carrer de Jordi Girona, 29, 31, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Comparative Genomics group, Mechanisms of Disease Programme, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Carrer Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lisa Lombardi
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob Scheler
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, 3584CT, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Michael K Mansour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115USA
| | - Geraldine Butler
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Toni Gabaldon
- Comparative Genomics group, Life Sciences department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Carrer de Jordi Girona, 29, 31, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Comparative Genomics group, Mechanisms of Disease Programme, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Carrer Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amir Arastehfar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115USA
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Friedrich L, Kikuchi Y, Matsuda Y, Binder U, Skerra A. Efficient secretory production of proline/alanine/serine (PAS) biopolymers in Corynebacterium glutamicum yielding a monodisperse biological alternative to polyethylene glycol (PEG). Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:227. [PMID: 36307781 PMCID: PMC9616612 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01948-5] [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: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background PAS biopolymers are recombinant polypeptides comprising the small uncharged l-amino acids Pro, Ala and/or Ser which resemble the widely used poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) in terms of pronounced hydrophilicity. Likewise, their random chain behaviour in physiological solution results in a strongly expanded hydrodynamic volume. Thus, apart from their use as fusion partner for biopharmaceuticals to achieve prolonged half-life in vivo, PAS biopolymers appear attractive as substitute for PEG—or other poorly degradable chemical polymers—in many areas. As a prerequisite for the wide application of PAS biopolymers at affordable cost, we have established their highly efficient biotechnological production in Corynebacterium glutamicum serving as a well characterized bacterial host organism. Results Using the CspA signal sequence, we have secreted two representative PAS biopolymers as polypeptides with ~ 600 and ~ 1200 amino acid residues, respectively. Both PAS biopolymers were purified from the culture supernatant by means of a simple downstream process in a truly monodisperse state as evidenced by ESI–MS. Yields after purification were up to ≥ 4 g per liter culture, with potential for further increase by strain optimization as well as fermentation and bioprocess development. Beyond direct application as hydrocolloids or to exploit their rheological properties, such PAS biopolymers are suitable for site-specific chemical conjugation with pharmacologically active molecules via their unique terminal amino or carboxyl groups. To enable the specific activation of the carboxylate, without interference by the free amino group, we generated a blocked N-terminus for the PAS(1200) polypeptide simply by introducing an N-terminal Gln residue which, after processing of the signal peptide, was cyclised to a chemically inert pyroglutamyl group upon acid treatment. The fact that PAS biopolymers are genetically encoded offers further conjugation strategies via incorporation of amino acids with reactive side chains (e.g., Cys, Lys, Glu/Asp) at defined positions. Conclusions Our new PAS expression platform using Corynex® technology opens the way to applications of PASylation® technology in multiple areas such as the pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics and food technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Friedrich
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Strasse 30, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Y Kikuchi
- Research Institute for Bioscience Products & Fine Chemicals, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 1-1 Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-8681, Japan
| | - Y Matsuda
- Research Institute for Bioscience Products & Fine Chemicals, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 1-1 Suzuki-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-8681, Japan
| | - U Binder
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Strasse 30, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - A Skerra
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Strasse 30, 85354, Freising, Germany. .,Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, 85354, Freising, Germany.
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Shahandashti RV, Binder U, Houbraken J, Lass-Flörl C. P384 Characterization of the virulence potential of Aspergillus species of section Terrei in Galleria mellonella infection model. Med Mycol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9509976 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac072.p384] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Objectives Species belonging to the genus of Aspergillus are among the most common causative agents of human and animal infections. Less than 40 species among all Aspergillus species are known to be associated with human infections, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive aspergillosis. And of these, Aspergillus section Fumigati is one of the major infectious causes of death, followed by members of sections Flavi, Nigri, and Terrei. Aspergillus species in section Terrei are categorized into three series: Ambigui, Nivei, and Terrei. A. terreus sensu stricto is the first species described and the most common species found worldwide in different ecological habitats. However, there are several other species within the section Terrei, stating cryptic species which are not distinguished by conventional morphological analysis, even though they are taxonomically accepted by forming a distinctive phylogenetic clade. Despite definitive species identification, there is still less known about the virulence potential of all species in this section, and it might be underestimated because of their lack of distinction by conventional diagnostic methods. In this ongoing study, the in vivo Galleria mellonella model has been utilized to examine the inter-and/or intraspecies virulence dependency of section Terrei. Methods A total of 18 accepted Aspergillus species in section Terrei (n = 18) were tested, including A. terreus sensu stricto, A. citrinoterreus, A. hortae, A. pseudoterreus, A. alabamensis, A. aureoterreus, A. floccosus, A. iranicus, A. recifensis, A. carneus, A. microcysticus, A. niveus, A. bicephalus, A. neoindicus, A. neoafricanus, A. barbosae, A. ambiguus, and A. allahabadii. Species were identified by sequencing gene regions of b-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA Polymerase II Subunit 2 (RPB2). Briefly, groups of larvae (n = 30) (0.3 to 0.4 g; SAGIP, Italy) were stored in wood shavings in the dark at 18°C for 24 h before the experiment. Three groups were included: larvae infected with 107 conidia/larva, larvae injected with 20 μL sterile insect physiological saline, and untouched larvae. The survival rate was monitored for up to 144 h at 37°C. Results Median survival rates revealed a species-dependent virulence pattern. Larvae inoculated with A. aureoterreus, A. pseudoterreus (Serie Terrei) and A. niveus, A. carneus, and A. iranicus (Serie Nivei) exhibited high virulence potential by reflecting lower survival rates in comparison with other species. In contrast, species belonging to the series Ambigui showed low virulence potential. Conclusion In conclusion, the virulence characteristics of section Terrei differ between species. Further studies are needed to unravel the species' invasiveness, such as histopathology and immune response of G. mellonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Vahedi Shahandashti
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Jos Houbraken
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute , Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria
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Curtis A, Binder U, Kavanagh K. Galleria mellonella Larvae as a Model for Investigating Fungal-Host Interactions. Front Fungal Biol 2022; 3:893494. [PMID: 37746216 PMCID: PMC10512315 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.893494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Galleria mellonella larvae have become a widely accepted and utilised infection model due to the functional homology displayed between their immune response to infection and that observed in the mammalian innate immune response. Due to these similarities, comparable results to murine studies can be obtained using G. mellonella larvae in assessing the virulence of fungal pathogens and the in vivo toxicity or efficacy of anti-fungal agents. This coupled with their low cost, rapid generation of results, and lack of ethical/legal considerations make this model very attractive for analysis of host-pathogen interactions. The larvae of G. mellonella have successfully been utilised to analyse various fungal virulence factors including toxin and enzyme production in vivo providing in depth analysis of the processes involved in the establishment and progression of fungal pathogens (e.g., Candida spps, Aspergillus spp., Madurella mycetomatis, Mucormycetes, and Cryptococcus neoformans). A variety of experimental endpoints can be employed including analysis of fungal burdens, alterations in haemocyte density or sub-populations, melanisation, and characterisation of infection progression using proteomic, histological or imaging techniques. Proteomic analysis can provide insights into both sides of the host-pathogen interaction with each respective proteome being analysed independently following infection and extraction of haemolymph from the larvae. G. mellonella can also be employed for assessing the efficacy and toxicity of antifungal strategies at concentrations comparable to those used in mammals allowing for early stage investigation of novel compounds and combinations of established therapeutic agents. These numerous applications validate the model for examination of fungal infection and development of therapeutic approaches in vivo in compliance with the need to reduce animal models in biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Curtis
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
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Pfister J, Petrik M, Bendova K, Matuszczak B, Binder U, Misslinger M, Kühbacher A, Gsaller F, Haas H, Decristoforo C. Antifungal Siderophore Conjugates for Theranostic Applications in Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Using Low-Molecular TAFC Scaffolds. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:558. [PMID: 34356941 PMCID: PMC8304796 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070558] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening form of fungal infection, primarily in immunocompromised patients and associated with significant mortality. Diagnostic procedures are often invasive and/or time consuming and existing antifungals can be constrained by dose-limiting toxicity and drug interaction. In this study, we modified triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), the main siderophore produced by the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), with antifungal molecules to perform antifungal susceptibility tests and molecular imaging. A variation of small organic molecules (eflornithine, fludioxonil, thiomersal, fluoroorotic acid (FOA), cyanine 5 (Cy5) with antifungal activity were coupled to diacetylfusarinine C (DAFC), resulting in a "Trojan horse" to deliver antifungal compounds specifically into A. fumigatus hyphae by the major facilitator transporter MirB. Radioactive labeling with gallium-68 allowed us to perform in vitro characterization (distribution coefficient, stability, uptake assay) as well as biodistribution experiments and PET/CT imaging in an IPA rat infection model. Compounds chelated with stable gallium were used for antifungal susceptibility tests. [Ga]DAFC-fludioxonil, -FOA, and -Cy5 revealed a MirB-dependent active uptake with fungal growth inhibition at 16 µg/mL after 24 h. Visualization of an A. fumigatus infection in lungs of a rat was possible with gallium-68-labeled compounds using PET/CT. Heterogeneous biodistribution patterns revealed the immense influence of the antifungal moiety conjugated to DAFC. Overall, novel antifungal siderophore conjugates with promising fungal growth inhibition and the possibility to perform PET imaging combine both therapeutic and diagnostic potential in a theranostic compound for IPA caused by A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Pfister
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Milos Petrik
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77200 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (K.B.)
| | - Katerina Bendova
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77200 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (K.B.)
| | - Barbara Matuszczak
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Matthias Misslinger
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Alexander Kühbacher
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Clemens Decristoforo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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10
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Hassan MIA, Keller M, Hillger M, Binder U, Reuter S, Herold K, Telagathoti A, Dahse HM, Wicht S, Trinks N, Nietzsche S, Deckert-Gaudig T, Deckert V, Mrowka R, Terpitz U, Peter Saluz H, Voigt K. The impact of episporic modification of Lichtheimia corymbifera on virulence and interaction with phagocytes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:880-896. [PMID: 33598103 PMCID: PMC7851798 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.023] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections caused by the ancient lineage Mucorales are emerging and increasingly reported in humans. Comprehensive surveys on promising attributes from a multitude of possible virulence factors are limited and so far, focused on Mucor and Rhizopus. This study addresses a systematic approach to monitor phagocytosis after physical and enzymatic modification of the outer spore wall of Lichtheimia corymbifera, one of the major causative agents of mucormycosis. Episporic modifications were performed and their consequences on phagocytosis, intracellular survival and virulence by murine alveolar macrophages and in an invertebrate infection model were elucidated. While depletion of lipids did not affect the phagocytosis of both strains, delipidation led to attenuation of LCA strain but appears to be dispensable for infection with LCV strain in the settings used in this study. Combined glucano-proteolytic treatment was necessary to achieve a significant decrease of virulence of the LCV strain in Galleria mellonella during maintenance of the full potential for spore germination as shown by a novel automated germination assay. Proteolytic and glucanolytic treatments largely increased phagocytosis compared to alive resting and swollen spores. Whilst resting spores barely (1–2%) fuse to lysosomes after invagination in to phagosomes, spore trypsinization led to a 10-fold increase of phagolysosomal fusion as measured by intracellular acidification. This is the first report of a polyphasic measurement of the consequences of episporic modification of a mucormycotic pathogen in spore germination, spore surface ultrastructure, phagocytosis, stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), phagolysosomal fusion and intracellular acidification, apoptosis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and virulence.
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Key Words
- AFM, Atomic Force Microscopy
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- CD14, Cluster of differentiation 14
- CFW, Calcofluor white
- Galleria mellonella
- HEK, human embryonic kidney
- HSI, Hyperspectral imaging
- Hyperspectral imaging (HIS)
- IPS, Insect physiological saline
- Intracellular survival
- LCA, Lichtheimia corymbifera attenuated
- LCV, Lichtheimia corymbifera virulent
- MD-2, Myeloid Differentiation factor 2
- MH-S, Murine alveolar macrophages
- MM6, Acute monocytic leukemia derived human monocyte Mono-Mac-6
- Monocytes
- NF-κB, Nuclear factor 'kappa-light-chain-enhancer' of activated B-cells
- PBS, Phosphate buffer saline solution
- PI, Phagocytosis index
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- TEM, Transmission Electron Microscopy
- TLRs, Toll like receptors
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed I Abdelwahab Hassan
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,Pests & Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre, 33rd El Buhouth St. (Postal code: 12622) Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Monique Keller
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Hillger
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41/2, 6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
| | - Stefanie Reuter
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany.,ThIMEDOP-Thüringer Innovationszentrum für Medizintechnik-Lösungen, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Kristina Herold
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Anusha Telagathoti
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Dahse
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Saiedeh Wicht
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nora Trinks
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sandor Nietzsche
- Elektronenmikroskopisches Zentrum, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Tanja Deckert-Gaudig
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Deckert
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller University, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Institute of Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4242, USA
| | - Ralf Mrowka
- Experimental Nephrology Group, KIM III, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany.,ThIMEDOP-Thüringer Innovationszentrum für Medizintechnik-Lösungen, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Terpitz
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Biocenter - Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hans Peter Saluz
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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11
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Binder U, Arastehfar A, Schnegg L, Hörtnagl C, Hilmioğlu-Polat S, Perlin DS, Lass-Flörl C. Efficacy of LAMB against Emerging Azole- and Multidrug-Resistant Candida parapsilosis Isolates in the Galleria mellonella Model. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E377. [PMID: 33353200 PMCID: PMC7767002 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While being the third leading cause of candidemia worldwide, numerous studies have shown severe clonal outbreaks due to fluconazole-resistant (FLCR) Candida parapsilosis isolates associated with fluconazole therapeutic failure (FTF) with enhanced mortality. More recently, multidrug resistant (MDR) C. parapsilosis blood isolates have also been identified that are resistant to both azole and echinocandin drugs. Amphotericin B (AMB) resistance is rarely reported among C. parapsilosis isolates and proper management of bloodstream infections due to FLZR and MDR isolates requires prompt action at the time of outbreak. Therefore, using a well-established Galleria mellonella model, we assessed whether (a) laboratory-based findings on azole or echinocandin (micafungin) resistance in C. parapsilosis lead to therapeutic failure, (b) LAMB could serve as an efficient salvage treatment option, and (c) distinct mutations in ERG11 impact mortality. Our in vivo data confirm fluconazole inefficacy against FLCR C. parapsilosis isolates carrying Y132F, Y132F + K143R, Y132F + G307A, and G307A + G458S in Erg11p, while LAMB proved to be an efficacious accessible option against both FLCR and MDR C. parapsilosis isolates. Moreover, positive correlation of in vitro and in vivo data further highlights the utility of G. melonella as a reliable model to investigate azole and polyene drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (L.S.); (C.H.); (C.L.-F.)
| | - Amir Arastehfar
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; (A.A.); (D.S.P.)
| | - Lisa Schnegg
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (L.S.); (C.H.); (C.L.-F.)
| | - Caroline Hörtnagl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (L.S.); (C.H.); (C.L.-F.)
| | | | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; (A.A.); (D.S.P.)
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (L.S.); (C.H.); (C.L.-F.)
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12
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Orasch T, Dietl AM, Shadkchan Y, Binder U, Bauer I, Lass-Flörl C, Osherov N, Haas H. The leucine biosynthetic pathway is crucial for adaptation to iron starvation and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2020; 10:925-934. [PMID: 31694453 PMCID: PMC6844326 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1682760] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to mammalia, fungi are able to synthesize the branched-chain amino acid leucine de novo. Recently, the transcription factor LeuB has been shown to cross-regulate leucine biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and iron homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common human mold pathogen. Moreover, the leucine biosynthetic pathway intermediate α-isopropylmalate (α-IPM) has previously been shown to posttranslationally activate LeuB homologs in S. cerevisiae and A. nidulans. Here, we demonstrate that in A. fumigatus inactivation of both leucine biosynthetic enzymes α-IPM synthase (LeuC), which disrupts α-IPM synthesis, and α-IPM isomerase (LeuA), which causes cellular α-IPM accumulation, results in leucine auxotrophy. However, compared to lack of LeuA, lack of LeuC resulted in increased leucine dependence, a growth defect during iron starvation and decreased expression of LeuB-regulated genes including genes involved in iron acquisition. Lack of either LeuA or LeuC decreased virulence in an insect infection model, and inactivation of LeuC rendered A. fumigatus avirulent in a pulmonary aspergillosis mouse model. Taken together, we demonstrate that the lack of two leucine biosynthetic enzymes, LeuA and LeuC, results in significant phenotypic consequences indicating that the regulator LeuB is activated by α-IPM in A. fumigatus and that the leucine biosynthetic pathway is an attractive target for the development of antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Orasch
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna-Maria Dietl
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ingo Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nir Osherov
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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13
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Dietl AM, Binder U, Bauer I, Shadkchan Y, Osherov N, Haas H. Arginine Auxotrophy Affects Siderophore Biosynthesis and Attenuates Virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040423. [PMID: 32326414 PMCID: PMC7231135 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human pathogen mainly infecting immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of arginine biosynthesis in virulence of A. fumigatus via genetic inactivation of two key arginine biosynthetic enzymes, the bifunctional acetylglutamate synthase/ornithine acetyltransferase (argJ/AFUA_5G08120) and the ornithine carbamoyltransferase (argB/AFUA_4G07190). Arginine biosynthesis is intimately linked to the biosynthesis of ornithine, a precursor for siderophore production that has previously been shown to be essential for virulence in A. fumigatus. ArgJ is of particular interest as it is the only arginine biosynthetic enzyme lacking mammalian homologs. Inactivation of either ArgJ or ArgB resulted in arginine auxotrophy. Lack of ArgJ, which is essential for mitochondrial ornithine biosynthesis, significantly decreased siderophore production during limited arginine supply with glutamine as nitrogen source, but not with arginine as sole nitrogen source. In contrast, siderophore production reached wild-type levels under both growth conditions in ArgB null strains. These data indicate that siderophore biosynthesis is mainly fueled by mitochondrial ornithine production during limited arginine availability, but by cytosolic ornithine production during high arginine availability via cytosolic arginine hydrolysis. Lack of ArgJ or ArgB attenuated virulence of A. fumigatus in the insect model Galleria mellonella and in murine models for invasive aspergillosis, indicating limited arginine availability in the investigated host niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Dietl
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (A.-M.D.); (I.B.)
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Ingo Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (A.-M.D.); (I.B.)
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine Ramat-Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel; (Y.S.); (N.O.)
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine Ramat-Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel; (Y.S.); (N.O.)
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (A.-M.D.); (I.B.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Lackner M, Obermair J, Naschberger V, Raschbichler LM, Kandelbauer C, Pallua J, Metzlaff J, Furxer S, Lass-Flörl C, Binder U. Cryptic species of Aspergillus section Terrei display essential physiological features to cause infection and are similar in their virulence potential in Galleria mellonella. Virulence 2020; 10:542-554. [PMID: 31169442 PMCID: PMC6592363 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1614382] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus species account for the majority of invasive mold infections in immunocompromised patients. Most commonly, members of the Aspergillus section Fumigati are isolated from clinical material, followed by isolates belonging to section Terrei. The section Terrei contains 16 accepted species. Six species were found to be of clinical relevance and studied for differences in growth adaptability and virulence potential. Therefore, a set of 73 isolates (22 A. terreus s.s., 8 A. alabamensis, 27 A. citrinoterreus, 2 A. floccosus, 13 A. hortai, and 1 A. neoafricanus) was studied to determine differences in (a) germination kinetics, (b) temperature tolerance, (c) oxygen stress tolerance (1% O2), and (d) a combination of the latter two. Virulence potential of phialidic (PC) and accessory conidia (AC) was studied in G. mellonella larvae, using survival as read out. Further, the formation of AC was evaluated in larval tissue. All isolates were able to grow at elevated temperature and hypoxia, with highest growth and germination rates at 37°C. A. terreus s.s., A. citrinoterreus, and A. hortai exhibited highest growth rates. Virulence potential in larvae was inoculum and temperature dependent. All species except A. floccosus formed AC and germination kinetics of AC was variable. Significantly higher virulence potential of AC was found for one A. hortai isolate. AC could be detected in larval tissue 96 h post infection. Based on these findings, cryptic species of section Terrei are well adapted to the host environment and have similar potential to cause infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Lackner
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Judith Obermair
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Verena Naschberger
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | | | - Carmen Kandelbauer
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Johannes Pallua
- b Department of Pathology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Julia Metzlaff
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Sibylle Furxer
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology , Medical University Innsbruck , Austria
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15
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Bauer I, Gross S, Merschak P, Kremser L, Karahoda B, Bayram ÖS, Abt B, Binder U, Gsaller F, Lindner H, Bayram Ö, Brosch G, Graessle S. RcLS2F - A Novel Fungal Class 1 KDAC Co-repressor Complex in Aspergillus nidulans. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:43. [PMID: 32117098 PMCID: PMC7010864 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00043] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal class 1 lysine deacetylase (KDAC) RpdA is a promising target for prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infection. RpdA is essential for survival of the most common air-borne mold pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. In A. nidulans, RpdA depletion induced production of previously unknown small bioactive substances. As known from yeasts and mammals, class 1 KDACs act as components of multimeric protein complexes, which previously was indicated also for A. nidulans. Composition of these complexes, however, remained obscure. In this study, we used tandem affinity purification to characterize different RpdA complexes and their composition in A. nidulans. In addition to known class 1 KDAC interactors, we identified a novel RpdA complex, which was termed RcLS2F. It contains ScrC, previously described as suppressor of the transcription factor CrzA, as well as the uncharacterized protein FscA. We show that recruitment of FscA depends on ScrC and we provide clear evidence that ΔcrzA suppression by ScrC depletion is due to a lack of transcriptional repression caused by loss of the novel RcLS2F complex. Moreover, RcLS2F is essential for sexual development and engaged in an autoregulatory feed-back loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Silke Gross
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Petra Merschak
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Leopold Kremser
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Betim Karahoda
- Biology Department, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | | | - Beate Abt
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Biology Department, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Gerald Brosch
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Graessle
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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16
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Maurer E, Aigner M, Lass-Flörl C, Binder U. Hypoxia Decreases Diagnostic Biomarkers for Aspergillosis In Vitro. J Fungi (Basel) 2019; 5:jof5030061. [PMID: 31336719 PMCID: PMC6787614 DOI: 10.3390/jof5030061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of hypoxia on galactomannan and (1,3)-β-d-glucan release of clinically relevant Aspergilli in vitro. Hypoxia decreased biomass and consequently led to lower biomarker release. However, when normalized to biomass, hypoxia led to increased levels of biomarkers at early growth stages (24 h). Antifungals (amphotericin B and voriconazole) decreased the galactomannan amount of A. fumigatus, even more prominently in hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Maurer
- Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Aigner
- Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Morio F, Lombardi L, Binder U, Loge C, Robert E, Graessle D, Bodin M, Lass-Flörl C, Butler G, Le Pape P. Precise genome editing using a CRISPR-Cas9 method highlights the role of CoERG11 amino acid substitutions in azole resistance in Candida orthopsilosis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 74:2230-2238. [DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundAzoles are one of the main antifungal classes for the treatment of candidiasis. In the current context of emerging drug resistance, most studies have focused on Candida albicans, Candida glabrata or Candida auris but, so far, less is known about the underlying mechanisms of resistance in other species, including Candida orthopsilosis.ObjectivesWe investigated azole resistance in a C. orthopsilosis clinical isolate recovered from a patient with haematological malignancy receiving fluconazole prophylaxis.MethodsAntifungal susceptibility to fluconazole was determined in vitro (CLSI M27-A3) and in vivo (in a Galleria mellonella model of invasive candidiasis). The CoERG11 gene was then sequenced and amino acid substitutions identified were mapped on the predicted 3D structure of CoErg11p. A clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome-editing strategy was used to introduce relevant mutations into a fluconazole-susceptible C. orthopsilosis isolate.ResultsCompared with unrelated C. orthopsilosis isolates, the clinical isolate exhibited both in vitro and in vivo fluconazole resistance. Sequencing of the CoERG11 gene identified several amino acid substitutions, including two possibly involved in fluconazole resistance (L376I and G458S). Both mutations mapped close to the active site of CoErg11p. Engineering these mutations in a different genetic background using CRISPR-Cas9 demonstrated that G458S, but not L376I, confers resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole.ConclusionsOur data show that the G458S amino acid substitution in CoERG11p, but not L376I, contributes to azole resistance in C. orthopsilosis. In addition to highlighting the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology for precise genome editing in the field of antifungal resistance, we discuss some points that are critical to improving its efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Morio
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France
- Département de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Université de Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universités, EA1155 – IICiMed, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes, France
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lisa Lombardi
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
| | - Cédric Loge
- Département de Chimie Thérapeutique, Université de Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universités, EA1155 – IICiMed, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes, France
| | - Estelle Robert
- Département de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Université de Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universités, EA1155 – IICiMed, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes, France
| | - Denise Graessle
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
| | - Marine Bodin
- Département de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Université de Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universités, EA1155 – IICiMed, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes, France
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria
| | - Geraldine Butler
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrice Le Pape
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France
- Département de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Université de Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universités, EA1155 – IICiMed, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes, France
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Maurer E, Hörtnagl C, Lackner M, Grässle D, Naschberger V, Moser P, Segal E, Semis M, Lass-Flörl C, Binder U. Galleria mellonella as a model system to study virulence potential of mucormycetes and evaluation of antifungal treatment. Med Mycol 2019; 57:351-362. [PMID: 29924357 PMCID: PMC6398984 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [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: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucorales can cause cutaneous to deep-seated infections, mainly in the immunocompromised host, resulting in high mortality rates due to late and inefficient treatment. In this study, Galleria mellonella larvae were evaluated as a heterologous invertebrate host to study pathogenicity of clinically relevant mucormycetes (Rhizopus spp., Rhizomucor spp., Lichtheimia spp., Mucor spp.). All tested species were able to infect G. mellonella larvae. Virulence potential was species-specific and correlated to clinical relevance. Survival of infected larvae was dependent on (a) the species (growth speed and spore size), (b) the infection dose, (c) the incubation temperature, (d) oxidative stress tolerance, and (e) iron availability in the growth medium. Moreover, we exploited the G. mellonella system to determine antifungal efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and nystatin-intralipid. Outcome of in vivo treatment was strongly dependent upon the drug applied and the species tested. Nystatin-intralipid exhibited best activity against Mucorales, followed by posaconazole, while limited efficacy was seen for liposomal amphotericin B and isavuconazole. Pharmacokinetic properties of the tested antifungals within this alternative host system partly explain the limited treatment efficacy. In conclusion, G. mellonella represents a useful invertebrate infection model for studying virulence of mucormycetes, while evaluation of treatment response was limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Maurer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Caroline Hörtnagl
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Lackner
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Denise Grässle
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Naschberger
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrizia Moser
- Department of Pathology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Esther Segal
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Margarita Semis
- City of Hope, Beckman research Institute, Department of Molecular Immunology, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
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Kenno S, Speth C, Rambach G, Binder U, Chatterjee S, Caramalho R, Haas H, Lass-Flörl C, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Gow NAR, Orth-Höller D, Würzner R. Candida albicans Factor H Binding Molecule Hgt1p - A Low Glucose-Induced Transmembrane Protein Is Trafficked to the Cell Wall and Impairs Phagocytosis and Killing by Human Neutrophils. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3319. [PMID: 30697200 PMCID: PMC6340940 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement is a tightly controlled arm of the innate immune system, facilitating phagocytosis and killing of invading pathogens. Factor H (FH) is the main fluid-phase inhibitor of the alternative pathway. Many pathogens can hijack FH from the host and protect themselves from complement-dependent killing. Candida albicans is a clinically important opportunistic yeast, expressing different FH binding molecules on its cell surface, which allow complement evasion. One such FH binding molecule is the transmembrane protein "High affinity glucose transporter 1" (Hgt1p), involved in glucose metabolism. This study demonstrated that Hgt1p transcription and expression is induced and highest at the low, but physiological glucose concentration of 0.1%. Thus, this concentration was used throughout the study. We also demonstrated the transport of Hgt1p to the fungal cell wall surface by vesicle trafficking and its release by exosomes containing Hgt1p integrated in the vesicular membrane. We corroborated Hgt1p as FH binding molecule. A polyclonal anti-Hgt1p antibody was created which interfered with the binding of FH, present in normal human serum to the fungal cell wall. A chimeric molecule consisting of FH domains 6 and 7 fused to human IgG1 Fc (FH6.7/Fc) even more comprehensively blocked FH binding, likely because FH6.7/Fc diverted FH away from fungal FH ligands other than Hgt1p. Reduced FH binding to the yeast was associated with a concomitant increase in C3b/iC3b deposition and resulted in significantly increased in vitro phagocytosis and killing by human neutrophils. In conclusion, Hgt1p also exhibits non-canonical functions such as binding FH after its export to the cell wall. Blocking Hgt1p-FH interactions may represent a tool to enhance complement activation on the fungal surface to promote phagocytosis and killing of C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samyr Kenno
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Speth
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Günter Rambach
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sneha Chatterjee
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rita Caramalho
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jutamas Shaughnessy
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sanjay Ram
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Neil A R Gow
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothea Orth-Höller
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Würzner
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Dietl AM, Binder U, Shadkchan Y, Osherov N, Haas H. Siroheme Is Essential for Assimilation of Nitrate and Sulfate as Well as Detoxification of Nitric Oxide but Dispensable for Murine Virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2615. [PMID: 30483221 PMCID: PMC6240589 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The saprophytic mold Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common airborne fungal pathogen causing severe invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. Siroheme is a heme-like prosthetic group used by plants and microorganisms for sulfate and nitrate assimilation but is absent in higher eukaryotes. Here, we investigated the role of siroheme in A. fumigatus by deletion of the gene encoding the bifunctional dehydrogenase/ferrochelatase enzyme Met8. Met8-deficiency resulted in the inability to utilize sulfate and nitrate as sulfur and nitrogen sources, respectively. These results match previous data demonstrating that siroheme is an essential cofactor for nitrite and sulfite reductases. Moreover, Met8-deficiency caused significantly decreased resistance against nitric oxide (NO) underlining the importance of nitrite reductase in NO detoxification. Met8-deficiency did not affect virulence in murine models for invasive aspergillosis indicating that neither NO-detoxification nor assimilation of sulfate and nitrate play major roles in virulence in this host. Interestingly, Met8-deficiency resulted in mild virulence attenuation in the Galleria mellonella infection model revealing differences in interaction of A. fumigatus with G. mellonella and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Dietl
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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21
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Long N, Orasch T, Zhang S, Gao L, Xu X, Hortschansky P, Ye J, Zhang F, Xu K, Gsaller F, Straßburger M, Binder U, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA, Haas H, Lu L. The Zn2Cys6-type transcription factor LeuB cross-links regulation of leucine biosynthesis and iron acquisition in Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007762. [PMID: 30365497 PMCID: PMC6221358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Both branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and iron are essential nutrients for eukaryotic cells. Previously, the Zn2Cys6-type transcription factor Leu3/LeuB was shown to play a crucial role in regulation of BCAA biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus nidulans. In this study, we found that the A. fumigatus homolog LeuB is involved in regulation of not only BCAA biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism but also iron acquisition including siderophore metabolism. Lack of LeuB caused a growth defect, which was cured by supplementation with leucine or iron. Moreover, simultaneous inactivation of LeuB and HapX, a bZIP transcription factor required for adaptation to iron starvation, significantly aggravated the growth defect caused by inactivation of one of these regulators during iron starvation. In agreement with a direct role in regulation of both BCAA and iron metabolism, LeuB was found to bind to phylogenetically conserved motifs in promoters of genes involved in BCAA biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and iron acquisition in vitro and in vivo, and was required for full activation of their expression. Lack of LeuB also caused activation of protease activity and autophagy via leucine depletion. Moreover, LeuB inactivation resulted in virulence attenuation of A. fumigatus in Galleria mellonella. Taken together, this study identified a previously uncharacterized direct cross-regulation of BCCA biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and iron homeostasis as well as proteolysis. Adaptation to the host niche is an essential attribute of pathogens. Here we found that the Zn2Cys6-type transcription factor LeuB cross-regulates branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, iron acquisition via siderophores, and proteasome activity in the mold Aspergillus fumigatus. Lack of this regulatory circuit impaired virulence in an insect infection model. Mammals do neither express Zn2Cys6-type transcription factors nor have the capacity to produce branched-chain amino acids or siderophores. Consequently, this regulatory circuit is a paradigm for fungal pathogen-specific adaptation to the host niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanbiao Long
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, China
| | - Thomas Orasch
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Shizhu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoling Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Jing Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fenli Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Straßburger
- Transfer Group Anti-infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain, Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail: (HH); (LL)
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail: (HH); (LL)
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Kenno S, Speth C, Rambach G, Binder U, Grässle D, Striegel I, Chatterjee S, Caramalho R, Haas H, Lass-Flörl C, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Gow N, Orth-Höller D, Würzner R. C albicans FH binding molecule Hgt1p, a low glucose induced membrane protein trafficked to the cell wall impairing phagocytosis. Mol Immunol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.06.121] [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: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Lackner M, Birch M, Naschberger V, Grässle D, Beckmann N, Warn P, Gould J, Law D, Lass-Flörl C, Binder U. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor olorofim exhibits promising activity against all clinically relevant species within Aspergillus section Terrei. J Antimicrob Chemother 2018; 73:3068-3073. [DOI: 10.1093/jac/dky329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Lackner
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Verena Naschberger
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Denise Grässle
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Müller C, Neugebauer T, Zill P, Lass-Flörl C, Bracher F, Binder U. Sterol Composition of Clinically Relevant Mucorales and Changes Resulting from Posaconazole Treatment. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23051218. [PMID: 29783739 PMCID: PMC6100088 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23051218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are fungi with increasing importance in the clinics. Infections take a rapidly progressive course resulting in high mortality rates. The ergosterol biosynthesis pathway and sterol composition are of interest, since they are targeted by currently applied antifungal drugs. Nevertheless, Mucorales often exhibit resistance to these drugs, resulting in therapeutic failure. Here, sterol patterns of six clinically relevant Mucorales (Lichtheimia corymbifera, Lichtheimia ramosa, Mucor circinelloides, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Rhizopus microsporus) were analysed in a targeted metabolomics fashion after derivatization by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additionally, the effect of posaconazole (POS) treatment on the sterol pattern of R. arrhizus was evaluated. Overall, fifteen different sterols were detected with species dependent variations in the total and relative sterol amount. Sterol analysis from R. arrhizus hyphae confronted with sublethal concentrations of posaconazole revealed the accumulation of 14-methylergosta-8,24-diene-3,6-diol, which is a toxic sterol that was previously only detected in yeasts. Sterol content and composition were further compared to the well-characterized pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus. This work contributes to a better understanding of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway of Mucorales, which is essential to improve antifungal efficacy, the identification of targets for novel drug design, and to investigate the combinatorial effects of drugs targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Müller
- Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Thomas Neugebauer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Patrizia Zill
- Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Franz Bracher
- Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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25
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Griffiths K, Habiel DM, Jaffar J, Binder U, Darby WG, Hosking CG, Skerra A, Westall GP, Hogaboam CM, Foley M. Anti-fibrotic Effects of CXCR4-Targeting i-body AD-114 in Preclinical Models of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3212. [PMID: 29453386 PMCID: PMC5816662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20811-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [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: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrotic lung disease that is prevalent in individuals >50 years of age, with a median survival of 3–5 years and limited therapeutic options. The disease is characterized by collagen deposition and remodeling of the lung parenchyma in a process that is thought to be driven by collagen-expressing immune and structural cells. The G-protein coupled C-X-C chemokine receptor 4, CXCR4, is a candidate therapeutic target for IPF owing to its role in the recruitment of CXCR4+ fibrocytes from the bone marrow to fibrotic lung tissue and its increased expression levels by structural cells in fibrotic lung tissue. We have engineered a novel fully human single domain antibody “i-body” called AD-114 that binds with high affinity to human CXCR4. We demonstrate here that AD-114 inhibits invasive wound healing and collagen 1 secretion by human IPF fibroblasts but not non-diseased control lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, in a murine bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis, AD-114 reduced the accumulation of fibrocytes (CXCR4+/Col1+/CD45+) in fibrotic murine lungs and ameliorated the degree of lung injury. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that AD-114 holds promise as a new biological therapeutic for the treatment of IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Griffiths
- AdAlta Limited, La Trobe University, 15/2 Park Drive, Bundoora, 3083, Australia.,The Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - D M Habiel
- Cedars-Sinai, Medical Centre, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - J Jaffar
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - U Binder
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Str. 30, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - W G Darby
- AdAlta Limited, La Trobe University, 15/2 Park Drive, Bundoora, 3083, Australia.,The Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - C G Hosking
- AdAlta Limited, La Trobe University, 15/2 Park Drive, Bundoora, 3083, Australia.,The Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia
| | - A Skerra
- XL-protein GmbH, Lise-Meitner-Str. 30, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - G P Westall
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - C M Hogaboam
- Cedars-Sinai, Medical Centre, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - M Foley
- AdAlta Limited, La Trobe University, 15/2 Park Drive, Bundoora, 3083, Australia. .,The Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, 3086, Australia.
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Chandorkar P, Posch W, Zaderer V, Blatzer M, Steger M, Ammann CG, Binder U, Hermann M, Hörtnagl P, Lass-Flörl C, Wilflingseder D. Fast-track development of an in vitro 3D lung/immune cell model to study Aspergillus infections. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11644. [PMID: 28912507 PMCID: PMC5599647 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11271-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [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: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To study interactions of airborne pathogens, e.g. Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus with upper and lower respiratory tract epithelial and immune cells, we set up a perfused 3D human bronchial and small airway epithelial cell system. Culturing of normal human bronchial or small airway epithelial (NHBE, SAE) cells under air liquid interphase (ALI) and perfusion resulted in a significantly accelerated development of the lung epithelia associated with higher ciliogenesis, cilia movement, mucus-production and improved barrier function compared to growth under static conditions. Following the accelerated differentiation under perfusion, epithelial cells were transferred into static conditions and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) added to study their functionality upon infection with A. fumigatus. Fungi were efficiently sensed by apically applied macrophages or basolaterally adhered dendritic cells (DCs), as illustrated by phagocytosis, maturation and migration characteristics. We illustrate here that perfusion greatly improves differentiation of primary epithelial cells in vitro, which enables fast-track addition of primary immune cells and significant shortening of experimental procedures. Additionally, co-cultured primary DCs and macrophages were fully functional and fulfilled their tasks of sensing and sampling fungal pathogens present at the apical surface of epithelial cells, thereby promoting novel possibilities to study airborne infections under conditions mimicking the in vivo situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chandorkar
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - W Posch
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - V Zaderer
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Blatzer
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Steger
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - C G Ammann
- Experimental Orthopedics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - U Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Hermann
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - P Hörtnagl
- Central Institute for Blood Transfusion & Immunological Department, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - C Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - D Wilflingseder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Kaerger K, Schwartze VU, Dolatabadi S, Nyilasi I, Kovács SA, Binder U, Papp T, Hoog SD, Jacobsen ID, Voigt K. Adaptation to thermotolerance in Rhizopus coincides with virulence as revealed by avian and invertebrate infection models, phylogeny, physiological and metabolic flexibility. Virulence 2016; 6:395-403. [PMID: 26065324 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1029219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycoses are fungal infections caused by the ancient Mucorales. They are rare, but increasingly reported. Predisposing conditions supporting and favoring mucormycoses in humans and animals include diabetic ketoacidosis, immunosuppression and haematological malignancies. However, comprehensive surveys to elucidate fungal virulence in ancient fungi are limited and so far focused on Lichtheimia and Mucor. The presented study focused on one of the most important causative agent of mucormycoses, the genus Rhizopus (Rhizopodaceae). All known clinically-relevant species are thermotolerant and are monophyletic. They are more virulent compared to non-clinically, mesophilic species. Although adaptation to elevated temperatures correlated with the virulence of the species, mesophilic strains showed also lower virulence in Galleria mellonella incubated at permissive temperatures indicating the existence of additional factors involved in the pathogenesis of clinical Rhizopus species. However, neither specific adaptation to nutritional requirements nor stress resistance correlated with virulence, supporting the idea that Mucorales are predominantly saprotrophs without a specific adaptation to warm blooded hosts.
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Dietl AM, Amich J, Leal S, Beckmann N, Binder U, Beilhack A, Pearlman E, Haas H. Histidine biosynthesis plays a crucial role in metal homeostasis and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2016; 7:465-76. [PMID: 26854126 PMCID: PMC4871644 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1146848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen causing invasive fungal infections in immunosuppressed individuals. The histidine biosynthetic pathway is found in bacteria, archaebacteria, lower eukaryotes, and plants, but is absent in mammals. Here we demonstrate that deletion of the gene encoding imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase (HisB) in A. fumigatus causes (i) histidine auxotrophy, (ii) decreased resistance to both starvation and excess of various heavy metals, including iron, copper and zinc, which play a pivotal role in antimicrobial host defense, (iii) attenuation of pathogenicity in 4 virulence models: murine pulmonary infection, murine systemic infection, murine corneal infection, and wax moth larvae. In agreement with the in vivo importance of histidine biosynthesis, the HisB inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole reduced the virulence of the A. fumigatus wild type and histidine supplementation partially rescued virulence of the histidine-auxotrophic mutant in the wax moth model. Taken together, this study reveals limited histidine availability in diverse A. fumigatus host niches, a crucial role for histidine in metal homeostasis, and the histidine biosynthetic pathway as being an attractive target for development of novel antifungal therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Dietl
- a Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Jorge Amich
- b IZKF Forschergruppe für Experimentelle Stammzelltransplantation, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II & Universitäts-Kinderklinik , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Sixto Leal
- c Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Nicola Beckmann
- a Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- d Division of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Andreas Beilhack
- b IZKF Forschergruppe für Experimentelle Stammzelltransplantation, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II & Universitäts-Kinderklinik , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Eric Pearlman
- c Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Hubertus Haas
- a Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
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Blatzer M, Jukic E, Posch W, Schöpf B, Binder U, Steger M, Blum G, Hackl H, Gnaiger E, Lass-Flörl C, Wilflingseder D. Amphotericin B Resistance in Aspergillus terreus Is Overpowered by Coapplication of Pro-oxidants. Antioxid Redox Signal 2015; 23:1424-38. [PMID: 26054424 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2014.6220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Invasive fungal infections have significantly increased over the past decades in immunocompromised individuals and high-risk patients. Amphotericin B (AmB) exerts a powerful and broad activity against a vast array of fungi and has a remarkably low rate of microbial resistance. However, most isolates of Aspergillus terreus developed an intrinsic resistance against AmB, and during this study, we characterized the mode of action of this polyene antifungal drug in more detail in resistant (ATR) and rare susceptible (ATS) clinical isolates of A. terreus. RESULTS We illustrate that AmB treatment changes cellular redox status and promotes the generation of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ATS. In contrast, ATR isolates were able to cope better with AmB-induced oxidative stress. INNOVATION Most importantly, we demonstrate in this study that coapplication of anti- and pro-oxidants significantly affects AmB efficacy in an antithetic manner--antioxidants and ROS-scavenging agents increase AmB tolerance in susceptible strains, while pro-oxidants render formerly resistant isolates considerably susceptible to the antifungal drug also in vivo in a Galleria animal model. CONCLUSION Thereby, our study provides novel therapeutic options to treat formerly resistant fungal strains by a combination of AmB and pro-oxidant compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blatzer
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Emina Jukic
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wilfried Posch
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernd Schöpf
- 2 Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marion Steger
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Blum
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubert Hackl
- 3 Division of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Erich Gnaiger
- 4 D. Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Doris Wilflingseder
- 1 Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
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Lackner M, Coassin S, Haun M, Binder U, Kronenberg F, Haas H, Jank M, Maurer E, Meis JF, Hagen F, Lass-Flörl C. Geographically predominant genotypes of Aspergillus terreus species complex in Austria: s microsatellite typing study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2015; 22:270-6. [PMID: 26577144 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus terreus species complex is recognized as a frequent agent of invasive aspergillosis in Tyrol. The reason for this specific epidemiological situation is unclear. Aspergillus terreus strains isolated from environmental and clinical sources were genotyped using a novel panel of short tandem repeats and were evaluated for virulence. Three major endemic genotypes collected from the Inn region and its side valleys were found to cause the majority of invasive A. terreus infections. All of these genotypes were of the same mating type, which suggests that a mating barrier is present between these geographically well-adapted strains which is found to persist for at least 11 years. The three major genotypes were prevalent in both human infections and the environment. No major differences in virulence were observed using Galleria mellonella as model. Our data suggest a specific environmental exposure being responsible for the high incidence of A. terreus infections in Innsbruck, the Inn valley and side valleys (Tyrol, Austria).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lackner
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria.
| | - S Coassin
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Austria
| | - M Haun
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Austria
| | - U Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria
| | | | - H Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Jank
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria
| | - E Maurer
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria
| | - J F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - F Hagen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - C Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria
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Müller C, Binder U, Maurer E, Grimm C, Giera M, Bracher F. Fungal sterol C22-desaturase is not an antimycotic target as shown by selective inhibitors and testing on clinical isolates. Steroids 2015; 101:1-6. [PMID: 26022150 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of concise enzymes in ergosterol biosynthesis is one of the most prominent strategies for antifungal chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the enzymes sterol C5-desaturase and sterol C22-desaturase, which introduce double bonds into the sterol core and side chain, have not been fully investigated yet for their potential as antifungal drug targets. Lathosterol side chain amides bearing N-alkyl groups of proper length are known as potent inhibitors of the enzymes sterol C5-desaturase and sterol Δ(24)-reductase in mammalian cholesterol biosynthesis. Here we present the results of our evaluation of these amides for their ability to inhibit enzymes in fungal ergosterol biosynthesis. In the presence of inhibitor(s) an accumulation of sterols lacking a double bond at C22/23 (mainly ergosta-5,7-dien-3β-ol) was observed in Candida glabrata, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Yarrowia lipolytica. Hence, the lathosterol side chain amides were identified as selective inhibitors of the fungal sterol C22-desaturase, which was discussed as a specific target for novel antifungals. One representative inhibitor, (3S,20S)-20-N-butylcarbamoylpregn-7-en-3β-ol was subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing on patient isolates according to modified EUCAST guidelines. But, the test organisms showed no significant reduction of cell growth and/or viability up to an inhibitor concentration of 100μg/mL. This leads to the conclusion that sterol C22-desaturase is not an attractive target for the development of antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Müller
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Maurer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstr. 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Grimm
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Giera
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Franz Bracher
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Maurer E, Browne N, Surlis C, Jukic E, Moser P, Kavanagh K, Lass-Flörl C, Binder U. Galleria mellonella as a host model to study Aspergillus terreus virulence and amphotericin B resistance. Virulence 2015; 6:591-8. [PMID: 26107350 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1045183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate if the alternative in vivo model Galleria mellonella can be used (i) to determine differences in pathogenicity of amphotericin B (AMB) resistant and susceptible A. terreus isolates, (ii) to evaluate AMB efficacy in vivo (iii) and to correlate outcome to in vitro susceptibility data. Larvae were infected with 2 A. terreus AMB resistant (ATR) and 3 AMB susceptible (ATS) isolates and survival rates were correlated to physiological attributes and killing ability of larval haemocytes. Additionally, infected larvae were treated with different concentrations of L-AMB. Haemocyte density were ascertained to evaluate the influence of L-AMB on the larval immune cells. Larvae were sensitive to A. terreus infection in an inoculum-size and temperature dependent manner. In vitro susceptibility to L-AMB correlated with in vivo outcome of antifungal treatment, defining an AMB susceptible strain cluster of A. terreus. Susceptibility to L-AMB increased virulence potential in the larval model, but this increase was also in accordance with faster growth and less damage caused by larval haemocytes. L-AMB treatment primed the larval immune response by increasing haemocyte density. G. mellonella provides a convenient model for the in vivo screening of A. terreus virulence and treatment options, contributing to the generation of a hypothesis that can be further tested in refined experiments in mammalian models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Maurer
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology; Medical University of Innsbruck ; Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Niall Browne
- b Medical Mycology Unit; Department of Biology; Maynooth University ; Maynooth ; Kildare , Ireland
| | - Carla Surlis
- b Medical Mycology Unit; Department of Biology; Maynooth University ; Maynooth ; Kildare , Ireland
| | - Emina Jukic
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology; Medical University of Innsbruck ; Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Patrizia Moser
- c Department of Pathology ; Medical University of Innsbruck ; Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- b Medical Mycology Unit; Department of Biology; Maynooth University ; Maynooth ; Kildare , Ireland
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology; Medical University of Innsbruck ; Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- a Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology; Medical University of Innsbruck ; Innsbruck , Austria
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Binder U, Benčina M, Fizil Á, Batta G, Chhillar AK, Marx F. Protein kinase A signaling and calcium ions are major players in PAF mediated toxicity against Aspergillus niger. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:1266-71. [PMID: 25882631 PMCID: PMC4424949 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus niger is highly susceptible to the antifungal protein PAF. Ca2+ and cAMP/PKA signalling are interconnected in response to PAF. PAF toxicity requires the activation of the cAMP/PkaA signaling cascade. PAF evokes a sustained increase in the [Ca2+]c resting level. Only a functional PAF protein interferes with the fungal Ca2+ homeostasis. PAF represents a promising molecule to develop new antifungal strategies.
The Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein PAF is toxic against potentially pathogenic Ascomycetes. We used the highly sensitive aequorin-expressing model Aspergillus niger to identify a defined change in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ dynamics in response to PAF. This Ca2+ signature depended on an intact positively charged lysine-rich PAF motif. By combining Ca2+ measurements in A. niger mutants with deregulated cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, we proved the interconnection of Ca2+ perturbation and cAMP/PKA signaling in the mechanistic function of PAF. A deep understanding of the mode of action of PAF is an invaluable prerequisite for its future application as new antifungal drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mojca Benčina
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ádám Fizil
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gyula Batta
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Anil K Chhillar
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, IN-124001 Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Florentine Marx
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Schafferer L, Beckmann N, Binder U, Brosch G, Haas H. AmcA-a putative mitochondrial ornithine transporter supporting fungal siderophore biosynthesis. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:252. [PMID: 25904899 PMCID: PMC4387927 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient required for a wide range of cellular processes. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus employs low-molecular mass iron-specific chelators, termed siderophores, for uptake, storage and intracellular iron distribution, which play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of this fungus. Siderophore biosynthesis (SB) depends on coordination with the supply of its precursor ornithine, produced mitochondrially from glutamate or cytosolically via hydrolysis of arginine. In this study, we demonstrate a role of the putative mitochondrial transporter AmcA (AFUA_8G02760) in SB of A. fumigatus. Consistent with a role in cellular ornithine handling, AmcA-deficiency resulted in decreased cellular ornithine and arginine contents as well as decreased siderophore production on medium containing glutamine as the sole nitrogen source. In support, arginine and ornithine as nitrogen sources did not impact SB due to cytosolic ornithine availability. As revealed by Northern blot analysis, transcript levels of siderophore biosynthetic genes were unresponsive to the cellular ornithine level. In contrast to siderophore production, AmcA deficiency did only mildly decrease the cellular polyamine content, demonstrating cellular prioritization of ornithine use. Nevertheless, AmcA-deficiency increased the susceptibility of A. fumigatus to the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor eflornithine, most likely due to the decreased ornithine pool. AmcA-deficiency decreased the growth rate particularly on ornithine as the sole nitrogen source during iron starvation and sufficiency, indicating an additional role in the metabolism and fitness of A. fumigatus, possibly in mitochondrial ornithine import. In the Galleria mellonella infection model, AmcA-deficiency did not affect virulence of A. fumigatus, most likely due to the residual siderophore production and arginine availability in this host niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Schafferer
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicola Beckmann
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerald Brosch
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
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Linde J, Schwartze V, Binder U, Lass-Flörl C, Voigt K, Horn F. De Novo Whole-Genome Sequence and Genome Annotation of Lichtheimia ramosa. Genome Announc 2014; 2:e00888-14. [PMID: 25212617 PMCID: PMC4161746 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00888-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report the annotated draft genome sequence of Lichtheimia ramosa (JMRC FSU:6197). It has been reported to be a causative organism of mucormycosis, a rare but rapidly progressive infection in immunocompromised humans. The functionally annotated genomic sequence consists of 74 scaffolds with a total number of 11,510 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Linde
- Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Hans-Knöll-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Schwartze
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Hans-Knöll-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Hans-Knöll-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabian Horn
- Systems Biology/Bioinformatics, Hans-Knöll-Institut, Jena, Germany
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Binder U, Lass-Flörl C. New insights into invasive aspergillosis--from the pathogen to the disease. Curr Pharm Des 2013; 19:3679-88. [PMID: 23278533 DOI: 10.2174/13816128113199990366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Disease manifestations with Aspergillus spp. are very diverse and dependent on interaction between the fungus and the host. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most severe form of Aspergillus - associated disease found in immunocompromised hosts. Infections are mainly due to Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus, an air-borne opportunistic pathogen that causes 90% of IA. Mortality rate of this disease is still very high (50-95%), partly because of diagnostic difficulties, limited antifungal treatment options, weak conditions of patients at risk; but also in part because understanding of virulence factors involved in A. fumigatus pathogenicity and interactions of the pathogen with the host immune system is still poor. This review focuses on properties of A. fumigatus in terms of putative virulence factors and interactions of the pathogen with a main focus on the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.
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Beckmann N, Schafferer L, Schrettl M, Binder U, Talasz H, Lindner H, Haas H. Characterization of the Link between Ornithine, Arginine, Polyamine and Siderophore Metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67426. [PMID: 23825660 PMCID: PMC3688985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus produces siderophores for uptake and storage of iron, which is essential for its virulence. The main precursor of siderophore biosynthesis (SB), ornithine, can be produced from glutamate in the mitochondria or by cytosolic hydrolysis of ornithine-derived arginine. Here, we studied the impact of mitochondrial versus cytosolic ornithine biosynthesis on SB by comparison of the arginine auxotrophic mutants ΔargEF and ΔargB, which lack and possess mitochondrial ornithine production, respectively. Deficiency in argEF (encoding acetylglutamate kinase and acetylglutamyl-phosphate-reductase), but not argB (encoding ornithine transcarbamoyl transferase) decreased (i) the cellular ornithine content, (ii) extra- and intracellular SB, (iii) growth under harsh iron starvation, (iv) resistance to the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor eflornithine, and (v) virulence in the Galleria mellonella larvae model. These lines of evidence indicate that SB is mainly fueled by mitochondrial rather than cytosolic ornithine production and underline the role of SB in virulence. Ornithine content and SB of ΔargB increased with declining arginine supplementation indicating feedback-inhibition of mitochondrial ornithine biosynthesis by arginine. In contrast to SB, the arginine and polyamine contents were only mildly affected in ΔargEF, indicating prioritization of the latter two ornithine-consuming pathways over SB. These data highlight the metabolic differences between the two arginine auxotrophic mutants ΔargEF and ΔargB and demonstrate that supplementation of an auxotrophic mutant does not restore the wild type metabolism at the molecular level, a fact to be considered when working with auxotrophic mutants. Moreover, cross pathway control-mediating CpcA was found to influence the ornithine pool as well as biosynthesis of siderophores and polyamines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Beckmann
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Schafferer
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Markus Schrettl
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heribert Talasz
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry/Biocenter; Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry/Biocenter; Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Binder U, Bencina M, Eigentler A, Meyer V, Marx F. The Aspergillus giganteus antifungal protein AFPNN5353 activates the cell wall integrity pathway and perturbs calcium homeostasis. BMC Microbiol 2011; 11:209. [PMID: 21943024 PMCID: PMC3197501 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 05/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The antifungal protein AFPNN5353 is a defensin-like protein of Aspergillus giganteus. It belongs to a group of secretory proteins with low molecular mass, cationic character and a high content of cysteine residues. The protein inhibits the germination and growth of filamentous ascomycetes, including important human and plant pathogens and the model organsims Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger. Results We determined an AFPNN5353 hypersensitive phenotype of non-functional A. nidulans mutants in the protein kinase C (Pkc)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mpk) signalling pathway and the induction of the α-glucan synthase A (agsA) promoter in a transgenic A. niger strain which point at the activation of the cell wall integrity pathway (CWIP) and the remodelling of the cell wall in response to AFPNN5353. The activation of the CWIP by AFPNN5353, however, operates independently from RhoA which is the central regulator of CWIP signal transduction in fungi. Furthermore, we provide evidence that calcium (Ca2+) signalling plays an important role in the mechanistic function of this antifungal protein. AFPNN5353 increased about 2-fold the cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]c) of a transgenic A. niger strain expressing codon optimized aequorin. Supplementation of the growth medium with CaCl2 counteracted AFPNN5353 toxicity, ameliorated the perturbation of the [Ca2+]c resting level and prevented protein uptake into Aspergillus sp. cells. Conclusions The present study contributes new insights into the molecular mechanisms of action of the A. giganteus antifungal protein AFPNN5353. We identified its antifungal activity, initiated the investigation of pathways that determine protein toxicity, namely the CWIP and the Ca2+ signalling cascade, and studied in detail the cellular uptake mechanism in sensitive target fungi. This knowledge contributes to define new potential targets for the development of novel antifungal strategies to prevent and combat infections of filamentous fungi which have severe negative impact in medicine and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl Strasse 3, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria
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Blatzer M, Binder U, Haas H. The metalloreductase FreB is involved in adaptation of Aspergillus fumigatus to iron starvation. Fungal Genet Biol 2011; 48:1027-33. [PMID: 21840411 PMCID: PMC3188701 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2011.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Revised: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 07/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus employs two high affinity iron uptake mechanisms, siderophore mediated iron uptake and reductive iron assimilation (RIA). The A. fumigatus genome encodes 15 putative metalloreductases (MR) but the ferrireductases involved in RIA remained elusive so far. Expression of the MR FreB was found to be transcriptionally repressed by iron via SreA, a repressor of iron acquisition during iron sufficiency, indicating a role in iron metabolism. FreB-inactivation by gene deletion was phenotypically largely inconspicuous unless combined with inactivation of the siderophore system, which then decreased growth rate, surface ferrireductase activity and oxidative stress resistance during iron starvation. This study also revealed that loss of copper-independent siderophore-mediated iron uptake increases sensitivity of A. fumigatus to copper starvation due to copper-dependence of RIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blatzer
- Division of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, Innsbruck Medical University, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Binder U, Lass-Flörl C. Epidemiology of invasive fungal infections in the mediterranean area. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2011; 3:e20110016. [PMID: 21625305 PMCID: PMC3103242 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2011.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Candida species remain the relevant cause of IFI, other fungi (especially moulds) have become increasingly prevalent. In particular, Aspergillus species are the leading cause of mould infections but also Glomeromycota (formerly Zygomycetes) and Fusarium species are increasing in frequency, and are associated with high mortality rates. Many of these emerging infections occur as breakthrough infections in patients treated with new antifungal drugs. The causative pathogens, incidence rate and severity are dependent on the underlying condition, as well as on the geographic location of the patient population. France and Italy show the highest incident rates of Fusarium infections in Europe, following the US, where numbers are still increasing. Scedosporium prolificans, which primarily is found in soil in Spain and Australia, is most frequently isolated from blood cultures in a Spanish hospital. Geotrichum capitatum represents another species predominantly found in Europe with especially high rates in Mediterranean countries. The increasing resistance to antifungal drugs especially of these new emerging pathogens is a severe problem for managing these IFIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
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Fahrer J, Plunien R, Binder U, Langer T, Seliger H, Barth H. Genetically Engineered Clostridial C2 Toxin as a Novel Delivery System for Living Mammalian Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2009; 21:130-9. [DOI: 10.1021/bc900365b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Fahrer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Rainer Plunien
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Torben Langer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Hartmut Seliger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, and Research Group on Chemical Functions in Biosystems, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
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Abstract
The Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein PAF inhibits polar growth and induces apoptosis in Aspergillus nidulans. We report here that two signalling cascades are implicated in its antifungal activity. PAF activates the cAMP/protein kinase A (Pka) signalling cascade. A pkaA deletion mutant exhibited reduced sensitivity towards PAF. This was substantiated by the use of pharmacological modulators: PAF aggravated the effect of the activator 8-Br-cAMP and partially relieved the repressive activity of caffeine. Furthermore, the Pkc/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mpk) signalling cascade mediated basal resistance to PAF, which was independent of the small GTPase RhoA. Non-functional mutations of both genes resulted in hypersensitivity towards PAF. PAF did not increase MpkA phosphorylation or induce enzymes involved in the remodelling of the cell wall, which normally occurs in response to activators of the cell wall integrity pathway. Notably, PAF exposure resulted in actin gene repression and a deregulation of the chitin deposition at hyphal tips of A. nidulans, which offers an explanation for the morphological effects evoked by PAF and which could be attributed to the interconnection of the two signalling pathways. Thus, PAF represents an excellent tool to study signalling pathways in this model organism and to define potential fungal targets to develop new antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Binder
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
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Batta G, Barna T, Gáspári Z, Sándor S, Kövér KE, Binder U, Sarg B, Kaiserer L, Chhillar AK, Eigentler A, Leiter E, Hegedüs N, Pócsi I, Lindner H, Marx F. Functional aspects of the solution structure and dynamics of PAF--a highly-stable antifungal protein from Penicillium chrysogenum. FEBS J 2009; 276:2875-90. [PMID: 19459942 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07011.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Penicillium antifungal protein (PAF) is a promising antimycotic without toxic effects on mammalian cells and therefore may represent a drug candidate against the often lethal Aspergillus infections that occur in humans. The pathogenesis of PAF on sensitive fungi involves G-protein coupled signalling followed by apoptosis. In the present study, the solution structure of this small, cationic, antifungal protein from Penicillium chrysogenum is determined by NMR. We demonstrate that PAF belongs to the structural classification of proteins fold class of its closest homologue antifungal protein from Aspergillus giganteus. PAF comprises five beta-strands forming two orthogonally packed beta-sheets that share a common interface. The ambiguity in the assignment of two disulfide bonds out of three was investigated by NMR dynamics, together with restrained molecular dynamics calculations. The clue could not be resolved: the two ensembles with different disulfide patterns and the one with no S-S bond exhibit essentially the same fold. (15)N relaxation dispersion and interference experiments did not reveal disulfide bond rearrangements via slow exchange. The measured order parameters and the 3.0 ns correlation time are appropriate for a compact monomeric protein of this size. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate that the highly-conserved and positively-charged lysine-rich surface region enhances the toxicity of PAF. However, the binding capability of the oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide binding fold is reduced in PAF compared to antifungal protein as a result of less solvent-exposed aromatic regions, thus explaining the absence of chitobiose binding. The present study lends further support to the understanding of the documented substantial differences between the mode of action of two highly homologous antifungal proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyula Batta
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
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Marx F, Binder U, Leiter E, Pócsi I. The Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein PAF, a promising tool for the development of new antifungal therapies and fungal cell biology studies. Cell Mol Life Sci 2008; 65:445-54. [PMID: 17965829 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-007-7364-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In recent years the interest in antimicrobial proteins and peptides and their mode of action has been rapidly increasing due to their potential to prevent and combat microbial infections in all areas of life. A detailed knowledge about the function of such proteins is the most important requirement to consider them for future application. Our research in recent years has been focused on the low molecular weight, cysteine-rich and cationic antifungal protein PAF from Penicillium chrysogenum, which inhibits the growth of opportunistic zoo-pathogens including Aspergillus fumigatus, numerous plant-pathogenic fungi and the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. So far, the experimental results indicate that PAF elicits hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and the activation of ion channels, followed by an increase in reactive oxygen species in the cell and the induction of an apoptosis-like phenotype. Detailed knowledge about the molecular mechanism of action of antifungal proteins such as PAF contributes to the development of new antimicrobial strategies that are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Marx
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl Strasse 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Maier T, Binder U, Böck A. Analysis of the hydA locus of Escherichia coli: two genes (hydN and hypF) involved in formate and hydrogen metabolism. Arch Microbiol 1996; 165:333-41. [PMID: 8661925 DOI: 10.1007/s002030050335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The hydA locus of Escherichia coli is known to encode some function necessary for formation of hydrogenase activity. The locus contains two open reading frames, hydN and hypF. In this communication, an analysis of the regulation of these two genes and of the phenotype of respective mutants is presented, Both genes were expressed in a T7 promoter/polymerase system, yielding a 19-kDa (HydN) and a 81-kDa (HypF) protein. In-frame deletions were constructed for each gene and transferred to the chromosome by homologous recombination. The mutation in hydN led to a decrease of the activity of formate dehydrogenase H (FDH-H) in crude extracts, but the activity and maturation of hydrogenases were nearly unaffected. In contrast, a deletion in hypF resulted in the loss of hydrogenase activity and in the synthesis of the large subunits of the hydrogenase isoenzymes 1, 2 and 3 in the inactive precursor form. For hydrogenase 3, it was shown that this is due to a lack of incorporation of nickel into the large subunit. hydN and hypF are organised in an operon that is a member of the formate regulon. Transcription was shown to be dependent on sigma 54 and FhlA, and an FhlA-binding site upstream of hydN was identified. The sigma 54-dependent promoter shows a rare deviation from the consensus at positions -24/-12, namely GG/GA instead of GG/GC. In conclusion, the product of hydN appears to have some role in electron flow from or to FDH-H, and the product of hypF is connected with maturation of all three hydrogenases of E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Maier
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universität München, Germany
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Abstract
A mutant derivative of hycE, the gene for the large subunit of hydrogenase 3 from Escherichia coli, was constructed that lacks the 3'-terminal part encoding the C-terminal portion of the HycE polypeptide, which is proteolytically removed during maturation of the hydrogenase. The truncated gene was transferred to the in situ position on the chromosome. Although the mutant possessed HycE in its "mature" form, it was devoid of hydrogenase 3 activity. The activity was not restored by high nickel concentrations in the medium. The mutated HycE was not associated with detectable radioactivity when the strain was grown in the presence of 63Ni2+. These results indicate that the C-terminal extension in the precursor form of the large subunit keeps the protein in a conformation required for the coordination of the metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Binder
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universität München, Germany
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Abstract
The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent pancreas carcinogen in rats. The biliary excretion of NNK was therefore studied in anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats following i.p. administration of 0.7 mumol/kg [carbonyl-14C]NNK. The concentration of radioactivity peaked within 30 min and decreased thereafter exponentially. Cumulative excretion of radioactivity reached a plateau at 6-9% of the total dose. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid (hydroxy acid), 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-butyric acid (keto acid), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butyl beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (NNAL Glu), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and NNK. NNAL Glu was the major metabolite contributing 34 +/- 4% of total radioactivity in bile at 30 min and 58 +/- 4% at 5 h. The percentage of acidic metabolites remained constant at approximately 20%. In contrast, the percentage of NNK and NNAL decreased within the first 2 h to < 5% and < 10% respectively. The elimination kinetics of NNK and its metabolites fitted into a one-compartment model with a half-life of 37 min for NNK, 52 min for NNAL and 110 min for NNAL Glu and acidic metabolites. In three rats dosed with 240 mumol/kg NNK i.p., the concentration of radioactivity peaked after 1-2 h and decreased very slowly thereafter. After 5-8 h a total of 12-17% of the dose has been excreted in the bile with no indication of a plateau. At all time points NNAL Glu was the major metabolite contributing up to 95% of total radioactivity in bile. The percentage of acidic metabolites was < 5% throughout the experiment. Whereas NNK contributed one-third of the radioactivity at 30 min and decreased rapidly, the percentage of NNAL in bile remained rather constant at approximately 5-10%. In conclusion, the detection of NNK, NNAL and NNAL Glu gives support to the hypothesis that tobacco-specific carcinogens could reach the pancreas retrograde from the bile, especially at high NNK concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schulze
- Walther Straub-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany
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Akrawy MZ, Alexander G, Allison J, Allport PP, Anderson KJ, Armitage JC, Arnison GTJ, Ashton P, Azuelos G, Baines JTM, Ball AH, Banks J, Barker GJ, Barlow RJ, Batley JR, Beck A, Becker J, Behnke T, Bell KW, Bella G, Bethke S, Biebel O, Binder U, Bloodworth IJ, Bock P, Breuker H, Brown RM, Brun R, Buijs A, Burckhart HJ, Capiluppi P, Carnegie RK, Carter AA, Carter JR, Chang CY, Charlton DG, Chrin JTM, Clarke PEL, Cohen I, Collins WJ, Conboy JE, Couch M, Coupland M, Cuffiani M, Dado S, Dallavalle GM, Debu P, Deninno MM, Dieckmann A, Dittmar M, Dixit MS, Duchovni E, Duerdoth IP, Dumas DJP, Elcombe PA, Estabrooks PG, Etzion E, Fabbri F, Farthouat P, Fischer HM, Fong DG, French MT, Fukunaga C, Gaidot A, Ganel O, Gary JW, Gascon J, Geddes NI, Gee CNP, Geich-Gimbel C, Gensler SW, Gentit FX, Giacomelli G, Gibson V, Gibson WR, Gillies JD, Goldberg J, Goodrick MJ, Gorn W, Granite D, Gross E, Grunhaus J, Hagedorn H, Hagemann J, Hansroul M, Hargrove CK, Harrus I, Hart J, Hattersley PM, Hauschild M, Hawkes CM, Heflin E, Hemingway RJ, Heuer RD, Hill JC, Hillier SJ, Ho C, Hobbs JD, Hobson PR, Hochman D, Holl B, Homer RJ, Hou SR, Howarth CP, Hughes-Jones RE, Humbert R, Igo-Kemenes P, Ihssen H, Imrie DC, Janissen L, Jawahery A, Jeffreys PW, Jeremie H, Jimack M, Jobes M, Jones RWL, Jovanovic P, Karlen D, Kawagoe K, Kawamoto T, Kellogg RG, Kennedy BW, Kleinwort C, Klem DE, Knop G, Kobayashi T, Kokott TP, K�pke L, Kowalewski R, Kreutzmann H, Kroll J, Kuwano M, Kyberd P, Lafferty GD, Lamarche F, Larson WJ, Layter JG, Du P, Leblanc P, Lee AM, Lehto MH, Lellouch D, Lennert P, Lessard L, Levinson L, Lloyd SL, Loebinger FK, Lorah JM, Lorazo B, Losty MJ, Ludwig J, Ma J, Macbeth AA, Mannelli M, Marcellini S, Maringer G, Martin AJ, Martin JP, Mashimo T, M�ttig P, Maur U, McMahon TJ, McNutt JR, Meijers F, Menszner D, Merritt FS, Mes H, Michelini A, Middleton RP, Mikenberg G, Mildenberger J, Miller DJ, Milstene C, Minowa M, Mohr W, Montanari A, Mori T, Moss MW, Murphy PG, Murray WJ, Nellen B, Nguyen HH, Nozaki M, O'Dowd AJP, O'Neale SW, O'Neill BP, Oakham FG, Odorici F, Ogg M, Oh H, Oreglia MJ, Orito S, Pansart JP, Patrick GN, Pawley SJ, Pfister P, Pilcher JE, Pinfold JL, Plane DE, Poli B, Pouladdej A, Prebys E, Pritchard TW, Quast G, Raab J, Redmond MW, Rees DL, Regimbald M, Riles K, Roach CM, Robins SA, Rollnik A, Roney JM, Rossberg S, Rossi AM, Routenburg P, Runge K, Runolfsson O, Sanghera S, Sansum RA, Sasaki M, Saunders BJ, Schaile AD, Schaile O, Schappert W, Scharff-Hansen P, Schreiber S, Schwarz J, Shapira A, Shen BC, Sherwood P, Simon A, Singh P, Siroli GP, Skuja A, Smith AM, Smith TJ, Snow GA, Springer RW, Sproston M, Stephens K, Stier HE, Stroehmer R, Strom D, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Taras P, Thackray NJ, Tsukamoto T, Turner MF, Tysarczyk-Niemeyer G, plas D, VanDalen GJ, Vasseur G, Virtue CJ, Schmitt H, Krogh J, Wagner A, Wahl C, Walker JP, Ward CP, Ward DR, Watkins PM, Watson AT, Watson NK, Weber M, Weisz S, Wells PS, Wermes N, Weymann M, Wilson GW, Wilson JA, Wingerter I, Winterer VH, Wood NC, Wotton S, Wuensch B, Wyatt TR, Yaari R, Yang Y, Yekutieli G, Yoshida T, Zeuner W, Zorn GT. A study of the recombination scheme dependence of jet production rates and of ? s ( $$M_{Z^0 } $$ ) in hadronicZ 0 decays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01549689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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