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Selection of Polymorphic Patterns Obtained by RAPD-PCR through Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses to Differentiate Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030296. [PMID: 35330298 PMCID: PMC8949193 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this work was to use the random amplification of the polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) technique to select polymorphic patterns through qualitative and quantitative analyses to differentiate the species A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. tubingensis. Twenty-seven Aspergillus isolates from different species were typified using phenotypic (macro- and micromorphology) and genotypic (partial BenA gene sequencing) methods. Thirty-four primers were used to obtain polymorphic patterns, and with these a qualitative analysis was performed to select the primers that presented species-specific patterns to distinguish each species. For the quantitative selection, a database was built from the polymorphic patterns and used for the construction of logistic regression models; later, the model that presented the highest value of sensitivity against specificity was evaluated through ROC curves. The qualitative selection showed that the primers OPA-19, P54, 1253 and OPA-02 could differentiate the species. A quantitative analysis was carried out through logistic regression, whereby a species-specific correlation of sensitivity and specificity greater than 90% was obtained for the primers: OPC-06 with a 96.32% match to A. flavus; OPF-01 with a 100% match to A. fumigatus; OPG-13 with a 98.01% match to A. tubingensis; and OPF-07 with a 99.71% match to A. niger. The primer OPF-01 discriminated the four species as well as closely related species. The quantitative methods using the selected primers allowed discrimination between species and showed their usefulness for genotyping some of the species of medical relevance belonging to the genus Aspergillus.
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Prencipe S, Sillo F, Garibaldi A, Gullino ML, Spadaro D. Development of a Sensitive TaqMan qPCR Assay for Detection and Quantification of Venturia inaequalis in Apple Leaves and Fruit and in Air Samples. PLANT DISEASE 2020; 104:2851-2859. [PMID: 32902358 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-10-19-2160-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay based on the translation elongation factor 1-α gene was developed for the quantification of Venturia inaequalis in leaves and fruits of Malus × domestica and in spore trap samples. The designed primers and hydrolysis probe amplified a specific 86-bp fragment for V. inaequalis. The specificity of the assay was tested using 35 strains of V. inaequalis and 20 different fungal species, including common pathogens of apple and other species of Venturia. The limit of detection was 20 fg, which is lower than a single genome of V. inaequalis. The selectivity of the assay was tested using DNA from three cultivars of Malus × domestica, and no influence on pathogen amplification was found. The assay was also validated for repeatability and reproducibility. With this assay, it was possible to detect and quantify V. inaequalis in four cultivars (Ambrosia, Florina, Golden Delicious, and Mondial Gala) in both symptomatic and asymptomatic leaves and in symptomatic Golden Delicious apple fruit stored for 2 months. Furthermore, the assay was successfully tested on spore trap samples originating from apple orchards. The quantification of the molecular assay when compared with the estimated number of V. inaequalis cells, using an optical microscope, showed a correlation coefficient of 0.8186. The developed technique could be used to detect V. inaequalis in asymptomatic samples without any cross-reaction with other fungal species. Furthermore, to improve the efficacy of disease management with a timely application of fungicides, this assay could be used for the analysis of spore trap samples by using an implemented extraction method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Prencipe
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DiSAFA), University of Torino, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Fabiano Sillo
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DiSAFA), University of Torino, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Angelo Garibaldi
- Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-environmental Sector-AGROINNOVA, University of Turin, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Maria Lodovica Gullino
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DiSAFA), University of Torino, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
- Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-environmental Sector-AGROINNOVA, University of Turin, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Davide Spadaro
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DiSAFA), University of Torino, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
- Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-environmental Sector-AGROINNOVA, University of Turin, via Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
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del Rocío Reyes-Montes M, Duarte-Escalante E, Guadalupe Frías-De-León M, Obed Martínez-Herrera E, Acosta-Altamirano G. Molecular Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis. Mol Med 2019. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.78694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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Hubka V, Barrs V, Dudová Z, Sklenář F, Kubátová A, Matsuzawa T, Yaguchi T, Horie Y, Nováková A, Frisvad J, Talbot J, Kolařík M. Unravelling species boundaries in the Aspergillus viridinutans complex (section Fumigati): opportunistic human and animal pathogens capable of interspecific hybridization. PERSOONIA 2018; 41:142-174. [PMID: 30728603 PMCID: PMC6344812 DOI: 10.3767/persoonia.2018.41.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although Aspergillus fumigatus is the major agent of invasive aspergillosis, an increasing number of infections are caused by its cryptic species, especially A. lentulus and the A. viridinutans species complex (AVSC). Their identification is clinically relevant because of antifungal drug resistance and refractory infections. Species boundaries in the AVSC are unresolved since most species have uniform morphology and produce interspecific hybrids in vitro. Clinical and environmental strains from six continents (n = 110) were characterized by DNA sequencing of four to six loci. Biological compatibilities were tested within and between major phylogenetic clades, and ascospore morphology was characterised. Species delimitation methods based on the multispecies coalescent model (MSC) supported recognition of ten species including one new species. Four species are confirmed opportunistic pathogens; A. udagawae followed by A. felis and A. pseudoviridinutans are known from opportunistic human infections, while A. felis followed by A. udagawae and A. wyomingensis are agents of feline sino-orbital aspergillosis. Recently described human-pathogenic species A. parafelis and A. pseudofelis are synonymized with A. felis and an epitype is designated for A. udagawae. Intraspecific mating assay showed that only a few of the heterothallic species can readily generate sexual morphs in vitro. Interspecific mating assays revealed that five different species combinations were biologically compatible. Hybrid ascospores had atypical surface ornamentation and significantly different dimensions compared to parental species. This suggests that species limits in the AVSC are maintained by both pre- and post-zygotic barriers and these species display a great potential for rapid adaptation and modulation of virulence. This study highlights that a sufficient number of strains representing genetic diversity within a species is essential for meaningful species boundaries delimitation in cryptic species complexes. MSC-based delimitation methods are robust and suitable tools for evaluation of boundaries between these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Hubka
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, 121 08 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - V. Barrs
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, and Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Z. Dudová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, 121 08 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - F. Sklenář
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - A. Kubátová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - T. Matsuzawa
- University of Nagasaki, 1-1-1 Manabino, Nagayo-cho, Nishi-Sonogi-gun, Nagasaki 851-2195, Japan
| | - T. Yaguchi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan
| | - Y. Horie
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan
| | - A. Nováková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - J.C. Frisvad
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - J.J. Talbot
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, and Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - M. Kolařík
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, v.v.i, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
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López-Fernández L, Sanchis M, Navarro-Rodríguez P, Nicolás FE, Silva-Franco F, Guarro J, Garre V, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Pérez-Arques C, Capilla J. Understanding Mucor circinelloides pathogenesis by comparative genomics and phenotypical studies. Virulence 2018; 9:707-720. [PMID: 29436903 PMCID: PMC5955452 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1435249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of infections by species of Mucorales and their high mortality constitute an important concern for public health. This study aims to decipher the genetic basis of Mucor circinelloides pathogenicity, which displays virulence in a strain dependent manner. Assuming that genetic differences between strains may be linked to different pathotypes, we have conducted a study to explore genes responsible for virulence in M. circinelloides by whole genome sequencing of the avirulent strain NRRL3631 and comparison with the virulent strain CBS277.49. This genome analysis revealed 773 truncated, discontiguous and absent genes in the NRRL3631 strain. We also examined phenotypic traits resulting in reduced heat stress tolerance, chitosan content and lower susceptibility to toxic compounds (calcofluor white and sodium dodecyl sulphate) in the virulent strain, suggesting the influence of cell wall on pathogenesis. Based on these results, we focused on studying extracellular protein-coding genes by gene deletion and further pathotype characterization of mutants in murine models of pulmonary and systemic infection. Deletion of gene ID112092, which codes for a hypothetical extracellular protein of unknown function, resulted in significant reduction of virulence. Although pathogenesis is a multifactorial process, these findings highlight the crucial role of surface and secreted proteins in M. circinelloides virulence and should promote further studies of other differential genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loida López-Fernández
- a Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) , Reus , Spain
| | - Marta Sanchis
- a Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) , Reus , Spain
| | - Patricia Navarro-Rodríguez
- a Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) , Reus , Spain
| | - Francisco E Nicolás
- b Departamento de Genética y Microbiología , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | | | - Josep Guarro
- a Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) , Reus , Spain
| | - Victoriano Garre
- b Departamento de Genética y Microbiología , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | | | - Carlos Pérez-Arques
- b Departamento de Genética y Microbiología , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Javier Capilla
- a Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) , Reus , Spain
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Fungal Assessment of Indoor Air Quality in Wards and Operating Theatres in an Organ Transplantation Hospital. HEALTH SCOPE 2018. [DOI: 10.5812/jhealthscope.60208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Zarrin M, Rashidnia Z, Faramarzi S, Harooni L. Rapid Identification of Aspergillus Fumigatus Using Βeta-Tubulin and RodletA Genes. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2017; 5:848-851. [PMID: 29362608 PMCID: PMC5771284 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2017.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM: The main purpose of the present study was to test the β-tubulin and rodletA genes for rapid identification of Aspergillus fumigatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one A. fumigatus strains including environmental, clinical and reference isolates were tested in this research. PCR was carried out based on βtub and rodA partial gene sequences. RESULTS: A 198 bp DNA fragment was obtained using βtub gene. PCR amplification of the rodA gene resulted in a 313 bp band. The βtub and rodA genes PCR products exhibited a 100% homology with the associated sequences in the GenBank. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we used a PCR approach that was able to discriminate A. fumigatus from other related species within the section Fumigati.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Zarrin
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Medical Mycology, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zeinab Rashidnia
- Department of Medical Mycology, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sama Faramarzi
- Department of Medical Mycology, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Lida Harooni
- Department of Medical Mycology, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Trieu TA, Navarro-Mendoza MI, Pérez-Arques C, Sanchis M, Capilla J, Navarro-Rodriguez P, Lopez-Fernandez L, Torres-Martínez S, Garre V, Ruiz-Vázquez RM, Nicolás FE. RNAi-Based Functional Genomics Identifies New Virulence Determinants in Mucormycosis. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006150. [PMID: 28107502 PMCID: PMC5287474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are an emerging group of human pathogens that are responsible for the lethal disease mucormycosis. Unfortunately, functional studies on the genetic factors behind the virulence of these organisms are hampered by their limited genetic tractability, since they are reluctant to classical genetic tools like transposable elements or gene mapping. Here, we describe an RNAi-based functional genomic platform that allows the identification of new virulence factors through a forward genetic approach firstly described in Mucorales. This platform contains a whole-genome collection of Mucor circinelloides silenced transformants that presented a broad assortment of phenotypes related to the main physiological processes in fungi, including virulence, hyphae morphology, mycelial and yeast growth, carotenogenesis and asexual sporulation. Selection of transformants with reduced virulence allowed the identification of mcplD, which encodes a Phospholipase D, and mcmyo5, encoding a probably essential cargo transporter of the Myosin V family, as required for a fully virulent phenotype of M. circinelloides. Knock-out mutants for those genes showed reduced virulence in both Galleria mellonella and Mus musculus models, probably due to a delayed germination and polarized growth within macrophages. This study provides a robust approach to study virulence in Mucorales and as a proof of concept identified new virulence determinants in M. circinelloides that could represent promising targets for future antifungal therapies. Mucormycosis is an infectious disease caused by organisms of the order Mucorales. It is a lethal infection that is raising the alarm in the medical and scientific community due to its high mortality rates, unusual antifungal drug resistance and its emerging character. Among the reasons explaining the nescience about this disease is the lack of knowledge on the biology of the organisms that cause mucormycosis, which is encouraged by the reluctance of these species to genetic studies. In this work, we have developed an RNAi-based functional genomic platform to study virulence in Mucorales. It is a powerful tool available for the scientific community that will contribute to solve the reluctance of Mucorales to genetic studies and will help to understand the genetic basis of virulence in these organisms. Secondly, and as a proof of concept, we have used this genetic tool to identify two new virulence determinants in Mucor circinelloides. Lack of function of these determinants delays germination and growth of spores, conceding time to macrophages for the inactivation of the pathogen. The two genes identified, mcplD and mcmyo5, represent promising targets for future development of new antifungal therapies against mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Anh Trieu
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Carlos Pérez-Arques
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - Marta Sanchis
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Javier Capilla
- Unidad de Microbiología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, Tarragona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Victoriano Garre
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Francisco E. Nicolás
- Departmento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Current Approaches Towards Development of Molecular Markers in Diagnostics of Invasive Aspergillosis. Fungal Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-34106-4_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Lamoth F. Aspergillus fumigatus-Related Species in Clinical Practice. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:683. [PMID: 27242710 PMCID: PMC4868848 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the main etiologic agent of invasive aspergillosis (IA). Other Aspergillus species belonging to the section Fumigati (A. fumigatus complex) may occasionally be the cause of IA. These strains are often misidentified, as they cannot be distinguished from A. fumigatus by conventional morphological analysis and sequencing methods. This lack of recognition may have important consequences as these A. fumigatus-related species often display some level of intrinsic resistance to azoles and other antifungal drugs. A. lentulus, A. udagawae, A. viridinutans, and A. thermomutatus (Neosartorya pseudofischeri) have been associated with refractory cases of IA. Microbiologists should be able to suspect the presence of these cryptic species behind a putative A. fumigatus isolate on the basis of some simple characteristics, such as defect in sporulation and/or unusual antifungal susceptibility profile. However, definitive species identification requires specific sequencing analyses of the beta-tubulin or calmodulin genes, which are not available in most laboratories. Multiplex PCR assays or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization - time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) gave promising results for rapid and accurate distinction between A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus spp. of the section Fumigati in clinical practice. Improved diagnostic procedures and antifungal susceptibility testing may be helpful for the early detection and management of these particular IA cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lamoth
- Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, and Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University HospitalLausanne, Switzerland
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