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Dai M, Liu X, Goldman GH, Lu L, Zhang S. The EH domain-containing protein, EdeA, is involved in endocytosis, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere 2024:e0005724. [PMID: 38687129 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00057-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis has been extensively studied in yeasts, where it plays crucial roles in growth, signaling regulation, and cell-surface receptor internalization. However, the biological functions of endocytosis in pathogenic filamentous fungi remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to functionally characterize the roles of EdeA, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae endocytic protein Ede1, in Aspergillus fumigatus. EdeA was observed to be distributed as patches on the plasma membrane and concentrated in the subapical collar of hyphae, a localization characteristic of endocytic proteins. Loss of edeA caused defective hyphal polarity, reduced conidial production, and fewer sites of endocytosis initiations than that of the parental wild type. Notably, the edeA null mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to cell wall-disrupting agents, indicating a role for EdeA in maintaining cell wall integrity in A. fumigatus. This observation was further supported by the evidence showing that the thickness of the cell wall in the ΔedeA mutant increased, accompanied by abnormal activation of MpkA, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway. Additionally, the ΔedeA mutant displayed increased pathogenicity in the Galleria mellonella wax moth infection model, possibly due to alterations in cell wall morphology. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the conserved residue E348 within the third EH (Eps15 homology) domain of EdeA as crucial for its subcellular localization and functions. In conclusion, our results highlight the involvement of EdeA in endocytosis, hyphal polarity, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in A. fumigatus. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is a significant human pathogenic fungus known to cause invasive aspergillosis, a disease with a high mortality rate. Understanding the basic principles of A. fumigatus pathogenicity is crucial for developing effective strategies against this pathogen. Previous research has underscored the importance of endocytosis in the infection capacity of pathogenic yeasts; however, its biological function in pathogenic mold remains largely unexplored. Our characterization of EdeA in A. fumigatus sheds light on the role of endocytosis in the development, stress response, and pathogenicity of pathogenic molds. These findings suggest that the components of the endocytosis process may serve as potential targets for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xintian Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shizhu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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2
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Li HH, Chen XW, Zhai FH, Li YT, Zhao HM, Mo CH, Luo Y, Xing B, Li H. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Alleviates Charged Nanoplastic Stress in Host Plants via Enhanced Defense-Related Gene Expressions and Hyphal Capture. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:6258-6273. [PMID: 38450439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Contamination of small-sized plastics is recognized as a factor of global change. Nanoplastics (NPs) can readily enter organisms and pose significant ecological risks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most ubiquitous and impactful plant symbiotic fungi, regulating essential ecological functions. Here, we first found that an AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, increased lettuce shoot biomass by 25-100% when exposed to positively and negatively charged NPs vs control, although it did not increase that grown without NPs. The stress alleviation was attributed to the upregulation of gene expressions involving phytohormone signaling, cell wall metabolism, and oxidant scavenging. Using a root organ-fungus axenic growth system treated with fluorescence-labeled NPs, we subsequently revealed that the hyphae captured NPs and further delivered them to roots. NPs were observed at the hyphal cell walls, membranes, and spore walls. NPs mediated by the hyphae were localized at the root epidermis, cortex, and stele. Hyphal exudates aggregated positively charged NPs, thereby reducing their uptake due to NP aggregate formation (up to 5000 nm). This work demonstrates the critical roles of AM fungus in regulating NP behaviors and provides a potential strategy for NP risk mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequent NP-induced ecological impacts due to the affected AM fungi require further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Hao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xun Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Feng Hua Zhai
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yong Tao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hai Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ce Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Hui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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3
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Meyer KJ, Nodwell JR. Streptomyces extracellular vesicles are a broad and permissive antimicrobial packaging and delivery system. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0032523. [PMID: 38353531 PMCID: PMC10955852 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00325-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces are the primary source of bioactive specialized metabolites used in research and medicine, including many antimicrobials. These are presumed to be secreted and function as freely soluble compounds. However, increasing evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles are an alternative secretion system. We assessed environmental and lab-adapted Streptomyces (sporulating filamentous actinomycetes) and found frequent production of antimicrobial vesicles. The molecular cargo included actinomycins, anthracyclines, candicidin, and actinorhodin, reflecting both diverse chemical properties and diverse antibacterial and antifungal activity. The levels of packaged antimicrobials correlated with the level of inhibitory activity of the vesicles, and a strain knocked out for the production of anthracyclines produced vesicles that lacked antimicrobial activity. We demonstrated that antimicrobial containing vesicles achieve direct delivery of the cargo to other microbes. Notably, this delivery via membrane fusion occurred to a broad range of microbes, including pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Vesicle encapsulation offers a broad and permissive packaging and delivery system for antimicrobial specialized metabolites, with important implications for ecology and translation.IMPORTANCEExtracellular vesicle encapsulation changes our picture of how antimicrobial metabolites function in the environment and provides an alternative translational approach for the delivery of antimicrobials. We find many Streptomyces strains are capable of releasing antimicrobial vesicles, and at least four distinct classes of compounds can be packaged, suggesting this is widespread in nature. This is a striking departure from the primary paradigm of the secretion and action of specialized metabolites as soluble compounds. Importantly, the vesicles deliver antimicrobial metabolites directly to other microbes via membrane fusion, including pathogenic bacteria and yeast. This suggests future applications in which lipid-encapsulated natural product antibiotics and antifungals could be used to solve some of the most pressing problems in drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J. Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin R. Nodwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Kalebina TS, Rekstina VV, Pogarskaia EE, Kulakovskaya T. Importance of Non-Covalent Interactions in Yeast Cell Wall Molecular Organization. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2496. [PMID: 38473742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This review covers a group of non-covalently associated molecules, particularly proteins (NCAp), incorporated in the yeast cell wall (CW) with neither disulfide bridges with proteins covalently attached to polysaccharides nor other covalent bonds. Most NCAp, particularly Bgl2, are polysaccharide-remodeling enzymes. Either directly contacting their substrate or appearing as CW lipid-associated molecules, such as in vesicles, they represent the most movable enzymes and may play a central role in CW biogenesis. The absence of the covalent anchoring of NCAp allows them to be there where and when it is necessary. Another group of non-covalently attached to CW molecules are polyphosphates (polyP), the universal regulators of the activity of many enzymes. These anionic polymers are able to form complexes with metal ions and increase the diversity of non-covalent interactions through charged functional groups with both proteins and polysaccharides. The mechanism of regulation of polysaccharide-remodeling enzyme activity in the CW is unknown. We hypothesize that polyP content in the CW is regulated by another NCAp of the CW-acid phosphatase-which, along with post-translational modifications, may thus affect the activity, conformation and compartmentalization of Bgl2 and, possibly, some other polysaccharide-remodeling enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana S Kalebina
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Valentina V Rekstina
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Elizaveta E Pogarskaia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Tatiana Kulakovskaya
- Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino 142290, Russia
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5
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Roy S, Gow NA. The role of the Candida biofilm matrix in drug and immune protection. Cell Surf 2023; 10:100111. [PMID: 37859691 PMCID: PMC10582062 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2023.100111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sumita Roy
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Neil A.R. Gow
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
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Gow NA, Casadevall A, Fang W. Top five unanswered questions in fungal cell surface research. Cell Surf 2023; 10:100114. [PMID: 38024560 PMCID: PMC10654581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2023.100114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neil A.R. Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Wenxia Fang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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7
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Zhu X, Chen Y, Yu D, Fang W, Liao W, Pan W. Progress in the application of nanoparticles for the treatment of fungal infections: A review. Mycology 2023; 15:1-16. [PMID: 38558835 PMCID: PMC10977003 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2285764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The burden of fungal infections on human health is increasing worldwide. Aspergillus, Candida, and Cryptococcus are the top three human pathogenic fungi that are responsible for over 90% of infection-related deaths. Moreover, effective antifungal therapeutics are lacking, primarily due to host toxicity, pathogen resistance, and immunodeficiency. In recent years, nanomaterials have proved not only to be more efficient antifungal therapeutic agents but also to overcome resistance against fungal medication. This review will examine the limitations of standard antifungal therapy as well as focus on the development of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlin Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youming Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of General Practice, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Fang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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8
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Rouges C, Asad M, Laurent AD, Marchand P, Le Pape P. Is the C-Terminal Domain an Effective and Selective Target for the Design of Hsp90 Inhibitors against Candida Yeast? Microorganisms 2023; 11:2837. [PMID: 38137982 PMCID: PMC10745388 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Improving the armamentarium to treat invasive candidiasis has become necessary to overcome drug resistance and the lack of alternative therapy. In the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, the 90-kDa Heat-Shock Protein (Hsp90) has been described as a major regulator of virulence and resistance, offering a promising target. Some human Hsp90 inhibitors have shown activity against Candida spp. in vitro, but host toxicity has limited their use as antifungal drugs. The conservation of Hsp90 across all species leads to selectivity issues. To assess the potential of Hsp90 as a druggable antifungal target, the activity of nine structurally unrelated Hsp90 inhibitors with different binding domains was evaluated against a panel of Candida clinical isolates. The Hsp90 sequences from human and yeast species were aligned. Despite the degree of similarity between human and yeast N-terminal domain residues, the in vitro activities measured for the inhibitors interacting with this domain were not reproducible against all Candida species. Moreover, the inhibitors binding to the C-terminal domain (CTD) did not show any antifungal activity, with the exception of one of them. Given the greater sequence divergence in this domain, the identification of selective CTD inhibitors of fungal Hsp90 could be a promising strategy for the development of innovative antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Rouges
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Cibles et Médicaments des Infections et de l’Immunité, IICiMed, UR 1155, F-44000 Nantes, France; (C.R.); (P.M.)
| | - Mohammad Asad
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Adèle D. Laurent
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Cibles et Médicaments des Infections et de l’Immunité, IICiMed, UR 1155, F-44000 Nantes, France; (C.R.); (P.M.)
| | - Patrice Le Pape
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Cibles et Médicaments des Infections et de l’Immunité, IICiMed, UR 1155, F-44000 Nantes, France; (C.R.); (P.M.)
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9
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Choudhury QJ, Ambati S, Link CD, Lin X, Lewis ZA, Meagher RB. Dectin-3-targeted antifungal liposomes efficiently bind and kill diverse fungal pathogens. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:723-739. [PMID: 37800599 PMCID: PMC10823756 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
DectiSomes are anti-infective drug-loaded liposomes targeted to pathogenic cells by pathogen receptors including the Dectins. We have previously used C-type lectin (CTL) pathogen receptors Dectin-1, Dectin-2, and DC-SIGN to target DectiSomes to the extracellular oligoglycans surrounding diverse pathogenic fungi and kill them. Dectin-3 (also known as MCL, CLEC4D) is a CTL pathogen receptor whose known cognate ligands are partly distinct from other CTLs. We expressed and purified a truncated Dectin-3 polypeptide (DEC3) comprised of its carbohydrate recognition domain and stalk region. We prepared amphotericin B (AmB)-loaded pegylated liposomes (AmB-LLs) and coated them with this isoform of Dectin-3 (DEC3-AmB-LLs), and we prepared control liposomes coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA-AmB-LLs). DEC3-AmB-LLs bound to the exopolysaccharide matrices of Candida albicans, Rhizopus delemar (formerly known as R. oryzae), and Cryptococcus neoformans from one to several orders of magnitude more strongly than untargeted AmB-LLs or BSA-AmB-LLs. The data from our quantitative fluorescent binding assays were standardized using a CellProfiler program, AreaPipe, that was developed for this purpose. Consistent with enhanced binding, DEC3-AmB-LLs inhibited and/or killed C. albicans and R. delemar more efficiently than control liposomes and significantly reduced the effective dose of AmB. In conclusion, Dectin-3 targeting has the potential to advance our goal of building pan-antifungal DectiSomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suresh Ambati
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Collin D. Link
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Xiaorong Lin
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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10
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Nenciarini S, Cavalieri D. Immunomodulatory Potential of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: Insights for Therapeutic Applications. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1487. [PMID: 37892168 PMCID: PMC10605264 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicular organelles that perform a variety of biological functions including cell communication across different biological kingdoms. EVs of mammals and, to a lesser extent, bacteria have been deeply studied over the years, whereas investigations of fungal EVs are still in their infancy. Fungi, encompassing both yeast and filamentous forms, are increasingly recognized for their production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a wealth of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These EVs play pivotal roles in orchestrating fungal communities, bolstering pathogenicity, and mediating interactions with the environment. Fungal EVs have emerged as promising candidates for innovative applications, not only in the management of mycoses but also as carriers for therapeutic molecules. Yet, numerous questions persist regarding fungal EVs, including their mechanisms of generation, release, cargo regulation, and discharge. This comprehensive review delves into the present state of knowledge regarding fungal EVs and provides fresh insights into the most recent hypotheses on the mechanisms driving their immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, we explore the considerable potential of fungal EVs in the realms of medicine and biotechnology. In the foreseeable future, engineered fungal cells may serve as vehicles for tailoring cargo- and antigen-specific EVs, positioning them as invaluable biotechnological tools for diverse medical applications, such as vaccines and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Duccio Cavalieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy;
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11
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Cheng AP, Kwon S, Adeshara T, Göhre V, Feldbrügge M, Weiberg A. Extracellular RNAs released by plant-associated fungi: from fundamental mechanisms to biotechnological applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5935-5945. [PMID: 37572124 PMCID: PMC10485130 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12718-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular RNAs are an emerging research topic in fungal-plant interactions. Fungal plant pathogens and symbionts release small RNAs that enter host cells to manipulate plant physiology and immunity. This communication via extracellular RNAs between fungi and plants is bidirectional. On the one hand, plants release RNAs encapsulated inside extracellular vesicles as a defense response as well as for intercellular and inter-organismal communication. On the other hand, recent reports suggest that also full-length mRNAs are transported within fungal EVs into plants, and these fungal mRNAs might get translated inside host cells. In this review article, we summarize the current views and fundamental concepts of extracellular RNAs released by plant-associated fungi, and we discuss new strategies to apply extracellular RNAs in crop protection against fungal pathogens. KEY POINTS: • Extracellular RNAs are an emerging topic in plant-fungal communication. • Fungi utilize RNAs to manipulate host plants for colonization. • Extracellular RNAs can be engineered to protect plants against fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Po Cheng
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München (LMU), 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Seomun Kwon
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Trusha Adeshara
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Göhre
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arne Weiberg
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München (LMU), 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
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12
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Fait ME, Grillo PD, Garrote GL, Prieto ED, Vázquez RF, Saparrat MCN, Morcelle SR. Biocidal and antibiofilm activities of arginine-based surfactants against Candida isolates. Amino Acids 2023; 55:1083-1102. [PMID: 37382761 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03296-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Amino-acid-based surfactants are a group of compounds that resemble natural amphiphiles and thus are expected to have a low impact on the environment, owing to either the mode of surfactant production or its means of disposal. Within this context, arginine-based tensioactives have gained particular interest, since their cationic nature-in combination with their amphiphilic character-enables them to act as broad-spectrum biocides. This capability is based mainly on their interactive affinity for the microbial envelope that alters the latter's structure and ultimately its function. In the work reported here, we investigated the efficiency of Nα-benzoyl arginine decyl- and dodecylamide against Candida spp. to further our understanding of the antifungal mechanism involved. For the assays, both a Candida albicans and a Candida tropicalis clinical isolates along with a C. albicans-collection strain were used as references. As expected, both arginine-based compounds proved to be effective against the strains tested through inhibiting both the planktonic and the sessile growth. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy techniques and lipid monolayer experiments enabled us to gain insight into the effect of the surfactant on the cellular envelope. The results demonstrated that all the yeasts treated exhibited changes in their exomorphologic structure, with respect to alterations in both roughness and stiffness, relative to the nontreated ones. This finding-in addition to the amphiphiles' proven ability to insert themselves within this model fungal membrane-could explain the changes in the yeast-membrane permeability that could be linked to viability loss and mixed-vesicle release.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Elisa Fait
- Centro de Investigación de Proteínas Vegetales (CIProVe-UNLP-Centro Asociado CICPBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Centro Asociado CICPBA, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Patricia D Grillo
- Centro de Investigación de Proteínas Vegetales (CIProVe-UNLP-Centro Asociado CICPBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Centro Asociado CICPBA, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Graciela L Garrote
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos (CIDCA, CONICET-UNLP-CICPBA), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Eduardo D Prieto
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), CONICET, UNLP, CCT-La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
- Instituto Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina F Vázquez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CCT-La Plata, CONICET, UNLP, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mario C N Saparrat
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal (INFIVE-CONICET-UNLP) and Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, UNLP, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Susana R Morcelle
- Centro de Investigación de Proteínas Vegetales (CIProVe-UNLP-Centro Asociado CICPBA), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Centro Asociado CICPBA, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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13
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Ullah A, Huang Y, Zhao K, Hua Y, Ullah S, Rahman MU, Wang J, Wang Q, Hu X, Zheng L. Characteristics and potential clinical applications of the extracellular vesicles of human pathogenic Fungi. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:227. [PMID: 37598156 PMCID: PMC10439556 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02945-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of lipid membrane-enclosed compartments that contain different biomolecules and are released by almost all living cells, including fungal genera. Fungal EVs contain multiple bioactive components that perform various biological functions, such as stimulation of the host immune system, transport of virulence factors, induction of biofilm formation, and mediation of host-pathogen interactions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on EVs of human pathogenic fungi, mainly focusing on their biogenesis, composition, and biological effects. We also discuss the potential markers and therapeutic applications of fungal EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Ullah
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyi Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Kening Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yuneng Hua
- Center for Clinical Laboratory, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Wang
- Center for Clinical Laboratory, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiumei Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Lai Y, Jiang B, Hou F, Huang X, Ling B, Lu H, Zhong T, Huang J. The emerging role of extracellular vesicles in fungi: a double-edged sword. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1216895. [PMID: 37533824 PMCID: PMC10390730 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1216895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms found in nature, which can invade the human body and cause tissue damage, inflammatory reactions, organ dysfunctions, and diseases. These diseases can severely damage the patient's body systems and functions, leading to a range of clinical symptoms that can be life-threatening. As the incidence of invasive fungal infections has progressively increased in the recent years, a wealth of evidence has confirmed the "double-edged sword" role of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication and pathogen-host interactions. Fungal EVs act as mediators of cellular communication, affecting fungal-host cell interactions, delivering virulence factors, and promoting infection. Fungal EVs can also have an induced protective effect, affecting fungal growth and stimulating adaptive immune responses. By integrating recent studies, we discuss the role of EVs in fungi, providing strong theoretical support for the early prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections. Finally, we highlight the feasibility of using fungal EVs as drug carriers and in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lai
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bowei Jiang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fangpeng Hou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xinhong Huang
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Baodian Ling
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hongfei Lu
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Tianyu Zhong
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Junyun Huang
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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15
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Santelli CM, Sabuda MC, Rosenfeld CE. Time-Resolved Examination of Fungal Selenium Redox Transformations. ACS Earth Space Chem 2023; 7:960-971. [PMID: 37228623 PMCID: PMC10204728 DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is both a micronutrient required for most life and an element of environmental concern due to its toxicity at high concentrations, and both bioavailability and toxicity are largely influenced by the Se oxidation state. Environmentally relevant fungi have been shown to aerobically reduce Se(IV) and Se(VI), the generally more toxic and bioavailable Se forms. The goal of this study was to shed light on fungal Se(IV) reduction pathways and biotransformation products over time and fungal growth stages. Two Ascomycete fungi were grown with moderate (0.1 mM) and high (0.5 mM) Se(IV) concentrations in batch culture over 1 month. Fungal growth was measured throughout the experiments, and aqueous and biomass-associated Se was quantified and speciated using analytical geochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) approaches. The results show that Se transformation products were largely Se(0) nanoparticles, with a smaller proportion of volatile, methylated Se compounds and Se-containing amino acids. Interestingly, the relative proportions of these products were consistent throughout all fungal growth stages, and the products appeared stable over time even as growth and Se(IV) concentration declined. This time-series experiment showing different biotransformation products throughout the different growth phases suggests that multiple mechanisms are responsible for Se detoxification, but some of these mechanisms might be independent of Se presence and serve other cellular functions. Knowing and predicting fungal Se transformation products has important implications for environmental and biological health as well as for biotechnology applications such as bioremediation, nanobiosensors, and chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara M Santelli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Mary C Sabuda
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Carla E Rosenfeld
- Section of Minerals and Earth Sciences, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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16
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LaMastro V, Campbell KM, Gonzalez P, Meng-Saccoccio T, Shukla A. Antifungal liposomes: Lipid saturation and cholesterol concentration impact interaction with fungal and mammalian cells. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:644-659. [PMID: 36740998 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles that have been used to deliver encapsulated drugs for a variety of applications, including treatment of life-threatening fungal infections. By understanding the effect of composition on liposome interactions with both fungal and mammalian cells, new effective antifungal liposomes can be developed. In this study, we investigated the impact of lipid saturation and cholesterol content on fungal and mammalian cell interactions with liposomes. We used three phospholipids with different saturation levels (saturated hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC), mono-unsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and di-unsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PLPC)) and cholesterol concentrations ranging from 15% to 40% (w/w) in our liposome formulations. Using flow cytometry, >80% of Candida albicans SC5314 cells were found to interact with all liposome formulations developed, while >50% of clinical isolates tested exhibited interaction with these liposomes. In contrast, POPC-containing formulations exhibited low levels of interaction with murine fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (<30%), while HSPC and PLPC formulations had >50% and >80% interaction, respectively. Further, PLPC formulations caused a significant decrease in mammalian cell viability. Formulations that resulted in low levels of mammalian cell interaction, minimal cytotoxicity, and high levels of fungal cell interaction were then used to encapsulate the antifungal drug, amphotericin B. These liposomes eradicated planktonic C. albicans at drug concentrations lower than free drug, potentially due to the high levels of liposome-C. albicans interaction. Overall, this study provides new insights into the design of liposome formulations towards the development of new antifungal therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica LaMastro
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kayla M Campbell
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Peter Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Tobias Meng-Saccoccio
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anita Shukla
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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17
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Pachla J, Kopiasz RJ, Marek G, Tomaszewski W, Głogowska A, Drężek K, Kowalczyk S, Podgórski R, Butruk-Raszeja B, Ciach T, Mierzejewska J, Plichta A, Augustynowicz-Kopeć E, Jańczewski D. Polytrimethylenimines: Highly Potent Antibacterial Agents with Activity and Toxicity Modulated by the Polymer Molecular Weight. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:2237-2249. [PMID: 37093622 PMCID: PMC10170506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Cationic polymers have been extensively investigated as a potential replacement for traditional antibiotics. Here, we examined the effect of molecular weight (MW) on the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activity of linear polytrimethylenimine (L-PTMI). The results indicate that the biological activity of the polymer sharply increases as MW increases. Thanks to a different position of the antibacterial activity and toxicity thresholds, tuning the MW of PTMI allows one to achieve a therapeutic window between antimicrobial activity and toxicity concentrations. L-PTMI presents significantly higher antimicrobial activity against model microorganisms than linear polyethylenimine (L-PEI) when polymers with a similar number of repeating units are compared. For the derivatives of L-PTMI and L-PEI, obtained through N-monomethylation and partial N,N-dimethylation of linear polyamines, the antimicrobial activity and toxicity were both reduced; however, resulting selectivity indices were higher. Selected materials were tested against clinical isolates of pathogens from the ESKAPE group and Mycobacteria, revealing good antibacterial properties of L-PTMI against antibiotic-resistant strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but limited antibacterial properties against Mycobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Pachla
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafał J Kopiasz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Gabriela Marek
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Waldemar Tomaszewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Głogowska
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Drężek
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Kowalczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Podgórski
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Butruk-Raszeja
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Ciach
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Mierzejewska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Plichta
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Płocka 26, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominik Jańczewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Maximo MF, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. A Close Look into the Composition and Functions of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Phytopathogens. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 2023; 36:228-234. [PMID: 36847651 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-22-0184-fi] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) were first described in human pathogens. In a few years, the field of fungal EVs evolved to include several studies with plant pathogens, in which extracellularly released vesicles play fundamental biological roles. In recent years, solid progress has been made in the determination of the composition of EVs produced by phytopathogens. In addition, EV biomarkers are now known in fungal plant pathogens, and the production of EVs during plant infection has been demonstrated. In this manuscript, we review the recent progress in the field of fungal EVs, with a focus on plant pathogens. [Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina F Maximo
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taícia P Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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19
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Abstract
The fungal cell wall is essential for growth and survival, and is a key target for antifungal drugs and the immune system. The cell wall must be robust but flexible, protective and shielding yet porous to nutrients and membrane vesicles and receptive to exogenous signals. Most fungi have a common inner wall skeleton of chitin and β-glucans that functions as a flexible viscoelastic frame to which a more diverse set of outer cell wall polymers and glycosylated proteins are attached. Whereas the inner wall largely determines shape and strength, the outer wall confers properties of hydrophobicity, adhesiveness, and chemical and immunological heterogeneity. The spatial organization and dynamic regulation of the wall in response to prevailing growth conditions enable fungi to thrive within changing, diverse and often hostile environments. Understanding this architecture provides opportunities to develop diagnostics and drugs to combat life-threatening fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A R Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Megan D Lenardon
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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20
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Kodedová M, Liška V, Mosinger J, Sychrová H. Light-induced antifungal activity of nanoparticles with an encapsulated porphyrin photosensitizer. Microbiol Res 2023; 269:127303. [PMID: 36641862 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The strong antifungal effect of sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs) with an encapsulated tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) photosensitizer is reported here. TPP is activated by visible light, resulting in the generation of singlet oxygen. Its antifungal action is potentiated in the presence of potassium iodide, yielding I2/I3⁻, another antifungal species. The NPs exhibit no dark toxicity, but a broad spectrum of antifungal photodynamic effects. The efficiency of this rapid killing (on the order of minutes) depends on the concentration of TPP NPs, potassium iodide, yeast species and temperature. A strong antifungal activity of TPP NPs is demonstrated on eleven pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic yeast species (six Candida species and other yeast species, including melanized Hortaea werneckii). The composition and architecture of yeast cell envelope structures clearly influence the efficacy of photodynamic therapy. Candida krusei is the most sensitive to photodynamic therapy. Despite expectations, melanin does not provide Hortaea cells with marked resistance compared to white yeast species. The kinetics of the interaction of NPs with yeast cells is also described. This study may inspire and promote the fabrication of a new type of antiseptic for various skin injuries in clinical medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Kodedová
- Laboratory of Membrane Transport, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14200 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
| | - Vojtěch Liška
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Mosinger
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 2030, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Hana Sychrová
- Laboratory of Membrane Transport, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14200 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
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21
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Qiao L, Niño‐Sánchez J, Hamby R, Capriotti L, Chen A, Mezzetti B, Jin H. Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray-induced gene silencing for crop protection. Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21:854-865. [PMID: 36601704 PMCID: PMC10037145 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco-friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene-targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of RNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for RNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver double stranded RNA (dsRNA). All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi-mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre- and post-harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome RNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jonatan Niño‐Sánchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Plant Production and Forest ResourcesUniversity of ValladolidPalenciaSpain
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR)University of ValladolidPalenciaSpain
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Angela Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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22
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Ebrahimi H, Siavoshi F, Jazayeri MH, Sarrafnejad A, Saniee P, Mobini M. Physicochemical properties of intact fungal cell wall determine vesicles release and nanoparticles internalization. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13834. [PMID: 36873462 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous microscopic observations on the wet mount of cultured Candida yeast showed release of large extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contained intracellular bacteria (∼500-5000 nm). We used Candida tropicalis, to examine the internalization of nanoparticles (NPs) with different properties to find out whether the size and flexibility of both EVs and cell wall pores play role in transport of large particles across the cell wall. Candida tropicalis was cultured in N-acetylglucoseamine-yeast extract broth (NYB) and examined for release of EVs every 12 h by the light microscope. The yeast was also cultured in NYB supplemented with of 0.1%, 0.01% of Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled NPs; gold (0.508 mM/L and 0.051 mM/L) (45, 70 and 100 nm), albumin (0.0015 mM/L and 0.015 mM/L) (100 nm) and Fluospheres (0.2 and 0.02%) (1000 and 2000 nm). Internalization of NPs was recorded with fluorescence microscope after 30 s to 120 min. Release of EVs mostly occurred at 36 h and concentration of 0.1% was the best for internalization of NPs that occurred at 30 s after treatment. Positively charged 45 nm NPs internalized into >90% of yeasts but 100 nm gold NPs destroyed them. However, 70 nm gold and 100 nm negatively-charged albumin were internalized into <10% of yeasts without destroying them. Inert Fluospheres either remained intact on the surface of yeasts or became degraded and internalized into ∼100% of yeasts. Release of large EVs from the yeast but internalization of 45 nm NPs indicated that flexibility of EVs and cell wall pores as well as physicochemical properties of NPs determine transport across the cell wall.
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23
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Mattoon ER, Cordero RJB, Casadevall A. Melaninization Reduces Cryptococcus neoformans Susceptibility to Mechanical Stress. mSphere 2023; 8:e0059122. [PMID: 36602315 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00591-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin is a complex pigment that is found in various fungal species and is associated with a multitude of protective functions against environmental stresses. In Cryptococcus neoformans, melanin is synthesized from exogenous substrate and deposited in the cell wall. Although melanin is often cited as a protector against mechanical stress, there is a paucity of direct experimental data supporting this claim. To probe whether melanin enhances cellular strength, we used ultrasonic cavitation and French cell press pressure to stress cryptococcal cells and then measured changes in cellular morphology and fragmentation for melanized and nonmelanized C. neoformans cells. Melanized yeast cells exhibited lower rates of fragmentation and greater cell areas than did nonmelanized yeast cells after sonication or French press passage. When subjected to French press passage, both melanized and nonmelanized cells exhibited responses that were dependent on their culture age. Our results indicate that melanization protects against some of the morphological changes, such as fragmentation and cellular shrinkage, that are initiated by mechanical energy derived from either sonic cavitation or French press passage, thus supporting the notion that this pigment provides mechanical strength for fungal cell walls. IMPORTANCE Melanin was shown in prior microbiological experiments to be associated with protection against environmental stressors, and it has often been cited as being associated with mechanical stress protection. However, there is a lack of direct experimentation to confirm this claim. We examined the responses of melanized and nonmelanized C. neoformans cells to sonication and French press passage, and we report differences in outcomes depending not only on melanization status but also on culture age. Such findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of laboratory experiments involving C. neoformans. In addition, the elucidation of some of the mechanical properties of melanin promotes further research into fungal melanin applications in health care and industry.
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24
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Baker RP, Casadevall A. Reciprocal modulation of ammonia and melanin production has implications for cryptococcal virulence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:849. [PMID: 36792633 PMCID: PMC9932161 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is the causative agent of cryptococcosis, a disease that is uniformly lethal unless treated with antifungal drugs, yet current regimens are hindered by host toxicity and pathogen resistance. An attractive alternative approach to combat this deadly disease is the direct targeting of pathogen-derived virulence mechanisms. C. neoformans expresses multiple virulence factors that have been studied previously as isolated entities. Among these, are urease, which increases phagosomal pH and promotes brain invasion, and melanization, which protects against immune cells and antifungal treatments. Here we report a reciprocal interdependency between these two virulence factors. Cells hydrolyzing urea release ammonia gas which acts at a distance to raise pH and increase melanization rates for nearby cells, which in turn reduces secretion of urease-carrying extracellular vesicles. This reciprocal relationship manifests as an emergent property that may explain why targeting isolated virulence mechanisms for drug development has been difficult and argues for a more holistic approach that considers the virulence composite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna P Baker
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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25
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Qiao L, Niño-Sánchez J, Hamby R, Capriotti L, Chen A, Mezzetti B, Jin H. Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray induced gene silencing for crop protection. bioRxiv 2023:2023.01.03.522662. [PMID: 36711993 PMCID: PMC9882009 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco-friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene-targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of dsRNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for dsRNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP, and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver dsRNA. All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi-mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre- and post-harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome dsRNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jonatan Niño-Sánchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute (iuFOR). University of Valladolid, Palencia 34004, Spain
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Angela Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
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de Assis LJ, Bain JM, Liddle C, Leaves I, Hacker C, Peres da Silva R, Yuecel R, Bebes A, Stead D, Childers DS, Pradhan A, Mackenzie K, Lagree K, Larcombe DE, Ma Q, Avelar GM, Netea MG, Erwig LP, Mitchell AP, Brown GD, Gow NAR, Brown AJP. Nature of β-1,3-Glucan-Exposing Features on Candida albicans Cell Wall and Their Modulation. mBio 2022; 13:e0260522. [PMID: 36218369 PMCID: PMC9765427 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02605-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans exists as a commensal of mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract without causing pathology. However, this fungus is also a common cause of mucosal and systemic infections when antifungal immune defenses become compromised. The activation of antifungal host defenses depends on the recognition of fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as β-1,3-glucan. In C. albicans, most β-1,3-glucan is present in the inner cell wall, concealed by the outer mannan layer, but some β-1,3-glucan becomes exposed at the cell surface. In response to host signals, such as lactate, C. albicans induces the Xog1 exoglucanase, which shaves exposed β-1,3-glucan from the cell surface, thereby reducing phagocytic recognition. We show here that β-1,3-glucan is exposed at bud scars and punctate foci on the lateral wall of yeast cells, that this exposed β-1,3-glucan is targeted during phagocytic attack, and that lactate-induced masking reduces β-1,3-glucan exposure at bud scars and at punctate foci. β-1,3-Glucan masking depends upon protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. We reveal that inactivating PKA, or its conserved downstream effectors, Sin3 and Mig1/Mig2, affects the amounts of the Xog1 and Eng1 glucanases in the C. albicans secretome and modulates β-1,3-glucan exposure. Furthermore, perturbing PKA, Sin3, or Mig1/Mig2 attenuates the virulence of lactate-exposed C. albicans cells in Galleria. Taken together, the data are consistent with the idea that β-1,3-glucan masking contributes to Candida pathogenicity. IMPORTANCE Microbes that coexist with humans have evolved ways of avoiding or evading our immunological defenses. These include the masking by these microbes of their "pathogen-associated molecular patterns" (PAMPs), which are recognized as "foreign" and used to activate protective immunity. The commensal fungus Candida albicans masks the proinflammatory PAMP β-1,3-glucan, which is an essential component of its cell wall. Most of this β-1,3-glucan is hidden beneath an outer layer of the cell wall on these microbes, but some can become exposed at the fungal cell surface. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy, we examine the nature of the exposed β-1,3-glucan at C. albicans bud scars and at punctate foci on the lateral cell wall, and we show that these features are targeted by innate immune cells. We also reveal that downstream effectors of protein kinase A (Mig1/Mig2, Sin3) regulate the secretion of major glucanases, modulate the levels of β-1,3-glucan exposure, and influence the virulence of C. albicans in an invertebrate model of systemic infection. Our data support the view that β-1,3-glucan masking contributes to immune evasion and the virulence of a major fungal pathogen of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro José de Assis
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Judith M. Bain
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Corin Liddle
- Bioimaging Unit, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Leaves
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roberta Peres da Silva
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Raif Yuecel
- Exeter Centre for Cytomics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Attila Bebes
- Exeter Centre for Cytomics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David Stead
- Aberdeen Proteomics Facility, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Delma S. Childers
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pradhan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Mackenzie
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Lagree
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel E. Larcombe
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Qinxi Ma
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriela Mol Avelar
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department for Immunology & Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lars P. Erwig
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Johnson-Johnson Innovation, EMEA Innovation Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron P. Mitchell
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A. R. Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair J. P. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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Abstract
The discovery of amphotericin B, a polyene antifungal compound, in the 1950s, and the formulation of this compound in a liposomal drug delivery system, has resulted in decades of use in systemic fungal infections. The use of liposomal amphotericin B formulation is referenced in many international guidelines for the treatment of fungal infections such as Aspergillus and cryptococcal disease and Candida infections, as well as other less common infections such as visceral leishmaniasis. With the development of liposomal amphotericin B, an improved therapeutic index could be achieved that allowed the attainment of higher drug concentrations in both the plasma and tissue while simultaneously lowering the toxicity compared with amphotericin B deoxycholate. In over 30 years of experience with this drug, a vast amount of information has been collected on preclinical and clinical efficacy against a wide variety of pathogens, as well as evidence on its toxicity. This article explores the history and nature of the liposomal formulation, the key clinical studies that developed the pharmacokinetic, safety and efficacy profile of the liposomal formulation, and the available microbiological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Brüggemann
- Department of Pharmacy, and Radboudumc Institute of Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - G M Jensen
- Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing, Gilead Sciences Inc., La Verne, CA, USA
| | - C Lass-Flörl
- Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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28
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Casadevall A, Gow NA. Ending the (Cell) wall metaphor in microbiology. Cell Surf 2022; 8:100087. [PMID: 36405351 PMCID: PMC9668729 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2022.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
•The outer surfaces of fungi and bacteria are highly dynamic, flexible, regulated and adaptable structures.•The term "cell wall" is conceptually limiting and insufficient to adequately describe the outer surface of bacteria and fungi.•The Greek term plégma or in Latin word "reticulum" better capture the nature of the cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Casadevall
- School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA,Corresponding authors.
| | - Neil A.R. Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK,Corresponding authors.
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29
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Zhou T, Yu S, Xu H, Liu H, Rao Y. Stimulating fungal cell wall integrity by exogenous β-glucanase to improve the production of fungal natural products. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:7491-7503. [PMID: 36239763 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12224-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The low production of natural products (NPs) is still the critical restrictive factor in exploiting their potential large-scale applications and a barrier to isolating and identifying other meaningful products. Given that the stimulation of cell wall integrity (CWI) has become a novel strategy to modulate the production of microbial natural products, herein, exogenous β-glucanase treatment was developed as an external cell wall β-glucan stress to stimulate the fungal CWI, and then to improve the production of fungal NPs. It was found that the production of fungal NPs cercosporin and sophorolipids, biosynthesized by Cercospora sp. and Starmerella bombicola, respectively, was significantly improved by the treatment of β-glucanase under a controllable dose. Moreover, it demonstrated that β-glucanase had an ability to stimulate fungal CWI through slight fungal superficial damage, thus facilitating the secretion of NPs. We expected that this easy-operating method to stimulate fungal CWI could be feasible to improve more fungal NPs production. KEY POINTS: • Exogenous β-glucanase stimulated the fungal cell wall integrity • Changing fungal cell walls modulated natural product production • β-glucanase with potential universal effects on more fungal natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Shiyu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Huibin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Huiling Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Yijian Rao
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
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30
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Hiengrach P, Panpetch W, Chindamporn A, Leelahavanichkul A. Helicobacter pylori, Protected from Antibiotics and Stresses Inside Candida albicans Vacuoles, Cause Gastritis in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8568. [PMID: 35955701 PMCID: PMC9368807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to (i) the simultaneous presence of Helicobacter pylori (ulcer-induced bacteria) and Candida albicans in the stomach and (ii) the possibility of prokaryotic–eukaryotic endosymbiosis (intravacuolar H. pylori in the yeast cells) under stresses, we tested this symbiosis in vitro and in vivo. To that end, intravacuolar H. pylori were induced by the co-incubation of C. albicans with H. pylori under several stresses (acidic pH, non-H. pylori-enrichment media, and aerobic environments); the results were detectable by direct microscopy (wet mount) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Indeed, intravacuolar H. pylori were predominant under all stresses, especially the lower pH level (pH 2–3). Interestingly, the H. pylori (an amoxicillin-sensitive strain) inside C. albicans were protected from the antibiotic (amoxicillin), while extracellular H. pylori were neutralizable, as indicated by the culture. In parallel, the oral administration of intravacuolar H. pylori in mice caused H. pylori colonization in the stomach resulting in gastritis, as indicated by gastric histopathology and tissue cytokines, similar to the administration of free H. pylori (extra-Candida bacteria). In conclusion, Candida protected H. pylori from stresses and antibiotics, and the intravacuolar H. pylori were able to be released from the yeast cells, causing gastric inflammation with neutrophil accumulations.
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31
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Diniz-lima I, Fonseca LMD, Silva-junior EBD, Guimarães-de-oliveira JC, Freire-de-lima L, Nascimento DO, Morrot A, Previato JO, Mendonça-previato L, Decote-ricardo D, Freire-de-lima CG. Cryptococcus: History, Epidemiology and Immune Evasion. Applied Sciences 2022; 12:7086. [DOI: 10.3390/app12147086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, both environmental fungi that cause severe pneumonia and may even lead to cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Although C. neoformans affects more fragile individuals, such as immunocompromised hosts through opportunistic infections, C. gattii causes a serious indiscriminate primary infection in immunocompetent individuals. Typically seen in tropical and subtropical environments, C. gattii has increased its endemic area over recent years, largely due to climatic factors that favor contagion in warmer climates. It is important to point out that not only C. gattii, but the Cryptococcus species complex produces a polysaccharidic capsule with immunomodulatory properties, enabling the pathogenic species of Cryptococccus to subvert the host immune response during the establishment of cryptococcosis, facilitating its dissemination in the infected organism. C. gattii causes a more severe and difficult-to-treat infection, with few antifungals eliciting an effective response during chronic treatment. Much of the immunopathology of this cryptococcosis is still poorly understood, with most studies focusing on cryptococcosis caused by the species C. neoformans. C. gattii became more important in the epidemiological scenario with the outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, which resulted in phylogenetic studies of the virulent variant responsible for the severe infection in the region. Since then, the study of cryptococcosis caused by C. gattii has helped researchers understand the immunopathological aspects of different variants of this pathogen.
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32
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Saravanakumar K, Santosh SS, Ahamed MA, Sathiyaseelan A, Sultan G, Irfan N, Ali DM, Wang MH. Bioinformatics strategies for studying the molecular mechanisms of fungal extracellular vesicles with a focus on infection and immune responses. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6632620. [PMID: 35794708 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released during pathogenesis and are found to be an opportunistic infection in most cases. EVs are immunocompetent with their host and have paved the way for new biomedical approaches to drug delivery and the treatment of complex diseases including cancer. With computing and processing advancements, the rise of bioinformatics tools for the evaluation of various parameters involved in fungal EVs has blossomed. In this review, we have complied and explored the bioinformatics tools to analyze the host-pathogen interaction, toxicity, omics and pathogenesis with an array of specific tools that have depicted the ability of EVs as vector/carrier for therapeutic agents and as a potential theme for immunotherapy. We have also discussed the generation and pathways involved in the production, transport, pathogenic action and immunological interactions of EVs in the host system. The incorporation of network pharmacology approaches has been discussed regarding fungal pathogens and their significance in drug discovery. To represent the overview, we have presented and demonstrated an in silico study model to portray the human Cryptococcal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kandasamy Saravanakumar
- Department of Bio-Health convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | | | - MohamedAli Afaan Ahamed
- School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600048, India
| | - Anbazhagan Sathiyaseelan
- Department of Bio-Health convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ghazala Sultan
- Department of Computer Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India
| | - Navabshan Irfan
- Crescent School of Pharmacy, B.S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 600048, India
| | - Davoodbasha Mubarak Ali
- School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600048, India
| | - Myeong-Hyeon Wang
- Department of Bio-Health convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea
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33
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Zhao M, Zhang M, Xu K, Wu K, Xie R, Li R, Wang Q, Liu W, Wang W, Wang X. Antimicrobial Effect of Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Human Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells on Candida albicans. Front Immunol 2022; 13:777613. [PMID: 35844569 PMCID: PMC9283572 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.777613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a commensal microorganism that colonizes the mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals. Changes in the host or environment can lead to overgrowth of C. albicans and infection of the host. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by almost all cell types and play an increasingly recognized role in fighting microbial infection. The aim of the present study was to assess whether EVs derived from human oral mucosal epithelial (Leuk-1) cells can suppress the growth and invasion of C. albicans. The in vitro efficacy of Leuk-1-EVs against C. albicans was assessed by optical microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The germ tube formation rate, the percentage of hyphae and the microcolony optical density were also used to analyze the growth of C. albicans in a coculture model with Leuk-1 cells and EVs or after inhibition of the secretion of EVs. A mouse model of oral candidiasis was established and submucosal injection of Leuk-1-EVs in the tongue was performed. Macroscopic observation, H&E staining, PAS staining, and scanning electron microscopy were used to assess antifungal effects of Leuk-1-EVs in vivo. The in vitro results showed that the growth of C. albicans was inhibited and that the morphology and ultrastructure were changed following Leuk-1-EVs treatment. The in vivo results exhibited that white lesions of the tongue, C. albicans infection, and oral mucosal inflammation of the infected mice were significantly alleviated after Leuk-1-EVs treatment. We thus reveal an antifungal capability of EVs derived from oral epithelial cells against C. albicans that is mediated by direct damage effects and potential synergy between EVs and human oral mucosal epithelial cells. This finding offers an intriguing, previously overlooked method of antifungal defense against C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maomao Zhao
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kaiyuan Xu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kaihui Wu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruiqi Xie
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruowei Li
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Disease and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Weida Liu
- Department of Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Disease and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenmei Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Wang, ; Wenmei Wang,
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Wang, ; Wenmei Wang,
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34
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Keshtkar S, Soleimanian S, Kaviani M, Sarvestani FS, Azarpira N, Asvar Z, Pakbaz S. Immune Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Face of Pathogenic Infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:906078. [PMID: 35844564 PMCID: PMC9279736 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.906078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are a collection of vesicles released from cells that play an important role in intercellular communication. Microbial infections are known as one of the major problems in the medical field. Considering the increasing resistance of strains to routine drug treatments, the need for new therapies seems to be more than ever. Recent studies have shown that the EVs released from immune cells during microbial infections had anti-microbial effects or were able to induce neighbouring cells to display anti-microbial effects. This mini-review aimed to explore the latest studies on immune cell-derived EVs in viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Review of the literature demonstrated that specific cargos in EVs were involved in the fight against pathogenic infections. Additionally, the transport of appropriate bioactive molecules including miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins via EVs could mediate the anti-microbial process. Thus, it could be a proof-of-principle that therapeutic approaches based on EVs derived from immune cells could offer a promising path forward, which is still in early stages and needs further assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Keshtkar
- Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeede Soleimanian
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Kaviani
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Negar Azarpira
- Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Negar Azarpira,
| | - Zahra Asvar
- Nanotechnology School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sara Pakbaz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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35
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Haro-Reyes T, Díaz-Peralta L, Galván-Hernández A, Rodríguez-López A, Rodríguez-Fragoso L, Ortega-Blake I. Polyene Antibiotics Physical Chemistry and Their Effect on Lipid Membranes; Impacting Biological Processes and Medical Applications. Membranes 2022; 12:membranes12070681. [PMID: 35877884 PMCID: PMC9316096 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This review examined a collection of studies regarding the molecular properties of some polyene antibiotic molecules as well as their properties in solution and in particular environmental conditions. We also looked into the proposed mechanism of action of polyenes, where membrane properties play a crucial role. Given the interest in polyene antibiotics as therapeutic agents, we looked into alternative ways of reducing their collateral toxicity, including semi-synthesis of derivatives and new formulations. We follow with studies on the role of membrane structure and, finally, recent developments regarding the most important clinical applications of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Haro-Reyes
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad s/n, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (T.H.-R.); (L.D.-P.); (A.G.-H.)
| | - Lucero Díaz-Peralta
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad s/n, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (T.H.-R.); (L.D.-P.); (A.G.-H.)
| | - Arturo Galván-Hernández
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad s/n, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (T.H.-R.); (L.D.-P.); (A.G.-H.)
| | - Anahi Rodríguez-López
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (A.R.-L.); (L.R.-F.)
| | - Lourdes Rodríguez-Fragoso
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (A.R.-L.); (L.R.-F.)
| | - Iván Ortega-Blake
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad s/n, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico; (T.H.-R.); (L.D.-P.); (A.G.-H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-77-7329-1762
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Blackburn SA, Shepherd M, Robinson GK. The polyene antifungal candicidin is selectively packaged into membrane vesicles in Streptomyces S4. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:289. [PMID: 35488016 PMCID: PMC9054904 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02906-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, much attention has been focused on the biogenesis, engineering and utilisation of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in Gram-negative bacteria in a range of environments and niches. While the precise mechanism of biogenesis is unknown, it is focused on the modification of the Gram-negative cell wall to facilitate blebbing at sites of weakness in and around the characteristically thin peptidoglycan layer within the periplasm. Here, we investigate the biogenesis of membrane vesicles (MVs) in the Gram-positive organism Streptomyces albus S4 (Seipke et al. J Bacteriol 193:4270–4271, 2011 and Fazal et al. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 113:511–520, 2020). The S. albus S4 strain is an antifungal (candicidin and antimycin) producing organism that was isolated from attine ants (Barke et al. BMC Biol 8:109, 2010). The biogenesis and characterisation of S. albus S4 MVs is demonstrated using the wild-type (WT) and mutant strains ΔantC (no antimycin production) ΔfscC (no candicidin production) and ΔantC ΔfscC (produces neither antimycin nor candicidin). Here, we have shown that the S. albus S4 strain produces MVs and that these are comprised of both specific protein profiles and secondary metabolites, with a clear demonstration of the ability to selectively package one antifungal (candicidin) but not the other (antimycin).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Blackburn
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Mark Shepherd
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Gary K Robinson
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK.
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Octaviano CE, Abrantes NE, Puccia R. Extracellular Vesicles From Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Can Induce the Expression of Fungal Virulence Traits In Vitro and Enhance Infection in Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:834653. [PMID: 35295759 PMCID: PMC8918656 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.834653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cellular components involved in cargo delivery to the extracellular environment, including the fungal cell wall. Their importance in cell–cell communication, cell wall remodeling, and fungal virulence is starting to be better explored. In the human pathogenic Paracoccidioides spp., our group has pioneered the description of the EV secretome, carbohydrate cargo, surface oligosaccharide ligands, lipid, and RNA content. Presently, we studied the role of fungal EVs in the context of the virulent/attenuated model of the P. brasiliensis Pb18 isolate, which consists of variants transiently displaying higher (vPb18) or attenuated (aPb18) virulence capacity. In this model, the virulence traits can be recovered through passages of aPb18 in mice. Here, we have been able to revert the aPb18 sensitivity to growth under oxidative and nitrosative stress upon previous co-incubation with vEVs from virulent vPb18. That was probably due to the expression of antioxidant molecules, considering that we observed increased gene expression of the alternative oxidase AOX and peroxiredoxins HYR1 and PRX1, in addition to higher catalase activity. We showed that aEVs from aPb18 stimulated macrophages of the RAW 264.7 and bone marrow-derived types to express high levels of inflammatory mediators, specifically, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and NO. In our experimental conditions, subcutaneous treatment with EVs (three doses, 7-day intervals) before vPb18 challenge exacerbated murine PCM, as concluded by higher colony-forming units in the lungs after 30 days of infection and histopathology analysis. That effect was largely pronounced after treatment with aEVs, probably because the lung TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations were specially increased in aEV-treated when compared with vEV-treated mice. Our present studies were performed with EVs isolated from yeast cell washes of confluent cultures in Ham’s F-12 defined medium. Under these conditions, vEVs and aEVs have similar sizes but probably distinct cargo, considering that vEVs tended to aggregate upon storage at 4°C and −20°C. Additionally, aEVs have decreased amounts of carbohydrate and protein. Our work brings important contribution to the understanding of the role of fungal EVs in cell–cell communication and on the effect of EVs in fungal infection, which clearly depends on the experimental conditions because EVs are complex and dynamic structures.
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Fang Y, Wang Z, Liu X, Tyler BM. Biogenesis and Biological Functions of Extracellular Vesicles in Cellular and Organismal Communication With Microbes. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:817844. [PMID: 35250933 PMCID: PMC8895202 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.817844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a prominent mechanism of transport and interaction between cells, especially microbes. Increasing evidence indicates that EVs play a key role in the physiological and pathological processes of pathogens and other symbionts. Recent research has focused on the specific functions of these vesicles during pathogen-host interactions, including trans-kingdom delivery of small RNAs, proteins and metabolites. Much current research on the function of EVs is focused on immunity and the interactions of microbes with human cells, while the roles of EVs during plant-microbe interactions have recently emerged in importance. In this review, we summarize recent research on the biogenesis of these vesicles and their functions in biology and pathology. Many key questions remain unclear, including the full structural and functional diversity of EVs, the roles of EVs in communication among microbes within microbiomes, how specific cargoes are targeted to EVs, whether EVs are targeted to specific destinations, and the full scope of EVs’ transport of virulence effectors and of RNA and DNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Landscape and Ecological Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xili Liu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xili Liu,
| | - Brett M. Tyler
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Brett M. Tyler,
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Ambati S, Pham T, Lewis ZA, Lin X, Meagher RB. DectiSomes: Glycan Targeting of Liposomal Drugs Improves the Treatment of Disseminated Candidiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0146721. [PMID: 34633846 PMCID: PMC8765427 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01467-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans causes life-threatening disseminated candidiasis. Individuals at greatest risk have weakened immune systems. An outer cell wall, exopolysaccharide matrix, and biofilm rich in oligoglucans and oligomannans help Candida spp. evade host defenses. Even after antifungal treatment, the 1-year mortality rate exceeds 25%. Undoubtedly, there is room to improve drug performance. The mammalian C-type lectin pathogen receptors Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 bind to fungal oligoglucans and oligomannans, respectively. We previously coated amphotericin B-loaded liposomes, AmB-LLs, pegylated analogs of AmBisome, with the ligand binding domains of these two Dectins. DectiSomes, DEC1-AmB-LLs and DEC2-AmB-LLs, showed two distinct patterns of binding to the exopolysaccharide matrix surrounding C. albicans hyphae grown in vitro. Here we showed that DectiSomes were preferentially associated with fungal colonies in the kidneys. In a neutropenic mouse model of candidiasis, DEC1-AmB-LLs and DEC2-AmB-LLs delivering only one dose of 0.2 mg/kg AmB reduced the kidney fungal burden several fold relative to AmB-LLs. DEC1-AmB-LLs and DEC2-AmB-LLs increased the percent of surviving mice 2.5-fold and 8.3-fold, respectively, relative to AmB-LLs. Dectin-2 targeting of anidulafungin loaded liposomes, DEC2-AFG-LLs, and of commercial AmBisome, DEC2-AmBisome, reduced fungal burden in the kidneys several fold over their untargeted counterparts. The data herein suggest that targeting of a variety of antifungal drugs to fungal glycans may achieve lower safer effective doses and improve drug efficacy against a variety of invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Ambati
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Tuyetnhu Pham
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Zachary A. Lewis
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Xiaorong Lin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Yang LB, Guo G, Tian ZQ, Zhou LX, Zhu LJ, Peng J, Sun CQ, Huang MJ. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the effects of novel antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 against Candida albicans. J Proteomics 2022; 250:104385. [PMID: 34606990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance, there is an urgent need to develop novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has an antifungal effect against C. albicans, but its mechanism of antifungal action remains unclear. In the current study, we performed a proteomics analysis in C. albicans using TMT technique under the treatment of AMP-17. A total of 3931 proteins were identified, of which 3600 included quantitative information. With a 1.5-fold change threshold and a t-test p-value < 0.05 as standard, 423 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were up-regulated and 180 DEPs were down-regulated in the AMP-17/control. Notably, GO enrichment revealed that DEPs associated with the cell wall, RNA and oxidative stress were significantly up-regulated, while DEPs involved in ergosterol metabolism and membrane were significantly down-regulated in the AMP-17/control. KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that DEPs involved seven significant metabolic pathways, mainly involved oxidative phosphorylation, RNA degradation, propanoate metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. These results show that AMP-17 induces a complex organism response in C. albicans, indicating that AMP-17 may inhibit growth by affecting multiple targets in C. albicans cells. SIGNIFICANCE: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of the innate immune system of organisms and having broad range of activity against fungi, bacteria and viruses. These AMPs are considered as probable candidate for forthcoming drugs, due to their broad range of activity, lesser toxicity and decreased resistance development by target cells. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from M. domestica, has significant antifungal activity against C. albicans. It has been confirmed that AMP-17 can play an antifungal effect by destroying the cell wall and cell membrane of C. albicans in previous studies, but its mechanism of action at the protein level is currently unclear. In the current study, using the TMT-based quantitative proteomics method, 603 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the cells of C. albicans treated with AMP-17 for 12 h, and these DEPs were closely related to cell wall, cell membrane, RNA degradation and oxidative stress. The results provide new insights into the potential mechanism of action of AMP- 17 against C. albicans. Meanwhile, it provides certain technical support and theoretical basis for the research and development of novel peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Bing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
| | - Zhu-Qing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Luo-Xiong Zhou
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biology & Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao-Qin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ming-Jiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Milne G, Walker LA. High-Pressure Freezing and Transmission Electron Microscopy to Visualize the Ultrastructure of the C. auris Cell Wall. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2517:189-201. [PMID: 35674955 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2417-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is the main technique used to study the ultrastructure of biological samples. Chemical fixation was considered the main method for preserving samples for TEM; however, it is a relatively slow method of fixation and can result in morphological alterations. Cryofixation using high-pressure freezing (HPF) overcomes the limitations of chemical fixation by preserving samples instantly. Here, we describe our HPF methods optimized for visualizing Candida auris at the ultrastructural level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Milne
- Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Louise A Walker
- Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
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Duanis‐Assaf D, Galsurker O, Davydov O, Maurer D, Feygenberg O, Sagi M, Poverenov E, Fluhr R, Alkan N. Double-stranded RNA targeting fungal ergosterol biosynthesis pathway controls Botrytis cinerea and postharvest grey mould. Plant Biotechnol J 2022; 20:226-237. [PMID: 34520611 PMCID: PMC8710829 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi cause major postharvest losses. During storage and ripening, fruit becomes highly susceptible to fungi that cause postharvest disease. Fungicides are effective treatments to limit disease. However, due to increased public concern for their possible side effects, there is a need to develop new strategies to control postharvest fungal pathogens. Botrytis cinerea, a common postharvest pathogen, was shown to uptake small double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules from the host plant. Such dsRNA can regulate gene expression through the RNA interference system. This work aimed to develop a synthetic dsRNA simultaneously targeting three essential transcripts active in the fungal ergosterol biosynthesis pathway (dsRNA-ERG). Our results show initial uptake of dsRNA in the emergence zone of the germination tube that spreads throughout the fungus and results in down-regulation of all three targeted transcripts. Application of dsRNA-ERG decreased B. cinerea germination and growth in in vitro conditions and various fruits, leading to reduce grey-mould decay. The inhibition of growth or decay was reversed by the addition of ergosterol. While dual treatment with dsRNA-ERG and ergosterol-inhibitor fungicide reduced by 100-fold the required amount of fungicide to achieve the same protection rate. The application of dsRNA-ERG induced systemic protection as shown by decreased decay development at inoculation points distant from the treatment point in tomato and pepper fruits. Overall, this study suggests that dsRNA-ERG can effectively control B. cinerea growth and grey-mould development suggesting its efficacy as a future method for postharvest control of fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Duanis‐Assaf
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Ortal Galsurker
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Olga Davydov
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Dalia Maurer
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Oleg Feygenberg
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Moshe Sagi
- French Associates Institute for Agricultural and Biotechnology of DrylandsBlaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer ShevaIsrael
| | - Elena Poverenov
- Department of Food Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
| | - Robert Fluhr
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Noam Alkan
- Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh ProduceAgricultural Research Organization (ARO)Volcani InstituteRishon LeZionIsrael
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Abstract
The ubiquity and potency of antibiotics may give the false impression that infection is a solved problem. Unfortunately, even bacterial infections, the target of antibiotics, remain a major cause of illness and death. Several major unmet needs persist: biofilms, such as those on implanted hardware, largely resist antibiotics; the inflammatory host response to infection often produces more damage than the infection itself; and systemic antibiotics often decimate the gut microbiome, which can predispose to additional infections and even predispose to non-infectious diseases. Additionally, there is an increasing threat from multi-drug resistant microorganisms, though market forces may continue to inhibit innovation in this realm. These numerous unmet infection-related needs provide attractive goals for innovation of targeted drug delivery technologies, especially those of nanomedicine. Here we review several of those innovations in pre-clinical development, the two such therapies which have made it to clinical use, and the opportunities for further technology development for treating infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Rubey
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jacob S Brenner
- Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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44
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Tobin E, Brenner S. Nanotechnology Fundamentals Applied to Clinical Infectious Diseases and Public Health. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab583. [PMID: 34988245 PMCID: PMC8694202 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanotechnology involves the discovery and fabrication of nanoscale materials possessing unique physicochemical properties that are being employed in industry and medicine. Infectious Diseases clinicians and public health scientists utilize nanotechnology applications to diagnose, treat, and prevent infectious diseases. However, fundamental principles of nanotechnology are often presented in technical formats that presuppose an advanced knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering, thereby limiting the clinician’s grasp of the underlying science. While nanoscience is technically complex, it need not be out of reach of the clinical practitioner. The aim of this review is to introduce fundamental principles of nanotechnology in an accessible format, describe examples of current clinical infectious diseases and public health applications, and provide a foundation that will aid understanding of and appreciation for this burgeoning and important field of science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis Tobin
- College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Sara Brenner
- Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, Office of Product Evaluation and Quality, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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45
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Chakraborty A, Jasieniak M, Coad BR, Griesser HJ. Candida albicans Can Survive Antifungal Surface Coatings on Surfaces with Microcone Topography. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2021; 4:7769-7778. [PMID: 35006760 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
This study demonstrates the ability of Candida albicans, a medically significant human fungal pathogen, to minimize contact with an antifungal surface coating that on a flat surface is lethal on contact by growing on and between micron-sized surface topographical features, thus minimizing the contact area. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cells contacting the "floor" between microcones were killed, whereas cells attached to microcones survived and formed hyphal filaments. These spanned space between cones and avoided contact with the flat surface in-between cones. Thus, fungal cells managed to attach and grow despite the antifungal coating. This ability of Candida albicans to exploit topography features to minimize surface contact yet utilize the solid surface for anchoring reduces the effectiveness of the grafted antifungal surface coating. This suggests that biomedical devices with rough surfaces might be more challenging to protect against fungal biofilm formation via application of an antifungal coating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Chakraborty
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Marek Jasieniak
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Bryan R Coad
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia.,School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Hans J Griesser
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
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46
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Hao G, McCormick S, Vaughan MM. Effects of Double-Stranded RNAs Targeting Fusarium graminearum TRI6 on Fusarium Head Blight and Mycotoxins. Phytopathology 2021; 111:2080-2087. [PMID: 33823648 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-10-20-0468-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), which reduces crop yield and contaminates grains with poisonous trichothecene mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON). DON functions as an important virulence factor that promotes FHB spread in wheat; therefore, reducing DON production will decrease yield losses to FHB and increase food safety. Recent progress in the topical application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to reduce F. graminearum infection has provided encouraging results. In this study, we designed and synthesized dsRNA targeting the transcription factor TRI6 (TRI6-dsRNA), which is a key regulator of DON biosynthesis. The expression of F. graminearum TRI6 was significantly lower in detached wheat heads treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution compared with the controls. Furthermore, TRI6-dsRNA treatments reduced disease and DON accumulation in inoculated detached wheat heads. Therefore, topical applications of TRI6-dsRNA on wheat heads of intact plants were assessed for their ability to reduce FHB and DON under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. When wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution in growth chamber conditions, TRI6-dsRNA treatments failed to prevent FHB spread. However, when wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution under greenhouse conditions, FHB and DON were significantly reduced, and infection was restricted to the inoculated floret. In addition, addition of TRI6-dsRNA to toxin induction liquid media had no effect on F. graminearum 15-ADON production. Our study demonstrates that the efficacy of dsRNA applications is strongly dependent on application methods and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixia Hao
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Susan McCormick
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Martha M Vaughan
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
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Qiao L, Lan C, Capriotti L, Ah-Fong A, Nino Sanchez J, Hamby R, Heller J, Zhao H, Glass NL, Judelson HS, Mezzetti B, Niu D, Jin H. Spray-induced gene silencing for disease control is dependent on the efficiency of pathogen RNA uptake. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1756-1768. [PMID: 33774895 DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.01.429265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent discoveries show that fungi can take up environmental RNA, which can then silence fungal genes through environmental RNA interference. This discovery prompted the development of Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) for plant disease management. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of SIGS across a variety of eukaryotic microbes. We first examined the efficiency of RNA uptake in multiple pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, and an oomycete pathogen. We observed efficient double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake in the fungal plant pathogens Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus niger and Verticillium dahliae, but no uptake in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and weak uptake in a beneficial fungus, Trichoderma virens. For the oomycete plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, RNA uptake was limited and varied across different cell types and developmental stages. Topical application of dsRNA targeting virulence-related genes in pathogens with high RNA uptake efficiency significantly inhibited plant disease symptoms, whereas the application of dsRNA in pathogens with low RNA uptake efficiency did not suppress infection. Our results have revealed that dsRNA uptake efficiencies vary across eukaryotic microbe species and cell types. The success of SIGS for plant disease management can largely be determined by the pathogen's RNA uptake efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, China
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Chi Lan
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, China
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Audrey Ah-Fong
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jonatan Nino Sanchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jens Heller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, China
| | - N Louise Glass
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Howard S Judelson
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Dongdong Niu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, China
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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Qiao L, Lan C, Capriotti L, Ah‐Fong A, Nino Sanchez J, Hamby R, Heller J, Zhao H, Glass NL, Judelson HS, Mezzetti B, Niu D, Jin H. Spray-induced gene silencing for disease control is dependent on the efficiency of pathogen RNA uptake. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1756-1768. [PMID: 33774895 PMCID: PMC8428832 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Recent discoveries show that fungi can take up environmental RNA, which can then silence fungal genes through environmental RNA interference. This discovery prompted the development of Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) for plant disease management. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of SIGS across a variety of eukaryotic microbes. We first examined the efficiency of RNA uptake in multiple pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, and an oomycete pathogen. We observed efficient double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake in the fungal plant pathogens Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus niger and Verticillium dahliae, but no uptake in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and weak uptake in a beneficial fungus, Trichoderma virens. For the oomycete plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, RNA uptake was limited and varied across different cell types and developmental stages. Topical application of dsRNA targeting virulence-related genes in pathogens with high RNA uptake efficiency significantly inhibited plant disease symptoms, whereas the application of dsRNA in pathogens with low RNA uptake efficiency did not suppress infection. Our results have revealed that dsRNA uptake efficiencies vary across eukaryotic microbe species and cell types. The success of SIGS for plant disease management can largely be determined by the pathogen's RNA uptake efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Chi Lan
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
| | - Luca Capriotti
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Audrey Ah‐Fong
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Jonatan Nino Sanchez
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Jens Heller
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology DivisionThe Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
| | - N. Louise Glass
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology DivisionThe Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Howard S. Judelson
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesMarche Polytechnic UniversityAnconaItaly
| | - Dongdong Niu
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education)NanjingChina
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology & Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
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Abstract
Plants communicate with their interacting microorganisms through the exchange of functional molecules. This communication is critical for plant immunity, for pathogen virulence, and for establishing and maintaining symbioses. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed spheres that are released by both the host and the microbe into the extracellular environment. Emerging evidence has shown that EVs play a prominent role in plant-microbe interactions by safely transporting functional molecules, such as proteins and RNAs to interacting organisms. Recent studies revealed that plant EVs deliver fungal gene-targeting small RNAs into fungal pathogens to suppress infection via cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi). In this review, we focus on the recent advances in our understanding of plant EVs and their role in plant-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoye He
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Rachael Hamby
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
| | - Hailing Jin
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyCenter for Plant Cell BiologyInstitute for Integrative Genome BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCAUSA
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Stotz HU, Brotherton D, Inal J. Communication is key: Extracellular vesicles as mediators of infection and defence during host-microbe interactions in animals and plants. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6358524. [PMID: 34448857 PMCID: PMC8767456 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now understood to be ubiquitous mediators of cellular communication. In this review, we suggest that EVs have evolved into a highly regulated system of communication with complex functions including export of wastes, toxins and nutrients, targeted delivery of immune effectors and vectors of RNA silencing. Eukaryotic EVs come in different shapes and sizes and have been classified according to their biogenesis and size distributions. Small EVs (or exosomes) are released through fusion of endosome-derived multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane. Medium EVs (or microvesicles) bud off the plasma membrane as a form of exocytosis. Finally, large EVs (or apoptotic bodies) are produced as a result of the apoptotic process. This review considers EV secretion and uptake in four eukaryotic kingdoms, three of which produce cell walls. The impacts cell walls have on EVs in plants and fungi are discussed, as are roles of fungal EVs in virulence. Contributions of plant EVs to development and innate immunity are presented. Compelling cases are sporophytic self-incompatibility and cellular invasion by haustorium-forming filamentous pathogens. The involvement of EVs in all of these eukaryotic processes is reconciled considering their evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik U Stotz
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Dominik Brotherton
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Jameel Inal
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.,School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, N7 8DB, UK
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