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Yang X, Wang Q, Xiao B, Wang Q, Deng W, Osherov N, Li R, Liu W. The cyclase-associated protein contributes to antifungal susceptibility and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2025:2506795. [PMID: 40396792 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2025.2506795] [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: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
ABSTRACTAspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent pathogenic mould that contributes to high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Here, we characterized the functions of the cyclase-associated protein (CAP) in A. fumigatus. To study the role of CAP in virulence and antifungal susceptibility of A. fumigatus, CAP gene knockout strain (△CAP) and complemented strain (R-△CAP) were constructed. △CAP showed a reduced growth rate, abnormal hyphal development, and increased susceptibility to cell wall-perturbing agents (Congo red, calcofluor white, and SDS), oxidative stress-inducing agents (H2O2 and menadione), calcineurin inhibitors (FK506 and CsA), and voriconazole (VRC) and itraconazole. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes responsible for regulating growth, hyphal development, cell wall synthesis, stress responses and antifungal susceptibility were identified in △CAP. To identify CAP-interacting proteins, an A. fumigatus strain expressing the CAP protein fused with a C-terminus 6×his tag was constructed and designated Afcap6his. After extracting Afcap6his and Af293 proteins, actin and adenylate cyclase were identified by coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Additionally, △CAP showed downregulated actin expression, AC-cAMP-PKA pathway activity and efflux pump genes (AfuMDR1, AfuMDR2, AfuMDR3, AfuMDR4, and cdr1B) expression as well as increased calcineurin activity. By using an invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) murine model, △CAP exhibited attenuated virulence and increased VRC therapeutic efficiency. Thus, CAP plays an important role in regulating antifungal susceptibility and virulence of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Yang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Binghan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqi Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ruoyu Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Yadav
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Fungal calcineurin complex as an antifungal target: From past to present to future. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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4
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Ancuceanu R, Hovaneț MV, Cojocaru-Toma M, Anghel AI, Dinu M. Potential Antifungal Targets for Aspergillus sp. from the Calcineurin and Heat Shock Protein Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012543. [PMID: 36293395 PMCID: PMC9603945 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus species, especially A. fumigatus, and to a lesser extent others (A. flavus, A. niger, A. terreus), although rarely pathogenic to healthy humans, can be very aggressive to immunocompromised patients (they are opportunistic pathogens). Although survival rates for such infections have improved in recent decades following the introduction of azole derivatives, they remain a clinical challenge. The fact that current antifungals act as fungistatic rather than fungicide, that they have limited safety, and that resistance is becoming increasingly common make the need for new, more effective, and safer therapies to become more acute. Over the last decades, knowledge about the molecular biology of A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus species, and particularly of calcineurin, Hsp90, and their signaling pathway proteins, has progressed remarkably. Although calcineurin has attracted much interest, its adverse effects, particularly its immunosuppressive effects, make it less attractive than it might at first appear. The situation is not very different for Hsp90. Other proteins from their signaling pathways, such as protein kinases phosphorylating the four SPRR serine residues, CrzA, rcnA, pmcA-pmcC (particularly pmcC), rfeF, BAR adapter protein(s), the phkB histidine kinase, sskB MAP kinase kinase, zfpA, htfA, ctfA, SwoH (nucleoside diphosphate kinase), CchA, MidA, FKBP12, the K27 lysine position from Hsp90, PkcA, MpkA, RlmA, brlA, abaA, wetA, other heat shock proteins (Hsp70, Hsp40, Hsp12) currently appear promising and deserve further investigation as potential targets for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ancuceanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (M.V.H.)
| | - Marilena Viorica Hovaneț
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (R.A.); (M.V.H.)
| | - Maria Cojocaru-Toma
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2025 Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Adriana-Iuliana Anghel
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihaela Dinu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
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5
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Yang Y, Xie P, Li Y, Bi Y, Prusky DB. Updating Insights into the Regulatory Mechanisms of Calcineurin-Activated Transcription Factor Crz1 in Pathogenic Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:1082. [PMID: 36294647 PMCID: PMC9604740 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca2+, as a second messenger in cells, enables organisms to adapt to different environmental stresses by rapidly sensing and responding to external stimuli. In recent years, the Ca2+ mediated calcium signaling pathway has been studied systematically in various mammals and fungi, indicating that the pathway is conserved among organisms. The pathway consists mainly of complex Ca2+ channel proteins, calcium pumps, Ca2+ transporters and many related proteins. Crz1, a transcription factor downstream of the calcium signaling pathway, participates in regulating cell survival, ion homeostasis, infection structure development, cell wall integrity and virulence. This review briefly summarizes the Ca2+ mediated calcium signaling pathway and regulatory roles in plant pathogenic fungi. Based on discussing the structure and localization of transcription factor Crz1, we focus on the regulatory role of Crz1 on growth and development, stress response, pathogenicity of pathogenic fungi and its regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, we explore the cross-talk between Crz1 and other signaling pathways. Combined with the important role and pathogenic mechanism of Crz1 in fungi, the new strategies in which Crz1 may be used as a target to explore disease control in practice are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Pengdong Xie
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yongcai Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yang Bi
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Dov B. Prusky
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
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Brown A, Mead ME, Steenwyk JL, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Extensive non-coding sequence divergence between the major human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and its relatives. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:802494. [PMID: 36866034 PMCID: PMC9977105 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.802494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is a deadly fungal disease; more than 400,000 patients are infected worldwide each year and the mortality rate can be as high as 50-95%. Of the ~450 species in the genus Aspergillus only a few are known to be clinically relevant, with the major pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus being responsible for ~50% of all invasive mold infections. Genomic comparisons between A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus species have historically focused on protein-coding regions. However, most A. fumigatus genes, including those that modulate its virulence, are also present in other pathogenic and non-pathogenic closely related species. Our hypothesis is that differential gene regulation - mediated through the non-coding regions upstream of genes' first codon - contributes to A. fumigatus pathogenicity. To begin testing this, we compared non-coding regions upstream of the first codon of single-copy orthologous genes from the two A. fumigatus reference strains Af293 and A1163 and eight closely related Aspergillus section Fumigati species. We found that these non-coding regions showed extensive sequence variation and lack of homology across species. By examining the evolutionary rates of both protein-coding and non-coding regions in a subset of orthologous genes with highly conserved non-coding regions across the phylogeny, we identified 418 genes, including 25 genes known to modulate A. fumigatus virulence, whose non-coding regions exhibit a different rate of evolution in A. fumigatus. Examination of sequence alignments of these non-coding regions revealed numerous instances of insertions, deletions, and other types of mutations of at least a few nucleotides in A. fumigatus compared to its close relatives. These results show that closely related Aspergillus species that vary greatly in their pathogenicity exhibit extensive non-coding sequence variation and identify numerous changes in non-coding regions of A. fumigatus genes known to contribute to virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Matthew E. Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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Hu G, Horianopoulos L, Sánchez-León E, Caza M, Jung W, Kronstad JW. The monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 influences thermotolerance, cell wall integrity, and Mpk1 signaling in Cryptococcus neoformans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab322. [PMID: 34542604 PMCID: PMC8527476 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Monothiol glutaredoxins are important regulators of iron homeostasis that play conserved roles in the sensing and trafficking of iron-sulfur clusters. We previously characterized the role of the monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 in iron homeostasis, the interaction with the iron regulator Cir1, and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. This important fungal pathogen causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals worldwide. Here, we demonstrate that Grx4 is required for proliferation at elevated temperatures (both 37°C and 39°C) and under stress conditions. In particular, the grx4Δ mutant was hypersensitive to SDS, calcofluor white (CFW), and caffeine, suggesting that Grx4 is required for membrane and cell wall integrity (CWI). In this context, we found that Grx4 regulated the phosphorylation of the Mpk1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) of the CWI pathway in cells grown at elevated temperature or upon treatment with CFW, caffeine, or SDS. The grx4Δ mutant also displayed increased sensitivity to FK506 and cyclosporin A, two inhibitors of the calcineurin pathway, indicating that Grx4 may influence growth at higher temperatures in parallel with calcineurin signaling. Upon thermal stress or calcium treatment, loss of Grx4 also caused partial mis-localization of Crz1, the transcription factor that is a calcineurin substrate. The phenotypes of the grx4Δ, crz1Δ, and cna1Δ (calcineurin) mutants suggest shared contributions to the regulation of temperature, cell wall, and other stresses. In summary, we show that Grx4 is also a key regulator of the responses to a variety of stress conditions in addition to its roles in iron homeostasis in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanggan Hu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Linda Horianopoulos
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Eddy Sánchez-León
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mélissa Caza
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Wonhee Jung
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Mattoon ER, Casadevall A, Cordero RJB. Beat the heat: correlates, compounds, and mechanisms involved in fungal thermotolerance. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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9
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Role of calcineurin biosignaling in cell secretion and the possible regulatory mechanisms. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:116-124. [PMID: 33424288 PMCID: PMC7783665 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium ions (Ca2+) are two chemical molecules that play a central role in the stimulus-dependent secretion processes within cells. Ca2+ acts as the basal signaling molecule responsible to initiate cell secretion. cAMP primarily acts as an intracellular second messenger in a myriad of cellular processes by activating cAMP-dependent protein kinases through association with such kinases in order to mediate post-translational phosphorylation of those protein targets. Put succinctly, both Ca2+ and cAMP act by associating or activating other proteins to ensure successful secretion. Calcineurin is one such protein regulated by Ca2+; its action depends on the intracellular levels of Ca2+. Being a phosphatase, calcineurin dephosphorylate and other proteins, as is the case with most other phosphatases, such as protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), PP2C, and protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), will likely be activated by phosphorylation. Via this process, calcineurin is able to affect different intracellular signaling with clinical importance, some of which has been the basis for development of different calcineurin inhibitors. In this review, the cAMP-dependent calcineurin bio-signaling, protein-protein interactions and their physiological implications as well as regulatory signaling within the context of cellular secretion are explored.
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10
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Zhang X, Cao S, Li W, Sun H, Deng Y, Zhang A, Chen H. Functional Characterization of Calcineurin-Responsive Transcription Factors Fg01341 and Fg01350 in Fusarium graminearum. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:597998. [PMID: 33324378 PMCID: PMC7726117 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.597998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca2 +/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin is one of the important regulators of intracellular calcium homeostasis and has been investigated extensively in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, only a few reports have explored the function of the Crz1 homolog in filamentous fungi, especially in Fusarium graminearum. In this study, we identified Fg01341 as a potential ortholog of yeast Crz1. Fg01341 could interact with calcineurin and initiate nuclear transport in a calcineurin-dependent manner. The ΔFg01341 mutant exhibited normal hyphal growth on basic medium and conidia formation, but sexual reproduction was partially blocked. Pathogenicity assays showed that the virulence of the ΔFg01341 mutant in flowering wheat heads and corn silks dramatically decreased and was thus consistent with the reduction in deoxynivalenol production. Unexpectedly, the sensitivity to osmotic stress of the deletion mutant and that of the wild-type strain did not present any differences. The deletion mutant showed higher sensitivity to tebuconazole than the wild-type strain. Results also showed that the transcription factor Fg01350 might be the calcineurin target and was independent of Crz1. Furthermore, ΔFg01350 showed defects in hyphal growth, sexual production, virulence, and deoxynivalenol production. Collectively, the results indicate that these two proteins functionally redundant and that the calcineurin-Crz1-independent pathway is particularly important in F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxiang Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China.,The Management of Scientific Research, Jiangsu Coastal Area Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Yancheng, China
| | - Shulin Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyu Deng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Aixiang Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Huaigu Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
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Hou YH, Hsu LH, Wang HF, Lai YH, Chen YL. Calcineurin Regulates Conidiation, Chlamydospore Formation and Virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:539702. [PMID: 33193126 PMCID: PMC7641966 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.539702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by the ascomycetous fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) is widespread in most tomato planting areas. Calcineurin is a heterodimeric calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase comprised of catalytic (Cna1) and regulatory (Cnb1) subunits. Calcineurin has been studied extensively in human fungal pathogens, but less is known about its roles in plant fungal pathogens. It is known that calcineurin regulates fungal calcium signaling, growth, drug tolerance, and virulence. However, the roles of calcineurin in Fol have not yet been characterized. In this study, we deleted calcineurin CNA1 and CNB1 genes to characterize their roles in conidiation, chlamydospore formation and virulence in Fol. Our results revealed that both cna1 and cnb1 mutants show defects in calcineurin phosphatase activity, vegetative growth and conidiation as compared to the wild type. Furthermore, calcineurin mutants exhibited blunted and swollen hyphae as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Interestingly, we found that Fol calcineurin is critical for chlamydospore formation, a function of calcineurin previously undocumented in the fungal kingdom. According to transcriptome analysis, the expression of 323 and 414 genes was up- and down-regulated, respectively, in both cna1 and cnb1 mutants. Based on the pathogen infection assay, tomato plants inoculated with cna1 or cnb1 mutant have a dramatic reduction in disease severity, indicating that calcineurin has a vital role in Fol virulence. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Fol calcineurin is required, at least in part, for phosphatase activity, vegetative growth, conidiation, chlamydospore formation, and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsuan Hou
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hang Hsu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Fu Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsin Lai
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lien Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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LeBlanc EV, Polvi EJ, Veri AO, Privé GG, Cowen LE. Structure-guided approaches to targeting stress responses in human fungal pathogens. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:14458-14472. [PMID: 32796038 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.013731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi inhabit extraordinarily diverse ecological niches, including the human body. Invasive fungal infections have a devastating impact on human health worldwide, killing ∼1.5 million individuals annually. The majority of these deaths are attributable to species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus Treating fungal infections is challenging, in part due to the emergence of resistance to our limited arsenal of antifungal agents, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic options. Whereas conventional antifungal strategies target proteins or cellular components essential for fungal growth, an attractive alternative strategy involves targeting proteins that regulate fungal virulence or antifungal drug resistance, such as regulators of fungal stress responses. Stress response networks enable fungi to adapt, grow, and cause disease in humans and include regulators that are highly conserved across eukaryotes as well as those that are fungal-specific. This review highlights recent developments in elucidating crystal structures of fungal stress response regulators and emphasizes how this knowledge can guide the design of fungal-selective inhibitors. We focus on the progress that has been made with highly conserved regulators, including the molecular chaperone Hsp90, the protein phosphatase calcineurin, and the small GTPase Ras1, as well as with divergent stress response regulators, including the cell wall kinase Yck2 and trehalose synthases. Exploring structures of these important fungal stress regulators will accelerate the design of selective antifungals that can be deployed to combat life-threatening fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle V LeBlanc
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth J Polvi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda O Veri
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gilbert G Privé
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) is a universal signalling molecule of life. The Ca2+ signalling is an evolutionarily conserved process from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Ca2+ at high concentration is deleterious to the cell; therefore, cell maintains a low resting level of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c). The resting [Ca2+]c is tightly regulated, and a transient increase of the [Ca2+]c initiates a signalling cascade in the cell. Ca2+ signalling plays an essential role in various processes, including growth, development, reproduction, tolerance to stress conditions, and virulence in fungi. In this review, we describe the evolutionary aspects of Ca2+ signalling and cell functions of major Ca2+ signalling proteins in different fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avishek Roy
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Ajeet Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Darshana Baruah
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Ranjan Tamuli
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
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14
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Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus; its primary habitat is the soil. In its ecological niche, the fungus has learned how to adapt and proliferate in hostile environments. This capacity has helped the fungus to resist and survive against human host defenses and, further, to be responsible for one of the most devastating lung infections in terms of morbidity and mortality. In this review, we will provide (i) a description of the biological cycle of A. fumigatus; (ii) a historical perspective of the spectrum of aspergillus disease and the current epidemiological status of these infections; (iii) an analysis of the modes of immune response against Aspergillus in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients; (iv) an understanding of the pathways responsible for fungal virulence and their host molecular targets, with a specific focus on the cell wall; (v) the current status of the diagnosis of different clinical syndromes; and (vi) an overview of the available antifungal armamentarium and the therapeutic strategies in the clinical context. In addition, the emergence of new concepts, such as nutritional immunity and the integration and rewiring of multiple fungal metabolic activities occurring during lung invasion, has helped us to redefine the opportunistic pathogenesis of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Latgé
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Echinocandins for the Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis: from Laboratory to Bedside. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00399-19. [PMID: 31138565 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00399-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin), targeting β-1,3-glucan synthesis of the cell wall, represent one of the three currently available antifungal drug classes for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. Despite their limited antifungal activity against Aspergillus spp., echinocandins are considered an alternative option for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA). This drug class exhibits several advantages, such as excellent tolerability and its potential for synergistic interactions with some other antifungals. The objective of this review is to discuss the in vitro and clinical efficacy of echinocandins against Aspergillus spp., considering the complex interactions between the drug, the mold, and the host. The antifungal effect of echinocandins is not limited to direct inhibition of hyphal growth but also induces an immunomodulatory effect on the host's response. Moreover, Aspergillus spp. have developed important adaptive mechanisms of tolerance to survive and overcome the action of echinocandins, such as paradoxical growth at increased concentrations. This stress response can be abolished by several compounds that potentiate the activity of echinocandins, such as drugs targeting the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-calcineurin axis, opening perspectives for adjuvant therapies. Finally, the present and future places of echinocandins as prophylaxis, monotherapy, or combination therapy of IA are discussed in view of the emergence of pan-azole resistance among Aspergillus fumigatus isolates, the occurrence of breakthrough IA, and the advent of new long-lasting echinocandins (rezafungin) or other β-1,3-glucan synthase inhibitors (ibrexafungerp).
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Nie X, Li B, Wang S. Epigenetic and Posttranslational Modifications in Regulating the Biology of Aspergillus Species. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2018; 105:191-226. [PMID: 30342722 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic and posttranslational modifications have been proved to participate in multiple cellular processes and suggested to be an important regulatory mechanism on transcription of genes in eukaryotes. However, our knowledge about epigenetic and posttranslational modifications mainly comes from the studies of yeasts, plants, and animals. Recently, epigenetic and posttranslational modifications have also raised concern for the relevance of regulating fungal biology in Aspergillus. Emerging evidence indicates that these modifications could be a connection between genetic elements and environmental factors, and their combined effects may finally lead to fungal phenotypical changes. This article describes the advances in typical DNA and protein modifications in the genus Aspergillus, focusing on methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and neddylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Nie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shihua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Mitic M, Berry D, Brasell E, Green K, Young CA, Saikia S, Rakonjac J, Scott B. Disruption of calcineurin catalytic subunit (cnaA) in Epichloë festucae induces symbiotic defects and intrahyphal hyphae formation. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2018; 19:1414-1426. [PMID: 28990722 PMCID: PMC6638138 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, consisting of a catalytic subunit A and a regulatory subunit B, which is involved in calcium-dependent signalling and regulation of various important cellular processes. In this study, we functionally characterized the catalytic subunit A (CnaA) of the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae which forms a symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. We deleted the CnaA-encoding gene cnaA in E. festucae and examined its role in hyphal growth, cell wall integrity and symbiosis. This ΔcnaA strain had a severe growth defect with loss of radial growth and hyper-branched hyphae. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis of the mutant revealed cell wall defects, aberrant septation and the formation of intrahyphal hyphae, both in culture and in planta. The mutant strain also showed a reduced infection rate in planta. The fluorescence of mutant hyphae stained with WGA-AF488 was reduced, indicating reduced chitin accessibility. Together, these results show that E. festucae CnaA is required for fungal growth, maintaining cell wall integrity and host colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Mitic
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Daniel Berry
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Emma Brasell
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Kimberly Green
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | | | - Sanjay Saikia
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Jasna Rakonjac
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
| | - Barry Scott
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
- BioProtection Research Centre, Massey UniversityPalmerston North4442New Zealand
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18
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Calcineurin Regulatory Subunit Calcium-Binding Domains Differentially Contribute to Calcineurin Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 2018; 209:801-813. [PMID: 29735720 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.300911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein phosphatase calcineurin is central to Ca2+ signaling pathways from yeast to humans. Full activation of calcineurin requires Ca2+ binding to the regulatory subunit CNB, comprised of four Ca2+-binding EF hand domains, and recruitment of Ca2+-calmodulin. Here we report the consequences of disrupting Ca2+ binding to individual Cnb1 EF hand domains on calcineurin function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Calcineurin activity was monitored via quantitation of the calcineurin-dependent reporter gene, CDRE-lacZ, and calcineurin-dependent growth under conditions of environmental stress. Mutation of EF2 dramatically reduced CDRE-lacZ expression and failed to support calcineurin-dependent growth. In contrast, Ca2+ binding to EF4 was largely dispensable for calcineurin function. Mutation of EF1 and EF3 exerted intermediate phenotypes. Reduced activity of EF1, EF2, or EF3 mutant calcineurin was also observed in yeast lacking functional calmodulin and could not be rescued by expression of a truncated catalytic subunit lacking the C-terminal autoinhibitory domain either alone or in conjunction with the calmodulin binding and autoinhibitory segment domains. Ca2+ binding to EF1, EF2, and EF3 in response to intracellular Ca2+ signals therefore has functions in phosphatase activation beyond calmodulin recruitment and displacement of known autoinhibitory domains. Disruption of Ca2+ binding to EF1, EF2, or EF3 reduced Ca2+ responsiveness of calcineurin, but increased the sensitivity of calcineurin to immunophilin-immunosuppressant inhibition. Mutation of EF2 also increased the susceptibility of calcineurin to hydrogen peroxide inactivation. Our observations indicate that distinct Cnb1 EF hand domains differentially affect calcineurin function in vivo, and that EF4 is not essential despite conservation across taxa.
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Gong Y, Li T, Yu C, Sun S. Candida albicans Heat Shock Proteins and Hsps-Associated Signaling Pathways as Potential Antifungal Targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:520. [PMID: 29312897 PMCID: PMC5742142 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the incidence of invasive fungal infections has increased notably. Candida albicans (C. albicans), a common opportunistic fungal pathogen that dwells on human mucosal surfaces, can cause fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised and high-risk surgical patients. In addition, the wide use of antifungal agents has likely contributed to resistance of C. albicans to traditional antifungal drugs, increasing the difficulty of treatment. Thus, it is urgent to identify novel antifungal drugs to cope with C. albicans infections. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) exist in most organisms and are expressed in response to thermal stress. In C. albicans, Hsps control basic physiological activities or virulence via interaction with a variety of diverse regulators of cellular signaling pathways. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that Hsps confer drug resistance to C. albicans. Many studies have shown that disrupting the normal functions of C. albicans Hsps inhibits fungal growth or reverses the tolerance of C. albicans to traditional antifungal drugs. Here, we review known functions of the diverse Hsp family, Hsp-associated intracellular signaling pathways and potential antifungal targets based on these pathways in C. albicans. We hope this review will aid in revealing potential new roles of C. albicans Hsps in addition to canonical heat stress adaptions and provide more insight into identifying potential novel antifungal targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Gong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Tao Li
- Intensive Care Unit, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Cuixiang Yu
- Respiration Medicine, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shujuan Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
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20
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Blatzer M, Latgé JP. Metal-homeostasis in the pathobiology of the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 40:152-159. [PMID: 29179120 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to obligate pathogens opportunistic pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus do not need a specific host to propagate or survive. However several characteristics of the saprophytic life-style and the selective pressure encountered in the primary ecological niche contribute to the virulence of A. fumigatus. All fungi depend on metals for growth and proliferation, like iron, copper, zinc, manganese or calcium. In the recent past several studies explored the manifold impact of metals modulating virulence of pathogens. Components which might be scarce in the natural environment but also in the host due to nutritional immunity. This review recapitulates molecular constituents of metal ion uptake systems in A. fumigatus, their regulation and their significance at the host-pathogen battlefield.
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21
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Brown AJP, Cowen LE, di Pietro A, Quinn J. Stress Adaptation. Microbiol Spectr 2017; 5:10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0048-2016. [PMID: 28721857 PMCID: PMC5701650 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.funk-0048-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal species display an extraordinarily diverse range of lifestyles. Nevertheless, the survival of each species depends on its ability to sense and respond to changes in its natural environment. Environmental changes such as fluctuations in temperature, water balance or pH, or exposure to chemical insults such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species exert stresses that perturb cellular homeostasis and cause molecular damage to the fungal cell. Consequently, fungi have evolved mechanisms to repair this damage, detoxify chemical insults, and restore cellular homeostasis. Most stresses are fundamental in nature, and consequently, there has been significant evolutionary conservation in the nature of the resultant responses across the fungal kingdom and beyond. For example, heat shock generally induces the synthesis of chaperones that promote protein refolding, antioxidants are generally synthesized in response to an oxidative stress, and osmolyte levels are generally increased following a hyperosmotic shock. In this article we summarize the current understanding of these and other stress responses as well as the signaling pathways that regulate them in the fungi. Model yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae are compared with filamentous fungi, as well as with pathogens of plants and humans. We also discuss current challenges associated with defining the dynamics of stress responses and with the elaboration of fungal stress adaptation under conditions that reflect natural environments in which fungal cells may be exposed to different types of stresses, either sequentially or simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Fungal Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Antonio di Pietro
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Gregor Mendel C5, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Janet Quinn
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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22
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Insights regarding fungal phosphoproteomic analysis. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 104:38-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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Desoubeaux G, Cray C. Rodent Models of Invasive Aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus: Still a Long Path toward Standardization. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:841. [PMID: 28559881 PMCID: PMC5432554 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis has been studied in laboratory by the means of plethora of distinct animal models. They were developed to address pathophysiology, therapy, diagnosis, or miscellaneous other concerns associated. However, there are great discrepancies regarding all the experimental variables of animal models, and a thorough focus on them is needed. This systematic review completed a comprehensive bibliographic analysis specifically-based on the technical features of rodent models infected with Aspergillus fumigatus. Out the 800 articles reviewed, it was shown that mice remained the preferred model (85.8% of the referenced reports), above rats (10.8%), and guinea pigs (3.8%). Three quarters of the models involved immunocompromised status, mainly by steroids (44.4%) and/or alkylating drugs (42.9%), but only 27.7% were reported to receive antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent from bacterial infection. Injection of spores (30.0%) and inhalation/deposition into respiratory airways (66.9%) were the most used routes for experimental inoculation. Overall, more than 230 distinct A. fumigatus strains were used in models. Of all the published studies, 18.4% did not mention usage of any diagnostic tool, like histopathology or mycological culture, to control correct implementation of the disease and to measure outcome. In light of these findings, a consensus discussion should be engaged to establish a minimum standardization, although this may not be consistently suitable for addressing all the specific aspects of invasive aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Desoubeaux
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of MiamiMiami, FL, USA.,Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de ToursTours, France.,Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (CEPR) Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1100/Équipe 3, Université François-RabelaisTours, France
| | - Carolyn Cray
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of MiamiMiami, FL, USA
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Juvvadi PR, Lee SC, Heitman J, Steinbach WJ. Calcineurin in fungal virulence and drug resistance: Prospects for harnessing targeted inhibition of calcineurin for an antifungal therapeutic approach. Virulence 2017; 8:186-197. [PMID: 27325145 PMCID: PMC5354160 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1201250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Increases in the incidence and mortality due to the major invasive fungal infections such as aspergillosis, candidiasis and cryptococcosis caused by the species of Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus, are a growing threat to the immunosuppressed patient population. In addition to the limited armamentarium of the current classes of antifungal agents available (pyrimidine analogs, polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins), their toxicity, efficacy and the emergence of resistance are major bottlenecks limiting successful patient outcomes. Although these drugs target distinct fungal pathways, there is an urgent need to develop new antifungals that are more efficacious, fungal-specific, with reduced or no toxicity and simultaneously do not induce resistance. Here we review several lines of evidence which indicate that the calcineurin signaling pathway, a target of the immunosuppressive drugs FK506 and cyclosporine A, orchestrates growth, virulence and drug resistance in a variety of fungal pathogens and can be exploited for novel antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R. Juvvadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Soo Chan Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William J. Steinbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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25
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Steinbach WJ, Lamoth F, Juvvadi PR. Potential Microbiological Effects of Higher Dosing of Echinocandins. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 61 Suppl 6:S669-77. [PMID: 26567286 DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The antifungal "paradoxical effect" has been described as the reversal of growth inhibition at high doses of echinocandins, most usually caspofungin. This microbiological effect appears to be a cellular compensatory response to cell wall damage, resulting in alteration of cell wall content and structure as well as fungal morphology and growth. In vitro studies demonstrate this reproducible effect in a certain percentage of fungal isolates, but animal model and clinical studies are less consistent. The calcineurin and Hsp90 cell signaling pathways appear to play a major role in regulating these cellular and structural changes. Regardless of the clinical relevance of this paradoxical growth effect, understanding the specific actions of echinocandins is paramount to optimizing their use at either standard or higher dosing schemes, as well as developing future improvements in our antifungal arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Frédéric Lamoth
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
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26
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Juvvadi PR, Pemble CW, Ma Y, Steinbach WJ. Novel motif in calcineurin catalytic subunit is required for septal localization of calcineurin in Aspergillus fumigatus. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:501-8. [PMID: 26864964 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Calcineurin heterodimer, comprised of the catalytic (CnaA) and regulatory (CnaB) subunits, localizes at the hyphal tips and septa to direct growth, septation, and disease in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Here we discovered a novel motif (FMDVF) required for this critical CnaA septal localization, including residues Phe368, Asp370 and Phe372 overlapping the cyclosporine A-cyclophilin A-binding domain, CnaB-binding helix and the FK506-FKBP12-binding pocket. Mutations in adjacent residues Asn367, Trp374, and Ser375 confer FK506 resistance without impacting CnaA septal localization. Modeling A. fumigatus CnaA confirmed that the FMDVF motif forms a bridge between the two known substrate-binding motifs, PxIxIT and LxVP, and concurrent mutations (F368A D370A; F368A F372A) in the FMDVF motif disrupt CnaA-substrate interaction at the septum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles W Pemble
- Duke Macromolecular Crystallography Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yan Ma
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - William J Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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27
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Gautam P, Mushahary D, Hassan W, Upadhyay SK, Madan T, Sirdeshmukh R, Sundaram CS, Sarma PU. In-depth 2-DE reference map of Aspergillus fumigatus and its proteomic profiling on exposure to itraconazole. Med Mycol 2016; 54:524-36. [PMID: 26868900 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myv122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a medically important opportunistic fungus that may lead to invasive aspergillosis in humans with weak immune system. Proteomic profiling of this fungus on exposure to itraconazole (ITC), an azole antifungal drug, may lead to identification of its molecular targets and better understanding on the development of drug resistance against ITC in A. fumigatus. Here, proteome analysis was performed using 2-DE followed by mass spectrometric analysis which resulted in identification of a total of 259 unique proteins. Further, proteome profiling of A. fumigatus was carried out on exposure to ITC, 0.154 μg/ml, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50). Image analysis showed altered levels of 175 proteins (66 upregulated and 109 downregulated) of A. fumigatus treated with ITC as compared to the untreated control. Peptide mass fingerprinting led to the identification of 54 proteins (12 up-regulated and 42 down-regulated). The differentially expressed proteins include proteins related to cell stress, carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. We also observed four proteins, including nucleotide phosphate kinase (NDK), that are reported to interact with calcineurin, a protein involved in regulation of cell morphology and fungal virulence. Comparison of differentially expressed proteins on exposure to ITC with artemisinin (ART), an antimalarial drug with antifungal activity(1), revealed a total of 26 proteins to be common among them suggesting that common proteins and pathways are targeted by these two antifungal agents. The proteins targeted by ITC may serve as important leads for development of new antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Gautam
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dolly Mushahary
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Wazid Hassan
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
| | | | - Taruna Madan
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Ravi Sirdeshmukh
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Puranam Usha Sarma
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India Department of Plant pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi, India
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28
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Juvvadi PR, Steinbach WJ. Calcineurin Orchestrates Hyphal Growth, Septation, Drug Resistance and Pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus: Where Do We Go from Here? Pathogens 2015; 4:883-93. [PMID: 26694470 PMCID: PMC4693169 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens4040883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on fungal pathogens belonging to the ascomycota phylum are critical given the ubiquity and frequency with which these fungi cause infections in humans. Among these species, Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive aspergillosis, a leading cause of death in immunocompromised patients. Fundamental to A. fumigatus pathogenesis is hyphal growth. However, the precise mechanisms underlying hyphal growth and virulence are poorly understood. Over the past 10 years, our research towards the identification of molecular targets responsible for hyphal growth, drug resistance and virulence led to the elucidation of calcineurin as a key signaling molecule governing these processes. In this review, we summarize our salient findings on the significance of calcineurin for hyphal growth and septation in A. fumigatus and propose future perspectives on exploiting this pathway for designing new fungal-specific therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - William J Steinbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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29
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Falloon K, Juvvadi PR, Richards AD, Vargas-Muñiz JM, Renshaw H, Steinbach WJ. Characterization of the FKBP12-Encoding Genes in Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137869. [PMID: 26366742 PMCID: PMC4569257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis, largely caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is responsible for a growing number of deaths among immunosuppressed patients. Immunosuppressants such as FK506 (tacrolimus) that target calcineurin have shown promise for antifungal drug development. FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) form a complex with calcineurin in the presence of FK506 (FKBP12-FK506) and inhibit calcineurin activity. Research on FKBPs in fungi is limited, and none of the FKBPs have been previously characterized in A. fumigatus. We identified four orthologous genes of FKBP12, the human FK506 binding partner, in A. fumigatus and designated them fkbp12-1, fkbp12-2, fkbp12-3, and fkbp12-4. Deletional analysis of the four genes revealed that the Δfkbp12-1 strain was resistant to FK506, indicating FKBP12-1 as the key mediator of FK506-binding to calcineurin. The endogenously expressed FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein localized to the cytoplasm and nuclei under normal growth conditions but also to the hyphal septa following FK506 treatment, revealing its interaction with calcineurin. The FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein didn’t localize at the septa in the presence of FK506 in the cnaA deletion background, confirming its interaction with calcineurin. Testing of all deletion strains in the Galleria mellonella model of aspergillosis suggested that these proteins don’t play an important role in virulence. While the Δfkbp12-2 and Δfkbp12-3 strains didn’t show any discernable phenotype, the Δfkbp12-4 strain displayed slight growth defect under normal growth conditions and inhibition of the caspofungin-mediated “paradoxical growth effect” at higher concentrations of the antifungal caspofungin. Together, these results indicate that while only FKBP12-1 is the bona fide binding partner of FK506, leading to the inhibition of calcineurin in A. fumigatus, FKBP12-4 may play a role in basal growth and the caspofungin-mediated paradoxical growth response. Exploitation of differences between A. fumigatus FKBP12-1 and human FKBP12 will be critical for the generation of fungal-specific FK506 analogs to inhibit fungal calcineurin and treat invasive fungal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Falloon
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Praveen R. Juvvadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Amber D. Richards
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - José M. Vargas-Muñiz
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Hilary Renshaw
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William J. Steinbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lee SC, Li A, Calo S, Inoue M, Tonthat NK, Bain JM, Louw J, Shinohara ML, Erwig LP, Schumacher MA, Ko DC, Heitman J. Calcineurin orchestrates dimorphic transitions, antifungal drug responses and host-pathogen interactions of the pathogenic mucoralean fungus Mucor circinelloides. Mol Microbiol 2015; 97:844-65. [PMID: 26010100 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin plays essential roles in virulence and growth of pathogenic fungi and is a target of the natural products FK506 and Cyclosporine A. In the pathogenic mucoralean fungus Mucor circinelloides, calcineurin mutation or inhibition confers a yeast-locked phenotype indicating that calcineurin governs the dimorphic transition. Genetic analysis in this study reveals that two calcineurin A catalytic subunits (out of three) are functionally diverged. Homology modeling illustrates modes of resistance resulting from amino substitutions in the interface between each calcineurin subunit and the inhibitory drugs. In addition, we show how the dimorphic transition orchestrated by calcineurin programs different outcomes during host-pathogen interactions. For example, when macrophages phagocytose Mucor yeast, subsequent phagosomal maturation occurs, indicating host cells respond appropriately to control the pathogen. On the other hand, upon phagocytosis of spores, macrophages fail to form mature phagosomes. Cytokine production from immune cells differs following exposure to yeast versus spores (which germinate into hyphae). Thus, the morphogenic transition can be targeted as an efficient treatment option against Mucor infection. In addition, genetic analysis (including gene disruption and mutational studies) further strengthens the understanding of calcineurin and provides a foundation to develop antifungal agents targeting calcineurin to deploy against Mucor and other pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Chan Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Alicia Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Silvia Calo
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Makoto Inoue
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Nam K Tonthat
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Judith M Bain
- Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Johanna Louw
- Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Mari L Shinohara
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.,Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Lars P Erwig
- Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.,Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Maria A Schumacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Dennis C Ko
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.,Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.,Center for Human Genome Variation, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
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Calcium-Mediated Induction of Paradoxical Growth following Caspofungin Treatment Is Associated with Calcineurin Activation and Phosphorylation in Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:4946-55. [PMID: 26055379 PMCID: PMC4505252 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00263-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The echinocandin antifungal drug caspofungin at high concentrations reverses the growth inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus, a phenomenon known as the "paradoxical effect," which is not consistently observed with other echinocandins (micafungin and anidulafungin). Previous studies of A. fumigatus revealed the loss of the paradoxical effect following pharmacological or genetic inhibition of calcineurin, yet the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we utilized a codon-optimized bioluminescent Ca(2+) reporter aequorin expression system in A. fumigatus and showed that caspofungin elicits a transient increase in cytosolic free Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]c) in the fungus that acts as the initial trigger of the paradoxical effect by activating calmodulin-calcineurin signaling. While the increase in [Ca(2+)]c was also observed upon treatment with micafungin, another echinocandin without the paradoxical effect, a higher [Ca(2+)]c increase was noted with the paradoxical-growth concentration of caspofungin. Treatments with a Ca(2+)-selective chelator, BAPTA [1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid], or the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker verapamil abolished caspofungin-mediated paradoxical growth in both the wild-type and the echinocandin-resistant (EMFR-S678P) strains. Concomitant with increased [Ca(2+)]c levels at higher concentrations of caspofungin, calmodulin and calcineurin gene expression was enhanced. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that calcineurin is activated through phosphorylation at its serine-proline-rich region (SPRR), a domain previously shown to be essential for regulation of hyphal growth, only at a paradoxical-growth concentration of caspofungin. Our results indicate that as opposed to micafungin, the increased [Ca(2+)]c at high concentrations of caspofungin activates calmodulin-calcineurin signaling at both a transcriptional and a posttranslational level and ultimately leads to paradoxical fungal growth.
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Juvvadi PR, Ma Y, Richards AD, Soderblom EJ, Moseley MA, Lamoth F, Steinbach WJ. Identification and mutational analyses of phosphorylation sites of the calcineurin-binding protein CbpA and the identification of domains required for calcineurin binding in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:175. [PMID: 25821446 PMCID: PMC4358225 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin is a key protein phosphatase required for hyphal growth and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus, making it an attractive antifungal target. However, currently available calcineurin inhibitors, FK506 and cyclosporine A, are immunosuppressive, limiting usage in the treatment of patients with invasive aspergillosis. Therefore, the identification of endogenous inhibitors of calcineurin belonging to the calcipressin family is an important parallel strategy. We previously identified the gene cbpA as the A. fumigatus calcipressin member and showed its involvement in hyphal growth and calcium homeostasis. However, the mechanism of its activation/inhibition through phosphorylation and its interaction with calcineurin remains unknown. Here we show that A. fumigatus CbpA is phosphorylated at three distinct domains, including the conserved SP repeat motif (phosphorylated domain-I; PD-I), a filamentous fungal-specific domain (PD-II), and the C-terminal CIC motif (Calcipressin Inhibitor of Calcineurin; PD-III). While mutation of three phosphorylated residues (Ser208, Ser217, Ser223) in the PD-II did not affect CbpA function in vivo, mutation of the two phosphorylated serines (Ser156, Ser160) in the SP repeat motif caused reduced hyphal growth and sensitivity to oxidative stress. Mutational analysis in the key domains in calcineurin A (CnaA) and proteomic interaction studies confirmed the requirement of PxIxIT motif-binding residues (352-NIR-354) and the calcineurin B (CnaB)-binding helix residue (V371) for the binding of CbpA to CnaA. Additionally, while the calmodulin-binding residues (442-RVF-444) did not affect CbpA binding to CnaA, three mutations (T359P, H361L, and L365S) clustered between the CnaA catalytic and the CnaB-binding helix were also required for CbpA binding. This is the first study to analyze the phosphorylation status of calcipressin in filamentous fungi and identify the domains required for binding to calcineurin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yan Ma
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Amber D Richards
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Erik J Soderblom
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - M Arthur Moseley
- Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
| | - Frédéric Lamoth
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA ; Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland ; Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - William J Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA ; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
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Components of the calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway in fungal cells and their potential as antifungal targets. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2015; 14:324-34. [PMID: 25636321 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00271-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the emergence of fungal resistance has become frequent, partly due to the widespread clinical use of fluconazole, which is minimally toxic and effective in the prevention and treatment of Candida albicans infections. The limited selection of antifungal drugs for clinical fungal infection therapy has prompted us to search for new antifungal drug targets. Calcium, which acts as the second messenger in both mammals and fungi, plays a direct role in controlling the expression patterns of its signaling systems and has important roles in cell survival. In addition, calcium and some of the components, mainly calcineurin, in the fungal calcium signaling pathway mediate fungal resistance to antifungal drugs. Therefore, an overview of the components of the fungal calcium-calcineurin signaling network and their potential roles as antifungal targets is urgently needed. The calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway consists of various channels, transporters, pumps, and other proteins or enzymes. Many transcriptional profiles have indicated that mutant strains that lack some of these components are sensitized to fluconazole or other antifungal drugs. In addition, many researchers have identified efficient compounds that exhibit antifungal activity by themselves or in combination with antifungal drugs by targeting some of the components in the fungal calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway. This targeting disrupts Ca(2+) homeostasis, which suggests that this pathway contains potential targets for the development of new antifungal drugs.
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34
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Lamoth F, Alexander BD, Juvvadi PR, Steinbach WJ. Antifungal activity of compounds targeting the Hsp90-calcineurin pathway against various mould species. J Antimicrob Chemother 2015; 70:1408-11. [PMID: 25558076 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dku549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Invasive mould infections are associated with a high mortality rate and the emergence of MDR moulds is of particular concern. Calcineurin and its chaperone, the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), represent an important pathway for fungal virulence that can be targeted at different levels. We investigated the antifungal activity of compounds directly or indirectly targeting the Hsp90-calcineurin axis against different mould species. METHODS The in vitro antifungal activity of the anticalcineurin drug FK506 (tacrolimus), the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin, the lysine deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A and the Hsp70 inhibitor pifithrin-μ was assessed by the standard broth dilution method against 62 clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. and non-Aspergillus moulds (Mucoromycotina, Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., Purpureocillium/Paecilomyces spp. and Scopulariopsis spp.) RESULTS FK506 had variable antifungal activity against different Aspergillus spp. and was particularly active against Mucor spp. Geldanamycin had moderate antifungal activity against Fusarium spp. and Paecilomyces variotii. Importantly, trichostatin A had good activity against the triazole-resistant Aspergillus ustus and the amphotericin B-resistant Aspergillus terreus as well as the MDR Scedosporium prolificans. Moreover, trichostatin A exhibited synergistic interactions with caspofungin against A. ustus and with geldanamycin against Rhizopus spp. for which none of the other agents showed activity. Pifithrin-μ exhibited little antifungal activity. CONCLUSIONS Targeting the Hsp90-calcineurin axis at different levels resulted in distinct patterns of susceptibility among different fungal species. Lysine deacetylase inhibition may represent a promising novel antifungal strategy against emerging resistant moulds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lamoth
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA Service of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara D Alexander
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Praveen R Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William J Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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Sugden C, Urbaniak MD, Araki T, Williams JG. The Dictyostelium prestalk inducer differentiation-inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) triggers unexpectedly complex global phosphorylation changes. Mol Biol Cell 2014; 26:805-20. [PMID: 25518940 PMCID: PMC4325849 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e14-08-1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation-inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) is a polyketide that induces Dictyostelium amoebae to differentiate as prestalk cells. We performed a global quantitative screen for phosphorylation changes that occur within the first minutes after addition of DIF-1, using a triple-label SILAC approach. This revealed a new world of DIF-1-controlled signaling, with changes in components of the MAPK and protein kinase B signaling pathways, components of the actinomyosin cytoskeletal signaling networks, and a broad range of small GTPases and their regulators. The results also provide evidence that the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin plays a role in DIF-1 signaling to the DimB prestalk transcription factor. At the global level, DIF-1 causes a major shift in the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation equilibrium toward net dephosphorylation. Of interest, many of the sites that are dephosphorylated in response to DIF-1 are phosphorylated in response to extracellular cAMP signaling. This accords with studies that suggest an antagonism between the two inducers and also with the rapid dephosphorylation of the cAMP receptor that we observe in response to DIF-1 and with the known inhibitory effect of DIF-1 on chemotaxis to cAMP. All MS data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001555.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Sugden
- College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D Urbaniak
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, United Kingdom
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey G Williams
- College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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Juvvadi PR, Lamoth F, Steinbach WJ. Calcineurin as a Multifunctional Regulator: Unraveling Novel Functions in Fungal Stress Responses, Hyphal Growth, Drug Resistance, and Pathogenesis. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2014; 28:56-69. [PMID: 25383089 DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin signaling plays diverse roles in fungi in regulating stress responses, morphogenesis and pathogenesis. Although calcineurin signaling is conserved among fungi, recent studies indicate important divergences in calcineurin-dependent cellular functions among different human fungal pathogens. Fungal pathogens utilize the calcineurin pathway to effectively survive the host environment and cause life-threatening infections. The immunosuppressive calcineurin inhibitors (FK506 and cyclosporine A) are active against fungi, making targeting calcineurin a promising antifungal drug development strategy. Here we summarize current knowledge on calcineurin in yeasts and filamentous fungi, and review the importance of understanding fungal-specific attributes of calcineurin to decipher fungal pathogenesis and develop novel antifungal therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, USA
| | - Frédéric Lamoth
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, USA ; Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland ; Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - William J Steinbach
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, USA ; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, USA
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Lamoth F, Juvvadi PR, Steinbach WJ. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90): A novel antifungal target against Aspergillus fumigatus. Crit Rev Microbiol 2014; 42:310-21. [PMID: 25243616 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2014.947239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening and difficult to treat infection in immunosuppressed patients. The efficacy of current anti-Aspergillus therapies, targeting the cell wall or membrane, is limited by toxicity (polyenes), fungistatic activity and some level of basal resistance (echinocandins), or the emergence of acquired resistance (triazoles). The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a conserved molecular chaperone involved in the rapid development of antifungal resistance in the yeast Candida albicans. Few studies have addressed its role in filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, in which mechanisms of resistance may differ substantially. Hsp90 is at the center of a complex network involving calcineurin, lysine deacetylases (KDAC) and other client proteins, which orchestrate compensatory repair mechanisms of the cell wall in response to the stress induced by antifungals. In A. fumigatus, Hsp90 is a trigger for resistance to high concentrations of caspofungin, known as the paradoxical effect. Disrupting Hsp90 circuitry by different means (Hsp90 inhibitors, KDAC inhibitors and anti-calcineurin drugs) potentiates the antifungal activity of caspofungin, thus representing a promising novel antifungal approach. This review will discuss the specific features of A. fumigatus Hsp90 and the potential for antifungal strategies of invasive aspergillosis targeting this essential chaperone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lamoth
- a Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA .,b Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine , Lausanne University Hospital , Lausanne , Switzerland .,c Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital , Lausanne , Switzerland , and
| | - Praveen R Juvvadi
- a Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
| | - William J Steinbach
- a Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA .,d Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , NC , USA
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Perez-Nadales E, Nogueira MFA, Baldin C, Castanheira S, El Ghalid M, Grund E, Lengeler K, Marchegiani E, Mehrotra PV, Moretti M, Naik V, Oses-Ruiz M, Oskarsson T, Schäfer K, Wasserstrom L, Brakhage AA, Gow NAR, Kahmann R, Lebrun MH, Perez-Martin J, Di Pietro A, Talbot NJ, Toquin V, Walther A, Wendland J. Fungal model systems and the elucidation of pathogenicity determinants. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 70:42-67. [PMID: 25011008 PMCID: PMC4161391 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Fungi have the capacity to cause devastating diseases of both plants and animals, causing significant harvest losses that threaten food security and human mycoses with high mortality rates. As a consequence, there is a critical need to promote development of new antifungal drugs, which requires a comprehensive molecular knowledge of fungal pathogenesis. In this review, we critically evaluate current knowledge of seven fungal organisms used as major research models for fungal pathogenesis. These include pathogens of both animals and plants; Ashbya gossypii, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Magnaporthe oryzae, Ustilago maydis and Zymoseptoria tritici. We present key insights into the virulence mechanisms deployed by each species and a comparative overview of key insights obtained from genomic analysis. We then consider current trends and future challenges associated with the study of fungal pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Perez-Nadales
- Department of Genetics, Edificio Gregor Mendel, Planta 1. Campus de Rabanales, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain.
| | | | - Clara Baldin
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutembergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sónia Castanheira
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y GenómicaCSIC, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mennat El Ghalid
- Department of Genetics, Edificio Gregor Mendel, Planta 1. Campus de Rabanales, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Grund
- Functional Genomics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi, UMR 5240 CNRS-UCB-INSA-Bayer SAS, Bayer CropScience, 69263 Lyon, France
| | - Klaus Lengeler
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Department of Yeast Genetics, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799, Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Elisabetta Marchegiani
- Evolution and Genomics of Plant Pathogen Interactions, UR 1290 INRA, BIOGER-CPP, Campus AgroParisTech, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Pankaj Vinod Mehrotra
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Marino Moretti
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Vikram Naik
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Oses-Ruiz
- School of Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Therese Oskarsson
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Department of Yeast Genetics, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799, Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Katja Schäfer
- Department of Genetics, Edificio Gregor Mendel, Planta 1. Campus de Rabanales, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Lisa Wasserstrom
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Department of Yeast Genetics, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799, Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutembergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Neil A R Gow
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Regine Kahmann
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Organismic Interactions, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marc-Henri Lebrun
- Evolution and Genomics of Plant Pathogen Interactions, UR 1290 INRA, BIOGER-CPP, Campus AgroParisTech, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - José Perez-Martin
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y GenómicaCSIC, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Antonio Di Pietro
- Department of Genetics, Edificio Gregor Mendel, Planta 1. Campus de Rabanales, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Nicholas J Talbot
- School of Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Valerie Toquin
- Biochemistry Department, Bayer SAS, Bayer CropScience, CRLD, 69263 Lyon, France
| | - Andrea Walther
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Department of Yeast Genetics, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799, Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Jürgen Wendland
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Department of Yeast Genetics, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799, Copenhagen V, Denmark
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Juvvadi PR, Lamoth F, Steinbach WJ. Calcineurin-mediated regulation of hyphal growth, septation, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Mycopathologia 2014; 178:341-8. [PMID: 25118871 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-014-9794-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin is a heterodimeric protein phosphatase complex composed of catalytic (CnaA) and regulatory (CnaB) subunits and plays diverse roles in regulating fungal stress responses, morphogenesis, and pathogenesis. Fungal pathogens utilize the calcineurin pathway to survive in the host environment and cause life-threatening infections. The immunosuppressive calcineurin inhibitors (FK506 and cyclosporine A) are active against fungi, making calcineurin a promising antifungal drug target. Here, we review novel findings on calcineurin localization and functions in Aspergillus fumigatus hyphal growth and septum formation through regulation of proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis. Extensive mutational analysis in the functional domains of A. fumigatus CnaA has led to an understanding of the relevance of these domains for the localization and function of CnaA at the hyphal septum. An evolutionarily conserved novel mode of calcineurin regulation by phosphorylation in filamentous fungi was found to be responsible for virulence in A. fumigatus. This finding of a filamentous fungal-specific mechanism controlling hyphal growth and virulence represents a potential target for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen R Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, 427 Jones Building, Research Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, USA,
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de Castro PA, Chiaratto J, Winkelströter LK, Bom VLP, Ramalho LNZ, Goldman MHS, Brown NA, Goldman GH. The involvement of the Mid1/Cch1/Yvc1 calcium channels in Aspergillus fumigatus virulence. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103957. [PMID: 25083783 PMCID: PMC4118995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a major opportunistic pathogen and allergen of mammals. Calcium homeostasis and signaling is essential for numerous biological processes and also influences A. fumigatus pathogenicity. The presented study characterized the function of the A. fumigatus homologues of three Saccharomyces cerevisiae calcium channels, voltage-gated Cch1, stretch-activated Mid1 and vacuolar Yvc1. The A. fumigatus calcium channels cchA, midA and yvcA were regulated at transcriptional level by increased calcium levels. The YvcA::GFP fusion protein localized to the vacuoles. Both ΔcchA and ΔmidA mutant strains showed reduced radial growth rate in nutrient-poor minimal media. Interestingly, this growth defect in the ΔcchA strain was rescued by the exogenous addition of CaCl2. The ΔcchA, ΔmidA, and ΔcchA ΔmidA strains were also sensitive to the oxidative stress inducer, paraquat. Restriction of external Ca2+ through the addition of the Ca2+-chelator EGTA impacted upon the growth of the ΔcchA and ΔmidA strains. All the A. fumigatus ΔcchA, ΔmidA, and ΔyvcA strains demonstrated attenuated virulence in a neutropenic murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Infection with the parental strain resulted in a 100% mortality rate at 15 days post-infection, while the mortality rate of the ΔcchA, ΔmidA, and ΔyvcA strains after 15 days post-infection was only 25%. Collectively, this investigation strongly indicates that CchA, MidA, and YvcA play a role in A. fumigatus calcium homeostasis and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Chiaratto
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lizziane K. Winkelströter
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Leite Pedro Bom
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Helena S. Goldman
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Neil Andrew Brown
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- National Laboratory of Science and Technology of Bioethanol (CTBE), Campinas, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Lamoth F, Juvvadi PR, Steinbach WJ. Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) in Fungal Growth and Pathogenesis. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-014-0195-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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42
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Hayes BME, Anderson MA, Traven A, van der Weerden NL, Bleackley MR. Activation of stress signalling pathways enhances tolerance of fungi to chemical fungicides and antifungal proteins. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:2651-66. [PMID: 24526056 PMCID: PMC11113482 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1573-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Revised: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Fungal disease is an increasing problem in both agriculture and human health. Treatment of human fungal disease involves the use of chemical fungicides, which generally target the integrity of the fungal plasma membrane or cell wall. Chemical fungicides used for the treatment of plant disease, have more diverse mechanisms of action including inhibition of sterol biosynthesis, microtubule assembly and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. However, these treatments have limitations, including toxicity and the emergence of resistance. This has led to increased interest in the use of antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of fungal disease in both plants and humans. Antimicrobial peptides are a diverse group of molecules with differing mechanisms of action, many of which remain poorly understood. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that stress response pathways are involved in the tolerance of fungi to both chemical fungicides and antimicrobial peptides. These signalling pathways such as the cell wall integrity and high-osmolarity glycerol pathway are triggered by stimuli, such as cell wall instability, changes in osmolarity and production of reactive oxygen species. Here we review stress signalling induced by treatment of fungi with chemical fungicides and antifungal peptides. Study of these pathways gives insight into how these molecules exert their antifungal effect and also into the mechanisms used by fungi to tolerate sub-lethal treatment by these molecules. Inactivation of stress response pathways represents a potential method of increasing the efficacy of antifungal molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte M. E. Hayes
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086 Australia
| | - Marilyn A. Anderson
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086 Australia
| | - Ana Traven
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | | | - Mark R. Bleackley
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086 Australia
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Abstract
Calcium ions are ubiquitous intracellular messengers. An increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration activates many proteins, including calmodulin and the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin. The phosphatase is conserved from yeast to humans (except in plants), and many target proteins of calcineurin have been identified. The most prominent and best-investigated targets, however, are the transcription factors NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) in mammals and Crz1 (calcineurin-responsive zinc finger 1) in yeast. In recent years, many orthologues of Crz1 have been identified and characterized in various species of fungi, amoebae, and other lower eukaryotes. It has been shown that the functions of calcineurin-Crz1 signaling, ranging from ion homeostasis through cell wall biogenesis to the building of filamentous structures, are conserved in the different organisms. Furthermore, frequency-modulated gene expression through Crz1 has been discovered as a striking new mechanism by which cells can coordinate their response to a signal. In this review, I focus on the latest findings concerning calcineurin-Crz1 signaling in fungi, amoebae and other lower eukaryotes. I discuss the potential of Crz1 and its orthologues as putative drug targets, and I also discuss possible parallels with calcineurin-NFAT signaling in mammals.
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Abstract
SummaryFungal pathogens pose a major threat to human health worldwide. They infect billions of people each year, leading to at least 1·5 million deaths. Treatment of fungal infections is difficult due to the limited number of clinically useful antifungal drugs, and the emergence of drug resistance. A promising new strategy to enhance the efficacy of antifungal drugs and block the evolution of drug resistance is to target the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Pharmacological inhibitors of Hsp90 function that are in development as anticancer agents have potential to be repurposed as agents for combination antifungal therapy for some applications, such as biofilm infections. For systemic infections, however, effective combination therapy regimens may require Hsp90 inhibitors that can selectively target Hsp90 in the pathogen, or alternate strategies to compromise function of the Hsp90 chaperone machine. Selectively impairing Hsp90 function in the pathogen could in principle be achieved by targeting Hsp90 co-chaperones or regulators of Hsp90 function that are more divergent between pathogen and host than Hsp90. Antifungal combination therapies could also exploit downstream effectors of Hsp90 that are critical for fungal drug resistance and virulence. Here, we discuss the progress and prospects for establishing Hsp90 as an important therapeutic target for life-threatening fungal infections.
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Schaenman JM, Khuu T, Kubak BM. Fungi as Eukaryotes: Understanding the Antifungal Effects of Immunosuppressive Drugs. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-013-0169-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Are we there yet? Recent progress in the molecular diagnosis and novel antifungal targeting of Aspergillus fumigatus and invasive aspergillosis. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003642. [PMID: 24204250 PMCID: PMC3812002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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David R. SPRR spurs fungal growth. Nat Rev Microbiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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