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Pungan D, Fan J, Dai G, Khatun MS, Dietrich ML, Zwezdaryk KJ, Robinson JE, Landry SJ, Kolls JK. Novel Pneumocystis Antigens for Seroprevalence Studies. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:602. [PMID: 37367538 PMCID: PMC10300987 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii is the most common cause of fungal pneumonia in children under the age of 2 years. However, the inability to culture and propagate this organism has hampered the acquisition of a fungal genome as well as the development of recombinant antigens to conduct seroprevalence studies. In this study, we performed proteomics on Pneumocystis-infected mice and used the recent P. murina and P. jirovecii genomes to prioritize antigens for recombinant protein expression. We focused on a fungal glucanase due to its conservation among fungal species. We found evidence of maternal IgG to this antigen, followed by a nadir in pediatric samples between 1 and 3 months of age, followed by an increase in prevalence over time consistent with the known epidemiology of Pneumocystis exposure. Moreover, there was a strong concordance of anti-glucanase responses and IgG against another Pneumocystis antigen, PNEG_01454. Taken together, these antigens may be useful tools for Pneumocystis seroprevalence and seroconversion studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Pungan
- John W Deming Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Guixiang Dai
- John W Deming Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mst Shamima Khatun
- John W Deming Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Monika L. Dietrich
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Kevin J. Zwezdaryk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - James E. Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Samuel J. Landry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Jay K. Kolls
- John W Deming Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Liu C, Tang D. Comprehensive identification and expression analysis of CAMTA gene family in Phyllostachys edulis under abiotic stress. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15358. [PMID: 37180580 PMCID: PMC10174056 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15358] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Calmodulin-binding transcription factor (CAMTA) is a major transcription factor regulated by calmodulin (CaM) that plays an essential role in plant growth, development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. The CAMTA gene family has been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa) and other model plants, and its gene function in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) has not been identified. Results In this study, a total of 11 CAMTA genes were identified in P. edulis genome. Conserved domain and multiplex sequence alignment analysis showed that the structure between these genes was highly similar, with all members having CG-1 domains and some members having TIG and IQ domains. Phylogenetic relationship analysis showed that the CAMTA genes were divided into five subfamilies, and gene fragment replication promoted the evolution of this gene family. Promoter analysis revealed a large number of drought stress-related cis-acting elements in PeCAMTAs, and similarly high expression of the CAMTA gene family was found in drought stress response experiments, indicating the involvement of this gene family in drought stress. Gene expression pattern according to transcriptome data revealed participation of the PeCAMTA genes in tissue development. Conclusions Our results present new findings for the P. edulis CAMTA gene family and provide partial experimental evidence for further validation of the function of PeCAMTAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Liu
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou City, Lin’an, China
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou City, Lin’an, China
| | - Dingqin Tang
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou City, Lin’an, China
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou City, Lin’an, China
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Cushion MT, Ashbaugh A, Sayson SG, Mosley C, Hauser PM. Anidulafungin Treatment Blocks the Sexual Cycle of Pneumocystis murina and Prevents Growth and Survival without Rescue by an Alternative Mode of Replication. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0290622. [PMID: 36287071 PMCID: PMC9769855 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02906-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The proposed life cycle of fungi in the genus Pneumocystis has typically included both an asexual cycle via binary fission and a sexual cycle. Until recently, the strategy used for sexual replication was largely unknown, but genomic and functional assays now support a mode known as primary homothallism (self-fertilization). The question of whether an asexual cycle contributes to the growth of these fungi remains. Treatment of Pneumocystis pneumonia in immunosuppressed rodent models with the class of drugs known as echinocandins is challenging the historical concept of asexual replication. The echinocandins target 1,3-β-D-glucan (BG) synthesis resulting in death for most fungi. Because Pneumocystis species have both non-BG expressing life cycle stages (trophic forms) and BG-expressing asci, treatment with anidulafungin and caspofungin resulted in elimination of asci, with large numbers of non-BG expressing organisms remaining in the lungs. Transcriptional analyses of anidulafungin treated Pneumocystis murina-infected lungs indicated that these agents were blocking the sexual cycle. In the present study, we explored whether there was an asexual or alternative method of replication that could rescue P. murina survival and growth in the context of anidulafungin treatment. The effects of anidulafungin treatment on early events in the sexual cycle were investigated by RT-qPCR targeting specific mating genes, including mam2, map3, matMi, matPi, and matMc. Results from the in vivo and gene expression studies clearly indicated there was no rescue by an asexual cycle, supporting these fungi's reliance on the sexual cycle for survival and growth. Dysregulation of mating-associated genes showed that anidulafungin induced effects early in the mating process. IMPORTANCE The concept of a sexually obligate fungus is unique among human fungal pathogens. This reliance can be exploited for drug development and here we show a proof of principle for this unusual target. Most human fungal pathogens eschew the mammalian environment with its battery of immune responses. Pneumocystis appear to have evolved to survive in such an environment, perhaps by using sexual replication to help in DNA repair and to introduce genetic variation in its major surface antigen family because the lung is the primary environment of these pathogens. The concept of primary homothallism fits well into its chosen ecosystem, with ready mating partners expressing both mating type receptors, and a sexual cycle that can introduce beneficial genetic variation without the need for outbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie T. Cushion
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alan Ashbaugh
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Steven G. Sayson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher Mosley
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Philippe M. Hauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Pungan D, Eddens T, Song K, Lakey MA, Crovetto NS, Arora SK, Husain S, Kolls JK. Targeted NGS-Based Analysis of Pneumocystis jirovecii Reveals Novel Genotypes. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:863. [PMID: 36012851 PMCID: PMC9409852 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii is an important etiological agent of pneumonia that is underdiagnosed due to the inability to culture the organism. The 2019 PERCH study identified Pneumocystis as the top fungal cause of pneumonia in HIV-negative children using a PCR cutoff of 104 copies of Pneumocystis per mL of sample in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) specimens. Given that Pneumocystis consists of an environmental ascus form and a trophic from (the latter is the form that attaches to the lung epithelium), it is possible that life-form-specific molecular assays may be useful for diagnosis. However, to accomplish this goal, these assays require genotypic information, as the current fungal genomic data are largely from the US and Europe. To genotype Pneumocystis across the globe, we developed an NGS-based genotyping assay focused on genes expressed in asci as well as trophs using PERCH throat swabs from Africa, Bangladesh, and Thailand, as well as North American samples. The NGS panel reliably detected 21 fungal targets in these samples and revealed unique genotypes in genes expressed in trophs, including Meu10, an ascospore assembly gene; two in mitochondrial gene ATP8, and the intergenic region between COX1 and ATP8. This assay can be used for enhanced Pneumocystis epidemiology to study outbreaks but also permits more accurate RT-CPR- or CRISPR-based assays to be performed to improve the non-bronchoscopic diagnosis of this under-reported fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Pungan
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Taylor Eddens
- Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Kejing Song
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Meredith A. Lakey
- Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Department of Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA
| | - Nicolle S. Crovetto
- Biospecimen and Core Research Laboratory, Department of Research, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA
| | - Simran K. Arora
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Shahid Husain
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network/University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Jay K. Kolls
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Chesnay A, Paget C, Heuzé-Vourc’h N, Baranek T, Desoubeaux G. Pneumocystis Pneumonia: Pitfalls and Hindrances to Establishing a Reliable Animal Model. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020129. [PMID: 35205883 PMCID: PMC8877242 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis pneumonia is a severe lung infection that occurs primarily in largely immunocompromised patients. Few treatment options exist, and the mortality rate remains substantial. To develop new strategies in the fields of diagnosis and treatment, it appears to be critical to improve the scientific knowledge about the biology of the Pneumocystis agent and the course of the disease. In the absence of in vitro continuous culture system, in vivo animal studies represent a crucial cornerstone for addressing Pneumocystis pneumonia in laboratories. Here, we provide an overview of the animal models of Pneumocystis pneumonia that were reported in the literature over the last 60 years. Overall, this review highlights the great heterogeneity of the variables studied: the choice of the host species and its genetics, the different immunosuppressive regimens to render an animal susceptible, the experimental challenge, and the different validation methods of the model. With this work, the investigator will have the keys to choose pivotal experimental parameters and major technical features that are assumed to likely influence the results according to the question asked. As an example, we propose an animal model to explore the immune response during Pneumocystis pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélaïde Chesnay
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Pôle Biologie Médicale, Hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France;
- Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100, Université de Tours, 10 Bouelvard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours, France; (C.P.); (N.H.-V.); (T.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Christophe Paget
- Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100, Université de Tours, 10 Bouelvard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours, France; (C.P.); (N.H.-V.); (T.B.)
| | - Nathalie Heuzé-Vourc’h
- Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100, Université de Tours, 10 Bouelvard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours, France; (C.P.); (N.H.-V.); (T.B.)
| | - Thomas Baranek
- Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100, Université de Tours, 10 Bouelvard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours, France; (C.P.); (N.H.-V.); (T.B.)
| | - Guillaume Desoubeaux
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Pôle Biologie Médicale, Hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France;
- Centre d’Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100, Université de Tours, 10 Bouelvard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours, France; (C.P.); (N.H.-V.); (T.B.)
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Vera C, Rueda ZV. Transmission and Colonization of Pneumocystis jirovecii. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110979. [PMID: 34829266 PMCID: PMC8622989 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis spp. was discovered in 1909 and was classified as a fungus in 1988. The species that infects humans is called P. jirovecii and important characteristics of its genome have recently been discovered. Important advances have been made to understand P. jirovecii, including aspects of its biology, evolution, lifecycle, and pathogenesis; it is now considered that the main route of transmission is airborne and that the infectious form is the asci (cyst), but it is unclear whether there is transmission by direct contact or droplet spread. On the other hand, P. jirovecii has been detected in respiratory secretions of hosts without causing disease, which has been termed asymptomatic carrier status or colonization (frequency in immunocompetent patients: 0–65%, pregnancy: 15.5%, children: 0–100%, HIV-positive patients: 20–69%, cystic fibrosis: 1–22%, and COPD: 16–55%). This article briefly describes the history of its discovery and the nomenclature of Pneumocystis spp., recently uncovered characteristics of its genome, and what research has been done on the transmission and colonization of P. jirovecii. Based on the literature, the authors of this review propose a hypothetical natural history of P. jirovecii infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Vera
- Grupo de Investigación en Salud Pública, Research Department, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
- Correspondence:
| | - Zulma Vanessa Rueda
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg RT3, Colombia;
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Cushion MT, Ashbaugh A. The Long-Acting Echinocandin, Rezafungin, Prevents Pneumocystis Pneumonia and Eliminates Pneumocystis from the Lungs in Prophylaxis and Murine Treatment Models. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090747. [PMID: 34575785 PMCID: PMC8468546 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rezafungin is a novel echinocandin in Phase 3 development for prevention of invasive fungal disease caused by Candida spp., Aspergillus spp. and Pneumocystis jirovecii in blood and marrow transplantation patients. For such patients, standard antifungal prophylaxis currently comprises an azole for Candida and Aspergillus plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) despite drug-drug-interactions and intolerability that may limit their use, thus, alternatives are desirable. Rezafungin demonstrates a favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties that allow for once-weekly dosing in addition, to antifungal activity against these predominant pathogens. Herein, the in vivo effects of rezafungin against Pneumocystis murina pneumonia were evaluated in immunosuppressed mouse models of prophylaxis and treatment using microscopy and qPCR assessments. In the prophylaxis model, immunosuppressed mice inoculated with P. murina were administered TMP-SMX (50/250 mg/kg 1×/week or 3×/week), caspofungin (5 mg/kg 3×/week), rezafungin (20 mg/kg, 1×/week or 3×/week; 5 mg/kg, 3×/week) intraperitoneally for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, then immunosuppressed for an additional 6 weeks. Rezafungin administered for 4 weeks prevented P. murina from developing infection after rezafungin was discontinued. In the treatment model, immunosuppressed mice with P. murina pneumonia were treated with rezafungin 20 mg/kg 3×/week intraperitoneally for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. Treatment with rezafungin for 8 weeks resulted in elimination of P. murina. Collectively, these studies showed that rezafungin could both prevent infection and eliminate P. murina from the lungs of mice. These findings support the obligate role of sexual reproduction for survival and growth of Pneumocystis spp. and warrant further investigation for treatment of P. jirovecii pneumonia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie T. Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA;
- Cincinnati VAMC, Medical Research Service, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Alan Ashbaugh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA;
- Cincinnati VAMC, Medical Research Service, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
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Tisdale-Macioce N, Green J, Perl AKT, Ashbaugh A, Wiederhold NP, Patterson TF, Cushion MT. The Promise of Lung Organoids for Growth and Investigation of Pneumocystis Species. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:740845. [PMID: 37744131 PMCID: PMC10512221 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.740845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Pneumocystis species (spp.) are host-obligate fungal parasites that colonize and propagate almost exclusively in the alveolar lumen within the lungs of mammals where they can cause a lethal pneumonia. The emergence of this pneumonia in non-HIV infected persons caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (PjP), illustrates the continued importance of and the need to understand its associated pathologies and to develop new therapies and preventative strategies. In the proposed life cycle, Pneumocystis spp. attach to alveolar type 1 epithelial cells (AEC1) and prevent gas exchange. This process among other mechanisms of Pneumocystis spp. pathogenesis is challenging to observe in real time due to the absence of a continuous ex vivo or in vitro culture system. The study presented here provides a proof-of-concept for the development of murine lung organoids that mimic the lung alveolar sacs expressing alveolar epithelial type 1 cells (AEC1) and alveolar type 2 epithelial cells (AEC2). Use of these 3-dimensional organoids should facilitate studies of a multitude of unanswered questions and serve as an improved means to screen new anti- PjP agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikeya Tisdale-Macioce
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Jenna Green
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Anne-Karina T. Perl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The Perinatal Institute and Section of Neonatology, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Alan Ashbaugh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nathan P. Wiederhold
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Thomas F. Patterson
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Section of Infectious Diseases, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Melanie T. Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Ma R, Chen J, Huang B, Huang Z, Zhang Z. The BBX gene family in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis): identification, characterization and expression profiles. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:533. [PMID: 34256690 PMCID: PMC8276415 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07821-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The BBX (B-box) family are zinc finger protein (ZFP) transcription factors that play an essential role in plant growth, development and response to abiotic stresses. Although BBX genes have been characterized in many model organisms, genome-wide identification of the BBX family genes have not yet been reported in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), and the biological functions of this family remain unknown. RESULT In the present study, we identified 27 BBX genes in the genome of Moso bamboo, and analysis of their conserved motifs and multiple sequence alignments revealed that they all shared highly similar structures. Additionally, phylogenetic and homology analyses indicated that PeBBX genes were divided into three clusters, with whole-genome duplication (WGD) events having facilitated the expansion of this gene family. Light-responsive and stress-related cis-elements were identified by analyzing cis-elements in the promoters of all PeBBX genes. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis revealed that the PeBBX genes had spatiotemporal-specific expression patterns and were likely involved in the growth and development of bamboo shoots. We further explored the downstream target genes of PeBBXs, and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis predicted multiple functions of BBX target genes, including those encoding enzymes involved in plant photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we analyzed the PeBBX genes at multiple different levels, which will contribute to further studies of the BBX family and provide valuable information for the functional validation of this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jialu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhinuo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Cultivation, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China.
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, Hangzhou, China.
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Abstract
Pneumocystis species colonize mammalian lungs and cause deadly pneumonia if the immune system of the host weakens. Each species presents a specificity for a single mammalian host species. Pneumocystis jirovecii infects humans and provokes pneumonia, which is among the most frequent invasive fungal infections. The lack of in vitro culture methods for these fungi complicates their study. Recently, high-throughput sequencing technologies followed by comparative genomics have allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the sexuality of Pneumocystis organisms. The structure of their mating-type locus corresponding to a fusion of two loci, Plus and Minus, and the concomitant expression of the three mating-type genes revealed that their mode of sexual reproduction is primarily homothallism. This mode is favored by microbial pathogens and involves a single self-compatible mating type that can enter into the sexual cycle on its own. Pneumocystis sexuality is obligatory within the host's lungs during pneumonia in adults, primary infection in children, and possibly colonization. This sexuality participates in cell proliferation, airborne transmission to new hosts, and probably antigenic variation, processes that are crucial to ensure the survival of the fungus. Thus, sexuality is central in the Pneumocystis life cycle. The obligate biotrophic parasitism with obligate sexuality of Pneumocystis is unique among fungi pathogenic to humans. Pneumocystis organisms are similar to the plant fungal obligate biotrophs that complete their entire life cycle within their hosts, including sex, and that are also difficult to grow in vitro.
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Cushion MT, Tisdale-Macioce N, Sayson SG, Porollo A. The Persistent Challenge of Pneumocystis Growth Outside the Mammalian Lung: Past and Future Approaches. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:681474. [PMID: 34093506 PMCID: PMC8174303 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.681474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic fungi in the genus, Pneumocystis, have eluded attempts to continuously grow them in an ex vivo cultivation system. New data from transcriptomic and genomic sequencing studies have identified a myriad of absent metabolic pathways, helping to define their host obligate nature. These nutrients, factors, and co-factors are acquired from their mammalian host and provide clues to further supplementation of existing media formulations. Likewise, a new appreciation of the pivotal role for the sexual cycle in the survival and dissemination of the infection suggests that Pneumocystis species are obligated to undergo mating and sexual reproduction in their life cycle with a questionable role for an asexual cycle. The lack of ascus formation in any previous cultivation attempts may explain the failure to identify a sustainable system. Many characteristics of these ascomycetes suggest a biotrophic existence within the lungs of the mammalian hosts. In the present review, previous attempts at growing these fungi ex vivo are summarized. The significance of their life cycle is considered, and a list of potential supplements based on the genomic and transcriptomic studies is presented. State of the art technologies such as metabolomics, organoids, lung-on-a chip, and air lift cultures are discussed as potential growth systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie T Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nikeya Tisdale-Macioce
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Steven G Sayson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Medical Research Service, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Aleksey Porollo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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12
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Romero M, Messina F, Depardo R, Marín E, Arechavala A, Lista N, Rodríguez A, Santiso G. [Clinical problems in Medical Mycology: problem number 55]. Rev Iberoam Micol 2021; 38:23-26. [PMID: 33485778 DOI: 10.1016/j.riam.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A 31-year-old woman, with signs of HIV infection (oral thrush, weight loss, asthenia) presented to our hospital with dyspnea and fever. A rapid HIV test yielded a positive result, and cryptococcal capsular antigen was detected in serum. In the mycological study of the clinical respiratory samples, yeasts compatible with Cryptococcus were observed under light microscope in a wet mount; structures compatible with Pneumocystis jirovecii were also observed in Giemsa stain. Treatment for both pathologies was prescribed but, unfortunately, the patient died 7 days after. The finding of two etiologic agents in the same clinical picture is rare but not exceptional, and it always must be considered in immunocompromised hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Romero
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Fernando Messina
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roxana Depardo
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emmanuel Marín
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia Arechavala
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Lista
- Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Rodríguez
- Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Santiso
- Unidad de Micología, Hospital de Infecciosas F. J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Bateman M, Oladele R, Kolls JK. Diagnosing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: A review of current methods and novel approaches. Med Mycol 2020; 58:1015-1028. [PMID: 32400869 PMCID: PMC7657095 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii can cause life-threatening pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. Traditional diagnostic testing has relied on staining and direct visualization of the life-forms in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This method has proven insensitive, and invasive procedures may be needed to obtain adequate samples. Molecular methods of detection such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and antibody-antigen assays have been developed in an effort to solve these problems. These techniques are very sensitive and have the potential to detect Pneumocystis life-forms in noninvasive samples such as sputum, oral washes, nasopharyngeal aspirates, and serum. This review evaluates 100 studies that compare use of various diagnostic tests for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in patient samples. Novel diagnostic methods have been widely used in the research setting but have faced barriers to clinical implementation including: interpretation of low fungal burdens, standardization of techniques, integration into resource-poor settings, poor understanding of the impact of host factors, geographic variations in the organism, heterogeneity of studies, and limited clinician recognition of PCP. Addressing these barriers will require identification of phenotypes that progress to PCP and diagnostic cut-offs for colonization, generation of life-form specific markers, comparison of commercial PCR assays, investigation of cost-effective point of care options, evaluation of host factors such as HIV status that may impact diagnosis, and identification of markers of genetic diversity that may be useful in diagnostic panels. Performing high-quality studies and educating physicians will be crucial to improve the rates of diagnosis of PCP and ultimately to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Bateman
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA
| | - Rita Oladele
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Jay K Kolls
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA
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14
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Vera‐González N, Bailey‐Hytholt CM, Langlois L, Camargo Ribeiro F, Souza Santos EL, Junqueira JC, Shukla A. Anidulafungin liposome nanoparticles exhibit antifungal activity against planktonic and biofilm
Candida albicans. J Biomed Mater Res A 2020; 108:2263-2276. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Noel Vera‐González
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
| | - Christina M. Bailey‐Hytholt
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
| | - Luc Langlois
- Department of Chemistry Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
| | - Felipe Camargo Ribeiro
- Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | | | | | - Anita Shukla
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
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15
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Caspofungin and Pneumocystis Pneumonia: It Is Time To Go Ahead. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:63/10/e01296-19. [PMID: 31548210 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01296-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe M. Hauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Melanie T. Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
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Cissé OH, Hauser PM. Genomics and evolution of Pneumocystis species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 65:308-320. [PMID: 30138710 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The genus Pneumocystis comprises highly diversified fungal species that cause severe pneumonia in individuals with a deficient immune system. These fungi infect exclusively mammals and present a strict host species specificity. These species have co-diverged with their hosts for long periods of time (> 100 MYA). Details of their biology and evolution are fragmentary mainly because of a lack of an established long-term culture system. Recent genomic advances have unlocked new areas of research and allow new hypotheses to be tested. We review here new findings of the genomic studies in relation with the evolutionary trajectory of these fungi and discuss the impact of genomic data analysis in the context of the population genetics. The combination of slow genome decay and limited expansion of specific gene families and introns reflect intimate interactions of these species with their hosts. The evolutionary adaptation of these organisms is profoundly influenced by their population structure, which in turn is determined by intrinsic features such as their self-fertilizing mating system, high host specificity, long generation times, and transmission mode. Essential key questions concerning their adaptation and speciation remain to be answered. The next cornerstone will consist in the establishment of a long-term culture system and genetic manipulation that should allow unravelling the driving forces of Pneumocystis species evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane H Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Philippe M Hauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Reply to Nevez et al., “The Fascinating Echinocandin-Treated Mouse Model of Pneumocystis murina To Understand Pneumocystis jirovecii”. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:62/8/e01036-18. [DOI: 10.1128/aac.01036-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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19
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The Fascinating Echinocandin-Treated Mouse Model of Pneumocystis murina To Understand Pneumocystis jirovecii. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:62/8/e00992-18. [PMID: 30054378 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00992-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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20
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Cushion MT, Limper AH, Porollo A, Saper VE, Sinai AP, Weiss LM. The 14th International Workshops on Opportunistic Protists (IWOP 14). J Eukaryot Microbiol 2018; 65:934-939. [PMID: 29722096 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The 14th International Workshops on Opportunistic Protists (IWOP-14) was held August 10-12, 2017 in Cincinnati, OH, USA. The IWOP meetings focus on opportunistic protists (OIs); for example, free-living amoebae, Pneumocystis spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma, the Microsporidia, and kinetoplastid flagellates. The highlights of Pneumocystis spp. research included the reports of primary homothallism for mating; a potential requirement for sexual replication in its life cycle; a new antigen on the surface of small asci; roles for CLRs, Dectin-1, and Mincle in host responses; and identification of MSG families and mechanisms used for surface variation. Studies of Cryptosporidia spp. included comparative genomics, a new cryopreservation method; the role of mucin in attachment and invasion, and epidemiological surveys illustrating species diversity in animals. One of the five identified proteins in the polar tube of Microsporidia, PTP4, was shown to play a role in host infection. Zebrafish were used as a low cost vertebrate animal model for an evaluation of potential anti-toxoplasma drugs. Folk medicine compounds with anti-toxoplasma activity were presented, and reports on the chronic toxoplasma infection provided evidence for increased tractability for the study of this difficult life cycle stage. Escape from the parasitophorus vacuole and cell cycle regulation were the topics of the study in the acute phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie T Cushion
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267.,Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220
| | - Andrew H Limper
- Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, 55905
| | - Aleksey Porollo
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, and Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267
| | - Vivian E Saper
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305
| | - Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, 40536
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 10461
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