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Liu D, Garrigues S, Culleton H, McKie VA, de Vries RP. Analysis of the molecular basis for the non-amylolytic and non-proteolytic nature of Aspergillus vadensis CBS 113365. N Biotechnol 2024; 82:25-32. [PMID: 38697469 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus vadensis CBS 113365, a close relative of A. niger, has been suggested as a more favourable alternative for recombinant protein production as it does not acidify the culture medium and produces very low levels of extracellular proteases. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying cause of the non-amylolytic and non-proteolytic phenotype of A. vadensis CBS 113365. Our results demonstrate that the non-functionality of the amylolytic transcription factor AmyR in A. vadensis CBS 113365 is primarily attributed to the lack of functionality of its gene's promoter sequence. In contrast, a different mechanism is likely causing the lack of PrtT activity, which is the main transcriptional regulator of protease production. The findings presented here not only expand our understanding of the genetic basis behind the distinct characteristics of A. vadensis CBS 113365, but also underscore its potential as a favourable alternative for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujuan Liu
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Garrigues
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Departament of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Helena Culleton
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Megazyme International Ireland, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
| | | | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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2
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Stepanov AA, Vasilchenko AV, Vasilchenko AS. Subinhibitory effects of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol on filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad294. [PMID: 38086610 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Aspergillus fungi are common members of the soil microbiota. Some physiological and structural characteristics of Aspergillus species make them important participants in soil ecological processes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG), a common metabolite of soil and rhizosphere bacteria, on the physiology of Aspergillus fumigatus. METHODS AND RESULTS Integrated analysis using microscopy, spectrophotometry, and liquid chromatography showed the following effects of 2,4-DAPG on Aspergillus physiology. It was found that A. fumigatus in the biofilm state is resistant to high concentrations of 2,4-DAPG. However, experimental exposure led to a depletion of the extracellular polymeric substance, changes in the structure of the cell wall of the mycelium (increase in the content of α- and β-glucans, chitin, and ergosterol), and conidia (decrease in the content of DHN-melanin). 2,4-DAPG significantly reduced the production of mycotoxins (gliotoxin and fumagillin) but increased the secretion of proteases and galactosaminogalactan. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the data obtained suggest that 2,4-DAPG-producing Pseudomonas bacteria are unlikely to directly eliminate A. fumigatus fungi, as they exhibit a high level of resistance when in the biofilm state. However, at low concentrations, 2,4-DAPG significantly alters the physiology of aspergilli, potentially reducing the adaptive and competitive capabilities of these fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artyom A Stepanov
- Laboratory of antimicrobial resistance, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
| | - Anastasia V Vasilchenko
- Laboratory of antimicrobial resistance, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Ecology of Microorganisms, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, Pushkin 196608, Russia
| | - Alexey S Vasilchenko
- Laboratory of antimicrobial resistance, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
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3
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Kerkaert JD, Huberman LB. Regulation of nutrient utilization in filamentous fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5873-5898. [PMID: 37540250 PMCID: PMC10983054 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12680-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Organisms must accurately sense and respond to nutrients to survive. In filamentous fungi, accurate nutrient sensing is important in the establishment of fungal colonies and in continued, rapid growth for the exploitation of environmental resources. To ensure efficient nutrient utilization, fungi have evolved a combination of activating and repressing genetic networks to tightly regulate metabolic pathways and distinguish between preferred nutrients, which require minimal energy and resources to utilize, and nonpreferred nutrients, which have more energy-intensive catabolic requirements. Genes necessary for the utilization of nonpreferred carbon sources are activated by transcription factors that respond to the presence of the specific nutrient and repressed by transcription factors that respond to the presence of preferred carbohydrates. Utilization of nonpreferred nitrogen sources generally requires two transcription factors. Pathway-specific transcription factors respond to the presence of a specific nonpreferred nitrogen source, while another transcription factor activates genes in the absence of preferred nitrogen sources. In this review, we discuss the roles of transcription factors and upstream regulatory genes that respond to preferred and nonpreferred carbon and nitrogen sources and their roles in regulating carbon and nitrogen catabolism. KEY POINTS: • Interplay of activating and repressing transcriptional networks regulates catabolism. • Nutrient-specific activating transcriptional pathways provide metabolic specificity. • Repressing regulatory systems differentiate nutrients in mixed nutrient environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Kerkaert
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Lori B Huberman
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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4
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Li K, Zheng J, Yu L, Wang B, Pan L. Exploration of the Strategy for Improving the Expression of Heterologous Sweet Protein Monellin in Aspergillus niger. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050528. [PMID: 37233239 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus niger is a primary cell factory for food-grade protein (enzyme) production due to its strong protein secretion capacity and unique safety characteristics. The bottleneck issue for the current A. niger expression system is the difference in expression yield of heterologous proteins of non-fungal origin compared to those of fungal origin, which is about three orders of magnitude. The sweet protein monellin, derived from West African plants, has the potential to become a food-grade sweetener due to its high sweetness and the benefit of not containing sugar itself, but it is extremely difficult to establish a research model for heterologous expression in A. niger, owing to extremely low expression, a small molecular weight, and being undetectable with conventional protein electrophoresis. HiBiT-Tag was fused with low-expressing monellin in this work to create a research model for heterologous protein expression in A. niger at ultra-low levels. We increased monellin expression by increasing the monellin copy number, fusing monellin with the endogenous highly expressed glycosylase glaA, and eliminating extracellular protease degradation, among other strategies. In addition, we investigated the effects of overexpression of molecular chaperones, inhibiting the ERAD pathway, and enhancing the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, and diglycerides in the biomembrane system. Using medium optimization, we finally obtained 0.284 mg/L of monellin in the supernatant of the shake flask. This is the first time recombinant monellin has been expressed in A. niger, with the goal of investigating ways to improve the secretory expression of heterologous proteins at ultra-low levels, which can serve as a model for the expression of other heterologous proteins in A. niger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junwei Zheng
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Leyi Yu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Pan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
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5
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Okaa UJ, Bertuzzi M, Fortune-Grant R, Thomson DD, Moyes DL, Naglik JR, Bignell E. Aspergillus fumigatus Drives Tissue Damage via Iterative Assaults upon Mucosal Integrity and Immune Homeostasis. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0033322. [PMID: 36625602 PMCID: PMC9933693 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00333-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The human lung is constantly exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus spores, the most prevalent worldwide cause of fungal respiratory disease. Pulmonary tissue damage is a unifying feature of Aspergillus-related diseases; however, the mechanistic basis of damage is not understood. In the lungs of susceptible hosts, A. fumigatus undergoes an obligatory morphological switch involving spore germination and hyphal growth. We modeled A. fumigatus infection in cultured A549 human pneumocytes, capturing the phosphoactivation status of five host signaling pathways, nuclear translocation and DNA binding of eight host transcription factors, and expression of nine host response proteins over six time points encompassing exposures to live fungus and the secretome thereof. The resulting data set, comprised of more than 1,000 data points, reveals that pneumocytes mount differential responses to A. fumigatus spores, hyphae, and soluble secreted products via the NF-κB, JNK, and JNK + p38 pathways, respectively. Importantly, via selective degradation of host proinflammatory (IL-6 and IL-8) cytokines and growth factors (FGF-2), fungal secreted products reorchestrate the host response to fungal challenge as well as driving multiparameter epithelial damage, culminating in cytolysis. Dysregulation of NF-κB signaling, involving sequential stimulation of canonical and noncanonical signaling, was identified as a significant feature of host damage both in vitro and in a mouse model of invasive aspergillosis. Our data demonstrate that composite tissue damage results from iterative (repeated) exposures to different fungal morphotypes and secreted products and suggest that modulation of host responses to fungal challenge might represent a unified strategy for therapeutic control of pathologically distinct types of Aspergillus-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uju Joy Okaa
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Fortune-Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David L. Moyes
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R. Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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6
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Lim JY, Jung YE, Hwang HE, Kim CH, Basaran-Akgul N, Goli SH, Templeton SP, Park HM. Survival Factor A (SvfA) Contributes to Aspergillus nidulans Pathogenicity. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:143. [PMID: 36836258 PMCID: PMC9962611 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Survival factor A (SvfA) in Aspergillus nidulans plays multiple roles in growth and developmental processes. It is a candidate for a novel VeA-dependent protein involved in sexual development. VeA is a key developmental regulator in Aspergillus species that can interact with other velvet-family proteins and enter into the nucleus to function as a transcription factor. In yeast and fungi, SvfA-homologous proteins are required for survival under oxidative and cold-stress conditions. To assess the role of SvfA in virulence in A. nidulans, cell wall components, biofilm formation, and protease activity were evaluated in a svfA-gene-deletion or an AfsvfA-overexpressing strain. The svfA-deletion strain showed decreased production of β-1,3-glucan in conidia, a cell wall pathogen-associated molecular pattern, with a decrease in gene expression for chitin synthases and β-1,3-glucan synthase. The ability to form biofilms and produce proteases was reduced in the svfA-deletion strain. We hypothesized that the svfA-deletion strain was less virulent than the wild-type strain; therefore, we performed in vitro phagocytosis assays using alveolar macrophages and analyzed in vivo survival using two vertebrate animal models. While phagocytosis was reduced in mouse alveolar macrophages challenged with conidia from the svfA-deletion strain, the killing rate showed a significant increase with increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK activation. The svfA-deletion conidia infection reduced host mortality in both T-cell-deficient zebrafish and chronic granulomatous disease mouse models. Taken together, these results indicate that SvfA plays a significant role in the pathogenicity of A. nidulans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yeon Lim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47807, USA
| | - Ye-Eun Jung
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Eun Hwang
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Nese Basaran-Akgul
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47807, USA
| | - Sri Harshini Goli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47807, USA
| | - Steven P. Templeton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47807, USA
| | - Hee-Moon Park
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
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7
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Qiu L, Song JZ, Li J, Zhang TS, Li Z, Hu SJ, Liu JH, Dong JC, Cheng W, Wang JJ. The transcription factor Ron1 is required for chitin metabolism, asexual development and pathogenicity in Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 206:875-885. [PMID: 35278517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Ndt80-like transcription factor Ron1 is best known for its essential role in the regulation of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) catabolism. Ron1 was again found to be essential for sensing GlcNAc in Beauveria bassiana. Importantly, our study revealed that Ron1 is involved in the metabolic processes of chitin and asexual development. To further investigate the novel functions of Ron1 in B. bassiana, extracellular chitinase activity in the ΔRon1 mutant was found to decrease by 84.73% compared with wild type. The deletion of Ron1 made it difficult for the fungus to accumulate intracellular GlcNAc. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that Ron1 exerted a significant effect on global transcription and positively regulated genes encoding chitin metabolism in respond to chitin nutrition. Yeast one-hybrid assay confirmed that Ron1 could bind to specific cis-acting elements in the promoters of chitinase and hexokinase. In addition, ΔRon1 displayed an impaired chitin component of the cell wall, with a chitin synthetase (ChsVII) predicted to function downstream of Ron1. Finally, the virulence of ΔRon1 mutant was significantly reduced in the Galleria mellonella insect model through cuticle infection or cuticle bypassing infection. These data functionally characterize Ron1 in B. bassiana and expand our understanding of how the transcription factor Ron1 works in pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qiu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ji-Zheng Song
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China; Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Tong-Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ze Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shun-Juan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jia-Hua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jing-Chong Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Juan-Juan Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China.
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8
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Yap A, Talasz H, Lindner H, Würzner R, Haas H. Ambient Availability of Amino Acids, Proteins, and Iron Impacts Copper Resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:847846. [PMID: 35531339 PMCID: PMC9072627 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.847846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The transition metals iron and copper are required by virtually all organisms but are toxic in excess. Acquisition of both metals and resistance to copper excess have previously been shown to be important for virulence of the most common airborne human mold pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus. Here we demonstrate that the ambient availability of amino acids and proteins increases the copper resistance of A. fumigatus wild type and particularly of the ΔcrpA mutant that lacks export-mediated copper detoxification. The highest-protecting activity was found for L-histidine followed by L-asparagine, L-aspartate, L-serine, L-threonine, and L-tyrosine. Other amino acids and proteins also displayed significant but lower protection. The protecting activity of non-proteinogenic D-histidine, L-histidine-mediated growth inhibition in the absence of high-affinity copper uptake, determination of cellular metal contents, and expression analysis of copper-regulated genes suggested that histidine inhibits low-affinity but not high-affinity copper acquisition by extracellular copper complexation. An increase in the cellular copper content was found to be accompanied by an increase in the iron content, and, in agreement, iron starvation increased copper susceptibility, which underlines the importance of cellular metal balancing. Due to the role of iron and copper in nutritional immunity, these findings are likely to play an important role in the host niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Yap
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heribert Talasz
- Protein Micro-Analysis Facility, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Protein Micro-Analysis Facility, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Würzner
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Department of Hygiene, Microbiology, and Public Health, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- *Correspondence: Hubertus Haas,
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9
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Rahman S, van Rhijn N, Papastamoulis P, Thomson DD, Carter Z, Fortune-Grant R, Rattray M, Bromley MJ, Bignell E. Distinct Cohorts of Aspergillus fumigatus Transcription Factors Are Required for Epithelial Damage Occurring via Contact- or Soluble Effector-Mediated Mechanisms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:907519. [PMID: 35982778 PMCID: PMC9379863 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.907519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to the lung epithelium is a unifying feature of disease caused by the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the mechanistic basis and the regulatory control of such damage is poorly characterized. Previous studies have identified A. fumigatus mediated pathogenesis as occurring at early (≤ 16 hours) or late (>16 hours) phases of the fungal interaction with epithelial cells, and respectively involve direct contact with the host cell or the action of soluble factors produced by mature fungal hyphae. Both early and late phases of epithelial damage have been shown to be subject to genetic regulation by the pH-responsive transcription factor PacC. This study sought to determine whether other transcriptional regulators play a role in modulating epithelial damage. In particular, whether the early and late phases of epithelial damage are governed by same or distinct regulators. Furthermore, whether processes such as spore uptake and hyphal adhesion, that have previously been documented to promote epithelial damage, are governed by the same cohorts of epithelial regulators. Using 479 strains from the recently constructed library of A. fumigatus transcription factor null mutants, two high-throughput screens assessing epithelial cell detachment and epithelial cell lysis were conducted. A total of 17 transcription factor mutants were found to exhibit reproducible deficits in epithelial damage causation. Of these, 10 mutants were defective in causing early phase damage via epithelial detachment and 8 mutants were defective in causing late phase damage via epithelial lysis. Remarkably only one transcription factor, PacC, was required for causation of both phases of epithelial damage. The 17 mutants exhibited varied and often unique phenotypic profiles with respect to fitness, epithelial adhesion, cell wall defects, and rates of spore uptake by epithelial cells. Strikingly, 9 out of 10 mutants deficient in causing early phase damage also exhibited reduced rates of hyphal extension, and culture supernatants of 7 out of 8 mutants deficient in late phase damage were significantly less cytotoxic. Our study delivers the first high-level overview of A. fumigatus regulatory genes governing lung epithelial damage, suggesting highly coordinated genetic orchestration of host-damaging activities that govern epithelial damage in both space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayema Rahman
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Darren D Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zorana Carter
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Fortune-Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Magnus Rattray
- Division of Informatics, School of Heath Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael John Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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10
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Li Y, Li H, Sun T, Ding C. Pathogen-Host Interaction Repertoire at Proteome and Posttranslational Modification Levels During Fungal Infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:774340. [PMID: 34926320 PMCID: PMC8674643 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.774340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevalence of fungal diseases has increased globally in recent years, which often associated with increased immunocompromised patients, aging populations, and the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, due to the limitation of available antifungal agents mortality and morbidity rates of invasion fungal disease remain stubbornly high, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant fungi exacerbates the problem. Fungal pathogenicity and interactions between fungi and host have been the focus of many studies, as a result, lots of pathogenic mechanisms and fungal virulence factors have been identified. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is a novel approach to better understand fungal pathogenicities and host–pathogen interactions at protein and protein posttranslational modification (PTM) levels. The approach has successfully elucidated interactions between pathogens and hosts by examining, for example, samples of fungal cells under different conditions, body fluids from infected patients, and exosomes. Many studies conclude that protein and PTM levels in both pathogens and hosts play important roles in progression of fungal diseases. This review summarizes mass spectrometry studies of protein and PTM levels from perspectives of both pathogens and hosts and provides an integrative conceptual outlook on fungal pathogenesis, antifungal agents development, and host–pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjian Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hailong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
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11
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Lim JY, Kim YJ, Woo SA, Jeong JW, Lee YR, Kim CH, Park HM. The LAMMER Kinase, LkhA, Affects Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenicity by Modulating Reproduction and Biosynthesis of Cell Wall PAMPs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:756206. [PMID: 34722342 PMCID: PMC8548842 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.756206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The LAMMER kinase in eukaryotes is a well-conserved dual-specificity kinase. Aspergillus species cause a wide spectrum of diseases called aspergillosis in humans, depending on the underlying immune status of the host, such as allergy, aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis. Although LAMMER kinase has various functions in morphology, development, and cell cycle regulation in yeast and filamentous fungi, its function in A. fumigatus is not known. We performed molecular studies on the function of the A. fumigatus LAMMER kinase, AfLkhA, and reported its involvement in multiple cellular processes, including development and virulence. Deletion of AflkhA resulted in defects in colonial growth, production of conidia, and sexual development. Transcription and genetic analyses indicated that AfLkhA modulates the expression of key developmental regulatory genes. The AflkhA-deletion strain showed increased production of gliotoxins and protease activity. When conidia were challenged with alveolar macrophages, enodocytosis of conidia by macrophages was increased in the AflkhA-deletion strain, resulting from changes in expression of the cell wall genes and thus content of cell wall pathogen-associated molecular patterns, including β-1,3-glucan and GM. While T cell-deficient zebrafish larvae were significantly susceptible to wild-type A. fumigatus infection, AflkhA-deletion conidia infection reduced host mortality. A. fumigatus AfLkhA is required for the establishment of virulence factors, including conidial production, mycotoxin synthesis, protease activity, and interaction with macrophages, which ultimately affect pathogenicity at the organismal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yeon Lim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.,Institute of Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yeon Ju Kim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seul Ah Woo
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jae Wan Jeong
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yu-Ri Lee
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hee-Moon Park
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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12
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Role of AcndtA in cleistothecium formation, osmotic stress response, pigmentation and carbon metabolism of Aspergillus cristatus. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:749-763. [PMID: 34537171 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
As the dominant fungus during the fermentation of Fuzhuan brick tea, Aspergillus cristatus is easily induced to undergo a sexual cycle under low-salt stress. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of sexual reproduction is unclear. Here, we report a P53-like transcription factor AcndtA, which encodes an NDT80 DNA binding protein and regulates fungal reproduction, pigmentation and the stress response. Both insertion and deletion mutants of AcndtA exhibited a complete blockade of cleistothecium formation, and overexpressing AcndtA strains (OE: AcndtA) exhibited significantly reduced cleistothecium production, indicating that AcndtA plays a vital role in sexual development. Osmotic stress tests showed that overexpression of AcndtA had a negative impact on growth and conidia production. Additionally, AcndtA insertion, deletion and overexpression mutants exhibited reduced pigment formation. All the above developmental defects were reversed by the re-introduction of the AcndtA gene in ΔAcndtA. Moreover, the growth of AcndtA mutants in carbon-limited medium was better than that of the WT and OE: AcndtA strains, indicating that AcndtA is involved in carbon metabolism. Transcriptional profiling data showed that AcndtA regulated the expression of several genes related to development, osmotic stress and carbon metabolism.
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13
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Wang JJ, Yin YP, Song JZ, Hu SJ, Cheng W, Qiu L. A p53-like transcription factor, BbTFO1, contributes to virulence and oxidative and thermal stress tolerances in the insect pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249350. [PMID: 33788872 PMCID: PMC8011754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The p53-like transcription factor (TF) NDT80 plays a vital role in the regulation of pathogenic mechanisms and meiosis in certain fungi. However, the effects of NDT80 on entomopathogenic fungi are still unknown. In this paper, the NDT80 orthologue BbTFO1 was examined in Beauveria bassiana, a filamentous entomopathogenic fungus, to explore the role of an NDT80-like protein for fungal pest control potential. Disruption of BbTFO1 resulted in impaired resistance to oxidative stress (OS) in a growth assay under OS and a 50% minimum inhibitory concentration experiment. Intriguingly, the oxidation resistance changes were accompanied by transcriptional repression of the two key antioxidant enzyme genes cat2 and cat5. ΔBbTFO1 also displayed defective conidial germination, virulence and heat resistance. The specific supplementation of BbTFO1 reversed these phenotypic changes. As revealed by this work, BbTFO1 can affect the transcription of catalase genes and play vital roles in the maintenance of phenotypes associated with the biological control ability of B. bassiana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Juan Wang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
- * E-mail: (JJW); (LQ)
| | - Ya-Ping Yin
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Ji-Zheng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
- Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shun-Juan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
- * E-mail: (JJW); (LQ)
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14
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Kmeck A, Tancer RJ, Ventura CR, Wiedman GR. Synergies with and Resistance to Membrane-Active Peptides. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9090620. [PMID: 32961656 PMCID: PMC7559582 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9090620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) have long been thought of as the key to defeating antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Such peptides, however, may not be sufficient alone. In this review, we seek to highlight some of the common pathways for resistance, as well as some avenues for potential synergy. This discussion takes place considering resistance, and/or synergy in the extracellular space, at the membrane, and during interaction, and/or removal. Overall, this review shows that researchers require improved definitions of resistance and a more thorough understanding of MAP-resistance mechanisms. The solution to combating resistance may ultimately come from an understanding of how to harness the power of synergistic drug combinations.
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15
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Huang L, Dong L, Wang B, Pan L. The transcription factor PrtT and its target protease profiles in Aspergillus niger are negatively regulated by carbon sources. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:613-624. [PMID: 31970554 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02806-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To survey genome-scale protease profiles regulated by the Aspergillus niger transcription factor PrtT and further controlled by carbon sources. RESULTS The PrtT disruption mutant (delprtT) and overexpression (OEprtT) strains were successfully generated and further confirmed by phenotypic and protease activity analysis. RNA-seq analysis of WT and mutants identified 32 differentially expressed protease genes, which mostly belonged to serine-type peptidases, aspartic-type endopeptidases, aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases. Furthermore, based on the MEME predicted motif analysis of the PrtT promoter, EMSA and phenotypic and qRT-PCR analyses confirmed that the carbon metabolism regulator AmyR directly regulated the protease genes and their regulatory factor PrtT. CONCLUSION Thirty-two PrtT-regulated protease genes were identified by RNA-seq, and the secondary carbon source regulator AmyR was found to have a negative regulatory effect on the expression of PrtT and its target protease genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianggang Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, No. 382, Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liangbo Dong
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, No. 382, Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, No. 382, Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou, 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Li Pan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, No. 382, Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou, 510006, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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16
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Ballester AR, López-Pérez M, de la Fuente B, González-Candelas L. Functional and Pharmacological Analyses of the Role of Penicillium digitatum Proteases on Virulence. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7070198. [PMID: 31336863 PMCID: PMC6680461 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7070198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium digitatum is the major postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit under Mediterranean climate conditions. Previous results have shown that proteases is the largest enzyme family induced by P. digitatum during fruit infection. In the present work, we addressed the study of the role of P. digitatum's proteases in virulence following two complementary approaches. In the first approach, we undertook the functional characterization of the P. digitatum prtT gene, which codes for a putative transcription factor previously shown to regulate extracellular proteases in other filamentous fungi. Deletion of prtT caused a significant loss in secreted protease activity during in vitro growth assays. However, there was no effect on virulence. Gene expression of the two major secreted acid proteases was barely affected in the ΔprtT deletant during infection of citrus fruit. Hence, no conclusion could be drawn on the role of these secreted acidic proteases on the virulence of P. digitatum. In the second approach, we studied the effect of different protease inhibitors and chelators on virulence. Co-inoculation of citrus fruit with P. digitatum conidia and a cocktail of protease inhibitors resulted in almost a complete absence of disease development. Analysis of individual inhibitors revealed that the metalloprotease inhibitor, 1,10-phenanthroline, was responsible for the observed effect. The application of metal ions reverted the protective effect caused by the metallopeptidase inhibitor. These results may set the basis for the development of new alternative treatments to combat this important postharvest pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Rosa Ballester
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mario López-Pérez
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz de la Fuente
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis González-Candelas
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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17
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Ries LNA, Steenwyk JL, de Castro PA, de Lima PBA, Almeida F, de Assis LJ, Manfiolli AO, Takahashi-Nakaguchi A, Kusuya Y, Hagiwara D, Takahashi H, Wang X, Obar JJ, Rokas A, Goldman GH. Nutritional Heterogeneity Among Aspergillus fumigatus Strains Has Consequences for Virulence in a Strain- and Host-Dependent Manner. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:854. [PMID: 31105662 PMCID: PMC6492530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquisition and subsequent metabolism of different carbon and nitrogen sources have been shown to play an important role in virulence attributes of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, such as the secretion of host tissue-damaging proteases and fungal cell wall integrity. We examined the relationship between the metabolic processes of carbon catabolite repression (CCR), nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) and virulence in a variety of A. fumigatus clinical isolates. A considerable amount of heterogeneity with respect to the degree of CCR and NCR was observed and a positive correlation between NCR and virulence in a neutropenic mouse model of pulmonary aspergillosis (PA) was found. Isolate Afs35 was selected for further analysis and compared to the reference strain A1163, with both strains presenting the same degree of virulence in a neutropenic mouse model of PA. Afs35 metabolome analysis in physiological-relevant carbon sources indicated an accumulation of intracellular sugars that also serve as cell wall polysaccharide precursors. Genome analysis showed an accumulation of missense substitutions in the regulator of protease secretion and in genes encoding enzymes required for cell wall sugar metabolism. Based on these results, the virulence of strains Afs35 and A1163 was assessed in a triamcinolone murine model of PA and found to be significantly different, confirming the known importance of using different mouse models to assess strain-specific pathogenicity. These results highlight the importance of nitrogen metabolism for virulence and provide a detailed example of the heterogeneity that exists between A. fumigatus isolates with consequences for virulence in a strain-specific and host-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fausto Almeida
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro José de Assis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Yoko Kusuya
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Joshua J. Obar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Katz ME. Nutrient sensing-the key to fungal p53-like transcription factors? Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 124:8-16. [PMID: 30579885 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian tumour suppressor protein, p53, plays an important role in cell cycle control, DNA repair and apoptotic cell death. Transcription factors belonging to the "p53-like" superfamily are found exclusively in the Amorphea branch of eukaryotes, which includes animals, fungi and slime molds. Many members of the p53-like superfamily (proteins containing p53, Rel/Dorsal, T-box, STAT, Runt, Ndt80, and the CSL DNA-binding domains) are involved in development. Two families of p53-like proteins (Ndt80 and CSL) are widespread in fungi as well as animals. The Basidiomycetes and the Ascomycetes have undergone reciprocal loss of the Ndt80 and CSL classes of transcription factors, with the CSL class preserved in only one branch of Ascomycetes and the Ndt80 class found in only one branch of Basidiomycetes. Recent studies have greatly expanded the known functions of fungal Ndt80-like proteins and shown that they play important roles in sexual reproduction, cell death, N-acetylglucosamine sensing and catabolism, secondary metabolism, and production of extracellular hydrolases such as proteases, chitinases and cellulases. In the opportunistic pathogen, Candida albicans, Ndt80-like proteins are essential for hyphal growth and virulence and also play a role in antifungal resistance. These recent studies have confirmed that nutrient sensing is a common feature of fungal Ndt80-like proteins and is also found in fungal CSL-like transcription factors, which in animals is the mediator of Notch signalling. Thus, nutrient sensing may represent the ancestral role of the p53-like superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Katz
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
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19
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Jia X, Zhang X, Hu Y, Hu M, Han X, Sun Y, Han L. Role of Downregulation and Phosphorylation of Cofilin in Polarized Growth, MpkA Activation and Stress Response of Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2667. [PMID: 30455681 PMCID: PMC6230985 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus causes most of aspergillosis in clinic and comprehensive function analysis of its key protein would promote anti-aspergillosis. In a previous study, we speculated actin depolymerizing factor cofilin might be essential for A. fumigatus viability and found its overexpression upregulated oxidative response and cell wall polysaccharide synthesis of this pathogen. Here, we constructed a conditional cofilin mutant to determine the essential role of cofilin. And the role of cofilin downregulation and phosphorylation in A. fumigatus was further analyzed. Cofilin was required for the polarized growth and heat sensitivity of A. fumigatus. Downregulation of cofilin caused hyphal cytoplasmic leakage, increased the sensitivity of A. fumigatus to sodium dodecyl sulfonate but not to calcofluor white and Congo Red and farnesol, and enhanced the basal phosphorylation level of MpkA, suggesting that cofilin affected the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling. Downregulation of cofilin also increased the sensitivity of A. fumigatus to alkaline pH and H2O2. Repressing cofilin expression in A. fumigatus lead to attenuated virulence, which manifested as lower adherence and internalization rates, weaker host inflammatory response and shorter survival rate in a Galleria mellonella model. Expression of non-phosphorylated cofilin with a mutation of S5A had little impacts on A. fumigatus, whereas expression of a mimic-phosphorylated cofilin with a mutation of S5E resulted in inhibited growth, increased phospho-MpkA level, and decreased pathogenicity. In conclusion, cofilin is crucial to modulating the polarized growth, stress response, CWI and virulence of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Jia
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China.,Comprehensive Liver Cancer Center, Beijing 302 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yingsong Hu
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Mandong Hu
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Han
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yansong Sun
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Li Han
- Institute for Disease Control and Prevention of PLA, Beijing, China
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