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Lax C, Nicolás FE, Navarro E, Garre V. Molecular mechanisms that govern infection and antifungal resistance in Mucorales. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0018822. [PMID: 38445820 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00188-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe World Health Organization has established a fungal priority pathogens list that includes species critical or highly important to human health. Among them is the order Mucorales, a fungal group comprising at least 39 species responsible for the life-threatening infection known as mucormycosis. Despite the continuous rise in cases and the poor prognosis due to innate resistance to most antifungal drugs used in the clinic, Mucorales has received limited attention, partly because of the difficulties in performing genetic manipulations. The COVID-19 pandemic has further escalated cases, with some patients experiencing the COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, highlighting the urgent need to increase knowledge about these fungi. This review addresses significant challenges in treating the disease, including delayed and poor diagnosis, the lack of accurate global incidence estimation, and the limited treatment options. Furthermore, it focuses on the most recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms and genes involved in the development of the disease, antifungal resistance, and the host defense response. Substantial advancements have been made in identifying key fungal genes responsible for invasion and tissue damage, host receptors exploited by the fungus to invade tissues, and mechanisms of antifungal resistance. This knowledge is expected to pave the way for the development of new antifungals to combat mucormycosis. In addition, we anticipate significant progress in characterizing Mucorales biology, particularly the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and antifungal resistance, with the possibilities offered by CRISPR-Cas9 technology for genetic manipulation of the previously intractable Mucorales species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Lax
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco E Nicolás
- 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
| | - Victoriano Garre
- Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Maniatis EI, Karamichali I, Stefanidou E, Boutsika A, Tsitsigiannis DI, Paplomatas E, Madesis P, Zambounis A. Insights into the Transcriptional Reprogramming of Peach Leaves Inoculated with Taphrina deformans. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:861. [PMID: 38592856 PMCID: PMC10976055 DOI: 10.3390/plants13060861] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The dimorphic fungus Taphrina deformans is the causal agent of peach leaf curl disease, which affects leaves, flowers, and fruits. An RNA-seq approach was employed to gain insights into the transcriptional reprogramming of a peach cultivar during leaf inoculation with the yeast phase of the fungus across a compatible interaction. The results uncovered modulations of specific peach differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peaches and pathways related to either the induction of host defense responses or pathogen colonization and disease spread. Expression profiles of DEGs were shown to be highly time-dependent and related to the presence of the two forms of the fungal growth, the inoculated yeast form and the later biotrophic phase during mycelial development. In parallel, this differential reprogramming was consistent with a diphasic detection of fungal load in the challenged leaves over the 120 h after inoculation (HAI) period. Leaf defense responses either occurred during the early yeast phase inoculation at 24 HAI, mediated primarily by cell wall modification processes, or more pronouncedly during the biotrophic phase at 72 HAI, as revealed by the activation of DEGs related to pathogen perception, signaling transduction, and secondary metabolism towards restraining further hypha proliferation. On the contrary, the expression patterns of specific DEGs at 120 HAI might further contribute to host susceptibility. These findings will further allow us to elucidate the molecular responses beyond the peach-T. deformans interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissaios I. Maniatis
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Karamichali
- Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Plant Breeding, Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Center for Research and Technology (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Stefanidou
- Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Plant Breeding, Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Center for Research and Technology (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anastasia Boutsika
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios I. Tsitsigiannis
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Epaminondas Paplomatas
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Madesis
- Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Plant Breeding, Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Center for Research and Technology (CERTH), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Plants, Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | - Antonios Zambounis
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
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3
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Fernández-Pérez L. Editorial: Sexual dimorphism and steroid hormone crosstalk, volume II. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1346433. [PMID: 38234427 PMCID: PMC10792159 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1346433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Fernández-Pérez
- Farmacología Molecular y Traslacional, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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4
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Drury ER, Wu J, Gigliotti JC, Le TH. Sex differences in blood pressure regulation and hypertension: renal, hemodynamic, and hormonal mechanisms. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:199-251. [PMID: 37477622 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2022] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The teleology of sex differences has been argued since at least as early as Aristotle's controversial Generation of Animals more than 300 years BC, which reflects the sex bias of the time to contemporary readers. Although the question "why are the sexes different" remains a topic of debate in the present day in metaphysics, the recent emphasis on sex comparison in research studies has led to the question "how are the sexes different" being addressed in health science through numerous observational studies in both health and disease susceptibility, including blood pressure regulation and hypertension. These efforts have resulted in better understanding of differences in males and females at the molecular level that partially explain their differences in vascular function and renal sodium handling and hence blood pressure and the consequential cardiovascular and kidney disease risks in hypertension. This review focuses on clinical studies comparing differences between men and women in blood pressure over the life span and response to dietary sodium and highlights experimental models investigating sexual dimorphism in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, vascular, sympathetic nervous, and immune systems, endothelin, the major renal sodium transporters/exchangers/channels, and the impact of sex hormones on these systems in blood pressure homeostasis. Understanding the mechanisms governing sex differences in blood pressure regulation could guide novel therapeutic approaches in a sex-specific manner to lower cardiovascular risks in hypertension and advance personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika R Drury
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Jing Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Joseph C Gigliotti
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
| | - Thu H Le
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
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Csősz S, Seifert B, László M, Yusupov ZM, Herczeg G. Broadly sympatric occurrence of two thief ant species Solenopsisfugax (Latreille, 1798) and S.juliae (Arakelian, 1991) in the East European Pontic-Caspian region (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) is disclosed. Zookeys 2023; 1187:189-222. [PMID: 38161709 PMCID: PMC10756144 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.105866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper presents numeric morphology-based evidence on the broadly overlapping distribution of two thief ant species Solenopsisfugax (Latreille, 1798) and S.juliae (Arakelian, 1991) in the East European Pontic-Caspian region. The paper integrates two autonomous data collections and independent analyses performed by different researchers, using different equipment, considering different character combinations, and evaluating partially different samples. Five type series, the neotype series of Solenopsisfugax (Latreille 1798) and the type series of S.flavidula (Nylander, 1849), S. (Diplorhoptrum) fugax var. furtiva Santschi, 1934, S. (Diplorhoptrum) fugax var. pontica Santschi, 1934, S. (Diplorhoptrum) fugax var. scytica Santschi, 1934 were nested in one cluster and we propose the junior synonymy of the latter four taxa names with S.fugax. The other cluster contained only one type specimen of Solenopsisnitida (Dlussky & Radchenko, 1994) measured from AntWeb images. The naming of this cluster was based on both verbal statements and measurements of gynes given in the original description of Solenopsisjuliae (Arakelian, 1991), which represents the oldest available name for this cluster. Hence, S.nitida is proposed as junior synonym of S.juliae. Solenopsiscypridis Santschi, 1934 is raised to species rank based on investigation of worker and gyne type specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Csősz
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryELTE-Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryHUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research GroupBudapestHungary
| | - Bernhard Seifert
- Department of Entomology, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, GermanySenckenberg Museum of Natural History GörlitzGörlitzGermany
| | - Márk László
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryHUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research GroupBudapestHungary
| | - Zalimkhan M. Yusupov
- Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories of RAS, Nalchik, 360051, RussiaTembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories of RASNalchikRussia
| | - Gábor Herczeg
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryELTE-Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter ave 1/C, Budapest 1117, HungaryHUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research GroupBudapestHungary
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Ramírez-Ordorica A, Patiño-Medina JA, Meza-Carmen V, Macías-Rodríguez L. Volatile Fingerprint Mediates Yeast-to-Mycelial Conversion in Two Strains of Beauveria bassiana Exhibiting Varied Virulence. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1135. [PMID: 38132736 PMCID: PMC10744692 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121135] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Beauveria bassiana is a dimorphic and entomopathogenic fungus with different ecological roles in nature. In pathogenic fungi, yeast-to-mycelial conversion, which is controlled by environmental factors, is required for virulence. Here, we studied the effects of different stimuli on the morphology of two B. bassiana strains and compared the toxicities of culture filtrates. In addition, we explored the role of volatiles as quorum sensing-like signals during dimorphic transition. The killing assays in Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) showed that strain AI2 isolated from a mycosed insect cadaver had higher toxicity than strain AS5 isolated from soil. Furthermore, AI2 showed earlier yeast-to-mycelial switching than AS5. However, an increase in inoculum size induced faster yeast-to-mycelium conversion in AS5 cells, suggesting a cell-density-dependent phenomenon. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses showed that the fingerprint of the volatiles was strain-specific; however, during the morphological switching, an inverse relationship between the abundance of total terpenes and 3-methylbutanol was observed in both strains. Fungal exposure to 3-methylbutanol retarded the yeast-to-mycelium transition. Hence, this study provides evidence that volatile compounds are associated with critical events in the life cycle of B. bassiana.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lourdes Macías-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia C.P. 58030, Michoacán, Mexico; (A.R.-O.); (J.A.P.-M.); (V.M.-C.)
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7
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Kelani MT, Muller A, Lammertsma K. trans-Bis[bis-(di-phenyl-phosphan-yl)methane-κ 2P, P']di-chlorido-ruthenium(II): a triclinic polymorph. IUCrdata 2023; 8:x230984. [PMID: 38313066 PMCID: PMC10833132 DOI: 10.1107/s2414314623009847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The title compound, [RuCl2(C25H22P2)2] or [RuCl2(dppm)2] (dppm = bis-(di-phenyl-phosphan-yl)methane, C25H22P2) crystallizes as two half-mol-ecules (completed by inversion symmetry) in space group P (Z = 2), with the RuII atoms occupying inversion centers at 0,0,0 and 1/2, 1/2, 1/2, respectively. The bidentate phosphane ligands occupy equatorial positions while the chlorido ligands complete the distorted octa-hedral coordination spheres at axial positions. The bite angles of the phosphane chelates are similar for the two mol-ecules [(P-Ru-P)avg. = 71.1°], while there are significant differences in the twisting of the methyl-ene backbone, with a distance of the methyl-ene C atom from the RuP4 plane of 0.659 (2) and 0.299 (3) Å, respectively, and also for the phenyl substituents for both mol-ecules due to variations in weak C-H⋯Cl inter-actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monsuru T. Kelani
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
| | - Alfred Muller
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
| | - Koop Lammertsma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
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8
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Vancolen S, Sébire G, Robaire B. Influence of androgens on the innate immune system. Andrology 2023; 11:1237-1244. [PMID: 36840517 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13416] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual dimorphism is observed in the occurrence, course, and severity of human disease. The difference in immune response between males and females can in part be attributed to sexual genotype. However, immunological differences can also be explained by endocrine-immune interactions. Specifically, androgens possess the ability of directly modulating the development and function of immune cells. Although androgens generally contribute to immunosuppressive effects, this is not necessarily always the case. AIM The aim of the review is to uncover the role of androgens in shaping the innate immune response. MATERIAL & METHODS Authors included papers in this review which discussed the impact of androgens on specific innate immune cells. RESULTS Androgens modulate the innate immune response through various mechanisms. However, there is conflicting evidence in the literature regarding the interplay betwen androgens and the innate immune system. DISCUSSION Conflicting evidence presented in this review could in part be explained by the limitations present in interpreting results. CONCLUSION This review is of great importance for our understanding of occurence and mechanism of human inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seline Vancolen
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Neurology, McGill University, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guillaume Sébire
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Neurology, McGill University, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bernard Robaire
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Piotr M, Skieresz‐Szewczyk K, Jackowiak H, Celichowski J. Distribution and length of muscle spindles and their 3D visualisation in the medial gastrocnemius of male and female rats. J Anat 2023; 243:658-663. [PMID: 37230935 PMCID: PMC10485582 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13895] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial distribution of the medial gastrocnemius muscle spindles of 10 male and 10 female rats was analysed under a light microscope, and for the first time, visualised using a 3D model of the muscle. Serial cross-sections of the medial gastrocnemius muscles were separated into 10 divisions along with the proximo-distal axis. The muscle spindles of the rat medial gastrocnemius were predominantly distributed on the proximo-medial divisions of the muscle. There were no sex-related differences in the distribution of the studied receptors. A single division contained an average of 2.71 receptors for animals of both sexes. Moreover, the calculated lengths of male and female rat muscle spindles were comparable, and average lengths did not significantly differ (3.30 ± 1.47 mm for male and 3.26 ± 1.32 mm for female rats). Therefore, the present results fill gaps in recent observations concerning similarities in muscle spindle numbers between male and female animals, despite significant differences in muscle mass and size.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Piotr
- Department of NeurobiologyPoznan University of Physical EducationPoznanPoland
| | - K. Skieresz‐Szewczyk
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyPoznan University of Life SciencesPoznanPoland
| | - H. Jackowiak
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyPoznan University of Life SciencesPoznanPoland
| | - J. Celichowski
- Department of NeurobiologyPoznan University of Physical EducationPoznanPoland
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Iguchi Y. Allometric approach to the two male morphs in the Japanese firefly Luciola parvula. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1230363. [PMID: 38469470 PMCID: PMC10926417 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1230363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
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Xu S, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Li Q, Ji L, Cheng H. Concomitant Production of Erythritol and β-Carotene by Engineered Yarrowia lipolytica. J Agric Food Chem 2023. [PMID: 37466300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03033] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
While the expansion of the erythritol production industry has resulted in unprecedented production of yeast cells, it also suffers from a lack of effective utilization. β-Carotene is a value-added compound that can be synthesized by engineered Yarrowia lipolytica. Here, we first evaluated the production performance of erythritol-producing yeast strains under two different morphologies and then successfully constructed a chassis with yeast-like morphology by deleting Mhy1 and Cla4 genes. Subsequently, β-carotene synthesis pathway genes, CarRA and CarB from Blakeslea trispora, were introduced to construct the β-carotene and erythritol coproducing Y. lipolytica strain ylmcc. The rate-limiting genes GGS1 and tHMG1 were overexpressed to increase the β-carotene yield by 45.32-fold compared with the strain ylmcc. However, increased β-carotene accumulation led to prolonged fermentation time; therefore, transporter engineering through overexpression of YTH1 and YTH3 genes was used to alleviate fermentation delays. Using batch fermentation in a 3 L bioreactor, this engineered Y. lipolytica strain produced erythritol with production, yield, and productivity values of 171 g/L, 0.56 g/g glucose, and 2.38 g/(L·h), respectively, with a concomitant β-carotene yield of 47.36 ± 0.06 mg/g DCW. The approach presented here improves the value of erythritol-producing cells and offers a low-cost technique to obtain hydrophobic terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Liyun Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hairong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Montes-de-Oca-García A, Perez-Bey A, Corral-Pérez J, Marín-Galindo A, Calderon-Dominguez M, Velázquez-Díaz D, Casals C, Ponce-Gonzalez JG. Influence of Gender on Plasma Leptin Levels, Fat Oxidation, and Insulin Sensitivity in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Fitness and Fatness. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112628. [PMID: 37299591 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112628] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
It is unknown how plasma leptin affects fat oxidation depending on sex in young adults. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations of plasma leptin with resting fat oxidation (RFO), maximal fat oxidation during exercise (MFO), and insulin sensitivity, considering the different responses in men and women, and the mediating role of fatness and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Sixty-five young adults (22.5 ± 4.3 years; body mass index = 25.2 ± 4.7 kg·m-2, 23 females) participated in this study. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and leptin were analyzed. Variables related to insulin resistance (HOMA1-IR, HOMA2-IR), secretion (HOMA-%β), and sensitivity (HOMA-%S, QUICKI) were computed. RFO and MFO were determined through indirect calorimetry. A peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) test was performed until exhaustion after the MFO test. The MFO was relativized to body mass (MFO-BM) and the legs' lean mass divided by the height squared (MFO-LI). In men, leptin was negatively associated with MFO-BM and positively with HOMA-%β (p ≤ 0.02 in both). In women, leptin was positively associated with RFO and QUICKI, and negatively with MFO-BM (p < 0.05 in all). The association between leptin and MFO was mediated by CRF (p < 0.05), but not by fat mass (p > 0.05). Plasma leptin is associated with fat oxidation and insulin secretion/sensitivity, with different responses within each sex. The association between leptin and fat oxidation is mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Montes-de-Oca-García
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Alejandro Perez-Bey
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
- GALENO Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Juan Corral-Pérez
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Alberto Marín-Galindo
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Maria Calderon-Dominguez
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, University of Cadiz, 11002 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Daniel Velázquez-Díaz
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
- Advent Health Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL 32803, USA
| | - Cristina Casals
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Jesus G Ponce-Gonzalez
- ExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
- Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
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13
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Parrett JM, Łukasiewicz A, Chmielewski S, Szubert-Kruszyńska A, Maurizio PL, Grieshop K, Radwan J. A sexually selected male weapon characterized by strong additive genetic variance and no evidence for sexually antagonistic polyphenic maintenance. Evolution 2023; 77:1289-1302. [PMID: 36848265 PMCID: PMC10234106 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad039] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Sexual selection and sexual antagonism are important drivers of eco-evolutionary processes. The evolution of traits shaped by these processes depends on their genetic architecture, which remains poorly studied. Here, implementing a quantitative genetics approach using diallel crosses of the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini, we investigated the genetic variance that underlies a sexually selected weapon that is dimorphic among males and female fecundity. Previous studies indicated that a negative genetic correlation between these two traits likely exists. We found male morph showed considerable additive genetic variance, which is unlikely to be explained solely by mutation-selection balance, indicating the likely presence of large-effect loci. However, a significant magnitude of inbreeding depression also indicates that morph expression is likely to be condition-dependent to some degree and that deleterious recessives can simultaneously contribute to morph expression. Female fecundity also showed a high degree of inbreeding depression, but the variance in female fecundity was mostly explained by epistatic effects, with very little contribution from additive effects. We found no significant genetic correlation, nor any evidence for dominance reversal, between male morph and female fecundity. The complex genetic architecture underlying male morph and female fecundity in this system has important implications for our understanding of the evolutionary interplay between purifying selection and sexually antagonistic selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Parrett
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Łukasiewicz
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Sebastian Chmielewski
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Paul L Maurizio
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Karl Grieshop
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jacek Radwan
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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14
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Sardinha Francisco C, McDonald BA, Palma-Guerrero J. A transcription factor and a phosphatase regulate temperature-dependent morphogenesis in the fungal plant pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 167:103811. [PMID: 37196910 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103811] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Naturally fluctuating temperatures provide a constant environmental stress that requires adaptation. Some fungal pathogens respond to heat stress by producing new morphotypes that maximize their overall fitness. The fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici responds to heat stress by switching from its yeast-like blastospore form to hyphae or chlamydospores. The regulatory mechanisms underlying this switch are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a differential heat stress response is ubiquitous in Z. tritici populations around the world. We used QTL mapping to identify a single locus associated with the temperature-dependent morphogenesis and we found two genes, the transcription factor ZtMsr1 and the protein phosphatase ZtYvh1, regulating this mechanism. We find that ZtMsr1 regulates repression of hyphal growth and induces chlamydospore formation whereas ZtYvh1 is required for hyphal growth. We next showed that chlamydospore formation is a response to the intracellular osmotic stress generated by the heat stress. This intracellular stress stimulates the cell wall integrity (CWI) and high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) MAPK pathways resulting in hyphal growth. If cell wall integrity is compromised, however, ZtMsr1 represses the hyphal development program and may induce the chlamydospore-inducing genes as a stress-response survival strategy. Taken together, these results suggest a novel mechanism through which morphological transitions are orchestrated in Z. tritici - a mechanism that may also be present in other pleomorphic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruce A McDonald
- Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, 8092, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Javier Palma-Guerrero
- Plant Pathology Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, 8092, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
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15
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Ding JL, Wei K, Feng MG, Ying SH. Autophagy-Related Gene 4 Participates in the Asexual Development, Stress Response and Virulence of Filamentous Insect Pathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050543. [PMID: 37233254 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050543] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved mechanism for the turnover of intracellular components. Among the 'core' autophagy-related genes (ATGs), the cysteine protease Atg4 plays an important role in the activation of Atg8 by exposing the glycine residue at its extreme carboxyl terminus. In the insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana, a yeast ortholog of Atg4 was identified and functionally analyzed. Ablation of the BbATG4 gene blocks the autophagic process during fungal growth under aerial and submerged conditions. Gene loss did not affect fungal radial growth on various nutrients, but ΔBbatg4 exhibited an impaired ability to accumulate biomass. The mutant displayed increased sensitivity to stress caused by menadione and hydrogen peroxide. ΔBbatg4 generated abnormal conidiophores with reduced production of conidia. Additionally, fungal dimorphism was significantly attenuated in gene disruption mutants. Disruption of BbATG4 resulted in significantly weakened virulence in topical and intrahemocoel injection assays. Our study indicates that BbAtg4 contributes to the lifecycle of B. bassiana via its autophagic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Li Ding
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kang Wei
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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16
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Tascón L, León I, Fernández R, Cimadevilla JM. Reversal Training Discloses Gender Differences in a Spatial Memory Task in Humans. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050740. [PMID: 37239212 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few years, spatial memory has been studied using virtual-reality-based tasks. Reversal learning has been widely used in spatial orientation tasks for testing, among other things, new learning and flexibility. By means of a reversal-learning protocol, we assessed spatial memory in men and women. A total of sixty participants (half of them women) performed a task that included two phases: during the acquisition phase, participants were asked to find one or three rewarded positions in the virtual room across ten trials. During the reversal phase, the rewarded boxes were moved to a new position and maintained for four trials. The results showed that men and women differed in the reversal phase, with men outperforming women in high demanding conditions. Dissimilarities in several cognitive abilities between both genders are the base of these differences and are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tascón
- Department of Psychology, University of Cordoba, C/San Alberto Magno, s/n, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Irene León
- Facultad de Educación, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR), Av. de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Rubén Fernández
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - José Manuel Cimadevilla
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
- Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
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17
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Silva RDS, Segura WD, Oliveira RS, Xander P, Batista WL. Characterization of Aspartic Proteases from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Their Role in Fungal Thermo- Dimorphism. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030375. [PMID: 36983543 PMCID: PMC10053120 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030375] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America and is caused by fungi from the Paracoccidioides genus. The infection begins after inhalation of the fungal propagules and their thermo-dimorphic shift to yeast form. Proteases play an important role in the host invasion process and immune modulation in many pathogenic microorganisms. Aspartyl proteases are virulence factors in many human fungal pathogens that play an important role in the host invasion process morphogenesis, cellular function, immunity, and nutrition. In the present study, we characterized the modulation of acid proteases from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We detected four aspartyl proteases in P. brasiliensis with high homology to aspartic protease from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pep4. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Pepstatin A can inhibit dimorphic switching (mycelium→yeast) in P. brasiliensis. In addition, these genes were modulated during thermo-dimorphism (M→Y transition) in the presence or absence of carbon and nitrogen sources and during growth at pH 4 during 24 and 48 h. We also observed that P. brasiliensis increase the secretion of aspartic proteases when cultivated at pH 4, and these acid proteases cleave BSA, collagen, and hemoglobin. These data suggest that aspartyl proteases are modulated by environmental conditions and during fungal thermo-dimorphism. Thus, this work brings new possibilities for studying the role of aspartyl proteases in the host-pathogen relationship and P. brasiliensis biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael de Souza Silva
- Departamento Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Wilson Dias Segura
- Departamento Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Souza Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia Xander
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Departamento Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
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18
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Thammasit P, Laliam A, Chaicumpar K, Pruksaphon K, Nosanchuk JD, Youngchim S. Differential lipase virulence in Malassezia furfur dimorphism isolated from pityriasis versicolor patients and healthy individuals. Mycoses 2023; 66:540-549. [PMID: 36840378 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malassezia furfur is a member of the human skin microbiomes that can cause various skin diseases. Dimorphism plays a role as the yeast phase predominates during skin colonisation whereas mycelial forms are observed in the scales of patients with pityriasis versicolor (PV). However, due to their condition-dependence for growth, it is difficult to culture M. furfur and this is an additional challenge for studying the pathogenicity of this fungus. OBJECTIVE To describe different media suitable for culturing Malassezia from the yeast phase into mycelial forms, with a particular focus on nutritional supplements and pH conditions. METHODS Clinical M. furfur isolates from patients with PV and healthy individuals were used to investigate Malassezia dimorphism as well as the activity and expression of lipase enzymes. RESULTS Our experimental media were significantly more likely to promote mycelial growth in strains from healthy individuals compared to those from patients with PV. Lipase activity was increased in the mycelial phase cells compared to yeast forms for all strains tested. Assessment of the relative transcriptional expression of lipase within M. furfur revealed that LIP-coding genes were upregulated in mycelium relative to yeast forms for the strains tested. However, the increases in LIP3, LIP5 and LIP6 gene expressions were significantly greater in strains from healthy individuals compared to those from patients with PV. CONCLUSION Overall, this study validated effective growth conditions to study M. furfur virulence factors and demonstrated that lipase is associated with M. furfur dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharin Thammasit
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Angkana Laliam
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Kunyaluk Chaicumpar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Kritsada Pruksaphon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Sirida Youngchim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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19
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Espel D, Coux C, Pertierra LR, Eymar-Dauphin P, Lembrechts JJ, Renault D. Functional Niche Partitioning Occurs over Body Size but Not Nutrient Reserves nor Melanism in a Polar Carabid Beetle along an Altitudinal Gradient. Insects 2023; 14:123. [PMID: 36835692 PMCID: PMC9967798 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity can favor the emergence of different morphotypes specialized in specific ranges of environmental conditions. The existence of intraspecific partitioning confers resilience at the species scale and can ultimately determine species survival in a context of global changes. Amblystogenium pacificum is a carabid beetle endemic to the sub-Antarctic Crozet Islands, and it has two distinctive morphotypes based on body coloration. For this study, A. pacificum specimens of functional niches were sampled along an altitudinal gradient (as a proxy for temperature), and some morphological and biochemical traits were measured. We used an FAMD multivariate analysis and linear mixed-effects models to test whether these traits were related to morphotype, altitude, and sexual dimorphism. We then calculated and compared the functional niches at different altitudes and tested for niche partitioning through a hypervolume approach. We found a positive hump-shaped correlation between altitude and body size as well as higher protein and sugar reserves in females than in males. Our functional hypervolume results suggest that the main driver of niche partitioning along the altitudinal gradient is body size rather than morphotype or sex, even though darker morphotypes tended to be more functionally constrained at higher altitudes and females showed limited trait variations at the highest altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Espel
- CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553, University of Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Camille Coux
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, F-34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Luis R. Pertierra
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Pauline Eymar-Dauphin
- CNRS, LEHNA (Laboratoire d’Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés), UMR 5023, University of Lyon 1, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jonas J. Lembrechts
- Research Group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO), University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - David Renault
- CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553, University of Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France
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20
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Mao YS, Chen JW, Wang ZH, Xu MY, Gao XD. Roles of the transcriptional regulators Fts1, YlNrg1, YlTup1, and YlSsn6 in the repression of the yeast-to-filament transition in the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Mol Microbiol 2023; 119:126-142. [PMID: 36537557 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In dimorphic fungi, the yeast-to-filament transition critical for cell survival under nutrient starvation is controlled by both activators and repressors. However, very few filamentation repressors are known. Here we report that, in the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, the conserved transcription factor YlNrg1 plays a minor role whereas Fts1, a newly identified Zn(II)2 Cys6 zinc cluster transcription factor, plays a key role in filamentation repression. FTS1 deletion caused hyperfilamentation whereas Fts1 overexpression drastically reduced filamentation. The expression of FTS1 is downregulated substantially during the yeast-to-filament transition. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that Fts1 represses 401 genes, including the filamentation-activating transcription factor genes MHY1, YlAZF1, and YlWOR4 and key cell wall protein genes. Tup1-Ssn6, a general transcriptional corepressor, is involved in the repression of many cellular functions in fungi. We show that both YlTup1 and YlSsn6 strongly repress filamentation in Y. lipolytica. YlTup1 and YlSsn6 together repress 1383 genes, including a large number of transcription factor and cell wall protein genes, which overlap substantially with Fts1-repressed genes. Fts1 interacts with both YlTup1 and YlSsn6, and LexA-Fts1 fusion represses a lexAop-promoter-lacZ reporter in a Tup1-Ssn6-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that Fts1 functions as a transcriptional repressor, directing the repression of target genes through the Tup1-Ssn6 corepressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Sheng Mao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Wen Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen-Hua Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng-Yang Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Gao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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21
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Chen JW, Mao YS, Yan LQ, Gao XD. The Zinc Finger Transcription Factor Fts2 Represses the Yeast-to-Filament Transition in the Dimorphic Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. mSphere 2022; 7:e0045022. [PMID: 36409080 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00450-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast-to-filament transition is an important cellular response to environmental stimulations in dimorphic fungi. In addition to activators, there are repressors in the cells to prevent filament formation, which is important to keep the cells in the yeast form when filamentation is not necessary. However, very few repressors of filamentation are known so far. Here, we identify a novel repressor of filamentation in the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, Fts2, which is a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor. We show that fts2Δ cells exhibited increased filamentation under mild filament-inducing conditions and formed filaments under non-filament-inducing conditions. We also show that Fts2 interacts with YlSsn6, component of the Tup1-Ssn6 transcriptional corepressor, and Fts2-LexA represses a lexAop-PYlACT1-lacZ reporter in a Tup1-Ssn6-dependent manner, suggesting that Fts2 has transcriptional repressor activity and represses gene expression via Tup1-Ssn6. In addition, we show that Fts2 represses a large number of cell wall protein genes and transcription factor genes, some of which are implicated in the filamentation response. Interestingly, about two-thirds of Fts2-repressed genes are also repressed by Tup1-Ssn6, suggesting that Fts2 may repress the bulk of its target genes via Tup1-Ssn6. Lastly, we show that Fts2 expression is downregulated in response to alkaline pH and the relief of negative control by Fts2 facilitates the induction of filamentation by alkaline pH. IMPORTANCE The repressors of filamentation are important negative regulators of the yeast-to-filament transition. However, except in Candida albicans, very few repressors of filamentation are known in dimorphic fungi. More importantly, how they repress filamentation is often not clear. In this paper, we report a novel repressor of filamentation in Y. lipolytica. Fts2 is not closely related in amino acid sequence to CaNrg1 and Rfg1, two major repressors of filamentation in C. albicans, yet it represses gene expression via the transcriptional corepressor Tup1-Ssn6, similar to CaNrg1 and Rfg1. Using transcriptome sequencing, we determined the whole set of genes regulated by Fts2 and identified the major targets of Fts2 repression, which provide clues to the mechanism by which Fts2 represses filamentation. Our results have important implications for understanding the negative control of the yeast-to-filament transition in dimorphic fungi.
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22
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Beltrán DF, Araya-Salas M, Parra JL, Stiles FG, Rico-Guevara A. The evolution of sexually dimorphic traits in ecological gradients: an interplay between natural and sexual selection in hummingbirds. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221783. [PMID: 36515116 PMCID: PMC9748779 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1783] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits that exhibit differences between the sexes have been of special interest in the study of phenotypic evolution. Classic hypotheses explain sexually dimorphic traits via intra-sexual competition and mate selection, yet natural selection may also act differentially on the sexes to produce dimorphism. Natural selection can act either through physiological and ecological constraints on one of the sexes, or by modulating the strength of sexual/social selection. This predicts an association between the degree of dimorphism and variation in ecological environments. Here, we characterize the variation in hummingbird dimorphism across ecological gradients using rich databases of morphology, colouration and song. We show that morphological dimorphism decreases with elevation in the understorey and increases with elevation in mixed habitats, that dichromatism increases at high altitudes in open and mixed habitats, and that song is less complex in mixed habitats. Our results are consistent with flight constraints, lower predation pressure at high elevations and with habitat effects on song transmission. We also show that dichromatism and song complexity are positively associated, while tail dimorphism and song complexity are negatively associated. Our results suggest that key ecological factors shape sexually dimorphic traits, and that different communication modalities do not always evolve in tandem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F. Beltrán
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marcelo Araya-Salas
- Centro de Investigación en Neurociencias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Juan L. Parra
- Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - F. Gary Stiles
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Alejandro Rico-Guevara
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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23
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Trieu TA, Nguyen PA, Le MN, Chu HN. Myosin-II proteins are involved in the growth, morphogenesis, and virulence of the human pathogenic fungus Mucor circinelloides. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1031463. [PMID: 36590583 PMCID: PMC9800795 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1031463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an emerging lethal invasive fungal infection. The infection caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales has been reported recently as one of the most common fungal infections among COVID-19 patients. The lack of understanding of pathogens, particularly at the molecular level, is one of the reasons for the difficulties in the management of the infection. Myosin is a diverse superfamily of actin-based motor proteins that have various cellular roles. Four families of myosin motors have been found in filamentous fungi, including myosin I, II, V, and fungus-specific chitin synthase with myosin motor domains. Our previous study on Mucor circinelloides, a common pathogen of mucormycosis, showed that the Myo5 protein (ID 51513) belonging to the myosin type V family had a critical impact on the growth and virulence of this fungus. In this study, to investigate the roles of myosin II proteins in M. circinelloides, silencing phenotypes and null mutants corresponding to myosin II encoding genes, designated mcmyo2A (ID 149958) and mcmyo2B (ID 136314), respectively, were generated. Those mutant strains featured a significantly reduced growth rate and impaired sporulation in comparison with the wild-type strain. Notably, the disruption of mcmyo2A led to an almost complete lack of sporulation. Both mutant strains displayed abnormally short, septate, and inflated hyphae with the presence of yeast-like cells and an unusual accumulation of pigment-filled vesicles. In vivo virulence assays of myosin-II mutant strains performed in the invertebrate model Galleria mellonella indicated that the mcmyo2A-knockout strain was avirulent, while the pathogenesis of the mcmyo2B null mutant was unaltered despite the low growth rate and impaired sporulation. The findings provide suggestions for critical contributions of the myosin II proteins to the polarity growth, septation, morphology, pigment transportation, and pathogenesis of M. circinelloides. The findings also implicate the myosin family as a potential target for future therapy to treat mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Anh Trieu
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam,*Correspondence: Trung Anh Trieu,
| | - Phuong Anh Nguyen
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mai Ngoc Le
- Department of Genetics - Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Huy Nhat Chu
- Environmental Bioremediation Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam,Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Buendía-González FO, Legorreta-Herrera M. The Similarities and Differences between the Effects of Testosterone and DHEA on the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121768. [PMID: 36551196 PMCID: PMC9775255 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121768] [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: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgens are steroids that modulate various processes in the body, ranging from reproduction, metabolism, and even immune response. The main androgens are testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These steroids modulate the development and function of immune response cells. Androgens are generally attributed to immunosuppressive effects; however, this is not always the case. Variations in the concentrations of these hormones induce differences in the innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immune response, which is concentration dependent. The androgens at the highest concentration in the organism that bind to the androgen receptor (AR) are DHEA and testosterone. Therefore, in this work, we review the effects of DHEA and testosterone on the immune response. The main findings of this review are that DHEA and testosterone induce similar but also opposite effects on the immune response. Both steroids promote the activation of regulatory T cells, which suppresses the Th17-type response. However, while testosterone suppresses the inflammatory response, DHEA promotes it, and this modulation is important for understanding the involvement of androgens in infectious (bacterial, viral and parasitic) and autoimmune diseases, as well as in the sexual dimorphism that occurs in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Valdez AF, Miranda DZ, Guimarães AJ, Nimrichter L, Nosanchuk JD. Pathogenicity & Virulence of Histoplasma capsulatum - a multifaceted organism adapted to intracellular environments. Virulence 2022; 13:1900-1919. [PMID: 36266777 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2137987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Although healthy individuals can develop histoplasmosis, the disease is particularly life-threatening in immunocompromised patients, with a wide range of clinical manifestations depending on the inoculum and virulence of the infecting strain. In this review, we discuss the established virulence factors and pathogenesis traits that make H. capsulatum highly adapted to a wide variety of hosts, including mammals. Understanding and integrating these mechanisms is a key step towards devising new preventative and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro F Valdez
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Zamith Miranda
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Allan Jefferson Guimarães
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto Biomédico, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia - MIP, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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Zhou Y, Pang Z, Yuan Z, Fallah N, Jia H, Ming R. Sex-based metabolic and microbiota differences in roots and rhizosphere soils of dioecious papaya ( Carica papaya L.). Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:991114. [PMID: 36311075 PMCID: PMC9612958 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.991114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Dioecious plant species have a high genetic variation that is important for coping with or adapting to environmental stress through natural selection. Intensive studies have reported dimorphism morphism in morphology, physiology, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses in dioecious plants. Here, we demonstrated the dimorphism of metabolic profile and the preference of some microorganisms in the roots and rhizosphere soils of male and female papaya. The metabolic composition of roots were significantly different between the males and females. Some sex hormones occurred in the differential metabolites in roots and rhizosphere soils. For example, testosterone was up-regulated in male papaya roots and rhizosphere soils, whereas norgestrel was up-regulated in the female papaya roots, indicating a possible balance in papaya roots to control the sexual differentiation. Plant hormones such as BRs, JAs, SA and GAs were also detected among the differential metabolites in the roots and rhizosphere soils of dioecious papaya. In addition, some metabolites that have medicinal values, such as ecliptasaponin A, crocin, berberine and sapindoside A were also expressed differentially between the two sexes. Numerous differential metabolites from the papaya roots were secreted in the soil, resulting in the differences in microbial community structure in the roots and rhizosphere soils. Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Brevundimonas and Microvirga were enriched in the male papaya roots or rhizosphere soils. While Candidatus Solibacter and Tumebacillus, which utilize organic matters, were enriched in the roots or rhizosphere soils of the female papaya. Some differences in the fungi abundance were also observed in both male and female papaya roots. These findings uncovered the effect of sex types on the metabolic and microbiota differences in roots and rhizosphere soils in papaya and will lead to investigations of underlining genomic and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongmei Zhou
- FAFU and UIUC Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziqin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhaonian Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Nyumah Fallah
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Jia
- FAFU and UIUC Joint Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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Homa M, Ibragimova S, Szebenyi C, Nagy G, Zsindely N, Bodai L, Vágvölgyi C, Nagy G, Papp T. Differential Gene Expression of Mucor lusitanicus under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040404. [PMID: 35448635 PMCID: PMC9031258 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040404] [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: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucor lusitanicus and some other members of the fungal order Mucorales display the phenomenon of morphological dimorphism. This means that these fungi aerobically produce filamentous hyphae, developing a coenocytic mycelium, but they grow in a multipolar yeast-like form under anaerobiosis. Revealing the molecular mechanism of the reversible yeast-hyphal transition can be interesting for both the biotechnological application and in the understanding of the pathomechanism of mucormycosis. In the present study, transcriptomic analyses were carried out after cultivating the fungus either aerobically or anaerobically revealing significant changes in gene expression under the two conditions. In total, 539 differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05, |log2FC| ≥ 3) were identified, including 190 upregulated and 349 downregulated transcripts. Within the metabolism-related genes, carbohydrate metabolism was proven to be especially affected. Anaerobiosis also affected the transcription of transporters: among the 14 up- and 42 downregulated transporters, several putative sugar transporters were detected. Moreover, a considerable number of transcripts related to amino acid transport and metabolism, lipid transport and metabolism, and energy production and conversion were proven to be downregulated when the culture had been transferred into an anaerobic atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Homa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Sandugash Ibragimova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Csilla Szebenyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (G.N.); (L.B.)
| | - Nóra Zsindely
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - László Bodai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (G.N.); (L.B.)
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
| | - Tamás Papp
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (M.H.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (C.V.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Napoli JL. Retinoic Acid: Sexually Dimorphic, Anti-Insulin and Concentration-Dependent Effects on Energy. Nutrients 2022; 14:1553. [PMID: 35458115 PMCID: PMC9027308 DOI: 10.3390/nu14081553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This review addresses the fasting vs. re-feeding effects of retinoic acid (RA) biosynthesis and functions, and sexually dimorphic RA actions. It also discusses other understudied topics essential for understanding RA activities-especially interactions with energy-balance-regulating hormones, including insulin and glucagon, and sex hormones. This report will introduce RA homeostasis and hormesis to provide context. Essential context also will encompass RA effects on adiposity, muscle function and pancreatic islet development and maintenance. These comments provide background for explaining interactions among insulin, glucagon and cortisol with RA homeostasis and function. One aim would clarify the often apparent RA contradictions related to pancreagenesis vs. pancreas hormone functions. The discussion also will explore the adverse effects of RA on estrogen action, in contrast to the enhancing effects of estrogen on RA action, the adverse effects of androgens on RA receptors, and the RA induction of androgen biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Napoli
- Graduate Program in Metabolic Biology, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, The University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
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Chen LD, Santos-Rivera M, Burger IJ, Kouba AJ, Barber DM, Vance CK. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a Method for Biological Sex Discrimination in the Endangered Houston Toad ( Anaxyrus houstonensis). Methods Protoc 2021; 5:4. [PMID: 35076558 PMCID: PMC8788558 DOI: 10.3390/mps5010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological sex is one of the more critically important physiological parameters needed for managing threatened animal species because it is crucial for informing several of the management decisions surrounding conservation breeding programs. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technology that has been recently applied in the field of wildlife science to evaluate various aspects of animal physiology and may have potential as an in vivo technique for determining biological sex in live amphibian species. This study investigated whether NIRS could be used as a rapid and non-invasive method for discriminating biological sex in the endangered Houston toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis). NIR spectra (N = 396) were collected from live A. houstonensis individuals (N = 132), and distinct spectral patterns between males and females were identified using chemometrics. Linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) classified the spectra from each biological sex with accuracy ≥ 98% in the calibration and internal validation datasets and 94% in the external validation process. Through the use of NIRS, we have determined that unique spectral signatures can be holistically captured in the skin of male and female anurans, bringing to light the possibility of further application of this technique for juveniles and sexually monomorphic species, whose sex designation is important for breeding-related decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Dunn Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (L.-D.C.); (M.S.-R.)
| | - Mariana Santos-Rivera
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (L.-D.C.); (M.S.-R.)
| | - Isabella J. Burger
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (I.J.B.); (A.J.K.)
| | - Andrew J. Kouba
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (I.J.B.); (A.J.K.)
| | - Diane M. Barber
- Department of Ectotherms, Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, TX 76110, USA;
| | - Carrie K. Vance
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (L.-D.C.); (M.S.-R.)
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Jothi R, Hari Prasath N, Gowrishankar S, Pandian SK. Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Molecules as Promising Natural Inhibitors of Candida albicans Virulence Dimorphism: An In Silico and In Vitro Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:781790. [PMID: 34926324 PMCID: PMC8677694 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.781790] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Farnesol, a self-secreted quorum-sensing molecule (QSM) of Candida albicans, has been known to limit yeast-to-hyphal transition by blocking the RAS1-cAMP-PKA pathway. In a similar fashion, certain bacterial QSMs have also been reported to be successful in attenuating C. albicans biofilm and hyphal formation at relatively high cell density. This prompted us to investigate the antihyphal efficacy of certain bacterial QSMs through virtual docking against seminal drug targets, viz., CYCc and RAS1, that have been reported to be the hallmark players in C. albicans dimorphic virulence cascade. Against this backdrop, 64 QSMs belonging to five different bacterial QS signaling systems were subjected to initial virtual screening with farnesol as reference. Data of the virtual screening unveiled QSMs belonging to diketopiperazines (DKPs), i.e., 3-benzyl-6-isobutylidene-2,5-piperazinedione (QSSM 1157) and cyclo(l-Pro-l-Leu) (QSSM 1112), as potential inhibitors of CYCc and RAS1 with binding energies of -8.2 and -7.3 kcal mol-1, respectively. Further, the molecular dynamics simulations (for 50 ns) of CYCc-QSSM 1157 and RAS1-QSSM 1112 complexes revealed the mean ligand root mean square deviation (RMSD) values of 0.35 and 0.27 Å, respectively, which endorsed the rigid nature, less fluctuation in binding stiffness, and conformation of binding complexes. Furthermore, the identified two QSMs were found to be good in solubility, absorption, and permeation and less toxic in nature, as revealed by pharmacokinetics and toxicity analyses. In addition, the in vitro antihyphal assays using liquid and solid media, germ-tube experiment, and microscopic analysis strongly validated DKP-QSSM 1112 as a promising inhibitor of hyphal transition. Taken together, the present study unequivocally proves that DKPs can be used as potent inhibitors of C. albicans virulence dimorphism.
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Tan DX, Hardeland R. The Reserve/Maximum Capacity of Melatonin's Synthetic Function for the Potential Dimorphism of Melatonin Production and Its Biological Significance in Mammals. Molecules 2021; 26:7302. [PMID: 34885890 PMCID: PMC8659113 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237302] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we attempt to classify a potential dimorphism of melatonin production. Thus, a new concept of "reserve or maximum capacity of melatonin synthetic function" is introduced to explain the subtle dimorphism of melatonin production in mammals. Considering ASMT/ASMTL genes in the pseudoautosomal region of sex chromosomes with high prevalence of mutation in males, as well as the sex bias of the mitochondria in which melatonin is synthesized, we hypothesize the existence of a dimorphism in melatonin production to favor females, which are assumed to possess a higher reserve capacity for melatonin synthesis than males. Under physiological conditions, this subtle dimorphism is masked by the fact that cells or tissues only need baseline melatonin production, which can be accomplished without exploiting the full potential of melatonin's synthetic capacity. This capacity is believed to exceed the already remarkable nocturnal increase as observed within the circadian cycle. However, during aging or under stressful conditions, the reserve capacity of melatonin's synthetic function is required to be activated to produce sufficiently high levels of melatonin for protective purposes. Females seem to possess a higher reserve/maximum capacity for producing more melatonin than males. Thus, this dimorphism of melatonin production becomes manifest and detectable under these conditions. The biological significance of the reserve/maximum capacity of melatonin's synthetic function is to improve the recovery rate of organisms from injury, to increase resistance to pathogen infection, and even to enhance their chances of survival by maximizing melatonin production under stressful conditions. The higher reserve/maximum capacity of melatonin synthesis in females may also contribute to the dimorphism in longevity, favoring females in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun-Xian Tan
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Rüdiger Hardeland
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
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Odom KJ, Cain KE, Hall ML, Langmore NE, Mulder RA, Kleindorfer S, Karubian J, Brouwer L, Enbody ED, Jones JA, Dowling JL, Leitão AV, Greig EI, Evans C, Johnson AE, Meyers KK, Araya‐Salas M, Webster MS. Sex role similarity and sexual selection predict male and female song elaboration and dimorphism in fairy-wrens. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17901-17919. [PMID: 35003646 PMCID: PMC8717346 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, bird song complexity was thought to evolve primarily through sexual selection on males; yet, in many species, both sexes sing and selection pressure on both sexes may be broader. Previous research suggests competition for mates and resources during short, synchronous breeding seasons leads to more elaborate male songs at high, temperate latitudes. Furthermore, we expect male-female song structure and elaboration to be more similar at lower, tropical latitudes, where longer breeding seasons and year-round territoriality yield similar social selection pressures in both sexes. However, studies seldom take both types of selective pressures and sexes into account. We examined song in both sexes in 15 populations of nine-fairy-wren species (Maluridae), a Southern Hemisphere clade with female song. We compared song elaboration (in both sexes) and sexual song dimorphism to latitude and life-history variables tied to sexual and social selection pressures and sex roles. Our results suggest that song elaboration evolved in part due to sexual competition in males: male songs were longer than female songs in populations with low male survival and less male provisioning. Also, female songs evolved independently of male songs: female songs were slower paced than male songs, although only in less synchronously breeding populations. We also found male and female songs were more similar when parental care was more equal and when male survival was high, which provides strong evidence that sex role similarity correlates with male-female song similarity. Contrary to Northern Hemisphere latitudinal patterns, male and female songs were more similar at higher, temperate latitudes. These results suggest that selection on song can be sex specific, with male song elaboration favored in contexts with stronger sexual selection. At the same time, selection pressures associated with sex role similarity appear to favor sex role similarity in song structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan J. Odom
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Maryland, College ParkCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Kristal E. Cain
- Research School of BiologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Michelle L. Hall
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
- Bush Heritage AustraliaMelbourneVic.Australia
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWAAustralia
- Max Planck Institute for OrnithologyVogelwarte RadolfzellGermany
| | - Naomi E. Langmore
- Research School of BiologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Raoul A. Mulder
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSAAustralia
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive BiologyKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behaviour and CognitionUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Jordan Karubian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Lyanne Brouwer
- Research School of BiologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
- Department of Animal Ecology & PhysiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Erik D. Enbody
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and MicrobiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - John Anthony Jones
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | | | - Ana V. Leitão
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Emma I. Greig
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Project Feeder WatchCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Christine Evans
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Allison E. Johnson
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraskaUSA
| | | | - Marcelo Araya‐Salas
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Centro de Investigación en NeurocienciasUniversidad de Costa RicaSan JoséCosta Rica
- Esciela de Biología, Universidad de Costa RicaSan JoséCosta Rica
| | - Michael S. Webster
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
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Navarro MV, de Barros YN, Segura WD, Chaves AFA, Jannuzzi GP, Ferreira KS, Xander P, Batista WL. The Role of Dimorphism Regulating Histidine Kinase (Drk1) in the Pathogenic Fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Cell Wall. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7121014. [PMID: 34946996 PMCID: PMC8707131 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121014] [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: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dimorphic fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus are the causative agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an endemic disease in Latin America with a high incidence in Brazil. This pathogen presents as infective mycelium at 25 °C in the soil, reverting to its pathogenic form when inhaled by the mammalian host (37 °C). Among these dimorphic fungal species, dimorphism regulating histidine kinase (Drk1) plays an essential role in the morphological transition. These kinases are present in bacteria and fungi but absent in mammalian cells and are important virulence and cellular survival regulators. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of PbDrk1 in the cell wall modulation of P. brasiliensis. We observed that PbDrk1 participates in fungal resistance to different cell wall-disturbing agents by reducing viability after treatment with iDrk1. To verify the role of PbDRK1 in cell wall morphogenesis, qPCR results showed that samples previously exposed to iDrk1 presented higher expression levels of several genes related to cell wall modulation. One of them was FKS1, a β-glucan synthase that showed a 3.6-fold increase. Furthermore, confocal microscopy analysis and flow cytometry showed higher β-glucan exposure on the cell surface of P. brasiliensis after incubation with iDrk1. Accordingly, through phagocytosis assays, a significantly higher phagocytic index was observed in yeasts treated with iDrk1 than the control group, demonstrating the role of PbDrk1 in cell wall modulation, which then becomes a relevant target to be investigated. In parallel, the immune response profile showed increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Finally, our data strongly suggest that PbDrk1 modulates cell wall component expression, among which we can identify β-glucan. Understanding this signalling pathway may be of great value for identifying targets of antifungal molecular activity since HKs are not present in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Valente Navarro
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil;
| | - Yasmin Nascimento de Barros
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil; (Y.N.d.B.); (W.D.S.); (K.S.F.); (P.X.)
| | - Wilson Dias Segura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil; (Y.N.d.B.); (W.D.S.); (K.S.F.); (P.X.)
| | | | - Grasielle Pereira Jannuzzi
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Karen Spadari Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil; (Y.N.d.B.); (W.D.S.); (K.S.F.); (P.X.)
| | - Patrícia Xander
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil; (Y.N.d.B.); (W.D.S.); (K.S.F.); (P.X.)
| | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil; (Y.N.d.B.); (W.D.S.); (K.S.F.); (P.X.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-11-3319-3594; Fax: +55-11-3319-3300
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Janas K, Gaweł P, Łatkiewicz A, Lutyk D, Gustafsson L, Cichoń M, Drobniak SM. Sexual dichromatism, size dimorphism, and microscale anatomy of white wing stripe in blue tits. Curr Zool 2021; 67:585-596. [PMID: 34805536 PMCID: PMC8599086 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Achromatic patches are a common element of plumage patterns in many bird species and there is growing body of evidence that in many avian taxa they can play a signaling role in mate choice. Although the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus is a well-established model species in the studies on coloration, its white wing patch has never been examined in the context of sex-specific trait expression. In this exploratory study, we examined sexual size dimorphism and dichromatism of greater covert’s dots creating white wing patch and analyzed its correlations with current body condition and crown coloration—a trait with established role in sexual selection. Further, we qualitatively analyzed microstructural barb morphology underlying covert’s coloration. We found significant sexual dimorphism in the dot size independent of covert size and sexual dichromatism in both white dot and blue outer covert’s vane spectral characteristics. Internal structure of covert barbs within the white dot was similar to the one found in barbs from the blue part that is, with a medullary area consisting of dead keratinocytes containing channel-type ß-keratin spongy nanostructure and centrally located air cavities. However, it lacked melanosomes which was the main observed difference. Importantly, UV chroma of covert’s blue vane was positively correlated with crown UV chroma and current condition (the latter only in males), which should be a premise for further research on the signal function of the wing stripe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Janas
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30- 387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paulina Gaweł
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30- 387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Łatkiewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dorota Lutyk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30- 387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Lars Gustafsson
- Department of Animal Ecology/Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariusz Cichoń
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30- 387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Szymon M Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30- 387, Kraków, Poland.,School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of New South Wales, Biological Sciences Building (D26), Kensington Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
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Wang M, O'Connor JK, Zhao T, Pan Y, Zheng X, Wang X, Zhou Z. An Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird with a pintail. Curr Biol 2021; 31:4845-4852.e2. [PMID: 34534442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Enantiornithes are the most successful group of Mesozoic birds, arguably representing the first global avian radiation,1-4 and commonly resolved as the sister to the Ornithuromorpha, the clade within which all living birds are nested.1,3 The wealth of fossils makes it feasible to comparatively test evolutionary hypotheses about the pattern and mode of eco-morphological diversity of these sister clades that co-existed for approximately 65 Ma. Here, we report a new Early Cretaceous enantiornithine, Yuanchuavis kompsosoura gen. et. sp. nov., with a rectricial fan combined with an elongate central pair of fully pennaceous rachis-dominated plumes, constituting a new tail plumage previously unknown among nonavialan dinosaurs and Mesozoic birds but which strongly resembles the pintail in many neornithines. The extravagant but aerodynamically costly long central plumes, as an honest signal of quality, likely evolved in enantiornithines through the handicap process of sexual selection. The contrasting tail morphotypes observed between enantiornithines and early ornithuromorphs reflect the complex interplay between sexual and natural selections and indicate that each lineage experienced unique pressures reflecting ecological differences. As in neornithines, early avialans repeatedly evolved extravagant structures highlighting the importance of sexual selection in shaping the plumage of feathered dinosaurs, even early in their evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China.
| | | | - Tao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yanhong Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaoting Zheng
- Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000 Shandong, China; Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, Pingyi, 273300 Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000 Shandong, China; Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, Pingyi, 273300 Shandong, China
| | - Zhonghe Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China; Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
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Song D, Cao Y, Xia Y. Transcription Factor MaMsn2 Regulates Conidiation Pattern Shift under the Control of MaH1 through Homeobox Domain in Metarhizium acridum. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7100840. [PMID: 34682261 PMCID: PMC8541488 DOI: 10.3390/jof7100840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth pattern of filamentous fungi can switch between hyphal radial polar growth and non-polar yeast-like cell growth depending on the environmental conditions. Asexual conidiation after radial polar growth is called normal conidiation (NC), while yeast-like cell growth is called microcycle conidiation (MC). Previous research found that the disruption of MaH1 in Metarhizium acridum led to a conidiation shift from NC to MC. However, the regulation mechanism is not clear. Here, we found MaMsn2, an Msn2 homologous gene in M. acridum, was greatly downregulated when MaH1 was disrupted (ΔMaH1). Loss of MaMsn2 also caused a conidiation shift from NC to MC on a nutrient-rich medium. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that MaH1 could bind to the promoter region of the MaMsn2 gene. Disrupting the interaction between MaH1 and the promoter region of MaMsn2 significantly downregulated the transcription level of MaMsn2, and the overexpression of MaMsn2 in ΔMaH1 could restore NC from MC of ΔMaH1. Our findings demonstrated that MaMsn2 played a role in maintaining the NC pattern directly under the control of MaH1, which revealed the molecular mechanisms that regulated the conidiation pattern shift in filamentous fungi for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Song
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China;
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Yueqing Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China;
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 400044, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yuxian Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China;
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China
- Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 400044, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (Y.X.)
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Castillo J, Carmona I, Commins S, Fernández S, Ortells JJ, Cimadevilla JM. Spatial Recognition Memory: Differential Brain Strategic Activation According to Sex. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:736778. [PMID: 34539360 PMCID: PMC8441006 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.736778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human spatial memory research has significantly progressed since the development of computerized tasks, with many studies examining sex-related performances. However, few studies explore the underlying electrophysiological correlates according to sex. In this study event-related potentials were compared between male and female participants during the performance of an allocentric spatial recognition task. Twenty-nine university students took part in the research. Results showed that while general performance was similar in both sexes, the brain of males and females displayed a differential activation. Males showed increased N200 modulation than females in the three phases of memory process (encoding, maintenance, and retrieval). Meanwhile females showed increased activation of P300 in the three phases of memory process compared to males. In addition, females exhibited more negative slow wave (NSW) activity during the encoding phase. These differences are discussed in terms of attentional control and the allocation of attentional resources during spatial processing. Our findings demonstrate that sex modulates the resources recruited to performed this spatial task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Castillo
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain.,Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain
| | - Isabel Carmona
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain.,Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sergio Fernández
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain.,Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain
| | - Juan José Ortells
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain.,Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain
| | - José Manuel Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain.,Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain
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38
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Osorio-Concepción M, Lax C, Navarro E, Nicolás FE, Garre V. DNA Methylation on N6-Adenine Regulates the Hyphal Development during Dimorphism in the Early-Diverging Fungus Mucor lusitanicus. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:738. [PMID: 34575776 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic modifications control the pathogenicity of human pathogenic fungi, which have been poorly studied in Mucorales, causative agents of mucormycosis. This order belongs to a group referred to as early-diverging fungi that are characterized by high levels of N6-methyldeoxy adenine (6mA) in their genome with dense 6mA clusters associated with actively expressed genes. AlkB enzymes can act as demethylases of 6mA in DNA, with the most remarkable eukaryotic examples being mammalian ALKBH1 and Caenorhabditis elegans NMAD-1. The Mucor lusitanicus (formerly M. circinelloides f. lusitanicus) genome contains one gene, dmt1, and two genes, dmt2 and dmt3, encoding proteins similar to C. elegans NMAD-1 and ALKBH1, respectively. The function of these three genes was analyzed by the generation of single and double deletion mutants for each gene. Multiple processes were studied in the mutants, but defects were only found in single and double deletion mutants for dmt1. In contrast to the wild-type strain, dmt1 mutants showed an increase in 6mA levels during the dimorphic transition, suggesting that 6mA is associated with dimorphism in M. lusitanicus. Furthermore, the spores of dmt1 mutants challenged with macrophages underwent a reduction in polar growth, suggesting that 6mA also has a role during the spore–macrophage interaction that could be important in the infection process.
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Abstract
Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the prognosis of patients with several types of cancer.A sex-based dimorphism in efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapies is well known and was recently described for anticancer immunotherapy.Areas covered: This review presents an overview of existing biological differences between males and females, including the immune system dimorphism, which represent the rationale for a sexual dimorphism in activity and toxicity of anticancer immunotherapies.Expert opinion: Clinical and preclinical research focused its efforts on the characterization of cancer molecular background and the complexity of tumoral microenvironment.Host factors, such as sex of a patient, and their potential roles in modulating cancer behavior as well as sensitivity and toxicity to anticancer treatments have been under-evaluated and poorly studied.Differences between males and females have been reported in studies with chemotherapy, both in activity and toxicity.Sex-based dimorphism is well known and relies on a complex interplay between immune functions, hormones, genes, and microbioma.With the extensive use of new drugs such as ICIs that lead to an immune system activation, the role of sex in modulating responses and immune-related toxicities needs to be taken into account to further tailor therapeutic approaches for males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pala
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Conforti
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Mokhtar M, Rismayuddin NAR, Mat Yassim AS, Ahmad H, Abdul Wahab R, Dashper S, Arzmi MH. Streptococcus salivarius K12 inhibits Candida albicans aggregation, biofilm formation and dimorphism. Biofouling 2021; 37:767-776. [PMID: 34425729 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2021.1967334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans causes candidiasis, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Streptococcus salivarius K12 (K12) is a probiotic isolated from a healthy oral cavity. The study aimed to determine the effect of K12 on C. albicans aggregation, biofilm formation and dimorphism. C. albicans ATCC MYA-4901, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) isolate (ALC2), and oral cancer isolate (ALC3) and K12 were used in the study. All C. albicans strains and K12 were grown in yeast peptone dextrose agar and brain heart infusion agar, respectively, prior to aggregation, biofilm and dimorphism assays. Auto-aggregation of C. albicans MYA-4901 and ALC2 was categorised as high, while the co-aggregation of the strains was low in the presence of K12. C. albicans total cell count decreased significantly when co-cultured with K12 compared with monocultured C. albicans biofilm (p < 0.05). Inhibition of yeast-to-hyphae transition was also observed when co-cultured with K12. In conclusion, K12 inhibits C. albicans aggregation, biofilm formation and dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munirah Mokhtar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Cluster of Cancer Research Initiative IIUM (COCRII), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Alia Risma Rismayuddin
- Cluster of Cancer Research Initiative IIUM (COCRII), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Aini Syahida Mat Yassim
- Cluster of Cancer Research Initiative IIUM (COCRII), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Hasna Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Cluster of Cancer Research Initiative IIUM (COCRII), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Ridhwan Abdul Wahab
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Stuart Dashper
- Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mohd Hafiz Arzmi
- Cluster of Cancer Research Initiative IIUM (COCRII), International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
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Abstract
The formation of the nervous system and its striking complexity is a remarkable feat of development. C. elegans served as a unique model to dissect the molecular events in neurodevelopment, from its early visionaries to the current booming neuroscience community. Soon after being introduced as a model, C. elegans was mapped at the level of genes, cells, and synapses, providing the first metazoan with a complete cell lineage, sequenced genome, and connectome. Here, I summarize mechanisms underlying C. elegans neurodevelopment, from the generation and diversification of neural components to their navigation and connectivity. I point out recent noteworthy findings in the fields of glia biology, sex dimorphism and plasticity in neurodevelopment, highlighting how current research connects back to the pioneering studies by Brenner, Sulston and colleagues. Multifaceted investigations in model organisms, connecting genes to cell function and behavior, expand our mechanistic understanding of neurodevelopment while allowing us to formulate emerging questions for future discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Rapti
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Unit of Developmental Biology, Heidelberg, Germany
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42
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Marraudino M, Ponti G, Moussu C, Farinetti A, Macchi E, Accornero P, Gotti S, Collado P, Keller M, Panzica G. Early Postnatal Genistein Administration Affects Mice Metabolism and Reproduction in a Sexually Dimorphic Way. Metabolites 2021; 11:449. [PMID: 34357343 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11070449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) may interfere with permanent morphological changes in the brain circuits sensitive to estrogen. Due to the frequent use of soy milk in the neonatal diet, we aimed to study the effects of early GEN exposure on some physiological and reproductive parameters. Mice of both sexes from PND1 to PND8 were treated with GEN (50 mg/kg body weight, comparable to the exposure level in babies fed with soy-based formulas). When adult, we observed, in GEN-treated females, an advanced pubertal onset and an altered estrous cycle, and, in males, a decrease of testicle weight and fecal testosterone concentration. Furthermore, we observed an increase in body weight and altered plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones (leptin, ghrelin, triiodothyronine) limited to adult females. Exposure to GEN significantly altered kisspeptin and POMC immunoreactivity only in females and orexin immunoreactivity in both sexes. In conclusion, early postnatal exposure of mice to GEN determines long-term sex-specific organizational effects. It impairs the reproductive system and has an obesogenic effect only in females, which is probably due to the alterations of neuroendocrine circuits controlling metabolism; thus GEN, should be classified as a metabolism disrupting chemical.
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Moustardas P, Yamada-Fowler N, Apostolou E, Tzioufas AG, Turkina MV, Spyrou G. Deregulation of the Kallikrein Protease Family in the Salivary Glands of the Sjögren's Syndrome ERdj5 Knockout Mouse Model. Front Immunol 2021; 12:693911. [PMID: 34305928 PMCID: PMC8292930 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.693911] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in salivary glands of the ERdj5 knockout mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome and to elucidate possible mechanisms for the morbid phenotype development. At the same time, we describe for the first time the sexual dimorphism of the murine submandibular salivary gland at the proteome level. Methods We performed Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in salivary gland tissues from both sexes of ERdj5 knockout and 129SV wildtype mice. The resulting list of proteins was evaluated with bioinformatic analysis and selected proteins were validated by western blot and immunohistochemistry and further analyzed at the transcription level by qRT-PCR. Results We identified 88 deregulated proteins in females, and 55 in males in wildtype vs knockout comparisons. In both sexes, Kallikrein 1b22 was highly upregulated (fold change>25, ANOVA p<0.0001), while all other proteases of this family were either downregulated or not significantly affected by the genotype. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a possible connection with the downregulated NGF that was further validated by independent methods. Concurrently, we identified 416 proteins that were significantly different in the salivary gland proteome of wildtype female vs male mice and highlighted pathways that could be driving the strong female bias of the pathology. Conclusion Our research provides a list of novel targets and supports the involvement of an NGF-mediating proteolytic deregulation pathway as a focus point towards the better understanding of the underlying mechanism of Sjögren's syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Moustardas
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Naomi Yamada-Fowler
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eirini Apostolou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G. Tzioufas
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria V. Turkina
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Giannis Spyrou
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Khan Z, Tondravi M, Oliver R, Vonhoff FJ. Drosophila Corazonin Neurons as a Hub for Regulating Growth, Stress Responses, Ethanol-Related Behaviors, Copulation Persistence and Sexually Dimorphic Reward Pathways. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:26. [PMID: 34287347 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal mechanisms by which complex behaviors are coordinated and timed often involve neuropeptidergic regulation of stress and reward pathways. Recent studies of the neuropeptide Corazonin (Crz), a homolog of the mammalian Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), have suggested its crucial role in the regulation of growth, internal states and behavioral decision making. We focus this review on Crz neurons with the goal to (1) highlight the diverse roles of Crz neuron function, including mechanisms that may be independent of the Crz peptide, (2) emphasize current gaps in knowledge about Crz neuron functions, and (3) propose exciting ideas of novel research directions involving the use of Crz neurons. We describe the different developmental fates of distinct subsets of Crz neurons, including recent findings elucidating the molecular regulation of apoptosis. Crz regulates systemic growth, food intake, stress responses and homeostasis by interacting with the short Neuropeptide F (sNPF) and the steroid hormone ecdysone. Additionally, activation of Crz neurons is shown to be pleasurable by interacting with the Neuropeptide F (NPF) and regulates reward processes such as ejaculation and ethanol-related behaviors in a sexually dimorphic manner. Crz neurons are proposed to be a motivational switch regulating copulation duration using a CaMKII-dependent mechanism described as the first neuronal interval timer lasting longer than a few seconds. Lastly, we propose ideas to use Crz neuron-induced ejaculation to study the effects of fictive mating and sex addiction in flies, as well as to elucidate dimorphic molecular mechanisms underlying reward behaviors and feeding disorders.
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Zheng DJ, Singh A, Phelps SM. Conservation and dimorphism in androgen receptor distribution in Alston's singing mouse (Scotinomys teguina). J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:2539-2557. [PMID: 33576501 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Because of their roles in courtship and intrasexual competition, sexual displays are often sexually dimorphic, but we know little about the mechanisms that produce such dimorphism. Among mammals, one example is the vocalization of Alston's singing mouse (Scotinomys teguina), which consists of a series of rapidly repeated, frequency-modulated notes. The rate and duration of songs is sexually dimorphic and androgen responsive. To understand the neuronal mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism, we map the sites of androgen sensitivity throughout the brain, focusing analysis along a pathway that spans from limbic structures to vocal motor regions. We find widespread expression of AR immunoreactivity (AR-ir) throughout limbic structures important for social behavior and vocalization, including the lateral septum, extended amygdala, preoptic area and hypothalamus. We also find extensive AR staining along previously documented vocal motor pathways, including the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, and nucleus ambiguus, the last of which innervates intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Lastly, AR-ir is also evident in sensory areas such as the medial geniculate, inferior, and superior colliculi. A quantitative analysis revealed that males exhibited more AR-ir than females, a pattern that was most pronounced in the hypothalamus. Despite the elaboration of vocalization in singing mice, comparison with prior literature suggests that the broad pattern of AR-ir may be conserved across a wide range of rodents. Together these data identify brain nuclei well positioned to shape the sexually dimorphic vocalization of S. teguina and suggest that such androgen modulation of vocalization is evolutionary conserved among rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Jiang Zheng
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Steven M Phelps
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Gómez-Gil E, Franco A, Vázquez-Marín B, Prieto-Ruiz F, Pérez-Díaz A, Vicente-Soler J, Madrid M, Soto T, Cansado J. Specific Functional Features of the Cell Integrity MAP Kinase Pathway in the Dimorphic Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060482. [PMID: 34198697 PMCID: PMC8232204 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways execute essential functions in eukaryotic organisms by transducing extracellular stimuli into adaptive cellular responses. In the fission yeast model Schizosaccharomyces pombe the cell integrity pathway (CIP) and its core effector, MAPK Pmk1, play a key role during regulation of cell integrity, cytokinesis, and ionic homeostasis. Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, another fission yeast species, shows remarkable differences with respect to S. pombe, including a robust yeast to hyphae dimorphism in response to environmental changes. We show that the CIP MAPK module architecture and its upstream regulators, PKC orthologs Pck1 and Pck2, are conserved in both fission yeast species. However, some of S. pombe's CIP-related functions, such as cytokinetic control and response to glucose availability, are regulated differently in S. japonicus. Moreover, Pck1 and Pck2 antagonistically regulate S. japonicus hyphal differentiation through fine-tuning of Pmk1 activity. Chimeric MAPK-swapping experiments revealed that S. japonicus Pmk1 is fully functional in S. pombe, whereas S. pombe Pmk1 shows a limited ability to execute CIP functions and promote S. japonicus mycelial development. Our findings also suggest that a modified N-lobe domain secondary structure within S. japonicus Pmk1 has a major influence on the CIP signaling features of this evolutionarily diverged fission yeast.
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Almeida MA, Baeza LC, Almeida-Paes R, Bailão AM, Borges CL, Guimarães AJ, Soares CMA, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Histoplasma capsulatum Yeast and Mycelium Reveals Differential Metabolic Shifts and Cell Wall Remodeling Processes in the Different Morphotypes. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:640931. [PMID: 34177824 PMCID: PMC8226243 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.640931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Histoplasma capsulatum is a thermally dimorphic fungus distributed worldwide, but with the highest incidence in the Americas within specific geographic areas, such as the Mississippi River Valley and regions in Latin America. This fungus is the etiologic agent of histoplasmosis, an important life-threatening systemic mycosis. Dimorphism is an important feature for fungal survival in different environments and is related to the virulence of H. capsulatum, and essential to the establishment of infection. Proteomic profiles have made important contributions to the knowledge of metabolism and pathogenicity in several biological models. However, H. capsulatum proteome studies have been underexplored. In the present study, we report the first proteomic comparison between the mycelium and the yeast cells of H. capsulatum. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the proteomic profile of the two phases of H. capsulatum growth, mycelium, and yeast. In summary, 214 and 225 proteins were only detected/or preferentially abundant in mycelium or yeast cells, respectively. In mycelium, enzymes related to the glycolytic pathway and to the alcoholic fermentation occurred in greater abundance, suggesting a higher use of anaerobic pathways for energy production. In yeast cells, proteins related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and response to temperature stress were in high abundance. Proteins related to oxidative stress response or involved with cell wall metabolism were identified with differential abundance in both conditions. Proteomic data validation was performed by enzymatic activity determination, Western blot assays, or immunofluorescence microscopy. These experiments corroborated, directly or indirectly, the abundance of isocitrate lyase, 2-methylcitrate synthase, catalase B, and mannosyl-oligosaccharide-1,2-alpha-mannosidase in the mycelium and heat shock protein (HSP) 30, HSP60, glucosamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase, glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase, and N-acetylglucosamine-phosphate mutase in yeast cells. The proteomic profile-associated functional classification analyses of proteins provided new and interesting information regarding the differences in metabolism between the two distinct growth forms of H. capsulatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Abreu Almeida
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lilian Cristiane Baeza
- Centro de Ciências Médicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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Tascón L, Di Cicco C, Piccardi L, Palmiero M, Bocchi A, Cimadevilla JM. Sex Differences in Spatial Memory: Comparison of Three Tasks Using the Same Virtual Context. Brain Sci 2021; 11:757. [PMID: 34200351 PMCID: PMC8229883 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial memory has been studied through different instruments and tools with different modalities of administration. The cognitive load varies depending on the measure used and it should be taken into account to correctly interpret results. The aim of this research was to analyze how men and women perform three different spatial memory tasks with the same spatial context but with different cognitive demands. A total of 287 undergraduate students from the University of Almeria (Spain) and the University of L'Aquila (Italy) participated in the study. They were divided into three groups balanced by sex according to the spatial memory test they performed: the Walking Space Boxes Room Task (WSBRT), the Almeria Spatial Memory Recognition Test (ASMRT) and the Non-Walking Space Boxes Room Task (NWSBRT). Time spent and number of errors/correct answers were registered for analysis. In relation to the WSBRT and the ASMRT, men were faster and reached the optimal level of performance before women. In the three tests, familiarity with the spatial context helped to reduce the number of errors, regardless of the level of difficulty. In conclusion, sex differences were determined by the familiarity with the spatial context, the difficulty level of the task, the active or passive role of the participant and the amount of visual information provided in each screen shot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tascón
- Department of Psychology, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Carmen Di Cicco
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.D.C.); (M.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Laura Piccardi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Palmiero
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.D.C.); (M.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Alessia Bocchi
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.D.C.); (M.P.); (A.B.)
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - José Manuel Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain;
- Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
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Gunasinghe N, Barbetti MJ, You MP, Dehigaspitiya P, Neate S. Dimorphism in Neopseudocercosporella capsellae, an Emerging Pathogen Causing White Leaf Spot Disease of Brassicas. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:678231. [PMID: 34150676 PMCID: PMC8212886 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.678231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
White leaf spot pathogen: Neopseudocercosporella capsellae causes significant damage to many economically important Brassicaceae crops, including oilseed rape through foliar, stem, and pod lesions under cool and wet conditions. A lack of information on critical aspects of the pathogen's life cycle limits the development of effective control measures. The presence of single-celled spores along with multi-celled conidia on cotyledons inoculated with multi-celled conidia suggested that the multi-celled conidia were able to form single-celled spores on the host surface. This study was designed to demonstrate N. capsellae morphological plasticity, which allows the shift between a yeast-like single-celled phase and the multi-celled hyphal phase. Separate experiments were designed to illustrate the pathogen's morphological transformation to single-celled yeast phase from multi-celled hyphae or multi-celled macroconidia in-vitro and in-planta. Results confirmed the ability of N. capsellae to switch between two morphologies (septate hyphae and single-celled yeast phase) on a range of artificial culture media (in-vitro) or in-planta on the host surface before infection occurs. The hyphae-to-yeast transformation occurred through the production of two morphologically distinguishable blastospore (blastoconidia) types (meso-blastospores and micro-blastospores), and arthrospores (arthroconidia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Niroshini Gunasinghe
- Centre for Crop Health, Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, Research and Innovation Division, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
| | - Martin J Barbetti
- School of Agriculture and Environment and the Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Ming Pei You
- School of Agriculture and Environment and the Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Prabuddha Dehigaspitiya
- Centre for Crop Health, Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, Research and Innovation Division, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen Neate
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA, Australia
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Ding JL, Hou J, Li XH, Feng MG, Ying SH. Transcription Activator Swi6 Interacts with Mbp1 in MluI Cell Cycle Box-Binding Complex and Regulates Hyphal Differentiation and Virulence in Beauveria bassiana. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060411. [PMID: 34070348 PMCID: PMC8273693 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mbp1 protein acts as a DNA-binding protein in MluI cell cycle box-binding complex (MBF) and plays an essential role in filamentous myco-pathogen Beauveria bassiana.In the current study, BbSwi6 (a homologue of yeast Swi6) was functionally characterized in B.bassiana. Both BbSwi6 and BbMbp1 localize in the nucleus and display a direct interaction relationship which is indicated by a yeast two-hybrid assay. BbSwi6 significantly contributes to hyphal growth, asexual sporulation and virulence. On the aerial surface, ΔBbSwi6 grew slower on various nutrients and displayed abnormal conidia-producing structures, which hardly produced conidia. In liquid media, BbSwi6 loss led to 90% reduction in blastospore yield. Finally, the virulence of the ΔBbSwi6 mutant was modestly weakened with a reduction of 20% in median lethal time. Comparative transcriptomics revealed that BbSwi6 mediated different transcriptomes during fungal development into conidia and blastospores. Notably, under the indicated condition, the BbSwi6-mediated transcriptome significantly differed to that mediated by BbMbp1. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to their roles as the interactive components in MBF, BbSwi6 and BbMbp1 mediate divergent genetic pathways during morphological transitions in B. bassiana.
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