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Viegas C, Eriksen E, Gomes B, Dias M, Cervantes R, Pena P, Carolino E, Twarużek M, Caetano LA, Viegas S, Graff P, Afanou AK, Straumfors A. Comprehensive assessment of occupational exposure to microbial contamination in waste sorting facilities from Norway. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1297725. [PMID: 38179569 PMCID: PMC10766354 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1297725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is of upmost importance to contribute to fill the knowledge gap concerning the characterization of the occupational exposure to microbial agents in the waste sorting setting (automated and manual sorting). Methods This study intends to apply a comprehensive field sampling and laboratory protocol (culture based-methods and molecular tools), assess fungal azole resistance, as well as to elucidate on potential exposure related health effects (cytotoxicity analyses). Skin-biota samples (eSwabs) were performed on workers and controls to identify other exposure routes. Results In personal filter samples the guidelines in one automated industry surpassed the guidelines for fungi. Seasonal influence on viable microbial contamination including fungi with reduced susceptibility to the tested azoles was observed, besides the observed reduced susceptibility of pathogens of critical priority (Mucorales and Fusarium sp.). Aspergillus sections with potential toxigenic effect and with clinical relevance were also detected in all the sampling methods. Discussion The results regarding skin-biota in both controls´ and workers´ hands claim attention for the possible exposure due to hand to face/mouth contact. This study allowed concluding that working in automated and manual waste sorting plants imply high exposure to microbial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elke Eriksen
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Bianca Gomes
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- CE3C – Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Dias
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Renata Cervantes
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pena
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Carolino
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Twarużek
- Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Chodkiewicza, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.uLisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pål Graff
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anne Straumfors
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
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102
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Franconi I, Lupetti A. In Vitro Susceptibility Tests in the Context of Antifungal Resistance: Beyond Minimum Inhibitory Concentration in Candida spp. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1188. [PMID: 38132789 PMCID: PMC10744879 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a matter of rising concern, especially in fungal diseases. Multiple reports all over the world are highlighting a worrisome increase in azole- and echinocandin-resistance among fungal pathogens, especially in Candida species, as reported in the recently published fungal pathogens priority list made by WHO. Despite continuous efforts and advances in infection control, development of new antifungal molecules, and research on molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance made by the scientific community, trends in invasive fungal diseases and associated antifungal resistance are on the rise, hindering therapeutic options and clinical cures. In this context, in vitro susceptibility testing aimed at evaluating minimum inhibitory concentrations, is still a milestone in the management of fungal diseases. However, such testing is not the only type at a microbiologist's disposal. There are other adjunctive in vitro tests aimed at evaluating fungicidal activity of antifungal molecules and also exploring tolerance to antifungals. This plethora of in vitro tests are still left behind and performed only for research purposes, but their role in the context of invasive fungal diseases associated with antifungal resistance might add resourceful information to the clinical management of patients. The aim of this review was therefore to revise and explore all other in vitro tests that could be potentially implemented in current clinical practice in resistant and difficult-to-treat cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iacopo Franconi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Mycology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Mycology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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103
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Mendoza B, Zheng X, Clements JC, Cotter C, Trinh CT. Potency of CRISPR-Cas Antifungals Is Enhanced by Cotargeting DNA Repair and Growth Regulatory Machinery at the Genetic Level. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:2494-2503. [PMID: 37955405 PMCID: PMC10714396 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of virulent, resistant, and rapidly evolving fungal pathogens poses a significant threat to public health, agriculture, and the environment. Targeting cellular processes with standard small-molecule intervention may be effective but requires long development times and is prone to antibiotic resistance. To overcome the current limitations of antibiotic development and treatment, this study harnesses CRISPR-Cas systems as antifungals by capitalizing on their adaptability, specificity, and efficiency in target design. The conventional design of CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials, based on induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), is potentially less effective in fungi due to robust eukaryotic DNA repair machinery. Here, we report a novel design principle to formulate more effective CRISPR-Cas antifungals by cotargeting essential genes with DNA repair defensive genes that remove the fungi's ability to repair the DSB sites of essential genes. By evaluating this design on the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we demonstrated that essential and defensive gene cotargeting is more effective than either essential or defensive gene targeting alone. The top-performing CRISPR-Cas antifungals performed as effectively as the antibiotic Geneticin. A gene cotargeting interaction analysis revealed that cotargeting essential genes with RAD52 involved in homologous recombination (HR) was the most synergistic combination. Fast growth kinetics of S. cerevisiae induced resistance to CRISPR-Cas antifungals, where genetic mutations mostly occurred in defensive genes and guide RNA sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian
J. Mendoza
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Xianliang Zheng
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jared C. Clements
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Christopher Cotter
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Cong T. Trinh
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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104
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Venice F, Spina F, Davolos D, Ghignone S, Varese GC. The genomes of Scedosporium between environmental challenges and opportunism. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:25. [PMID: 38049914 PMCID: PMC10694956 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00128-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging fungal pathogens are a global challenge for humankind. Many efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity in bacteria, and OMICs techniques are largely responsible for those advancements. By contrast, our limited understanding of opportunism and antifungal resistance is preventing us from identifying, limiting and interpreting the emergence of fungal pathogens. The genus Scedosporium (Microascaceae) includes fungi with high tolerance to environmental pollution, whilst some species can be considered major human pathogens, such as Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium boydii. However, unlike other fungal pathogens, little is known about the genome evolution of these organisms. We sequenced two novel genomes of Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum isolated from extreme, strongly anthropized environments. We compared all the available Scedosporium and Microascaceae genomes, that we systematically annotated and characterized ex novo in most cases. The genomes in this family were integrated in a Phylum-level comparison to infer the presence of putative, shared genomic traits in filamentous ascomycetes with pathogenic potential. The analysis included the genomes of 100 environmental and clinical fungi, revealing poor evolutionary convergence of putative pathogenicity traits. By contrast, several features in Microascaceae and Scedosporium were detected that might have a dual role in responding to environmental challenges and allowing colonization of the human body, including chitin, melanin and other cell wall related genes, proteases, glutaredoxins and magnesium transporters. We found these gene families to be impacted by expansions, orthologous transposon insertions, and point mutations. With RNA-seq, we demonstrated that most of these anciently impacted genomic features responded to the stress imposed by an antifungal compound (voriconazole) in the two environmental strains S. aurantiacum MUT6114 and S. minutisporum MUT6113. Therefore, the present genomics and transcriptomics investigation stands on the edge between stress resistance and pathogenic potential, to elucidate whether fungi were pre-adapted to infect humans. We highlight the strengths and limitations of genomics applied to opportunistic human pathogens, the multifactoriality of pathogenicity and resistance to drugs, and suggest a scenario where pressures other than anthropic contributed to forge filamentous human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Venice
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Turin, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Spina
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Turin, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Domenico Davolos
- Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), INAIL, Research Area, Via R. Ferruzzi 38/40, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Ghignone
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), SS Turin-National Research Council (CNR), Viale Mattioli 25, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cristina Varese
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Turin, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125, Turin, Italy.
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105
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Lockhart SR, Chowdhary A, Gold JAW. The rapid emergence of antifungal-resistant human-pathogenic fungi. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:818-832. [PMID: 37648790 PMCID: PMC10859884 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
During recent decades, the emergence of pathogenic fungi has posed an increasing public health threat, particularly given the limited number of antifungal drugs available to treat invasive infections. In this Review, we discuss the global emergence and spread of three emerging antifungal-resistant fungi: Candida auris, driven by global health-care transmission and possibly facilitated by climate change; azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus, driven by the selection facilitated by azole fungicide use in agricultural and other settings; and Trichophyton indotineae, driven by the under-regulated use of over-the-counter high-potency corticosteroid-containing antifungal creams. The diversity of the fungi themselves and the drivers of their emergence make it clear that we cannot predict what might emerge next. Therefore, vigilance is critical to monitoring fungal emergence, as well as the rise in overall antifungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn R Lockhart
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Anuradha Chowdhary
- Medical Mycology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- National Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungal Pathogens, Medical Mycology Unit, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Jeremy A W Gold
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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106
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Stefani H, Gomes LLA, Moya FG. An unusual case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent host presenting with verrucous skin lesions. Med Mycol Case Rep 2023; 42:100606. [PMID: 37693214 PMCID: PMC10482876 DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2023.100606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Disseminated cryptococcosis, commonly linked to immunocompromised conditions like HIV infection, is exceedingly rare in immunocompetent individuals. This case report presents a rare case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient, who manifested with fever, weight loss, neurological manifestations, and distinct verrucous skin lesions. Mycological cultures and histopathological assessments were conducted, leading to the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii within both lung and skin biopsies. This case highlights the significance of considering this yeast infection within immunocompetent individuals and the necessity for promptly initiating appropriate antifungal therapy to enhance patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloi Stefani
- Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira, n.° 1.500 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04021-001, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Gonçalves Moya
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, R. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 225, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 05403-010, Brazil
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107
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MARTINI MARIANO, SPAGNOLO ANNAMARIA, SARTINI MARINA, CRISTINA MARIALUISA, ORSINI DAVIDE. The health of mankind and the health of the planet in a historical-ethical perspective: an inseparable relationship and a single destiny. JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 2023; 64:E493-E498. [PMID: 38379737 PMCID: PMC10876022 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.4.3156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Recent years have seen increasingly severe natural disasters, the consequences of which have been catastrophic. Clearly, our global environment is undergoing major changes. The climate is becoming deranged and pollution on a global scale afflicts air, water, and land. We are faced with an unprecedented shortage of cultivable land and fresh water for drinking, irrigation, and livestock farming, while our marine systems are breaking down. These environmental changes have a very high anthropogenic component; they are induced by human activities that are potentially dangerous for both the environment and human life. Moreover, not only do they have an enormous impact on the environments in which we live and on our way of life, they also have harmful effects on our health. Indeed, we must understand that our body - as Hippocrates explained long ago - is a system that constantly interacts with the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- MARIANO MARTINI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | | | - MARINA SARTINI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - MARIA LUISA CRISTINA
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
- Hospital Hygiene Unit, “Galliera Hospital”, Italy
| | - DAVIDE ORSINI
- University Museum System of Siena (SIMUS), History of Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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108
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Deligeorgakis C, Magro C, Skendi A, Gebrehiwot HH, Valdramidis V, Papageorgiou M. Fungal and Toxin Contaminants in Cereal Grains and Flours: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Foods 2023; 12:4328. [PMID: 38231837 DOI: 10.3390/foods12234328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cereal grains serve as the cornerstone of global nutrition, providing a significant portion of humanity's caloric requirements. However, the presence of fungal genera, such Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria, known for their mycotoxin-producing abilities, presents a significant threat to human health due to the adverse effects of these toxins. The primary objective of this study was to identify the predominant fungal contaminants in cereal grains utilized in breadmaking, as well as in flour and bread. Moreover, a systematic review, including meta-analysis, was conducted on the occurrence and levels of mycotoxins in wheat flour from the years 2013 to 2023. The genera most frequently reported were Fusarium, followed by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. Among the published reports, the majority focused on the analysis of Deoxynivalenol (DON), which garnered twice as many reports compared to those focusing on Aflatoxins, Zearalenone, and Ochratoxin A. The concentration of these toxins, in most cases determined by HPLC-MS/MS or HPLC coupled with a fluorescence detector (FLD), was occasionally observed to exceed the maximum limits established by national and/or international authorities. The prevalence of mycotoxins in flour samples from the European Union (EU) and China, as well as in foods intended for infants, exhibited a significant reduction compared to other commercial flours assessed by a meta-analysis investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christodoulos Deligeorgakis
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 141, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christopher Magro
- Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
| | - Adriana Skendi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 141, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Vasilis Valdramidis
- Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Papageorgiou
- Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 141, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
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109
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Castano-Duque L, Winzeler E, Blackstock JM, Liu C, Vergopolan N, Focker M, Barnett K, Owens PR, van der Fels-Klerx HJ, Vaughan MM, Rajasekaran K. Dynamic geospatial modeling of mycotoxin contamination of corn in Illinois: unveiling critical factors and predictive insights with machine learning. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1283127. [PMID: 38029202 PMCID: PMC10646420 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycotoxin contamination of corn is a pervasive problem that negatively impacts human and animal health and causes economic losses to the agricultural industry worldwide. Historical aflatoxin (AFL) and fumonisin (FUM) mycotoxin contamination data of corn, daily weather data, satellite data, dynamic geospatial soil properties, and land usage parameters were modeled to identify factors significantly contributing to the outbreaks of mycotoxin contamination of corn grown in Illinois (IL), AFL >20 ppb, and FUM >5 ppm. Two methods were used: a gradient boosting machine (GBM) and a neural network (NN). Both the GBM and NN models were dynamic at a state-county geospatial level because they used GPS coordinates of the counties linked to soil properties. GBM identified temperature and precipitation prior to sowing as significant influential factors contributing to high AFL and FUM contamination. AFL-GBM showed that a higher aflatoxin risk index (ARI) in January, March, July, and November led to higher AFL contamination in the southern regions of IL. Higher values of corn-specific normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in July led to lower AFL contamination in Central and Southern IL, while higher wheat-specific NDVI values in February led to higher AFL. FUM-GBM showed that temperature in July and October, precipitation in February, and NDVI values in March are positively correlated with high contamination throughout IL. Furthermore, the dynamic geospatial models showed that soil characteristics were correlated with AFL and FUM contamination. Greater calcium carbonate content in soil was negatively correlated with AFL contamination, which was noticeable in Southern IL. Greater soil moisture and available water-holding capacity throughout Southern IL were positively correlated with high FUM contamination. The higher clay percentage in the northeastern areas of IL negatively correlated with FUM contamination. NN models showed high class-specific performance for 1-year predictive validation for AFL (73%) and FUM (85%), highlighting their accuracy for annual mycotoxin prediction. Our models revealed that soil, NDVI, year-specific weekly average precipitation, and temperature were the most important factors that correlated with mycotoxin contamination. These findings serve as reliable guidelines for future modeling efforts to identify novel data inputs for the prediction of AFL and FUM outbreaks and potential farm-level management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Castano-Duque
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Edwin Winzeler
- Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Booneville, AR, United States
| | - Joshua M. Blackstock
- Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Booneville, AR, United States
| | - Cheng Liu
- Microbiology and Agrochains Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Noemi Vergopolan
- Atmospheric and Ocean Science Program, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Marlous Focker
- Microbiology and Agrochains Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Kristin Barnett
- Agricultural Products Inspection, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Phillip Ray Owens
- Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Booneville, AR, United States
| | | | - Martha M. Vaughan
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Kanniah Rajasekaran
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, LA, United States
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110
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Nielsen MC, Cerqueira FM, Kavuri SB, Raymond CM, Muneeb A, Kudlicki AS, Tariq S, Liu M, Routh AL, Qiu S, Ren P. Diverse Clinical Manifestations and Challenges of Mucormycosis: Insights From Serial Cases. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad527. [PMID: 39139204 PMCID: PMC11320587 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection caused by a group of fungi classified as mucormycetes within the scientific order Mucorales. These infections are characterized by rapid and invasive fungal growth, presenting significant treatment challenges. Here we present 5 cases encountered from 2018 to 2022 at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, including a novel Apophysomyces species. These cases illustrate the diverse clinical manifestations of mucormycosis, including pulmonary, rhino-cerebral, gastrointestinal, and soft tissue involvement. Our investigation incorporates information provided by a multidisciplinary team of clinical collaborators, emphasizing the findings from radiology, histopathology, and microbiology. Given the escalating global incidence of mucormycosis, it is crucial for clinicians to become familiar with associated clinical findings, comorbidities, and risk factors to facilitate prompt recognition, appropriate diagnostic testing, and timely initiation of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa C Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston Medical Center and
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Filipe M Cerqueira
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Sri Bharathi Kavuri
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Caitlin M Raymond
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Aeman Muneeb
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrzej S Kudlicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Shafaq Tariq
- Department of Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Mingru Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew L Routh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Suimin Qiu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Ping Ren
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas, USA
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111
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Del Olmo V, Mixão V, Fotedar R, Saus E, Al Malki A, Księżopolska E, Nunez-Rodriguez JC, Boekhout T, Gabaldón T. Origin of fungal hybrids with pathogenic potential from warm seawater environments. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6919. [PMID: 37903766 PMCID: PMC10616089 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybridisation is a common event in yeasts often leading to genomic variability and adaptation. The yeast Candida orthopsilosis is a human-associated opportunistic pathogen belonging to the Candida parapsilosis species complex. Most C. orthopsilosis clinical isolates are hybrids resulting from at least four independent crosses between two parental lineages, of which only one has been identified. The rare presence or total absence of parentals amongst clinical isolates is hypothesised to be a consequence of a reduced pathogenicity with respect to their hybrids. Here, we sequence and analyse the genomes of environmental C. orthopsilosis strains isolated from warm marine ecosystems. We find that a majority of environmental isolates are hybrids, phylogenetically closely related to hybrid clinical isolates. Furthermore, we identify the missing parental lineage, thus providing a more complete overview of the genomic evolution of this species. Additionally, we discover phenotypic differences between the two parental lineages, as well as between parents and hybrids, under conditions relevant for pathogenesis. Our results suggest a marine origin of C. orthopsilosis hybrids, with intrinsic pathogenic potential, and pave the way to identify pre-existing environmental adaptations that rendered hybrids more prone than parental lineages to colonise and infect the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Del Olmo
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verónica Mixão
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Bioinformatics Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rashmi Fotedar
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology Centre, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, P.O Box 20022, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ester Saus
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amina Al Malki
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology Centre, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, P.O Box 20022, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ewa Księżopolska
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Nunez-Rodriguez
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teun Boekhout
- College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Life Sciences Department. Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Jordi Girona, 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
- Mechanisms of Disease Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, 08010, Spain.
- , Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Barcelona, Spain.
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Yıldırım K, Miladinović D, Sweet J, Akin M, Galović V, Kavas M, Zlatković M, de Andrade E. Genome editing for healthy crops: traits, tools and impacts. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1231013. [PMID: 37965029 PMCID: PMC10641503 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1231013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Crop cultivars in commercial use have often been selected because they show high levels of resistance to pathogens. However, widespread cultivation of these crops for many years in the environments favorable to a pathogen requires durable forms of resistance to maintain "healthy crops". Breeding of new varieties tolerant/resistant to biotic stresses by incorporating genetic components related to durable resistance, developing new breeding methods and new active molecules, and improving the Integrated Pest Management strategies have been of great value, but their effectiveness is being challenged by the newly emerging diseases and the rapid change of pathogens due to climatic changes. Genome editing has provided new tools and methods to characterize defense-related genes in crops and improve crop resilience to disease pathogens providing improved food security and future sustainable agricultural systems. In this review, we discuss the principal traits, tools and impacts of utilizing genome editing techniques for achieving of durable resilience and a "healthy plants" concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kubilay Yıldırım
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye
| | - Dragana Miladinović
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jeremy Sweet
- Sweet Environmental Consultants, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Meleksen Akin
- Department of Horticulture, Iğdır University, Iğdır, Türkiye
| | - Vladislava Galović
- Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE), University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Musa Kavas
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye
| | - Milica Zlatković
- Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE), University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Eugenia de Andrade
- National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), I.P., Oeiras, Portugal
- GREEN-IT Bioresources for Sustainability, ITQB NOVA, Oeiras, Portugal
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113
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Elalouf A, Yaniv-Rosenfeld A. Immunoinformatic-guided designing and evaluating protein and mRNA-based vaccines against Cryptococcus neoformans for immunocompromised patients. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:108. [PMID: 37882985 PMCID: PMC10603020 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00560-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that can cause serious meningoencephalitis in individuals with compromised immune systems due to HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), liver cirrhosis, and transplantation. Mannoproteins (MPs), glycoproteins in the C. neoformans capsule, crucially impact virulence by mediating adhesion to lung cells and modulating immune response via cytokine induction and phagocytosis influence. Therefore, creating a vaccine that can generate targeted antibodies to fight infection and prevent fungal illnesses is essential. RESULTS This research aims to create a unique, stable, and safe vaccine through bioinformatics methodologies, aiming at epitopes of T and B cells found in the MP of C. neoformans. Based on toxicity, immunogenicity, and antigenicity, this research predicted novel T cells (GNPVGGNVT, NPVGGNVTT, QTSYARLLS, TSVGNGIAS, WVMPGDYTN, AAATGSSSSGSTGSG, GSTGSGSGSAAAGST, SGSTGSGSGSAAAGS, SSGSTGSGSGSAAAG, and SSSGSTGSGSGSAAA) and B cell (ANGSTSTFQQRYTGTYTNGDGSLGTWTQGETVTPQTAYSTPATSNCKTYTSVGNGIASLALSNAGSNSTAAATNSSSGGASAAATGSSSSGSTGSGSGSAAAGSTAAASSSGDSSSSTSAAMSNGI, HGATGLGNPVGGNVTT, TMGPTNPSEPTLGTAI, GNPVGGNVTTNATGSD, and NSTAAATNSSSGGASA) epitopes for a multiple-epitope vaccine and constructed a vaccine subunit with potential immunogenic properties. The present study used four linkers (AAY, GPGPG, KK, and EAAAK linkers) to connect the epitopes and adjuvant. After constructing the vaccine, it was confronted with receptor docking and simulation analysis. Subsequently, the vaccine was cloned into the vector of Escherichia coli pET-28a ( +) by ligation process for the expression using the SnapGene tool, which confirmed a significant immune response. To assess the constructed vaccine's properties, multiple computational tools were employed. Based on the MP sequence, the tools evaluated the antigenicity, immunogenicity, cytokine-inducing capacity, allergenicity, toxicity, population coverage, and solubility. CONCLUSION Eventually, the results revealed a promising multi-epitope vaccine as a potential candidate for addressing global C. neoformans infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Yet, additional in vitro and in vivo investigations are necessary to validate its safety and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Elalouf
- Department of Management, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel.
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114
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Cosio T, Gaziano R, Fontana C, Pistoia ES, Petruccelli R, Favaro M, Pica F, Minelli S, Bossa MC, Altieri A, Ombres D, Zarabian N, D’Agostini C. Closing the Gap in Proteomic Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum: A Case Report and Review of Literature. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1019. [PMID: 37888274 PMCID: PMC10607645 DOI: 10.3390/jof9101019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a globally distributed systemic infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum). This fungus can cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, and the diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is often a challenge for clinicians. Although microscopy and culture remain the gold standard diagnostic tests for Histoplasma identification, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a method of microbial identification suitable for the confirmation of dimorphic fungi. However, to our knowledge, there are no entries for H. capsulatum spectra in most commercial databases. In this review, we describe the case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient living with HIV admitted to our university hospital that we failed to identify by the MALDI-TOF method due to the limited reference spectrum of the instrument database. Furthermore, we highlight the utility of molecular approaches, such as conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, as alternative confirmatory tests to MALDI-TOF technology for identifying H. capsulatum from positive cultures. An overview of current evidence and limitations of MALDI-TOF-based characterization of H. capsulatum is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terenzio Cosio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Gaziano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Carla Fontana
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Biological Bank, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Enrico Salvatore Pistoia
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Rosalba Petruccelli
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
| | - Marco Favaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Francesca Pica
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
| | - Silvia Minelli
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
| | - Maria Cristina Bossa
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
| | - Anna Altieri
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
| | - Domenico Ombres
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
| | - Nikkia Zarabian
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, 2300 I St NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
| | - Cartesio D’Agostini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (E.S.P.); (M.F.); (F.P.); (C.D.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.P.); (S.M.); (M.C.B.); (A.A.); (D.O.)
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115
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Duarte Hospital C, Tête A, Debizet K, Imler J, Tomkiewicz-Raulet C, Blanc EB, Barouki R, Coumoul X, Bortoli S. SDHi fungicides: An example of mitotoxic pesticides targeting the succinate dehydrogenase complex. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108219. [PMID: 37778286 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHi) are fungicides used to control the proliferation of pathogenic fungi in crops. Their mode of action is based on blocking the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a universal enzyme expressed by all species harboring mitochondria. The SDH is involved in two interconnected metabolic processes for energy production: the transfer of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the Krebs cycle. In humans, inherited SDH deficiencies may cause major pathologies including encephalopathies and cancers. The cellular and molecular mechanisms related to such genetic inactivation have been well described in neuroendocrine tumors, in which it induces an oxidative stress, a pseudohypoxic phenotype, a metabolic, epigenetic and transcriptomic remodeling, and alterations in the migration and invasion capacities of cancer cells, in connection with the accumulation of succinate, an oncometabolite, substrate of the SDH. We will discuss recent studies reporting toxic effects of SDHi in non-target organisms and their implications for risk assessment of pesticides. Recent data show that the SDH structure is highly conserved during evolution and that SDHi can inhibit SDH activity in mitochondria of non-target species, including humans. These observations suggest that SDHi are not specific inhibitors of fungal SDH. We hypothesize that SDHi could have toxic effects in other species, including humans. Moreover, the analysis of regulatory assessment reports shows that most SDHi induce tumors in animals without evidence of genotoxicity. Thus, these substances could have a non-genotoxic mechanism of carcinogenicity that still needs to be fully characterized and that could be related to SDH inhibition. The use of pesticides targeting mitochondrial enzymes encoded by tumor suppressor genes raises questions on the risk assessment framework of mitotoxic pesticides. The issue of SDHi fungicides is therefore a textbook case that highlights the urgent need for changes in regulatory assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arnaud Tête
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris
| | - Kloé Debizet
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris
| | - Jules Imler
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris
| | | | - Etienne B Blanc
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris
| | - Robert Barouki
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris.
| | - Sylvie Bortoli
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, T3S, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris.
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Chang CY, Yang SX, Zhang MQ, Guo YT, Li XM, Yan Y, Ding CH, Niu KX, Wang ML, Li QQ, Zhang J, Zhang X, Chen S, Xie C, Ni Z, Sun Q, Gou JY. Suppression of ZEAXANTHIN EPOXIDASE 1 restricts stripe rust growth in wheat. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100608. [PMID: 37101397 PMCID: PMC10504589 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Reducing losses caused by pathogens is an effective strategy for stabilizing crop yields. Daunting challenges remain in cloning and characterizing genes that inhibit stripe rust, a devastating disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). We found that suppression of wheat zeaxanthin epoxidase 1 (ZEP1) increased wheat defense against Pst. We isolated the yellow rust slower 1 (yrs1) mutant of tetraploid wheat in which a premature stop mutation in ZEP1-B underpins the phenotype. Genetic analyses revealed increased H2O2 accumulation in zep1 mutants and demonstrated a correlation between ZEP1 dysfunction and slower Pst growth in wheat. Moreover, wheat kinase START 1.1 (WKS1.1, Yr36) bound, phosphorylated, and suppressed the biochemical activity of ZEP1. A rare natural allele in the hexaploid wheat ZEP1-B promoter reduced its transcription and Pst growth. Our study thus identified a novel suppressor of Pst, characterized its mechanism of action, and revealed beneficial variants for wheat disease control. This work opens the door to stacking wheat ZEP1 variants with other known Pst resistance genes in future breeding programs to enhance wheat tolerance to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yan Chang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shu-Xian Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Mei-Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yue-Ting Guo
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yan Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ci-Hang Ding
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ke-Xin Niu
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Meng-Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qin-Quan Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Henan Joint International Laboratory for Crop Multi-Omics Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xuebin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Henan Joint International Laboratory for Crop Multi-Omics Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Shisheng Chen
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Weifang, Shandong 261000, China
| | - Chaojie Xie
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qixin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jin-Ying Gou
- Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
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Pllana-Hajdari D, Chidebelu EP, Cogliati M. Fertile Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (C. deneoformans) isolates from natural environment in Kosovo. Med Mycol 2023; 61:myad096. [PMID: 37667541 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A total of 300 tree-associated samples were collected from green areas in three towns in Kosovo, and cultured to isolate Cryptococcus species. One soil sample from Prizren tested positive, yielding three isolates identified as C. neoformans var. neoformans (C. deneoformans), molecular type VNIV, two MATα, and one MATa. Mating experiments revealed that they were fertile when crossed together, and multilocus sequence typing analysis showed unique sequence types not found in the global database. The study reports the presence of C. neoformans strains in the environment in Kosovo and highlights the importance of monitoring pathogen distribution and the potential impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ekene P Chidebelu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Massimo Cogliati
- Laboratorio di Micologia Medica, Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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118
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Meena P, Jha V. Environmental Change, Changing Biodiversity, and Infections-Lessons for Kidney Health Community. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:1714-1729. [PMID: 37705916 PMCID: PMC10496083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a direct and accelerating connection between ongoing environmental change, the unprecedented decline in biodiversity, and the increase in infectious disease epidemiology worldwide. Rising global temperatures are threatening the biodiversity that underpins the richness and diversity of flora and fauna species in our ecosystem. Anthropogenic activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, rapid urbanization, and expanding population are the primary drivers of environmental change resulting in biodiversity collapse. Climate change is influencing the emergence, prevalence, and transmission of infectious diseases both directly and through its impact on biodiversity. The environment is gradually becoming more suitable for infectious diseases by affecting a variety of pathogens, hosts, and vectors and by favoring transmission rates in many parts of the world that were until recently free of these infections. The acute effects of these zoonotic, vector and waterborne diseases are well known; however, evidence is emerging about their role in the development of chronic kidney disease. The pathways linking environmental change and biodiversity loss to infections impacting kidney health are diverse and complex. Climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionately affect the vulnerable and limit their ability to access healthcare. The kidney health community needs to contribute to the issue of environmental change and biodiversity loss through multisectoral action alongside government, policymakers, advocates, businesses, and the general population. We describe various aspects of the environmental change effects on the transmission and emergence of infectious diseases particularly focusing on its potential impact on kidney health. We also discuss the adaptive and mitigation measures and the gaps in research and policy action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Meena
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Vivekanand Jha
- George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, New Delhi, India
- Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
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119
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David KT, Harrison MC, Opulente DA, LaBella AL, Wolters JF, Zhou X, Shen XX, Groenewald M, Pennell M, Hittinger CT, Rokas A. Saccharomycotina yeasts defy longstanding macroecological patterns. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.29.555417. [PMID: 37693602 PMCID: PMC10491267 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The Saccharomycotina yeasts ("yeasts" hereafter) are a fungal clade of scientific, economic, and medical significance. Yeasts are highly ecologically diverse, found across a broad range of environments in every biome and continent on earth1; however, little is known about what rules govern the macroecology of yeast species and their range limits in the wild2. Here, we trained machine learning models on 12,221 occurrence records and 96 environmental variables to infer global distribution maps for 186 yeast species (~15% of described species from 75% of orders) and to test environmental drivers of yeast biogeography and macroecology. We found that predicted yeast diversity hotspots occur in mixed montane forests in temperate climates. Diversity in vegetation type and topography were some of the greatest predictors of yeast species richness, suggesting that microhabitats and environmental clines are key to yeast diversification. We further found that range limits in yeasts are significantly influenced by carbon niche breadth and range overlap with other yeast species, with carbon specialists and species in high diversity environments exhibiting reduced geographic ranges. Finally, yeasts contravene many longstanding macroecological principles, including the latitudinal diversity gradient, temperature-dependent species richness, and latitude-dependent range size (Rapoport's rule). These results unveil how the environment governs the global diversity and distribution of species in the yeast subphylum. These high-resolution models of yeast species distributions will facilitate the prediction of economically relevant and emerging pathogenic species under current and future climate scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle T. David
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Marie-Claire Harrison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Dana A. Opulente
- Laboratory of Genetics, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova PA 19085, USA
| | - Abigail L. LaBella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte NC 28223, USA
| | - John F. Wolters
- Laboratory of Genetics, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xing-Xing Shen
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | | | - Matt Pennell
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA 90089, USA
| | - Chris Todd Hittinger
- Laboratory of Genetics, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
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Gómez BL, Escandón P. Fungal infections: A growing threat. BIOMEDICA : REVISTA DEL INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE SALUD 2023; 43:11-16. [PMID: 37721896 PMCID: PMC10581601 DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz L Gómez
- Grupo de Estudios en Microbiología Translacional y Enfermedades Emergentes (MICROS), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Patricia Escandón
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
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Kumar R, Srivastava V. Application of anti-fungal vaccines as a tool against emerging anti-fungal resistance. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1241539. [PMID: 37746132 PMCID: PMC10512234 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1241539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
After viruses and bacteria, fungal infections remain a serious threat to the survival and well-being of society. The continuous emergence of resistance against commonly used anti-fungal drugs is a serious concern. The eukaryotic nature of fungal cells makes the identification of novel anti-fungal agents slow and difficult. Increasing global temperature and a humid environment conducive to fungal growth may lead to a fungal endemic or a pandemic. The continuous increase in the population of immunocompromised individuals and falling immunity forced pharmaceutical companies to look for alternative strategies for better managing the global fungal burden. Prevention of infectious diseases by vaccines can be the right choice. Recent success and safe application of mRNA-based vaccines can play a crucial role in our quest to overcome anti-fungal resistance. Expressing fungal cell surface proteins in human subjects using mRNA technology may be sufficient to raise immune response to protect against future fungal infection. The success of mRNA-based anti-fungal vaccines will heavily depend on the identification of fungal surface proteins which are highly immunogenic and have no or least side effects in human subjects. The present review discusses why it is essential to look for anti-fungal vaccines and how vaccines, in general, and mRNA-based vaccines, in particular, can be the right choice in tackling the problem of rising anti-fungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Collage of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Vartika Srivastava
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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Ndlovu T, Kgosietsile L, Motshwarakgole P, Ndlovu SI. Evaluation of Potential Factors Influencing the Dissemination of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Alternative Treatment Strategies. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:381. [PMID: 37624319 PMCID: PMC10459473 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8080381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing reports of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae have emerged as a public health concern, raising questions about the potential routes for the evolution and dissemination of the pathogenic K. pneumoniae into environmental reservoirs. Potential drivers of the increased incidence of antimicrobial-resistant environmental K. pneumoniae include the eminent global climatic variations as a direct or indirect effect of human activities. The ability of microorganisms to adapt and grow at an exponential rate facilitates the distribution of environmental strains with acquired resistant mutations into water systems, vegetation, and soil which are major intersection points with animals and humans. The bacterial pathogen, K. pneumoniae, is one of the critical-priority pathogens listed by the World Health Organization, mostly associated with hospital-acquired infections. However, the increasing prevalence of pathogenic environmental strains with similar characteristics to clinical-antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates is concerning. Considering the eminent impact of global climatic variations in the spread and dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria, in this review, we closely assess factors influencing the dissemination of this pathogen resulting in increased interaction with the environment, human beings, and animals. We also look at the recent developments in rapid detection techniques as part of the response measures to improve surveillance and preparedness for potential outbreaks. Furthermore, we discuss alternative treatment strategies that include secondary metabolites such as biosurfactants and plant extracts with high antimicrobial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thando Ndlovu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB, Gaborone 0022, Botswana; (L.K.); (P.M.)
| | - Lebang Kgosietsile
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB, Gaborone 0022, Botswana; (L.K.); (P.M.)
| | - Pako Motshwarakgole
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB, Gaborone 0022, Botswana; (L.K.); (P.M.)
| | - Sizwe I. Ndlovu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa;
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Pfordt A, Gaumann P, von Tiedemann A. Pathogenicity of Trichoderma afroharzianum in Cereal Crops. Pathogens 2023; 12:936. [PMID: 37513783 PMCID: PMC10385851 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Species of the genus Trichoderma occur ubiquitously in soils, on plant roots and in decaying plant residues. Due to its competitiveness and mycoparasitic potential against other microorganisms, particular strains of Trichoderma spp. are used in agriculture as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. However, Trichoderma afroharzianum has been recently reported as a pathogen causing ear rot disease on maize in Germany, France and Italy, leading to massive infections on maize cobs. This raised the question, whether and to what extent Trichoderma spp. can infect cereal crops other than maize and cause disease symptoms and yield losses. To address this question, two varieties of wheat, barley and sorghum were grown in the greenhouse and artificially inoculated with T. afroharzianum by both spray and point inoculation at the time of flowering. Disease severity was scored weekly, and thousand-kernel weight and colonization rate were determined after harvest. As early as 14 days after inoculation, the first visual symptoms appeared on wheat and barley as tan or brown discoloration of the base of a floret within the spikelets. After spray inoculation, clear discolorations of the entire ear were seen, while point inoculation only showed symptoms at the injection site and above. No visible symptoms were observed on sorghum millet. The colonization rate on wheat and barley grains was significantly increased compared to the control, while thousand-kernel weights (TKWs) were significantly reduced. No differences in colonization rate and TKW compared to the control were observed in sorghum. This is the first report of Trichoderma afroharzianum infecting wheat and barley, causing disease symptoms and significantly reducing thousand-kernel weights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Pfordt
- Institut of Plant Pathology and Crop Protection, Georg-August University Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Peet Gaumann
- Institut of Plant Pathology and Crop Protection, Georg-August University Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Andreas von Tiedemann
- Institut of Plant Pathology and Crop Protection, Georg-August University Goettingen, Grisebachstrasse 6, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
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Steenwyk JL, Knowles S, Bastos RW, Balamurugan C, Rinker D, Mead ME, Roberts CD, Raja HA, Li Y, Colabardini AC, de Castro PA, dos Reis TF, Canóvas D, Sanchez RL, Lagrou K, Torrado E, Rodrigues F, Oberlies NH, Zhou X, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Evolutionary origin, population diversity, and diagnostics for a cryptic hybrid pathogen. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.03.547508. [PMID: 37461539 PMCID: PMC10350022 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.03.547508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Cryptic fungal pathogens pose significant identification and disease management challenges due to their morphological resemblance to known pathogenic species while harboring genetic and (often) infectionrelevant trait differences. The cryptic fungal pathogen Aspergillus latus, an allodiploid hybrid originating from Aspergillus spinulosporus and an unknown close relative of Aspergillus quadrilineatus within section Nidulantes, remains poorly understood. The absence of accurate diagnostics for A. latus has led to misidentifications, hindering epidemiological studies and the design of effective treatment plans. We conducted an in-depth investigation of the genomes and phenotypes of 44 globally distributed isolates (41 clinical isolates and three type strains) from Aspergillus section Nidulantes. We found that 21 clinical isolates were A. latus; notably, standard methods of pathogen identification misidentified all A. latus isolates. The remaining isolates were identified as A. spinulosporus (8), A. quadrilineatus (1), or A. nidulans (11). Phylogenomic analyses shed light on the origin of A. latus, indicating one or two hybridization events gave rise to the species during the Miocene, approximately 15.4 to 8.8 million years ago. Characterizing the A. latus pangenome uncovered substantial genetic diversity within gene families and biosynthetic gene clusters. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that both parental genomes are actively expressed in nearly equal proportions and respond to environmental stimuli. Further investigation into infection-relevant chemical and physiological traits, including drug resistance profiles, growth under oxidative stress conditions, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, highlight distinct phenotypic profiles of the hybrid A. latus compared to its parental and closely related species. Leveraging our comprehensive genomic and phenotypic analyses, we propose five genomic and phenotypic markers as diagnostics for A. latus species identification. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary origin, genomic outcome, and phenotypic implications of hybridization in a cryptic fungal pathogen, thus enhancing our understanding of the underlying processes contributing to fungal pathogenesis. Furthermore, our study underscores the effectiveness of extensive genomic and phenotypic analyses as a promising approach for developing diagnostics applicable to future investigations of cryptic and emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Howards Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B #35–1634, Nashville, TN 37235, United States of America
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sonja Knowles
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Rafael W. Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Charu Balamurugan
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B #35–1634, Nashville, TN 37235, United States of America
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - David Rinker
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B #35–1634, Nashville, TN 37235, United States of America
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Matthew E. Mead
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B #35–1634, Nashville, TN 37235, United States of America
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Christopher D. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Yuanning Li
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David Canóvas
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael Luperini Sanchez
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Centre for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Egídio Torrado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4715-495 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nicholas H. Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B #35–1634, Nashville, TN 37235, United States of America
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
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Musiol R. Efflux systems as a target for anti-biofilm nanoparticles: perspectives on emerging applications. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:953-963. [PMID: 37788168 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2263910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Understanding the role of efflux pumps in biofilm resistance provides valuable insights for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Drugs designed for targeting efflux pumps in drug design holds promise for combating biofilm-related infections. Nanoparticles offer unparalleled advantages in designing drugs targeting efflux pumps. AREAS COVERED This review rigorously examines the existing body of knowledge on the prospective targeting of efflux pumps using metal-based nanoparticles. It includes and analyses the pertinent research findings sourced from the PubMed and SciFinder databases. It covers the experimental studies on efflux inhibition by nanoparticles and provides detailed analyses of their mechanisms of action, elucidating their interactions with the efflux system and their influence on biofilm formation and persistence. EXPERT OPINION The potential of nanoparticles to act as potent antibacterial agents through efflux pump inhibition remains tantalizing, although hindered by limited mechanistic understanding. From the burgeoning research landscape nanoparticles emerge as a novel direction for shaping antimicrobial drug design. Notably, beyond their contribution to drug resistance, efflux pumps play a pivotal role in biofilm development. The deliberate disruption of these pumps can effectively reduce biofilm adhesion and maturation. More details however are needed to exploit this potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Musiol
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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Priyashantha AKH, Dai DQ, Bhat DJ, Stephenson SL, Promputtha I, Kaushik P, Tibpromma S, Karunarathna SC. Plant-Fungi Interactions: Where It Goes? BIOLOGY 2023; 12:809. [PMID: 37372094 PMCID: PMC10295453 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Fungi live different lifestyles-including pathogenic and symbiotic-by interacting with living plants. Recently, there has been a substantial increase in the study of phytopathogenic fungi and their interactions with plants. Symbiotic relationships with plants appear to be lagging behind, although progressive. Phytopathogenic fungi cause diseases in plants and put pressure on survival. Plants fight back against such pathogens through complicated self-defense mechanisms. However, phytopathogenic fungi develop virulent responses to overcome plant defense reactions, thus continuing their deteriorative impacts. Symbiotic relationships positively influence both plants and fungi. More interestingly, they also help plants protect themselves from pathogens. In light of the nonstop discovery of novel fungi and their strains, it is imperative to pay more attention to plant-fungi interactions. Both plants and fungi are responsive to environmental changes, therefore construction of their interaction effects has emerged as a new field of study. In this review, we first attempt to highlight the evolutionary aspect of plant-fungi interactions, then the mechanism of plants to avoid the negative impact of pathogenic fungi, and fungal strategies to overcome the plant defensive responses once they have been invaded, and finally the changes of such interactions under the different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. K. Hasith Priyashantha
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (A.K.H.P.); (D.-Q.D.)
| | - Dong-Qin Dai
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (A.K.H.P.); (D.-Q.D.)
| | - Darbhe J. Bhat
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
- Biology Division, Vishnugupta Vishwavidyapeetam, Gokarna 581326, India
| | - Steven L. Stephenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
| | - Itthayakorn Promputtha
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | | | - Saowaluck Tibpromma
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (A.K.H.P.); (D.-Q.D.)
| | - Samantha C. Karunarathna
- Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (A.K.H.P.); (D.-Q.D.)
- National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Hantana Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
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Suellen Ferro de Oliveira C, Kekhasharú Tavaria F. The impact of bioactive textiles on human skin microbiota. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2023:S0939-6411(23)00118-2. [PMID: 37182552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In order to support the elevated market demand for the development of textiles with specific benefits for a healthy and safe lifestyle, several bioactive textiles with defined properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-odor, and anti-repellent, anti-ultraviolet (UV) radiation, have been proposed. Antimicrobial textiles, particularly, have received special interest considering the search for smart, protective textiles that also impact health and well-being. Although the incorporation of antimicrobials into textile material has been well succeeded, the addition of such components in textile clothing can influence the balance of the skin microbiota of the wearer. While most antimicrobial textiles have demonstrated good biocompatibility and antimicrobial performance against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, some problems such as textile biodegradation, odor, and dissemination of unwanted microorganisms might arise. However, little is known about the impact of such antimicrobial textile-products on human skin microbiota. To address this issue, the present review, for the first time, gives an overview about the main effects of antimicrobial textiles, i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, on skin microbiota while driving future investigation to elucidate their putative clinical relevance and possible applications according to their impact on skin microbiota. This knowledge may open doors for the development of more microbiota friendly textiles or antimicrobial textile-products able to target specific populations of the skin microbiota aiming to alleviate skin disorders, malodor, and allergies by avoiding the growth and spread of pathogenic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Suellen Ferro de Oliveira
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Freni Kekhasharú Tavaria
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal.
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128
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Sztandera-Tymoczek M, Szuster-Ciesielska A. Fungal Aeroallergens-The Impact of Climate Change. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050544. [PMID: 37233255 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of allergic diseases worldwide is rapidly increasing, making allergies a modern pandemic. This article intends to review published reports addressing the role of fungi as causative agents in the development of various overreactivity-related diseases, mainly affecting the respiratory tract. After presenting the basic information on the mechanisms of allergic reactions, we describe the impact of fungal allergens on the development of the allergic diseases. Human activity and climate change have an impact on the spread of fungi and their plant hosts. Particular attention should be paid to microfungi, i.e., plant parasites that may be an underestimated source of new allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Sztandera-Tymoczek
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
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129
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Weiss ZF, Little J, Hammond S. Evolution of antifungals for invasive mold infections in immunocompromised hosts, then and now. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:535-549. [PMID: 37104686 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2207821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The current armamentarium of antifungal agents for invasive mold infections (IMI) has dramatically improved over the last 50 years. Existing therapies are, however, associated with toxicities, drug interactions, and in some cases, therapeutic failures. Novel antifungals are needed to address the increasing prevalence of IMI and the growing threat of antifungal resistance. AREAS COVERED We review the history and development of the most commonly used antifungals. We discuss the current consensus guidelines and supporting data for treatment of invasive mold infection (IMI), the role of susceptibility testing, and the niche that novel antifungals could fill. We review the current data for aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and hyalohyphomycosis. EXPERT OPINION Robust clinical trial data demonstrating the relative effectiveness of our current antifungal agents for treating IMI outside of A. fumigatus remains limited. Clinical trials are urgently needed to delineate the relationship between MICs and clinical outcomes for existing agents and to better evaluate the invitro and in-vivo aspects of antifungal synergy. Continued international multicenter collaboration and standardized clinical endpoints for trials evaluating both existing and new agents is necessary to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Freeman Weiss
- Tufts Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Tufts Medical Center, Division of Pathology, Boston MA, USA
| | - Jessica Little
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston MA, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Hammond
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Hematology Oncology, Boston MA, USA
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Infantino A, Belocchi A, Quaranta F, Reverberi M, Beccaccioli M, Lombardi D, Vitale M. Effects of climate change on the distribution of Fusarium spp. in Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163640. [PMID: 37087011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
This work studies the incidence of Fusarium spp. on wheat kernels about current and future climatic conditions in Italy. Epidemiological analyses were performed from 2007 to 2013 and the resulting dataset was used to find correlations between the disease incidence of five important Fusarium species monitored in Italy (Fusarium graminearum, F. langsethiae, F. sporotrichioides, F. poae and F. avenaceum) and climatic and geographical parameters. Probabilistic-based modelling of the actual distribution of Fusarium spp. was achieved by using the Zero-inflated Poisson regression. The probabilistic geographical distribution of the Fusarium species was assessed by applying future climatic scenarios (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). The shift from current to future climatic scenarios highlighted changes on a national and regional scale. The tightening of environmental conditions from the RCP4.5 to 8.5 scenarios resulted in a sporadic presence of F. avenaceum only in the northern region of Italy. Fusarium graminearum was plentifully present in the current climate, but the tightening of minimum and maximum temperatures and the decrease of precipitation between May-June in the RCP8.5 no longer represents the optimum conditions for it. Fusarium langsethiae was currently distributed in all of Italy, showing an increase in the probability of detecting it by moving from high to low latitudes and from low to high longitudes in the RCP8.5. Fusarium poae, unlike other Fusarium species, grows and develops in arid climatic conditions. High values of F. poae were recorded at low latitudes and longitudes. Under the RCP scenarios, it showed high incidence probabilities in the southeast and northeast areas of Italy. Fusarium sporotrichioides is scarcely present in Italy, found at high latitudes and in the central areas. Climate change altered this distribution, and the chances of discovering it increased significantly moving to southern Italy. Overall, the study shows that climate change conditions are likely to lead to an increase in the incidence of Fusarium species on wheat kernels in Italy, highlighting the importance of developing strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on wheat production, quality, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Infantino
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics-CREA, Italy
| | - Andreina Belocchi
- Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics-CREA, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Quaranta
- Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics-CREA, Italy
| | - Massimo Reverberi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | | | - Danilo Lombardi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Vitale
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
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131
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Akinbobola AB, Kean R, Hanifi SMA, Quilliam RS. Environmental reservoirs of the drug-resistant pathogenic yeast Candida auris. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011268. [PMID: 37053164 PMCID: PMC10101498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Candia auris is an emerging human pathogenic yeast; yet, despite phenotypic attributes and genomic evidence suggesting that it probably emerged from a natural reservoir, we know nothing about the environmental phase of its life cycle and the transmission pathways associated with it. The thermotolerant characteristics of C. auris have been hypothesised to be an environmental adaptation to increasing temperatures due to global warming (which may have facilitated its ability to tolerate the mammalian thermal barrier that is considered a protective strategy for humans against colonisation by environmental fungi with pathogenic potential). Thus, C. auris may be the first human pathogenic fungus to have emerged as a result of climate change. In addition, the release of antifungal chemicals, such as azoles, into the environment (from both pharmaceutical and agricultural sources) is likely to be responsible for the environmental enrichment of resistant strains of C. auris; however, the survival and dissemination of C. auris in the natural environment is poorly understood. In this paper, we critically review the possible pathways through which C. auris can be introduced into the environment and evaluate the environmental characteristics that can influence its persistence and transmission in natural environments. Identifying potential environmental niches and reservoirs of C. auris and understanding its emergence against a backdrop of climate change and environmental pollution will be crucial for the development of effective epidemiological and environmental management responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayorinde B Akinbobola
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Kean
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Health System and Population Studies Division, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Richard S Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
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132
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Qiao L, Niño‐Sánchez J, Hamby R, Capriotti L, Chen A, Mezzetti B, Jin H. Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray-induced gene silencing for crop protection. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:854-865. [PMID: 36601704 PMCID: PMC10037145 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco-friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene-targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of RNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for RNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver double stranded RNA (dsRNA). All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi-mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre- and post-harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome RNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jonatan Niño‐Sánchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Plant Production and Forest ResourcesUniversity of ValladolidPalenciaSpain
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR)University of ValladolidPalenciaSpain
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Angela Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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Jiranek J, Miller IF, An R, Bruns E, Metcalf CJE. Mechanistic models to meet the challenge of climate change in plant-pathogen systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220017. [PMID: 36744564 PMCID: PMC9900714 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence that climate change will impact the ecology and evolution of individual plant species is growing. However, little, as yet, is known about how climate change will affect interactions between plants and their pathogens. Climate drivers could affect the physiology, and thus demography, and ultimately evolutionary processes affecting both plant hosts and their pathogens. Because the impacts of climate drivers may operate in different directions at different scales of infection, and, furthermore, may be nonlinear, abstracting across these processes may mis-specify outcomes. Here, we use mechanistic models of plant-pathogen interactions to illustrate how counterintuitive outcomes are possible, and we introduce how such framing may contribute to understanding climate effects on plant-pathogen systems. We discuss the evidence-base derived from wild and agricultural plant-pathogen systems that could inform such models, specifically in the direction of estimates of physiological, demographic and evolutionary responses to climate change. We conclude by providing an overview of knowledge gaps and directions for future research in this important area. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Jiranek
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO 81244, USA
| | - Ian F. Miller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08450, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO 81244, USA
| | - Ruby An
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08450, USA
| | - Emme Bruns
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - C. Jessica E. Metcalf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08450, USA
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134
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Zhao Y, Ye L, Zhao F, Zhang L, Lu Z, Chu T, Wang S, Liu Z, Sun Y, Chen M, Liao G, Ding C, Xu Y, Liao W, Wang L. Cryptococcus neoformans, a global threat to human health. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:20. [PMID: 36932414 PMCID: PMC10020775 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01073-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging fungal pathogens pose important threats to global public health. The World Health Organization has responded to the rising threat of traditionally neglected fungal infections by developing a Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL). Taking the highest-ranked fungal pathogen in the FPPL, Cryptococcus neoformans, as a paradigm, we review progress made over the past two decades on its global burden, its clinical manifestation and management of cryptococcal infection, and its antifungal resistance. The purpose of this review is to drive research efforts to improve future diagnoses, therapies, and interventions associated with fungal infections. METHODS We first reviewed trends in the global burden of HIV-associated cryptococcal infection, mainly based on a series of systematic studies. We next conducted scoping reviews in accordance with the guidelines described in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews using PubMed and ScienceDirect with the keyword Cryptococcus neoformans to identify case reports of cryptococcal infections published since 2000. We then reviewed recent updates on the diagnosis and antifungal treatment of cryptococcal infections. Finally, we summarized knowledge regarding the resistance and tolerance of C. neoformans to approved antifungal drugs. RESULTS There has been a general reduction in the estimated global burden of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis since 2009, probably due to improvements in highly active antiretroviral therapies. However, cryptococcal meningitis still accounts for 19% of AIDS-related deaths annually. The incidences of CM in Europe and North America and the Latin America region have increased by approximately two-fold since 2009, while other regions showed either reduced or stable numbers of cases. Unfortunately, diagnostic and treatment options for cryptococcal infections are limited, and emerging antifungal resistance exacerbates the public health burden. CONCLUSION The rising threat of C. neoformans is compounded by accumulating evidence for its ability to infect immunocompetent individuals and the emergence of antifungal-resistant variants. Emphasis should be placed on further understanding the mechanisms of pathogenicity and of antifungal resistance and tolerance. The development of novel management strategies through the identification of new drug targets and the discovery and optimization of new and existing diagnostics and therapeutics are key to reducing the health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youbao Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.
| | - Leixin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Fujie Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Zhenguo Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Tianxin Chu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Zhanxiang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Yukai Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Guojian Liao
- The Medical Research Institute, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, Liaoning, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, and Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Linqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.
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135
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Approach to the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections of the respiratory tract in the immunocompromised host. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2023; 29:149-159. [PMID: 36917216 DOI: 10.1097/mcp.0000000000000955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The burden of invasive fungal infection is increasing worldwide, largely due to a growing population at-risk. Most serious human fungal pathogens enter the host via the respiratory tract. Early identification and treatment of invasive fungal respiratory infections (IFRIs) in the immunocompromised host saves lives. However, their accurate diagnosis is a difficult challenge for clinicians and mortality remains high. RECENT FINDINGS This article reviews IFRIs, focussing on host susceptibility factors, clinical presentation, and mycological diagnosis. Several new diagnostic tools are coming of age including molecular diagnostics and point-of-care antigen tests. As diagnosis of IFRI relies heavily on invasive procedures like bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy, several novel noninvasive diagnostic techniques are in development, such as metagenomics, 'volatilomics' and advanced imaging technologies. SUMMARY Where IFRI cannot be proven, clinicians must employ a 'weights-of-evidence' approach to evaluate host factors, clinical and mycological data. Implementation studies are needed to understand how new diagnostic tools can be best applied within clinical pathways. Differentiating invasive infection from colonization and identifying antifungal resistance remain key challenges. As our diagnostic arsenal expands, centralized clinical mycology laboratories and efforts to ensure access to new diagnostics in low-resource settings will become increasingly important.
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136
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Rasouli Koohi S, Shankarnarayan SA, Galon CM, Charlebois DA. Identification and Elimination of Antifungal Tolerance in Candida auris. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030898. [PMID: 36979876 PMCID: PMC10045952 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis to which pathogenic fungi make a substantial contribution. The human fungal pathogen C. auris is of particular concern due to its rapid spread across the world and its evolution of multidrug resistance. Fluconazole failure in C. auris has been recently attributed to antifungal “tolerance”. Tolerance is a phenomenon whereby a slow-growing subpopulation of tolerant cells, which are genetically identical to susceptible cells, emerges during drug treatment. We use microbroth dilution and disk diffusion assays, together with image analysis, to investigate antifungal tolerance in C. auris to all three classes of antifungal drugs used to treat invasive candidiasis. We find that (1) C. auris is tolerant to several common fungistatic and fungicidal drugs, which in some cases can be detected after 24 h, as well as after 48 h, of antifungal drug exposure; (2) the tolerant phenotype reverts to the susceptible phenotype in C. auris; and (3) combining azole, polyene, and echinocandin antifungal drugs with the adjuvant chloroquine in some cases reduces or eliminates tolerance and resistance in patient-derived C. auris isolates. These results suggest that tolerance contributes to treatment failure in C. auris infections for a broad range of antifungal drugs, and that antifungal adjuvants may improve treatment outcomes for patients infected with antifungal-tolerant or antifungal-resistant fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel A. Charlebois
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Kollath DR, Morales MM, Itogawa AN, Mullaney D, Lee NR, Barker BM. Combating the Dust Devil: Utilizing Naturally Occurring Soil Microbes in Arizona to Inhibit the Growth of Coccidioides spp., the Causative Agent of Valley Fever. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030345. [PMID: 36983513 PMCID: PMC10056400 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal disease Valley fever causes a significant medical and financial burden for affected people in the endemic region, and this burden is on the rise. Despite the medical importance of this disease, little is known about ecological factors that influence the geographic point sources of high abundance of the pathogens Coccidioides posadasii and C. immitis, such as competition with co-occurring soil microbes. These “hot spots”, for instance, those in southern Arizona, are areas in which humans are at greater risk of being infected with the fungus due to consistent exposure. The aim of this study was to isolate native microbes from soils collected from Tucson, Arizona (endemic area for C. posadasii) and characterize their relationship (antagonistic, synergistic, or neutral) to the fungal pathogen with in vitro challenge assays. Secreted metabolites from the microbes were extracted and described using analytical techniques including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. Bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus and fungi in the Fennellomyces and Ovatospora genera were shown to significantly decrease the growth of Coccidioides spp. In vitro. In contrast, other bacteria in the Brevibacillus genus, as well as one species of Bacillus bacteria, were shown to promote growth of Coccidioides when directly challenged. The metabolites secreted from the antagonistic bacteria were described using HPLC and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The microbes identified in this study as antagonists to Coccidioides and/or the metabolites they secrete have the potential to be used as natural biocontrol agents to limit the amount of fungal burden at geographic point sources, and therefore limit the potential for human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Kollath
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-708-280-5867
| | - Matthew M. Morales
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Ashley N. Itogawa
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Dustin Mullaney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Naomi R. Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Bridget M. Barker
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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138
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Luethy PM. Point-of-Care Testing for the Diagnosis of Fungal Infections. Clin Lab Med 2023; 43:209-220. [PMID: 37169443 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are increasing worldwide due to factors such as climate change and immunomodulating therapies. Unfortunately, the detection of these infections is limited due to the low sensitivity and long periods required for laboratory testing. Point-of-care testing could lead to more rapid diagnosis of these often devasting infections. However, there are currently no true point-of-care tests on the market for the detection of fungi. In this article, the current state of fungal antigen and molecular testing is reviewed, with commentary on the potential for development and use in the point-of-care setting.
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139
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Cameron BH, Luong AU. New Developments in Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis Pathophysiology and Treatment. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2023; 37:214-220. [PMID: 36848273 PMCID: PMC11898383 DOI: 10.1177/19458924231152983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is an endotype of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps characterized by eosinophilic mucin laden with fungal hyphae entrapped in expanded sinus cavities with an exaggerated hypersensitivity to fungal elements. The last decade has elucidated fungi-driven inflammatory pathways contributing to the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases. In addition, novel therapeutic biologic options have become available for CRS over the last several years. OBJECTIVE To review the current literature examining AFRS, focusing on recent developments in our understanding of its pathophysiology and implications for treatment options. METHODS Review article. RESULTS Fungi-driven respiratory inflammation has been linked to fungal proteinases and toxin activity. In addition, AFRS patients demonstrate a local sinonasal immunodeficiency in antimicrobial peptides and hence limited antifungal activity, along with an exaggerated type 2 inflammatory response, highlighting a possible imbalanced type 1, type 2, and type 3 profile. The elucidation of these dysregulated molecular pathways has highlighted novel potential therapeutic targets. As such, the clinical management of AFRS, which once included surgery and extended courses of oral corticosteroids, is transitioning away from long courses of oral corticosteroids to incorporate novel delivery mechanisms of topical therapeutic targets and biologics for recalcitrant disease. CONCLUSION AFRS is an endotype of CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) for which the molecular pathways leading to its inflammatory dysfunction are beginning to be illuminated. In addition to affecting treatment options, these understandings may shape necessary changes to diagnostic criteria and the extrapolated effects of environmental changes on AFRS. More critically, a better appreciation of fungi-driven inflammatory pathways may have implications for the understanding of broader CRS inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian H Cameron
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGovern Medical School, 12340The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amber U Luong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGovern Medical School, 12340The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases, Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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140
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Atypical changes in Candida albicans cells treated with the Venetin-1 complex from earthworm coelomic fluid. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2844. [PMID: 36807384 PMCID: PMC9938250 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29728-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present research, the effect of a protein-polysaccharide complex Venetin-1 obtained from the coelomic fluid of Dendrobaena veneta earthworm on Candida albicans cells was characterized. The compound destroyed fungal cells without showing cytotoxicity to human skin fibroblasts, which was demonstrated in earlier studies. Since it had an effect on the fungal cell wall and membrane, this complex was compared with the known antifungal antibiotic fluconazole. Both preparations disturbed the division of yeast cells and resulted in the formation of aggregates and chains of unseparated cells, which was illustrated by staining with fluorochromes. Fluorescent staining of the cell wall with Calcofluor white facilitated comparison of the types of aggregates formed after the action of both substances. The analysis performed with the use of Congo red showed that Venetin-1 exposed deeper layers of the cell wall, whereas no such effect was visible after the use of fluconazole. The FTIR analysis confirmed changes in the mannoprotein layer of the cell wall after the application of the Venetin-1 complex. Staining with Rhodamine 123 and the use of flow cytometry allowed comparison of changes in the mitochondria. Significantly elongated mitochondria were observed after the Venetin-1 application, but not after the application of the classic antibiotic. Phase contrast microscopy revealed vacuole enlargement after the Venetin-1 application. The flow cytometry analysis of C. albicans cells treated with Venetin-1 and fluconazole showed that both substances caused a significant decrease in cell viability.
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141
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Dangarembizi R, Wasserman S, Hoving JC. Emerging and re-emerging fungal threats in Africa. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e12953. [PMID: 36175380 PMCID: PMC9892204 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of deadly fungal infections in Africa is primarily driven by a disproportionately high burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, lack of access to quality health care, and the unavailability of effective antifungal drugs. Immunocompromised people in Africa are therefore at high risk of infection from opportunistic fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis jirovecii, which are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and related socioeconomic impacts. Other emerging fungal threats include Emergomyces spp., Histoplasma spp., Blastomyces spp., and healthcare-associated multi-drug resistant Candida auris. Socioeconomic development and the Covid-19 pandemic may influence shifts in epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases on the continent. This review discusses the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and current management strategies available for these emerging fungal diseases in Africa. We also discuss gaps in knowledge, policy, and research to inform future efforts at managing these fungal threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Dangarembizi
- Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape Town, Groote Schuur HospitalCape TownSouth Africa
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Sean Wasserman
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of MedicineUniversity of Cape Town, Groote Schuur HospitalCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Jennifer Claire Hoving
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Roohi B, Nemati S, Alipour A, Faeli L, Mayahi S, Haghani I, Shalchizadeh M, Darini A, Al-Hatmi AMS, Abastabar M, Shokohi T. Otomycosis: The foremost aetiological agent causing otitis externa and the antifungal susceptibility pattern in North-Western Iran. Mycoses 2023; 66:87-97. [PMID: 36134511 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Otomycosis is considered a recurring fungal ear infection. The external auditory canal provides an appropriate and optimal situation for fungal growth. OBJECTIVES The study aimed to identify the causative agents of otomycosis and determine corresponding antifungal drug susceptibility patterns in north-western Iran. METHODS From October 2020 until November 2021, 200 patients attended an otolaryngology referral centre with otitis externa, and their ear discharge and debris were examined and cultured. The identification of the fungal agents was implemented by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolates was conducted in accordance with the CLSI broth microdilution protocols. RESULTS The prevalence of otomycosis was measured 50.5% (n = 101/200). The majority of patients were in their forties (n = 35, 34.6%) and female (n = 57, 56.4%), and the most prevalent symptom was otalgia (56.4%). The most underlying factor was remarked manipulation employing a cotton swab (65.3%). Regarding fungus, Aspergillus section Nigri (58.57%) was the foremost isolate, followed by Aspergillus section Flavi (19.23%) and Candida parapsilosis (14.96%). The predominance of Aspergillus isolates had minimal in vitro sensitivity to tioconazole and nystatin. Candida species represented higher geometric mean minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against nystatin. The MIC of three Aspergillus species isolates shown above the epidemiologic cut-off values (ECV) against itraconazole. CONCLUSIONS Otomycosis incidence surpassed in comparison with the previous study as the most common cause of otitis externa. The MIC distribution of Aspergillus species isolates against triazole antifungals is close to the defined ECVs and likely outrun it over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrad Roohi
- Communicable Diseases Institute, Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shadman Nemati
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Abbas Alipour
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Leila Faeli
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sabah Mayahi
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Iman Haghani
- Communicable Diseases Institute, Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Makan Shalchizadeh
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Darini
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Abdullah M S Al-Hatmi
- Natural & Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman.,Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Communicable Diseases Institute, Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tahereh Shokohi
- Communicable Diseases Institute, Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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143
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Zhu Y, Yao Y, Xi J, Tang C, Wu L. Modelling the effect of pH and H2S on the germination of F. graminearum spores under different temperature conditions. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2023.114530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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144
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Abramczyk B, Pecio Ł, Kozachok S, Kowalczyk M, Marzec-Grządziel A, Król E, Gałązka A, Oleszek W. Pioneering Metabolomic Studies on Diaporthe eres Species Complex from Fruit Trees in the South-Eastern Poland. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031175. [PMID: 36770841 PMCID: PMC9920373 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi from the genus Diaporthe have been reported as plant pathogens, endophytes, and saprophytes on a wide range of host plants worldwide. Their precise identification is problematic since many Diaporthe species can colonize a single host plant, whereas the same Diaporthe species can inhabit many hosts. Recently, Diaporthe has been proven to be a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. In our initial study, 40 Diaporthe isolates were analyzed for their metabolite production. A total of 153 compounds were identified based on their spectroscopic properties-Ultraviolet-visible and mass spectrometry. From these, 43 fungal metabolites were recognized as potential chemotaxonomic markers, mostly belonging to the drimane sesquiterpenoid-phthalide hybrid class. This group included mainly phytotoxic compounds such as cyclopaldic acid, altiloxin A, B, and their derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the metabolomic studies on Diaporthe eres species complex from fruit trees in the South-Eastern Poland. The results from our study may provide the basis for the future research on the isolation of identified metabolites and on their bioactive potential for agricultural applications as biopesticides or biofertilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Abramczyk
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Łukasz Pecio
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Solomiia Kozachok
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kowalczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Anna Marzec-Grządziel
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Ewa Król
- Department of Plant Protection, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Gałązka
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Wiesław Oleszek
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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145
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Gusa A, Yadav V, Roth C, Williams JD, Shouse EM, Magwene P, Heitman J, Jinks-Robertson S. Genome-wide analysis of heat stress-stimulated transposon mobility in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2209831120. [PMID: 36669112 PMCID: PMC9942834 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209831120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently reported transposon mutagenesis as a significant driver of spontaneous mutations in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans during murine infection. Mutations caused by transposable element (TE) insertion into reporter genes were dramatically elevated at high temperatures (37° vs. 30°) in vitro, suggesting that heat stress stimulates TE mobility in the Cryptococcus genome. To explore the genome-wide impact of TE mobilization, we generated transposon accumulation lines by in vitro passage of C. deneoformans strain XL280α for multiple generations at both 30° and at the host-relevant temperature of 37°. Utilizing whole-genome sequencing, we identified native TE copies and mapped multiple de novo TE insertions in these lines. Movements of the T1 DNA transposon occurred at both temperatures with a strong bias for insertion between gene-coding regions. By contrast, the Tcn12 retrotransposon integrated primarily within genes and movement occurred exclusively at 37°. In addition, we observed a dramatic amplification in copy number of the Cnl1 (Cryptococcus neoformans LINE-1) retrotransposon in subtelomeric regions under heat-stress conditions. Comparing TE mutations to other sequence variations detected in passaged lines, the increase in genomic changes at elevated temperatures was primarily due to mobilization of the retroelements Tcn12 and Cnl1. Finally, we found multiple TE movements (T1, Tcn12, and Cnl1) in the genomes of single C. deneoformans isolates recovered from infected mice, providing evidence that mobile elements are likely to facilitate microevolution and rapid adaptation during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asiya Gusa
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Vikas Yadav
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Cullen Roth
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Jonathan D. Williams
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Eva Mei Shouse
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Paul Magwene
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Sue Jinks-Robertson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
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146
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Systemic Antifungal Therapy for Invasive Pulmonary Infections. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020144. [PMID: 36836260 PMCID: PMC9966409 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal therapy for pulmonary fungal diseases is in a state of flux. Amphotericin B, the time-honored standard of care for many years, has been replaced by agents demonstrating superior efficacy and safety, including extended-spectrum triazoles and liposomal amphotericin B. Voriconazole, which became the treatment of choice for most pulmonary mold diseases, has been compared with posaconazole and itraconazole, both of which have shown clinical efficacy similar to that of voriconazole, with fewer adverse events. With the worldwide expansion of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and infections with intrinsically resistant non-Aspergillus molds, the need for newer antifungals with novel mechanisms of action becomes ever more pressing.
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147
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Patiño LH, Muñoz M, Ramírez AL, Vélez N, Escandón P, Parra-Giraldo CM, Ramírez JD. A Landscape of the Genomic Structure of Cryptococcus neoformans in Colombian Isolates. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020135. [PMID: 36836249 PMCID: PMC9959405 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes are recognized as environmental fungi responsible for lethal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. Despite the vast knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic diversity of this fungus in different regions of the world, more studies are necessary to comprehend the genomic profiles across South America, including Colombia, considered to be the second country with the highest number of Cryptococcosis. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the genomic architecture of 29 Colombian C. neoformans isolates and evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of these strains with publicly available C. neoformans genomes. The phylogenomic analysis showed that 97% of the isolates belonged to the VNI molecular type and the presence of sub-lineages and sub-clades. We evidenced a karyotype without changes, a low number of genes with copy number variations, and a moderate number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Additionally, a difference in the number of SNPs between the sub-lineages/sub-clades was observed; some were involved in crucial fungi biological processes. Our study demonstrated the intraspecific divergence of C. neoformans in Colombia. These findings provide evidence that Colombian C. neoformans isolates do not probably require significant structural changes as adaptation mechanisms to the host. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the whole genome sequence of Colombian C. neoformans isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Helena Patiño
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Angie Lorena Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Nórida Vélez
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Escandón
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Claudia-Marcela Parra-Giraldo
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +1-(332)-2344161
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148
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Qiao L, Niño-Sánchez J, Hamby R, Capriotti L, Chen A, Mezzetti B, Jin H. Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray induced gene silencing for crop protection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.03.522662. [PMID: 36711993 PMCID: PMC9882009 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco-friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene-targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of dsRNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for dsRNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP, and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver dsRNA. All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi-mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre- and post-harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome dsRNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jonatan Niño-Sánchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR). University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Angela Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
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149
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de Oliveira RVM, Corrêa-Moreira D, Mendes TV, da Costa GL, Vieira RDM, Buchele CMN, Lins RS, Ferreira ABTBC, Veira DB, Pedroso RSDA, de Faria VTDP, Oliveira MME. First report of fungal meningoencephalitis by Penicillium chrysogenum in Brazil. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 126:94-97. [PMID: 36427702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections of the central nervous system present a variety of clinical syndromes, such as meningitis, encephalitis, raised intracranial pressure with a nonspecific presentation, and, in the last two decades, have increased the incidence of these fungal infections. Fungal meningoencephalitis is frequently associated with Cryptococcus, but this report stands out for presenting one species of Penicillium genus. OBJECTIVES Here, we present the first case of meningoencephalitis associated with brain injury caused by Penicillium chrysogenum, in a patient who is immunocompetent and was admitted to Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS To identify the fungal species, we performed phenotypic and genotypic methodologies, from the culture to the sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region, and β-tubulin gene, a rare fungus in cerebrospinal fluid cultures, belonging to the genus Penicillium, was identified. CONCLUSION We highlight the importance of the first report of meningoencephalitis caused by P. chrysogenum in a patient who is immunocompetent, registered in Brazil. We also emphasize the need for further studies to determine an effective treatment with the least possible side effects for patients infected by fungi that are rarely related to the most severe forms of invasive infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danielly Corrêa-Moreira
- Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Taxonomy, Biochemistry and Bioprospecting of Fungi, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Túlio Vieira Mendes
- Infectious Diseases Department, Marcilio Dias Naval Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisela Lara da Costa
- Laboratory of Taxonomy, Biochemistry and Bioprospecting of Fungi, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Schrage Lins
- Infectious Diseases Department, Marcilio Dias Naval Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Daniela Barbosa Veira
- Infectious Diseases Department, Marcilio Dias Naval Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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150
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Garvey M, Meade E, Rowan NJ. Effectiveness of front line and emerging fungal disease prevention and control interventions and opportunities to address appropriate eco-sustainable solutions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158284. [PMID: 36029815 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens contribute to significant disease burden globally; however, the fact that fungi are eukaryotes has greatly complicated their role in fungal-mediated infections and alleviation. Antifungal drugs are often toxic to host cells and there is increasing evidence of adaptive resistance in animals and humans. Existing fungal diagnostic and treatment regimens have limitations that has contributed to the alarming high mortality rates and prolonged morbidity seen in immunocompromised cohorts caused by opportunistic invasive infections as evidenced during HIV and COVID-19 pandemics. There is a need to develop real-time monitoring and diagnostic methods for fungal pathogens and to create a greater awareness as to the contribution of fungal pathogens in disease causation. Greater information is required on the appropriate selection and dose of antifungal drugs including factors governing resistance where there is commensurate need to discover more appropriate and effective solutions. Popular azole fungal drugs are widely detected in surface water and sediment due to incomplete removal in wastewater treatment plants where they are resistant to microbial degradation and may cause toxic effects on aquatic organisms such as algae and fish. UV has limited effectiveness in destruction of anti-fungal drugs where there is increased interest in the combination approaches such as novel use of pulsed-plasma gas-discharge technologies for environmental waste management. There is growing interest in developing alternative and complementary green eco-biocides and disinfection innovation. Fungi present challenges for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical devices such as endoscopes where they (example, Aspergillus and Candida species) can be protected when harboured in build-up biofilm from lethal processing. Information on the efficacy of established disinfection and sterilization technologies to address fungal pathogens including bottleneck areas that present high risk to patients is lacking. There is a need to address risk mitigation and modelling to inform efficacy of appropriate intervention technologies that must consider all contributing factors where there is potential to adopt digital technologies to enable real-time analysis of big data, such as use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. International consensus on standardised protocols for developing and reporting on appropriate alternative eco-solutions must be reached, particularly in order to address fungi with increasing drug resistance where research and innovation can be enabled using a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Garvey
- Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland; Centre for Precision Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing Research (PEM), Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Elaine Meade
- Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland; Centre for Precision Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing Research (PEM), Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Neil J Rowan
- Bioscience Research Institute, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, Athlone, Ireland; Centre for Decontamination, Sterilization and Biosecurity, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, Athlone, Ireland; Empower Eco Sustainability Hub, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, Athlone, Ireland.
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