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Camacho E, Dong Y, Chrissian C, Cordero RJ, Saraiva RG, Anglero-Rodriguez Y, Smith DF, Jacobs E, Hartshorn I, Patiño-Medina JA, DePasquale M, Dziedzic A, Jedlicka A, Smith B, Mlambo G, Tripathi A, Broderick NA, Stark RE, Dimopoulos G, Casadevall A. Dietary L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) augments cuticular melanization in Anopheles mosquitos while reducing their lifespan and malaria parasite burden. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.09.30.615839. [PMID: 40166253 PMCID: PMC11956902 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.30.615839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), a naturally occurring tyrosine derivative, is prevalent in environments that include mosquito habitats, potentially serving as part of their diet. Given its role as a precursor for melanin synthesis we investigate the effect of dietary L-DOPA on mosquito physiology and immunity to Plasmodium falciparum and Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Dietary L-DOPA is incorporated into mosquito melanin via a non-canonical pathway and has a profound transcriptional effect associated with enhanced immunity, increased pigmentation, and reduced lifespan. Increased melanization results in an enhanced capacity to absorb electromagnetic radiation that affects mosquito temperatures. Bacteria in the mosquito microbiome act as sources of dopamine, a substrate for melanization. Our results illustrate how an environmentally abundant amino acid analogue can affect mosquito physiology and suggest its potential usefulness as an environmentally friendly vector control agent to reduce malaria transmission, warranting further research and field studies.
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Wei G. Insights into gut fungi in pigs: A comprehensive review. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2025; 109:96-112. [PMID: 39154229 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.14036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Fungi in the gut microbiota of mammals play a crucial role in host physiological regulation, including intestinal homeostasis and host immune regulation. However, our understanding of gut fungi in mammals remains limited, especially in economically valuable animals, such as pigs. Therefore, this review first describes the classification and characterisation of fungi, provides insights into the methods used to study gut fungi, and summarises the recent progress on pig gut fungi. Additionally, it discusses the challenges in the study of pig gut fungi and highlights potential perspectives. The aim of this review is to serve as a valuable reference for advancing our knowledge of gut fungi in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyue Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
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Fang W, Wu J, Cheng M, Zhu X, Du M, Chen C, Liao W, Zhi K, Pan W. Diagnosis of invasive fungal infections: challenges and recent developments. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:42. [PMID: 37337179 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00926-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global burden of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has shown an upsurge in recent years due to the higher load of immunocompromised patients suffering from various diseases. The role of early and accurate diagnosis in the aggressive containment of the fungal infection at the initial stages becomes crucial thus, preventing the development of a life-threatening situation. With the changing demands of clinical mycology, the field of fungal diagnostics has evolved and come a long way from traditional methods of microscopy and culturing to more advanced non-culture-based tools. With the advent of more powerful approaches such as novel PCR assays, T2 Candida, microfluidic chip technology, next generation sequencing, new generation biosensors, nanotechnology-based tools, artificial intelligence-based models, the face of fungal diagnostics is constantly changing for the better. All these advances have been reviewed here giving the latest update to our readers in the most orderly flow. MAIN TEXT A detailed literature survey was conducted by the team followed by data collection, pertinent data extraction, in-depth analysis, and composing the various sub-sections and the final review. The review is unique in its kind as it discusses the advances in molecular methods; advances in serology-based methods; advances in biosensor technology; and advances in machine learning-based models, all under one roof. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no review covering all of these fields (especially biosensor technology and machine learning using artificial intelligence) with relevance to invasive fungal infections. CONCLUSION The review will undoubtedly assist in updating the scientific community's understanding of the most recent advancements that are on the horizon and that may be implemented as adjuncts to the traditional diagnostic algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Fang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Junqi Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Lung Transplantation, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mingrong Cheng
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, 558000, China
| | - Xinlin Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Mingwei Du
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Chang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Lung Transplantation, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Kangkang Zhi
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
| | - Weihua Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
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Gupta MK, Mallick P, Pandey N, Shankar V, Chakravarty J, Tilak R. The utility of banana peel extract agar in the presumptive identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 177:106046. [PMID: 32920020 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We prepared a newer growth medium, banana peel extract agar (BPEA) containing the extracts of chopped banana peels for the selective cultivation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Over the medium, the growth resulted in the development of light to the dark brown coloured colonies indicating the chromogenic potential of the BPEA. The organism grown over BPEA was subsequently confirmed as C. neoformans by phenotypic as well as by molecular method. This medium, being cost-effective, may be used in resource-poor settings of the developing or underdeveloped countries for selective isolation of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munesh K Gupta
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Payel Mallick
- Department of Botany, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Nidhi Pandey
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Department of Botany, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jaya Chakravarty
- Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Ragini Tilak
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
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