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Coelho MA, David-Palma M, Shea T, Bowers K, McGinley-Smith S, Mohammad AW, Gnirke A, Yurkov AM, Nowrousian M, Sun S, Cuomo CA, Heitman J. Comparative genomics of the closely related fungal genera Cryptococcus and Kwoniella reveals karyotype dynamics and suggests evolutionary mechanisms of pathogenesis. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002682. [PMID: 38843310 PMCID: PMC11185503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In exploring the evolutionary trajectories of both pathogenesis and karyotype dynamics in fungi, we conducted a large-scale comparative genomic analysis spanning the Cryptococcus genus, encompassing both global human fungal pathogens and nonpathogenic species, and related species from the sister genus Kwoniella. Chromosome-level genome assemblies were generated for multiple species, covering virtually all known diversity within these genera. Although Cryptococcus and Kwoniella have comparable genome sizes (about 19.2 and 22.9 Mb) and similar gene content, hinting at preadaptive pathogenic potential, our analysis found evidence of gene gain (via horizontal gene transfer) and gene loss in pathogenic Cryptococcus species, which might represent evolutionary signatures of pathogenic development. Genome analysis also revealed a significant variation in chromosome number and structure between the 2 genera. By combining synteny analysis and experimental centromere validation, we found that most Cryptococcus species have 14 chromosomes, whereas most Kwoniella species have fewer (11, 8, 5, or even as few as 3). Reduced chromosome number in Kwoniella is associated with formation of giant chromosomes (up to 18 Mb) through repeated chromosome fusion events, each marked by a pericentric inversion and centromere loss. While similar chromosome inversion-fusion patterns were observed in all Kwoniella species with fewer than 14 chromosomes, no such pattern was detected in Cryptococcus. Instead, Cryptococcus species with less than 14 chromosomes showed reductions primarily through rearrangements associated with the loss of repeat-rich centromeres. Additionally, Cryptococcus genomes exhibited frequent interchromosomal translocations, including intercentromeric recombination facilitated by transposons shared between centromeres. Overall, our findings advance our understanding of genetic changes possibly associated with pathogenicity in Cryptococcus and provide a foundation to elucidate mechanisms of centromere loss and chromosome fusion driving distinct karyotypes in closely related fungal species, including prominent global human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Coelho
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Márcia David-Palma
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Terrance Shea
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katharine Bowers
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sage McGinley-Smith
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Arman W. Mohammad
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrey M. Yurkov
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sheng Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Tanwar M, Singh A, Singh TP, Sharma S, Sharma P. Comprehensive Review on the Virulence Factors and Therapeutic Strategies with the Aid of Artificial Intelligence against Mucormycosis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1431-1457. [PMID: 38682683 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00082] [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] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Mucormycosis, a rare but deadly fungal infection, was an epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in cases (COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, CAM) is attributed to excessive steroid and antibiotic use, poor hospital hygiene, and crowded settings. Major contributing factors include diabetes and weakened immune systems. The main manifesting forms of CAM─cutaneous, pulmonary, and the deadliest, rhinocerebral─and disseminated infections elevated mortality rates to 85%. Recent focus lies on small-molecule inhibitors due to their advantages over standard treatments like surgery and liposomal amphotericin B (which carry several long-term adverse effects), offering potential central nervous system penetration, diverse targets, and simpler dosing owing to their small size, rendering the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion facilitated by the phospholipid membrane. Adaptation and versatility in mucormycosis are facilitated by a multitude of virulence factors, enabling the pathogen to dynamically respond to various environmental stressors. A comprehensive understanding of these virulence mechanisms is imperative for devising effective therapeutic interventions against this highly opportunistic pathogen that thrives in immunocompromised individuals through its angio-invasive nature. Hence, this Review delineates the principal virulence factors of mucormycosis, the mechanisms it employs to persist in challenging host environments, and the current progress in developing small-molecule inhibitors against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Tanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Anamika Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Tej Pal Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
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3
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Garstka K, Potoczniak G, Kozłowski H, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Aspergillus fumigatus ZrfC Zn(II) transporter scavengers zincophore-bound Zn(II). Dalton Trans 2024; 53:2848-2858. [PMID: 38231010 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt04083f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen that is able to invade and grow in the lungs of immunosuppressed patients and cause invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The concentration of free Zn(II) in living tissues is much lower than that required for optimal fungal growth; thus, to obtain Zn(II) from the host, Aspergillus fumigatus uses highly specified Zn(II) transporters: ZrfA, ZrfB and ZrfC. The ZrfC transporter plays the main role in Zn(II) acquisition from the host in neutral and mildly alkaline environment via interacting with the secreted Aspf2 zincophore. Understanding the Aspf2-ZrfC interactions is therefore necessary for explaining the process of Zn(II) acquisition by Aspergillus fumigatus, and identifying Zn(II) binding sites in its transporter and describing the thermodynamics of such binding are the fundamental steps to achieve this goal. We focus on two probable ZrfC Zn(II) binding sites and show that the Ac-MNCHFHAGVEHCIGAGESESGSSQ-NH2 region binds Zn(II) with higher affinity than the Ac-TGCHSHGS-NH2 one and that this binding is much stronger than the binding of Zn(II) to the Aspf2 zincophore, allowing efficient Zn(II) transport from the Aspf2 zincophore to the ZrfC transporter. The same ZrfC fragments also able to bind Ni(II), another metal ion essential for fungi that could also compete with Zn(II) binding, with comparable affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Garstka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Gabriela Potoczniak
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Henryk Kozłowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Katowicka 68 St., 45-060 Opole, Poland
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Coelho MA, David-Palma M, Shea T, Bowers K, McGinley-Smith S, Mohammad AW, Gnirke A, Yurkov AM, Nowrousian M, Sun S, Cuomo CA, Heitman J. Comparative genomics of Cryptococcus and Kwoniella reveals pathogenesis evolution and contrasting karyotype dynamics via intercentromeric recombination or chromosome fusion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.27.573464. [PMID: 38234769 PMCID: PMC10793447 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
A large-scale comparative genomic analysis was conducted for the global human fungal pathogens within the Cryptococcus genus, compared to non-pathogenic Cryptococcus species, and related species from the sister genus Kwoniella. Chromosome-level genome assemblies were generated for multiple species of both genera, resulting in a dataset encompassing virtually all of their known diversity. Although Cryptococcus and Kwoniella have comparable genome sizes (about 19.2 and 22.9 Mb) and similar gene content, hinting at pre-adaptive pathogenic potential, our analysis found evidence in pathogenic Cryptococcus species of specific examples of gene gain (via horizontal gene transfer) and gene loss, which might represent evolutionary signatures of pathogenic development. Genome analysis also revealed a significant variation in chromosome number and structure between the two genera. By combining synteny analysis and experimental centromere validation, we found that most Cryptococcus species have 14 chromosomes, whereas most Kwoniella species have fewer (11, 8, 5 or even as few as 3). Reduced chromosome number in Kwoniella is associated with formation of giant chromosomes (up to 18 Mb) through repeated chromosome fusion events, each marked by a pericentric inversion and centromere loss. While similar chromosome inversion-fusion patterns were observed in all Kwoniella species with fewer than 14 chromosomes, no such pattern was detected in Cryptococcus. Instead, Cryptococcus species with less than 14 chromosomes, underwent chromosome reductions primarily through rearrangements associated with the loss of repeat-rich centromeres. Additionally, Cryptococcus genomes exhibited frequent interchromosomal translocations, including intercentromeric recombination facilitated by transposons shared between centromeres. Taken together, our findings advance our understanding of genomic changes possibly associated with pathogenicity in Cryptococcus and provide a foundation to elucidate mechanisms of centromere loss and chromosome fusion driving distinct karyotypes in closely related fungal species, including prominent global human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Coelho
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Márcia David-Palma
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Terrance Shea
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katharine Bowers
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrey M. Yurkov
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sheng Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Agyeman-Duah E, Okonkwo CC, Ujor VC. Microbial removal of nutrients from anaerobic digestate: assessing product-coupled and non-product-coupled approaches. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1299402. [PMID: 38146449 PMCID: PMC10749329 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1299402] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although anaerobic digestate contains >90% water, the high nutrient content of digestate makes it economically and technically intractable to treatment by existing wastewater treatment technologies. This study separately assessed the feasibility of nutrient removal from digestate by Rhizopus delemar DSM 905 and a culture of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs). With Rhizopus delemar DSM 905, we investigated concomitant nutrient removal from digestate-supplemented medium and fumaric acid production, as a potentially economical strategy for digestate treatment. Following the cultivation of R. delemar DSM 905 in a fermentation medium containing 25% (v/v) digestate, the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn reduced 40, 12, 74, 96, 12, 26, 23%, ~18, and 28%, respectively. Similarly, the concentrations of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, phosphate (PO4-P), ammonium (NH4-N), nitrate (NO3-N), and sulfur decreased 93, 88, 97, 98, 69, and 13%, respectively. Concomitantly, cultures supplemented with 25 and 15% (v/v) digestate produced comparable titers of fumarate (~11 and ~ 17 g/L, respectively) to the digestate un-supplemented control cultures. With PAOs, we assessed the removal of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, PO4-P, and NH4-N, of which the concentrations reduced 86, 90%, ~99, and 100%, respectively in 60% (v/v) digestate. This study provides additional bases for microbial removal of excess nutrients from anaerobic digestate, with the potential to engender future water recovery from this waste stream that is currently largely recalcitrant to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agyeman-Duah
- Fermentation Science and Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christopher C. Okonkwo
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, The Roux Institute, Northeastern University, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Victor C. Ujor
- Fermentation Science and Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Alselami A, Drummond RA. How metals fuel fungal virulence, yet promote anti-fungal immunity. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050393. [PMID: 37905492 PMCID: PMC10629672 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050393] [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] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections represent a significant global health problem, and present several clinical challenges, including limited treatment options, increasing rates of antifungal drug resistance and compounding comorbidities in affected patients. Metals, such as copper, iron and zinc, are critical for various biological and cellular processes across phyla. In mammals, these metals are important determinants of immune responses, but pathogenic microbes, including fungi, also require access to these metals to fuel their own growth and drive expression of major virulence traits. Therefore, host immune cells have developed strategies to either restrict access to metals to induce starvation of invading pathogens or deploy toxic concentrations within phagosomes to cause metal poisoning. In this Review, we describe the mechanisms regulating fungal scavenging and detoxification of copper, iron and zinc and the importance of these mechanisms for virulence and infection. We also outline how these metals are involved in host immune responses and the consequences of metal deficiencies or overloads on how the host controls invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanoud Alselami
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rebecca A. Drummond
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Wang F, Han R, Chen S. An Overlooked and Underrated Endemic Mycosis-Talaromycosis and the Pathogenic Fungus Talaromyces marneffei. Clin Microbiol Rev 2023; 36:e0005122. [PMID: 36648228 PMCID: PMC10035316 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00051-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Talaromycosis is an invasive mycosis endemic in tropical and subtropical Asia and is caused by the pathogenic fungus Talaromyces marneffei. Approximately 17,300 cases of T. marneffei infection are diagnosed annually, and the reported mortality rate is extremely high (~1/3). Despite the devastating impact of talaromycosis on immunocompromised individuals, particularly HIV-positive persons, and the increase in reported occurrences in HIV-uninfected persons, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for talaromycosis have received far too little attention worldwide. In 2021, scientists living in countries where talaromycosis is endemic raised a global demand for it to be recognized as a neglected tropical disease. Therefore, T. marneffei and the infectious disease induced by this fungus must be treated with concern. T. marneffei is a thermally dimorphic saprophytic fungus with a complicated mycological growth process that may produce various cell types in its life cycle, including conidia, hyphae, and yeast, all of which are associated with its pathogenicity. However, understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of T. marneffei has been limited until recently. To achieve a holistic view of T. marneffei and talaromycosis, the current knowledge about talaromycosis and research breakthroughs regarding T. marneffei growth biology are discussed in this review, along with the interaction of the fungus with environmental stimuli and the host immune response to fungal infection. Importantly, the future research directions required for understanding this serious infection and its causative pathogenic fungus are also emphasized to identify solutions that will alleviate the suffering of susceptible individuals worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- Intensive Care Unit, Biomedical Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Health Science Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - RunHua Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Shi Chen
- Intensive Care Unit, Biomedical Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Health Science Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Biomedical Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Health Science Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Global Molecular Response of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to Zinc Deprivation: Analyses at Transcript, Protein and MicroRNA Levels. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030281. [PMID: 36983449 PMCID: PMC10056003 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc is one of the main micronutrients for all organisms. One of the defense mechanisms used by the host includes the sequestration of metals used in fungal metabolism, such as iron and zinc. There are several mechanisms that maintain the balance in the intracellular zinc supply. MicroRNAs are effector molecules of responses between the pathogen and host, favoring or preventing infection in many microorganisms. Fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus are thermodimorphic and the etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). In the current pandemic scenario world mycosis studies continue to be highly important since a significant number of patients with COVID-19 developed systemic mycoses, co-infections that complicated their clinical condition. The objective was to identify transcriptomic and proteomic adaptations in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis during zinc deprivation. Nineteen microRNAs were identified, three of which were differentially regulated. Target genes regulated by those microRNAs are elements of zinc homeostasis such as ZRT1, ZRT3 and COT1 transporters. Transcription factors that have zinc in their structure are also targets of those miRNAs. Transcriptional and proteomic data suggest that P. brasiliensis undergoes metabolic remodeling to survive zinc deprivation and that miRNAs may be part of the regulatory process.
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9
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Hexyl-Aminolevulinate Ethosomes: a Novel Antibiofilm Agent Targeting Zinc Homeostasis in Candida albicans. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0243822. [PMID: 36301105 PMCID: PMC9769717 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02438-22] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Substantial drug resistance afforded by Candida albicans biofilms results in ineffective treatment with conventional drugs and persistent infection. Our previous study showed that hexyl-aminolevulinate ethosomes (HAL-ES) act against C. albicans biofilms and weaken their drug resistance and pathogenicity; however, the mechanism involved remains unclear. Here, we systematically evaluated the effects and mechanisms of HAL-ES on biofilm formation and drug resistance. We found that, in addition to mediating antifungal photodynamic therapy, HAL-ES inhibited the early, developmental, and mature stages of biofilm formation compared with fluconazole, HAL, or ES. Notably, adhesion and hyphal formation were significantly inhibited by postdrug effects even after brief exposure (2 h) to HAL-ES. Its therapeutic effect in vivo also has been demonstrated in cutaneous candidiasis. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR showed that HAL-ES inhibited ribosome biogenesis by disrupting zinc homeostasis in C. albicans, thereby reducing the translation process during protein synthesis. Furthermore, HAL-ES downregulated the expression of multidrug resistance genes and increased fluconazole susceptibility in C. albicans. Our findings provide a novel and efficient method for the treatment of biofilm resistance in C. albicans infection as well as a basis for the application of HAL-ES. We also describe a new strategy for the treatment of biofilm-related infections via zinc restriction. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota. The medical impact of C. albicans on its human host depends on its ability to form biofilms. The intrinsic resistance conferred by biofilms to conventional antifungal drugs makes biofilm-based infections a significant clinical challenge. In this study, we demonstrate the attenuating effect of HAL-ES on C. albicans biofilm formation and drug resistance. Furthermore, we propose that HAL-ES inhibits protein translation by disrupting zinc homeostasis in C. albicans. This study not only provides a novel and effective therapeutic strategy against C. albicans biofilm but also proposes a new strategy to resolve C. albicans biofilm infection by disrupting zinc homeostasis.
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Takács T, Németh MT, Bohner F, Vágvölgyi C, Jankovics F, Wilson D, Gácser A. Characterization and functional analysis of zinc trafficking in the human fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis. Open Biol 2022; 12:220077. [PMID: 35857903 PMCID: PMC9277298 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc restriction and zinc toxicity are part of host defence, called nutritional immunity. The crucial role of zinc homeostasis in microbial survival within a host is established, but little is known about these processes in the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis. Our in silico predictions suggested the presence of at least six potential zinc transporters (ZnTs) in C. parapsilosis-orthologues of ZRC1, ZRT3 and ZRT101-but an orthologue of PRA1 zincophore was not found. In addition, we detected a species-specific gene expansion of the novel ZnT ZRT2, as we identified three orthologue genes in the genome of C. parapsilosis. Based on predictions, we created homozygous mutant strains of the potential ZnTs and characterized them. Despite the apparent gene expansion of ZRT2 in C. parapsilosis, only CpZRT21 was essential for growth in a zinc-depleted acidic environment, in addition we found that CpZrc1 is essential for zinc detoxification and also protects the fungi against the elimination of murine macrophages. Significantly, we demonstrated that C. parapsilosis forms zincosomes in a Zrc1-independent manner and zinc detoxification is mediated by the vacuolar importer CpZrc1. Our study defines the functions of C. parapsilosis ZnTs, including a species-specific survival and zinc detoxification system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Takács
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mihály Tibor Németh
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Flóra Bohner
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jankovics
- Department of Medical Biology, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Attila Gácser
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary,MTA-SZTE ‘Lendület’ Mycobiome Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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11
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Garstka K, Hecel A, Kozłowski H, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Specific Zn(II)-binding site in the C-terminus of Aspf2, a zincophore from Aspergillus fumigatus. Metallomics 2022; 14:6608364. [PMID: 35700143 PMCID: PMC9780748 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus, one of the most widespread opportunistic human fungal pathogens, adapts to zinc limitation by secreting a 310 amino acid Aspf2 zincophore, able to specifically bind Zn(II) and deliver it to a transmembrane zinc transporter, ZrfC. In this work, we focus on the thermodynamics of Zn(II) complexes with unstructured regions of Aspf2; basing on a variety of spectrometric and potentiometric data, we show that the C-terminal part has the highest Zn(II)-binding affinity among the potential binding sites, and Ni(II) does not compete with Zn(II) binding to this region. The 14 amino acid Aspf2 C-terminus coordinates Zn(II) via two Cys thiolates and two His imidazoles and it could be considered as a promising A. fumigatus targeting molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Garstka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Hecel
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Henryk Kozłowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland,Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Katowicka 68 St, 45-060 Opole, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rowińska-Żyrek
- Correspondence: Magdalena Rowińska-Żyrek, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland. E-mail:
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Abstract
How to cite this article: Nath S, Baidya DK. Mucormycosis in COVID-19: Is Zinc a Silent Killer in India? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(9):1079-1080.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Nath
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Dalim K Baidya
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
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Muthu V, Rudramurthy SM, Chakrabarti A, Agarwal R. Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis: India Versus the Rest of the World. Mycopathologia 2021; 186:739-754. [PMID: 34414555 PMCID: PMC8375614 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-021-00584-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a concerning resurgence of mucormycosis. More than 47,000 cases of mucormycosis were reported in three months from India. We update our systematic review on COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) till June 21st, 2021, comparing cases reported from India and elsewhere. We included individual patient details of 275 cases of CAM, of which 233 were reported from India and 42 from the rest of the world. Diabetes mellitus was the most common underlying risk factor for CAM in India than in other countries. The fatality rate of cases reported from India (36.5%) was less than the globally reported cases (61.9%), probably due to the predominance of rhino-orbital mucormycosis. On a multivariate analysis, we found that pulmonary or disseminated mucormycosis cases and admission to the intensive care unit were associated with increased mortality, while combination medical therapy improved survival. The paucity of pulmonary and disseminated mucormycosis cases from India suggests that these cases were either not diagnosed or reported, further supported by a trend of search data from the Google search engine. In this review, we discuss the factors explaining the substantial rise in cases of CAM. We also propose a hypothetical model describing the epidemiologic triad of CAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valliappan Muthu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Ritesh Agarwal
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
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Bhardwaj R, Sharma A, Parasher A, Gupta H, Sahu S, Pal S. Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis During the Second Wave of Covid-19: The Indian Scenario. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021; 74:3492-3497. [PMID: 34786356 PMCID: PMC8585575 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-021-02978-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a life threatening, opportunistic infection often seen in individuals with a weak immune system. With an upsurge of cases of Covid-19, a drastic increase in cases of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis is being witnessed at present. This article has been written with the purpose of understanding the factors responsible for it and the challenges it brings along for the Indian health-care system at present. Possible solutions for dealing with these problems have also been included in the manuscript.
Google, PubMed and ENT Cochrane databases were searched without a time limit using key words like “Mucormycosis”, “Rhino-cerebral-mucormycosis” in conjunction with “COVID-19” and “SARS CoV-2”. We found 34 articles to be relevant and hence included them to write this review. Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis is being seen due to coming together of the three entities-the agent, host and environment that constitute the epidemiological triad for this disease in India. Responsible factors are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, overzealous use of steroids and antibiotics and other environment related issues. The solutions for these problems lie in spreading awareness about prevention of these practices along with early diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis. To deal effectively with this situation, particularly when there is an existing overload on otolaryngologists and the rest of the health-care system, a multipronged and multilevel collaborative approach is the need of the hour. With effective Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines promoting a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and treatment, we can surely overcome this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Bhardwaj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Akriti Sharma
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana India
| | - Ankit Parasher
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Harshita Gupta
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Subhankar Sahu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Soni Pal
- Department of General Surgery, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
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15
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Grüngreiff K, Gottstein T, Reinhold D, Blindauer CA. Albumin Substitution in Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis: Don't Forget Zinc. Nutrients 2021; 13:4011. [PMID: 34836265 PMCID: PMC8618355 DOI: 10.3390/nu13114011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Decompensated liver cirrhosis has a dismal prognosis, with patients surviving on average for 2-4 years after the first diagnosis of ascites. Albumin is an important tool in the therapy of cirrhotic ascites. By virtue of its oncotic properties, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction after paracentesis. Treatment with albumin also counteracts the development of hepatorenal syndrome and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. More recently, the positive impact of long-term albumin supplementation in liver disease, based on its pleiotropic non-oncotic activities, has been recognized. These include transport of endo- and exogenous substances, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, and stabilizing effects on the endothelium. Besides the growing recognition that effective albumin therapy requires adjustment of the plasma level to normal physiological values, the search for substances with adjuvant activities is becoming increasingly important. More than 75% of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis do not only present with hypoalbuminemia but also with zinc deficiency. There is a close relationship between albumin and the essential trace element zinc. First and foremost, albumin is the main carrier of zinc in plasma, and is hence critical for systemic distribution of zinc. In this review, we discuss important functions of albumin in the context of metabolic, immunological, oxidative, transport, and distribution processes, alongside crucial functions and effects of zinc and their mutual dependencies. In particular, we focus on the major role of chronic inflammatory processes in pathogenesis and progression of liver cirrhosis and how albumin therapy and zinc supplementation may affect these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Grüngreiff
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, City Hospital Magdeburg GmbH, 39130 Magdeburg, Germany;
| | - Thomas Gottstein
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, City Hospital Magdeburg GmbH, 39130 Magdeburg, Germany;
| | - Dirk Reinhold
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany;
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16
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Wilson D. The role of zinc in the pathogenicity of human fungal pathogens. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2021; 117:35-61. [PMID: 34742366 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens now account for an unprecedented burden on human health. Like all microorganisms, these fungi must successfully forage for essential micronutrients such as zinc in order to proliferate. However, pathogenic microbes face an additional hurdle in securing zinc from their environment: the action of host nutritional immunity which strictly manipulates microbial access to this essential, but also potentially toxic trace metal. This review introduces the relevant pathogenic species and goes on to cover the molecular mechanisms of zinc uptake by human fungal pathogens. Fungi scavenge zinc from their environment via two basic mechanisms: via a family of cellular zinc importers-the ZIP transporters; and via a unique secreted zinc binding protein-the zincophore. However the genetic requirement of these systems for fungal virulence is highly species-specific. As well as zinc scarcity, potential intoxification with this heavy metal can occur and, unlike bacteria, fungi deal with environmental insult this via intraorganellar compartmentalization. Zinc availability also modulates the morphogenic behavior of a subset of pathogenic yeast species. This chapter will cover these different aspects of zinc availability on the physiology of human fungal pathogens with emphasis on the major pathogenic species Candida albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
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17
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Muthu V, Kumar M, Paul RA, Zohmangaihi D, Choudhary H, Rudramurthy SM, Panda NK, Pannu AK, Sharma N, Sharma S, Chakrabarti A, Agarwal R. Is there an association between zinc and COVID-19-associated mucormycosis? Results of an experimental and clinical study. Mycoses 2021; 64:1291-1297. [PMID: 34420245 PMCID: PMC8661931 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The enormous increase in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in India lacks an explanation. Zinc supplementation during COVID-19 management is speculated as a contributor to mucormycosis. We conducted an experimental and clinical study to explore the association of zinc and mucormycosis. METHODS We inoculated pure isolates of Rhizopus arrhizus obtained from subjects with CAM on dichloran rose Bengal chloramphenicol (DRBC) agar enriched with (three different concentrations) and without zinc. At 24 h, we counted the viable colonies and measured the dry weight of colonies at 24, 48 and 72 h. We also compared the clinical features and serum zinc levels in 29 CAM cases and 28 COVID-19 subjects without mucormycosis (controls). RESULTS We tested eight isolates of R arrhizus and noted a visible increase in growth in zinc-enriched media. A viable count percentage showed a significantly increased growth in four of the eight isolates in zinc-augmented DRBC agar. A time- and concentration-dependent increase in the mean fungal biomass with zinc was observed in all three isolates tested. We enrolled 29 cases of CAM and 28 controls. The mean serum zinc concentration was below the reference range in all the subjects and was not significantly different between the cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS Half of the R arrhizus isolates grew better with zinc enrichment in vitro. However, our study does not conclusively support the hypothesis that zinc supplementation contributed to the pathogenesis of mucormycosis. More data, both in vitro and in vivo, may resolve the role of zinc in the pathogenesis of CAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valliappan Muthu
- Department of Pulmonary MedicinePost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Mohan Kumar
- Department of Internal MedicinePost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Raees A. Paul
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Deepy Zohmangaihi
- Department of BiochemistryPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Hansraj Choudhary
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | | | - Naresh K. Panda
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck SurgeryPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Ashok Kumar Pannu
- Department of Internal MedicinePost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Navneet Sharma
- Department of Internal MedicinePost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Sadhna Sharma
- Department of BiochemistryPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Ritesh Agarwal
- Department of Pulmonary MedicinePost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
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18
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Alamir OF, Oladele RO, Ibe C. Nutritional immunity: targeting fungal zinc homeostasis. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07805. [PMID: 34466697 PMCID: PMC8384899 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition metals, such as Zn2+, are essential dietary constituents of all biological life, including mammalian hosts and the pathogens that infect them. Therefore, to thrive and cause infection, pathogens must successfully assimilate these elements from the host milieu. Consequently, mammalian immunity has evolved to actively restrict and/or pool metals to toxic concentrations in an effort to attenuate microbial pathogenicity - a process termed nutritional immunity. Despite host-induced Zn2+ nutritional immunity, pathogens such as Candida albicans, are still capable of causing disease and thus must be equipped with robust Zn2+ sensory, uptake and detoxification machinery. This review will discuss the strategies employed by mammalian hosts to limit Zn2+ during infection, and the subsequent fungal interventions that counteract Zn2+ nutritional immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omran F Alamir
- Department of Natural Sciences, College of Health Sciences, The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Al Asimah, Kuwait
| | - Rita O Oladele
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - C Ibe
- Department of Microbiology, Abia State University, PMB 2000, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
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19
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d'Enfert C, Kaune AK, Alaban LR, Chakraborty S, Cole N, Delavy M, Kosmala D, Marsaux B, Fróis-Martins R, Morelli M, Rosati D, Valentine M, Xie Z, Emritloll Y, Warn PA, Bequet F, Bougnoux ME, Bornes S, Gresnigt MS, Hube B, Jacobsen ID, Legrand M, Leibundgut-Landmann S, Manichanh C, Munro CA, Netea MG, Queiroz K, Roget K, Thomas V, Thoral C, Van den Abbeele P, Walker AW, Brown AJP. The impact of the Fungus-Host-Microbiota interplay upon Candida albicans infections: current knowledge and new perspectives. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuaa060. [PMID: 33232448 PMCID: PMC8100220 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans. It exists as a commensal in the oral cavity, gut or genital tract of most individuals, constrained by the local microbiota, epithelial barriers and immune defences. Their perturbation can lead to fungal outgrowth and the development of mucosal infections such as oropharyngeal or vulvovaginal candidiasis, and patients with compromised immunity are susceptible to life-threatening systemic infections. The importance of the interplay between fungus, host and microbiota in driving the transition from C. albicans commensalism to pathogenicity is widely appreciated. However, the complexity of these interactions, and the significant impact of fungal, host and microbiota variability upon disease severity and outcome, are less well understood. Therefore, we summarise the features of the fungus that promote infection, and how genetic variation between clinical isolates influences pathogenicity. We discuss antifungal immunity, how this differs between mucosae, and how individual variation influences a person's susceptibility to infection. Also, we describe factors that influence the composition of gut, oral and vaginal microbiotas, and how these affect fungal colonisation and antifungal immunity. We argue that a detailed understanding of these variables, which underlie fungal-host-microbiota interactions, will present opportunities for directed antifungal therapies that benefit vulnerable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe d'Enfert
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Ann-Kristin Kaune
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Leovigildo-Rey Alaban
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sayoni Chakraborty
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Nathaniel Cole
- Gut Microbiology Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Margot Delavy
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Daria Kosmala
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Benoît Marsaux
- ProDigest BV, Technologiepark 94, B-9052 Gent, Belgium
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ricardo Fróis-Martins
- Immunology Section, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Moran Morelli
- Mimetas, Biopartner Building 2, J.H. Oortweg 19, 2333 CH Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Diletta Rosati
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marisa Valentine
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Zixuan Xie
- Gut Microbiome Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119–129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoan Emritloll
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Peter A Warn
- Magic Bullet Consulting, Biddlecombe House, Ugbrook, Chudleigh Devon, TQ130AD, UK
| | - Frédéric Bequet
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Marie-Elisabeth Bougnoux
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Bornes
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMRF0545, 20 Côte de Reyne, 15000 Aurillac, France
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ilse D Jacobsen
- Microbial Immunology Research Group, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, and the Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Mélanie Legrand
- Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, USC 2019 INRA, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Salomé Leibundgut-Landmann
- Immunology Section, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Chaysavanh Manichanh
- Gut Microbiome Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119–129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carol A Munro
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karla Queiroz
- Mimetas, Biopartner Building 2, J.H. Oortweg 19, 2333 CH Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karine Roget
- NEXBIOME Therapeutics, 22 allée Alan Turing, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vincent Thomas
- BIOASTER Microbiology Technology Institute, 40 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Claudia Thoral
- NEXBIOME Therapeutics, 22 allée Alan Turing, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Alan W Walker
- Gut Microbiology Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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20
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Zrg1, a cryptococcal protein associated with regulation of growth in nutrient deprivation conditions. Genomics 2021; 113:805-814. [PMID: 33529779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.01.023] [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: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is one of the causes of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening disease generally characterized by pneumonia and/or meningitis. Zinc is an essential element for life, being required for the activity of many proteins with catalytic and structural roles. Here, we characterize ZRG1 (zinc-related gene 1), which codes a product involved in zinc metabolism. Transcriptional profiling revealed that zinc availability regulated the expression of ZRG1, and its null mutants demonstrated impaired growth in zinc- and nitrogen-limiting conditions. Moreover, zrg1 strains displayed alterations in the expression of the zinc homeostasis-related genes ZAP1 and ZIP1. Notably, cryptococcal cells lacking Zrg1 displayed upregulation of autophagy-like phenotypes. Despite no differences were detected in the classical virulence-associated traits; cryptococcal cells lacking ZRG1 displayed decreased capacity for survival inside macrophages and attenuated virulence in an invertebrate model. Together, these results indicate that ZRG1 plays an important role in proper zinc metabolism, and is necessary for cryptococcal fitness and virulence.
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21
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Soares LW, Bailão AM, Soares CMDA, Bailão MGS. Zinc at the Host-Fungus Interface: How to Uptake the Metal? J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040305. [PMID: 33233335 PMCID: PMC7711662 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. However, firm regulation must be maintained since micronutrients also can be toxic in high concentrations. This notion is reinforced when we look at mechanisms deployed by our immune system, such as the use of chelators or membrane transporters that capture zinc, when threatened with pathogens, like fungi. Pathogenic fungi, on the other hand, also make use of a variety of transporters and specialized zinc captors to survive these changes. In this review, we sought to explain the mechanisms, grounded in experimental analysis and described to date, utilized by pathogenic fungi to maintain optimal zinc levels.
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22
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Kornitzer D, Roy U. Pathways of heme utilization in fungi. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118817. [PMID: 32777371 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Iron acquisition is challenging in most environments. As an alternative to elemental iron, organisms can take up iron-protoporphyrin IX, or heme. Heme can be found in decaying organic matter and is particularly prevalent in animal hosts. Fungi have evolved at least three distinct endocytosis-mediated heme uptake systems, which have been studied in detail in the organisms Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we summarize the known molecular details of these three uptake systems that enable parasitic and saprophytic fungi to take advantage of external heme as either cellular iron or heme sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kornitzer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
| | - Udita Roy
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
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23
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Riedelberger M, Penninger P, Tscherner M, Hadriga B, Brunnhofer C, Jenull S, Stoiber A, Bourgeois C, Petryshyn A, Glaser W, Limbeck A, Lynes MA, Schabbauer G, Weiss G, Kuchler K. Type I Interferons Ameliorate Zinc Intoxication of Candida glabrata by Macrophages and Promote Fungal Immune Evasion. iScience 2020; 23:101121. [PMID: 32428860 PMCID: PMC7232100 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Host and fungal pathogens compete for metal ion acquisition during infectious processes, but molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that type I interferons (IFNs-I) dysregulate zinc homeostasis in macrophages, which employ metallothionein-mediated zinc intoxication of pathogens as fungicidal response. However, Candida glabrata can escape immune surveillance by sequestering zinc into vacuoles. Interestingly, zinc-loading is inhibited by IFNs-I, because a Janus kinase 1 (JAK1)-dependent suppression of zinc homeostasis affects zinc distribution in macrophages as well as generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, systemic fungal infections elicit IFN-I responses that suppress splenic zinc homeostasis, thereby altering macrophage zinc pools that otherwise exert fungicidal actions. Thus, IFN-I signaling inadvertently increases fungal fitness both in vitro and in vivo during fungal infections. Our data reveal an as yet unrecognized role for zinc intoxication in antifungal immunity and suggest that interfering with host zinc homeostasis may offer therapeutic options to treat invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Riedelberger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Penninger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Tscherner
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Hadriga
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Brunnhofer
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Jenull
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Stoiber
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christelle Bourgeois
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andriy Petryshyn
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Glaser
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Limbeck
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael A Lynes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, CT, USA
| | - Gernot Schabbauer
- Institute for Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Arginine Metabolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis, Vienna, Austria
| | - Guenter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, and Pneumology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Karl Kuchler
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.
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Zinc(II) complexes with aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocycles as antifungal agents: Synergistic activity with clinically used drug nystatin. J Inorg Biochem 2020; 208:111089. [PMID: 32442762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Three novel Zn(II) complexes, [ZnCl2(qz)2] (1), [ZnCl2(1,5-naph)]n (2) and [ZnCl2(4,7-phen)2] (3), where qz is quinazoline, 1,5-naph is 1,5-naphthyridine and 4,7-phen is 4,7-phenanthroline, were synthesized by the reactions of ZnCl2 and the corresponding N-heterocyclic ligand in 1:2 molar ratio in ethanol at ambient temperature. The characterization of these complexes was done by NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 and 3 are mononuclear species, in which Zn(II) ion is tetrahedrally coordinated by two nitrogen atoms belonging to two qz or 4,7-phen ligands, respectively, and by two chloride anions, while complex 2 is a 1D coordination polymer that contains 1,5-naph as bridging ligand between two metal ions. In agar disc-diffusion assay, complexes 1-3 manifested good inhibitory activity against two investigated Candida strains (C. albicans and C. parapsilosis), while not inducing toxic effects on the healthy human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). This activity was not fungicidal, as revealed by the broth microdilution assay, however complex 3 showed the ability to modulate Candida hyphae formation, which is an important process during infection and showed significant synergistic effect with clinically used antifungal polyene nystatin.
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Hecel A, Kola A, Valensin D, Kozlowski H, Rowinska-Zyrek M. Metal Complexes of Two Specific Regions of ZnuA, a Periplasmic Zinc(II) Transporter from Escherichia coli. Inorg Chem 2020; 59:1947-1958. [PMID: 31970989 PMCID: PMC7467640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b03298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The crystal structure of ZnZnuA from Escherichia coli reveals two metal binding sites. (i) The primary binding site, His143, is located close the His-rich loop (residues 116-138) and plays a significant role in Zn(II) acquisition. (ii) The secondary binding site involves His224. In this work, we focus on understanding the interactions of two metal ions, Zn(II) and Cu(II), with two regions of ZnuA, which are possible anchoring sites for Zn(II): Ac-115MKSIHGDDDDHDHAEKSDEDHHHGDFNMHLW145-NH2 (primary metal binding site) and Ac-223GHFTVNPEIQPGAQRLHE240-NH2 (secondary metal binding site). The histidine-rich loop (residues 116-138) has a role in the capture of zinc(II), which is then further delivered into other regions of the protein. For both Zn(II) complexes, histidine residues constitute the main anchoring donors. In the longer, His-rich fragment, a tetrahedral complex with four His residues is formed, while in the second ligand, two imidazole nitrogens are involved in zinc(II) binding. In both cases, so-called loop structures are formed. One consists of a 125HxHxExxxExHxH137 motif with seven amino acid residues in the loop between the two central histidines, while the other is formed by a 224HFTVNPEIQPGAQRLH239 motif with 14 amino acid residues in the loop between the two nearest coordinating histidines. The number of available imidazoles also strongly affects the structure of copper(II) complexes; the more histidines in the studied region, the higher the pH in which amide nitrogens will participate in Cu(II) binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Hecel
- Faculty of Chemistry , University of Wroclaw , F. Joliot-Curie 14 , 50-383 Wroclaw , Poland
| | - Arian Kola
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Siena , Via A. Moro 2 , 53100 Siena , Italy
| | - Daniela Valensin
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Siena , Via A. Moro 2 , 53100 Siena , Italy
| | - Henryk Kozlowski
- Faculty of Chemistry , University of Wroclaw , F. Joliot-Curie 14 , 50-383 Wroclaw , Poland.,Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole , Katowicka 68 , 45-060 Opole , Poland
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26
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Duda M, Rąpała-Kozik M, Stadnicka KM, Musielak B, Goszczycki P, Witek ŁJ, Zawrotniak M, González-González M, Ostrowska K. Application of pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline with an N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine chain for Zn(II) detection in Candida albicans and fibroblast cells. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2019.111944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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27
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Wilson D, Deepe GS. The intersection of host and fungus through the zinc lens. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 52:35-40. [PMID: 31132743 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we summarize data regarding the influence of zinc on host defenses to human pathogenic fungi and how the fungus acquires zinc to sustain biological functions. Mammals have evolved several extracellular and intracellular mechanisms to withhold zinc from the fungus. Specific immune cells release zinc binding proteins such as calprotectin to capture the metal and deny it to the fungus. Intracellularly, several zinc binding proteins such as metallothioneins starve the fungus of zinc. The net result in both situations is depriving the fungus of a crucial micronutrient. To combat this struggle, fungi have developed means to capture zinc and store it. The mechanisms of transport for various fungi are discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - George S Deepe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Łoboda D, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Candida albicans zincophore and zinc transporter interactions with Zn(ii) and Ni(ii). Dalton Trans 2018; 47:2646-2654. [PMID: 29405215 DOI: 10.1039/c7dt04403h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between the Pra1 zincophore and the Zrt1 zinc(ii) transporter is crucial for adequate Zn(ii) acquisition in Candida albicans, the most common cause of fungal infections in humans. Pointing out the precise Zn(ii) binding site on Zrt1 and describing the thermodynamics of such binding are important steps, which allow one to understand the interactions between Pra1, Zn(ii) and Zrt1. Zrt1 coordinates Zn(ii) via the side chains of 156His, 161His, 162Cys and 168His, and this binding is stronger than the binding of Zn(ii) to Pra1, allowing efficient zinc transfer from the zincophore to the zinc transporter. Additional analysis of Pra1 and Zrt1 complexes with Ni(ii), another metal ion necessary for fungal survival, shows the specificity of the studied system - Ni(ii) does not interfere with the Zn(ii) binding to Pra1, though it might form a comparably stable complex with Zrt1.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Łoboda
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland.
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29
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Łoboda D, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Zinc binding sites in Pra1, a zincophore from Candida albicans. Dalton Trans 2018; 46:13695-13703. [PMID: 28725901 DOI: 10.1039/c7dt01675a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to understand the interactions of Zn(ii) with Pra1, a zincophore from Candida albicans, one of the most common causes of serious fungal infections in humans. Pra1 is a 299 amino acid protein, secreted from the fungus to specifically bind Zn(ii) and deliver it to a transmembrane zinc transporter, Zrt1. We take the first step towards understanding the bioinorganic chemistry of this process, by pointing out the Zn(ii) binding sites in Pra1 and understanding the thermodynamics of such interactions. Our approach involves working on model systems (unstructured parts of proteins) in order to identify those regions in Pra1, to which zinc binds with the highest affinity. Mass spectrometry shows the stoichiometry of Zn(ii)-peptide complex formation and potentiometric studies give us the partial and overall stability constants for all the formed zinc complexes. NMR clarifies binding sites in the case of doubts. A detailed comparison of these results shows that the C-terminal region of Pra1 binds Zn(ii) with the highest affinity, indicating that this region of the zincophore is responsible for the binding of zinc. Such knowledge is an input to the basic bioinorganic chemistry of zinc; it allows us to understand the inorganic biochemistry of zincophores, and it might be a stepping stone towards finding new, fungus specific treatments based on parts of zincophores coupled with antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Łoboda
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland.
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30
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Garcia Silva-Bailão M, Lobato Potenciano da Silva K, Raniere Borges dos Anjos L, de Sousa Lima P, de Melo Teixeira M, Maria de Almeida Soares C, Melo Bailão A. Mechanisms of copper and zinc homeostasis in pathogenic black fungi. Fungal Biol 2018; 122:526-537. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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31
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Crawford AC, Lehtovirta-Morley LE, Alamir O, Niemiec MJ, Alawfi B, Alsarraf M, Skrahina V, Costa ACBP, Anderson A, Yellagunda S, Ballou ER, Hube B, Urban CF, Wilson D. Biphasic zinc compartmentalisation in a human fungal pathogen. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007013. [PMID: 29727465 PMCID: PMC5955600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutritional immunity describes the host-driven manipulation of essential micronutrients, including iron, zinc and manganese. To withstand nutritional immunity and proliferate within their hosts, pathogenic microbes must express efficient micronutrient uptake and homeostatic systems. Here we have elucidated the pathway of cellular zinc assimilation in the major human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Bioinformatics analysis identified nine putative zinc transporters: four cytoplasmic-import Zip proteins (Zrt1, Zrt2, Zrt3 and orf19.5428) and five cytoplasmic-export ZnT proteins (orf19.1536/Zrc1, orf19.3874, orf19.3769, orf19.3132 and orf19.52). Only Zrt1 and Zrt2 are predicted to localise to the plasma membrane and here we demonstrate that Zrt2 is essential for C. albicans zinc uptake and growth at acidic pH. In contrast, ZRT1 expression was found to be highly pH-dependent and could support growth of the ZRT2-null strain at pH 7 and above. This regulatory paradigm is analogous to the distantly related pathogenic mould, Aspergillus fumigatus, suggesting that pH-adaptation of zinc transport may be conserved in fungi and we propose that environmental pH has shaped the evolution of zinc import systems in fungi. Deletion of C. albicans ZRT2 reduced kidney fungal burden in wild type, but not in mice lacking the zinc-chelating antimicrobial protein calprotectin. Inhibition of zrt2Δ growth by neutrophil extracellular traps was calprotectin-dependent. This suggests that, within the kidney, C. albicans growth is determined by pathogen-Zrt2 and host-calprotectin. As well as serving as an essential micronutrient, zinc can also be highly toxic and we show that C. albicans deals with this potential threat by rapidly compartmentalising zinc within vesicular stores called zincosomes. In order to understand mechanistically how this process occurs, we created deletion mutants of all five ZnT-type transporters in C. albicans. Here we show that, unlike in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. albicans Zrc1 mediates zinc tolerance via zincosomal zinc compartmentalisation. This novel transporter was also essential for virulence and liver colonisation in vivo. In summary, we show that zinc homeostasis in a major human fungal pathogen is a multi-stage process initiated by Zrt1/Zrt2-cellular import, followed by Zrc1-dependent intracellular compartmentalisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron C. Crawford
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Laura E. Lehtovirta-Morley
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Omran Alamir
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Maria J. Niemiec
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research and Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Research Group Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Bader Alawfi
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammad Alsarraf
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Volha Skrahina
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Anna C. B. P. Costa
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Anderson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Sujan Yellagunda
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research and Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth R. Ballou
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Constantin F. Urban
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research and Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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32
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Kujoth GC, Sullivan TD, Merkhofer R, Lee TJ, Wang H, Brandhorst T, Wüthrich M, Klein BS. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Disruption Reveals the Importance of Zinc Metabolism for Fitness of the Dimorphic Fungal Pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis. mBio 2018; 9:e00412-18. [PMID: 29615501 PMCID: PMC5885028 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00412-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastomyces dermatitidis is a human fungal pathogen of the lung that can lead to disseminated disease in healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Genetic analysis of this fungus is hampered by the relative inefficiency of traditional recombination-based gene-targeting approaches. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of applying CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to Blastomyces, including to simultaneously target multiple genes. We created targeting plasmid vectors expressing Cas9 and either one or two single guide RNAs and introduced these plasmids into Blastomyces via Agrobacterium gene transfer. We succeeded in disrupting several fungal genes, including PRA1 and ZRT1, which are involved in scavenging and uptake of zinc from the extracellular environment. Single-gene-targeting efficiencies varied by locus (median, 60% across four loci) but were approximately 100-fold greater than traditional methods of Blastomyces gene disruption. Simultaneous dual-gene targeting proceeded with efficiencies similar to those of single-gene-targeting frequencies for the respective targets. CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of PRA1 or ZRT1 had a variable impact on growth under zinc-limiting conditions, showing reduced growth at early time points in low-passage-number cultures and growth similar to wild-type levels by later passage. Individual impairment of PRA1 or ZRT1 resulted in a reduction of the fungal burden in a mouse model of Blastomyces infection by a factor of ~1 log (range, up to 3 logs), and combined disruption of both genes had no additional impact on the fungal burden. These results underscore the utility of CRISPR/Cas9 for efficient gene disruption in dimorphic fungi and reveal a role for zinc metabolism in Blastomyces fitness in vivo IMPORTANCE Blastomyces is a human fungal pathogen that can cause serious, even fatal, lung infections. Genetic analysis of this fungus is possible but inefficient. We applied a recently developed gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas9, to dramatically improve the efficiency with which gene disruptions are introduced into Blastomyces We used this system to disrupt genes involved in zinc uptake and found that this reduced the fitness of the fungus upon infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory C Kujoth
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Thomas D Sullivan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Richard Merkhofer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Taek-Jin Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Huafeng Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tristan Brandhorst
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marcel Wüthrich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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33
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Cunden LS, Nolan EM. Bioinorganic Explorations of Zn(II) Sequestration by Human S100 Host-Defense Proteins. Biochemistry 2018; 57:1673-1680. [PMID: 29381858 PMCID: PMC5989567 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The human innate immune system launches a metal-withholding response to starve invading microbial pathogens of essential metal nutrients. Zn(II)-sequestering proteins of the human S100 family contribute to this process and include calprotectin (CP, S100A8/S100A9 oligomer, calgranulin A/B oligomer), S100A12 (calgranulin C), and S100A7 (psoriasin). This Perspective highlights recent advances in the Zn(II) coordination chemistry of these three proteins, as well as select studies that evaluate Zn(II) sequestration as an antimicrobial mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S. Cunden
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Nolan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
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Sherrington SL, Kumwenda P, Kousser C, Hall RA. Host Sensing by Pathogenic Fungi. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2017; 102:159-221. [PMID: 29680125 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ability to cause disease extends from the ability to grow within the host environment. The human host provides a dynamic environment to which fungal pathogens must adapt to in order to survive. The ability to grow under a particular condition (i.e., the ability to grow at mammalian body temperature) is considered a fitness attribute and is essential for growth within the human host. On the other hand, some environmental conditions activate signaling mechanisms resulting in the expression of virulence factors, which aid pathogenicity. Therefore, pathogenic fungi have evolved fitness and virulence attributes to enable them to colonize and infect humans. This review highlights how some of the major pathogenic fungi respond and adapt to key environmental signals within the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Sherrington
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Pizga Kumwenda
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Courtney Kousser
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca A Hall
- Institute for Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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35
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Lehtovirta-Morley LE, Alsarraf M, Wilson D. Pan-Domain Analysis of ZIP Zinc Transporters. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E2631. [PMID: 29211002 PMCID: PMC5751234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ZIP (Zrt/Irt-like protein) family of zinc transporters is found in all three domains of life. However, little is known about the phylogenetic relationship amongst ZIP transporters, their distribution, or their origin. Here we employed phylogenetic analysis to explore the evolution of ZIP transporters, with a focus on the major human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Pan-domain analysis of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and human proteins revealed a complex relationship amongst the ZIP family members. Here we report (i) a eukaryote-wide group of cellular zinc importers, (ii) a fungal-specific group of zinc importers having genetic association with the fungal zincophore, and, (iii) a pan-kingdom supercluster made up of two distinct subgroups with orthologues in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic phyla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Lehtovirta-Morley
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Mohammad Alsarraf
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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36
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Malavia D, Lehtovirta-Morley LE, Alamir O, Weiß E, Gow NAR, Hube B, Wilson D. Zinc Limitation Induces a Hyper-Adherent Goliath Phenotype in Candida albicans. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2238. [PMID: 29184547 PMCID: PMC5694484 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms often face acute micronutrient limitation during infection due to the action of host-mediated nutritional immunity. The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is polymorphic and its morphological plasticity is one of its most widely recognized pathogenicity attributes. Here we investigated the effect of zinc, iron, manganese, and copper limitation on C. albicans morphology. Restriction of zinc specifically resulted in the formation of enlarged, spherical yeasts, a phenotype which we term Goliath cells. This cellular response to zinc restriction was conserved in C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. tropicalis, but not in C. parapsilosis, C. lusitaniae or Debaryomyces hansenii, suggesting that it may have emerged in the last common ancestor of these related pathogenic species. Cell wall analysis revealed proportionally more chitin exposure on the Goliath cell surface. Importantly, these cells were hyper-adherent, suggesting a possible role in pathogenicity. Interestingly, the zincophore-encoding gene PRA1 was expressed by Goliath cells in zinc limited media and lack of Pra1 inhibited both cellular enlargement and adhesion. Goliath cells represent a further layer of Candida phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhara Malavia
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Laura E Lehtovirta-Morley
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Omran Alamir
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Weiß
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Neil A R Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care, University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenicity, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Malavia D, Crawford A, Wilson D. Nutritional Immunity and Fungal Pathogenesis: The Struggle for Micronutrients at the Host-Pathogen Interface. Adv Microb Physiol 2017; 70:85-103. [PMID: 28528652 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
All living organisms require certain micronutrients such as iron, zinc, manganese and copper for cellular function and growth. For human pathogens however, the maintenance of metal ion homeostasis is particularly challenging. This is because the mammalian host actively enforces extremes of micronutrient availability on potential microbial invaders-processes collectively termed nutritional immunity. The role of iron sequestration in controlling microbial infections is well established and, more recently, the importance of other metals including zinc, manganese and copper has been recognised. In this chapter, we explore the nutritional immune mechanisms that defend the human body against fungal infections and the strategies that these important pathogens exploit to counteract nutritional immunity and thrive in the infected host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhara Malavia
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Crawford
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, United Kingdom.
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Nakashige TG, Stephan JR, Cunden LS, Brophy MB, Wommack AJ, Keegan BC, Shearer JM, Nolan EM. The Hexahistidine Motif of Host-Defense Protein Human Calprotectin Contributes to Zinc Withholding and Its Functional Versatility. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:12243-51. [PMID: 27541598 PMCID: PMC5038136 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b06845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human calprotectin (CP, S100A8/S100A9 oligomer, MRP-8/MRP-14 oligomer) is an abundant host-defense protein that is involved in the metal-withholding innate immune response. CP coordinates a variety of divalent first-row transition metal ions, which is implicated in its antimicrobial function, and its ability to sequester nutrient Zn(II) ions from microbial pathogens has been recognized for over two decades. CP has two distinct transition-metal-binding sites formed at the S100A8/S100A9 dimer interface, including a histidine-rich site composed of S100A8 residues His17 and His27 and S100A9 residues His91 and His95. In this study, we report that CP binds Zn(II) at this site using a hexahistidine motif, completed by His103 and His105 of the S100A9 C-terminal tail and previously identified as the high-affinity Mn(II) and Fe(II) coordination site. Zn(II) binding at this unique site shields the S100A9 C-terminal tail from proteolytic degradation by proteinase K. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and Zn(II) competition titrations support the formation of a Zn(II)-His6 motif. Microbial growth studies indicate that the hexahistidine motif is important for preventing microbial Zn(II) acquisition from CP by the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. The Zn(II)-His6 site of CP expands the known biological coordination chemistry of Zn(II) and provides new insight into how the human innate immune system starves microbes of essential metal nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki G. Nakashige
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Jules R. Stephan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Lisa S. Cunden
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Megan Brunjes Brophy
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Andrew J. Wommack
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | | | - Elizabeth M. Nolan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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Wątły J, Potocki S, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Zinc Homeostasis at the Bacteria/Host Interface-From Coordination Chemistry to Nutritional Immunity. Chemistry 2016; 22:15992-16010. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201602376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Wroclaw; F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
| | - Sławomir Potocki
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Wroclaw; F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
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40
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Zinc sensing and regulation in yeast model systems. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 611:30-36. [PMID: 26940262 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Zap1 transcription factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the Loz1 transcription factor of Schizosaccharomyces pombe both play a central role in zinc homeostasis by controlling the expression of genes necessary for zinc metabolism. Zap1 activates gene expression when cells are limited for zinc, while Loz1 is required for gene repression when zinc is in excess. In this review we highlight what is known about the underlying mechanisms by which these factors are regulated by zinc, and how transcriptional activation and repression in eukaryotic cells can be finely tuned according to intracellular zinc availability.
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Crawford A, Wilson D. Essential metals at the host-pathogen interface: nutritional immunity and micronutrient assimilation by human fungal pathogens. FEMS Yeast Res 2015; 15:fov071. [PMID: 26242402 PMCID: PMC4629794 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fov071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of pathogenic microorganisms to assimilate sufficient nutrients for growth within their hosts is a fundamental requirement for pathogenicity. However, certain trace nutrients, including iron, zinc and manganese, are actively withheld from invading pathogens in a process called nutritional immunity. Therefore, successful pathogenic species must have evolved specialized mechanisms in order to adapt to the nutritionally restrictive environment of the host and cause disease. In this review, we discuss recent advances which have been made in our understanding of fungal iron and zinc acquisition strategies and nutritional immunity against fungal infections, and explore the mechanisms of micronutrient uptake by human pathogenic fungi. The human body tightly sequesters essential micronutrients, restricting their access to invading microorganisms, and pathogenic species must counteract this action of ‘nutritional immunity’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Crawford
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
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Csr1/Zap1 Maintains Zinc Homeostasis and Influences Virulence in Candida dubliniensis but Is Not Coupled to Morphogenesis. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2015; 14:661-70. [PMID: 26002718 PMCID: PMC4486669 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00078-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The supply and intracellular homeostasis of trace metals are essential for every living organism. Therefore, the struggle for micronutrients between a pathogen and its host is an important determinant in the infection process. In this work, we focus on the acquisition of zinc by Candida dubliniensis, an emerging pathogen closely related to Candida albicans. We show that the transcription factor Csr1 is essential for C. dubliniensis to regulate zinc uptake mechanisms under zinc limitation: it governs the expression of the zinc transporter genes ZRT1, ZRT2, and ZRT3 and of the zincophore gene PRA1. Exclusively, artificial overexpression of ZRT2 partially rescued the growth defect of a csr1Δ/Δ mutant in a zinc-restricted environment. Importantly, we found that, in contrast to what is seen in C. albicans, Csr1 (also called Zap1) is not a major regulator of dimorphism in C. dubliniensis. However, although a csr1Δ/Δ strain showed normal germ tube formation, we detected a clear attenuation in virulence using an embryonated chicken egg infection model. We conclude that, unlike in C. albicans, Csr1 seems to be a virulence factor of C. dubliniensis that is not coupled to filamentation but is strongly linked to zinc acquisition during pathogenesis.
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