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Wang Z, Shao J. Fungal vaccines and adjuvants: a tool to reveal the interaction between host and fungi. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:293. [PMID: 38850421 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Fungal infections are incurring high risks in a range from superficial mucosal discomforts (such as oropharyngeal candidiasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis) to disseminated life-threatening diseases (such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitis) and becoming a global health problem in especially immunodeficient population. The major obstacle to conquer fungal harassment lies in the presence of increasing resistance to conventional antifungal agents used in newly clinically isolated strains. Although recombinant cytokines and mono-/poly-clonal antibodies are added into antifungal armamentarium, more effective antimycotic drugs are exceedingly demanded. It is comforting that the development of fungal vaccines and adjuvants opens up a window to brighten the prospective way in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal assaults. In this review, we focus on the progression of several major fungal vaccines devised for the control of Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Cryptococcus spp., Coccidioides spp., Paracoccidioides spp., Blastomyces spp., Histoplasma spp., Pneumocystis spp. as well as the adjuvants adopted. We then expound the interaction between fungal vaccines/adjuvants and host innate (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils), humoral (IgG, IgM and IgA) and cellular (Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tc17) immune responses which generally experience immune recognition of pattern recognition receptors, activation of immune cells, and clearance of invaded fungi. Furthermore, we anticipate an in-depth understanding of immunomodulatory properties of univalent and multivalent vaccines against diverse opportunistic fungi, providing helpful information in the design of novel fungal vaccines and adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixu Wang
- Laboratory of Anti-Infection and Immunity, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Shao
- Laboratory of Anti-Infection and Immunity, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Mendoza Barker M, Saeger S, Campuzano A, Yu JJ, Hung CY. Galleria mellonella Model of Coccidioidomycosis for Drug Susceptibility Tests and Virulence Factor Identification. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:131. [PMID: 38392803 PMCID: PMC10890491 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020131] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis (CM) can manifest as respiratory and disseminated diseases that are caused by dimorphic fungal pathogens, such as Coccidioides species. The inhaled arthroconidia generated during the saprobic growth phase convert into multinucleated spherules in the lungs to complete the parasitic lifecycle. Research on coccidioidal virulence and pathogenesis primarily employs murine models typically associated with low lethal doses (LD100 < 100 spores). However, the Galleria model has recently garnered attention due to its immune system bearing both structural and functional similarities to the innate system of mammals. Our findings indicate that Coccidioides posadasii can convert and complete the parasitic cycle within the hemocoel of the Galleria larva. In Galleria, the LD100 is between 0.5 and 1.0 × 106 viable spores for the clinical isolate Coccidioides posadasii C735. Furthermore, we demonstrated the suitability of this model for in vivo antifungal susceptibility tests to validate the bioreactivity of newly discovered antifungals against Coccidioides. Additionally, we utilized this larva model to screen a Coccidioides posadasii mutant library showing attenuated virulence. Similarly, the identified attenuated coccidioidal mutants displayed a loss of virulence in a commonly used murine model of coccidioidomycosis. In this study, we demonstrated that Galleria larvae can be applied as a model for studying Coccidioides infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Mendoza Barker
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Sarah Saeger
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Althea Campuzano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Jieh-Juen Yu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Chiung-Yu Hung
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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3
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Ferguson AJ, Thompson GR, Bruyette D, Sykes JE. The dog as a sentinel and animal model for coccidioidomycosis. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myad139. [PMID: 38148116 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease of humans and animals that follows inhalation of Coccidioides spp. arthroconidia in the environment. The disease in dogs resembles that in people, and because dogs may be at increased risk of exposure due to their proximity to the ground and digging behavior, they are valuable models for the disease in humans. Dogs have been sentinels for identification of new regions of endemicity in Washington and Texas. Canine serosurveillance has also been used to predict variables associated with environmental presence of Coccidioides spp. Expansion of the endemic region of coccidioidomycosis with climate change-along with predicted population increases and increased development in the southwest United States-may result in 45.4 million additional people at risk of infection by 2090. Here we provide an overview of the value of dogs as sentinels for the disease and encourage the routine reporting of coccidioidomycosis cases in dogs to public health agencies. We also highlight the value of dogs as naturally occurring models for studying novel treatment options and preventatives, such as a novel live avirulent coccidioidomycosis vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Ferguson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - George R Thompson
- Department of Internal Medicine - Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California-Davis, Davis, USA
| | | | - Jane E Sykes
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, USA
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Campuzano A, Pentakota KD, Liao YR, Zhang H, Wiederhold NP, Ostroff GR, Hung CY. A Recombinant Multivalent Vaccine (rCpa1) Induces Protection for C57BL/6 and HLA Transgenic Mice against Pulmonary Infection with Both Species of Coccidioides. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:67. [PMID: 38250880 PMCID: PMC10819930 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12010067] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is caused by Coccidioides posadasii (Cp) and Coccidioides immitis (Ci), which have a 4-5% difference in their genomic sequences. There is an urgent need to develop a human vaccine against both species. A previously created recombinant antigen (rCpa1) that contains multiple peptides derived from Cp isolate C735 is protective against the autologous isolate. The focus of this study is to evaluate cross-protective efficacy and immune correlates by the rCpa1-based vaccine against both species of Coccidioides. DNA sequence analyses of the homologous genes for the rCpa1 antigen were conducted for 39 and 17 clinical isolates of Cp and Ci, respectively. Protective efficacy and vaccine-induced immunity were evaluated for both C57BL/6 and human HLA-DR4 transgenic mice against five highly virulent isolates of Cp and Ci. There are total of seven amino acid substitutions in the rCpa1 antigen between Cp and Ci. Both C57BL/6 and HLA-DR4 mice that were vaccinated with an rCpa1 vaccine had a significant reduction of fungal burden and increased numbers of IFN-γ- and IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells in the first 2 weeks post challenge. These data suggest that rCpa1 has cross-protection activity against Cp and Ci pulmonary infection through activation of early Th1 and Th17 responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Althea Campuzano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; (A.C.); (H.Z.)
| | - Komali Devi Pentakota
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; (A.C.); (H.Z.)
| | - Yu-Rou Liao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; (A.C.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; (A.C.); (H.Z.)
| | - Nathan P. Wiederhold
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Gary R. Ostroff
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA;
| | - Chiung-Yu Hung
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; (A.C.); (H.Z.)
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Inácio MM, Moreira ALE, Cruz-Leite VRM, Mattos K, Silva LOS, Venturini J, Ruiz OH, Ribeiro-Dias F, Weber SS, Soares CMDA, Borges CL. Fungal Vaccine Development: State of the Art and Perspectives Using Immunoinformatics. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:633. [PMID: 37367569 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections represent a serious global health problem, causing damage to health and the economy on the scale of millions. Although vaccines are the most effective therapeutic approach used to combat infectious agents, at the moment, no fungal vaccine has been approved for use in humans. However, the scientific community has been working hard to overcome this challenge. In this sense, we aim to describe here an update on the development of fungal vaccines and the progress of methodological and experimental immunotherapies against fungal infections. In addition, advances in immunoinformatic tools are described as an important aid by which to overcome the difficulty of achieving success in fungal vaccine development. In silico approaches are great options for the most important and difficult questions regarding the attainment of an efficient fungal vaccine. Here, we suggest how bioinformatic tools could contribute, considering the main challenges, to an effective fungal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Morais Inácio
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
- Estácio de Goiás University Center, Goiânia 74063-010, Brazil
| | - André Luís Elias Moreira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | - Karine Mattos
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Lana O'Hara Souza Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | - James Venturini
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Orville Hernandez Ruiz
- MICROBA Research Group-Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit-CIB, School of Microbiology, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Fátima Ribeiro-Dias
- Laboratório de Imunidade Natural (LIN), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74001-970, Brazil
| | - Simone Schneider Weber
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
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Advocating for Coccidioidomycosis to Be a Reportable Disease Nationwide in the United States and Encouraging Disease Surveillance across North and South America. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9010083. [PMID: 36675904 PMCID: PMC9863933 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) has been a known health threat in the United States (US) since the 1930s, though not all states are currently required to report disease cases. Texas, one of the non-reporting states, is an example of where both historical and contemporary scientific evidence define the region as endemic, but we don't know disease incidence in the state. Mandating coccidioidomycosis as a reportable disease across more US states would increase disease awareness, improve clinical outcomes, and help antifungal drug and vaccine development. It would also increase our understanding of where the disease is endemic and the relationships between environmental conditions and disease cases. This is true for other nations in North and South America that are also likely endemic for coccidioidomycosis, especially Mexico. This commentary advocates for US state and territory epidemiologists to define coccidioidomycosis as a reportable disease and encourages disease surveillance in other endemic regions across North and South America in order to protect human health and reduce disease burden.
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Chechi JL, da Costa FAC, Figueiredo JM, de Souza CM, Valdez AF, Zamith-Miranda D, Camara AC, Taborda CP, Nosanchuk JD. Vaccine development for pathogenic fungi: current status and future directions. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023; 22:1136-1153. [PMID: 37936254 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2279570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections are caused by a broad range of pathogenic fungi that are found worldwide with different geographic distributions, incidences, and mortality rates. Considering that there are relatively few approved medications available for combating fungal diseases and no vaccine formulation commercially available, multiple groups are searching for new antifungal drugs, examining drugs for repurposing and developing antifungal vaccines, in order to control deaths, sequels, and the spread of these complex infections. AREAS COVERED This review provides a summary of advances in fungal vaccine studies and the different approaches under development, such as subunit vaccines, whole organism vaccines, and DNA vaccines, as well as studies that optimize the use of adjuvants. We conducted a literature search of the PubMed with terms: fungal vaccines and genus of fungal pathogens (Cryptococcus spp. Candida spp. Coccidioides spp. Aspergillus spp. Sporothrix spp. Histoplasma spp. Paracoccidioides spp. Pneumocystis spp. and the Mucorales order), a total of 177 articles were collected from database. EXPERT OPINION Problems regarding the immune response development in an immunocompromised organism, the similarity between fungal and mammalian cells, and the lack of attention by health organizations to fungal infections are closely related to the fact that, at present, there are no fungal vaccines available for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica L Chechi
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe A C da Costa
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Julia M Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Cássia M de Souza
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Biologia Molecular de Fungos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo, Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alessandro F Valdez
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Aline C Camara
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos P Taborda
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are emerging diseases that kill over 1.5 million people per year worldwide. With the increase of immunocompromised populations, the incidence of invasive fungal infections is expected to continue to rise. Vaccines for viral and bacterial infectious diseases have had a transformative impact on human health worldwide. However, no fungal vaccines are currently in clinical use. Recently, interest in fungal vaccines has grown significantly. One Candida vaccine has completed phase 2 clinical trials, and research on vaccines against coccidioidomycosis continues to advance. Additionally, multiple groups have discovered various Cryptococcus mutant strains that promote protective responses to subsequent challenge in mouse models. There has also been progress in antibody-mediated fungal vaccines. In this review, we highlight recent fungal vaccine research progress, outline the wealth of data generated, and summarize current research for both fungal biology and immunology studies relevant to fungal vaccine development. We also review technological advancements in vaccine development and highlight the future prospects of a human vaccine against invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amariliz Rivera
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
| | - Jennifer Lodge
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Current affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA;
| | - Chaoyang Xue
- Public Health Research Institute and Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA;
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Coccidioides Species: A Review of Basic Research: 2022. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080859. [PMID: 36012847 PMCID: PMC9409882 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioides immitis and posadasii are closely related fungal species that cause coccidioidomycosis. These dimorphic organisms cause disease in immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals and as much as 40% of the population is infected in the endemic area. Although most infections resolve spontaneously, the infection can be prolonged and, in some instances, fatal. Coccidioides has been studied for more than 100 years and many aspects of the organism and the disease it causes have been investigated. There are over 500 manuscripts concerning Coccidioides (excluding clinical articles) referenced in PubMed over the past 50 years, so there is a large body of evidence to review. We reviewed the most accurate and informative basic research studies of these fungi including some seminal older studies as well as an extensive review of current research. This is an attempt to gather the most important basic research studies about this fungus into one publication. To focus this review, we will discuss the mycology of the organism exclusively rather than the studies of the host response or clinical studies. We hope that this review will be a useful resource to those interested in Coccidioides and coccidioidomycosis.
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Vaccines to Prevent Coccidioidomycosis: A Gene-Deletion Mutant of Coccidioides Posadasii as a Viable Candidate for Human Trials. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080838. [PMID: 36012826 PMCID: PMC9410110 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection that is reported in up to 20,000 persons per year and has an economic impact close to $1.5 billion. Natural infection virtually always confers protection from future exposure, and this suggests that a preventative vaccine strategy is likely to succeed. We here review progress toward that objective. There has been ongoing research to discover a coccidioidal vaccine over the past seven decades, including one phase III clinical trial, but for reasons of either efficacy or feasibility, a safe and effective vaccine has not yet been developed. This review first summarizes the past research to develop a coccidioidal vaccine. It then details the evidence that supports a live, gene-deletion vaccine candidate as suitable for further development as both a veterinary and a human clinical product. Finally, a plausible vaccine development plan is described which would be applicable to this vaccine candidate and also useful to other future candidates. The public health and economic impact of coccidioidomycosis fully justifies a public private partnership for vaccine development, and the development of a vaccine for this orphan disease will likely require some degree of public funding.
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de Melo Teixeira M, Stajich JE, Sahl JW, Thompson GR, Brem RB, Dubin CA, Blackmon AV, Mead HL, Keim P, Barker BM. A chromosomal-level reference genome of the widely utilized Coccidioides posadasii laboratory strain "Silveira". G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac031. [PMID: 35137016 PMCID: PMC8982387 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a common fungal disease that is endemic to arid and semi-arid regions of both American continents. Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii are the etiological agents of the disease, also known as Valley Fever. For several decades, the C. posadasii strain Silveira has been used widely in vaccine studies, is the source strain for production of diagnostic antigens, and is a widely used experimental strain for functional studies. In 2009, the genome was sequenced using Sanger sequencing technology, and a draft assembly and annotation were made available. In this study, the genome of the Silveira strain was sequenced using single molecule real-time sequencing PacBio technology, assembled into chromosomal-level contigs, genotyped, and the genome was reannotated using sophisticated and curated in silico tools. This high-quality genome sequencing effort has improved our understanding of chromosomal structure, gene set annotation, and lays the groundwork for identification of structural variants (e.g. transversions, translocations, and copy number variants), assessment of gene gain and loss, and comparison of transposable elements in future phylogenetic and population genomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus de Melo Teixeira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jason W Sahl
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - George R Thompson
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rachel B Brem
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Claire A Dubin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Austin V Blackmon
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Heather L Mead
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Bridget M Barker
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Mandel MA, Beyhan S, Voorhies M, Shubitz LF, Galgiani JN, Orbach MJ, Sil A. The WOPR family protein Ryp1 is a key regulator of gene expression, development, and virulence in the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Coccidioides posadasii. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009832. [PMID: 35385558 PMCID: PMC9015156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioides spp. are mammalian fungal pathogens endemic to the Southwestern US and other desert regions of Mexico, Central and South America, with the bulk of US infections occurring in California and Arizona. In the soil, Coccidioides grows in a hyphal form that differentiates into 3-5 micron asexual spores (arthroconidia). When arthroconidia are inhaled by mammals they undergo a unique developmental transition from polar hyphal growth to isotropic expansion with multiple rounds of nuclear division, prior to segmentation, forming large spherules filled with endospores. Very little is understood about the molecular basis of spherule formation. Here we characterize the role of the conserved transcription factor Ryp1 in Coccidioides development. We show that Coccidioides Δryp1 mutants have altered colony morphology under hypha-promoting conditions and are unable to form mature spherules under spherule-promoting conditions. We analyze the transcriptional profile of wild-type and Δryp1 mutant cells under hypha- and spherule-promoting conditions, thereby defining a set of hypha- or spherule-enriched transcripts ("morphology-regulated" genes) that are dependent on Ryp1 for their expression. Forty percent of morphology-regulated expression is Ryp1-dependent, indicating that Ryp1 plays a dual role in both hyphal and spherule development. Ryp1-dependent transcripts include key virulence factors such as SOWgp, which encodes the spherule outer wall glycoprotein. Concordant with its role in spherule development, we find that the Δryp1 mutant is completely avirulent in the mouse model of coccidioidomycosis, indicating that Ryp1-dependent pathways are essential for the ability of Coccidioides to cause disease. Vaccination of C57BL/6 mice with live Δryp1 spores does not provide any protection from lethal C. posadasii intranasal infection, consistent with our findings that the Δryp1 mutant fails to make mature spherules and likely does not express key antigens required for effective vaccination. Taken together, this work identifies the first transcription factor that drives mature spherulation and virulence in Coccidioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Alejandra Mandel
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sinem Beyhan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Voorhies
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lisa F. Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - John N. Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Marc J. Orbach
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MJO); (AS)
| | - Anita Sil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MJO); (AS)
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13
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Powell DA, Shubitz LF, Butkiewicz CD, Trinh HT, Donovan FM, Frelinger JA, Galgiani JN. TNFα Blockade Inhibits Both Initial and Continued Control of Pulmonary Coccidioides. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:796114. [PMID: 35174101 PMCID: PMC8841766 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.796114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pluripotent cytokine that is important in many infections, though its role in Coccidioides infection remains poorly understood. The need to understand TNFα in Coccidioides infection has increased recently with the widespread use of TNFα inhibitors for a wide variety of autoimmune conditions. Here, we couple the newly developed Coccidioides infection model using strain Cp1038 and C57BL/6 × DBA/2J F1 (B6D2F1) mice. B6D2F1 mice develop long-lasting control of Cp1038. Treatment of B6D2F1 mice with anti-TNFα antibodies permits significant fungal proliferation and death. Additionally, we show that antibody treatment limited to the first 2 weeks of infection was sufficient to induce this same loss of fungal control. Importantly, anti-TNFα antibody treatment initiated after fungal control leads to a loss of host control. These results highlight the importance of TNFα in both the initial control of murine Coccidioides and ongoing suppression of the fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Powell
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- *Correspondence: Daniel A. Powell,
| | - Lisa F. Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | | | - Hien T. Trinh
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Fariba M. Donovan
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jeffrey A. Frelinger
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - John N. Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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14
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Powell DA, Hsu AP, Butkiewicz CD, Trinh HT, Frelinger JA, Holland SM, Galgiani JN, Shubitz LF. Vaccine Protection of Mice With Primary Immunodeficiencies Against Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:790488. [PMID: 35071044 PMCID: PMC8777018 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.790488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DCM), often a severe and refractory disease leading to poor outcomes, is a risk for people with certain primary immunodeficiencies (PID). Several DCM-associated PID (STAT4, STAT3, IFNγ, and Dectin-1) are modeled in mice. To determine if vaccination could provide these mice protection, mice with mutations in Stat4, Stat3, Ifngr1, Clec7a (Dectin-1), and Rag-1 (T- and B-cell deficient) knockout (KO) mice were vaccinated with the live, avirulent, Δcps1 vaccine strain and subsequently challenged intranasally with pathogenic Coccidioides posadasii Silveira strain. Two weeks post-infection, vaccinated mice of all strains except Rag-1 KO had significantly reduced lung and spleen fungal burdens (p<0.05) compared to unvaccinated control mice. Splenic dissemination was prevented in most vaccinated immunodeficient mice while all unvaccinated B6 mice and the Rag-1 KO mice displayed disseminated disease. The mitigation of DCM by Δcps1 vaccination in these mice suggests that it could also benefit humans with immunogenetic risks of severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Powell
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Amy P. Hsu
- Laboratory of Clinical and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Hien T. Trinh
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jeffrey A. Frelinger
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Steven M. Holland
- Laboratory of Clinical and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John N. Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa F. Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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15
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Δcps1 vaccine protects dogs against experimentally induced coccidioidomycosis. Vaccine 2021; 39:6894-6901. [PMID: 34696935 PMCID: PMC9186468 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a significant health problem of dogs and humans in endemic regions, especially California and Arizona in the U.S. Both species would greatly benefit from a vaccine to prevent this disease. A live avirulent vaccine candidate, Δcps1, was tested for tolerability and efficacy to prevent pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a canine challenge model. Vaccine injection-site reactions were transient and there were no systemic effects observed. Six of seven vaccine sites tested and all draining lymph nodes were sterile post-vaccination. Following infection with Coccidioides posadasii, strain Silveira, arthroconidia into the lungs, dogs given primary and booster vaccinations had significantly reduced lung fungal burdens (P = 0.0003) and composite disease scores (P = 0.0002) compared to unvaccinated dogs. Dogs vaccinated once had fungal burdens intermediate between those given two doses or none, but disease scores were not significantly different from unvaccinated (P = 0.675). Δcps1 was well-tolerated in the dogs and it afforded a high level of protection when given as prime and boost. These results drive the Δcps1 vaccine toward a licensed veterinary vaccine and support continued development of this vaccine to prevent coccidioidomycosis in humans.
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16
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Demonstration of N, N-Dimethyldithiocarbamate as a Copper-Dependent Antibiotic against Multiple Upper Respiratory Tract Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0077821. [PMID: 34468162 PMCID: PMC8557878 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00778-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition metals are necessary cofactors and structural elements in living systems. Exposure to high concentrations of biologically important transition metals, such as zinc and copper, results in cell toxicity. At the infection site, the immune system deploys metal sorbent proteins (e.g., lactoferrin and calprotectin) to starve pathogens of necessary metals (such as iron), while phagocytes expose engulfed pathogens to high levels of other metals, such as copper and zinc. The opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) encounters macrophages during initial and protracted infections. The pneumococcus employs a copper export pathway, which improves colonization and persistent infection of the nasopharynx and the upper respiratory tract. Because copper is tightly regulated in the host, we instead sought to leverage the localized power of nutritional immunity by identifying small molecules with copper-dependent toxicity (CDT) through a targeted screen of compounds for antibiotic efficacy. We chose to include dithiocarbamates, based on the copper synergy observed in other organisms with 1-(diethylthiocarbamoyldisulfanyl)-N,N-diethyl-methanethioamide (tetraethylthiuram disulfide, disulfiram). We observed CDT of some dithiocarbamates in S. pneumoniae. Only N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDC) was consistently toxic across a range of concentrations with copper both in vitro and in vivo against the pneumococcus. We also observed various degrees of CDT in vitro using DMDC in Staphylococcus aureus, Coccidioides posadasii, and Schistosoma mansoni. Collectively, we demonstrate that the compound DMDC is a potent bactericidal compound against S. pneumoniae with antimicrobial efficacy against bacterial and fungal pathogens. IMPORTANCE With the rise of antibiotic resistance, approaches that add new antimicrobials to the current repertoire are vital. Here, we investigate putative and known copper ionophores in an attempt to intoxicate bacteria and use ionophore/copper synergy, and we ultimately find success with N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDC). We show that DMDC has in vitro efficacy in a copper-dependent manner and kills pathogens across three different kingdoms, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Coccidioides posadasii, and Schistosoma mansoni, and in vivo efficacy against S. pneumoniae. As such, dithiocarbamates represent a new potential class of antimicrobials and thus warrant further mechanistic investigation.
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17
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Patil GS, Kinatukara P, Mondal S, Shambhavi S, Patel KD, Pramanik S, Dubey N, Narasimhan S, Madduri MK, Pal B, Gokhale RS, Sankaranarayanan R. A universal pocket in fatty acyl-AMP ligases ensures redirection of fatty acid pool away from coenzyme A-based activation. eLife 2021; 10:70067. [PMID: 34490847 PMCID: PMC8460268 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acyl-AMP ligases (FAALs) channelize fatty acids towards biosynthesis of virulent lipids in mycobacteria and other pharmaceutically or ecologically important polyketides and lipopeptides in other microbes. They do so by bypassing the ubiquitous coenzyme A-dependent activation and rely on the acyl carrier protein-tethered 4′-phosphopantetheine (holo-ACP). The molecular basis of how FAALs strictly reject chemically identical and abundant acceptors like coenzyme A (CoA) and accept holo-ACP unlike other members of the ANL superfamily remains elusive. We show that FAALs have plugged the promiscuous canonical CoA-binding pockets and utilize highly selective alternative binding sites. These alternative pockets can distinguish adenosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate-containing CoA from holo-ACP and thus FAALs can distinguish between CoA and holo-ACP. These exclusive features helped identify the omnipresence of FAAL-like proteins and their emergence in plants, fungi, and animals with unconventional domain organizations. The universal distribution of FAALs suggests that they are parallelly evolved with FACLs for ensuring a CoA-independent activation and redirection of fatty acids towards lipidic metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajanan S Patil
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | | | - Sudipta Mondal
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sakshi Shambhavi
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Ketan D Patel
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Surabhi Pramanik
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Noopur Dubey
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | | | - Biswajit Pal
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Rajan Sankaranarayanan
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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18
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Gorris ME, Caballero Van Dyke MC, Carey A, Hamm PS, Mead HL, Uehling JK. A Review of Coccidioides Research, Outstanding Questions in the Field, and Contributions by Women Scientists. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 8:114-128. [PMID: 34367880 PMCID: PMC8327307 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-021-00173-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease that gained clinical significance in the early 20th century. Many of the foundational contributions to coccidioidomycosis research, including the discovery of the fungal disease agent, Coccidioides spp., were made by women. We review recent progress in Coccidioides research and big questions remaining in the field, while highlighting some of the contributions from women. Recent Findings New molecular-based techniques provide a promising method for detecting Coccidioides, which can help determine the dominate reservoir host and ideal environmental conditions for growth. Genetic and genomic analyses have allowed an understanding of population structure, species level diversity, and evolutionary histories. We present a current, comprehensive genome list, where women contributed many of these entries. Several efforts to develop a coccidioidomycosis vaccine are underway. Summary Women continue to pioneer research on Coccidioides, including the relationships between the fungi and the environment, genetics, and clinical observations. Significant questions remain in the field of Coccidioides, including the main host reservoir, the relationships between genotypic and phenotypic variation, and the underlying cause for chronic clinical coccidioidomycosis cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Gorris
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Information Systems and Modeling & Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | | | - Adrienne Carey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Paris S Hamm
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - Heather L Mead
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ USA
| | - Jessie K Uehling
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA
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19
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Ward RA, Thompson GR, Villani AC, Li B, Mansour MK, Wuethrich M, Tam JM, Klein BS, Vyas JM. The Known Unknowns of the Immune Response to Coccidioides. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7050377. [PMID: 34065016 PMCID: PMC8151481 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis, otherwise known as Valley Fever, is caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii. While most clinical cases present with self-limiting pulmonary infection, dissemination of Coccidioides spp. results in prolonged treatment and portends higher mortality rates. While the structure, genome, and niches for Coccidioides have provided some insight into the pathogenesis of disease, the underlying immunological mechanisms of clearance or inability to contain the infection in the lung are poorly understood. This review focuses on the known innate and adaptive immune responses to Coccidioides and highlights three important areas of uncertainty and potential approaches to address them. Closing these gaps in knowledge may enable new preventative and therapeutic strategies to be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Ward
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (R.A.W.); (M.K.M.)
| | - George R. Thompson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 96817, USA;
| | - Alexandra-Chloé Villani
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (A.-C.V.); (B.L.)
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Bo Li
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (A.-C.V.); (B.L.)
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Michael K. Mansour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (R.A.W.); (M.K.M.)
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Marcel Wuethrich
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.W.); (B.S.K.)
| | - Jenny M. Tam
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bruce S. Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.W.); (B.S.K.)
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jatin M. Vyas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (R.A.W.); (M.K.M.)
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-617-643-6444
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20
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Mead HL, Hamm PS, Shaffer IN, Teixeira MDM, Wendel CS, Wiederhold NP, Thompson GR, Muñiz-Salazar R, Castañón-Olivares LR, Keim P, Plude C, Terriquez J, Galgiani JN, Orbach MJ, Barker BM. Differential Thermotolerance Adaptation between Species of Coccidioides. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E366. [PMID: 33327629 PMCID: PMC7765126 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever, is caused by two species of dimorphic fungi. Based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, the genus Coccidioides contains two reciprocally monophyletic species: C. immitis and C. posadasii. However, phenotypic variation between species has not been deeply investigated. We therefore explored differences in growth rate under various conditions. A collection of 39 C. posadasii and 46 C. immitis isolates, representing the full geographical range of the two species, was screened for mycelial growth rate at 37 °C and 28 °C on solid media. The radial growth rate was measured for 16 days on yeast extract agar. A linear mixed effect model was used to compare the growth rate of C. posadasii and C. immitis at 37 °C and 28 °C, respectively. C. posadasii grew significantly faster at 37 °C, when compared to C. immitis; whereas both species had similar growth rates at 28 °C. These results indicate thermotolerance differs between these two species. As the ecological niche has not been well-described for Coccidioides spp., and disease variability between species has not been shown, the evolutionary pressure underlying the adaptation is unclear. However, this research reveals the first significant phenotypic difference between the two species that directly applies to ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L. Mead
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; (H.L.M.); (P.K.)
| | - Paris S. Hamm
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
| | - Isaac N. Shaffer
- School of Informatics, Computers, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA;
| | | | | | - Nathan P. Wiederhold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 77030, USA;
| | - George R. Thompson
- Departments of Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Raquel Muñiz-Salazar
- Laboratorio de Epidemiología y Ecología Molecular, Escuela Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Unidad Valle Dorado, Ensenada 22890, Mexico;
| | - Laura Rosio Castañón-Olivares
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Paul Keim
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; (H.L.M.); (P.K.)
| | - Carmel Plude
- Northern Arizona Healthcare, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA; (C.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Joel Terriquez
- Northern Arizona Healthcare, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA; (C.P.); (J.T.)
| | - John N. Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (J.N.G.); (M.J.O.)
| | - Marc J. Orbach
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (J.N.G.); (M.J.O.)
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Bridget M. Barker
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; (H.L.M.); (P.K.)
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (J.N.G.); (M.J.O.)
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21
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Ampel NM. Coccidioidomycosis: Changing Concepts and Knowledge Gaps. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040354. [PMID: 33321746 PMCID: PMC7770576 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although first described more than 120 years ago, much remains unknown about coccidioidomycosis. In this review, new information that has led to changing concepts will be reviewed and remaining gaps in our knowledge will be discussed. In particular, new ideas regarding ecology and epidemiology, problems and promises of diagnosis, controversies over management, and the possibility of a vaccine will be covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil M Ampel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medicine and Immunobiology University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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22
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Diep AL, Hoyer KK. Host Response to Coccidioides Infection: Fungal Immunity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:581101. [PMID: 33262956 PMCID: PMC7686801 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.581101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal, respiratory disease caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. This emerging infectious disease ranges from asymptomatic to pulmonary disease and disseminated infection. Most infections are cleared with little to no medical intervention whereas chronic disease often requires life-long medication with severe impairment in quality of life. It is unclear what differentiates hosts immunity resulting in disease resolution versus chronic infection. Current understanding in mycology-immunology suggests that chronic infection could be due to maladaptive immune responses. Immunosuppressed patients develop more severe disease and mouse studies show adaptive Th1 and Th17 responses are required for clearance. This is supported by heightened immunosuppressive regulatory responses and lowered anti-fungal T helper responses in chronic Coccidioides patients. Diagnosis and prognosis is difficult as symptoms are broad and overlapping with community acquired pneumonia, often resulting in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Furthermore, we lack clear biomarkers of disease severity which could aid prognosis for more effective healthcare. As the endemic region grows and population increases in endemic areas, the need to understand Coccidioides infection is becoming urgent. There is a growing effort to identify fungal virulence factors and host immune components that influence fungal immunity and relate these to patient disease outcome and treatment. This review compiles the known immune responses to Coccidioides spp. infection and various related fungal pathogens to provide speculation on Coccidioides immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh L. Diep
- Quantitative and Systems Biology, Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
| | - Katrina K. Hoyer
- Quantitative and Systems Biology, Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Fierer
- Medical and Research Services, VA Healthcare San Diego , CA , USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA
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24
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Campuzano A, Zhang H, Ostroff GR, Dos Santos Dias L, Wüthrich M, Klein BS, Yu JJ, Lara HH, Lopez-Ribot JL, Hung CY. CARD9-Associated Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 Are Required for Protective Immunity of a Multivalent Vaccine against Coccidioides posadasii Infection. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2020; 204:3296-3306. [PMID: 32358020 PMCID: PMC7323849 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioides species are fungal pathogens that can cause a widely varied clinical manifestation from mild pulmonary symptom to disseminated, life-threatening disease. We have previously created a subunit vaccine by encapsulating a recombinant coccidioidal Ag (rCpa1) in glucan-chitin particles (GCPs) as an adjuvant-delivery system. The GCP-rCpa1 vaccine has shown to elicit a mixed Th1 and Th17 response and confers protection against pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in mice. In this study, we further delineated the vaccine-induced protective mechanisms. Depletion of IL-17A in vaccinated C57BL/6 mice prior to challenge abrogated the protective efficacy of GCP-rCpa1 vaccine. Global transcriptome and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages after exposure to this vaccine revealed the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) that are associated with activation of C-type lectin receptors (CLR) Dectin-1- and Dectin-2-mediated CARD9 signaling pathway. The GCP formulation of rCpa1 bound soluble Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 and triggered ITAM signaling of corresponding CLR reporter cells. Furthermore, macrophages that were isolated from Dectin-1 -/-, Dectin-2 -/-, and CARD9 -/- mice significantly reduced production of inflammatory cytokines in response to the GCP-rCpa1 vaccine compared with those of wild-type mice. The GCP-rCpa1 vaccine had significantly reduced protective efficacy in Dectin-1 -/-, Dectin-2 -/-, and CARD9 -/- mice that showed decreased acquisition of Th cells in Coccidioides-infected lungs compared with vaccinated wild-type mice, especially Th17 cells. Collectively, we conclude that the GCP-rCpa1 vaccine stimulates a robust Th17 immunity against Coccidioides infection through activation of the CARD9-associated Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 signal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Althea Campuzano
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Hao Zhang
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Gary R Ostroff
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605; and
| | - Lucas Dos Santos Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792
| | - Marcel Wüthrich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792
| | - Jieh-Juen Yu
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Humberto H Lara
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Jose L Lopez-Ribot
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Chiung-Yu Hung
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249;
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25
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Kollath DR, Miller KJ, Barker BM. The mysterious desert dwellers: Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, causative fungal agents of coccidioidomycosis. Virulence 2019; 10:222-233. [PMID: 30898028 PMCID: PMC6527015 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1589363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Coccidioides consists of two species: C. immitis and C. posadasii. Prior to 2000, all disease was thought to be caused by a single species, C. immitis. The organism grows in arid to semiarid alkaline soils throughout western North America and into Central and South America. Regions in the United States, with highest prevalence of disease, include California, Arizona, and Texas. The Mexican states of Baja California, Coahuila, Sonora, and Neuvo Leon currently have the highest skin test positive results. Central America contains isolated endemic areas in Guatemala and Honduras. South America has isolated regions of high endemicity including areas of Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Although approximately 15,000 cases per year are reported in the United States, actual disease burden is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, as only California and Arizona have dedicated public health outreach, and report and track disease reliably. In this review, we survey genomics, epidemiology, ecology, and summarize aspects of disease, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Kollath
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Karis J. Miller
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Bridget M. Barker
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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26
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Abstract
Since its description nearly 130 years ago, hundreds of studies have deepened our understanding of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever (VF), and provided useful diagnostic tests and treatments for the disease caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides spp. In general, most of the literature has addressed well-established infections and has described patients who have experienced major complications. In contrast, little attention has been given to the earliest consequences of the pathogen-host interaction and its implications for disease manifestation, progression, and resolution. The purpose of this review is to highlight published studies on early coccidioidomycosis, identify gaps in our knowledge, and suggest new or former research areas that might be or remain fertile ground for insight into the early stages of this invasive fungal disease.
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27
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Van Dyke MCC, Thompson GR, Galgiani JN, Barker BM. The Rise of Coccidioides: Forces Against the Dust Devil Unleashed. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2188. [PMID: 31572393 PMCID: PMC6749157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) is a fungal disease caused by the inhalation of Coccidioides posadasii or C. immitis. This neglected disease occurs in the desert areas of the western United States, most notably in California and Arizona, where infections continue to rise. Clinically, coccidioidomycosis ranges from asymptomatic to severe pulmonary disease and can disseminate to the brain, skin, bones, and elsewhere. New estimates suggest as many as 350,000 new cases of coccidioidomycosis occur in the United States each year. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of a vaccine and new therapeutic drugs against Coccidioides infection. In this review, we discuss the battle against Coccidioides including the development of potential vaccines, the quest for new therapeutic drugs, and our current understanding of the protective host immune response to Coccidioides infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George R Thompson
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - John N Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Bridget M Barker
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
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28
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Lindeman LR, Jones KM, High RA, Howison CM, Shubitz LF, Pagel MD. Differentiating lung cancer and infection based on measurements of extracellular pH with acidoCEST MRI. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13002. [PMID: 31506562 PMCID: PMC6736855 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49514-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer diagnosis via imaging may be confounded by the presence of indolent infectious nodules in imaging studies. This issue is pervasive in the southwestern US where coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is endemic. AcidoCEST MRI is a noninvasive imaging method that quantifies the extracellular pH (pHe) of tissues in vivo, allowing tumor acidosis to be used as a diagnostic biomarker. Using murine models of lung adenocarcinoma and coccidoidomycosis, we found that average lesion pHe differed significantly between tumors and granulomas. Our study shows that acidoCEST MRI is a promising tool for improving the specificity of lung cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila R Lindeman
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kyle M Jones
- Bioengineering Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rachel A High
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Lisa F Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mark D Pagel
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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29
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Van Dyke MCC, Teixeira MM, Barker BM. Fantastic yeasts and where to find them: the hidden diversity of dimorphic fungal pathogens. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 52:55-63. [PMID: 31181385 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dimorphic fungal pathogens are a significant cause of human disease worldwide. Notably, the dimorphic fungal pathogens within the order Onygenales are considered primary pathogens, causing disease in healthy hosts. Current changes in taxonomy are underway due to advances in molecular phylogenetics, population genetics, and new emerging dimorphic fungal pathogens causing human disease. In this review, we highlight evolutionary relationships of dimorphic fungal pathogens that cause human disease within the order Onygenales and provide rationale to support increased investment in studies understanding the evolutionary relationships of these pathogens to improve rapid diagnostics, help identify mechanisms of antifungal resistance, understand adaptation to human host, and factors associated with virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcus M Teixeira
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States; Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Bridget M Barker
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States.
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30
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Jasbi P, Mitchell NM, Shi X, Grys TE, Wei Y, Liu L, Lake DF, Gu H. Coccidioidomycosis Detection Using Targeted Plasma and Urine Metabolic Profiling. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:2791-2802. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paniz Jasbi
- Arizona Metabolomics Laboratory, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Natalie M. Mitchell
- School of Life Sciences, Mayo Clinic Collaborative Research Building, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Xiaojian Shi
- Arizona Metabolomics Laboratory, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Thomas E. Grys
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona 85054, United States
| | - Yiping Wei
- Arizona Metabolomics Laboratory, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85259, United States
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Douglas F. Lake
- School of Life Sciences, Mayo Clinic Collaborative Research Building, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
| | - Haiwei Gu
- Arizona Metabolomics Laboratory, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
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31
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Glucan-Chitin Particles Enhance Th17 Response and Improve Protective Efficacy of a Multivalent Antigen (rCpa1) against Pulmonary Coccidioides posadasii Infection. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00070-18. [PMID: 30104216 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00070-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing an effective and safe recombinant vaccine requires microbe-specific antigens combined with an adjuvant/delivery system to strengthen protective immunity. In this study, we designed and expressed a multivalent recombinant Coccidioides polypeptide antigen (rCpa1) that consists of three previously identified antigens (i.e., Ag2/Pra, Cs-Ag, and Pmp1) and five pathogen-derived peptides with high affinity for human major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules. The purified rCpa1 was encapsulated into four types of yeast cell wall particles containing β-glucan, mannan, and chitin in various proportions or was mixed with an oligonucleotide (ODN) containing two methylated dinucleotide CpG motifs. This multivalent antigen encapsulated into glucan-chitin particles (GCP-rCpa1) showed significantly greater reduction of fungal burden for human HLA-DR4 transgenic mice than the other adjuvant-rCpa1 formulations tested. Among the adjuvants tested, both GCPs and β-glucan particles (GPs) were capable of stimulating a mixed Th1 and Th17 response. Mice vaccinated with GCP-rCpa1 showed higher levels of interleukin 17 (IL-17) production in T-cell recall assays and earlier lung infiltration by activated Th1 and Th17 cells than GP-rCpa1-vaccinated mice. Both C57BL/6 and HLA-DR4 transgenic mice that were vaccinated with the GCP-rCpa1 vaccine showed higher survival rates than mice that received GCPs alone. Concurrently, the GCP-rCpa1 vaccine stimulated greater infiltration of the injection sites by macrophages, which engulf and process the vaccine for antigen presentation, than the GP-rCpa1 vaccine. This is the first attempt to systematically characterize the presentation of a multivalent coccidioidomycosis vaccine encapsulated with selected adjuvants that enhance the protective cellular immune response to infection.
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32
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McDermott AJ, Klein BS. Helper T-cell responses and pulmonary fungal infections. Immunology 2018; 155:155-163. [PMID: 29781185 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mucosal surface of the respiratory tract encounters microbes, such as fungal particles, with every inhaled breath. When pathogenic fungi breach the physical barrier and innate immune system within the lung to establish an infection, adaptive immunity is engaged, often in the form of helper CD4 T-cell responses. Type 1 responses, characterized by interferon-γ production from CD4 cells, promote clearance of Histoplasma capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Likewise, interleukin-17A (IL-17A) production from Th17 cells promotes immunity to Blastomyces dermatitidis and Coccidioides species infection by recruiting neutrophils. In contrast the development of T helper type 2 responses, characterized by IL-5 production from T cells and eosinophil influx into the lungs, drives allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and poor outcomes during C. neoformans infection. Experimental vaccines against several endemic mycoses, including Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus and Blastomyces dermatitidis, induce protective T-cell responses and foreshadow the development of vaccines against pulmonary fungal infections for use in humans. Additionally, recent work using antifungal T cells as immunotherapy to protect immune-compromised patients from opportunist fungal infections also shows great promise. This review covers the role of T-cell responses in driving protection and pathology in response to pulmonary fungal infections, and highlights promising therapeutic applications of antifungal T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J McDermott
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.,Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.,Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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33
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Shubitz LF, Powell DA, Trinh HT, Lewis ML, Orbach MJ, Frelinger JA, Galgiani JN. Viable spores of Coccidioides posadasii Δcps1 are required for vaccination and provide long lasting immunity. Vaccine 2018; 36:3375-3380. [PMID: 29724507 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection for which a vaccine has been sought for over fifty years. The avirulent Coccidioides posadasii strain, Δcps1, which is missing a 6 kb gene, showed significant protection in mice. These studies explore conditions of protection in mice and elucidate the immune response. Mice were vaccinated with different doses and viability states of Δcps1 spores, challenged with virulent C. posadasii, and sacrificed at various endpoints, dependent on experimental objectives. Tissues from vaccinated mice were harvested for in vitro elucidation of immune response. Vaccination with viable Δcps1 spores was required for protection from lethal challenge. Viable spore vaccination produced durable immunity, lasting at least 6 months, and prolonged survival (≥6 months). The C. posadasii vaccine strain also protected mice against C. immitis (survival ≥ 6 months). Cytokines from infected lungs of vaccinated mice in the first four days after Cp challenge showed significant increases of IFN-γ, as did stimulated CD4+ spleen cells from vaccinated mice. Transfer of CD4+ cells, but not CD8+ or B cells, reduced fungal burdens following challenge. IFN-γ from CD4+ cells in vaccinated mice indicates a Th1 response, which is critical for host control of coccidioidomycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa F Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States.
| | - Daniel A Powell
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States; Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245221, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Hien T Trinh
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - M Lourdes Lewis
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Marc J Orbach
- School of Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 210036, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Frelinger
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245221, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - John N Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, PO Box 245039, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
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34
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Kirkland TN, Fierer J. Coccidioides immitis and posadasii; A review of their biology, genomics, pathogenesis, and host immunity. Virulence 2018; 9:1426-1435. [PMID: 30179067 PMCID: PMC6141143 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1509667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii are two highly pathogenic dimorphic fungal species that are endemic in the arid areas of the new world, including the region from west Texas to southern and central California in the USA that cause coccidioidomycosis (also known as Valley Fever). In highly endemic regions such as southern Arizona, up to 50% of long term residents have been infected. New information about fungal population genetics, ecology, epidemiology, and host-pathogen interactions is becoming available. However, our understanding of some aspects of coccidioidomycosis is still incomplete, including the extent of genetic variability of the fungus, the genes involved in virulence, and how the changes in gene expression during the organism's dimorphic life cycle are related to the transformation from a free-living mold to a parasitic spherule. Unfortunately, efforts to develop an effective subunit vaccine have not yet been productive, although two potential live fungus vaccines have been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo N. Kirkland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Fierer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
- VA Healthcare San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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35
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Lionakis MS, Levitz SM. Host Control of Fungal Infections: Lessons from Basic Studies and Human Cohorts. Annu Rev Immunol 2017; 36:157-191. [PMID: 29237128 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-042617-053318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the last few decades, the AIDS pandemic and the significant advances in the medical management of individuals with neoplastic and inflammatory conditions have resulted in a dramatic increase in the population of immunosuppressed patients with opportunistic, life-threatening fungal infections. The parallel development of clinically relevant mouse models of fungal disease and the discovery and characterization of several inborn errors of immune-related genes that underlie inherited human susceptibility to opportunistic mycoses have significantly expanded our understanding of the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that protect against ubiquitous fungal exposures. This review synthesizes immunological knowledge derived from basic mouse studies and from human cohorts and provides an overview of mammalian antifungal host defenses that show promise for informing therapeutic and vaccination strategies for vulnerable patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892;
| | - Stuart M Levitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655;
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36
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Kirkland TN. The Quest for a Vaccine Against Coccidioidomycosis: A Neglected Disease of the Americas. J Fungi (Basel) 2016; 2:E34. [PMID: 29376949 PMCID: PMC5715932 DOI: 10.3390/jof2040034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a disease caused by inhalation of Coccidioides spp. This neglected disease has substantial public health impact despite its geographic restriction to desert areas of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, Central and South America. The incidence of this infection in California and Arizona has been increasing over the past fifteen years. Several large cities are within the endemic region in the U.S. Coccidioidomycosis accounts for 25,000 hospital admissions per year in California. While most cases of coccidioidomycosis resolve spontaneously, up to 40% are severe enough to require anti-fungal treatment, and a significant number disseminate beyond the lungs. Disseminated infection involving the meninges is fatal without appropriate treatment. Infection with Coccidioides spp. is protective against a second infection, so vaccination seems biologically plausible. This review of efforts to develop a vaccine against coccidioidomycosis focuses on vaccine approaches and the difficulties in identifying protein antigen/adjuvant combinations that protect in experimental mouse models. Although the quest for a vaccine is still in the early stage, scientific efforts for vaccine development may pave the way for future success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo N Kirkland
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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