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Zhao Z, Sun Y, Li M, Yu Q. Construction of Candida albicans Adhesin-Exposed Synthetic Cells for Preventing Systemic Fungal Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1521. [PMID: 37896925 PMCID: PMC10611093 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of efficient fungal vaccines is urgent for preventing life-threatening systemic fungal infections. In this study, we prepared a synthetic, cell-based fungal vaccine for preventing systemic fungal infections using synthetic biology techniques. The synthetic cell EmEAP1 was constructed by transforming the Escherichia coli chassis using a de novo synthetic fragment encoding the protein mChEap1 that was composed of the E. coli OmpA peptide, the fluorescence protein mCherry, the Candida albicans adhesin Eap1, and the C-terminally transmembrane region. The EmEAP1 cells highly exposed the mChEap1 on the cell surface under IPTG induction. The fungal vaccine was then prepared by mixing the EmEAP1 cells with aluminum hydroxide gel and CpG. Fluorescence quantification revealed that the fungal vaccine was stable even after 112 days of storage. After immunization in mice, the vaccine resided in the lymph nodes, inducing the recruitment of CD11c+ dendritic cells. Moreover, the vaccine strongly activated the CD4+ T splenocytes and elicited high levels of anti-Eap1 IgG. By the prime-boost immunization, the vaccine prolonged the survival time of the mice infected by the C. albicans cells and attenuated fungal colonization together with inflammation in the kidneys. This study sheds light on the development of synthetic biology-based fungal vaccines for the prevention of life-threatening fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.S.); (M.L.)
| | - Ying Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.S.); (M.L.)
| | - Mingchun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.S.); (M.L.)
| | - Qilin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.S.); (M.L.)
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Tianjin 300350, China
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2
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Kumar R, Srivastava V. Application of anti-fungal vaccines as a tool against emerging anti-fungal resistance. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1241539. [PMID: 37746132 PMCID: PMC10512234 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1241539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
After viruses and bacteria, fungal infections remain a serious threat to the survival and well-being of society. The continuous emergence of resistance against commonly used anti-fungal drugs is a serious concern. The eukaryotic nature of fungal cells makes the identification of novel anti-fungal agents slow and difficult. Increasing global temperature and a humid environment conducive to fungal growth may lead to a fungal endemic or a pandemic. The continuous increase in the population of immunocompromised individuals and falling immunity forced pharmaceutical companies to look for alternative strategies for better managing the global fungal burden. Prevention of infectious diseases by vaccines can be the right choice. Recent success and safe application of mRNA-based vaccines can play a crucial role in our quest to overcome anti-fungal resistance. Expressing fungal cell surface proteins in human subjects using mRNA technology may be sufficient to raise immune response to protect against future fungal infection. The success of mRNA-based anti-fungal vaccines will heavily depend on the identification of fungal surface proteins which are highly immunogenic and have no or least side effects in human subjects. The present review discusses why it is essential to look for anti-fungal vaccines and how vaccines, in general, and mRNA-based vaccines, in particular, can be the right choice in tackling the problem of rising anti-fungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Collage of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Vartika Srivastava
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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3
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Rybalkin M, Strelnykov L, Strilets O, Podolsky I, Soldatov D. The substantiation of the temperature regime of the freezing-thawing disintegration technology of C. albicans fungal cells. PHARMACIA 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/pharmacia.70.e66955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, different temperature regimes of the freezing-thawing technology for the disintegration of C. albicans fungal cells have been studied. The biomass of C. albicans fungal cells in 10 mL of sterile isotonic 0.9% sodium chloride solution in a Petri dish was subjected to destruction using a five-fold freeze-thaw cycle in the following temperature ranges: from (–25 ± 2) °C to (25 ± 2) °C, from (–30 ± 2) °С to (30 ± 2) °С and from (–20 ± 2) °С to (20 ± 2) °С. In order to find the optimal temperature in each case, the content of proteins, polysaccharides, and monosaccharides was determined. According to the results obtained, it has been determined that the temperature regime from (–25 ± 2) °С to (25 ± 2) °С is the most promising since it provides the maximum release of polysaccharides and proteins in the shortest possible time with minimal energy consumption.
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4
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Chechi JL, da Costa FAC, Figueiredo JM, de Souza CM, Valdez AF, Zamith-Miranda D, Camara AC, Taborda CP, Nosanchuk JD. Vaccine development for pathogenic fungi: current status and future directions. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023; 22:1136-1153. [PMID: 37936254 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2279570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections are caused by a broad range of pathogenic fungi that are found worldwide with different geographic distributions, incidences, and mortality rates. Considering that there are relatively few approved medications available for combating fungal diseases and no vaccine formulation commercially available, multiple groups are searching for new antifungal drugs, examining drugs for repurposing and developing antifungal vaccines, in order to control deaths, sequels, and the spread of these complex infections. AREAS COVERED This review provides a summary of advances in fungal vaccine studies and the different approaches under development, such as subunit vaccines, whole organism vaccines, and DNA vaccines, as well as studies that optimize the use of adjuvants. We conducted a literature search of the PubMed with terms: fungal vaccines and genus of fungal pathogens (Cryptococcus spp. Candida spp. Coccidioides spp. Aspergillus spp. Sporothrix spp. Histoplasma spp. Paracoccidioides spp. Pneumocystis spp. and the Mucorales order), a total of 177 articles were collected from database. EXPERT OPINION Problems regarding the immune response development in an immunocompromised organism, the similarity between fungal and mammalian cells, and the lack of attention by health organizations to fungal infections are closely related to the fact that, at present, there are no fungal vaccines available for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica L Chechi
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe A C da Costa
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Julia M Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Cássia M de Souza
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Biologia Molecular de Fungos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo, Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alessandro F Valdez
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Aline C Camara
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos P Taborda
- Laboratório de Fungos Dimórficos Patogênicos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica (LIM-53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, SP, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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5
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Visible-light-induced photocatalyst-free intramolecular sp3 C–H oxidation of 2‑alkyl benzamides. Tetrahedron Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2022.154093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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6
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Mendoza SR, Liedke SC, de La Noval CR, da Silva Ferreira M, Gomes KX, Honorato L, Nimrichter L, Peralta JM, Guimarães AJ. In vitro and in vivo efficacies of Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) fusion proteins against invasive fungal infections. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6648754. [PMID: 35867978 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections have increased in the last years, particularly associated to an increment in the number of immunocompromised individuals and the emergence of known or new resistant species, despite the difficulties in the often time-consuming diagnosis. The controversial efficacy of the currently available strategies for their clinical management, apart from their high toxicity and severe side effects, have renewed the interest in the research and development of new broad antifungal alternatives. These encompass vaccines and passive immunization strategies with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recognizing ubiquitous fungal targets, such as fungal cell wall β-1,3-glucan polysaccharides, which could be used in early therapeutic intervention without the need for the diagnosis at species-level. As additional alternatives, based on the Dectin-1 great affinity to β-1,3-glucan, our group developed broad antibody-like Dectin1-Fc(IgG)(s) from distinct subclasses (IgG2a and IgG2b) and compared their antifungal in vitro and passive immunizations in vivo performances. Dectin1-Fc(IgG2a) and Dectin1-Fc(IgG2b) demonstrated high affinity to laminarin and the fungal cell wall by ELISA, flow cytometry and microscopy. Both Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) inhibited H. capsulatum and C. neoformans growth in a dose-dependent fashion. For C. albicans, such inhibitory effect was observed with concentrations as low as 0.098 and 0.049 µg/mL, respectively, which correlated with the impairment of the kinetics and lengths of germ tubes in comparison to controls. Previous opsonization with Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) enhanced considerably the macrophage antifungal effector functions, increasing the fungi macrophages-interactions and significantly reducing the intraphagosome fungal survival, as lower CFUs were observed. The administration of both Dectin1-Fc(IgG)(s) reduced the fungal burden and mortality in murine histoplasmosis and candidiasis models, in accordance with previous evaluations in aspergillosis model. These results altogether strongly suggested that therapeutic interventions with Dectin-1-Fc(IgG)(s) fusion proteins could directly impact the innate immunity and disease outcome in favor of the host, by direct neutralization, opsonization, phagocytosis, and fungal elimination, providing interesting information on the potential of these new strategies for the control of invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Mendoza
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - S C Liedke
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Imunológico e Molecular de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C R de La Noval
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M da Silva Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - K X Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil
| | - L Honorato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L Nimrichter
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil
| | - J M Peralta
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Imunológico e Molecular de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A J Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), RJ, Brazil.,Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas, Instituto Biomédico, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil
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7
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Sun L, Cui J, Nie S, Xie L, Wang Y, Wu L. NIS‐Mediated Intramolecular sp3 C–H Oxidation of 2‐Alkyl‐Substituted Benzamides. European J Org Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202200505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Sun
- Liaocheng University College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering CHINA
| | - Jichun Cui
- Liaocheng University College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering CHINA
| | - Shaozhen Nie
- Liaocheng University School of pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering CHINA
| | - Lei Xie
- Liaocheng University School of pharmacy, College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering CHINA
| | - Yanlan Wang
- Liaocheng University College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering CHINA
| | - Lingang Wu
- Liaocheng University College of Chemistry and Chemical engineering No. 1, Hunan Road 252000 Liaocheng CHINA
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8
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Boro R, Iyer PC, Walczak MA. Current Landscape of Coccidioidomycosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040413. [PMID: 35448644 PMCID: PMC9027852 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, is an endemic fungal infection commonly found in the southwestern parts of the United States. However, the disease has seen an increase in both in its area of residency and its prevalence. This review compiles some of the latest information on the epidemiology, current and in-development pharmaceutical approaches to treat the disease, trends and projections, diagnostic concerns, and the overlapping dynamics of coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19, including in special populations. This review provides an overview of the current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and identifies areas of future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Boro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Prema C. Iyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
- Correspondence: (P.C.I.); (M.A.W.)
| | - Maciej A. Walczak
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Correspondence: (P.C.I.); (M.A.W.)
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9
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Tirado-Sánchez A, Vazquez-González D, Sáenz-Dávila B, Bonifaz A. Antifungal Vaccines: Current Status and Future Directions. Fungal Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-89664-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Cytokine and Chemokine Responses in Invasive Aspergillosis Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Past Evidence for Future Therapy of Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090753. [PMID: 34575791 PMCID: PMC8468228 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090753] [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: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a frequent complication in immunocompromised individuals, and it continues to be an important cause of mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In addition to antifungal therapy used for mycoses, immune-modulatory molecules such as cytokines and chemokines can modify the host immune response and exhibit a promising form of antimicrobial therapeutics to combat invasive fungal diseases. Cytokine and chemokine profiles may also be applied as biomarkers during fungal infections and clinical research has demonstrated different activation patterns of cytokines in invasive mycoses such as aspergillosis. In this review, we summarize different aspects of cytokines that have been described to date and provide possible future directions in research on invasive pulmonary aspergillosis following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These findings suggest that cytokines and chemokines may serve as useful biomarkers to improve diagnosis and monitoring of infection.
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11
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Lim SJ, Ali MSM, Sabri S, Noor NDM, Salleh AB, Oslan SN. Opportunistic yeast pathogen Candida spp.: Secreted and membrane-bound virulence factors. Med Mycol 2021; 59:1127-1144. [PMID: 34506621 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida spp. especially Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. Although the medicinal therapeutic strategies have rapidly improved, the mortality rate due to candidiasis has continuously increased. The secreted and membrane-bound virulence factors (VFs) are responsible for fungal invasion, damage and translocation through the host enterocytes besides the evasion from host immune system. VFs such as agglutinin-like sequences (Als), heat shock protein 70, phospholipases, secreted aspartyl proteinases (Sap), lipases, enolases and phytases are mostly hydrolases which degrade the enterocyte membrane components except for candidalysin, the VF acts as a peptide toxin to induce necrotic cell lysis. To date, structural studies of the VFs remain underexplored, hindering their functional analyses. Among the VFs, only secreted aspartyl proteinases and agglutinin-like sequences have their structures deposited in Protein Data Bank (PDB). Therefore, this review scrutinizes the mechanisms of these VFs by discussing the VF-deficient studies of several Candida spp. and their abilities to produce these VFs. Nonetheless, their latest reported sequential and structural analyses are discussed to impart a wider perception of the host-pathogen interactions and potential vaccine or antifungal drug targets. This review signifies that more VFs structural investigations and mining in the emerging Candida spp. are required to decipher their pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms compared to the prominent C. albicans. LAY ABSTRACT Candida virulence factors (VFs) including mainly enzymes and proteins play vital roles in breaching the human intestinal barrier and causing deadly candidiasis. Limited VFs' structural studies hinder deeper comprehension of their mechanisms and thus the design of vaccines and antifungal drugs against fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Jie Lim
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Shukuri Mohamad Ali
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor Dina Muhd Noor
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Abu Bakar Salleh
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nurbaya Oslan
- Enzyme Technology and X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, VacBio 5, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Enzyme and Microbial Technology (EMTech) Research Centre, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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12
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Silva LBR, Taira CL, Cleare LG, Martins M, Junqueira M, Nosanchuk JD, Taborda CP. Identification of Potentially Therapeutic Immunogenic Peptides From Paracoccidioides lutzii Species. Front Immunol 2021; 12:670992. [PMID: 34046037 PMCID: PMC8144467 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.670992] [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: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic mycosis in Latin America caused by the thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides spp. Paracoccidioides lutzii (PL) is one of the 5 species that constitute the Paracoccidioides genus. PL expresses low amounts of glycoprotein (Gp) 43 (PLGp43) and PLGp43 displays few epitopes in common with the P. brasiliensis (PB) immunodominant antigen PBGp43, which is commonly used for serological diagnosis of PCM. This difference in structure between the glycoproteins markedly reduces the efficiency of serological diagnosis in patients infected with PL. We previously demonstrated that peptide 10 (P10) from the PBGp43 induces protective immune responses in in vitro and in vivo models of PB PCM. Since, P10 has proven to be a promising therapeutic to combat PB, we sought to identify peptides in PL that could similarly be applied for the treatment of PCM. PL yeast cell proteins were isolated from PL: dendritic cell co-cultures and subjected to immunoproteomics. This approach identified 18 PL peptides that demonstrated in silico predictions for immunogenicity. Eight of the most promising peptides were synthesized and applied to lymphocytes obtained from peptide-immunized or PL-infected mice as well as to in vitro cultures with peptides or dendritic cells pulsed the peptides. The peptides LBR5, LBR6 and LBR8 efficiently promoted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and dendritic cells pulsed with LBR1, LBR3, LBR7 or LBR8 stimulated CD4+ T cell proliferation. We observed increases of IFN-γ in the supernatants from primed T cells for the conditions with peptides without or with dendritic cells, although IL-2 levels only increased in response to LBR8. These novel immunogenic peptides derived from PL will be employed to develop new peptide vaccine approaches and the proteins from which they are derived can be used to develop new diagnostic assays for PL and possibly other Paracoccidioides spp. These findings identify and characterize new peptides with a promising therapeutic profile for future against this important neglected systemic mycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro B R Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cleison L Taira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Levi G Cleare
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michele Martins
- Proteomics Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Magno Junqueira
- Proteomics Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carlos P Taborda
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratorio de Micologia Medica (LIM53), Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Gu X, Hua YH, Zhang YD, Bao DI, Lv J, Hu HF. The Pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus, Host Defense Mechanisms, and the Development of AFMP4 Antigen as a Vaccine. Pol J Microbiol 2021; 70:3-11. [PMID: 33815522 PMCID: PMC8008755 DOI: 10.33073/pjm-2021-003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the ubiquitous fungi with airborne conidia, which accounts for most aspergillosis cases. In immunocompetent hosts, the inhaled conidia are rapidly eliminated. However, immunocompromised or immunodeficient hosts are particularly vulnerable to most Aspergillus infections and invasive aspergillosis (IA), with mortality from 50% to 95%. Despite the improvement of antifungal drugs over the last few decades, the therapeutic effect for IA patients is still limited and does not provide significant survival benefits. The drawbacks of antifungal drugs such as side effects, antifungal drug resistance, and the high cost of antifungal drugs highlight the importance of finding novel therapeutic and preventive approaches to fight against IA. In this article, we systemically addressed the pathogenic mechanisms, defense mechanisms against A. fumigatus, the immune response, molecular aspects of host evasion, and vaccines' current development against aspergillosis, particularly those based on AFMP4 protein, which might be a promising antigen for the development of anti-A. fumigatus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Gu
- College of Law and Political Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.,The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yan-Hong Hua
- The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang-Dong Zhang
- The PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - D I Bao
- The PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Lv
- The PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Fang Hu
- The PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
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14
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Scorzoni L, Alves de Paula e Silva AC, de Oliveira HC, Tavares dos Santos C, de Lacorte Singulani J, Akemi Assato P, Maria Marcos C, Teodoro Oliveira L, Ferreira Fregonezi N, Rossi DCP, Buffoni Roque da Silva L, Pelleschi Taborda C, Fusco-Almeida AM, Soares Mendes-Giannini MJ. In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of Peptides Derived from 14-3-3 Paracoccidioides spp. Protein. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010052. [PMID: 33451062 PMCID: PMC7828505 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a chronic disease that causes sequelae and requires prolonged treatment; therefore, new therapeutic approaches are necessary. In view of this, three peptides from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis 14-3-3 protein were selected based on its immunogenicity and therapeutic potential. Methods: The in vitro antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of the 14-3-3 peptides were evaluated. The influence of the peptides in immunological and survival aspects was evaluated in vivo, using Galleria mellonella and the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results: None of the peptides were toxic to HaCaT (skin keratinocyte), MRC-5 (lung fibroblast), and A549 (pneumocyte) cell lines, and only P1 exhibited antifungal activity against Paracoccidioides spp. The peptides could induce an immune response in G. mellonella. Moreover, the peptides caused a delay in the death of Paracoccidioides spp. infected larvae. Regarding C. elegans, the three peptides were able to increase the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. These peptides had essential effects on different aspects of Paracoccidioides spp. infection showing potential for a therapeutic vaccine. Future studies using mammalian methods are necessary to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Scorzoni
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Ana Carolina Alves de Paula e Silva
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Claudia Tavares dos Santos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Junya de Lacorte Singulani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Patricia Akemi Assato
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Caroline Maria Marcos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Lariane Teodoro Oliveira
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Nathália Ferreira Fregonezi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Diego Conrado Pereira Rossi
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (D.C.P.R.); (L.B.R.d.S.); (C.P.T.)
| | - Leandro Buffoni Roque da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (D.C.P.R.); (L.B.R.d.S.); (C.P.T.)
| | - Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (D.C.P.R.); (L.B.R.d.S.); (C.P.T.)
| | - Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
| | - Maria José Soares Mendes-Giannini
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo 14800-903, Brazil; (L.S.); (A.C.A.d.P.eS.); (H.C.d.O.); (C.T.d.S.); (J.d.L.S.); (P.A.A.); (C.M.M.); (L.T.O.); (N.F.F.); (A.M.F.-A.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Ampel NM. Coccidioidomycosis: Changing Concepts and Knowledge Gaps. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040354. [PMID: 33321746 PMCID: PMC7770576 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although first described more than 120 years ago, much remains unknown about coccidioidomycosis. In this review, new information that has led to changing concepts will be reviewed and remaining gaps in our knowledge will be discussed. In particular, new ideas regarding ecology and epidemiology, problems and promises of diagnosis, controversies over management, and the possibility of a vaccine will be covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil M Ampel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medicine and Immunobiology University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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16
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Basso V, Tran DQ, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. Host Defense Peptides as Templates for Antifungal Drug Development. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040241. [PMID: 33113935 PMCID: PMC7711597 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current treatment for invasive fungal diseases is limited to three classes of antifungal drugs: azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. The most recently introduced antifungal class, the echinocandins, was first approved nearly 30 years ago. The limited antifungal drug portfolio is rapidly losing its clinical utility due to the inexorable rise in the incidence of invasive fungal infections and the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) fungal pathogens. New antifungal therapeutic agents and novel approaches are desperately needed. Here, we detail attempts to exploit the antifungal and immunoregulatory properties of host defense peptides (HDPs) in the design and evaluation of new antifungal therapeutics and discuss historical limitations and recent advances in this quest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Basso
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (V.B.); (D.Q.T.); (A.J.O.)
| | - Dat Q. Tran
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (V.B.); (D.Q.T.); (A.J.O.)
- Oryn Therapeutics, Vacaville, CA 95688, USA
| | - André J. Ouellette
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (V.B.); (D.Q.T.); (A.J.O.)
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael E. Selsted
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (V.B.); (D.Q.T.); (A.J.O.)
- Oryn Therapeutics, Vacaville, CA 95688, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Correspondence:
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