1
|
Rodrigues TF, Mantellatto AMB, Superina M, Chiarello AG. Ecosystem services provided by armadillos. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1-21. [PMID: 31448491 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Awareness of the natural ecological processes provided by organisms that benefit human well-being has significantly progressed towards the goal of making conservation a mainstream value. Identifying different services and the species that provide them is a vital first step for the management and maintenance of these so-called ecosystem services. Herein, we specifically address the armadillos, which play key functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems, including as ecosystem engineers, predators, and vectors of invertebrates and nutrients, although these roles have often been overlooked. Armadillos can control pests, disperse seeds, and be effective sentinels of potential disease outbreaks or bioindicators of environmental contaminants. They also supply important material (meat, medicines) and non-material (learning, inspiration) contributions all over the Americas. We identify key gaps in the understanding of ecosystem services provided by armadillos and areas for future research required to clarify their functional role in terrestrial ecosystems and the services they supply. Such information will produce powerful arguments for armadillo conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago F Rodrigues
- Applied Ecology Program, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline M B Mantellatto
- Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro, 45810-000, BA, Brazil
| | - Mariella Superina
- Laboratorio de Medicina y Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre, IMBECU - CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, 5500, Argentina
| | - Adriano G Chiarello
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-901, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
A hidden battle in the dirt: Soil amoebae interactions with Paracoccidioides spp. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007742. [PMID: 31589617 PMCID: PMC6797224 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides spp. are thermodimorphic fungi that cause a neglected tropical disease (paracoccidioidomycosis) that is endemic to Latin America. These fungi inhabit the soil, where they live as saprophytes with no need for a mammalian host to complete their life cycle. Despite this, they developed sophisticated virulence attributes allowing them not only to survive in host tissues but also to cause disease. A hypothesis for selective pressures driving the emergence or maintenance of virulence of soil fungi is their interaction with soil predators such as amoebae and helminths. We evaluated the presence of environmental amoeboid predators in soil from armadillo burrows where Paracoccidioides had been previously detected and tested if the interaction of Paracoccidioides with amoebae selects for fungi with increased virulence. Nematodes, ciliates, and amoebae-all potential predators of fungi-grew in cultures from soil samples. Microscopical observation and ITS sequencing identified the amoebae as Acanthamoeba spp, Allovahlkampfia spelaea, and Vermamoeba vermiformis. These three amoebae efficiently ingested, killed and digested Paracoccidioides spp. yeast cells, as did laboratory adapted axenic Acanthamoeba castellanii. Sequential co-cultivation of Paracoccidioides with A. castellanii selected for phenotypical traits related to the survival of the fungus within a natural predator as well as in murine macrophages and in vivo (Galleria mellonella and mice). These changes in virulence were linked to the accumulation of cell wall alpha-glucans, polysaccharides that mask recognition of fungal molecular patterns by host pattern recognition receptors. Altogether, our results indicate that Paracoccidioides inhabits a complex environment with multiple amoeboid predators that can exert selective pressure to guide the evolution of virulence traits.
Collapse
|
3
|
do Amaral CC, Fernandes GF, Rodrigues AM, Burger E, de Camargo ZP. Proteomic analysis of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex isolates: Correlation of the levels of differentially expressed proteins with in vivo virulence. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218013. [PMID: 31265468 PMCID: PMC6605636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis commonly found in Latin America that is caused by distinct species of Paracoccidioides genus: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex (S1, PS2, PS3 and PS4) and Paracoccidioides lutzii. Its pathobiology has been recently explored by different approaches to clarify the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions underpinning PCM. The diversity of clinical forms of this disease has been attributed to both host- and fungus-related factors. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS For better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of host-fungus interactions, we evaluated in vivo virulence of nine Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex isolates and correlated it to protein expression profiles obtained by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Based on the recovery of viable fungi from mouse organs, the isolates were classified as those having low, moderate, or high virulence. Highly virulent isolates overexpressed proteins related to adhesion process and stress response, probably indicating important roles of those fungal proteins in regulating the colonization capacity, survival, and ability to escape host immune system reaction. Moreover, highly virulent isolates exhibited enhanced expression of glycolytic pathway enzymes concomitantly with repressed expression of succinyl-CoA ligase beta chain, a protein related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings may point to the mechanisms used by highly virulent P. brasiliensis isolates to withstand host immune reactions and to adapt to transient iron availability as strategies to survive and overcome stress conditions inside the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane Candida do Amaral
- Department of Medicine, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Geisa Ferreira Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Discipline of Cellular Biology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson Messias Rodrigues
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Discipline of Cellular Biology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eva Burger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Zoilo Pires de Camargo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Discipline of Cellular Biology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Muñoz JF, Farrer RA, Desjardins CA, Gallo JE, Sykes S, Sakthikumar S, Misas E, Whiston EA, Bagagli E, Soares CMA, Teixeira MDM, Taylor JW, Clay OK, McEwen JG, Cuomo CA. Genome Diversity, Recombination, and Virulence across the Major Lineages of Paracoccidioides. mSphere 2016; 1:e00213-16. [PMID: 27704050 PMCID: PMC5040785 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00213-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Paracoccidioides genus includes two species of thermally dimorphic fungi that cause paracoccidioidomycosis, a neglected health-threatening human systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America. To examine the genome evolution and the diversity of Paracoccidioides spp., we conducted whole-genome sequencing of 31 isolates representing the phylogenetic, geographic, and ecological breadth of the genus. These samples included clinical, environmental and laboratory reference strains of the S1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 lineages of P. brasiliensis and also isolates of Paracoccidioides lutzii species. We completed the first annotated genome assemblies for the PS3 and PS4 lineages and found that gene order was highly conserved across the major lineages, with only a few chromosomal rearrangements. Comparing whole-genome assemblies of the major lineages with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicted from the remaining 26 isolates, we identified a deep split of the S1 lineage into two clades we named S1a and S1b. We found evidence for greater genetic exchange between the S1b lineage and all other lineages; this may reflect the broad geographic range of S1b, which is often sympatric with the remaining, largely geographically isolated lineages. In addition, we found evidence of positive selection for the GP43 and PGA1 antigen genes and genes coding for other secreted proteins and proteases and lineage-specific loss-of-function mutations in cell wall and protease genes; these together may contribute to virulence and host immune response variation among natural isolates of Paracoccidioides spp. These insights into the recent evolutionary events highlight important differences between the lineages that could impact the distribution, pathogenicity, and ecology of Paracoccidioides. IMPORTANCE Characterization of genetic differences between lineages of the dimorphic human-pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides can identify changes linked to important phenotypes and guide the development of new diagnostics and treatments. In this article, we compared genomes of 31 diverse isolates representing the major lineages of Paracoccidioides spp. and completed the first annotated genome sequences for the PS3 and PS4 lineages. We analyzed the population structure and characterized the genetic diversity among the lineages of Paracoccidioides, including a deep split of S1 into two lineages (S1a and S1b), and differentiated S1b, associated with most clinical cases, as the more highly recombining and diverse lineage. In addition, we found patterns of positive selection in surface proteins and secreted enzymes among the lineages, suggesting diversifying mechanisms of pathogenicity and adaptation across this species complex. These genetic differences suggest associations with the geographic range, pathogenicity, and ecological niches of Paracoccidioides lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José F. Muñoz
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rhys A. Farrer
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Juan E. Gallo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sean Sykes
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Misas
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Emily A. Whiston
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Eduardo Bagagli
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celia M. A. Soares
- Laboratório de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, ICBII, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Marcus de M. Teixeira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Division of Pathogen Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute North, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - John W. Taylor
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Oliver K. Clay
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan G. McEwen
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
ARANTES TD, BAGAGLI E, NIÑO-VEGA G, SAN-BLAS G, THEODORO RC. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis AND Paracoccidioides lutzii, A SECRET LOVE AFFAIR. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2015; 57 Suppl 19:25-30. [PMID: 26465366 PMCID: PMC4711194 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652015000700006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To commemorate Prof. Carlos da Silva Lacaz's centennial anniversary, the authors have written a brief account of a few, out of hundreds, biological, ecological, molecular and phylogenetic studies that led to the arrival of Paracoccidioides lutzii, hidden for more than a century within Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Lacaz's permanent interest in this fungus, and particularly his conviction on the benefits that research on paracoccidioidomycosis would bring to patients, were pivotal in the development of the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thales Domingos ARANTES
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências/UNESP, Depto.
Microbiologia e Imunologia, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical/IMT, Laboratório de Virologia e
Micologia, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brasil
| | - Eduardo BAGAGLI
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências/UNESP, Depto.
Microbiologia e Imunologia, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Gustavo NIÑO-VEGA
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Laboratorio
de Micología, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Gioconda SAN-BLAS
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Laboratorio
de Micología, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Raquel Cordeiro THEODORO
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Depto. de Biologia Celular
e Genética, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Menino JF, Osório NS, Sturme MHJ, Barros D, Gomes-Alves AG, Almeida AJ, Ludovico P, Costa P, Goldman GH, Rodrigues F. Morphological heterogeneity of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: relevance of the Rho-like GTPase PbCDC42. Med Mycol 2012; 50:768-74. [PMID: 22493946 DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.665614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis budding pattern and polymorphic growth were previously shown to be closely linked to the expression of PbCDC42 and to influence the pathogenesis of the fungus. In this work we conducted a detailed morphogenetic evaluation of the yeast-forms of 11 different clinical and environmental P. brasiliensis isolates comprising four phylogenetic lineages (S1, PS2, PS3 and Pb01-like), as well as a PbCDC42 knock-down strain. High variations in the shape and size of mother and bud cells of each isolate were observed but we did not find a characteristic morphologic profile for any of the phylogenetic groups. In all isolates studied, the bud size and shape were demonstrated to be highly dependent on the mother cell. Importantly, we found strong correlations between PbCDC42 expression and both the shape of mother and bud cells and the size of the buds in all isolates and the knock-down strain. Our results suggested that PbCDC42 expression can explain approximately 80% of mother and bud cell shape and 19% of bud cell size. This data support PbCDC42 expression level as being a relevant predictor of P. brasiliensis morphology. Altogether, these findings quantitatively describe the polymorphic nature of the P. brasiliensis yeast form and provide additional support for the key role of PbCDC42 expression on yeast cell morphology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João F Menino
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus and the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), which is prevalent in rural workers of Latin American countries. Until a decade ago, most of the studies involving P. brasiliensis used clinical isolates, since environmental samples from soil are difficult to obtain. More recently, P. brasiliensis has been isolated from infected wild and domestic animals, especially from the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus in Brazil. Over the years, diversity within the species has been observed at several phenotypic levels. The present review will discuss the reports focusing on genetic polymorphism, which culminated with the detection of P. brasiliensis phylogenetic species as a result of a multilocus study. Polymorphism in the PbGP43 gene is detailed. This gene encodes fungal glycoprotein gp43, a dominant P. brasiliensis antigen largely studied in the last two decades for its importance in diagnosis, immune protection, and adhesive properties to extracellular matrix-associated proteins. Fungal traits associated with genetic groups are discussed.
Collapse
|
8
|
Bagagli E, Theodoro RC, Bosco SMG, McEwen JG. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: phylogenetic and ecological aspects. Mycopathologia 2008; 165:197-207. [PMID: 18777629 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-007-9050-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge on the biological aspects of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has evolved greatly since the first description of the disease in 1908. From the pioneers, who were able to clearly demonstrate the fungal nature of the agent, to the recent genomic era, important advances have been achieved. P. brasiliensis is a true fungus, belonging to the Ascomycetous Division, although its sexual phase has not been demonstrated morphologically. A better understanding of the fundamental aspects of the agent, especially its phylogeny and evolutionary history, will provide us with valuable insights allowing a better comprehension of the disease and our capacity to deal with the problem. Concerning the fungus's ecology, although some progress had been observed, the ecological niche of the pathogen has not been determined yet. The aim of the present review is to focus on the biological aspects of P. brasiliensis from an evolutionary point of view, addressing the fungus's phylogenetic aspects, in those special points that might be relevant for the pathogen/host interactions, the biological forces that have been acting on its origin and maintenance of virulence, as well as in determining the fungus's ecology and epidemiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Bagagli
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Matute DR, Sepulveda VE, Quesada LM, Goldman GH, Taylor JW, Restrepo A, McEwen JG. Microsatellite analysis of three phylogenetic species of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. J Clin Microbiol 2006; 44:2153-7. [PMID: 16757613 PMCID: PMC1489427 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02540-05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, an important human systemic mycosis in Latin America. Recently, the existence of three different phylogenetic species (S1, PS2, and PS3) of P. brasiliensis was demonstrated. Despite being genetically isolated, all three species were capable of inducing disease in both humans and animals, although lower virulence has been found with the PS2 species. The available molecular methods developed to characterize and type strains have not been useful for assigning isolates to the described species, creating the need for molecular markers capable of distinguishing genetically isolated groups. Here, we describe a PCR and sequencing-based microsatellite marker system that is stable, easy to assay, adaptable to large series of isolates, and discriminatory enough to be used as a typing system in identifying the three proposed species of P. brasiliensis. In addition, this system provides an unambiguous tool for strain discrimination between two (S1 and PS2) of the three phylogenetic species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Matute
- Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hebeler-Barbosa F, Morais FV, Montenegro MR, Kuramae EE, Montes B, McEwen JG, Bagagli E, Puccia R. Comparison of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions and PbGP43 genes of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from patients and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). J Clin Microbiol 2003; 41:5735-7. [PMID: 14662970 PMCID: PMC309012 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.12.5735-5737.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2003] [Revised: 08/07/2003] [Accepted: 09/13/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolates from 10 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were comparable with 19 clinical isolates by sequence analysis of the PbGP43 gene and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 and by random amplified polymorphic DNA. In this original ITS study, eight isolates differed by one or three sites among five total substitution sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Hebeler-Barbosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|