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Albacar M, Casamayor A, Ariño J. Harnessing alkaline-pH regulatable promoters for efficient methanol-free expression of enzymes of industrial interest in Komagataella Phaffii. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:99. [PMID: 38566096 PMCID: PMC10985989 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02362-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The yeast Komagataella phaffii has become a very popular host for heterologous protein expression, very often based on the use of the AOX1 promoter, which becomes activated when cells are grown with methanol as a carbon source. However, the use of methanol in industrial settings is not devoid of problems, and therefore, the search for alternative expression methods has become a priority in the last few years. RESULTS We recently reported that moderate alkalinization of the medium triggers a fast and wide transcriptional response in K. phaffii. Here, we present the utilization of three alkaline pH-responsive promoters (pTSA1, pHSP12 and pPHO89) to drive the expression of a secreted phytase enzyme by simply shifting the pH of the medium to 8.0. These promoters offer a wide range of strengths, and the production of phytase could be modulated by adjusting the pH to specific values. The TSA1 and PHO89 promoters offered exquisite regulation, with virtually no enzyme production at acidic pH, while limitation of Pi in the medium further potentiated alkaline pH-driven phytase expression from the PHO89 promoter. An evolved strain based on this promoter was able to produce twice as much phytase as the reference pAOX1-based strain. Functional mapping of the TSA1 and HSP12 promoters suggests that both contain at least two alkaline pH-sensitive regulatory regions. CONCLUSIONS Our work shows that the use of alkaline pH-regulatable promoters could be a useful alternative to methanol-based expression systems, offering advantages in terms of simplicity, safety and economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Albacar
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - Antonio Casamayor
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ariño
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain.
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2
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Liang J, Chen Y, Li S, Liu D, Tian H, Xiang Q, Zhao K, Yu X, Chen Q, Fan H, Zhang L, Penttinen P, Gu Y. Transcriptomic analysis and carbohydrate metabolism-related enzyme expression across different pH values in Rhizopus delemar. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1359830. [PMID: 38511010 PMCID: PMC10953822 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1359830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction pH is one of the important factors affecting the growth and performance of microorganisms. Methods We studied the pH response and plant growth-promoting (PGP) ability of Rhizopus delemar using cultivation experiments and transcriptomics, and verified the expression profiles using quantitative real-time PCR. Results pH affected the growth and PGP properties of R. delemar. At pH 7, the growth rate of R. delemar was rapid, whereas pH 4 and 8 inhibited mycelial growth and PGP ability, respectively. In the pot experiment, the plant height was the highest at pH 7, 56 cm, and the lowest at pH 4 and pH 5, 46.6 cm and 47 cm, respectively. Enzyme activities were highest at pH 6 to pH 7. Enzyme activities were highest at pH 6 to pH 7. Among the 1,629 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 1,033 genes were up-regulated and 596 were down-regulated. A total of 1,623 DEGs were annotated to carbohydrate-active enzyme coding genes. Discussion The PGP characteristics, e.g., Phosphorus solubilization ability, of R. delemar were strongest at pH 7. The results provide useful information regarding the molecular mechanism of R. delemar pH response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Liang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yulan Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Liangshan Tobacco Corporation of Sichuan Province, Xichang, China
| | - Sisi Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongyang Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Liangshan Tobacco Corporation of Sichuan Province, Xichang, China
| | - Hong Tian
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Quanju Xiang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiumei Yu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongzhu Fan
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environmental Science, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingzi Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Petri Penttinen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunfu Gu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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3
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Hernando AV, Sun W, Abitbol T. "You Are What You Eat": How Fungal Adaptation Can Be Leveraged toward Myco-Material Properties. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2024; 8:2300140. [PMID: 38486929 PMCID: PMC10935908 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202300140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Fungi adapt to their surroundings, modifying their behaviors and composition under different conditions like nutrient availability and environmental stress. This perspective examines how a basic understanding of fungal genetics and the different ways that fungi can be influenced by their surroundings can be leveraged toward the production of functional mycelium materials. Simply put, within the constraints of a given genetic script, both the quality and quantity of fungal mycelium are shaped by what they eat and where they grow. These two levers, encompassing their global growth environment, can be turned toward different materials outcomes. The final properties of myco-materials are thus intimately shaped by the conditions of their growth, enabling the design of new biobased and biodegradable material constructions for applications that have traditionally relied on petroleum-based chemicals.This perspective highlights aspects of fungal genetics and environmental adaptation that have potential materials science implications, along the way touching on key studies, both to situate the state of the art within the field and to punctuate the viewpoints of the authors. Finally, this work ends with future perspectives, reinforcing key topics deemed important to consider in emerging myco-materials research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Vivas Hernando
- Institute of Materials (IMX)École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
| | - Wenjing Sun
- Institute of Materials (IMX)École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
| | - Tiffany Abitbol
- Institute of Materials (IMX)École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)Lausanne1015Switzerland
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4
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Hughes ES, He Z, Tuck LR, Ballou ER, Wallace EWJ. A trade-off between proliferation and defense in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus at alkaline pH is controlled by the transcription factor GAT201. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.14.543486. [PMID: 37398450 PMCID: PMC10312749 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.543486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus is a fungal pathogen whose virulence relies on proliferation in and dissemination to host sites, and on synthesis of a defensive yet metabolically costly polysaccharide capsule. Regulatory pathways required for Cryptococcus virulence include a GATA-like transcription factor, Gat201, that regulates Cryptococcal virulence in both capsule-dependent and capsule-independent ways. Here we show that Gat201 is part of a negative regulatory pathway that limits fungal survival. RNA-seq analysis found strong induction of GAT201 expression within minutes of transfer to host-like media at alkaline pH. Microscopy, growth curves, and colony forming units to test viability show that in host-like media at alkaline pH wild-type Cryptococcus neoformans yeast cells produce capsule but do not bud or maintain viability, while gat201Δ cells make buds and maintain viability, yet fail to produce capsule. GAT201 is required for transcriptional upregulation of a specific set of genes in host-like media, the majority of which are direct Gat201 targets. Evolutionary analysis shows that Gat201 is conserved within pathogenic fungi but lost in model yeasts. This work identifies the Gat201 pathway as controlling a trade-off between proliferation, which we showed is repressed by GAT201, and production of defensive capsule. The assays established here will allow characterisation of the mechanisms of action of the Gat201 pathway. Together, our findings urge improved understanding of the regulation of proliferation as a driver of fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Hughes
- Institute for Cell Biology, and Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh
| | - Zhenzhen He
- Institute for Cell Biology, and Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh
| | - Laura R Tuck
- Institute for Cell Biology, and Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh
| | | | - Edward W J Wallace
- Institute for Cell Biology, and Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh
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Zahuri AA, Wan Mohtar WHM, Hanafiah ZM, Abdul Patah MF, Show PL, Gafforov Y, Wan-Mohtar WAAQI. Mycoremediation of Industrial Textile Wastewater Using Ganoderma lucidum Pellets and Activated Dolomite in Batch Bioreactor. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-023-01035-z. [PMID: 38286973 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-01035-z] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
In the world of fast fashion, textile industries are blooming rapidly to meet the consumer's demands. However, vast amounts of wastewater have been constantly produced, and it is becoming a serious environmental problem in the waterways. Although the technology for treating textile wastewater has been well reported and established, more sustainable efforts have taken the attention nowadays. Through the use of living Malaysian Ganoderma lucidum mycelial pellets (GL) and activated dolomite (AD) in the treatment system, the study explores the synergy between biosorption and physisorption as alternative treatment for textile wastewater. In the current work, mixture of GL premixed with AD (50:50; v/v) is used to treat industrial textile wastewater. The morphology, adsorption characteristics, and antibacterial activity of the adsorbents were studied. The mixture of adsorbents is capable of removing colours by 77.8% and reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 75% within 48 h contact. Furthermore, the kinetic and adsorption had been studied and follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model while both adsorption of Langmuir and Freundlich model was deduced from the treatment. In addition, antimicrobial activities from the treatment potentially reduced 10 × 101 CFU/mL after 48 h. The synergistic treatment by Ganoderma lucidum mycelial pellets and activated dolomite has immense potential in future wastewater treatment technology to obtain cleaner water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afnan Ahmadi Zahuri
- Functional Omics and Bioprocess Development Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Build Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Zarimah Mohd Hanafiah
- Functional Omics and Bioprocess Development Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Build Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Fazly Abdul Patah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pau-Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Yusufjon Gafforov
- Central Asian Center for Development Studies, New Uzbekistan University, 100000, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar
- Functional Omics and Bioprocess Development Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Guan G, Li S, Bing J, Liu L, Tao L. The Rfg1 and Bcr1 transcription factors regulate acidic pH-induced filamentous growth in Candida albicans. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0178923. [PMID: 37933972 PMCID: PMC10715123 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01789-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a human commensal and frequent pathogen that encounters a wide range of pH stresses. The ability of C. albicans to adapt to changes in extracellular pH is crucial for its success in colonization and pathogenesis. The Rim101 pH sensing pathway is well known to govern neutral-alkaline pH responses in this pathogen. Here, we report a novel Rfg1-Bcr1 regulatory pathway that governs acidic pH responses and regulates filamentous growth in C. albicans. In addition, the Rim101-Phr1 pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, transcription factors Efg1 and Flo8, and hyphal-specific G1 cyclin Hgc1 cooperate with this regulation. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of acidic pH response in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobo Guan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuaihu Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Bing
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Winter H, Wagner R, Yao Y, Ehlbeck J, Schnabel U. Influence of plasma-treated air on surface microbial communities on freshly harvested lettuce. Curr Res Food Sci 2023; 7:100649. [PMID: 38115898 PMCID: PMC10728334 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant-based foods like lettuce are an important part of the human diet and worldwide industry. On a global scale, the number of food-associated illnesses increased in the last decades. Conventional lettuce sanitation methods include cleaning either with tap or chloritized water. Beside these water-consuming strategies, physical plasma is an innovative and effective possibility for food sanitation. Recent studies with plasma-treated water showed an effective reduction of the microbial load. Plasma-processed air (PPA) is another great opportunity to reduce the microbial load and save water. To test the efficiency of PPA, the surface microbiome of treated lettuce was analyzed via proliferation assays with special agars, live/dead assays and tests for respiratory activity of the microorganisms. PPA showed a reduction of the colony forming units (CFU/mL) on all tested microbial groups (Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and molds). These results were supported by the live/dead assay. For further insights, the PPA-ingredients were detected with Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which revealed NO2, NO and N2O5 as the main reactive species in the PPA. In the future, PPA could be an outstanding, on-demand sanitation step for higher food safety standards, especially in situations where humidity and high temperature should be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hauke Winter
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 8, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Robert Wagner
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yijiao Yao
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AD, UK
| | - Jörg Ehlbeck
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uta Schnabel
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
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8
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Debata S, Panda SK, Trivedi S, Uspal W, Singh DP. pH-Responsive swimming behavior of light-powered rod-shaped micromotors. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:17534-17543. [PMID: 37870073 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr03775d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Micromotors have emerged as promising devices for a wide range of applications e.g., microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, active matter, environmental monitoring, etc. The control over the activity of micromotors with the ability to exhibit multimode swimming is one of the most desirable features for many of the applications. Here, we demonstrate a rod-shaped light-driven micromotor whose activity and swimming behavior can easily be controlled. The rod-shaped micromotors are fabricated through the dynamic shadowing growth (DSG) technique, where a 2 μm long arm of titanium dioxide (TiO2) is grown over spherical silica (SiO2) particles (1 μm diameter). Under low-intensity UV light exposure, the micromotors exhibit self-propulsion in an aqueous peroxide medium. When activated, the swimming behavior of micromotors greatly depends on the pH of the medium. The swimming direction, i.e., forward or backward movement, as well as swimming modes like translational or rotational motion, can be controlled by changing the pH values. The observed dynamics has been rationalized using a theoretical model incorporating chemical activity, hydrodynamic flow, and the effect of gravity for a rod-shaped active particle near a planar wall. The pH-dependent translational and rotational dynamics of micromotors provide a versatile platform for achieving controlled and responsive behaviors. Continued research and development in this area hold great promise for advancing micromotors and enabling novel applications in microfluidics, micromachining, environmental sciences, and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanta Debata
- Department of Physics, IIT Bhilai, Kutelabhata, Durg, Chhattisgarh, 491001, India.
| | - Suvendu Kumar Panda
- Department of Physics, IIT Bhilai, Kutelabhata, Durg, Chhattisgarh, 491001, India.
| | - Satyaprakash Trivedi
- Department of Physics, IIT Bhilai, Kutelabhata, Durg, Chhattisgarh, 491001, India.
| | - William Uspal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 2540 Dole Street, Holmes Hall 302, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Dhruv Pratap Singh
- Department of Physics, IIT Bhilai, Kutelabhata, Durg, Chhattisgarh, 491001, India.
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Zhang K, Wang W, Yang Q. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Regulation of Aureobasidium pullulans under Different pH Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16103. [PMID: 38003294 PMCID: PMC10671783 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216103] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aureobasidium pullulans (A. pullulans), a commonly found yeast-like fungus, exhibits adaptability to a wide range of pH environments. However, the specific mechanisms and regulatory pathways through which A. pullulans respond to external pH remain to be fully understood. In this study, we first sequenced the whole genome of A. pullulans using Nanopore technology and generated a circle map. Subsequently, we explored the biomass, pullulan production, melanin production, and polymalic acid production of A. pullulans when cultivated at different pH levels. We selected pH 4.0, pH 7.0, and pH 10.0 to represent acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments, respectively, and examined the morphological characteristics of A. pullulans using SEM and TEM. Our observations revealed that A. pullulans predominantly exhibited hyphal growth with thicker cell walls under acidic conditions. In neutral environments, it primarily displayed thick-walled spores and yeast-like cells, while in alkaline conditions, it mainly assumed an elongated yeast-like cell morphology. Additionally, transcriptome analysis unveiled that A. pullulans orchestrates its response to shifts in environmental pH by modulating its cellular morphology and the expression of genes involved in pullulan, melanin, and polymalic acid synthesis. This research enhances the understanding of how A. pullulans regulates itself in diverse pH settings and offers valuable guidance for developing and applying engineered strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Wan Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Qian Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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Farhadi Cheshmeh Morvari S, McCann BL, Bignell EM. Conserved and Divergent Features of pH Sensing in Major Fungal Pathogens. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 10:120-130. [PMID: 37577059 PMCID: PMC10421798 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-023-00195-5] [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] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review For human fungal pathogens, sensory perception of extracellular pH is essential for colonisation of mammalian tissues and immune evasion. The molecular complexes that perceive and transmit the fungal pH signal are membrane-proximal and essential for virulence and are therefore of interest as novel antifungal drug targets. Intriguingly, the sensory machinery has evolved divergently in different fungal pathogens, yet spatial co-ordination of cellular components is conserved. Recent Findings The recent discovery of a novel pH sensor in the basidiomycete pathogen Cryptococcus neformans highlights that, although the molecular conservation of fungal pH sensors is evolutionarily restricted, their subcellular localisation and coupling to essential components of the cellular ESCRT machinery are consistent features of the cellular pH sensing and adaptation mechanism. In both basidiomycetes and ascomycetes, the lipid composition of the plasma membrane to which pH sensing complexes are localised appears to have pivotal functional importance. Endocytosis of pH-sensing complexes occurs in multiple fungal species, but its relevance for signal transduction appears not to be universal. Summary Our overview of current understanding highlights conserved and divergent mechanisms of the pH sensing machinery in model and pathogenic fungal species, as well as important unanswered questions that must be addressed to inform the future study of such sensing mechanisms and to devise therapeutic strategies for manipulating them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bethany L. McCann
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at The University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD UK
| | - Elaine M. Bignell
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at The University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD UK
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11
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Davati N, Ghorbani A. Discovery of long non-coding RNAs in Aspergillus flavus response to water activity, CO 2 concentration, and temperature changes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10330. [PMID: 37365206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in key biological processes in animals and plants has been confirmed for decades, their identification in fungi remains limited. In this study, we discovered and characterized lncRNAs in Aspergillus flavus in response to changes in water activity, CO2 concentration, and temperature, and predicted their regulatory roles in cellular functions. A total of 472 lncRNAs were identified in the genome of A. flavus, consisting of 470 novel lncRNAs and 2 putative lncRNAs (EFT00053849670 and EFT00053849665). Our analysis of lncRNA expression revealed significant differential expression under stress conditions in A. flavus. Our findings indicate that lncRNAs in A. flavus, particularly down-regulated lncRNAs, may play pivotal regulatory roles in aflatoxin biosynthesis, respiratory activities, cellular survival, and metabolic maintenance under stress conditions. Additionally, we predicted that sense lncRNAs down-regulated by a temperature of 30 °C, osmotic stress, and CO2 concentration might indirectly regulate proline metabolism. Furthermore, subcellular localization analysis revealed that up-and down-regulated lncRNAs are frequently localized in the nucleus under stress conditions, particularly at a water activity of 0.91, while most up-regulated lncRNAs may be located in the cytoplasm under high CO2 concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Davati
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Food Industry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 65167-38695, Iran.
| | - Abozar Ghorbani
- Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, Iran.
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12
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Xu L, Liu H, Zhu S, Meng Y, Wang Y, Li J, Zhang F, Huang L. VmPacC-mediated pH regulation of Valsa mali confers to host acidification identified by comparative proteomics analysis. STRESS BIOLOGY 2023; 3:18. [PMID: 37676527 PMCID: PMC10441875 DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00097-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Apple valsa canker caused by the Ascomycete fungus Valsa mali is one of the most serious diseases of apple, resulting in huge economic losses in the apple-growing area of China. Previous study found that the pathogen could acidify the infected tissues to make lower ambient pH (from 6.0 to 3.5) for their successfully colonization. The pH signaling transcription factor VmPacC is required for acidification of its environment and for full virulence in V. mali. It is known that the functional cooperation of proteins secreted by V. mali plays pivotal role in its successful colonization of host plants. In this study, we used tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling coupled with LC-MS/MS-based quantitative proteomics to analyze the VmPacC-mediated pH regulation in V. mali, focusing on differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). We identified 222 DEPs specific to VmPacC deletion, and 921 DEPs specific to different pH conditions (pH 6.0 and 3.4). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses indicated that these DEPs were mainly involved in pathways associated with carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of antibiotics, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glutathione metabolism, ribosomes, and pentose phosphate pathways. Additionally, we identified 119 DEPs that were shared among the VmPacC deletion mutant and different pH conditions, which were mainly related to energy metabolism pathways, providing the energy required for the hyphal growth and responses to environmental stresses. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis indicated that most of the shared proteins were mapped to an interaction network with a medium confidence score of 0.4. Notably, one uncharacterized protein (KUI69106.1), and two known proteins (heat shock protein 60 (KUI73579.1), aspartate aminotransferase (KUI73864.1)) located in the core of the network were highly connected (with ≥ 38 directed edges) with the other shared DEPs. Our results suggest that VmPacC participates in the pathogen's regulation to ambient pH through the regulation of energy metabolism pathways such as the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway and TCA cycle. Finally, we proposed a sophisticated molecular regulatory network to explain pH decrease in V. mali. Our study, by providing insights into V. mali regulating pH, helps to elucidate the mechanisms of host acidification during pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Hailong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yangguang Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yinghao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Jianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Feiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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13
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Zhang K, Lin C, Zhao S, Wang W, Zhou W, Ru X, Cong H, Yang Q. The role of pH transcription factor Appacc in upregulation of pullulan biosynthesis in Aureobasidium pullulans using potato waste as a substrate. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124797. [PMID: 37182631 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
pH is one of the important environmental factors affecting the growth, development and secondary metabolites of fungi. To better utilize potato waste for the production of pullulan by fermentation, in this study, the amino acid sequence and structural domain of pH transcription factor Appacc were analyzed using the bioinformatics methods. Appacc showed three typically conserved zinc finger domains, with the closest homology to Zymoseptoria brevis. The function of Appacc was characterized by ΔAppacc and OEXpacc mutants. The mycelium growth of ΔApacc mutants was inhibited, especially, under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the pullulan production of ΔAppacc mutant was reduced and the expression of pullulan synthetic genes also decreased. Moreover, the OEXpacc mutant further demonstrated that pacc could regulate the expression of pullulan synthesis genes. The yield of pullulan polysaccharide increased from 13.6 g/L to 17.8 g/L by direct fermentation without changing the pH of potato waste. These results suggest that Appacc played a vital role in the growth of Aureobasidium pullulans and that the production of pullulan from potato waste can be increased by overexpression of pacc gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Congyu Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Wan Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Xin Ru
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
| | - Hua Cong
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China.
| | - Qian Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
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14
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Albacar M, Zekhnini A, Pérez-Valle J, Martínez JL, Casamayor A, Ariño J. Transcriptomic profiling of the yeast Komagataella phaffii in response to environmental alkalinization. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:63. [PMID: 37013612 PMCID: PMC10071690 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02074-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adaptation to alkalinization of the medium in fungi involves an extensive remodeling of gene expression. Komagataella phaffii is an ascomycetous yeast that has become an organism widely used for heterologous protein expression. We explore here the transcriptional impact of moderate alkalinization in this yeast, in search of suitable novel promoters able to drive transcription in response to the pH signal. RESULTS In spite of a minor effect on growth, shifting the cultures from pH 5.5 to 8.0 or 8.2 provokes significant changes in the mRNA levels of over 700 genes. Functional categories such as arginine and methionine biosynthesis, non-reductive iron uptake and phosphate metabolism are enriched in induced genes, whereas many genes encoding iron-sulfur proteins or members of the respirasome were repressed. We also show that alkalinization is accompanied by oxidative stress and we propose this circumstance as a common trigger of a subset of the observed changes. PHO89, encoding a Na+/Pi cotransporter, appears among the most potently induced genes by high pH. We demonstrate that this response is mainly based on two calcineurin-dependent response elements located in its promoter, thus indicating that alkalinization triggers a calcium-mediated signal in K. phaffii. CONCLUSIONS This work defines in K. phaffii a subset of genes and diverse cellular pathways that are altered in response to moderate alkalinization of the medium, thus setting the basis for developing novel pH-controlled systems for heterologous protein expression in this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Albacar
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - Abdelghani Zekhnini
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - Jorge Pérez-Valle
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - José L Martínez
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Section for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Antonio Casamayor
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ariño
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina & Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain.
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15
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Awasthi MK, Kumar V, Hellwig C, Wikandari R, Harirchi S, Sar T, Wainaina S, Sindhu R, Binod P, Zhang Z, Taherzadeh MJ. Filamentous fungi for sustainable vegan food production systems within a circular economy: Present status and future prospects. Food Res Int 2023; 164:112318. [PMID: 36737911 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi serve as potential candidates in the production of different value-added products. In the context of food, there are several advantages of using filamentous fungi for food. Among the main advantages is that the fungal biomass used food not only meets basic nutritional requirements but that it is also rich in protein, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. This speaks to the potential of filamentous fungi in the production of food that can substitute animal-derived protein sources such as meat. Moreover, life-cycle analyses and techno-economic analyses reveal that fungal proteins perform better than animal-derived proteins in terms of land use efficiency as well as global warming. The present article provides an overview of the potential of filamentous fungi as a source of food and food supplements. The commercialization potential as well as social, legal and safety issues of fungi-based food products are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, China.
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam 602105, India
| | - Coralie Hellwig
- Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, Borås 50190, Sweden
| | - Rachma Wikandari
- Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Gadjah Mada University, Jalan Flora, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Sharareh Harirchi
- Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, Borås 50190, Sweden
| | - Taner Sar
- Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, Borås 50190, Sweden
| | - Steven Wainaina
- Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, Borås 50190, Sweden
| | - Raveendran Sindhu
- Department of Food Technology, TKM Institute of Technology, Kollam 691 505, Kerala, India
| | - Parameswaran Binod
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum 695 019, Kerala, India
| | - Zengqiang Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, China
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16
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Mariscal M, Miguel-Rojas C, Hera C, Fernandes TR, Di Pietro A. Fusarium oxysporum Casein Kinase 1, a Negative Regulator of the Plasma Membrane H +-ATPase Pma1, Is Required for Development and Pathogenicity. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121300. [PMID: 36547634 PMCID: PMC9786551 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Like many hemibiotrophic plant pathogens, the root-infecting vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum induces an increase in the pH of the surrounding host tissue. How alkalinization promotes fungal infection is not fully understood, but recent studies point towards the role of cytosolic pH (pHc) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In fungi, pHc is mainly controlled by the essential plasma membrane H+-ATPase Pma1. Here we created mutants of F. oxysporum lacking casein kinase 1 (Ck1), a known negative regulator of Pma1. We found that the ck1Δ mutants have constitutively high Pma1 activity and exhibit reduced alkalinization of the surrounding medium as well as decreased hyphal growth and conidiation. Importantly, the ck1Δ mutants exhibit defects in hyphal chemotropism towards plant roots and in pathogenicity on tomato plants. Thus, Ck1 is a key regulator of the development and virulence of F. oxysporum.
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17
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Yang Z, Wang X, Feng J, Zhu S. Biological Functions of Hydrogen Sulfide in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315107. [PMID: 36499443 PMCID: PMC9736554 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is a gasotransmitter, can be biosynthesized and participates in various physiological and biochemical processes in plants. H2S also positively affects plants' adaptation to abiotic stresses. Here, we summarize the specific ways in which H2S is endogenously synthesized and metabolized in plants, along with the agents and methods used for H2S research, and outline the progress of research on the regulation of H2S on plant metabolism and morphogenesis, abiotic stress tolerance, and the series of different post-translational modifications (PTMs) in which H2S is involved, to provide a reference for future research on the mechanism of H2S action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Yang
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Jianrong Feng
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Shuhua Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Correspondence:
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18
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Palmieri D, Miccoli C, Notardonato I, Avino P, Lima G, De Curtis F, Ianiri G, Castoria R. Modulation of extracellular Penicillium expansum-driven acidification by Papiliotrema terrestris affects biosynthesis of patulin and has a possible role in biocontrol activity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:973670. [PMID: 35979494 PMCID: PMC9377529 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.973670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The active regulation of extracellular pH is critical for the virulence of fungal pathogens. Penicillium expansum is the causal agent of green-blue mold on stored pome fruits and during its infection process acidifies the host tissues by secreting organic acids. P. expansum is also the main producer of patulin (PAT), a mycotoxin found in pome fruit-based products and that represents a serious health hazard for its potential carcinogenicity. While it is known that PAT biosynthesis in P. expansum is regulated by nutritional factors such as carbon and nitrogen and by the pH, the mechanistic effects of biocontrol on PAT production by P. expansum are not known. In this work, we assessed how optimal and suboptimal concentrations of the biocontrol agent (BCA) Papiliotrema terrestris LS28 affect both extracellular pH and PAT biosynthesis in P. expansum. In wounded apples, the optimal and suboptimal concentrations of the BCA provided almost complete and partial protection from P. expansum infection, respectively, and reduced PAT contamination in both cases. However, the suboptimal concentration of the BCA increased the specific mycotoxigenic activity by P. expansum. In vitro, the rate of PAT biosynthesis was strictly related to the extracellular pH, with the highest amount of PAT detected in the pH range 4–7, whereas only traces were detectable at pH 3. Moreover, both in vitro and in apple wounds the BCA counteracted the extracellular P. expansum-driven acidification maintaining extracellular pH around 4, which is within the pH range that is optimal for PAT biosynthesis. Conversely, in the absence of LS28 the pathogen-driven acidification led to rapidly achieving acidic pH values (<3) that lie outside of the optimal pH range for PAT biosynthesis. Taken together, these results suggest that pH modulation by LS28 is important to counteract the host tissue acidification and, therefore, the virulence of P. expansum. On the other hand, the buffering of P. expansum-driven acidification provided by the BCA increases the specific rate of PAT biosynthesis through the extension of the time interval at which the pH value lies within the optimal range for PAT biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the antagonistic effect provided by the BCA greatly reduced the total amount of PAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Palmieri
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- Davide Palmieri,
| | - Cecilia Miccoli
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ivan Notardonato
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Pasquale Avino
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lima
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Filippo De Curtis
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ianiri
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- Giuseppe Ianiri,
| | - Raffaello Castoria
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- *Correspondence: Raffaello Castoria,
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19
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Zhou L, Li M, Cui P, Tian M, Xu Y, Zheng X, Zhang K, Li G, Wang X. Arrestin-Coding Genes Regulate Endocytosis, Sporulation, Pathogenicity, and Stress Resistance in Arthrobotrys oligospora. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:754333. [PMID: 35252023 PMCID: PMC8890662 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.754333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Arrestins are a family of scaffold proteins that play a crucial role in regulating numerous cellular processes, such as GPCR signaling. The Arthrobotrys oligospora arrestin family contains 12 members, which have highly conserved N-terminal and C-terminal domains. In the presence of ammonia, A. oligospora can change its lifestyle from saprotrophic to carnivorous. During this transition, the expression pattern of arrestin-coding (AoArc) genes was markedly upregulated. Therefore, we disrupted seven AoArc genes from A. oligospora to identify their functions. Although individual arrestin mutant strains display similar pathogenesis, phenotypes, and stress resistance, the fundamental data on the roles of AoArc genes in A. oligospora are obtained in this study. Membrane endocytosis in AoArc mutants was significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the capacity of trap device formation against nematodes and ammonia was impaired due to AoArc deletions. We also found that AoArc genes could regulate conidial phenotypes, cell nuclear distribution, pH response, and stress resistance. Results of qRT-PCR assays revealed that sporulation-regulated genes were affected after the deletion of AoArc genes. In particular, among the 12 arrestins, AoArc2 mediates pH signaling in the fungus A. oligospora. Notably, combined with the classical paradigm of arrestin–GPCR signal transduction, we suggest that arrestin-regulated trap formation in A. oligospora may be directly linked to the receptor endocytosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Mengfei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Peijie Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Mengqing Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ya Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Keqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Guohong Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Wang, ; Guohong Li,
| | - Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Wang, ; Guohong Li,
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20
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Šimonovičová A, Vojtková H, Nosalj S, Piecková E, Švehláková H, Kraková L, Drahovská H, Stalmachová B, Kučová K, Pangallo D. Aspergillus niger Environmental Isolates and Their Specific Diversity Through Metabolite Profiling. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:658010. [PMID: 34248871 PMCID: PMC8261049 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.658010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a biological profile of 16 Aspergillus niger environmental isolates from different types of soils and solid substrates across a pH range, from an ultra-acidic (<3.5) to a very strongly alkaline (>9.0) environment. The soils and solid substrates also differ in varying degrees of anthropic pollution, which in most cases is caused by several centuries of mining activity at old mining sites, sludge beds, ore deposits, stream sediments, and coal dust. The values of toxic elements (As, Sb, Zn, Cu, Pb) very often exceed the limit values. The isolates possess different macro- and micromorphological features. All the identifications of Aspergillus niger isolates were confirmed by molecular PCR analysis and their similarity was expressed by RAMP analysis. The biochemical profile of isolates based on FF-MicroPlate tests from the Biolog system showed identical biochemical reactions in 50 tests, while in 46 tests the utilisation reactions differed. The highest similarity of strains isolated from substrates with the same pH, as well as the most suitable biochemical tests for analysis of the phenotypic similarity of isolated strains, were confirmed when evaluating the biochemical profile using multicriterial analysis in the Canoco program. The isolates were screened for mycotoxin production by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), as well. Two of them were able to synthesise ochratoxin A, while none produced fumonisins under experimental conditions. Presence of toxic compounds in contaminated sites may affect environmental microscopic fungi and cause the genome alteration, which may result in changes of their physiology, including the production of different (secondary) metabolites, such as mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Šimonovičová
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Vojtková
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Sanja Nosalj
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Elena Piecková
- Department of Microbiology, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Švehláková
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Lucia Kraková
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Drahovská
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Stalmachová
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Kateřina Kučová
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Domenico Pangallo
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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21
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Delivering the goods: Fungal secretion modulates virulence during host–pathogen interactions. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Zhou X, Suo J, Liu C, Niu C, Zheng F, Li Q, Wang J. Genome comparison of three lager yeasts reveals key genes affecting yeast flocculation during beer fermentation. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6284804. [PMID: 34037755 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab031] [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: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Yeast flocculation plays an essential role in industrial application. Appropriate flocculation of yeast cells at the end of fermentation benefits the cell separation in production, which is an important characteristic of lager yeast for beer production. Due to the complex fermentation environment and diverse genetic background of yeast strains, it is difficult to explain the flocculation mechanism and find key genes that affect yeast flocculation during beer brewing. By analyzing the genomic mutation of two natural mutant yeasts with stronger flocculation ability compared to the parental strain, it was found that the mutated genes common in both mutants were enriched in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, membrane lipid metabolism and other pathways or biological processes involved in stress responses. Further functional verification of genes revealed that regulation of RIM101 and VPS36 played a role in lager yeast flocculation under the brewing condition. This work provided new clues for improving yeast flocculation in beer brewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyi Suo
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chengtuo Niu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feiyun Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinjing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.,Laboratory of Brewing Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
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23
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Weiland P, Altegoer F. Identification and Characterization of Two Transmembrane Proteins Required for Virulence of Ustilago maydis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:669835. [PMID: 34093627 PMCID: PMC8176221 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.669835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Smut fungi comprise a large group of biotrophic phytopathogens infecting important crops such as wheat and corn. Through the secretion of effector proteins, the fungus actively suppresses plant immune reactions and modulates its host's metabolism. Consequently, how soluble effector proteins contribute to virulence is already characterized in a range of phytopathogens. However, membrane-associated virulence factors have been much less studied to date. Here, we investigated six transmembrane (TM) proteins that show elevated gene expression during biotrophic development of the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis. We show that two of the six proteins, named Vmp1 and Vmp2 (virulence-associated membrane protein), are essential for the full virulence of U. maydis. The deletion of the corresponding genes leads to a substantial attenuation in the virulence of U. maydis. Furthermore, both are conserved in various related smuts and contain no domains of known function. Our biochemical analysis clearly shows that Vmp1 and Vmp2 are membrane-associated proteins, potentially localizing to the U. maydis plasma membrane. Mass photometry and light scattering suggest that Vmp1 mainly occurs as a monomer, while Vmp2 is dimeric. Notably, the large and partially unstructured C-terminal domain of Vmp2 is crucial for virulence while not contributing to dimerization. Taken together, we here provide an initial characterization of two membrane proteins as virulence factors of U. maydis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Weiland
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Altegoer
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Faculty of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Organismic Interactions, Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
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24
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Pradhan A, Ma Q, de Assis LJ, Leaves I, Larcombe DE, Rodriguez Rondon AV, Nev OA, Brown AJP. Anticipatory Stress Responses and Immune Evasion in Fungal Pathogens. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:416-427. [PMID: 33059975 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In certain niches, microbes encounter environmental challenges that are temporally linked. In such cases, microbial fitness is enhanced by the evolution of anticipatory responses where the initial challenge simultaneously activates pre-emptive protection against the second impending challenge. The accumulation of anticipatory responses in domesticated yeasts, which have been termed 'adaptive prediction', has led to the emergence of 'core stress responses' that provide stress cross-protection. Protective anticipatory responses also seem to be common in fungal pathogens of humans. These responses reflect the selective pressures that these fungi have faced relatively recently in their evolutionary history. Consequently, some pathogens have evolved 'core environmental responses' which exploit host signals to trigger immune evasion strategies that protect them against imminent immune attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Pradhan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Qinxi Ma
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Leandro J de Assis
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Ian Leaves
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Daniel E Larcombe
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alejandra V Rodriguez Rondon
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Olga A Nev
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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25
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Li B, Chen Y, Tian S. Function of pH-dependent transcription factor PacC in regulating development, pathogenicity, and mycotoxin biosynthesis of phytopathogenic fungi. FEBS J 2021; 289:1723-1730. [PMID: 33751796 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
pH, as one of the most important environmental factors, affects various biological processes in pathogenic fungi. Sensing and responding to fluctuations in ambient pH are essential for these fungi to complete their life cycle. Fungi have evolved a complicated and conserved system, the so-called Pal-pH pathway, to regulate genes and adapt to alterations in ambient pH. PacC is the dominant transcription factor in the Pal-pH pathway and regulates various biological processes. The regulatory mode of PacC has been extensively studied in Aspergillus nidulans and is generally conserved in other fungal species, including numerous phytopathogenic fungi. However, species-specific alterations have been reported. This review summarizes recent advances in the regulatory mechanisms of PacC and its role in controlling development, pathogenicity, and mycotoxin biosynthesis in phytopathogenic fungi. Potential applications of these findings and some unresolved questions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiping Tian
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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26
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Local Rather than Global H3K27me3 Dynamics Are Associated with Differential Gene Expression in Verticillium dahliae. mBio 2021; 13:e0356621. [PMID: 35130723 PMCID: PMC8822345 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03566-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Differential growth conditions typically trigger global transcriptional responses in filamentous fungi. Such fungal responses to environmental cues involve epigenetic regulation, including chemical histone modifications. It has been proposed that conditionally expressed genes, such as those that encode secondary metabolites but also effectors in pathogenic species, are often associated with a specific histone modification, lysine27 methylation of H3 (H3K27me3). However, thus far, no analyses on the global H3K27me3 profiles have been reported under differential growth conditions in order to assess if H3K27me3 dynamics govern differential transcription. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing data from the plant-pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae grown in three in vitro cultivation media, we now show that a substantial number of the identified H3K27me3 domains globally display stable profiles among these growth conditions. However, we observe local quantitative differences in H3K27me3 ChIP-seq signals that are associated with a subset of differentially transcribed genes between media. Comparing the in vitro results to expression during plant infection suggests that in planta-induced genes may require chromatin remodeling to achieve expression. Overall, our results demonstrate that some loci display H3K27me3 dynamics associated with concomitant transcriptional variation, but many differentially expressed genes are associated with stable H3K27me3 domains. Thus, we conclude that while H3K27me3 is required for transcriptional repression, it does not appear that transcriptional activation requires the global erasure of H3K27me3. We propose that the H3K27me3 domains that do not undergo dynamic methylation may contribute to transcription through other mechanisms or may serve additional genomic regulatory functions. IMPORTANCE In many organisms, including filamentous fungi, epigenetic mechanisms that involve chemical and physical modifications of DNA without changing the genetic sequence have been implicated in transcriptional responses upon developmental or environmental cues. In fungi, facultative heterochromatin that can decondense to allow transcription in response to developmental changes or environmental stimuli is characterized by the trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3), and H3K27me3 has been implicated in transcriptional regulation, although the precise mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Based on ChIP and RNA sequencing data, we show for the soilborne broad-host-range vascular wilt plant-pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae that although some loci display H3K27me3 dynamics that can contribute to transcriptional variation, other loci do not show such a dependence. Thus, although we recognize that H3K27me3 is required for transcriptional repression, we also conclude that this mark is not a conditionally responsive global regulator of differential transcription upon responses to environmental cues.
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27
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Kitisin T, Ampawong S, Muangkaew W, Sukphopetch P. Phenomic profiling of a novel sibling species within the Scedosporium complex in Thailand. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:42. [PMID: 33563219 PMCID: PMC7874643 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02105-5] [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: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Scedosporium species are a group of pathogenic fungi, which can be found worldwide around high human-impacted areas. Infections of Scedosporium have been reported in several immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with a high mortality rate. Recently, we have isolated and identified several Scedosporium strains during an environmental survey in Thailand. Results We describe the isolate, TMMI-012, possibly a new species isolated from soils in the Chatuchak public park, Bangkok, Thailand. TMMI-012 is phylogenetically related to the Scedosporium genus and is a sibling to S. boydii but shows distinct morphological and pathological characteristics. It is fast growing and highly resistant to antifungal drugs and abiotic stresses. Pathological studies of in vitro and in vivo models confirm its high virulence and pathogenicity. Conclusion TMMI-012 is considered a putative novel Scedosporium species. The high antifungal resistance of TMMI-012 compared with its sibling, Scedosporium species is likely related to its clinical impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kitisin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S Ampawong
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - W Muangkaew
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - P Sukphopetch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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28
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Sánchez-Arreguin JA, Ruiz-Herrera J, Mares-Rodriguez FDJ, León-Ramírez CG, Sánchez-Segura L, Zapata-Morín PA, Coronado-Gallegos J, Aréchiga-Carvajal ET. Acid pH Strategy Adaptation through NRG1 in Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:91. [PMID: 33525315 PMCID: PMC7912220 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the Ustilago maydis putative homolog of the transcriptional repressor ScNRG1, previously described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, was analyzed by means of its mutation. In S. cerevisiae this gene regulates a set of stress-responsive genes, and in C. neoformans it is involved in pathogenesis. It was observed that the U. maydisNRG1 gene regulates several aspects of the cell response to acid pH, such as the production of mannosyl-erythritol lipids, inhibition of the expression of the siderophore cluster genes, filamentous growth, virulence and oxidative stress. A comparison of the gene expression pattern of the wild type strain versus the nrg1 mutant strain of the fungus, through RNA Seq analyses, showed that this transcriptional factor alters the expression of 368 genes when growing at acid pH (205 up-regulated, 163 down-regulated). The most relevant genes affected by NRG1 were those previously reported as the key ones for particular cellular stress responses, such as HOG1 for osmotic stress and RIM101 for alkaline pH. Four of the seven genes included WCO1 codifying PAS domain ( These has been shown as the key structural motif involved in protein-protein interactions of the circadian clock, and it is also a common motif found in signaling proteins, where it functions as a signaling sensor) domains sensors of blue light, two of the three previously reported to encode opsins, one vacuolar and non-pH-responsive, and another one whose role in the acid pH response was already known. It appears that all these light-reactive cell components are possibly involved in membrane potential equilibrium and as virulence sensors. Among previously described specific functions of this transcriptional regulator, it was found to be involved in glucose repression, metabolic adaptation to adverse conditions, cellular transport, cell rescue, defense and interaction with an acidic pH environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alejandro Sánchez-Arreguin
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - F de Jesus Mares-Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Claudia Geraldine León-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Lino Sánchez-Segura
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Km 9.6, Libramiento Norte, Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Patricio Adrián Zapata-Morín
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Jordan Coronado-Gallegos
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Elva Teresa Aréchiga-Carvajal
- Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 66451 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
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29
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The pH-sensing Rim101 pathway positively regulates the transcriptional expression of the calcium pump gene PMR1 to affect calcium sensitivity in budding yeast. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 532:453-458. [PMID: 32891431 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.08.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Rim101 pathway senses extracellular pH changes through a complex consisted of Rim8, Rim9 and Rim21 at the plasma membrane. Activation of this sensor complex induces a proteolytical complex composed of Rim13 and Rim20 and leads to the C-terminal processing and activation of the transcription factor Rim101. Deletion mutants for RIM8, RIM9, RIM13, RIM20, RIM21 and RIM101 causes yeast cells to be sensitive to calcium stress, but how they regulate calcium sensitivity remain unknown. Here we show that deletion mutations of these six Rim101 pathway components elevate the activation level of the calcium/calcineurin signaling and the transcriptional expression level of the vacuolar calcium pump gene PMC1, but lead to a reduction in transcriptional expression level of the ER/Golgi calcium pump gene PMR1 in yeast cells. Deletion of NRG1, encoding one of the repression targets of Rim101, rescues the transcriptional expression of PMR1 in all these mutants. Furthermore, ectopic expression of a constitutively active form of Rim101 or further deletion of NRG1 suppresses the calcium sensitivity of these six deletion mutants. Therefore, the pH-sensing Rim101 pathway positively regulates the transcriptional expression of PMR through its downstream target Nrg1 to affect the calcium sensitivity of yeast cells.
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30
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The Rim101 pathway mediates adaptation to external alkalization and altered lipid asymmetry: hypothesis describing the detection of distinct stresses by the Rim21 sensor protein. Curr Genet 2020; 67:213-218. [PMID: 33184698 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01129-0] [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: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Yeast cells adapt to alkaline conditions by activating the Rim101 alkali-responsive pathway. Rim21 acts as a sensor in the Rim101 pathway and detects extracellular alkalization. Interestingly, Rim21 is also known to be activated by alterations involving the lipid asymmetry of the plasma membrane. In this study, we briefly summarize the mechanism of activation and the signal transduction cascade of the Rim101 pathway and propose a hypothesis on how Rim21 is able to detect distinct signals, particularly external alkalization, and altered lipid asymmetry. We found that external alkalization can suppress transbilayer movements of phospholipids between the two leaflets of the plasma membrane, which may lead to the disturbance of the lipid asymmetry of the plasma membrane. Therefore, we propose that external alteration is at least partly sensed by Rim21 through alterations in lipid asymmetry. Understanding this activation mechanism could greatly contribute to drug development against fungal infections.
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31
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Luciano‐Rosario D, Keller NP, Jurick WM. Penicillium expansum: biology, omics, and management tools for a global postharvest pathogen causing blue mould of pome fruit. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:1391-1404. [PMID: 32969130 PMCID: PMC7548999 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Blue mould, caused primarily by Penicillium expansum, is a major threat to the global pome fruit industry, causing multimillion-dollar losses annually. The blue mould fungus negatively affects fruit quality, thereby reducing fresh fruit consumption, and significantly contributes to food loss. P. expansum also produces an array of mycotoxins that are detrimental to human health. Management options are limited and the emergence of fungicide-resistant Penicillium spp. makes disease management difficult, therefore new approaches and tools are needed to combat blue mould in storage. This species profile comprises a comprehensive literature review of this aggressive pathogen associated with pomes (apple, pear, quince), focusing on biology, mechanisms of disease, control, genomics, and the newest developments in disease management. TAXONOMY Penicillium expansum Link 1809. Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Subphylum Pezizomycotina, Class Eurotiomycetes, Subclass: Eurotiomycetidae, Order Eurotiales; Family Trichocomaceae, Genus Penicillium, Species expansum. BIOLOGY A wide host range necrotrophic postharvest pathogen that requires a wound (e.g., stem pull, punctures, bruises, shoulder cracks) or natural openings (e.g., lenticel, stem end, calyx sinus) to gain ingress and infect. TOXINS Patulin, citrinin, chaetoglobosins, communesins, roquefortine C, expansolides A and B, ochratoxin A, penitrem A, rubratoxin B, and penicillic acid. HOST RANGE Primarily apples, European pear, Asian pear, medlar, and quince. Blue mould has also been reported on stone fruits (cherry, plum, peach), small fruits (grape, strawberry, kiwi), and hazel nut. DISEASE SYMPTOMS Blue mould initially appears as light tan to dark brown circular lesions with a defined margin between the decayed and healthy tissues. The decayed tissue is soft and watery, and blue-green spore masses appear on the decayed area, starting at the infection site and radiating outward as the decayed area ages. DISEASE CONTROL Preharvest fungicides with postharvest activity and postharvest fungicides are primarily used to control decay. Orchard and packinghouse sanitation methods are also critical components of an integrated pest management strategy. USEFUL WEBSITES Penn State Tree Fruit Production Guide (https://extension.psu.edu/forage-and-food-crops/fruit), Washington State Comprehensive Tree Fruit (http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/blue-mold/), The Apple Rot Doctor (https://waynejurick.wixsite.com/applerotdr), penicillium expansum genome sequences and resources (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/browse/#!/eukaryotes/11336/).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyDepartment of BacteriologyFood Research InstituteUniversity of Wisconsin at MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
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32
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Obara K, Higuchi M, Ogura Y, Nishimura K, Kamura T. Rapid turnover of transcription factor Rim101 confirms a flexible adaptation mechanism against environmental stress in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genes Cells 2020; 25:651-662. [DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Obara
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Mai Higuchi
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Yuki Ogura
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Kohei Nishimura
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Takumi Kamura
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
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Abstract
The ability for cells to maintain homeostasis in the presence of extracellular stress is essential for their survival. Stress adaptations are especially important for microbial pathogens to respond to rapidly changing conditions, such as those encountered during the transition from the environment to the infected host. Many fungal pathogens have acquired the ability to quickly adapt to changes in extracellular pH to promote their survival in the various microenvironments encountered during a host infection. For example, the fungus-specific Rim/Pal alkaline response pathway has been well characterized in many fungal pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans However, alternative mechanisms for sensing and responding to host pH have yet to be extensively studied. Recent observations from a genetic screen suggest that the C. neoformans sterol homeostasis pathway is required for growth at elevated pH. This work explores interactions among mechanisms of membrane homeostasis, alkaline pH tolerance, and Rim pathway activation. We find that the sterol homeostasis pathway is necessary for growth in an alkaline environment and that an elevated pH is sufficient to induce Sre1 activation. This pH-mediated activation of the Sre1 transcription factor is linked to the biosynthesis of ergosterol but is not dependent on Rim pathway signaling, suggesting that these two pathways are responding to alkaline pH independently. Furthermore, we discover that C. neoformans is more susceptible to membrane-targeting antifungals under alkaline conditions, highlighting the impact of microenvironmental pH on the treatment of invasive fungal infections. Together, these findings further connect membrane integrity and composition with the fungal pH response and pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE The work described here further elucidates how microorganisms sense and adapt to changes in their environment to establish infections in the human host. Specifically, we uncover a novel mechanism by which an opportunistic human fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, responds to increases in extracellular pH in order to survive and thrive within the relatively alkaline environment of the human lung. This mechanism, which is intimately linked with fungal membrane sterol homeostasis, is independent of the previously well-studied alkaline response Rim pathway. Furthermore, this ergosterol-dependent alkaline pH response is present in Candida albicans, indicating that this mechanism spans diverse fungal species. These results are also relevant for novel antimicrobial drug development as we show that currently used ergosterol-targeting antifungals are more active in alkaline environments.
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34
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Cervantes-Montelongo JA, Silva-Martínez GA, Pliego-Arreaga R, Guevara-Olvera L, Ruiz-Herrera J. The UMAG_00031 gene from Ustilago maydis encodes a putative membrane protein involved in pH control and morphogenesis. Arch Microbiol 2020; 202:2221-2232. [PMID: 32529509 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report the characterization of the gene UMAG_00031 from Ustilago maydis, previously identified as upregulated at alkaline pH. This gene is located on chromosome 1 and contains an ORF of 1539 bp that encodes a putative protein of 512 amino acids with an MW of 54.8 kDa. The protein is predicted to contain seven transmembrane domains (TMDs) and a signal peptide suggesting that is located in the cell membrane. Null ΔUMAG_00031 mutants were constructed, and their phenotype was analyzed. The mutant displayed a pleiotropic phenotype suggesting its participation in processes of alkaline pH adaptation independent of the Pal/Rim pathway. Also, it was involved in the dimorphic process induced by fatty acids. These results indicate that the protein encoded by the UMAG_00031 gene possibly functions as a receptor of different signals in the cell membrane of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Cervantes-Montelongo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México en Celaya, Ave. Tecnológico y Antonio García Cubas S/N, col. FOVISSSTE, 38010, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | | | - Raquel Pliego-Arreaga
- Escuela de Medicina de La Universidad de Celaya, Carretera Panamericana, Rancho Pinto km 269, 38080, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | - Lorenzo Guevara-Olvera
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México en Celaya, Ave. Tecnológico y Antonio García Cubas S/N, col. FOVISSSTE, 38010, Celaya, Gto, Mexico
| | - José Ruiz-Herrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Apartado Postal 629, 36500, Irapuato, Gto, Mexico.
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Barbosa A, Araújo D, Ribeiro E, Henriques M, Silva S. Candida albicans Adaptation on Simulated Human Body Fluids under Different pH. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8040511. [PMID: 32260085 PMCID: PMC7232421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans remains the most problematic of all Candida species, causing severe infections. Adaptation to different human body niches, such oral and urinary tracts, has been shown to be essential for survival and critical for virulence of C. albicans. Thus, the present work aimed to study the behaviour of C. albicans on simulated human body fluids (artificial saliva and urine) at different values of pH (pH 5.8 and 7) by determining its ability to develop two of the most important virulence factors: biofilms and filamentous forms. Under this study, it was demonstrated that C. albicans was able to grow as free cells and to develop biofilm communities composed of multiple cell types (yeast and elongated hyphal cells) on both simulated human body fluids and under different pH. It was interesting to note that the pH had little impact on C. albicans planktonic and biofilm growth, despite influencing the development of filamentous shapes in artificial saliva and urine. So, it was possible to infer that C. albicans presents a high plasticity and adaptability to different human body fluids, namely saliva and urine. These can be the justification for the high number of oral and urinary candidiasis in the whole world.
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Abstract
Among fungal pathogens, Cryptococcus neoformans has gained great importance among the scientific community of several reasons. This fungus is the causative agent of cryptococcosis, a disease mainly associated to HIV immunosuppression and characterized by the appearance of meningoencephalitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Research of the pathogenesis and virulence mechanisms of this pathogen has focused on three main different areas: Adaptation to the host environment (nutrients, pH, and free radicals), mechanism of immune evasion (which include phenotypic variations and the ability to behave as a facultative intracellular pathogen), and production of virulence factors. Cryptococcus neoformans has two phenotypic characteristics, the capsule and synthesis of melanin that have a profound effect in the virulence of the yeast because they both have protective effects and induce host damage as virulence factors. Finally, the mechanisms that result in dissemination and brain invasion are also of key importance to understand cryptococcal disease. In this review, I will provide a brief overview of the main mechanisms that makes C. neoformans a pathogen in susceptible patients. Abbreviations: RNS: reactive nitrogen species; BBB: brain blood barrier; GXM: glucuronoxylomannan; GXMGal: glucuronoxylomannogalactan
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Zaragoza
- a Mycology Reference Laboratory National Centre for Microbiology , Instituto de Salud Carlos III Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo , Madrid , Spain
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Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Genetic Regulation: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12030150. [PMID: 32121226 PMCID: PMC7150809 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12030150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of fungal species evolved radically with the development of molecular techniques and produced new evidence to understand specific fungal mechanisms such as the production of toxic secondary metabolites. Taking advantage of these technologies to improve food safety, the molecular study of toxinogenic species can help elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxin production and enable the development of new effective strategies to control fungal toxicity. Numerous studies have been made on genes involved in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production, one of the most hazardous carcinogenic toxins for humans and animals. The current review presents the roles of these different genes and their possible impact on AFB1 production. We focus on the toxinogenic strains Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, primary contaminants and major producers of AFB1 in crops. However, genetic reports on A. nidulans are also included because of the capacity of this fungus to produce sterigmatocystin, the penultimate stable metabolite during AFB1 production. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the AFB1 enzymatic biosynthesis pathway and its link with the genes belonging to the AFB1 cluster. It also aims to illustrate the role of global environmental factors on aflatoxin production and the recent data that demonstrate an interconnection between genes regulated by these environmental signals and aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway.
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Obara K, Kotani T, Nakatogawa H, Kihara A, Kamura T. N-glycosylation of Rim21 at an Unconventional Site Fine-tunes Its Behavior in the Plasma Membrane. Cell Struct Funct 2020; 45:1-8. [PMID: 31787665 PMCID: PMC10739146 DOI: 10.1247/csf.19021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The polytopic plasma membrane protein Rim21 senses both the elevation of ambient pH and alterations in plasma membrane lipid asymmetry in the Rim101 pathway in budding yeast. Rim21 is known to undergo N-glycosylation, but the site and function of the glycosylation modification is not known. Using a systematic mutation analysis, we found that Rim21 is N-glycosylated at an unconventional motif located in the N-terminal extracellular region. The Rim21 mutant protein that failed to receive N-glycosylation showed prolonged protein lifetime compared to that of WT Rim21 protein. Although both the WT and mutant Rim21 localized to the plasma membrane, they exhibited different biochemical fractionation profiles. The mutant Rim21, but not WT Rim21, was mainly fractionated into the heavy membrane fraction. Further, compared to WT Rim21, mutant Rim21 was more easily solubilized with digitonin but was conversely more resistant to solubilization with Triton X-100. Despite these different biochemical properties from WT Rim21, mutant Rim21 protein could still activate the Rim101 pathway in response to external alkalization. Collectively, N-glycosylation of Rim21 is not indispensable for its activity as a sensor protein, but modulates the residence of Rim21 protein to some microdomains within the plasma membrane with distinct lipid conditions, thereby affecting its turnover.Key words: plasma membrane, lipid asymmetry, N-linked glycosylation, microdomain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Obara
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kotani
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259 B-20, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nakatogawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259 B-20, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Akio Kihara
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12-jo Nishi 6-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Takumi Kamura
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
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Newman TE, Derbyshire MC. The Evolutionary and Molecular Features of Broad Host-Range Necrotrophy in Plant Pathogenic Fungi. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:591733. [PMID: 33304369 PMCID: PMC7693711 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.591733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Necrotrophic fungal pathogens cause considerable disease on numerous economically important crops. Some of these pathogens are specialized to one or a few closely related plant species, whereas others are pathogenic on many unrelated hosts. The evolutionary and molecular bases of broad host-range necrotrophy in plant pathogens are not very well-defined and form an on-going area of research. In this review, we discuss what is known about broad host-range necrotrophic pathogens and compare them with their narrow host-range counterparts. We discuss the evolutionary processes associated with host generalism, and highlight common molecular features of the broad host-range necrotrophic lifestyle, such as fine-tuning of host pH, modulation of host reactive oxygen species and metabolic degradation of diverse host antimicrobials. We conclude that broad host-range necrotrophic plant pathogens have evolved a range of diverse and sometimes convergent responses to a similar selective regime governed by interactions with a highly heterogeneous host landscape.
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Hirasawa H, Shioya K, Mori K, Tashiro K, Aburatani S, Shida Y, Kuhara S, Ogasawara W. Cellulase productivity of Trichoderma reesei mutants developed in Japan varies with varying pH conditions. J Biosci Bioeng 2019; 128:264-273. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Genome sequence of Isaria javanica and comparative genome analysis insights into family S53 peptidase evolution in fungal entomopathogens. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:7111-7128. [PMID: 31273397 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09997-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The fungus Isaria javanica is an important entomopathogen that parasitizes various insects and is effective for pest control. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the genomes (IJ1G and IJ2G) of two I. javanica strains isolated from different insects. The genomes were approximately 35 Mb in size with 11,441 and 11,143 protein-coding genes, respectively. Using a phylogenomic approach, we evaluated genome evolution across five entomopathogenic fungi in Cordycipitaceae. By comparative genome analysis, it was found that family S53 serine peptidases were expanded in Cordycipitaceae entomopathogens, particularly in I. javanica. Gene duplication events were identified based on phylogenetic relationships inferred from 82 S53 peptidases within six entomopathogenic fungal genomes. Moreover, we found that carbohydrate-active enzymes and proteinases were the largest secretory protein groups encoded in the I. javanica genome, especially chitinases (GH18), serine and aspartic peptidases (S53, S08, S10, A01). Pathogenesis-related genes and genes for bacterial-like toxins and secondary metabolites were also identified. By comparative transcriptome analysis, differentially expressed genes in response to insect nutrients (in vitro) were identified. Moreover, most S53 peptidases were detected to be significantly upregulated during the initial fungal infection process in insects (in vivo) by RT-qPCR. Our results provide new clues about understanding evolution of pathogenic proteases and may suggest that abundant S53 peptidases in the I. javanica genome may contribute to its effective parasitism on various insects.
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Progress and Challenges: Development and Implementation of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Filamentous Fungi. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2019; 17:761-769. [PMID: 31312414 PMCID: PMC6607083 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Widely distributed in various environmental niches, filamentous fungi play an important role in industry, drug development, and plant/animal health. Manipulation of the genome and the coding sequences are essential for a better understanding of the function of genes and their regulation, but traditional genetic approaches in some filamentous fungi are either inefficient or nonfunctional. The rapid development and wide implementation of CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats /(CRISPR)-associated protein-9 nuclease) technology for various model and non-model organisms has provided the initial framework to adapt this gene editing technology for filamentous fungi. In this review, an overview of the CRISPR/Cas9 tools and strategies that have been developed for different filamentous fungi is presented, including integration of the CAS9 gene into the genome, transient expression of Cas9/sgRNA, the AMA1-based plasmid approach, and the Cas9 RNP method. The various applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in filamentous fungi that have been implemented are explored, with particular emphasis on gene disruption/deletion and precise genome modification through gene tagging and alteration in gene regulation. Potential challenges that are confronted when developing a CRISPR/Cas9 system for filamentous fungi are also discussed such as the nuclear localization sequence for the CAS9 gene, potential off-target effects, and highly efficient transformation methods. Overcoming these obstacles may further facilitate wide application of this technology. As a simple, economical, and powerful tool, CRISPR/Cas9 systems have the potential for future implementation into many molecular aspects of filamentous fungi.
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Nepal B, Myers R, Lohmar JM, Puel O, Thompson B, Van Cura M, Calvo AM. Characterization of the putative polysaccharide synthase CpsA and its effects on the virulence of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216092. [PMID: 31026268 PMCID: PMC6485754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous opportunistic human pathogen capable of causing a life-threatening disease called invasive aspergillosis, or IA, with an associated 40-90% mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Of the approximately 250 species known in the genus Aspergillus, A. fumigatus is responsible for up to 90% of IA infections. This study focuses on examining the role of the putative polysaccharide synthase cpsA gene in A. fumigatus virulence. Additionally, we evaluated its role in cellular processes that influence invasion and colonization of host tissue. Importantly, our results support that cpsA is indispensable for virulence in A. fumigatus infection of non-neutropenic hosts. Our study revealed that cpsA affects growth and sporulation in this fungus. Absence of cpsA resulted in a drastic reduction in conidiation, and forced overexpression of cpsA produced partially fluffy colonies with low sporulation levels, suggesting that wild-type cpsA expression levels are required for proper conidiation in this fungus. This study also showed that cpsA is necessary for normal cell wall integrity and composition. Furthermore, both deletion and overexpression of cpsA resulted in a reduction in the ability of A. fumigatus to adhere to surfaces, and caused increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. Interestingly, metabolomics analysis indicated that cpsA affects A. fumigatus secondary metabolism. Forced overexpression of cpsA resulted in a statistically significant difference in the production of fumigaclavine A, fumigaclavine B, fumigaclavine C, verruculogen TR-2, and tryprostatin A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binita Nepal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ryan Myers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jessica M. Lohmar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Olivier Puel
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Brett Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Matthew Van Cura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ana M. Calvo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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The Aspergillus flavus rtfA Gene Regulates Plant and Animal Pathogenesis and Secondary Metabolism. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.02446-18. [PMID: 30635379 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02446-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic fungal plant and human pathogen and a producer of mycotoxins, including aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). As part of our ongoing studies to elucidate the biological functions of the A. flavus rtfA gene, we examined its role in the pathogenicity of both plant and animal model systems. rtfA encodes a putative RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription elongation factor previously characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, where it was shown to regulate several important cellular processes, including morphogenesis and secondary metabolism. In addition, an initial study in A. flavus indicated that rtfA also influences development and production of AFB1; however, its effect on virulence is unknown. The current study reveals that the rtfA gene is indispensable for normal pathogenicity in plants when using peanut seed as an infection model, as well as in animals, as shown in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Interestingly, rtfA positively regulates several processes known to be necessary for successful fungal invasion and colonization of host tissue, such as adhesion to surfaces, protease and lipase activity, cell wall composition and integrity, and tolerance to oxidative stress. In addition, metabolomic analysis revealed that A. flavus rtfA affects the production of several secondary metabolites, including AFB1, aflatrem, leporins, aspirochlorine, ditryptophenaline, and aflavinines, supporting a role of rtfA as a global regulator of secondary metabolism. Heterologous complementation of an A. flavus rtfA deletion strain with rtfA homologs from A. nidulans or S. cerevisiae fully rescued the wild-type phenotype, indicating that these rtfA homologs are functionally conserved among these three species.IMPORTANCE In this study, the epigenetic global regulator rtfA, which encodes a putative RNA-Pol II transcription elongation factor-like protein, was characterized in the mycotoxigenic and opportunistic pathogen A. flavus Specifically, its involvement in A. flavus pathogenesis in plant and animal models was studied. Here, we show that rtfA positively regulates A. flavus virulence in both models. Furthermore, rtfA-dependent effects on factors necessary for successful invasion and colonization of host tissue by A. flavus were also assessed. Our study indicates that rtfA plays a role in A. flavus adherence to surfaces, hydrolytic activity, normal cell wall formation, and response to oxidative stress. This study also revealed a profound effect of rtfA on the metabolome of A. flavus, including the production of potent mycotoxins.
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Abstract
Filamentous growth is a fungal morphogenetic response that is critical for virulence in some fungal species. Many aspects of filamentous growth remain poorly understood. We have identified an aspect of filamentous growth in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the human pathogen Candida albicans where cells behave collectively to invade surfaces in aggregates. These responses may reflect an extension of normal filamentous growth, as they share the same signaling pathways and effector processes. Aggregate responses may involve cooperation among individual cells, because aggregation was stimulated by cell adhesion molecules, secreted enzymes, and diffusible molecules that promote quorum sensing. Our study may provide insights into the genetic basis of collective cellular responses in fungi. The study may have ramifications in fungal pathogenesis, in situations where collective responses occur to promote virulence. Many fungal species, including pathogens, undergo a morphogenetic response called filamentous growth, where cells differentiate into a specialized cell type to promote nutrient foraging and surface colonization. Despite the fact that filamentous growth is required for virulence in some plant and animal pathogens, certain aspects of this behavior remain poorly understood. By examining filamentous growth in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans, we identify responses where cells undergo filamentous growth in groups of cells or aggregates. In S. cerevisiae, aggregate invasive growth was regulated by signaling pathways that control normal filamentous growth. These pathways promoted aggregation in part by fostering aspects of microbial cooperation. For example, aggregate invasive growth required cellular contacts mediated by the flocculin Flo11p, which was produced at higher levels in aggregates than cells undergoing regular invasive growth. Aggregate invasive growth was also stimulated by secreted enzymes, like invertase, which produce metabolites that are shared among cells. Aggregate invasive growth was also induced by alcohols that promote density-dependent filamentous growth in yeast. Aggregate invasive growth also required highly polarized cell morphologies, which may affect the packing or organization of cells. A directed selection experiment for aggregating phenotypes uncovered roles for the fMAPK and RAS pathways, which indicates that these pathways play a general role in regulating aggregate-based responses in yeast. Our study extends the range of responses controlled by filamentation regulatory pathways and has implications in understanding aspects of fungal biology that may be relevant to fungal pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE Filamentous growth is a fungal morphogenetic response that is critical for virulence in some fungal species. Many aspects of filamentous growth remain poorly understood. We have identified an aspect of filamentous growth in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the human pathogen Candida albicans where cells behave collectively to invade surfaces in aggregates. These responses may reflect an extension of normal filamentous growth, as they share the same signaling pathways and effector processes. Aggregate responses may involve cooperation among individual cells, because aggregation was stimulated by cell adhesion molecules, secreted enzymes, and diffusible molecules that promote quorum sensing. Our study may provide insights into the genetic basis of collective cellular responses in fungi. The study may have ramifications in fungal pathogenesis, in situations where collective responses occur to promote virulence.
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Luo Z, Zhang T, Liu P, Bai Y, Chen Q, Zhang Y, Keyhani NO. The Beauveria bassiana Gas3 β-Glucanosyltransferase Contributes to Fungal Adaptation to Extreme Alkaline Conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e01086-18. [PMID: 29802184 PMCID: PMC6052264 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01086-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal β-1,3-glucanosyltransferases are cell wall-remodeling enzymes implicated in stress response, cell wall integrity, and virulence, with most fungal genomes containing multiple members. The insect-pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana displays robust growth over a wide pH range (pH 4 to 10). A random insertion mutant library screening for increased sensitivity to alkaline (pH 10) growth conditions resulted in the identification and mapping of a mutant to a β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase gene (Bbgas3). Bbgas3 expression was pH dependent and regulated by the PacC transcription factor, which activates genes in response to neutral/alkaline growth conditions. Targeted gene knockout of Bbgas3 resulted in reduced growth under alkaline conditions, with only minor effects of increased sensitivity to cell wall stress (Congo red and calcofluor white) and no significant effects on fungal sensitivity to oxidative or osmotic stress. The cell walls of ΔBbgas3 aerial conidia were thinner than those of the wild-type and complemented strains in response to alkaline conditions, and β-1,3-glucan antibody and lectin staining revealed alterations in cell surface carbohydrate epitopes. The ΔBbgas3 mutant displayed alterations in cell wall chitin and carbohydrate content in response to alkaline pH. Insect bioassays revealed impaired virulence for the ΔBbgas3 mutant depending upon the pH of the media on which the conidia were grown and harvested. Unexpectedly, a decreased median lethal time to kill (LT50, i.e., increased virulence) was seen for the mutant using intrahemocoel injection assays using conidia grown at acidic pH (5.6). These data show that BbGas3 acts as a pH-responsive cell wall-remodeling enzyme involved in resistance to extreme pH (>9).IMPORTANCE Little is known about adaptations required for growth at high (>9) pH. Here, we show that a specific fungal membrane-remodeling β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase gene (Bbgas3) regulated by the pH-responsive PacC transcription factor forms a critical aspect of the ability of the insect-pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to grow at extreme pH. The loss of Bbgas3 resulted in a unique decreased ability to grow at high pH, with little to no effects seen with respect to other stress conditions, i.e., cell wall integrity and osmotic and oxidative stress. However, pH-dependent alternations in cell wall properties and virulence were noted for the ΔBbgas3 mutant. These data provide a mechanistic insight into the importance of the specific cell wall structure required to stabilize the cell at high pH and link it to the PacC/Pal/Rim pH-sensing and regulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibing Luo
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongbing Zhang
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Bai
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiyan Chen
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nemat O Keyhani
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Brown HE, Ost KS, Esher SK, Pianalto KM, Saelens JW, Guan Z, Andrew Alspaugh J. Identifying a novel connection between the fungal plasma membrane and pH-sensing. Mol Microbiol 2018; 109:474-493. [PMID: 29885030 PMCID: PMC6173979 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which micro-organisms sense and internalize extracellular pH signals are not completely understood. One example of a known external pH-sensing process is the fungal-specific Rim/Pal signal transduction pathway. Fungi, such as the opportunistic pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, use Rim signaling to sense and respond to changes in environmental pH. Mutations in this pathway result in strains that are attenuated for survival at alkaline pH, and often for survival within the host. Here, we used an insertional mutagenesis screen to identify novel genes required for C. neoformans growth at host pH. We discovered altered alkaline pH growth in several strains with specific defects in plasma membrane composition and maintenance of phospholipid assembly. Among these, loss of function of the Cdc50 lipid flippase regulatory subunit affected the temporal dynamics of Rim pathway activation. We defined distinct and overlapping cellular processes regulated by Rim101 and Cdc50 through analysis of the transcriptome in these mutant strains. We further explored how pH-induced membrane changes affect membrane-bound pH-sensing proteins, specifically the C-terminal domain of the Rra1 protein, an upstream Rim pathway activator and pH sensor. These results suggest both broadly applicable and phylum-specific molecular interactions that drive microbial environmental sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Brown
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kyla S Ost
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shannon K Esher
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kaila M Pianalto
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph W Saelens
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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Andrade MRTC, Curvelo JADR, de Moraes DC, Portela M, Ferreira-Pereira A, Soares RMDA, Primo LG. Salivary pH and colonization by oral Candida in children and adolescents submitted to haemodialysis. Int J Paediatr Dent 2018; 28:533-539. [PMID: 29974548 DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungal infections are a serious problem among haemodialysis patients. AIM The aims of this study were to estimate the frequency of oral Candida species among children and adolescents undergoing haemodialysis (HD), to identify the isolated species, and to study the relationship between haemodialysis duration, amounts of colony-forming units, and salivary pH. DESIGN A matched sample of 52 patients undergoing HD and 52 healthy individuals were selected. The samples were obtained from the dorsum of the tongue, and the colonies were identified through a substrate assimilation test. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from each patient for evaluation of salivary pH. RESULTS The frequency of oral Candida species was 34.6% (18/52) and 46.20% (24/52) in the HD and control groups (P = 0.23), respectively. Candida parapsilosis complex was the most frequently isolated fungi species in the HD group (P = 0.03). A HD therapy duration of more than 1 year was statistically correlated with a higher number of colony-forming units (P = 0.03) but was not statistically related to salivary pH. CONCLUSIONS Candida parapsilosis complex was the most frequently isolated fungal species in the young HD patients, and the duration therapy was associated with higher oral colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Clemente de Moraes
- Institute of Microbiology Professor Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Maristela Portela
- Department of Clinics and Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, RJ, Brasil
| | - Antonio Ferreira-Pereira
- Institute of Microbiology Professor Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Laura Guimarães Primo
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Transcription Factors Controlling Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Filamentous Fungi: The β-Lactam Paradigm. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation4020047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Esher SK, Ost KS, Kohlbrenner MA, Pianalto KM, Telzrow CL, Campuzano A, Nichols CB, Munro C, Wormley FL, Alspaugh JA. Defects in intracellular trafficking of fungal cell wall synthases lead to aberrant host immune recognition. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007126. [PMID: 29864141 PMCID: PMC6002136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, dramatically alters its cell wall, both in size and composition, upon entering the host. This cell wall remodeling is essential for host immune avoidance by this pathogen. In a genetic screen for mutants with changes in their cell wall, we identified a novel protein, Mar1, that controls cell wall organization and immune evasion. Through phenotypic studies of a loss-of-function strain, we have demonstrated that the mar1Δ mutant has an aberrant cell surface and a defect in polysaccharide capsule attachment, resulting in attenuated virulence. Furthermore, the mar1Δ mutant displays increased staining for exposed cell wall chitin and chitosan when the cells are grown in host-like tissue culture conditions. However, HPLC analysis of whole cell walls and RT-PCR analysis of cell wall synthase genes demonstrated that this increased chitin exposure is likely due to decreased levels of glucans and mannans in the outer cell wall layers. We observed that the Mar1 protein differentially localizes to cellular membranes in a condition dependent manner, and we have further shown that the mar1Δ mutant displays defects in intracellular trafficking, resulting in a mislocalization of the β-glucan synthase catalytic subunit, Fks1. These cell surface changes influence the host-pathogen interaction, resulting in increased macrophage activation to microbial challenge in vitro. We established that several host innate immune signaling proteins are required for the observed macrophage activation, including the Card9 and MyD88 adaptor proteins, as well as the Dectin-1 and TLR2 pattern recognition receptors. These studies explore novel mechanisms by which a microbial pathogen regulates its cell surface in response to the host, as well as how dysregulation of this adaptive response leads to defective immune avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon K. Esher
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Kyla S. Ost
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Maria A. Kohlbrenner
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Kaila M. Pianalto
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Calla L. Telzrow
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Althea Campuzano
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Connie B. Nichols
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Carol Munro
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Floyd L. Wormley
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology/Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
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