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Duke SO, Pan Z, Bajsa-Hirschel J, Tamang P, Hammerschmidt R, Lorsbach BA, Sparks TC. Molecular Targets of Herbicides and Fungicides─Are There Useful Overlaps for Fungicide Discovery? JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:20532-20548. [PMID: 38100716 PMCID: PMC10755756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
New fungicide modes of action are needed for fungicide resistance management strategies. Several commercial herbicide targets found in fungi that are not utilized by commercial fungicides are discussed as possible fungicide molecular targets. These are acetyl CoA carboxylase, acetolactate synthase, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, glutamine synthase, phytoene desaturase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, long-chain fatty acid synthase, dihydropteroate synthase, hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase, and Ser/Thr protein phosphatase. Some of the inhibitors of these herbicide targets appear to be either good fungicides or good leads for new fungicides. For example, some acetolactate synthase and dihydropteroate inhibitors are excellent fungicides. There is evidence that some herbicides have indirect benefits to certain crops due to their effects on fungal crop pathogens. Using a pesticide with both herbicide and fungicide activities based on the same molecular target could reduce the total amount of pesticide used. The limitations of such a product are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen O. Duke
- National
Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University 38667, United States
| | - Zhiqiang Pan
- Natural
Products Utilization Research Unit, United
States Department of Agriculture, University 38667, United States
| | - Joanna Bajsa-Hirschel
- Natural
Products Utilization Research Unit, United
States Department of Agriculture, University 38667, United States
| | - Prabin Tamang
- Natural
Products Utilization Research Unit, United
States Department of Agriculture, University 38667, United States
| | - Raymond Hammerschmidt
- Department
of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Beth A. Lorsbach
- Nufarm, 4020 Aerial Center Parkway, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, United States
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2
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Júnior MA, Silva LC, Rocha OB, Oliveira AA, Portis IG, Alonso A, Alonso L, Silva KS, Gomes MN, Andrade CH, Soares CM, Pereira M. Proteomic identification of metabolic changes in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis induced by a nitroheteroarylchalcone. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1077-1093. [PMID: 37424510 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0150] [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: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To access the metabolic changes caused by a chalcone derivative (LabMol-75) through a proteomic approach. Methods: Proteomic analysis was performed after 9 h of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast (Pb18) cell incubation with the LabMol-75 at MIC. The proteomic findings were validated through in vitro and in silico assays. Results: Exposure to the compound led to the downregulation of proteins associated with glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, β-oxidation, the citrate cycle and the electron transport chain. Conclusion: LabMol-75 caused an energetic imbalance in the fungus metabolism and deep oxidative stress. Additionally, the in silico molecular docking approach pointed to this molecule as a putative competitive inhibitor of DHPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Abc Júnior
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lívia C Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Olivia B Rocha
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Amanda A Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Igor G Portis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Antonio Alonso
- Institute of Physics, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lais Alonso
- Institute of Physics, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Kleber Sf Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Marcelo N Gomes
- InsiChem, Goiás State University, Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil
- Faculdade Metropolitana de Anápolis, Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Carolina H Andrade
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling & Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Célia Ma Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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Marcos CM, de Oliveira HC, Assato PA, de Oliveira LT, Fregonezi N, dos Santos KS, Costa-Orlandi CB, Fusco-Almeida AM, Mendes-Giannini MJS. Polypeptides Targeting Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Drk1. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:980. [PMID: 37888236 PMCID: PMC10607314 DOI: 10.3390/jof9100980] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Considering the toxicity of conventional therapeutic approaches and the importance of precise mechanistic targets, it is important to explore signaling pathways implicated in fungal pathobiology. Moreover, treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis caused by a dimorphic fungus, requires prolonged therapeutic regimens. Among the numerous factors underpinning the establishment of Paracoccidioides spp. infection, the capacity to transition from the mycelial to the yeast form is of pivotal importance. The Drk1 protein of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis likely plays a decisive role in this morphological shift and subsequent virulence. We identified peptides with affinity for the PbDrk1 protein using the phage-display method and assessed the effects of these peptides on P. brasiliensis. The peptides were found to inhibit the phase transition of P. brasiliensis. Furthermore, a substantial proportion of these peptides prevented adhesion to pneumocytes. Although these peptides may not possess inherent antifungal properties, they can augment the effects of certain antifungal agents. Notably, the cell wall architecture of P. brasiliensis appears to be modulated by peptide intervention, resulting in a reduced abundance of glycosylated proteins and lipids. These peptides were also evaluated for their efficacy in a Galleria mellonella model and shown to contribute to enhanced larval survival rates. The role of PbDrk1, which is notably absent in mammals, should be further investigated to improve the understanding of its functional role in P. brasiliensis, which may be helpful for designing novel therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Maria Marcos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Patricia Akemi Assato
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
- Laboratório Central de Multiusuários, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Campus Botucatu, UNESP—Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo 18610-034, Brazil
| | - Lariane Teodoro de Oliveira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Nathália Fregonezi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Kelvin Sousa dos Santos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Caroline Barcelos Costa-Orlandi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Maria José Soares Mendes-Giannini
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (C.M.M.); (H.C.d.O.); (P.A.A.); (L.T.d.O.); (N.F.); (K.S.d.S.); (C.B.C.-O.); (A.M.F.-A.)
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Gonçales RA, Portis IG, dos Reis TF, Basso Júnior LR, Martinez R, Zhu H, Pereira M, Soares CMDA, Coelho PSR. Identification and immunogenic potential of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1243475. [PMID: 37746134 PMCID: PMC10512324 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1243475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In fungal pathogens the cell wall plays an important role in host-pathogen interactions because its molecular components (e.g., polysaccharides and proteins) may trigger immune responses during infection. GPI-anchored proteins represent the main protein class in the fungal cell wall where they can perform several functions, such as cell wall remodeling and adhesion to host tissues. Genomic analysis has identified the complement of GPI-anchored proteins in many fungal pathogens, but the function has remained unknown for most of them. Here, we conducted an RNA expression analysis of GPI-anchored proteins of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis which causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an important human systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. The expression of the GPI-anchored proteins was analyzed by quantitative PCR in both the mycelium and yeast forms. qPCR analysis revealed that the transcript levels of 22 of them were increased in hyphae and 10 in yeasts, respectively, while 14 did not show any significant difference in either form. Furthermore, we cloned 46 open reading frames and purified their corresponding GPI-anchored proteins in the budding yeast. Immunoblot and ELISA analysis of four purified GPI-anchored proteins revealed immune reactivity of these proteins against sera obtained from PCM patients. The information obtained in this study provides valuable information about the expression of many GPI-anchored proteins of unknown function. In addition, based on our immune analysis, some GPI-anchored proteins are expressed during infection and therefore, they might serve as good candidates for the development of new diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Igor Godinho Portis
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Roberto Basso Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto Martinez
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sergio Rodrigues Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of a Human Fungal Pathogen Reveals Synteny among Geographically Distinct Species. mBio 2022; 13:e0257421. [PMID: 35089059 PMCID: PMC8725592 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02574-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungal pathogen, is the most common cause of fungal respiratory infections in immunocompetent hosts. Histoplasma is endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys in the United States and is also distributed worldwide. Previous studies have revealed at least eight clades, each specific to a geographic location: North American classes 1 and 2 (NAm 1 and NAm 2), Latin American groups A and B (LAm A and LAm B), Eurasian, Netherlands, Australian and African, and an additional distinct lineage (H81) comprised of Panamanian isolates. Previously assembled Histoplasma genomes are highly fragmented, with the highly repetitive G217B (NAm 2) strain, which has been used for most whole-genome-scale transcriptome studies, assembled into over 250 contigs. In this study, we set out to fully assemble the repeat regions and characterize the large-scale genome architecture of Histoplasma species. We resequenced five Histoplasma strains (WU24 [NAm 1], G217B [NAm 2], H88 [African], G186AR [Panama], and G184AR [Panama]) using Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequencing technology. Here, we report chromosomal-level assemblies for all five strains, which exhibit extensive synteny among the geographically distant Histoplasma isolates. The new assemblies revealed that RYP2, a major regulator of morphology and virulence, is duplicated in G186AR. In addition, we mapped previously generated transcriptome data sets onto the newly assembled chromosomes. Our analyses revealed that the expression of transposons and transposon-embedded genes are upregulated in yeast phase compared to mycelial phase in the G217B and H88 strains. This study provides an important resource for fungal researchers and further highlights the importance of chromosomal-level assemblies in analyzing high-throughput data sets. IMPORTANCE Histoplasma species are dimorphic fungi causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. These fungi grow as mold in the soil and as budding yeast within the human host. Histoplasma can be isolated from soil in diverse regions, including North America, South America, Africa, and Europe. Phylogenetically distinct species of Histoplasma have been isolated and sequenced. However, for the commonly used strains, genome assemblies have been fragmented, leading to underutilization of genome-scale data. This study provides chromosome-level assemblies of the commonly used Histoplasma strains using long-read sequencing technology. Comparative analysis of these genomes shows largely conserved gene order within the chromosomes. Mapping existing transcriptome data on these new assemblies reveals clustering of transcriptionally coregulated genes. The results of this study highlight the importance of obtaining chromosome-level assemblies in understanding the biology of human fungal pathogens.
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Farh MEA, Abdellaoui N, Seo JA. pH Changes Have a Profound Effect on Gene Expression, Hydrolytic Enzyme Production, and Dimorphism in Saccharomycopsis fibuligera. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:672661. [PMID: 34248880 PMCID: PMC8265565 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.672661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharomycopsis fibuligera is an amylolytic yeast that plays an important role within nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter) used for the production of makgeolli (Korean rice wine), which is characterized by high acidity. However, the effect of pH change (neutral to acidic) on the yeast cell to hyphal transition and carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme activities for S. fibuligera has not been investigated yet. In this study, S. fibuligera strains were cultured under the different pH conditions, and the effect on the enzyme production and gene expression were investigated. An acidic pH induced a hyphal transition from yeast cell of S. fibuligera KPH12 and the hybrid strain KJJ81. In addition, both strains showed a gradual decrease in the ability to degrade starch and cellulose as the pH went down. Furthermore, a transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the pH decline caused global expression changes in genes, which were classified into five clusters. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under acidic pH, the downregulated genes were involved in protein synthesis, carbon metabolism, and RIM101 and cAMP-PKA signaling transduction pathways for the yeast-hyphal transition. A decrease in pH induced a dimorphic lifestyle switch from yeast cell formation to hyphal growth in S. fibuligera and caused a decrease in carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme production, as well as marked changes in the expression of genes related to enzyme production and pH adaptation. This study will help to elucidate the mechanism of adaptation of S. fibuligera to acidification that occur during the fermentation process of makgeolli using nuruk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Najib Abdellaoui
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Ah Seo
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
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Mascarin GM, Iwanicki NS, Ramirez JL, Delalibera Í, Dunlap CA. Transcriptional Responses of Beauveria bassiana Blastospores Cultured Under Varying Glucose Concentrations. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:644372. [PMID: 33842391 PMCID: PMC8024584 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.644372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Culturing the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, under high glucose concentrations coupled with high aeration results in a fungal developmental shift from hyphal growth to mostly blastospores (yeast-like cells). The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this shift remain elusive. A systematic transcriptome analysis of the differential gene expression was preformed to uncover the fungal transcriptomic response to osmotic and oxidative stresses associated with the resulting high blastospore yield. Differential gene expression was compared under moderate (10% w/v) and high (20% w/v) glucose concentrations daily for three days. The RNAseq-based transcriptomic results depicted a higher proportion of downregulated genes when the fungus was grown under 20% glucose than 10%. Additional experiments explored a broader glucose range (4, 8, 12, 16, 20% w/v) with phenotype assessment and qRT-PCR transcript abundance measurements of selected genes. Antioxidant, calcium transport, conidiation, and osmosensor-related genes were highly upregulated in higher glucose titers (16-20%) compared to growth in lower glucose (4-6%) concentrations. The class 1 hydrophobin gene (Hyd1) was highly expressed throughout the culturing. Hyd1 is known to be involved in spore coat rodlet layer assembly, and indicates that blastospores or another cell type containing hydrophobin 1 is expressed in the haemocoel during the infection process. Furthermore, we found implications of the HOG signaling pathway with upregulation of homologous genes Ssk2 and Hog1 for all fermentation time points under hyperosmotic medium (20% glucose). These findings expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind blastospore development and may help facilitate large-scale industrial production of B. bassiana blastospores for pest control applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Moura Mascarin
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Environment, Jaguariúna, Brazil
| | - Natasha Sant'Anna Iwanicki
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Jose Luis Ramirez
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Ítalo Delalibera
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Christopher A Dunlap
- Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Peoria, IL, United States
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Updates in Paracoccidioides Biology and Genetic Advances in Fungus Manipulation. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020116. [PMID: 33557381 PMCID: PMC7915485 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The dimorphic fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus are the causative agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). This disease is endemic in Latin America and primarily affects workers in rural areas. PCM is considered a neglected disease, despite being a disabling disease that has a notable impact on the public health system. Paracoccidioides spp. are thermally dimorphic fungi that present infective mycelia at 25 °C and differentiate into pathogenic yeast forms at 37 °C. This transition involves a series of morphological, structural, and metabolic changes which are essential for their survival inside hosts. As a pathogen, the fungus is subjected to several varieties of stress conditions, including the host immune response, which involves the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, thermal stress due to temperature changes during the transition, pH alterations within phagolysosomes, and hypoxia inside granulomas. Over the years, studies focusing on understanding the establishment and development of PCM have been conducted with several limitations due to the low effectiveness of strategies for the genetic manipulation of Paracoccidioides spp. This review describes the most relevant biological features of Paracoccidioides spp., including aspects of the phylogeny, ecology, stress response, infection, and evasion mechanisms of the fungus. We also discuss the genetic aspects and difficulties of fungal manipulation, and, finally, describe the advances in molecular biology that may be employed in molecular research on this fungus in the future.
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Seki Kioshima E, de Souza Bonfim de Mendonça P, de Melo Teixeira M, Grenier Capoci IR, Amaral A, Vilugron Rodrigues-Vendramini FA, Lauton Simões B, Rodrigues Abadio AK, Fernandes Matos L, Soares Felipe MS. One Century of Study: What We Learned about Paracoccidioides and How This Pathogen Contributed to Advances in Antifungal Therapy. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:106. [PMID: 33540749 PMCID: PMC7913102 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a notable fungal infection restricted to Latin America. Since the first description of the disease by Lutz up to the present day, Brazilian researchers have contributed to the understanding of the life cycle of this pathogen and provided the possibility of new targets for antifungal therapy based on the structural and functional genomics of Paracoccidioides. In this context, in silico approaches have selected molecules that act on specific targets, such as the thioredoxin system, with promising antifungal activity against Paracoccidioides. Some of these are already in advanced development stages. In addition, the application of nanostructured systems has addressed issues related to the high toxicity of conventional PCM therapy. Thus, the contribution of molecular biology and biotechnology to the advances achieved is unquestionable. However, it is still necessary to transcend the boundaries of synthetic chemistry, pharmaco-technics, and pharmacodynamics, aiming to turn promising molecules into newly available drugs for the treatment of fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Seki Kioshima
- Program in Biosciences and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringa (UEM), Maringa, Parana 87020-900, Brazil; (P.d.S.B.d.M.); (I.R.G.C.); (F.A.V.R.-V.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Patrícia de Souza Bonfim de Mendonça
- Program in Biosciences and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringa (UEM), Maringa, Parana 87020-900, Brazil; (P.d.S.B.d.M.); (I.R.G.C.); (F.A.V.R.-V.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Marcus de Melo Teixeira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília (UnB), Brasilia, Distrito Federal 70910-900, Brazil;
| | - Isis Regina Grenier Capoci
- Program in Biosciences and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringa (UEM), Maringa, Parana 87020-900, Brazil; (P.d.S.B.d.M.); (I.R.G.C.); (F.A.V.R.-V.); (B.L.S.)
| | - André Amaral
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil;
| | - Franciele Abigail Vilugron Rodrigues-Vendramini
- Program in Biosciences and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringa (UEM), Maringa, Parana 87020-900, Brazil; (P.d.S.B.d.M.); (I.R.G.C.); (F.A.V.R.-V.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Bruna Lauton Simões
- Program in Biosciences and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringa (UEM), Maringa, Parana 87020-900, Brazil; (P.d.S.B.d.M.); (I.R.G.C.); (F.A.V.R.-V.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Ana Karina Rodrigues Abadio
- Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences, Mato Grosso State University, Nova Mutum, Mato Grosso 78450-000, Brazil;
| | - Larissa Fernandes Matos
- Faculty of Ceilandia, University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Distrito Federal 72220-275, Brazil;
- Program in Microbial Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Sueli Soares Felipe
- Program of Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasília 70790-160, Brazil;
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10
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Silva-Bailão MG, Lima PDS, Oliveira MME, Oliveira LC, Almeida-Paes R, Borges CL, Bailão AM, Coelho ASG, Soares CMDA, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. Comparative proteomics in the three major human pathogenic species of the genus Sporothrix. Microbes Infect 2020; 23:104762. [PMID: 32992009 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis of humans and other mammals, caused by dimorphic species of the genus Sporothrix. In Brazil, human disease is broadly linked to transmission by infected cats and is mainly caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix globosa. In this study, we used a nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry approach to provide the yeast proteomic profiles of S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii and S. globosa. From a total of 247 identified proteins, 137 were found as differentially expressed. Functional classification revealed that most are related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism as well as stress response. Our data indicate that S. brasiliensis metabolism is distinct of that of S. schenckii and S. globosa, mainly regarding amino acid metabolism and cell wall remodeling, which are induced in the former. Enzymes belonging to glycolytic pathway are, on the other hand, up-regulated in S. schenckii and S. globosa. These findings may explain the previously described more virulent character of S. brasiliensis. Besides complementing genomic comparisons already published, this first comparative proteomic study provided information that indicates new aspects of Sporothrix species metabolism as well as offers information that may be useful in the development of prospective functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirelle Garcia Silva-Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de Sousa Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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11
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Xie Y, Chang J, Kwan HS. Carbon metabolism and transcriptome in developmental paths differentiation of a homokaryotic Coprinopsis cinerea strain. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 143:103432. [PMID: 32681999 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The balance and interplay between sexual and asexual reproduction is one of the most intriguing mysteries in the study of fungi. The choice of developmental strategy reflects the ability of fungi to adapt to the changing environment. However, the evolution of developmental paths and the metabolic regulation during differentiation and morphogenesis are poorly understood. Here, an analysis was performed of carbohydrate metabolism and gene expression regulation during the early differentiation process from the vegetative mycelium, to the differentiated structures, fruiting body, oidia and sclerotia, of a homokaryotic fruiting Coprinopsis cinerea strain A43mutB43mut pab1-1 #326. Changes during morphogenesis and the evolution of developmental strategies were followed. Conversion between glucose and glycogen and between glucose and beta-glucan were the main carbon flows in the differentiation processes. Genes related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism were significantly differentially expressed among paths. Sclerotia displayed a set of specifically up-regulated genes that were enriched in the carbon metabolism and energy production and conversion processes. Evolutionary transcriptomic analysis of four developmental paths showed that all transcriptomes were under the purifying selection, and the more stressful the environment, the younger the transcriptome age. Oidiation has the lowest value of transcriptome age index (TAI) and transcriptome divergence index (TDI), while the fruiting process has the highest of both indexes. These findings provide new insights into the regulations of carbon metabolism and gene expressions during the early stages of fungal developmental paths differentiation, and improve our understanding of the evolutionary process of life history and reproductive strategy in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichun Xie
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jinhui Chang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Hoi Shan Kwan
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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12
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Iwanicki NS, Júnior ID, Eilenberg J, De Fine Licht HH. Comparative RNAseq Analysis of the Insect-Pathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae Reveals Specific Transcriptome Signatures of Filamentous and Yeast-Like Development. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2020; 10:2141-2157. [PMID: 32354703 PMCID: PMC7341153 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is a facultative insect pathogen used as biological control agent of several agricultural pests worldwide. It is a dimorphic fungus that is able to display two growth morphologies, a filamentous phase with formation of hyphae and a yeast-like phase with formation of single-celled blastospores. Blastospores play an important role for M. anisopliae pathogenicity during disease development. They are formed solely in the hemolymph of infected insects as a fungal strategy to quickly multiply and colonize the insect's body. Here, we use comparative genome-wide transcriptome analyses to determine changes in gene expression between the filamentous and blastospore growth phases in vitro to characterize physiological changes and metabolic signatures associated with M. anisopliae dimorphism. Our results show a clear molecular distinction between the blastospore and mycelial phases. In total 6.4% (n = 696) out of 10,981 predicted genes in M. anisopliae were differentially expressed between the two phases with a fold-change > 4. The main physiological processes associated with up-regulated gene content in the single-celled yeast-like blastospores during liquid fermentation were oxidative stress, amino acid metabolism (catabolism and anabolism), respiration processes, transmembrane transport and production of secondary metabolites. In contrast, the up-regulated gene content in hyphae were associated with increased growth, metabolism and cell wall re-organization, which underlines the specific functions and altered growth morphology of M. anisopliae blastospores and hyphae, respectively. Our study revealed significant transcriptomic differences between the metabolism of blastospores and hyphae. These findings illustrate important aspects of fungal morphogenesis in M. anisopliae and highlight the main metabolic activities of each propagule under in vitro growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Sant'Anna Iwanicki
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, ESALQ- University of São Paulo, Av Padua Dias, 11-P.O. Box 9-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil and
| | - Italo Delalibera Júnior
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, ESALQ- University of São Paulo, Av Padua Dias, 11-P.O. Box 9-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil and
| | - Jørgen Eilenberg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Henrik H De Fine Licht
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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13
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Thiour-Mauprivez C, Martin-Laurent F, Calvayrac C, Barthelmebs L. Effects of herbicide on non-target microorganisms: Towards a new class of biomarkers? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 684:314-325. [PMID: 31153078 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Conventional agriculture still relies on the general use of agrochemicals (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) to control various pests (weeds, fungal pathogens and insects), to ensure the yield of crop and to feed a constantly growing population. The generalized use of pesticides in agriculture leads to the contamination of soil and other connected environmental resources. The persistence of pesticide residues in soil is identified as a major threat for in-soil living organisms that are supporting an important number of ecosystem services. Although authorities released pesticides on the market only after their careful and thorough evaluation, the risk assessment for in-soil living organisms is unsatisfactory, particularly for microorganisms for which pesticide toxicity is solely considered by one global test measuring N mineralization. Recently, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) underlined the lack of standardized methods to assess pesticide ecotoxicological effects on soil microorganisms. Within this context, there is an obvious need to develop innovative microbial markers sensitive to pesticide exposure. Biomarkers that reveal direct effects of pesticides on microorganisms are often viewed as the panacea. Such biomarkers can only be developed for pesticides having a mode of action inhibiting a specific enzyme not only found in the targeted organisms but also in microorganisms which are considered as "non-target organisms" by current regulations. This review explores possible ways of innovation to develop such biomarkers for herbicides. We scanned the herbicide classification by considering the mode of action, the targeted enzyme and the ecotoxicological effects of each class of active substance in order to identify those that can be tracked using sensitive microbial markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Thiour-Mauprivez
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Biocapteurs-Analyses-Environnement, 66860 Perpignan, France; Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR 3579 Sorbonne Universités (UPMC) Paris 6 et CNRS Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France; AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21065 Dijon, France
| | - Fabrice Martin-Laurent
- AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21065 Dijon, France
| | - Christophe Calvayrac
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Biocapteurs-Analyses-Environnement, 66860 Perpignan, France; Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR 3579 Sorbonne Universités (UPMC) Paris 6 et CNRS Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Lise Barthelmebs
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Biocapteurs-Analyses-Environnement, 66860 Perpignan, France; Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR 3579 Sorbonne Universités (UPMC) Paris 6 et CNRS Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.
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14
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Aciole Barbosa D, Menegidio FB, Alencar VC, Gonçalves RS, Silva JDFS, Vilas Boas RO, Faustino de Maria YNL, Jabes DL, Costa de Oliveira R, Nunes LR. ParaDB: A manually curated database containing genomic annotation for the human pathogenic fungi Paracoccidioides spp. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007576. [PMID: 31306428 PMCID: PMC6658007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Paracoccidioides consists of thermodymorphic fungi responsible for Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis that has been registered to affect ~10 million people in Latin America. Biogeographical data subdivided the genus Paracoccidioides in five divergent subgroups, which have been recently classified as different species. Genomic sequencing of five Paracoccidioides isolates, representing each of these subgroups/species provided an important framework for the development of post-genomic studies with these fungi. However, functional annotations of these genomes have not been submitted to manual curation and, as a result, ~60-90% of the Paracoccidioides protein-coding genes (depending on isolate/annotation) are currently described as responsible for hypothetical proteins, without any further functional/structural description. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The present work reviews the functional assignment of Paracoccidioides genes, reducing the number of hypothetical proteins to ~25-28%. These results were compiled in a relational database called ParaDB, dedicated to the main representatives of Paracoccidioides spp. ParaDB can be accessed through a friendly graphical interface, which offers search tools based on keywords or protein/DNA sequences. All data contained in ParaDB can be partially or completely downloaded through spreadsheet, multi-fasta and GFF3-formatted files, which can be subsequently used in a variety of downstream functional analyses. Moreover, the entire ParaDB environment has been configured in a Docker service, which has been submitted to the GitHub repository, ensuring long-term data availability to researchers. This service can be downloaded and used to perform fully functional local installations of the database in alternative computing ecosystems, allowing users to conduct their data mining and analyses in a personal and stable working environment. CONCLUSIONS These new annotations greatly reduce the number of genes identified solely as hypothetical proteins and are integrated into a dedicated database, providing resources to assist researchers in this field to conduct post-genomic studies with this group of human pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Aciole Barbosa
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Bezerra Menegidio
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valquíria Campos Alencar
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael S. Gonçalves
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Renata Ozelami Vilas Boas
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daniela Leite Jabes
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Regina Costa de Oliveira
- Núcleo Integrado de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz R. Nunes
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Almeida-Paes R, Almeida-Silva F, Pinto GCM, Almeida MDA, Muniz MDM, Pizzini CV, Gerfen GJ, Nosanchuk JD, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. L-tyrosine induces the production of a pyomelanin-like pigment by the parasitic yeast-form of Histoplasma capsulatum. Med Mycol 2019; 56:506-509. [PMID: 28992332 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myx068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanization of Histoplasma capsulatum remains poorly described, particularly in regards to the forms of melanin produced. In the present study, 30 clinical and environmental H. capsulatum strains were grown in culture media with or without L-tyrosine under conditions that produced either mycelial or yeast forms. Mycelial cultures were not melanized under the studied conditions. However, all strains cultivated under yeast conditions produced a brownish to black soluble pigment compatible with pyomelanin when grew in presence of L-tyrosine. Sulcotrione inhibited pigment production in yeast cultures, strengthening the hyphothesis that H. capsulatum yeast forms produce pyomelanin. Since pyomelanin is produced by the fungal parasitic form, this pigment may be involved in H. capsulatum virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando Almeida-Silva
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Costa Maia Pinto
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcos de Abreu Almeida
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mauro de Medeiros Muniz
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia Vera Pizzini
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gary J Gerfen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
| | - Joshua Daniel Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine [Division of Infectious Diseases] and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
| | - Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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16
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Araújo DS, Pereira M, Portis IG, dos Santos Junior ADCM, Fontes W, de Sousa MV, Assunção LDP, Baeza LC, Bailão AM, Ricart CAO, Brock M, Soares CMDA. Metabolic Peculiarities of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Dimorphism as Demonstrated by iTRAQ Labeling Proteomics. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:555. [PMID: 30949151 PMCID: PMC6436475 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis with a high incidence in Latin America, is caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus. The contact with host occurs by the inhalation of conidia or mycelial propagules which once reaching the pulmonary alveoli differentiate into yeast cells. This transition process is vital in the pathogenesis of PCM allowing the fungus survival in the host. Thus, the present work performed a comparative proteome analysis of mycelia, mycelia-to-yeast transition, and yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. For that, tryptic peptides were labeled with iTRAQ and identified by LC-MS/MS and computational data analysis, which allowed the identification of 312 proteins differentially expressed in different morphological stages. Data showed that P. brasiliensis yeast cells preferentially employ aerobic beta-oxidation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle accompanied by oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production, in comparison to mycelia and the transition from mycelia-to-yeast cells. Furthermore, yeast cells show a metabolic reprogramming in amino acid metabolism and in the induction of virulence determinants and heat shock proteins allowing adaptation to environmental conditions during the increase of the temperature. In opposite of that, the alcoholic fermentation found to P. lutzii, at least under laboratory conditions, is strongly favored in mycelium compared to yeast cells. Thereby, the data strongly support substantial metabolic differences among members of the Paracoccidioides complex, when comparing the saprobiotic mycelia and the yeast parasitic phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Silva Araújo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade Unida de Campinas, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Igor Godinho Portis
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Valle de Sousa
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Leandro do Prado Assunção
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Lilian Cristiane Baeza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Mello Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Carlos André Ornelas Ricart
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Matthias Brock
- Fungal Biology and Genetics Group, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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17
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Curcio JSD, Batista MP, Paccez JD, Novaes E, Soares CMDA. In silico characterization of microRNAs-like sequences in the genome of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Genet Mol Biol 2019; 42:95-107. [PMID: 30776047 PMCID: PMC6428129 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2018-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have different mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation.
Among these mechanisms, microRNAs promote regulation of targets by cleavage or
degradation of the mRNA. Fungi of the Paracoccidioides complex
are the etiological agents of the main systemic mycosis of Latin America. These
fungi present a plasticity to adapt and survive in different conditions, and the
presence of microRNAs-like molecules could be part of the mechanisms that
provide such plasticity. MicroRNAs produced by the host influence the
progression of this mycosis in the lungs besides regulating targets involved in
apoptosis in macrophage, activation of T and B cells and the production of
cytokines. Therefore, this work analyzed the presence of regions in the genome
of this fungus with a potential to encode microRNAs-like molecules. Here we show
by analysis of sequence similarity the presence of 18 regions, putatively coding
for microRNAs-like molecules in the Paracoccidioides
brasiliensis genome. We also described the conservation of dicer
and argonaut proteins and the cognate transcripts induced in the yeast parasitic
phase. This work represents a starting point for the analysis of the presence of
those molecules in the morphological stages of the fungus and their role in
fungal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana S de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Mariana P Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Juliano D Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Evandro Novaes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
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18
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de Curcio JS, Paccez JD, Novaes E, Brock M, Soares CMDA. Cell Wall Synthesis, Development of Hyphae and Metabolic Pathways Are Processes Potentially Regulated by MicroRNAs Produced Between the Morphological Stages of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:3057. [PMID: 30619144 PMCID: PMC6297277 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are molecules involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. In pathogenic fungi, microRNAs have been described at different morphological stages by regulating targets involved in processes such as morphogenesis and energy production. Members of the Paracoccidioides complex are the main etiological agents of a systemic mycosis in Latin America. Fungi of the Paracoccidioides complex present a wide range of plasticity to colonize different niches. In response to environmental changes these fungi undergo a morphological switch, remodel their cellular metabolism and modulate structural cell wall components. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the gene expression is not well understood. By using high performance sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, this work characterizes microRNAs produced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Here, we demonstrated that the transcript encoding proteins involved in microRNA biogenesis were differentially expressed in each morphological stage. In addition, 49 microRNAs were identified in cDNA libraries with 44 differentially regulated among the libraries. Sixteen microRNAs were differentially regulated in comparison to the mycelium in the mycelium-to-yeast transition phase. The yeast parasitic phase revealed a complete remodeling of the expression of these small RNAs. Analyses of targets of the induced microRNAs, from the different libraries, revealed that these molecules may potentially regulate in the cell wall, by repressing genes involved in the synthesis and degradation of glucans and chitin. Furthermore, mRNAs involved in cellular metabolism and development were predicted to be regulated by microRNAs. Therefore, this work describes a putative post transcriptional regulation, mediated by microRNAs in P. brasiliensis and its influence on the adaptive processes of thermal dimorphic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana S. de Curcio
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Evandro Novaes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mathias Brock
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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19
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Chemoproteomic identification of molecular targets of antifungal prototypes, thiosemicarbazide and a camphene derivative of thiosemicarbazide, in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201948. [PMID: 30148835 PMCID: PMC6110461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected human systemic disease caused by species of the genus Paracoccidioides. The disease attacks the host’s lungs and may disseminate to many other organs. Treatment involves amphotericin B, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, or fluconazole. The treatment duration is usually long, from 6 months to 2 years, and many adverse effects may occur in relation to the treatment; co-morbidities and poor treatment adherence have been noted. Therefore, the discovery of more effective and less toxic drugs is needed. Thiosemicarbazide (TSC) and a camphene derivative of thiosemicarbazide (TSC-C) were able to inhibit P. brasiliensis growth at a low dosage and were not toxic to fibroblast cells. In order to investigate the mode of action of those compounds, we used a chemoproteomic approach to determine which fungal proteins were bound to each of these compounds. The compounds were able to inhibit the activities of the enzyme formamidase and interfered in P. brasiliensis dimorphism. In comparison with the transcriptomic and proteomic data previously obtained by our group, we determined that TSC and TSC-C were multitarget compounds that exerted effects on the electron-transport chain and cell cycle regulation, increased ROS formation, inhibited proteasomes and peptidases, modulated glycolysis, lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolisms, and caused suppressed the mycelium to yeast transition.
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Oliveira AF, Fernandes FF, Mariano VS, Almeida F, Ruas LP, Oliveira LL, Oliver C, Jamur MC, Roque-Barreira MC. Paracoccin distribution supports its role in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis growth and dimorphic transformation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184010. [PMID: 28846733 PMCID: PMC5573292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast was reported to express paracoccin, a GlcNAc-binding protein that displays N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity. Highly specific anti-paracoccin antibodies have been previously used to examine the localization of paracoccin in yeast and inhibit its growth in vitro. In the present study, anti-paracoccin antibodies were used to characterize, by scanning confocal microscopy, the distribution of paracoccin in P. brasiliensis hyphae, transition forms from hyphae to yeast, and mature yeast. In the mycelial phase, paracoccin was detected mainly in the hyphae tips, where it demonstrated a punctate distribution, and was associated with the cell wall. During the first 48 hours after a temperature shift from 26°C to 37°C, paracoccin expression in the differentiating hyphae was mainly detected in the budding regions, i.e. lateral protrusions, and inside the new daughter cells. There was an increased number of chlamydoconidia that expressed a high concentration of paracoccin on their surfaces and/or in their interiors 72–96 hours after the temperature shift. After 120 hours, yeast cells were the predominant form and their cytoplasm stained extensively for paracoccin, whereas Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) staining was predominant on their exterior walls. After 10 days at 37°C, the interior of both mother and daughter yeast cells, as well as the budding regions, stained intensely for paracoccin. The comparison of mRNA-expression in the different fungal forms showed that PCN transcripts, although detected in all evaluated morphological forms, were higher in hypha and yeast-to-hypha transition forms. In conclusion, the pattern of paracoccin distribution in all P. brasiliensis morphotypes supports prevalent beliefs that it plays important roles in fungal growth and dimorphic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Ferreira Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fabricio Freitas Fernandes
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Vânia Sammartino Mariano
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fausto Almeida
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Luciana Pereira Ruas
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | | | - Constance Oliver
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Maria Celia Jamur
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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Large-scale genomic analyses of in vitro yeast-mycelium dimorphism in human, insect and plant pathogenic fungi: From ESTs to RNAseq experiments. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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22
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Fungal Dimorphism and Virulence: Molecular Mechanisms for Temperature Adaptation, Immune Evasion, and In Vivo Survival. Mediators Inflamm 2017. [PMID: 28626345 PMCID: PMC5463121 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8491383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The thermally dimorphic fungi are a unique group of fungi within the Ascomycota phylum that respond to shifts in temperature by converting between hyphae (22–25°C) and yeast (37°C). This morphologic switch, known as the phase transition, defines the biology and lifestyle of these fungi. The conversion to yeast within healthy and immunocompromised mammalian hosts is essential for virulence. In the yeast phase, the thermally dimorphic fungi upregulate genes involved with subverting host immune defenses. This review highlights the molecular mechanisms governing the phase transition and recent advances in how the phase transition promotes infection.
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Camacho E, Niño-Vega GA. Paracoccidioides Spp.: Virulence Factors and Immune-Evasion Strategies. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:5313691. [PMID: 28553014 PMCID: PMC5434249 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5313691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides spp. are dimorphic fungal pathogens responsible for one of the most relevant systemic mycoses in Latin America, paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Their exact ecological niche remains unknown; however, they have been isolated from soil samples and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), which have been proposed as animal reservoir for these fungi. Human infection occurs by inhalation of conidia or mycelia fragments and is mostly associated with immunocompetent hosts inhabiting and/or working in endemic rural areas. In this review focusing on the pathogen perspective, we will discuss some of the microbial attributes and molecular mechanisms that enable Paracoccidioides spp. to tolerate, adapt, and ultimately avoid the host immune response, establishing infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Camacho
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunobiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gustavo A. Niño-Vega
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, GTO, Mexico
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Tamayo D, Muñoz JF, Almeida AJ, Puerta JD, Restrepo Á, Cuomo CA, McEwen JG, Hernández O. Paracoccidioides spp. catalases and their role in antioxidant defense against host defense responses. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 100:22-32. [PMID: 28093309 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Dimorphic human pathogenic fungi interact with host effector cells resisting their microbicidal mechanisms. Yeast cells are able of surviving within the tough environment of the phagolysosome by expressing an antioxidant defense system that provides protection against host-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS). This includes the production of catalases (CATs). Here we identified and analyzed the role of CAT isoforms in Paracoccidioides, the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis. Firstly, we found that one of these isoforms was absent in the closely related dimorphic pathogen Coccidioides and dermatophytes, but all of them were conserved in Paracoccidioides, Histoplasma and Blastomyces species. We probed the contribution of CATs in Paracoccidioides by determining the gene expression levels of each isoform through quantitative RT-qPCR, in both the yeast and mycelia phases, and during the morphological switch (transition and germination), as well as in response to oxidative agents and during interaction with neutrophils. PbCATP was preferentially expressed in the pathogenic yeast phase, and was associated to the response against exogenous H2O2. Therefore, we created and analyzed the virulence defects of a knockdown strain for this isoform, and found that CATP protects yeast cells from H2O2 generated in vitro and is relevant during lung infection. On the other hand, CATA and CATB seem to contribute to ROS homeostasis in Paracoccidioides cells, during endogenous oxidative stress. CAT isoforms in Paracoccidioides might be coordinately regulated during development and dimorphism, and differentially expressed in response to different stresses to control ROS homeostasis during the infectious process, contributing to the virulence of Paracoccidioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Tamayo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia; Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - 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, MA, USA
| | - Agostinho J Almeida
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia; Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia; Instituto Universitario da Maia, Maia, Portugal
| | - Juan D Puerta
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ángela Restrepo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Juan G McEwen
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia; School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Orville Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia; School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; MICROBA Research Group, School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
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Paolinelli-Alfonso M, Villalobos-Escobedo JM, Rolshausen P, Herrera-Estrella A, Galindo-Sánchez C, López-Hernández JF, Hernandez-Martinez R. Global transcriptional analysis suggests Lasiodiplodia theobromae pathogenicity factors involved in modulation of grapevine defensive response. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:615. [PMID: 27514986 PMCID: PMC4981995 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2952-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a fungus of the Botryosphaeriaceae that causes grapevine vascular disease, especially in regions with hot climates. Fungi in this group often remain latent within their host and become virulent under abiotic stress. Transcriptional regulation analysis of L. theobromae exposed to heat stress (HS) was first carried out in vitro in the presence of grapevine wood (GW) to identify potential pathogenicity genes that were later evaluated for in planta expression. RESULTS A total of 19,860 de novo assembled transcripts were obtained, forty-nine per cent of which showed homology to the Botryosphaeriaceae fungi, Neofusicoccum parvum or Macrophomina phaseolina. Three hundred ninety-nine have homology with genes involved in pathogenic processes and several belonged to expanded gene families in others fungal grapevine vascular pathogens. Gene expression analysis showed changes in fungal metabolism of phenolic compounds; where genes encoding for enzymes, with the ability to degrade salicylic acid (SA) and plant phenylpropanoid precursors, were up-regulated during in vitro HS response, in the presence of GW. These results suggest that the fungal L-tyrosine catabolism pathway could help the fungus to remove phenylpropanoid precursors thereby evading the host defense response. The in planta up-regulation of salicylate hydroxylase, intradiol ring cleavage dioxygenase and fumarylacetoacetase encoding genes, further supported this hypothesis. Those genes were even more up-regulated in HS-stressed plants, suggesting that fungus takes advantage of the increased phenylpropanoid precursors produced under stress. Pectate lyase was up-regulated while a putative amylase was down-regulated in planta, this could be associated with an intercellular growth strategy during the first stages of colonization. CONCLUSIONS L. theobromae transcriptome was established and validated. Its usefulness was demonstrated through the identification of genes expressed during the infection process. Our results support the hypothesis that heat stress facilitates fungal colonization, because of the fungus ability to use the phenylpropanoid precursors and SA, both compounds known to control host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Paolinelli-Alfonso
- Departamento de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, BC 22860 Mexico
| | - José Manuel Villalobos-Escobedo
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Irapuato, Gto 36821 Mexico
| | - Philippe Rolshausen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences,University of California Riverside, Riverside, 92521 CA USA
| | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Irapuato, Gto 36821 Mexico
| | - Clara Galindo-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biotecnología Marina, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, BC 22860 Mexico
| | - José Fabricio López-Hernández
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Irapuato, Gto 36821 Mexico
| | - Rufina Hernandez-Martinez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, BC 22860 Mexico
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Chaves AFA, Navarro MV, Castilho DG, Calado JCP, Conceição PM, Batista WL. A conserved dimorphism-regulating histidine kinase controls the dimorphic switching in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FEMS Yeast Res 2016; 16:fow047. [PMID: 27268997 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fow047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii, thermally dimorphic fungi, are the causative agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Paracoccidioides infection occurs when conidia or mycelium fragments are inhaled by the host, which causes the Paracoccidioides cells to transition to the yeast form. The development of disease requires conidia inside the host alveoli to differentiate into yeast cells in a temperature-dependent manner. We describe the presence of a two-component signal transduction system in P. brasiliensis, which we investigated by expression analysis of a hypothetical protein gene (PADG_07579) that showed high similarity with the dimorphism-regulating histidine kinase (DRK1) gene of Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum This gene was sensitive to environmental redox changes, which was demonstrated by a dose-dependent decrease in transcript levels after peroxide stimulation and a subtler decrease in transcript levels after NO stimulation. Furthermore, the higher PbDRK1 levels after treatment with increasing NaCl concentrations suggest that this histidine kinase can play a role as osmosensing. In the mycelium-yeast (M→Y) transition, PbDRK1 mRNA expression increased 14-fold after 24 h incubation at 37°C, consistent with similar observations in other virulent fungi. These results demonstrate that the PbDRK1 gene is differentially expressed during the dimorphic M→Y transition. Finally, when P. brasiliensis mycelium cells were exposed to a histidine kinase inhibitor and incubated at 37°C, there was a delay in the dimorphic M→Y transition, suggesting that histidine kinases could be targets of interest for PCM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison F A Chaves
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade José Alencar, Street São Nicolau, nº210, 4º floor, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Marina V Navarro
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade José Alencar, Street São Nicolau, nº210, 4º floor, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Daniele G Castilho
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade José Alencar, Street São Nicolau, nº210, 4º floor, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana C P Calado
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade José Alencar, Street São Nicolau, nº210, 4º floor, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Palloma M Conceição
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner L Batista
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade José Alencar, Street São Nicolau, nº210, 4º floor, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, São Paulo, Brazil
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Kirkland TN. A few shared up-regulated genes may influence conidia to yeast transformation in dimorphic fungal pathogens. Med Mycol 2016; 54:648-53. [PMID: 27118798 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myw019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The small number of fungi that commonly cause disease in normal people share the capacity to grow as mycelia in the soil at 25°C and as yeast (or spherules) in mammals at 37°C. This remarkable conversion has long been a topic of interest in medical mycology. The conidia to yeast conversion has been studied by transcription profiling in several fungal species, including Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Coccidioides spp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Talaromyces marneffei One limitation of transcriptional profiling is determining which genes are involved in the process of conversion to yeast as opposed to a result of conversion to yeast. If there are genes that are up-regulated in the yeast phase of more than one dimorphic, pathogenic fungus they might be required for conversion to yeast (or spherules). To address this issue, 24 up-regulated genes common to Coccidioides spp spherules and H. capsulatum yeasts were identified. Four homologs of these genes were also found in P. brasiliensis, B. dermatitidis or T. marneffei genes that were up-regulated in yeast. 4-hydroxyphenylpurvate dioxygenase, a gene involved in tyrosine metabolism and melanin synthesis that has been shown to be required for yeast conversion, is conserved and up-regulated in yeast in all five species. Another up-regulated gene that is conserved in all five species is a MFS sugar porter. These results suggest that a minority of up-regulated yeast (or spherule) genes are conserved across species and raises the possibility that conserved up-regulated genes may be of special interest for differentiation of mycelium into yeast.
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Weerasinghe H, Payne M, Beard S, Andrianopoulos A. Organism-wide studies into pathogenicity and morphogenesis in Talaromyces marneffei. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:511-26. [PMID: 27073980 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.16.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Organism-wide approaches examining the genetic mechanisms controlling growth and proliferation have proven to be a powerful tool in the study of pathogenic fungi. For many fungal pathogens techniques to study transcription and protein expression are particularly useful, and offer insights into infection processes by these species. Here we discuss the use of approaches such as differential display, suppression subtractive hybridization, microarray, RNA-seq, proteomics, genetic manipulation and infection models for the AIDS-defining pathogen Talaromyces marneffei. Together these methods have broadened our understanding of the biological processes, and genes that underlie them, which are involved in switching between the saprophytic and pathogenic states of T. marneffei, the maintenance of these two specialized cell types and its ability to cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshini Weerasinghe
- Genetics, Genomics & Development, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Michael Payne
- Genetics, Genomics & Development, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sally Beard
- Genetics, Genomics & Development, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Alex Andrianopoulos
- Genetics, Genomics & Development, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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29
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Identification and Analysis of the Role of Superoxide Dismutases Isoforms in the Pathogenesis of Paracoccidioides spp. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004481. [PMID: 26963091 PMCID: PMC4786090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of Paracoccidioides to defend itself against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by host effector cells is a prerequisite to survive. To counteract these radicals, Paracoccidioides expresses, among different antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutases (SODs). In this study, we identified six SODs isoforms encoded by the Paracoccidioides genome. We determined gene expression levels of representative isolates of the phylogenetic lineages of Paracoccidioides spp. (S1, PS2, PS3 and Pb01-like) using quantitative RT-PCR. Assays were carried out to analyze SOD gene expression of yeast cells, mycelia cells, the mycelia-to-yeast transition and the yeast-to-mycelia germination, as well as under treatment with oxidative agents and during interaction with phagocytic cells. We observed an increased expression of PbSOD1 and PbSOD3 during the transition process, exposure to oxidative agents and interaction with phagocytic cells, suggesting that these proteins could assist in combating the superoxide radicals generated during the host-pathogen interaction. Using PbSOD1 and PbSOD3 knockdown strains we showed these genes are involved in the response of the fungus against host effector cells, particularly the oxidative stress response, and in a mouse model of infection. Protein sequence analysis together with functional analysis of knockdown strains seem to suggest that PbSOD3 expression is linked with a pronounced extracellular activity while PbSOD1 seems more related to intracellular requirements of the fungus. Altogether, our data suggests that P. brasiliensis actively responds to the radicals generated endogenously during metabolism and counteracts the oxidative burst of immune cells by inducing the expression of SOD isoforms. Paracoccidioidomycosis is a health-threatening human systemic mycosis, endemic to some Latin America countries. The disease is caused by species belonging to the Paracoccidioides genus. Once inside the human host, Paracoccidioides must face the host innate immune system, escaping from the cytotoxic capacity of innate immune cells (ROS production and liberation of polypeptide antibiotics). To do so, they express and synthetize superoxide dismutases (SODs). We aimed to identify and characterize the SOD isoforms present in the Paracoccidioides genome. We identified six isoforms, among which we found an increased expression of PbSOD1 and PbSOD3 during the transition-to-yeast process, exposure to oxidative agents and interaction with phagocytic cells. Additionally, we found that PbSOD3 expression might be linked with a pronounced extracellular activity while PbSOD1 and the other isoforms seem more related to intracellular requirements of the fungus. We propose that the defence against endogenous-produced ROS may depend on intracellular Sods (mostly SOD1, but possibly also SOD2, SOD4 and SOD5), but defence against extracellular ROS (produced during host-pathogen interactions) might rely to a greater extent on SOD3, which is endowed with an extracellular activity.
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Thioridazine inhibits gene expression control of the cell wall signaling pathway (CWI) in the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides
brasiliensis. Mol Genet Genomics 2016; 291:1347-62. [DOI: 10.1007/s00438-016-1184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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31
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Marcos CM, da Silva JDF, de Oliveira HC, Assato PA, Singulani JDL, Lopez AM, Tamayo DP, Hernandez-Ruiz O, McEwen JG, Mendes-Giannini MJS, Fusco-Almeida AM. Decreased expression of 14-3-3 in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis confirms its involvement in fungal pathogenesis. Virulence 2015; 7:72-84. [PMID: 26646480 PMCID: PMC4994830 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1122166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between the fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and host cells is usually mediated by specific binding events between adhesins on the fungal surface and receptors on the host extracellular matrix or cell surface. One molecule implicated in the P. brasiliensis-host interaction is the 14-3-3 protein. The 14-3-3 protein belongs to a family of conserved regulatory molecules that are expressed in all eukaryotic cells and are involved in diverse cellular functions. Here, we investigated the relevance of the 14-3-3 protein to the virulence of P. brasiliensis. Using antisense RNA technology and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, we generated a 14-3-3-silenced strain (expression reduced by ˜55%). This strain allowed us to investigate the interaction between 14-3-3 and the host and to correlate the functions of P. brasiliensis 14-3-3 with cellular features, such as morphological characteristics and virulence, that are important for pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Maria Marcos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julhiany de Fátima da Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Akemi Assato
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Junya de Lacorte Singulani
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Angela Maria Lopez
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) - Medellín, Colombia
| | - Diana Patricia Tamayo
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) - Medellín, Colombia
| | - Orville Hernandez-Ruiz
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) - Medellín, Colombia
- Escuela de Microbiología; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan G McEwen
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) - Medellín, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín, Colombia
| | - Maria José Soares Mendes-Giannini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara; UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista; Departamento de Análises Clínicas; Laboratório de Micologia Clínica; Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
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de Oliveira HC, Assato PA, Marcos CM, Scorzoni L, de Paula E Silva ACA, Da Silva JDF, Singulani JDL, Alarcon KM, Fusco-Almeida AM, Mendes-Giannini MJS. Paracoccidioides-host Interaction: An Overview on Recent Advances in the Paracoccidioidomycosis. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1319. [PMID: 26635779 PMCID: PMC4658449 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii are etiologic agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an important endemic mycosis in Latin America. During its evolution, these fungi have developed characteristics and mechanisms that allow their growth in adverse conditions within their host through which they efficiently cause disease. This process is multi-factorial and involves host-pathogen interactions (adaptation, adhesion, and invasion), as well as fungal virulence and host immune response. In this review, we demonstrated the glycoproteins and polysaccharides network, which composes the cell wall of Paracoccidioides spp. These are important for the change of conidia or mycelial (26°C) to parasitic yeast (37°C). The morphological switch, a mechanism for the pathogen to adapt and thrive inside the host, is obligatory for the establishment of the infection and seems to be related to pathogenicity. For these fungi, one of the most important steps during the interaction with the host is the adhesion. Cell surface proteins called adhesins, responsible for the first contact with host cells, contribute to host colonization and invasion by mediating this process. These fungi also present the capacity to form biofilm and through which they may evade the host's immune system. During infection, Paracoccidioides spp. can interact with different host cell types and has the ability to modulate the host's adaptive and/or innate immune response. In addition, it participates and interferes in the coagulation system and phenomena like cytoskeletal rearrangement and apoptosis. In recent years, Paracoccidioides spp. have had their endemic areas expanding in correlation with the expansion of agriculture. In response, several studies were developed to understand the infection using in vitro and in vivo systems, including alternative non-mammal models. Moreover, new advances were made in treating these infections using both well-established and new antifungal agents. These included natural and/or derivate synthetic substances as well as vaccines, peptides, and anti-adhesins sera. Because of all the advances in the PCM study, this review has the objective to summarize all of the recent discoveries on Paracoccidioides-host interaction, with particular emphasis on fungi surface proteins (molecules that play a fundamental role in the adhesion and/or dissemination of the fungi to host-cells), as well as advances in the treatment of PCM with new and well-established antifungal agents and approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haroldo C de Oliveira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia A Assato
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline M Marcos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana C A de Paula E Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julhiany De Fátima Da Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Junya de Lacorte Singulani
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kaila M Alarcon
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana M Fusco-Almeida
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria J S Mendes-Giannini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araraquara, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Laboratório de Micologia Clínica São Paulo, Brazil
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Muñoz JF, Gauthier GM, Desjardins CA, Gallo JE, Holder J, Sullivan TD, Marty AJ, Carmen JC, Chen Z, Ding L, Gujja S, Magrini V, Misas E, Mitreva M, Priest M, Saif S, Whiston EA, Young S, Zeng Q, Goldman WE, Mardis ER, Taylor JW, McEwen JG, Clay OK, Klein BS, Cuomo CA. The Dynamic Genome and Transcriptome of the Human Fungal Pathogen Blastomyces and Close Relative Emmonsia. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005493. [PMID: 26439490 PMCID: PMC4595289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Three closely related thermally dimorphic pathogens are causal agents of major fungal diseases affecting humans in the Americas: blastomycosis, histoplasmosis and paracoccidioidomycosis. Here we report the genome sequence and analysis of four strains of the etiological agent of blastomycosis, Blastomyces, and two species of the related genus Emmonsia, typically pathogens of small mammals. Compared to related species, Blastomyces genomes are highly expanded, with long, often sharply demarcated tracts of low GC-content sequence. These GC-poor isochore-like regions are enriched for gypsy elements, are variable in total size between isolates, and are least expanded in the avirulent B. dermatitidis strain ER-3 as compared with the virulent B. gilchristii strain SLH14081. The lack of similar regions in related species suggests these isochore-like regions originated recently in the ancestor of the Blastomyces lineage. While gene content is highly conserved between Blastomyces and related fungi, we identified changes in copy number of genes potentially involved in host interaction, including proteases and characterized antigens. In addition, we studied gene expression changes of B. dermatitidis during the interaction of the infectious yeast form with macrophages and in a mouse model. Both experiments highlight a strong antioxidant defense response in Blastomyces, and upregulation of dioxygenases in vivo suggests that dioxide produced by antioxidants may be further utilized for amino acid metabolism. We identify a number of functional categories upregulated exclusively in vivo, such as secreted proteins, zinc acquisition proteins, and cysteine and tryptophan metabolism, which may include critical virulence factors missed before in in vitro studies. Across the dimorphic fungi, loss of certain zinc acquisition genes and differences in amino acid metabolism suggest unique adaptations of Blastomyces to its host environment. These results reveal the dynamics of genome evolution and of factors contributing to virulence in Blastomyces. Dimorphic fungal pathogens including Blastomyces are the cause of major fungal diseases in North and South America. The genus Emmonsia includes species infecting small mammals as well as a newly emerging pathogenic species recently reported in HIV-positive patients in South Africa. Here, we synthesize both genome sequencing of four isolates of Blastomyces and two species of Emmonsia as well as deep sequencing of Blastomyces RNA to draw major new insights into the evolution of this group and the pathogen response to infection. We investigate the trajectory of genome evolution of this group, characterizing the phylogenetic relationships of these species, a remarkable genome expansion that formed large isochore-like regions of low GC content in Blastomyces, and variation of gene content, related to host interaction, among the dimorphic fungal pathogens. Using RNA-Seq, we profile the response of Blastomyces to macrophage and mouse pulmonary infection, identifying key pathways and novel virulence factors. The identification of key fungal genes involved in adaptation to the host suggests targets for further study and therapeutic intervention in Blastomyces and related dimorphic fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F. Muñoz
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gregory M. Gauthier
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | | | - Juan E. Gallo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jason Holder
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas D. Sullivan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Amber J. Marty
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - John C. Carmen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Zehua Chen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Li Ding
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Sharvari Gujja
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vincent Magrini
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Misas
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Margaret Priest
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sakina Saif
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emily A. Whiston
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah Young
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Qiandong Zeng
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - William E. Goldman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Elaine R. Mardis
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - John W. Taylor
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Juan G. McEwen
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - 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
| | - Bruce S. Klein
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Boyce KJ, Andrianopoulos A. Fungal dimorphism: the switch from hyphae to yeast is a specialized morphogenetic adaptation allowing colonization of a host. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 39:797-811. [DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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Satpathy R, Konkimalla VB, Ratha J. In-silico gene co-expression network analysis in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis with reference to haloacid dehalogenase superfamily hydrolase gene. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2015; 7:212-7. [PMID: 26229356 PMCID: PMC4517324 DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.160023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a dimorphic fungus is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a disease globally affecting millions of people. The haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily hydrolases enzyme in the fungi, in particular, is known to be responsible in the pathogenesis by adhering to the tissue. Hence, identification of novel drug targets is essential. AIMS In-silico based identification of co-expressed genes along with HAD superfamily hydrolase in P. brasiliensis during the morphogenesis from mycelium to yeast to identify possible genes as drug targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, four datasets were retrieved from the NCBI-gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, each containing 4340 genes, followed by gene filtration expression of the data set. Further co-expression (CE) study was performed individually and then a combination these genes were visualized in the Cytoscape 2. 8.3. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Mean and standard deviation value of the HAD superfamily hydrolase gene was obtained from the expression data and this value was subsequently used for the CE calculation purpose by selecting specific correlation power and filtering threshold. RESULTS The 23 genes that were thus obtained are common with respect to the HAD superfamily hydrolase gene. A significant network was selected from the Cytoscape network visualization that contains total 7 genes out of which 5 genes, which do not have significant protein hits, obtained from gene annotation of the expressed sequence tags by BLAST X. For all the protein PSI-BLAST was performed against human genome to find the homology. CONCLUSIONS The gene co-expression network was obtained with respect to HAD superfamily dehalogenase gene in P. Brasiliensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghunath Satpathy
- School of Life Science, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, India
| | - V B Konkimalla
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jagnyeswar Ratha
- School of Life Science, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, India
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Tavares AH, Fernandes L, Bocca AL, Silva-Pereira I, Felipe MS. Transcriptomic reprogramming of genus Paracoccidioides in dimorphism and host niches. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 81:98-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Shah DD, Moran GR. 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase and Hydroxymandelate Synthase: 2-Oxo Acid-Dependent Oxygenases of Importance to Agriculture and Medicine. 2-OXOGLUTARATE-DEPENDENT OXYGENASES 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/9781782621959-00438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite a separate evolutionary lineage, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) and hydroxymandelate synthase (HMS) are appropriately grouped with the 2-oxo acid-dependent oxygenase (2OADO) family of enzymes. HPPD and HMS accomplish highly similar overall chemistry to that observed in the majority of 2OADOs but require only two substrates rather than three. 2OADOs typically use the 2-oxo acid of 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) as a source of electrons to reduce and activate dioxygen in order to oxidize a third specific substrate. HPPD and HMS use instead the pyruvate substituent of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to activate dioxygen and then proceed to also hydroxylate this substrate, each yielding a distinctly different aromatic product. HPPD catalyses the second and committed step of tyrosine catabolism, a pathway common to nearly all aerobes. Plants require the HPPD reaction to biosynthesize plastoquinones and therefore HPPD inhibitors can have potent herbicidal activity. The ubiquity of the HPPD reaction, however, has meant that HPPD-specific molecules developed as herbicides have other uses in different forms of life. In humans herbicidal HPPD inhibitors can be used therapeutically to alleviate specific inborn defects and also to retard the progress of certain bacterial and fungal infections. This review is intended as a concise overview of the contextual and catalytic chemistries of HPPD and HMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhara D. Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3210 N. Cramer St Milwaukee WI 53211-3209 USA
| | - Graham R. Moran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3210 N. Cramer St Milwaukee WI 53211-3209 USA
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Boyce KJ, McLauchlan A, Schreider L, Andrianopoulos A. Intracellular growth is dependent on tyrosine catabolism in the dimorphic fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004790. [PMID: 25812137 PMCID: PMC4374905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During infection, pathogens must utilise the available nutrient sources in order to grow while simultaneously evading or tolerating the host’s defence systems. Amino acids are an important nutritional source for pathogenic fungi and can be assimilated from host proteins to provide both carbon and nitrogen. The hpdA gene of the dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei, which encodes an enzyme which catalyses the second step of tyrosine catabolism, was identified as up-regulated in pathogenic yeast cells. As well as enabling the fungus to acquire carbon and nitrogen, tyrosine is also a precursor in the formation of two types of protective melanin; DOPA melanin and pyomelanin. Chemical inhibition of HpdA in P. marneffei inhibits ex vivo yeast cell production suggesting that tyrosine is a key nutrient source during infectious growth. The genes required for tyrosine catabolism, including hpdA, are located in a gene cluster and the expression of these genes is induced in the presence of tyrosine. A gene (hmgR) encoding a Zn(II)2-Cys6 binuclear cluster transcription factor is present within the cluster and is required for tyrosine induced expression and repression in the presence of a preferred nitrogen source. AreA, the GATA-type transcription factor which regulates the global response to limiting nitrogen conditions negatively regulates expression of cluster genes in the absence of tyrosine and is required for nitrogen metabolite repression. Deletion of the tyrosine catabolic genes in the cluster affects growth on tyrosine as either a nitrogen or carbon source and affects pyomelanin, but not DOPA melanin, production. In contrast to other genes of the tyrosine catabolic cluster, deletion of hpdA results in no growth within macrophages. This suggests that the ability to catabolise tyrosine is not required for macrophage infection and that HpdA has an additional novel role to that of tyrosine catabolism and pyomelanin production during growth in host cells. Fungi that infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems. Many fungal infections are extremely difficult to cure and if left untreated are fatal. For successful infection to occur, the fungal pathogen must be able to grow by acquiring and utilising the available nutrient sources within the host whilst evading or tolerating the host’s defence systems. Expression profiling in several pathogenic fungal species has revealed that genes required for tyrosine catabolism are induced specifically in the pathogenic cell type at 37°C. As well as enabling the fungus to acquire carbon and nitrogen intermediates from proteins within the host, tyrosine is also an important precursor in the formation of two different types of melanin, which protects cells against the host’s defence systems. This study shows that the ability to catabolise tyrosine and produce tyrosine derived melanin is not required for the initial stages of fungal infection. However, a novel role for hpdA, which encodes the enzyme which catalyses the second step of tyrosine catabolism, was identified during growth in host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie J. Boyce
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Alisha McLauchlan
- South Australian Clinical Genetics Service, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Lena Schreider
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Muñoz JF, Gallo JE, Misas E, Priest M, Imamovic A, Young S, Zeng Q, Clay OK, McEwen JG, Cuomo CA. Genome update of the dimorphic human pathogenic fungi causing paracoccidioidomycosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3348. [PMID: 25474325 PMCID: PMC4256289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidiodomycosis (PCM) is a clinically important fungal disease that can acquire serious systemic forms and is caused by the thermodimorphic fungal Paracoccidioides spp. PCM is a tropical disease that is endemic in Latin America, where up to ten million people are infected; 80% of reported cases occur in Brazil, followed by Colombia and Venezuela. To enable genomic studies and to better characterize the pathogenesis of this dimorphic fungus, two reference strains of P. brasiliensis (Pb03, Pb18) and one strain of P. lutzii (Pb01) were sequenced [1]. While the initial draft assemblies were accurate in large scale structure and had high overall base quality, the sequences had frequent small scale defects such as poor quality stretches, unknown bases (N's), and artifactual deletions or nucleotide duplications, all of which caused larger scale errors in predicted gene structures. Since assembly consensus errors can now be addressed using next generation sequencing (NGS) in combination with recent methods allowing systematic assembly improvement, we re-sequenced the three reference strains of Paracoccidioides spp. using Illumina technology. We utilized the high sequencing depth to re-evaluate and improve the original assemblies generated from Sanger sequence reads, and obtained more complete and accurate reference assemblies. The new assemblies led to improved transcript predictions for the vast majority of genes of these reference strains, and often substantially corrected gene structures. These include several genes that are central to virulence or expressed during the pathogenic yeast stage in Paracoccidioides and other fungi, such as HSP90, RYP1-3, BAD1, catalase B, alpha-1,3-glucan synthase and the beta glucan synthase target gene FKS1. The improvement and validation of these reference sequences will now allow more accurate genome-based analyses. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reports of a fully automated and quality-assessed upgrade of a genome assembly and annotation for a non-model fungus. The fungal genus Paracoccidioides is the causal agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a neglected tropical disease that is endemic in several countries of South America. Paracoccidioides is a pathogenic dimorphic fungus that is capable of converting to a virulent yeast form after inhalation by the host. Therefore the molecular biology of the switch to the yeast phase is of particular interest for understanding the virulence of this and other human pathogenic fungi, and ultimately for reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by such fungal infections. We here present the strategy and methods we used to update and improve accuracy of three reference genome sequences of Paracoccidioides spp. utilizing state-of-the-art Illumina re-sequencing, assembly improvement, re-annotation, and quality assessment. The resulting improved genome resource should be of wide use not solely for advancing research on the genetics and molecular biology of Paracoccidioides and the closely related pathogenic species Histoplasma and Blastomyces, but also for fungal diagnostics based on sequencing or molecular assays, characterizing rapidly changing proteins that may be involved in virulence, SNP-based population analyses and other tasks that require high sequence accuracy. The genome update and underlying strategy and methods also serve as a proof of principle that could encourage similar improvements of other draft genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F. Muñoz
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan E. Gallo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elizabeth Misas
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
- Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Margaret Priest
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alma Imamovic
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah Young
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Qiandong Zeng
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - 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
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Sil A, Andrianopoulos A. Thermally Dimorphic Human Fungal Pathogens--Polyphyletic Pathogens with a Convergent Pathogenicity Trait. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2014; 5:a019794. [PMID: 25384771 PMCID: PMC4526722 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a019794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are adept at changing their cell shape and developmental program in response to signals in their surroundings. Here we focus on a group of evolutionarily related fungal pathogens of humans known as the thermally dimorphic fungi. These organisms grow in a hyphal form in the environment but shift their morphology drastically within a mammalian host. Temperature is one of the main host signals that initiates their conversion to the "host" form and is sufficient in the laboratory to trigger establishment of this host-adapted developmental program. Here we discuss the major human pathogens in this group, which are Blastomyces dermatiditis, Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis/lutzii, Sporothrix schenckii, and Talaromyces marneffei (formerly known as Penicillium marneffei). The majority of these organisms are primary pathogens, with the ability to cause disease in healthy humans who encounter them in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Sil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Alex Andrianopoulos
- Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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New developments of RNAi in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: prospects for high-throughput, genome-wide, functional genomics. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3173. [PMID: 25275433 PMCID: PMC4183473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Fungal Genome Initiative of the Broad Institute, in partnership with the Paracoccidioides research community, has recently sequenced the genome of representative isolates of this human-pathogen dimorphic fungus: Pb18 (S1), Pb03 (PS2) and Pb01. The accomplishment of future high-throughput, genome-wide, functional genomics will rely upon appropriate molecular tools and straightforward techniques to streamline the generation of stable loss-of-function phenotypes. In the past decades, RNAi has emerged as the most robust genetic technique to modulate or to suppress gene expression in diverse eukaryotes, including fungi. These molecular tools and techniques, adapted for RNAi, were up until now unavailable for P. brasiliensis. Methodology/Principal Findings In this paper, we report Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of yeast cells for high-throughput applications with which higher transformation frequencies of 150±24 yeast cell transformants per 1×106 viable yeast cells were obtained. Our approach is based on a bifunctional selective marker fusion protein consisted of the Streptoalloteichus hindustanus bleomycin-resistance gene (Shble) and the intrinsically fluorescent monomeric protein mCherry which was codon-optimized for heterologous expression in P. brasiliensis. We also report successful GP43 gene knock-down through the expression of intron-containing hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) from a Gateway-adapted cassette (cALf) which was purpose-built for gene silencing in a high-throughput manner. Gp43 transcript levels were reduced by 73.1±22.9% with this approach. Conclusions/Significance We have a firm conviction that the genetic transformation technique and the molecular tools herein described will have a relevant contribution in future Paracoccidioides spp. functional genomics research. Diverse eukaryotes, including various fungi, utilize RNA interference (RNAi) pathways to regulate genome-wide gene expression. Since the initial characterization of these pathways and the demonstration of its artificial induction in the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa, RNAi has emerged as the most robust reverse-genetic technique to scrutinize the function of genes and has been increasingly adopted in high-throughput functional genomics in search of new insights into fungal pathobiology. Herein, we have developed appropriate molecular tools and straightforward techniques to streamline the generation of stable loss-of-function phenotypes for the human-pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, which is phylogenetically related to Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum. Likewise these thermo-dimorphic fungi, P. brasiliensis infection in immunocompetent or immunocompromised individuals ensue in a life-threatening systemic mycosis known as Paracoccidioidomycosis.
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Meijueiro ML, Santoyo F, Ramirez L, Pisabarro AG. Transcriptome characteristics of filamentous fungi deduced using high-throughput analytical technologies. Brief Funct Genomics 2014; 13:440-50. [DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elu033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Castilho DG, Chaves AFA, Xander P, Zelanis A, Kitano ES, Serrano SMT, Tashima AK, Batista WL. Exploring Potential Virulence Regulators in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Isolates of Varying Virulence through Quantitative Proteomics. J Proteome Res 2014; 13:4259-71. [DOI: 10.1021/pr5002274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele G. Castilho
- Departamento
de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207, São Paulo, 04044-010 SP, Brazil
| | - Alison F. A. Chaves
- Departamento
de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207, São Paulo, 04044-010 SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia Xander
- Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, 09913-030 SP, Brazil
| | - André Zelanis
- Instituto
de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus São José dos Campos, Rua Talim, 330, São José dos Campos, 12231-280 SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo S. Kitano
- Laboratório
Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada − CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Solange M. T. Serrano
- Laboratório
Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada − CeTICS, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre K. Tashima
- Departamento
de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua 3 de maio, 100 - Vila Clementino, São
Paulo, 04023-062 SP, Brazil
| | - Wagner L. Batista
- Departamento
de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207, São Paulo, 04044-010 SP, Brazil
- Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, 09913-030 SP, Brazil
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Longo LV, da Cunha JP, Sobreira TJ, Puccia R. Proteome of cell wall-extracts from pathogenic Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: Comparison among morphological phases, isolates, and reported fungal extracellular vesicle proteins. EUPA OPEN PROTEOMICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.euprot.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Whiston E, Taylor JW. Genomics in Coccidioides: insights into evolution, ecology, and pathogenesis. Med Mycol 2013; 52:149-55. [PMID: 24576996 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myt001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii, the causative agents of the mammalian disease coccidioidomycosis, are dimorphic fungal pathogens distributed throughout desert-like environments in North and South America. Coccidioides spp. are members of the Onygenales, a diverse group of pathogenic and nonpathogenic fungi. Recently, full genomes have been published for Coccidioides and a number of other Onygenales species. Phylogenomic comparisons and additional studies in Coccidioides population genomics and gene expression have shed light on the ecology and pathogenesis of Coccidioides and the other medically important species in this clade. Observed patterns of gene family expansion/contraction and evidence of gene flow have provided insight to the evolution of Coccidioides and greatly broadened our understanding of the diversity and sources of genetic variation found in fungi. In the future, expansion of the number of sequenced isolates from all populations will allow deeper insight into the evolutionary processes that have shaped this unique human pathogen. In addition, deep sequencing of isolates from a single Coccidioides population and pairing of those data with phenotype information on growth and pathogenicity for genome-wide association analysis will allow researchers to find genes responsible for any phenotype, virulence included, that shows variation in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Whiston
- University of California-Berkeley, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Berkeley, California, USA
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Oliveira MVD, Oliveira ACDF, Shida CS, Oliveira RCD, Nunes LR. Gene expression modulation by paraquat-induced oxidative stress conditions in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Fungal Genet Biol 2013; 60:101-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Menino JF, Saraiva M, Gomes-Rezende J, Sturme M, Pedrosa J, Castro AG, Ludovico P, Goldman GH, Rodrigues F. P. brasiliensis virulence is affected by SconC, the negative regulator of inorganic sulfur assimilation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74725. [PMID: 24066151 PMCID: PMC3774720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Conidia/mycelium-to-yeast transition of Paracoccidioidesbrasiliensis is a critical step for the establishment of paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. Thus, knowledge of the factors that mediate this transition is of major importance for the design of intervention strategies. So far, the only known pre-requisites for the accomplishment of the morphological transition are the temperature shift to 37°C and the availability of organic sulfur compounds. In this study, we investigated the auxotrophic nature to organic sulfur of the yeast phase of Paracoccidioides, with special attention to P. brasiliensis species. For this, we addressed the role of SconCp, the negative regulator of the inorganic sulfur assimilation pathway, in the dimorphism and virulence of this pathogen. We show that down-regulation of SCONC allows initial steps of mycelium-to-yeast transition in the absence of organic sulfur compounds, contrarily to the wild-type fungus that cannot undergo mycelium-to-yeast transition under such conditions. However, SCONC down-regulated transformants were unable to sustain yeast growth using inorganic sulfur compounds only. Moreover, pulses with inorganic sulfur in SCONC down-regulated transformants triggered an increase of the inorganic sulfur metabolism, which culminated in a drastic reduction of the ATP and NADPH cellular levels and in higher oxidative stress. Importantly, the down-regulation of SCONC resulted in a decreased virulence of P. brasiliensis, as validated in an in vivo model of infection. Overall, our findings shed light on the inability of P. brasiliensis yeast to rely on inorganic sulfur compounds, correlating its metabolism with cellular energy and redox imbalances. Furthermore, the data herein presented reveal SconCp as a novel virulence determinant of P. brasiliensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Menino
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Margarida Saraiva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Gomes-Rezende
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Mark Sturme
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pedrosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António Gil Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Paula Ludovico
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol, CTBE, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Gene expression in human fungal pathogen Coccidioides immitis changes as arthroconidia differentiate into spherules and mature. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:121. [PMID: 23714098 PMCID: PMC3693894 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coccidioides immitis is a dimorphic fungus that causes disease in mammals, including human beings. It grows as a mycelium containing arthroconidia in the soil and in the host arthroconidia differentiates into a unique structure called a spherule. We used a custom open reading frame oligonucleotide microarray to compare the transcriptome of C. immitis mycelia with early (day 2) and late stage (day 8) spherules grown in vitro. All hybridizations were done in quadruplicate and stringent criteria were used to identify significantly differentially expressed genes. RESULTS 22% of C. immitis genes were differentially expressed in either day 2 or day 8 spherules compared to mycelia, and about 12% of genes were differentially expressed comparing the two spherule time points. Oxireductases, including an extracellular superoxide dismutase, were upregulated in spherules and they may be important for defense against oxidative stress. Many signal transduction molecules, including pleckstrin domain proteins, protein kinases and transcription factors were downregulated in day 2 spherules. Several genes involved in sulfur metabolism were downregulated in day 8 spherules compared to day 2 spherules. Transcription of amylase and α (1,3) glucan synthase was upregulated in spherules; these genes have been found to be important for differentiation to yeast in Histoplasma. There were two homologs of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD); transcription of one was up- and the other downregulated. We tested the effect of a 4-HPPD inhibitor, nitisinone, on mycelial and spherule growth and found that it inhibited mycelial but not spherule growth. CONCLUSIONS Transcription of many genes was differentially expressed in the process of arthroconidia to spherule conversion and spherule maturation, as would be expected given the magnitude of the morphologic change. The transcription profile of early stage (day 2) spherules was different than late stage (day 8) endosporulating spherules. In addition, very few genes that are important for spore to yeast conversion in other dimorphic fungi are differentially expressed in C. immitis mycelia and spherules suggesting that dimorphic fungi may have evolved different mechanisms to differentiate from mycelia to tissue invasive forms.
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Biosynthesis and functions of a melanoid pigment produced by species of the sporothrix complex in the presence of L-tyrosine. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:8623-30. [PMID: 23042177 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02414-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of sporotrichosis, the main subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Melanin is an important virulence factor of S. schenckii, which produces dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN-melanin) in conidia and yeast cells. Additionally, l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) can be used to enhance melanin production on these structures as well as on hyphae. Some fungi are able to synthesize another type of melanoid pigment, called pyomelanin, as a result of tyrosine catabolism. Since there is no information about tyrosine catabolism in Sporothrix spp., we cultured 73 strains, including representatives of newly described Sporothrix species of medical interest, such as S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii, and S. globosa, in minimal medium with tyrosine. All strains but one were able to produce a melanoid pigment with a negative charge in this culture medium after 9 days of incubation. An S. schenckii DHN-melanin mutant strain also produced pigment in the presence of tyrosine. Further analysis showed that pigment production occurs in both the filamentous and yeast phases, and pigment accumulates in supernatants during stationary-phase growth. Notably, sulcotrione inhibits pigment production. Melanin ghosts of wild-type and DHN mutant strains obtained when the fungus was cultured with tyrosine were similar to melanin ghosts yielded in the absence of the precursor, indicating that this melanin does not polymerize on the fungal cell wall. However, pyomelanin-producing fungal cells were more resistant to nitrogen-derived oxidants and to UV light. In conclusion, at least three species of the Sporothrix complex are able to produce pyomelanin in the presence of tyrosine, and this pigment might be involved in virulence.
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Reis TF, Basso LR, Oliveira RR, Coelho PSR. Septin localization in the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Yeast 2012; 28:843-54. [PMID: 22140009 DOI: 10.1002/yea.1911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Septins are evolutionarily conserved proteins that contain a GTPase domain and are capable of forming filaments at the cell periphery. Septins are involved in many essential cellular processes, such as cytokinesis and cell polarization, and are used as markers of morphogenesis in several fungi. Dimorphism in fungi enables cells to switch between morphologies (yeast or filament forms), due to changes in the temperature of the environment. We analysed the localization of septin proteins in yeast and filamentous cells of the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a common cause of granulomatous mycosis. In order to determine septin localization, we first cloned Cdc12p, a septin homolog from P. brasiliensis, and expressed it in Escherichia coli. Following PbCdc12p purification, specific serum against PbCdc12p were raised for use in immunofluorescence assays. We observed the hourglass and ring forms of septin filaments during cell division in yeast. Septin filaments were also simultaneously localized in the necks of multiple budding cells. A distinctive pattern of punctuate and/or diffuse localization was also seen in the periphery of multinucleate yeast cells and at the tips and septa of filamentous cells. A more diffuse and punctuate pattern of localization observed in P. brasiliensis cells seems to be unique to filamentous and dimorphic fungi and may be related to their specialization in cell wall deposition, morphogenesis and cell cycle control.
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Affiliation(s)
- T F Reis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, USP, Brazil
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