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Nenciarini S, Renzi S, di Paola M, Meriggi N, Cavalieri D. The yeast-human coevolution: Fungal transition from passengers, colonizers, and invaders. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1639. [PMID: 38146626 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Fungi are the cause of more than a billion infections in humans every year, although their interactions with the host are still neglected compared to bacteria. Major systemic fungal infections are very unusual in the healthy population, due to the long history of coevolution with the human host. Humans are routinely exposed to environmental fungi and can host a commensal mycobiota, which is increasingly considered as a key player in health and disease. Here, we review the current knowledge on host-fungi coevolution and the factors that regulate their interaction. On one hand, fungi have learned to survive and inhabit the host organisms as a natural ecosystem, on the other hand, the host immune system finely tunes the response toward fungi. In turn, recognition of fungi as commensals or pathogens regulates the host immune balance in health and disease. In the human gut ecosystem, yeasts provide a fingerprint of the transient microbiota. Their status as passengers or colonizers is related to the integrity of the gut barrier and the risk of multiple disorders. Thus, the study of this less known component of the microbiota could unravel the rules of the transition from passengers to colonizers and invaders, as well as their dependence on the innate component of the host's immune response. This article is categorized under: Infectious Diseases > Environmental Factors Immune System Diseases > Environmental Factors Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonia Renzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica di Paola
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Niccolò Meriggi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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2
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Kunanopparat A, Dinh TTH, Ponpakdee P, Padungros P, Kaewduangduen W, Ariya-Anandech K, Tummamunkong P, Samaeng A, Sae-Ear P, Leelahavanichkul A, Hirankarn N, Ritprajak P. Complement receptor 3-dependent engagement by Candida glabrata β-glucan modulates dendritic cells to induce regulatory T-cell expansion. Open Biol 2024; 14:230315. [PMID: 38806144 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida glabrata is an important pathogen causing invasive infection associated with a high mortality rate. One mechanism that causes the failure of Candida eradication is an increase in regulatory T cells (Treg), which play a major role in immune suppression and promoting Candida pathogenicity. To date, how C. glabrata induces a Treg response remains unclear. Dendritic cells (DCs) recognition of fungi provides the fundamental signal determining the fate of the T-cell response. This study investigated the interplay between C. glabrata and DCs and its effect on Treg induction. We found that C. glabrata β-glucan was a major component that interacted with DCs and consequently mediated the Treg response. Blocking the binding of C. glabrata β-glucan to dectin-1 and complement receptor 3 (CR3) showed that CR3 activation in DCs was crucial for the induction of Treg. Furthermore, a ligand-receptor binding assay showed the preferential binding of C. glabrata β-glucan to CR3. Our data suggest that C. glabrata β-glucan potentially mediates the Treg response, probably through CR3-dependent activation in DCs. This study contributes new insights into immune modulation by C. glabrata that may lead to a better design of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for invasive C. glabrata infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areerat Kunanopparat
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Truc Thi Huong Dinh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
- Medical Microbiology Interdisciplinary Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Vietnam
| | - Pranpariya Ponpakdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Green Chemistry for Fine Chemical Production and Environmental Remediation Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panuwat Padungros
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Green Chemistry for Fine Chemical Production and Environmental Remediation Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Warerat Kaewduangduen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kasirapat Ariya-Anandech
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phawida Tummamunkong
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Amanee Samaeng
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pannagorn Sae-Ear
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral Biology Research Center, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Asada Leelahavanichkul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology (CETRII), Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattiya Hirankarn
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patcharee Ritprajak
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Center of Excellence in Integrative Immuno-Microbial Biochemistry and Bioresponsive Nanomaterials, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok, Thailand
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Gonçalves SM, Pereira I, Feys S, Cunha C, Chamilos G, Hoenigl M, Wauters J, van de Veerdonk FL, Carvalho A. Integrating genetic and immune factors to uncover pathogenetic mechanisms of viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. mBio 2024:e0198223. [PMID: 38651925 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01982-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a severe fungal infection primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Individuals with severe viral infections have recently been identified as vulnerable to developing invasive fungal infections. Both influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are linked to high mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for an improved understanding of disease pathogenesis to unveil new molecular targets with diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The recent establishment of animal models replicating the co-infection context has offered crucial insights into the mechanisms that underlie susceptibility to disease. However, the development and progression of human viral-fungal co-infections exhibit a significant degree of interindividual variability, even among patients with similar clinical conditions. This observation implies a significant role for host genetics, but information regarding the genetic basis for viral-fungal co-infections is currently limited. In this review, we discuss how genetic factors known to affect either antiviral or antifungal immunity could potentially reveal pathogenetic mechanisms that predispose to IAPA or CAPA and influence the overall disease course. These insights are anticipated to foster further research in both pre-clinical models and human patients, aiming to elucidate the complex pathophysiology of viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and contributing to the identification of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets to improve the management of these co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Inês Pereira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Simon Feys
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
| | - Joost Wauters
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
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Hou X, Li C, Liu J, Yang S, Peng X, Wang Q, Liu C, Liu X, Luan J, Zhao G, Lin J. Cathelicidin boosts the antifungal activity of neutrophils and improves prognosis during Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0048323. [PMID: 38501672 PMCID: PMC11003229 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00483-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is one of the common pathogens of fungal keratitis. Fungal growth and invasion cause excessive inflammation and corneal damage, leading to severe vision loss. Neutrophils are the primary infiltrating cells critical for fungal clearance. Cathelicidin [LL-37 in humans and cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) in mice], a natural antimicrobial peptide, can directly inhibit the growth of many pathogens and regulate immune responses. However, the role of cathelicidin and its effect on neutrophils in A. fumigatus keratitis remain unclear. By establishing A. fumigatus keratitis mouse models, we found that cathelicidin was increased in A. fumigatus keratitis. It could reduce fungal loads, lower clinical scores, and improve corneal transparency. Restriction of CRAMP on fungal proliferation was largely counteracted in CD18-/- mice, in which neutrophils cannot migrate into infected sites. When WT neutrophils were transferred into CD18-/- mice, corneal fungal loads were distinctly reduced, indicating that neutrophils are vital for CRAMP-mediated resistance. Furthermore, cathelicidin promoted neutrophils to phagocytose and degrade conidia both in vitro and in vivo. CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) was reported to be a functional receptor of LL-37 on neutrophils. CXCR2 antagonist SB225002 or phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 weakened LL-37-induced phagocytosis. Meanwhile, LL-37 induced PLC γ phosphorylation, which was attenuated by SB225002. SB225002 or the autophagy inhibitors Bafilomycin-A1 and 3-Methyladenine weakened LL-37-induced degradation of conidia. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observed that LL-37 increased autophagosomes in Aspergillus-infected neutrophils. Consistently, LL-37 elevated autophagy-associated protein expressions (Beclin-1 and LC3-II), but this effect was weakened by SB225002. Collectively, cathelicidin reduces fungal loads and improves the prognosis of A. fumigatus keratitis. Both in vitro and in vivo, cathelicidin promotes neutrophils to phagocytose and degrade conidia. LL-37/CXCR2 activates PLC γ to amplify neutrophils' phagocytosis and induces autophagy to eliminate intracellular conidia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Hou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Cui Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jingyi Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xudong Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Chengxiu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Junjie Luan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Guiqiu Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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5
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Tanner CD, Rosowski EE. Macrophages inhibit extracellular hyphal growth of A. fumigatus through Rac2 GTPase signaling. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0038023. [PMID: 38168666 PMCID: PMC10863406 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00380-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages act as a first line of defense against pathogens. Against Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus with pathogenic potential in immunocompromised patients, macrophages can phagocytose fungal spores and inhibit spore germination to prevent the development of tissue-invasive hyphae. However, the cellular pathways that macrophages use to accomplish these tasks and any roles macrophages have later in infection against invasive forms of fungi are still not fully known. Rac-family Rho GTPases are signaling hubs for multiple cellular functions in leukocytes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and transcriptional activation. We therefore aimed to further characterize the function of macrophages against A. fumigatus in an in vivo vertebrate infection model by live imaging of the macrophage behavior in A. fumigatus-infected rac2 mutant zebrafish larvae. While Rac2-deficient zebrafish larvae are susceptible to A. fumigatus infection, Rac2 deficiency does not impair macrophage migration to the infection site, interaction with and phagocytosis of spores, spore trafficking to acidified compartments, or spore killing. However, we reveal a role for Rac2 in macrophage-mediated inhibition of spore germination and control of invasive hyphae. Re-expression of Rac2 under a macrophage-specific promoter rescues the survival of A. fumigatus-infected rac2 mutant larvae through increased control of germination and hyphal growth. Altogether, we describe a new role for macrophages against extracellular hyphal growth of A. fumigatus and report that the function of the Rac2 Rho GTPase in macrophages is required for this function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Tanner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Emily E. Rosowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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6
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Ul Haq I, Maryam S, Shyntum DY, Khan TA, Li F. Exploring the frontiers of therapeutic breadth of antifungal peptides: A new avenue in antifungal drugs. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 51:kuae018. [PMID: 38710584 PMCID: PMC11119867 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The growing prevalence of fungal infections alongside rising resistance to antifungal drugs poses a significant challenge to public health safety. At the close of the 2000s, major pharmaceutical firms began to scale back on antimicrobial research due to repeated setbacks and diminished economic gains, leaving only smaller companies and research labs to pursue new antifungal solutions. Among various natural sources explored for novel antifungal compounds, antifungal peptides (AFPs) emerge as particularly promising. Despite their potential, AFPs receive less focus than their antibacterial counterparts. These peptides have been sourced extensively from nature, including plants, animals, insects, and especially bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, with advancements in recombinant biotechnology and computational biology, AFPs can also be synthesized in lab settings, facilitating peptide production. AFPs are noted for their wide-ranging efficacy, in vitro and in vivo safety, and ability to combat biofilms. They are distinguished by their high specificity, minimal toxicity to cells, and reduced likelihood of resistance development. This review aims to comprehensively cover AFPs, including their sources-both natural and synthetic-their antifungal and biofilm-fighting capabilities in laboratory and real-world settings, their action mechanisms, and the current status of AFP research. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY This comprehensive review of AFPs will be helpful for further research in antifungal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihtisham Ul Haq
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Inovação Tecnológica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Sajida Maryam
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Divine Y Shyntum
- Biotechnology Centre, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego 8, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Taj A Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Fan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
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7
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Bombassaro A, Figueiredo JM, Taborda CP, Joosten LAB, Vicente VA, Queiroz-Telles F, Meis JF, Kischkel B. Skin innate immune response against fungal infections and the potential role of trained immunity. Mycoses 2024; 67. [PMID: 38282360 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Fungal skin infections are distributed worldwide and can be associated with economic and social traits. The immune response related to skin cells is complex and its understanding is essential to the comprehension of each cell's role and the discovery of treatment alternatives. The first studies of trained immunity (TI) described the ability of monocytes, macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells to develop a memory-like response. However, the duration of TI does not reflect the shorter lifespan of these cells. These conclusions supported later studies showing that TI can be observed in stem and haematopoietic cells and, more recently, also in non-immune skin cells such as fibroblasts, highlighting the importance of resident cells in response to skin disorders. Besides, the participation of less studied proinflammatory cytokines in the skin immune response, such as IL-36γ, shed light into a new possibility of inflammatory pathway blockade by drugs. In this review, we will discuss the skin immune response associated with fungal infections, the role of TI in skin and clinical evidence supporting opportunities and challenges of TI and other inflammatory responses in the pathogenesis of fungal skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bombassaro
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Julia Marcondes Figueiredo
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos P Taborda
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Dermatology, LIM53, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vania A Vicente
- Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Engineering Bioprocess and Biotechnology Post-graduation Program, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Flavio Queiroz-Telles
- Department of Public Health, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Engineering Bioprocess and Biotechnology Post-graduation Program, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Brenda Kischkel
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Elalouf A, Elalouf H, Rosenfeld A. Modulatory immune responses in fungal infection associated with organ transplant - advancements, management, and challenges. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1292625. [PMID: 38143753 PMCID: PMC10748506 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1292625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ transplantation stands as a pivotal achievement in modern medicine, offering hope to individuals with end-stage organ diseases. Advancements in immunology led to improved organ transplant survival through the development of immunosuppressants, but this heightened susceptibility to fungal infections with nonspecific symptoms in recipients. This review aims to establish an intricate balance between immune responses and fungal infections in organ transplant recipients. It explores the fundamental immune mechanisms, recent advances in immune response dynamics, and strategies for immune modulation, encompassing responses to fungal infections, immunomodulatory approaches, diagnostics, treatment challenges, and management. Early diagnosis of fungal infections in transplant patients is emphasized with the understanding that innate immune responses could potentially reduce immunosuppression and promise efficient and safe immuno-modulating treatments. Advances in fungal research and genetic influences on immune-fungal interactions are underscored, as well as the potential of single-cell technologies integrated with machine learning for biomarker discovery. This review provides a snapshot of the complex interplay between immune responses and fungal infections in organ transplantation and underscores key research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Elalouf
- Department of Management, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hadas Elalouf
- Information Science Department, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ariel Rosenfeld
- Information Science Department, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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9
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Moubarz G, Shousha WG, Saad-Hussein A, Shawky MM, Shawky S. Influence of chitotriosidase gene polymorphisms on oxidative stress and susceptibility to Aspergillus infection among exposed workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1195-1204. [PMID: 35616283 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2080189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) is involved in the innate defense against chitin-containing pathogens. In the present study, we sought to investigate the role of CHIT1 gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to Aspergillus infection in addition to oxidative stress caused by infection. CHIT1 gene polymorphisms were identified in 60 Aspergillus-positive workers by REFLP. We also measured concentrations of the CHIT1 enzyme, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The majority of workers were wild-type (AA) (66.5%), followed by heterozygous (AB) (28.5%), and homozygous mutants (BB) (5%). The mean concentrations of specific IgE for all Aspergillus species were affected by change in CHIT1 genotypes. Our findings indicate that decreased CHIT1 activity in homozygous mutant CHIT1 allele is associated with a subsequent decrease in TAC levels, resulting in an increased risk of fungal infection and accumulation of oxidant MDA. Thus, CHIT1 enzyme activity plays a critical role in the susceptibility of WWTP workers to fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehan Moubarz
- Environmental & Occupational Medicine Department, Environment & Climate Change Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Amal Saad-Hussein
- Environmental & Occupational Medicine Department, Environment & Climate Change Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
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10
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Douglas LM, Min K, Konopka JB. Candida albicans resistance to hypochlorous acid. mBio 2023; 14:e0267123. [PMID: 38032204 PMCID: PMC10746268 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02671-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack Candida albicans and other microbial pathogens. However, the effects of hypochlorous acid on C. albicans have been less well studied than H2O2, a different type of oxidant produced by phagocytes. HOCl kills C. albicans more effectively than H2O2 and results in disruption of the plasma membrane. HOCl induced a very different transcriptional response than H2O2, and there were significant differences in the susceptibility of mutant strains of C. albicans to these oxidants. Altogether, these results indicate that HOCl has distinct effects on cells that could be targeted in novel therapeutic strategies to enhance the killing of C. albicans and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lois M. Douglas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kyunghun Min
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - James B. Konopka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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11
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Deng R, Wang X, Li R. Dermatophyte infection: from fungal pathogenicity to host immune responses. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1285887. [PMID: 38022599 PMCID: PMC10652793 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1285887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermatophytosis is a common superficial infection caused by dermatophytes, a group of pathogenic keratinophilic fungi. Apart from invasion against skin barrier, host immune responses to dermatophytes could also lead to pathologic inflammation and tissue damage to some extent. Therefore, it is of great help to understand the pathogenesis of dermatophytes, including fungal virulence factors and anti-pathogen immune responses. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in host-fungal interactions, focusing on the mechanisms of anti-fungal immunity and the relationship between immune deficiency and chronic dermatophytosis, in order to facilitate novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to improve the outcomes of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixin Deng
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
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12
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Zhao N, Chung TD, Guo Z, Jamieson JJ, Liang L, Linville RM, Pessell AF, Wang L, Searson PC. The influence of physiological and pathological perturbations on blood-brain barrier function. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1289894. [PMID: 37937070 PMCID: PMC10626523 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1289894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is located at the interface between the vascular system and the brain parenchyma, and is responsible for communication with systemic circulation and peripheral tissues. During life, the BBB can be subjected to a wide range of perturbations or stresses that may be endogenous or exogenous, pathological or therapeutic, or intended or unintended. The risk factors for many diseases of the brain are multifactorial and involve perturbations that may occur simultaneously (e.g., two-hit model for Alzheimer's disease) and result in different outcomes. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of individual perturbations on BBB function in isolation. Here we review the effects of eight perturbations: mechanical forces, temperature, electromagnetic radiation, hypoxia, endogenous factors, exogenous factors, chemical factors, and pathogens. While some perturbations may result in acute or chronic BBB disruption, many are also exploited for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The resultant outcome on BBB function depends on the dose (or magnitude) and duration of the perturbation. Homeostasis may be restored by self-repair, for example, via processes such as proliferation of affected cells or angiogenesis to create new vasculature. Transient or sustained BBB dysfunction may result in acute or pathological symptoms, for example, microhemorrhages or hypoperfusion. In more extreme cases, perturbations may lead to cytotoxicity and cell death, for example, through exposure to cytotoxic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhao
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tracy D. Chung
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zhaobin Guo
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - John J. Jamieson
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lily Liang
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Raleigh M. Linville
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alex F. Pessell
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Linus Wang
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Peter C. Searson
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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13
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Klassert TE, Hölzer M, Zubiria-Barrera C, Bethge J, Klaile E, Müller MM, Marz M, Slevogt H. Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1014. [PMID: 37888270 PMCID: PMC10607568 DOI: 10.3390/jof9101014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are critical phagocytic cells in innate immunity, playing a significant role in defending against invasive fungal pathogens. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional activation of human neutrophils in response to different fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, compared to the bacterial pathogen Escherichia coli. We identified distinct transcriptional profiles and stress-related pathways in neutrophils during fungal infections, highlighting their functional diversity and adaptability. The transcriptional response was largely redundant across all pathogens in immune-relevant categories and cytokine pathway activation. However, differences in the magnitude of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed, with A. fumigatus inducing a lower transcriptional effect compared to C. albicans and E. coli. Notably, specific gene signatures associated with cell death were differentially regulated by fungal pathogens, potentially increasing neutrophil susceptibility to autophagy, pyroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex immunological responses of neutrophils during fungal infections, offering new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the management of invasive fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman E. Klassert
- Respiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (C.Z.-B.); (H.S.)
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), BREATH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Hölzer
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Genome Competence Center (MF1), Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Cristina Zubiria-Barrera
- Respiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (C.Z.-B.); (H.S.)
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), BREATH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia Bethge
- ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany (E.K.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Esther Klaile
- ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany (E.K.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Mario M. Müller
- ZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany (E.K.); (M.M.M.)
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Hortense Slevogt
- Respiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (C.Z.-B.); (H.S.)
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), BREATH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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14
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Taylor TC, Coleman BM, Arunkumar SP, Dey I, Dillon JT, Ponde NO, Poholek AC, Schwartz DM, McGeachy MJ, Conti HR, Gaffen SL. IκBζ is an essential mediator of immunity to oropharyngeal candidiasis. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1700-1713.e4. [PMID: 37725983 PMCID: PMC10591851 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Fungal infections are a global threat; yet, there are no licensed vaccines to any fungal pathogens. Th17 cells mediate immunity to Candida albicans, particularly oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), but essential downstream mechanisms remain unclear. In the murine model of OPC, IκBζ (Nfkbiz, a non-canonical NF-κB transcription factor) was upregulated in an interleukin (IL)-17-dependent manner and was essential to prevent candidiasis. Deletion of Nfkbiz rendered mice highly susceptible to OPC. IκBζ was dispensable in hematopoietic cells and acted partially in the suprabasal oral epithelium to control OPC. One prominent IκBζ-dependent gene target was β-defensin 3 (BD3) (Defb3), an essential antimicrobial peptide. Human oral epithelial cells required IκBζ for IL-17-mediated induction of BD2 (DEFB4A, human ortholog of mouse Defb3) through binding to the DEFB4A promoter. Unexpectedly, IκBζ regulated the transcription factor Egr3, which was essential for C. albicans induction of BD2/DEFB4A. Accordingly, IκBζ and Egr3 comprise an antifungal signaling hub mediating mucosal defense against oral candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Taylor
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Bianca M Coleman
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Samyuktha P Arunkumar
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Ipsita Dey
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - John T Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Nicole O Ponde
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Amanda C Poholek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Children's Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Daniella M Schwartz
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Mandy J McGeachy
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Heather R Conti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Sarah L Gaffen
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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15
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Gander-Bui HTT, Schläfli J, Baumgartner J, Walthert S, Genitsch V, van Geest G, Galván JA, Cardozo C, Graham Martinez C, Grans M, Muth S, Bruggmann R, Probst HC, Gabay C, Freigang S. Targeted removal of macrophage-secreted interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protects against lethal Candida albicans sepsis. Immunity 2023; 56:1743-1760.e9. [PMID: 37478856 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are associated with high mortality rates, and the lack of efficient treatment options emphasizes an urgency to identify underlying disease mechanisms. We report that disseminated Candida albicans infection is facilitated by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) secreted from macrophages in two temporally and spatially distinct waves. Splenic CD169+ macrophages release IL-1Ra into the bloodstream, impeding early neutrophil recruitment. IL-1Ra secreted by monocyte-derived tissue macrophages further impairs pathogen containment. Therapeutic IL-1Ra neutralization restored the functional competence of neutrophils, corrected maladapted hyper-inflammation, and eradicated the otherwise lethal infection. Conversely, augmentation of macrophage-secreted IL-1Ra by type I interferon severely aggravated disease mortality. Our study uncovers how a fundamental immunoregulatory mechanism mediates the high disease susceptibility to invasive candidiasis. Furthermore, interferon-stimulated IL-1Ra secretion may exacerbate fungal dissemination in human patients with secondary candidemia. Macrophage-secreted IL-1Ra should be considered as an additional biomarker and potential therapeutic target in severe systemic candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Thi Thuy Gander-Bui
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joëlle Schläfli
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Baumgartner
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Walthert
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vera Genitsch
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geert van Geest
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - José A Galván
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Cardozo
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Mona Grans
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabine Muth
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Cem Gabay
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Freigang
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.
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16
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de Chaves MA, da Costa BS, de Souza JA, Batista MA, de Andrade SF, Hage-Melim LIDS, Abegg M, Lopes MS, Fuentefria AM. In silico and in vitro analysis of the mechanisms of action of nitroxoline against some medically important opportunistic fungi. J Mycol Med 2023; 33:101411. [PMID: 37413753 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2023.101411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The increasing resistance to antifungal agents associated with toxicity and interactions turns therapeutic management of fungal infections difficult. This scenario emphasizes the importance of drug repositioning, such as nitroxoline - a urinary antibacterial agent that has shown potential antifungal activity. The aims of this study were to discover the possible therapeutic targets of nitroxoline using an in silico approach, and to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of the drug against the fungal cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. We explored the biological activity of nitroxoline using PASS, SwissTargetPrediction and Cortellis Drug Discovery Intelligence web tools. After confirmation, the molecule was designed and optimized in HyperChem software. GOLD 2020.1 software was used to predict the interactions between the drug and the target proteins. In vitro investigation evaluated the effect of nitroxoline on the fungal cell wall through sorbitol protection assay. Ergosterol binding assay was carried out to assess the effect of the drug on the cytoplasmic membrane. In silico investigation revealed biological activity with alkane 1-monooxygenase and methionine aminopeptidase enzymes, showing nine and five interactions in the molecular docking, respectively. In vitro results exhibited no effect on the fungal cell wall or cytoplasmic membrane. Finally, nitroxoline has potential as an antifungal agent due to the interaction with alkane 1-monooxygenase and methionine aminopeptidase enzymes, which are not the main human therapeutic targets. These results have potentially revealed a new biological target for the treatment of fungal infections. We also consider that further studies are required to confirm the biological activity of nitroxoline on fungal cells, mainly the confirmation of the alkB gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Antunes de Chaves
- Graduate Program in Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Bárbara Souza da Costa
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jade André de Souza
- Graduate Program in Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mateus Alves Batista
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry (PharMedChem), Federal University of Amapá, Rod JK Km 2, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Saulo Fernandes de Andrade
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Maxwell Abegg
- Institute of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Amazonas, Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcela Silva Lopes
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Meneghello Fuentefria
- Graduate Program in Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Pechacek J, Lionakis MS. Host defense mechanisms against Candida auris. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:1087-1096. [PMID: 37753840 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2264500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Candida auris is a pathogen of growing public health concern given its rapid spread across the globe, its propensity for long-term skin colonization and healthcare-related outbreaks, its resistance to a variety of antifungal medications, and the high morbidity and mortality associated with invasive disease. Despite that, the host immune response mechanisms that operate during C. auris skin colonization and invasive infection remains poorly understood. AREAS COVERED In this manuscript, we review the available literature in the growing research field pertaining to C. auris host defenses and we discuss what is known about the ability of C. auris to thrive on mammalian skin, the role of lymphoid cell-mediated, IL-17-dependent defenses in controlling cutaneous colonization, and the contribution of myeloid phagocytes in curtailing systemic infection. EXPERT OPINION Understanding the mechanisms by which the host immune system responds to and controls colonization and infection with C. auris and developing a deeper knowledge of tissue-specific host-C. auris interactions and of C. auris immune-evading mechanisms may help devise improved strategies for decolonization, prognostication, prevention, vaccination, and/or directed antifungal treatment in vulnerable patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Pechacek
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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18
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Lionakis MS, Drummond RA, Hohl TM. Immune responses to human fungal pathogens and therapeutic prospects. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:433-452. [PMID: 36600071 PMCID: PMC9812358 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-022-00826-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi have emerged as significant causes of infectious morbidity and death in patients with acquired immunodeficiency conditions such as HIV/AIDS and following receipt of chemotherapy, immunosuppressive agents or targeted biologics for neoplastic or autoimmune diseases, or transplants for end organ failure. Furthermore, in recent years, the spread of multidrug-resistant Candida auris has caused life-threatening outbreaks in health-care facilities worldwide and raised serious concerns for global public health. Rapid progress in the discovery and functional characterization of inborn errors of immunity that predispose to fungal disease and the development of clinically relevant animal models have enhanced our understanding of fungal recognition and effector pathways and adaptive immune responses. In this Review, we synthesize our current understanding of the cellular and molecular determinants of mammalian antifungal immunity, focusing on observations that show promise for informing risk stratification, prognosis, prophylaxis and therapies to combat life-threatening fungal infections in vulnerable patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Rebecca A Drummond
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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19
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Desai JV, Kumar D, Freiwald T, Chauss D, Johnson MD, Abers MS, Steinbrink JM, Perfect JR, Alexander B, Matzaraki V, Snarr BD, Zarakas MA, Oikonomou V, Silva LM, Shivarathri R, Beltran E, Demontel LN, Wang L, Lim JK, Launder D, Conti HR, Swamydas M, McClain MT, Moutsopoulos NM, Kazemian M, Netea MG, Kumar V, Köhl J, Kemper C, Afzali B, Lionakis MS. C5a-licensed phagocytes drive sterilizing immunity during systemic fungal infection. Cell 2023; 186:2802-2822.e22. [PMID: 37220746 PMCID: PMC10330337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Systemic candidiasis is a common, high-mortality, nosocomial fungal infection. Unexpectedly, it has emerged as a complication of anti-complement C5-targeted monoclonal antibody treatment, indicating a critical niche for C5 in antifungal immunity. We identified transcription of complement system genes as the top biological pathway induced in candidemic patients and as predictive of candidemia. Mechanistically, C5a-C5aR1 promoted fungal clearance and host survival in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis by stimulating phagocyte effector function and ERK- and AKT-dependent survival in infected tissues. C5ar1 ablation rewired macrophage metabolism downstream of mTOR, promoting their apoptosis and enhancing mortality through kidney injury. Besides hepatocyte-derived C5, local C5 produced intrinsically by phagocytes provided a key substrate for antifungal protection. Lower serum C5a concentrations or a C5 polymorphism that decreases leukocyte C5 expression correlated independently with poor patient outcomes. Thus, local, phagocyte-derived C5 production licenses phagocyte antimicrobial function and confers innate protection during systemic fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigar V Desai
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dhaneshwar Kumar
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Tilo Freiwald
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Chauss
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Michael S Abers
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Julie M Steinbrink
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John R Perfect
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barbara Alexander
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Vasiliki Matzaraki
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Brendan D Snarr
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marissa A Zarakas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vasileios Oikonomou
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lakmali M Silva
- Oral Immunity and Infection Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Raju Shivarathri
- Center for Discovery & Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, USA
| | - Emily Beltran
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luciana Negro Demontel
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luopin Wang
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jean K Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dylan Launder
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Heather R Conti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Muthulekha Swamydas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Micah T McClain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Niki M Moutsopoulos
- Oral Immunity and Infection Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Köhl
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Claudia Kemper
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Behdad Afzali
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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20
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Strickland AB, Chen Y, Sun D, Shi M. Alternatively activated lung alveolar and interstitial macrophages promote fungal growth. iScience 2023; 26:106717. [PMID: 37216116 PMCID: PMC10193231 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
How lung macrophages, especially interstitial macrophages (IMs), respond to invading pathogens remains elusive. Here, we show that mice exhibited a rapid and substantial expansion of macrophages, especially CX3CR1+ IMs, in the lung following infection with Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic fungus leading to high mortality among patients with HIV/AIDS. The IM expansion correlated with enhanced CSF1 and IL-4 production and was affected by the deficiency of CCR2 or Nr4a1. Both alveolar macrophages (AMs) and IMs were observed to harbor C. neoformans and became alternatively activated following infection, with IMs being more polarized. The absence of AMs by genetically disrupting CSF2 signaling reduced fungal loads in the lung and prolonged the survival of infected mice. Likewise, infected mice depleted of IMs by the CSF1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 displayed significantly lower pulmonary fungal burdens. Thus, C. neoformans infection induces alternative activation of both AMs and IMs, which facilitates fungal growth in the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B. Strickland
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Yanli Chen
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Donglei Sun
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Meiqing Shi
- Division of Immunology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Lionakis MS. Exploiting antifungal immunity in the clinical context. Semin Immunol 2023; 67:101752. [PMID: 37001464 PMCID: PMC10192293 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The continuous expansion of immunocompromised patient populations at-risk for developing life-threatening opportunistic fungal infections in recent decades has helped develop a deeper understanding of antifungal host defenses, which has provided the foundation for eventually devising immune-based targeted interventions in the clinic. This review outlines how genetic variation in certain immune pathway-related genes may contribute to the observed clinical variability in the risk of acquisition and/or severity of fungal infections and how immunogenetic-based patient stratification may enable the eventual development of personalized strategies for antifungal prophylaxis and/or vaccination. Moreover, this review synthesizes the emerging cytokine-based, cell-based, and other immunotherapeutic strategies that have shown promise as adjunctive therapies for boosting or modulating tissue-specific antifungal immune responses in the context of opportunistic fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail S Lionakis
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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22
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Proctor DM, Drummond RA, Lionakis MS, Segre JA. One population, multiple lifestyles: Commensalism and pathogenesis in the human mycobiome. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:539-553. [PMID: 37054674 PMCID: PMC10155287 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Candida auris and Candida albicans can result in invasive fungal diseases. And yet, these species can stably and asymptomatically colonize human skin and gastrointestinal tracts. To consider these disparate microbial lifestyles, we first review factors shown to influence the underlying microbiome. Structured by the damage response framework, we then consider the molecular mechanisms deployed by C. albicans to switch between commensal and pathogenic lifestyles. Next, we explore this framework with C. auris to highlight how host physiology, immunity, and/or antibiotic receipt are associated with progression from colonization to infection. While treatment with antibiotics increases the risk that an individual will succumb to invasive candidiasis, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we describe several hypotheses that may explain this phenomenon. We conclude by highlighting future directions integrating genomics with immunology to advance our understanding of invasive candidiasis and human fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Proctor
- Microbial Genomics Section, Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Rebecca A Drummond
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Julia A Segre
- Microbial Genomics Section, Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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23
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Yang P, Xu R, Chen F, Chen S, Khan A, Li L, Zhang X, Wang Y, Xu Z, Shen H. Fungal gut microbiota dysbiosis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1149311. [PMID: 37089568 PMCID: PMC10115219 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1149311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionDespite recent developments in our comprehension of how the gut microbiota and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are related. The mycobiome: which is a small but crucial part of the gut microbiota and is involved in hosts’ homeostasis and physiological processes, remained unexplored in SLE.MethodsWe profiled the gut fungal mycobiota based on internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) sequencing for the gut microbial DNA from the SLE individuals with lupus nephritis (LN) (n = 23), SLE without LN (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 14) enrolled in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School.ResultsThe ITS sequencing generated a total of 4.63 million valid tags which were stratified into 4,488 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and identified about 13 phyla and 262 genera. Patients with SLE were characterized with unique fungal flora feature. The fungal microbiomes of the three groups displayed distinct beta diversity from each other. Compared with HC group, the abundance of fungal dysbiosis was reflected in a higher ratio of opportunistic fungi in SLE or LN group, as well as the loss of Rhizopus and Malassezia. The main principal components of the flora between the SLE and LN group were generally consistent. The relative abundance of Vanrija in the fecal fungal community was higher in LN group, while the relative abundance of Fusarium was higher in SLE group. Moreover, our data revealed superior diagnostic accuracy for SLE with the fungal species (e.g. Candida, Meyerozyma). Correlations between gut fungi and clinical parameters were identified by Spearman’s correlation analysis. Interestingly, Aspergillus in SLE patients was positively correlated with ACR, 24 h proteinuria, proteinuria, anti-dsDNA, ANA, and SLEDAI, while Rhizopus was negatively correlated with lymphocytes and Hb. Finally, we successfully cultured the fungi and identified it as Candida glabrata by microscopic observation and mass spectrometry.DiscussionWe first explored the highly significant gut fungal dysbiosis and ecology in patients with SLE, and demonstrated the applicability of fungal species as SLE diagnostic tools, signifying that the gut fungal mycobiome-host interplay can potentially contribute in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Physiology, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, NJU Advanced Institute of Life Sciences (NAILS), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Adeel Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, Pakistan
| | - Liang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Physiology, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, NJU Advanced Institute of Life Sciences (NAILS), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Physiology, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, NJU Advanced Institute of Life Sciences (NAILS), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Yanbo Wang,
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Zhipeng Xu,
| | - Han Shen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Han Shen,
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Lange T, Kasper L, Gresnigt MS, Brunke S, Hube B. "Under Pressure" - How fungi evade, exploit, and modulate cells of the innate immune system. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101738. [PMID: 36878023 PMCID: PMC10109127 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The human immune system uses an arsenal of effector mechanisms to prevent and counteract infections. Yet, some fungal species are extremely successful as human pathogens, which can be attributed to a wide variety of strategies by which these fungi evade, exploit, and modulate the immune system. These fungal pathogens normally are either harmless commensals or environmental fungi. In this review we discuss how commensalism, but also life in an environmental niche without human contact, can drive the evolution of diverse and specialized immune evasion mechanisms. Correspondingly, we discuss the mechanisms contributing to the ability of these fungi to cause superficial to life-threatening infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Lange
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Kasper
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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25
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Immunological correlates of protection following vaccination with glucan particles containing Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:6. [PMID: 36732332 PMCID: PMC9892683 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00606-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination with glucan particles (GP) containing the Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases Cda1 and Cda2 protect mice against experimental cryptococcosis. Here, immunological correlates of vaccine-mediated protection were explored. Studies comparing knockout and wild-type mice demonstrated CD4+ T cells are crucial, while B cells and CD8+ T cells are dispensable. Protection was abolished following CD4+ T cell depletion during either vaccination or infection but was retained if CD4+ T cells were only partially depleted. Vaccination elicited systemic and durable antigen-specific immune responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), spleens, and lungs. Following vaccination and fungal challenge, robust T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17 responses were observed in the lungs. Protection was abrogated in mice congenitally deficient in interferon (IFN) γ, IFNγ receptor, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, or IL-23. Thus, CD4+ T cells and specific proinflammatory cytokines are required for GP-vaccine-mediated protection. Importantly, retention of protection in the setting of partial CD4+ T depletion suggests a pathway for vaccinating at-risk immunocompromised individuals.
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26
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Brown AJP. Fungal resilience and host-pathogen interactions: Future perspectives and opportunities. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e12946. [PMID: 35962618 PMCID: PMC10078341 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
We are constantly exposed to the threat of fungal infection. The outcome-clearance, commensalism or infection-depends largely on the ability of our innate immune defences to clear infecting fungal cells versus the success of the fungus in mounting compensatory adaptive responses. As each seeks to gain advantage during these skirmishes, the interactions between host and fungal pathogen are complex and dynamic. Nevertheless, simply compromising the physiological robustness of fungal pathogens reduces their ability to evade antifungal immunity, their virulence, and their tolerance against antifungal therapy. In this article I argue that this physiological robustness is based on a 'Resilience Network' which mechanistically links and controls fungal growth, metabolism, stress resistance and drug tolerance. The elasticity of this network probably underlies the phenotypic variability of fungal isolates and the heterogeneity of individual cells within clonal populations. Consequently, I suggest that the definition of the fungal Resilience Network represents an important goal for the future which offers the clear potential to reveal drug targets that compromise drug tolerance and synergise with current antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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27
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Kemper C, Ferreira VP, Paz JT, Holers VM, Lionakis MS, Alexander JJ. Complement: The Road Less Traveled. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:119-125. [PMID: 36596217 PMCID: PMC10038130 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The complement field has recently experienced a strong resurgence of interest because of the unexpected discovery of new complement functions extending complement's role beyond immunity and pathogen clearance, a growing list of diseases in which complement plays a role, and the proliferation of complement therapeutics. Importantly, although the majority of complement components in the circulation are generated by the liver and activated extracellularly, complement activation unexpectedly also occurs intracellularly across a broad range of cells. Such cell-autonomous complement activation can engage intracellular complement receptors, which then drive noncanonical cell-specific effector functions. Thus, much remains to be discovered about complement biology. In this brief review, we focus on novel noncanonical activities of complement in its "classic areas of operation" (kidney and brain biology, infection, and autoimmunity), with an outlook on the next generation of complement-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kemper
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Viviana P Ferreira
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH
| | - Jeanne T Paz
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - V Michael Holers
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; and
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28
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Xu J, Goughenour K, Underwood WR, Olszewski MA. Immunological Analysis of Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis in a Murine Model. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2667:71-86. [PMID: 37145276 PMCID: PMC10588511 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3199-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM), caused by the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans species complex, can lead to high mortality or severe neurological sequelae in survivors that are associated with excessive inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), especially in those who develop immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) or postinfectious immune response syndrome (PIIRS). While the means to establish a cause-and-effect relationship of a specific pathogenic immune pathway during CM by human studies are limited, mouse models allow dissection of the potential mechanistic links within the CNS immunological network. In particular, these models are useful for separating pathways contributing predominantly to immunopathology from those important for fungal clearance. In this protocol, we described methods to induce a robust, physiologically relevant murine model of C. neoformans CNS infection that reproduces multiple aspects of human cryptococcal disease immunopathology and subsequent detailed immunological analysis. Combined with tools including gene knockout mice, antibody blockade, cell adoptive transfer, as well as high throughput techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing, studies using this model will provide new insights regarding the cellular and molecular processes that elucidate the pathogenesis of cryptococcal CNS diseases in order to develop more effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Xu
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, Research Service, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kristie Goughenour
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, Research Service, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - W Rex Underwood
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, Research Service, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michal A Olszewski
- Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, Research Service, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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29
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They shall not grow mold: Soldiers of innate and adaptive immunity to fungi. Semin Immunol 2023; 65:101673. [PMID: 36459927 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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30
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Iraji D, Oftedal BE, Wolff ASB. Th17 Cells: Orchestrators of Mucosal Inflammation and Potential Therapeutic Targets. Crit Rev Immunol 2023; 43:25-52. [PMID: 37831521 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2023050360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
T helper 17 (Th17) cells represent a specialized subgroup of effector CD4+ T cells known for their role in provoking neutrophil-driven tissue inflammation, particularly within mucosal tissues. Although they are pivotal for defending the host against extracellular bacteria and fungi, they have also been associated with development of various T cell-mediated inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Notably, Th17 cells exhibit a dual nature, with different Th17 cell subtypes showcasing distinct effector functions and varying capacities to incite autoimmune tissue inflammation. Furthermore, Th17 cells exhibit significant plasticity, which carries important functional implications, both in terms of their expression of cytokines typically associated with other effector T cell subsets and in their interactions with regulatory CD4+ T cells. The intricate balance of Th17 cytokines can also be a double-edged sword in inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Within this article, we delve into the mechanisms that govern the differentiation, function, and adaptability of Th17 cells. We culminate with an exploration of therapeutic potentials in harnessing the power of Th17 cells and their cytokines. Targeted interventions to modulate Th17 responses are emerging as promising strategies for autoimmunity, inflammation, and cancer treatment. By precisely fine-tuning Th17-related pathways, we may unlock new avenues for personalized therapeutic approaches, aiming to restore immune balance, alleviate the challenges of these disorders, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorsa Iraji
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette S B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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31
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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] [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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32
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Hoenigl M, Lewis R, van de Veerdonk FL, Verweij PE, Cornely OA. Liposomal amphotericin B—the future. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:ii21-ii34. [PMID: 36426674 PMCID: PMC9693803 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in medicine have led to a growing number of people with compromised or suppressed immune systems who are susceptible to invasive fungal infections. In particular, severe fungal infections are becoming increasingly common in ICUs, affecting people within and outside of traditional risk groups alike. This is exemplified by the emergence of severe viral pneumonia as a significant risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and the recognition of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and, more recently, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. The treatment landscape for haematological malignancies has changed considerably in recent years, and some recently introduced targeted agents, such as ibrutinib, are increasing the risk of invasive fungal infections. Consideration must also be given to the risk of drug–drug interactions between mould-active azoles and small-molecule kinase inhibitors. At the same time, infections caused by rare moulds and yeasts are increasing, and diagnosis continues to be challenging. There is growing concern about azole resistance among both moulds and yeasts, mandating continuous surveillance and personalized treatment strategies. It is anticipated that the epidemiology of fungal infections will continue to change and that new populations will be at risk. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain the most important predictors of survival, and broad-spectrum antifungal agents will become increasingly important. Liposomal amphotericin B will remain an essential therapeutic agent in the armamentarium needed to manage future challenges, given its broad antifungal spectrum, low level of acquired resistance and limited potential for drug–drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz , Graz , Austria
- European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) Excellence Center, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria
| | - R Lewis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Hospital, IRCSS S’Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - F L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - P E Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center—CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven , The Netherlands
| | - O A Cornely
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Cologne , Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM) , Cologne , Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne , Cologne , Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln) , Cologne , Germany
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33
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Drummond RA, Desai JV, Hsu AP, Oikonomou V, Vinh DC, Acklin JA, Abers MS, Walkiewicz MA, Anzick SL, Swamydas M, Vautier S, Natarajan M, Oler AJ, Yamanaka D, Mayer-Barber KD, Iwakura Y, Bianchi D, Driscoll B, Hauck K, Kline A, Viall NS, Zerbe CS, Ferré EM, Schmitt MM, DiMaggio T, Pittaluga S, Butman JA, Zelazny AM, Shea YR, Arias CA, Ashbaugh C, Mahmood M, Temesgen Z, Theofiles AG, Nigo M, Moudgal V, Bloch KC, Kelly SG, Whitworth MS, Rao G, Whitener CJ, Mafi N, Gea-Banacloche J, Kenyon LC, Miller WR, Boggian K, Gilbert A, Sincock M, Freeman AF, Bennett JE, Hasbun R, Mikelis CM, Kwon-Chung KJ, Belkaid Y, Brown GD, Lim JK, Kuhns DB, Holland SM, Lionakis MS. Human Dectin-1 deficiency impairs macrophage-mediated defense against phaeohyphomycosis. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e159348. [PMID: 36377664 PMCID: PMC9663159 DOI: 10.1172/jci159348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis typically affects immunocompetent individuals following traumatic inoculation. Severe or disseminated infection can occur in CARD9 deficiency or after transplantation, but the mechanisms protecting against phaeohyphomycosis remain unclear. We evaluated a patient with progressive, refractory Corynespora cassiicola phaeohyphomycosis and found that he carried biallelic deleterious mutations in CLEC7A encoding the CARD9-coupled, β-glucan-binding receptor, Dectin-1. The patient's PBMCs failed to produce TNF-α and IL-1β in response to β-glucan and/or C. cassiicola. To confirm the cellular and molecular requirements for immunity against C. cassiicola, we developed a mouse model of this infection. Mouse macrophages required Dectin-1 and CARD9 for IL-1β and TNF-α production, which enhanced fungal killing in an interdependent manner. Deficiency of either Dectin-1 or CARD9 was associated with more severe fungal disease, recapitulating the human observation. Because these data implicated impaired Dectin-1 responses in susceptibility to phaeohyphomycosis, we evaluated 17 additional unrelated patients with severe forms of the infection. We found that 12 out of 17 carried deleterious CLEC7A mutations associated with an altered Dectin-1 extracellular C-terminal domain and impaired Dectin-1-dependent cytokine production. Thus, we show that Dectin-1 and CARD9 promote protective TNF-α- and IL-1β-mediated macrophage defense against C. cassiicola. More broadly, we demonstrate that human Dectin-1 deficiency may contribute to susceptibility to severe phaeohyphomycosis by certain dematiaceous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy P. Hsu
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Donald C. Vinh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and Infectious Disease Susceptibility Program, Research Institute-MUHC, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joshua A. Acklin
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Sarah L. Anzick
- Research Technologies Branches, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | | | | | | | - Andrew J. Oler
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Daisuke Yamanaka
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yoichiro Iwakura
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - David Bianchi
- National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian Driscoll
- National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ken Hauck
- National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Christa S. Zerbe
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Stefania Pittaluga
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Adrian M. Zelazny
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yvonne R. Shea
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cesar A. Arias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Infectious Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cameron Ashbaugh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Maryam Mahmood
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zelalem Temesgen
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Masayuki Nigo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Varsha Moudgal
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Karen C. Bloch
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sean G. Kelly
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Ganesh Rao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cindy J. Whitener
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Neema Mafi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Lawrence C. Kenyon
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William R. Miller
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Infectious Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Katia Boggian
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Gilbert
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Alexandra F. Freeman
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Rodrigo Hasbun
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Constantinos M. Mikelis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Yasmine Belkaid
- Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jean K. Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Douglas B. Kuhns
- Neutrophil Monitoring Laboratory, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven M. Holland
- Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Montaño DE, Hartung S, Wich M, Ali R, Jungnickel B, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Voigt K. The TLR-NF-kB axis contributes to the monocytic inflammatory response against a virulent strain of Lichtheimia corymbifera, a causative agent of invasive mucormycosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882921. [PMID: 36311802 PMCID: PMC9608459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive mucormycosis (IM) is a life-threatening infection caused by the fungal order Mucorales, its diagnosis is often delayed, and mortality rates range from 40-80% due to its rapid progression. Individuals suffering from hematological malignancies, diabetes mellitus, organ transplantations, and most recently COVID-19 are particularly susceptible to infection by Mucorales. Given the increase in the occurrence of these diseases, mucormycosis has emerged as one of the most common fungal infections in the last years. However, little is known about the host immune response to Mucorales. Therefore, we characterized the interaction among L. corymbifera—one of the most common causative agents of IM—and human monocytes, which are specialized phagocytes that play an instrumental role in the modulation of the inflammatory response against several pathogenic fungi. This study covered four relevant aspects of the host-pathogen interaction: i) The recognition of L. corymbifera by human monocytes. ii) The intracellular fate of L. corymbifera. iii) The inflammatory response by human monocytes against the most common causative agents of mucormycosis. iv) The main activated Pattern-Recognition Receptors (PRRs) inflammatory signaling cascades in response to L. corymbifera. Here, we demonstrate that L. corymbifera exhibits resistance to intracellular killing over 24 hours, does not germinate, and inflicts minimal damage to the host cell. Nonetheless, viable fungal spores of L. corymbifera induced early production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, and late release of TNF-α and IL-6 by human monocytes. Moreover, we revealed that IL-1β production predominantly depends on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) priming, especially via TLR4, while TNF-α is secreted via C-type lectin receptors (CTLs), and IL-6 is produced by synergistic activation of TLRs and CTLs. All these signaling pathways lead to the activation of NF-kB, a transcription factor that not only regulates the inflammatory response but also the apoptotic fate of monocytes during infection with L. corymbifera. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the host-pathogen interactions, which may serve for future therapies to enhance the host inflammatory response to L. corymbifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolly E. Montaño
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Susann Hartung
- Infections in Hematology and Oncology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Melissa Wich
- Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Rida Ali
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Berit Jungnickel
- Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal
- Infections in Hematology and Oncology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kerstin Voigt,
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35
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Millet N, Solis NV, Aguilar D, Lionakis MS, Wheeler RT, Jendzjowsky N, Swidergall M. IL-23 signaling prevents ferroptosis-driven renal immunopathology during candidiasis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5545. [PMID: 36138043 PMCID: PMC9500047 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33327-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During infection the host relies on pattern-recognition receptors to sense invading fungal pathogens to launch immune defense mechanisms. While fungal recognition and immune effector responses are organ and cell type specific, during disseminated candidiasis myeloid cells exacerbate collateral tissue damage. The β-glucan receptor ephrin type-A 2 receptor (EphA2) is required to initiate mucosal inflammatory responses during oral Candida infection. Here we report that EphA2 promotes renal immunopathology during disseminated candidiasis. EphA2 deficiency leads to reduced renal inflammation and injury. Comprehensive analyses reveal that EphA2 restrains IL-23 secretion from and migration of dendritic cells. IL-23 signaling prevents ferroptotic host cell death during infection to limit inflammation and immunopathology. Further, host cell ferroptosis limits antifungal effector functions via releasing the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal to induce various forms of cell death. Thus, we identify ferroptotic cell death as a critical pathway of Candida-mediated renal immunopathology that opens a new avenue to tackle Candida infection and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Millet
- grid.239844.00000 0001 0157 6501Division of Infectious Diseases, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA ,grid.513199.6The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Norma V. Solis
- grid.239844.00000 0001 0157 6501Division of Infectious Diseases, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA ,grid.513199.6The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Diane Aguilar
- grid.513199.6The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Michail S. Lionakis
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Robert T. Wheeler
- grid.21106.340000000121820794Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME USA
| | - Nicholas Jendzjowsky
- grid.513199.6The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Marc Swidergall
- grid.239844.00000 0001 0157 6501Division of Infectious Diseases, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA ,grid.513199.6The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
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36
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Aggor FE, Bertolini M, Zhou C, Taylor TC, Abbott DA, Musgrove J, Bruno VM, Hand TW, Gaffen SL. A gut-oral microbiome-driven axis controls oropharyngeal candidiasis through retinoic acid. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e160348. [PMID: 36134659 PMCID: PMC9675558 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.160348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A side effect of antibiotics is outgrowth of the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans in the oropharynx (oropharyngeal candidiasis, OPC). IL-17 signaling is vital for immunity to OPC, but how the microbiome impacts antifungal immunity is not well understood. Mice in standard specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions are resistant to OPC, whereas we show that germ-free (GF) or antibiotic-treated mice are susceptible. Oral type 17 cells and IL-17-dependent responses were impaired in antibiotic-treated and GF mice. Susceptibility could be rescued in GF mice by mono-colonization with segmented filamentous bacterium (SFB), an intestine-specific constituent of the microbiota. SFB protection was accompanied by restoration of oral IL-17+CD4+ T cells and gene signatures characteristic of IL-17 signaling. Additionally, RNA-Seq revealed induction of genes in the retinoic acid (RA) and RA receptor-α (RARα) pathway. Administration of RA rescued immunity to OPC in microbiome-depleted or GF mice, while RAR inhibition caused susceptibility in immunocompetent animals. Surprisingly, immunity to OPC was independent of serum amyloids. Moreover, RAR inhibition did not alter oral type 17 cytokine levels. Thus, mono-colonization with a component of the intestinal microflora confers protection against OPC by type 17 and RA/RARα, which act in parallel to promote antifungal immunity. In principle, manipulation of the microbiome could be harnessed to maintain antifungal immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix E.Y. Aggor
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Martinna Bertolini
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chunsheng Zhou
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Tiffany C. Taylor
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Darryl A. Abbott
- Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Javonn Musgrove
- Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vincent M. Bruno
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy W. Hand
- Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah L. Gaffen
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, and
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Taylor TC, Li Y, Li DD, Majumder S, McGeachy MJ, Biswas PS, Gingras S, Gaffen SL. Arid5a Mediates an IL-17-Dependent Pathway That Drives Autoimmunity but Not Antifungal Host Defense. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1138-1145. [PMID: 35940634 PMCID: PMC9492638 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
IL-17 contributes to the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases, but conversely is essential for host defense against fungi. Ab-based biologic drugs that neutralize IL-17 are effective in autoimmunity but can be accompanied by adverse side effects. Candida albicans is a commensal fungus that is the primary causative agent of oropharyngeal and disseminated candidiasis. Defects in IL-17 signaling cause susceptibility to candidiasis in mice and humans. A key facet of IL-17 receptor signaling involves RNA-binding proteins, which orchestrate the fate of target mRNA transcripts. In tissue culture models we showed that the RNA-binding protein AT-rich interaction domain 5A (Arid5a) promotes the stability and/or translation of multiple IL-17-dependent mRNAs. Moreover, during oropharyngeal candidiasis, Arid5a is elevated within the oral mucosa in an IL-17-dependent manner. However, the contribution of Arid5a to IL-17-driven events in vivo is poorly defined. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate mice lacking Arid5a. Arid5a -/- mice were fully resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an autoimmune setting in which IL-17 signaling drives pathology. Surprisingly, Arid5a -/- mice were resistant to oropharyngeal candidiasis and systemic candidiasis, similar to immunocompetent wild-type mice and contrasting with mice defective in IL-17 signaling. Therefore, Arid5a-dependent signals mediate pathology in autoimmunity and yet are not required for immunity to candidiasis, indicating that selective targeting of IL-17 signaling pathway components may be a viable strategy for development of therapeutics that spare IL-17-driven host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Taylor
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - De-Dong Li
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Saikat Majumder
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Mandy J McGeachy
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Partha S Biswas
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | | | - Sarah L Gaffen
- Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; and
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38
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Sharma J, Mudalagiriyappa S, Nanjappa SG. T cell responses to control fungal infection in an immunological memory lens. Front Immunol 2022; 13:905867. [PMID: 36177012 PMCID: PMC9513067 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.905867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, fungal vaccine research emanated significant findings in the field of antifungal T-cell immunity. The generation of effector T cells is essential to combat many mucosal and systemic fungal infections. The development of antifungal memory T cells is integral for controlling or preventing fungal infections, and understanding the factors, regulators, and modifiers that dictate the generation of such T cells is necessary. Despite the deficiency in the clear understanding of antifungal memory T-cell longevity and attributes, in this review, we will compile some of the existing literature on antifungal T-cell immunity in the context of memory T-cell development against fungal infections.
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39
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Drummond RA, Desai JV, Ricotta EE, Swamydas M, Deming C, Conlan S, Quinones M, Matei-Rascu V, Sherif L, Lecky D, Lee CCR, Green NM, Collins N, Zelazny AM, Prevots DR, Bending D, Withers D, Belkaid Y, Segre JA, Lionakis MS. Long-term antibiotic exposure promotes mortality after systemic fungal infection by driving lymphocyte dysfunction and systemic escape of commensal bacteria. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:1020-1033.e6. [PMID: 35568028 PMCID: PMC9283303 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotics are a modifiable iatrogenic risk factor for the most common human nosocomial fungal infection, invasive candidiasis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We found that antibiotics enhanced the susceptibility to murine invasive candidiasis due to impaired lymphocyte-dependent IL-17A- and GM-CSF-mediated antifungal immunity within the gut. This led to non-inflammatory bacterial escape and systemic bacterial co-infection, which could be ameliorated by IL-17A or GM-CSF immunotherapy. Vancomycin alone similarly enhanced the susceptibility to invasive fungal infection and systemic bacterial co-infection. Mechanistically, vancomycin reduced the frequency of gut Th17 cells associated with impaired proliferation and RORγt expression. Vancomycin's effects on Th17 cells were indirect, manifesting only in vivo in the presence of dysbiosis. In humans, antibiotics were associated with an increased risk of invasive candidiasis and death after invasive candidiasis. Our work highlights the importance of antibiotic stewardship in protecting vulnerable patients from life-threatening infections and provides mechanistic insights into a controllable iatrogenic risk factor for invasive candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Drummond
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Jigar V Desai
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Emily E Ricotta
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Muthulekha Swamydas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Clay Deming
- Microbial Genomics Section, Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sean Conlan
- Microbial Genomics Section, Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mariam Quinones
- Bioinformatics and Computational Bioscience Branch, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Veronika Matei-Rascu
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Lozan Sherif
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Lecky
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Chyi-Chia R Lee
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nathaniel M Green
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas Collins
- Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Adrian M Zelazny
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - D Rebecca Prevots
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David Bending
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Withers
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Yasmine Belkaid
- Metaorganism Immunity Section, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; NIAID Microbiome Program, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Julia A Segre
- Microbial Genomics Section, Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Invasive Candidiasis: Update and Current Challenges in the Management of This Mycosis in South America. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11070877. [PMID: 35884131 PMCID: PMC9312041 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis encompassing Candida bloodstream infections and deep-seated candidiasis can become a persistent health problem. These infections are caused by Candida species and have high morbidity and mortality rates. Species distribution, access to diagnosis, treatment and mortality are different around the world. The mortality rate is high in South America (30–70%), and Candida albicans is the most prevalent species in this region. However, a global epidemiological shift to non-albicans species has been observed. In this group, C. parapsilosis is the species most frequently detected, followed by C. tropicalis, and at a slower rate, C. glabrata, which has also increased, in addition to the emerging C. auris, resistance to several drugs. This article summarizes relevant aspects of candidemia pathogenesis, such as the mechanisms of fungal invasion, immune response, and the impact of genetic defects that increase host susceptibility to developing the infection. We also discuss relevant aspects of treatment and future challenges in South America.
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Glittenberg MT, Kounatidis I, Atilano M, Ligoxygakis P. A genetic screen in Drosophila reveals the role of fucosylation in host susceptibility to Candida infection. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049218. [PMID: 35142345 PMCID: PMC9118035 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida infections constitute a blind spot in global public health as very few new anti-fungal drugs are being developed. Genetic surveys of host susceptibilities to such infections using mammalian models have certain disadvantages in that obtaining results is time-consuming, owing to relatively long lifespans, and these results have low statistical resolution because sample sizes are usually small. Here, we report a targeted genetic screening of 5698 RNAi lines encompassing 4135 Drosophila genes with human homologues, several of which we identify as important for host survival after Candida albicans infection. These include genes in a variety of functional classes encompassing gene expression, intracellular signalling, metabolism and enzymatic regulation. Analysis of one of the screen hits, the infection-induced α-(1,3)-fucosylase FucTA, showed that N-glycan fucosylation has several targets among proteins involved in host defence, which provides multiple avenues of investigation for the mechanistic analysis of host survival to systemic C. albicans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus T. Glittenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Ilias Kounatidis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Magda Atilano
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Petros Ligoxygakis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
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Swidergall M, LeibundGut-Landmann S. Immunosurveillance of Candida albicans commensalism by the adaptive immune system. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:829-836. [PMID: 35778599 PMCID: PMC9385492 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-022-00536-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The fungal microbiota (mycobiota) is an integral part of the microbial community colonizing the body surfaces and is involved in many key aspects of human physiology, while an imbalance of the fungal communities, termed fungal dysbiosis, has been described in pathologies ranging from infections to inflammatory bowel disease. Commensal organisms, such as the fungus Candida albicans, induce antigen-specific immune responses that maintain immune homeostasis. Adaptive immune mechanisms are vital in this process, while deficiencies in adaptive immunity are linked to fungal infections. We start to understand the mechanisms by which a shift in mycobiota composition, in particular in C. albicans abundance, is linked to immunopathological conditions. This review discusses the mechanisms that ensure continuous immunosurveillance of C. albicans during mucosal colonization, how these protective adaptive immune responses can also promote immunopathology, and highlight therapeutic advances against C. albicans-associated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Swidergall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Gonçalves SM, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Understanding the genetic basis of immune responses to fungal infection. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2022; 20:987-996. [PMID: 35385368 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2022.2063839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections represent a global public health problem that affect millions of people. Despite remarkable advances achieved over the last decades, available diagnostic and therapeutic tools remain insufficient for the optimal management of these diseases. The clinical course of fungal infection is highly variable, and evidence accumulated from patients with rare mutations and cohort-based studies suggests that the trajectory of disease is largely defined by patient genetics and its impact on immune responses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which which genetic variants influence the risk, progression, and outcome of fungal infection. AREAS COVERED In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the genetic factors that influence antifungal immune responses based on candidate gene studies and genome-wide approaches performed in different experimental and clinical models. EXPERT OPINION Research on genetics of susceptibility to infection is expected to lead to a detailed knowledge framework for the pathogenesis of human fungal infections and unveil novel targets and pathways amenable to clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Lionakis MS. Fungal sugars boost vaccine protection. Cell 2022; 185:579-581. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Tirado-Sánchez A, Vazquez-González D, Sáenz-Dávila B, Bonifaz A. Antifungal Vaccines: Current Status and Future Directions. Fungal Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-89664-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal yeast fungus of the human oral, gastrointestinal, and genital mucosal surfaces, and skin. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, iatrogenic immunosuppression, and/or medical interventions that impair the integrity of the mucocutaneous barrier and/or perturb protective host defense mechanisms enable C. albicans to become an opportunistic pathogen and cause debilitating mucocutaneous disease and/or life-threatening systemic infections. In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge of the tissue-specific determinants of C. albicans pathogenicity and host immune defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Pedro Lopes
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD, USA
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Immunology 101: fundamental immunology for the practicing hematologist. Hematology 2021; 2021:281-286. [DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2021000260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
From an evolutionary perspective, the immune system developed primarily to protect the host from pathogens. In the continuous balance between killing pathogens and protecting host tissues, selective pressures have shaped the discriminatory functions of the immune system. In addition to protection against microbial pathogens, the immune system also plays a critical role in antitumor immunity. Immune dysfunction, either under- or overactivity, is found in a wide range of hematologic disorders. Here we review the fundamental features of the immune system and the key concepts critical to understanding the impact of immune dysfunction on hematologic disorders.
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Saari V, Laakso S, Tiitinen A, Mäkitie O, Holopainen E. Endocrine Disorders and Genital Infections Impair Gynecological Health in APECED (APS-1). Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:784195. [PMID: 34917035 PMCID: PMC8669951 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.784195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) defects in the autoimmune regulator gene lead to impaired immunotolerance. We explored the effects of immunodeficiency and endocrinopathies on gynecologic health in patients with APECED. Design Cross-sectional cohort study combined with longitudinal follow-up data. Methods We carried out a gynecologic evaluation, pelvic ultrasound, and laboratory and microbiologic assessment in 19 women with APECED. Retrospective data were collected from previous study visits and hospital records. Results The study subjects' median age was 42.6 years (range, 16.7-65.5). Sixteen patients (84%) had premature ovarian insufficiency, diagnosed at the median age of 16.5 years; 75% of them used currently either combined contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. In 76% of women, the morphology and size of the uterus were determined normal for age, menopausal status, and current hormonal therapy. Fifteen patients (79%) had primary adrenal insufficiency; three of them used dehydroepiandrosterone substitution. All androgen concentrations were under the detection limit in 11 patients (58%). Genital infections were detected in nine patients (47%); most of them were asymptomatic. Gynecologic C. albicans infection was detected in four patients (21%); one of the strains was resistant to azoles. Five patients (26%) had human papillomavirus infection, three of which were high-risk subtypes. Cervical cell atypia was detected in one patient. No correlation between genital infections and anti-cytokine autoantibodies was found. Conclusions Ovarian and adrenal insufficiencies manifested with very low androgen levels in over half of the patients. Asymptomatic genital infections, but not cervical cell atypia, were common in female patients with APECED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viivi Saari
- Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saila Laakso
- Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aila Tiitinen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Mäkitie
- Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elina Holopainen
- Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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Ferré EMN, Schmitt MM, Lionakis MS. Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:723532. [PMID: 34790633 PMCID: PMC8591095 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.723532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), also known as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1 (APS-1), is a rare monogenic autoimmune disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE deficiency impairs immune tolerance in the thymus and results in the peripheral escape of self-reactive T lymphocytes and the generation of several cytokine- and tissue antigen-targeted autoantibodies. APECED features a classic triad of characteristic clinical manifestations consisting of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), hypoparathyroidism, and primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). In addition, APECED patients develop several non-endocrine autoimmune manifestations with variable frequencies, whose recognition by pediatricians should facilitate an earlier diagnosis and allow for the prompt implementation of targeted screening, preventive, and therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes our current understanding of the genetic, immunological, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment features of APECED.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michail S. Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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