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Liu F, Zeng M, Zhou X, Huang F, Song Z. Aspergillus fumigatus escape mechanisms from its harsh survival environments. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:53. [PMID: 38175242 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12952-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogenic mold and causes several diseases, including mycotoxicosis, allergic reactions, and systemic diseases (invasive aspergillosis), with high mortality rates. In its ecological niche, the fungus has evolved and mastered many reply strategies to resist and survive against negative threats, including harsh environmental stress and deficiency of essential nutrients from natural environments, immunity responses and drug treatments in host, and competition from symbiotic microorganisms. Hence, treating A. fumigatus infection is a growing challenge. In this review, we summarized A. fumigatus reply strategies and escape mechanisms and clarified the main competitive or symbiotic relationships between A. fumigatus, viruses, bacteria, or fungi in host microecology. Additionally, we discussed the contemporary drug repertoire used to treat A. fumigatus and the latest evidence of potential resistance mechanisms. This review provides valuable knowledge which will stimulate further investigations and clinical applications for treating and preventing A. fumigatus infections. KEY POINTS: • Harsh living environment was a great challenge for A. fumigatus survival. • A. fumigatus has evolved multiple strategies to escape host immune responses. • A. fumigatus withstands antifungal drugs via intrinsic escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Zeng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Fujiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhangyong Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China.
- Molecular Biotechnology Platform, Public Center of Experimental Technology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Brown A, Steenwyk JL, Rokas A. Genome-wide patterns of non-coding sequence variation in the major fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.08.574724. [PMID: 38260267 PMCID: PMC10802510 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
A.fumigatus is a deadly fungal pathogen, responsible for >400,000 infections/year and high mortality rates. A. fumigatus strains exhibit variation in infection-relevant traits, including in their virulence. However, most A. fumigatus protein-coding genes, including those that modulate its virulence, are shared between A. fumigatus strains and closely related non-pathogenic relatives. We hypothesized that A. fumigatus genes exhibit substantial genetic variation in the non-coding regions immediately upstream to the start codons of genes, which could reflect differences in gene regulation between strains. To begin testing this hypothesis, we identified 5,812 single-copy orthologs across the genomes of 263 A. fumigatus strains. A. fumigatus non-coding regions showed higher levels of sequence variation compared to their corresponding protein-coding regions. Specifically, we found that 1,274 non-coding regions exhibited <75% nucleotide sequence similarity (compared to 928 protein-coding regions) and 3,721 non-coding regions exhibited between 75% and 99% similarity (compared to 2,482 protein-coding regions) across strains. Only 817 non-coding regions exhibited ≥99% sequence similarity compared to 2,402 protein-coding regions. By examining 2,482 genes whose protein-coding sequence identity scores ranged between 75% and 99%, we identified 478 total genes with signatures of positive selection only in their non-coding regions and 65 total genes with signatures only in their protein-coding regions. 28 of the 478 non-coding regions and 5 of the 65 protein-coding regions under selection are associated with genes known to modulate A. fumigatus virulence. Non-coding region variation between A. fumigatus strains included single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions or deletions of at least a few nucleotides. These results show that non-coding regions of A. fumigatus genes harbor greater sequence variation than protein-coding regions, raising the hypothesis that this variation may contribute to A. fumigatus phenotypic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Howards Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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3
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Earle K, Valero C, Conn DP, Vere G, Cook PC, Bromley MJ, Bowyer P, Gago S. Pathogenicity and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Virulence 2023; 14:2172264. [PMID: 36752587 PMCID: PMC10732619 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2172264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary infections caused by the mould pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Compromised lung defences arising from immunosuppression, chronic respiratory conditions or more recently, concomitant viral or bacterial pulmonary infections are recognised risks factors for the development of pulmonary aspergillosis. In this review, we will summarise our current knowledge of the mechanistic basis of pulmonary aspergillosis with a focus on emerging at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh Earle
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Clara Valero
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel P. Conn
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - George Vere
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Peter C. Cook
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Michael J. Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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4
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van Rhijn N, Zhao C, Al-Furaji N, Storer I, Valero C, Gago S, Chown H, Baldin C, Fortune-Grant R, Shuraym HB, Ivanova L, Kniemeyer O, Krüger T, Bignell E, Goldman G, Amich J, Delneri D, Bowyer P, Brakhage A, Haas H, Bromley M. Functional analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus kinome reveals a DYRK kinase involved in septal plugging is a novel antifungal drug target. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-2960526. [PMID: 37398159 PMCID: PMC10312919 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2960526/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
More than 10 million people suffer from lung diseases caused by the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The azole class of antifungals represent first line therapeutics for most of these infections however resistance is rising. Identification of novel antifungal targets that, when inhibited, synergise with the azoles will aid the development of agents that can improve therapeutic outcomes and supress the emergence of resistance. As part of the A. fumigatus genome-wide knockout program (COFUN), we have completed the generation of a library that consists of 120 genetically barcoded null mutants in genes that encode the protein kinase cohort of A. fumigatus. We have employed a competitive fitness profiling approach (Bar-Seq), to identify targets which when deleted result in hypersensitivity to the azoles and fitness defects in a murine host. The most promising candidate from our screen is a previously uncharacterised DYRK kinase orthologous to Yak1 of Candida albicans, a TOR signalling pathway kinase involved in modulation of stress responsive transcriptional regulators. Here we show that the orthologue YakA has been repurposed in A. fumigatus to regulate blocking of the septal pore upon exposure to stress via phosphorylation of the Woronin body tethering protein Lah. Loss of YakA function reduces the ability of A. fumigatus to penetrate solid media and impacts growth in murine lung tissue. We also show that 1-ethoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (1-ECBC), a compound previously shown to inhibit Yak1 in C. albicans prevents stress mediated septal spore blocking and synergises with the azoles to inhibit A. fumigatus growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Can Zhao
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lia Ivanova
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology
| | | | - Gustavo Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Bloco Q, Universidade de São Paulo
| | | | | | | | - Axel Brakhage
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - University of Jena
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology/Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University
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5
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Rozaliyani A, Antariksa B, Nurwidya F, Zaini J, Setianingrum F, Hasan F, Nugrahapraja H, Yusva H, Wibowo H, Bowolaksono A, Kosmidis C. The Fungal and Bacterial Interface in the Respiratory Mycobiome with a Focus on Aspergillus spp. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13041017. [PMID: 37109545 PMCID: PMC10142979 DOI: 10.3390/life13041017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneity of the lung microbiome and its alteration are prevalently seen among chronic lung diseases patients. However, studies to date have primarily focused on the bacterial microbiome in the lung rather than fungal composition, which might play an essential role in the mechanisms of several chronic lung diseases. It is now well established that Aspergillus spp. colonies may induce various unfavorable inflammatory responses. Furthermore, bacterial microbiomes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa provide several mechanisms that inhibit or stimulate Aspergillus spp. life cycles. In this review, we highlighted fungal and bacterial microbiome interactions in the respiratory tract, with a focus on Aspergillus spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rozaliyani
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
- Indonesia Pulmonary Mycoses Centre, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Budhi Antariksa
- Department of Pulmonoloy and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicinie, Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan National Respiratory Referral Hospital, Jakarta 13230, Indonesia
| | - Fariz Nurwidya
- Department of Pulmonoloy and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicinie, Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan National Respiratory Referral Hospital, Jakarta 13230, Indonesia
| | - Jamal Zaini
- Department of Pulmonoloy and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicinie, Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan National Respiratory Referral Hospital, Jakarta 13230, Indonesia
| | - Findra Setianingrum
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
- Indonesia Pulmonary Mycoses Centre, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Firman Hasan
- Indonesia Pulmonary Mycoses Centre, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Husna Nugrahapraja
- Life Science and Biotechnology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung 40312, Indonesia
| | - Humaira Yusva
- Magister Program of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Heri Wibowo
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Anom Bowolaksono
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
| | - Chris Kosmidis
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
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6
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Okaa UJ, Bertuzzi M, Fortune-Grant R, Thomson DD, Moyes DL, Naglik JR, Bignell E. Aspergillus fumigatus Drives Tissue Damage via Iterative Assaults upon Mucosal Integrity and Immune Homeostasis. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0033322. [PMID: 36625602 PMCID: PMC9933693 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00333-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The human lung is constantly exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus spores, the most prevalent worldwide cause of fungal respiratory disease. Pulmonary tissue damage is a unifying feature of Aspergillus-related diseases; however, the mechanistic basis of damage is not understood. In the lungs of susceptible hosts, A. fumigatus undergoes an obligatory morphological switch involving spore germination and hyphal growth. We modeled A. fumigatus infection in cultured A549 human pneumocytes, capturing the phosphoactivation status of five host signaling pathways, nuclear translocation and DNA binding of eight host transcription factors, and expression of nine host response proteins over six time points encompassing exposures to live fungus and the secretome thereof. The resulting data set, comprised of more than 1,000 data points, reveals that pneumocytes mount differential responses to A. fumigatus spores, hyphae, and soluble secreted products via the NF-κB, JNK, and JNK + p38 pathways, respectively. Importantly, via selective degradation of host proinflammatory (IL-6 and IL-8) cytokines and growth factors (FGF-2), fungal secreted products reorchestrate the host response to fungal challenge as well as driving multiparameter epithelial damage, culminating in cytolysis. Dysregulation of NF-κB signaling, involving sequential stimulation of canonical and noncanonical signaling, was identified as a significant feature of host damage both in vitro and in a mouse model of invasive aspergillosis. Our data demonstrate that composite tissue damage results from iterative (repeated) exposures to different fungal morphotypes and secreted products and suggest that modulation of host responses to fungal challenge might represent a unified strategy for therapeutic control of pathologically distinct types of Aspergillus-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uju Joy Okaa
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Fortune-Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David L. Moyes
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R. Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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7
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Cui X, Chen F, Zhao J, Li D, Hu M, Chen X, Zhang Y, Han L. Involvement of JNK signaling in Aspergillus fumigatus-induced inflammatory factors release in bronchial epithelial cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1293. [PMID: 36690696 PMCID: PMC9871034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28567-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is an important fungal pathogen and its conidia can be inhaled and interact with airway epithelial cells; however, the release of inflammatory factors from bronchial epithelial cells upon A. fumigatus infection and its regulation remained unclear. Here it was demonstrated that the release of IL-27, MCP-1 and TNF-α from BEAS-2B cells were upregulated upon stimulation by conidia, while mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway was activated. Further, the inhibition of JNK, but not p38 and ERK, could inhibit inflammatory factors release and the LC3II formation in BEAS-2B cells induced by A. fumigatus conidia. In addition, an inhibitor of autophagy, bafilomycin A1 was able to significantly down-regulate the release of inflammatory factors in BEAS-2B cells upon A. fumigatus conidia, while rapamycin could reverse the effect of JNK inhibitor on IL-27 and TNF-α release. Taken together, these data demonstrated that JNK signal might play an important role in inflammatory factor release regulated by autophagy in bronchial epithelial cells against A. fumigatus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Cui
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Fangyan Chen
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jingya Zhao
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Dingchen Li
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Mandong Hu
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Lu, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yulin Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Li Han
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
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8
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Otu A, Kosmidis C, Mathioudakis AG, Ibe C, Denning DW. The clinical spectrum of aspergillosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Infection 2023:10.1007/s15010-022-01960-2. [PMID: 36662439 PMCID: PMC9857914 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01960-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. In this review, we present the clinical spectrum and pathogenesis of syndromes caused by Aspergillus in COPD namely invasive aspergillosis (IA), community-acquired Aspergillus pneumonia, chronic pulmonary Aspergillosis and Aspergillus sensitisation. Some of these entities are clearly linked to COPD, while others may coexist, but are less clearly liked directly to COPD. We discuss current uncertainties as these pertain to IA in COPD cohorts and explore areas for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akaninyene Otu
- grid.418161.b0000 0001 0097 2705Department of Microbiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX UK
| | - Chris Kosmidis
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M23 9LT UK
| | - Alexander G. Mathioudakis
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK ,grid.498924.a0000 0004 0430 9101North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Chibuike Ibe
- grid.442675.60000 0000 9756 5366Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
| | - David W. Denning
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Manchester Fungal Infection Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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9
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Duca M, Haksar D, van Neer J, Thies-Weesie DM, Martínez-Alarcón D, de Cock H, Varrot A, Pieters RJ. Multivalent Fucosides Targeting β-Propeller Lectins from Lung Pathogens with Promising Anti-Adhesive Properties. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:3515-3526. [PMID: 36414265 PMCID: PMC9764287 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fungal and bacterial pathogens causing lung infections often use lectins to mediate adhesion to glycoconjugates at the surface of host tissues. Given the rapid emergence of resistance to the treatments in current use, β-propeller lectins such as FleA from Aspergillus fumigatus, SapL1 from Scedosporium apiospermum, and BambL from Burkholderia ambifaria have become appealing targets for the design of anti-adhesive agents. In search of novel and cheap anti-infectious agents, we synthesized multivalent compounds that can display up to 20 units of fucose, the natural ligand. We obtained nanomolar inhibitors that are several orders of magnitude stronger than their monovalent analogue according to several biophysical techniques (i.e., fluorescence polarization, isothermal titration calorimetry, and bio-layer interferometry). The reason for high affinity might be attributed to a strong aggregating mechanism, which was examined by analytical ultracentrifugation. Notably, the fucosylated inhibitors reduced the adhesion of A. fumigatus spores to lung epithelial cells when administered 1 h before or after the infection of human lung epithelial cells. For this reason, we propose them as promising anti-adhesive drugs for the prevention and treatment of aspergillosis and related microbial lung infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Duca
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands,Univ.
Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Diksha Haksar
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacq van Neer
- Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dominique M.E. Thies-Weesie
- Debye
Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht
University, Padualaan
8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hans de Cock
- Department
of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands,
| | | | - Roland J. Pieters
- Department
of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Utrecht University, NL-3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands,
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10
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de Carvalho Patricio BF, da Silva Lopes Pereira JO, Sarcinelli MA, de Moraes BPT, Rocha HVA, Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque CF. Could the Lung Be a Gateway for Amphotericin B to Attack the Army of Fungi? Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2707. [PMID: 36559201 PMCID: PMC9784761 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Aspergillus, Pneumocystis, and Cryptococcus are opportunistic fungi and may cause severe lung disease. They can develop mechanisms to evade the host immune system and colonize or cause lung disease. Current fungal infection treatments constitute a few classes of antifungal drugs with significant fungi resistance development. Amphotericin B (AmB) has a broad-spectrum antifungal effect with a low incidence of resistance. However, AmB is a highly lipophilic antifungal with low solubility and permeability and is unstable in light, heat, and oxygen. Due to the difficulty of achieving adequate concentrations of AmB in the lung by intravenous administration and seeking to minimize adverse effects, nebulized AmB has been used. The pulmonary pathway has advantages such as its rapid onset of action, low metabolic activity at the site of action, ability to avoid first-pass hepatic metabolism, lower risk of adverse effects, and thin thickness of the alveolar epithelium. This paper presented different strategies for pulmonary AmB delivery, detailing the potential of nanoformulation and hoping to foster research in the field. Our finds indicate that despite an optimistic scenario for the pulmonary formulation of AmB based on the encouraging results discussed here, there is still no product registration on the FDA nor any clinical trial undergoing ClinicalTrial.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Ferreira de Carvalho Patricio
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
| | | | - Michelle Alvares Sarcinelli
- Laboratory of Micro and Nanotechnology, Institute of Technology of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil Av., 4036, Rio de Janeiro 213040-361, Brazil
| | - Bianca Portugal Tavares de Moraes
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Prof. Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis, Niterói 24210-201, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
| | - Helvécio Vinicius Antunes Rocha
- Laboratory of Micro and Nanotechnology, Institute of Technology of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil Av., 4036, Rio de Janeiro 213040-361, Brazil
| | - Cassiano Felippe Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque
- Postgraduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Prof. Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis, Niterói 24210-201, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
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11
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Brown A, Mead ME, Steenwyk JL, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Extensive non-coding sequence divergence between the major human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and its relatives. Front Fungal Biol 2022; 3:802494. [PMID: 36866034 PMCID: PMC9977105 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.802494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is a deadly fungal disease; more than 400,000 patients are infected worldwide each year and the mortality rate can be as high as 50-95%. Of the ~450 species in the genus Aspergillus only a few are known to be clinically relevant, with the major pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus being responsible for ~50% of all invasive mold infections. Genomic comparisons between A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus species have historically focused on protein-coding regions. However, most A. fumigatus genes, including those that modulate its virulence, are also present in other pathogenic and non-pathogenic closely related species. Our hypothesis is that differential gene regulation - mediated through the non-coding regions upstream of genes' first codon - contributes to A. fumigatus pathogenicity. To begin testing this, we compared non-coding regions upstream of the first codon of single-copy orthologous genes from the two A. fumigatus reference strains Af293 and A1163 and eight closely related Aspergillus section Fumigati species. We found that these non-coding regions showed extensive sequence variation and lack of homology across species. By examining the evolutionary rates of both protein-coding and non-coding regions in a subset of orthologous genes with highly conserved non-coding regions across the phylogeny, we identified 418 genes, including 25 genes known to modulate A. fumigatus virulence, whose non-coding regions exhibit a different rate of evolution in A. fumigatus. Examination of sequence alignments of these non-coding regions revealed numerous instances of insertions, deletions, and other types of mutations of at least a few nucleotides in A. fumigatus compared to its close relatives. These results show that closely related Aspergillus species that vary greatly in their pathogenicity exhibit extensive non-coding sequence variation and identify numerous changes in non-coding regions of A. fumigatus genes known to contribute to virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Matthew E. Mead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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12
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Furukawa T, van Rhijn N, Chown H, Rhodes J, Alfuraiji N, Fortune-Grant R, Bignell E, Fisher MC, Bromley M. Exploring a novel genomic safe-haven site in the human pathogenic mould Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol 2022; 161:103702. [PMID: 35569804 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important airborne fungal pathogen and allergen of humans causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The factors that govern pathogenicity of this organism are multi-factorial and are poorly understood. Molecular tools to dissect the mechanisms of pathogenicity in A. fumigatus have improved significantly over the last 20 years however many procedures have not been standardised for A. fumigatus. Here, we present a new genomic safe-haven locus at the site of an inactivated transposon, named SH-aft4, which can be used to insert DNA sequences in the genome of this fungus without impacting its phenotype. We show that we are able to effectively express a transgene construct from the SH-aft4 and that natural regulation of promoter function is conserved at this site. Furthermore, the SH-aft4 locus is highly conserved in the genome of a wide range of clinical and environmental isolates including the isolates commonly used by many laboratories CEA10, Af293 and ATCC46645, allowing a wide range of isolates to be manipulated. Our results show that the aft4 locus can serve as a site for integration of a wide range of genetic constructs to aid functional genomics studies of this important human fungal pathogen.
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13
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Gioia F, Albasata H, Hosseini-moghaddam SM. Concurrent Infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Pneumocystis jirovecii in Immunocompromised and Immunocompetent Individuals. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:585. [PMID: 35736068 PMCID: PMC9225243 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may occur with concurrent infections caused by bacterial and fungal microorganisms. This systematic review evaluated studies reporting concomitant COVID-19 and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). We found 39 patients (74% male, median age: 56.8 (range: 11–83) years), including 66% immunosuppressed individuals (23% HIV-infected and 41% on long-term corticosteroid therapy). Patients were characteristically severely ill (mechanical ventilation: 70%), associated with 41% mortality. The median lymphocyte count was 527 cells/mm3 (range: 110–2200), and the median CD4+ T cell count was 206 cells/mm3 (range: 8–1021). We identified three patterns of concurrent COVID-19 and P. jirovecii infection. The first pattern (airway colonization with a low burden of P. jirovecii) does not seem to modify the COVID-19 course of illness. However, P. jirovecii superinfection, typically occurring weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis as a biphasic illness, and P. jirovecii coinfection characteristically results in progressive multilobar pneumonia, which is associated with poor outcomes. To support this categorization, we reported three patients with concurrent PJP and COVID-19 identified in our institution, presenting these clinical scenarios. The diagnosis of PJP requires a high index of suspicion, since clinical and radiological characteristics overlap with COVID-19. Observational studies are necessary to determine the PJP burden in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.
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14
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Barros BCSC, Almeida BR, Barros DTL, Toledo MS, Suzuki E. Respiratory Epithelial Cells: More Than Just a Physical Barrier to Fungal Infections. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8060548. [PMID: 35736031 PMCID: PMC9225092 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The respiratory epithelium is highly complex, and its composition varies along the conducting airways and alveoli. In addition to their primary function in maintaining the respiratory barrier and lung homeostasis for gas exchange, epithelial cells interact with inhaled pathogens, which can manipulate cell signaling pathways, promoting adhesion to these cells or hosting tissue invasion. Moreover, pathogens (or their products) can induce the secretion of chemokines and cytokines by epithelial cells, and in this way, these host cells communicate with the immune system, modulating host defenses and inflammatory outcomes. This review will focus on the response of respiratory epithelial cells to two human fungal pathogens that cause systemic mycoses: Aspergillus and Paracoccidioides. Some of the host epithelial cell receptors and signaling pathways, in addition to fungal adhesins or other molecules that are responsible for fungal adhesion, invasion, or induction of cytokine secretion will be addressed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca C. S. C. Barros
- Laboratory of Applied Toxinology, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Bruna R. Almeida
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ed. Antonio C. M. Paiva, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil; (B.R.A.); (D.T.L.B.)
| | - Debora T. L. Barros
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ed. Antonio C. M. Paiva, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil; (B.R.A.); (D.T.L.B.)
| | - Marcos S. Toledo
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ed. Leal Prado, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil;
| | - Erika Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ed. Antonio C. M. Paiva, São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil; (B.R.A.); (D.T.L.B.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Palmieri F, Koutsokera A, Bernasconi E, Junier P, von Garnier C, Ubags N. Recent Advances in Fungal Infections: From Lung Ecology to Therapeutic Strategies With a Focus on Aspergillus spp. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:832510. [PMID: 35386908 PMCID: PMC8977413 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.832510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are estimated to be the main cause of death for more than 1.5 million people worldwide annually. However, fungal pathogenicity has been largely neglected. This is notably the case for pulmonary fungal infections, which are difficult to diagnose and to treat. We are currently facing a global emergence of antifungal resistance, which decreases the chances of survival for affected patients. New therapeutic approaches are therefore needed to face these life-threatening fungal infections. In this review, we will provide a general overview on respiratory fungal infections, with a focus on fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Next, the immunological and microbiological mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis will be discussed. The role of the respiratory mycobiota and its interactions with the bacterial microbiota on lung fungal infections will be presented from an ecological perspective. Finally, we will focus on existing and future innovative approaches for the treatment of respiratory fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Palmieri
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Fabio Palmieri,
| | - Angela Koutsokera
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric Bernasconi
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Junier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Christophe von Garnier
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Niki Ubags
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Niki Ubags,
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16
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Ortiz SC, Pennington K, Thomson DD, Bertuzzi M. Novel Insights into Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenesis and Host Response from State-of-the-Art Imaging of Host-Pathogen Interactions during Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030264. [PMID: 35330266 PMCID: PMC8954776 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus spores initiate more than 3,000,000 chronic and 300,000 invasive diseases annually, worldwide. Depending on the immune status of the host, inhalation of these spores can lead to a broad spectrum of disease, including invasive aspergillosis, which carries a 50% mortality rate overall; however, this mortality rate increases substantially if the infection is caused by azole-resistant strains or diagnosis is delayed or missed. Increasing resistance to existing antifungal treatments is becoming a major concern; for example, resistance to azoles (the first-line available oral drug against Aspergillus species) has risen by 40% since 2006. Despite high morbidity and mortality, the lack of an in-depth understanding of A. fumigatus pathogenesis and host response has hampered the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of fungal infections. Recent advances in sample preparation, infection models and imaging techniques applied in vivo have addressed important gaps in fungal research, whilst questioning existing paradigms. This review highlights the successes and further potential of these recent technologies in understanding the host-pathogen interactions that lead to aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien C. Ortiz
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
| | - Katie Pennington
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK; (S.C.O.); (K.P.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Namvar S, Labram B, Rowley J, Herrick S. Aspergillus fumigatus-Host Interactions Mediating Airway Wall Remodelling in Asthma. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020159. [PMID: 35205913 PMCID: PMC8879933 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic heterogeneous respiratory condition that is mainly associated with sensitivity to airborne agents such as pollen, dust mite products and fungi. Key pathological features include increased airway inflammation and airway wall remodelling. In particular, goblet cell hyperplasia, combined with excess mucus secretion, impairs clearance of the inhaled foreign material. Furthermore, structural changes such as subepithelial fibrosis and increased smooth muscle hypertrophy collectively contribute to deteriorating airway function and possibility of exacerbations. Current pharmacological therapies focused on airway wall remodelling are limited, and as such, are an area of unmet clinical need. Sensitisation to the fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, is associated with enhanced asthma severity, bronchiectasis, and hospitalisation. How Aspergillus fumigatus may drive airway structural changes is unclear, although recent evidence points to a central role of the airway epithelium. This review provides an overview of the airway pathology in patients with asthma and fungal sensitisation, summarises proposed airway epithelial cell-fungal interactions and discusses the initiation of a tissue remodelling response. Related findings from in vivo animal models are included given the limited analysis of airway pathology in patients. Lastly, an important role for Aspergillus fumigatus-derived proteases in triggering a cascade of damage-repair events through upregulation of airway epithelial-derived factors is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Namvar
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
- Correspondence: (S.N.); (S.H.)
| | - Briony Labram
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Jessica Rowley
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Sarah Herrick
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (B.L.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: (S.N.); (S.H.)
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18
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Abstract
Individuals suffering from severe viral respiratory tract infections have recently emerged as "at risk" groups for developing invasive fungal infections. Influenza virus is one of the most common causes of acute lower respiratory tract infections worldwide. Fungal infections complicating influenza pneumonia are associated with increased disease severity and mortality, with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis being the most common manifestation. Strikingly, similar observations have been made during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The copathogenesis of respiratory viral and fungal coinfections is complex and involves a dynamic interplay between the host immune defenses and the virulence of the microbes involved that often results in failure to return to homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the main mechanisms underlying susceptibility to invasive fungal disease following respiratory viral infections. A comprehensive understanding of these interactions will aid the development of therapeutic modalities against newly identified targets to prevent and treat these emerging coinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián Salazar
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Peter C. Cook
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Adilia Warris
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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19
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Rahman S, van Rhijn N, Papastamoulis P, Thomson DD, Carter Z, Fortune-Grant R, Rattray M, Bromley MJ, Bignell E. Distinct Cohorts of Aspergillus fumigatus Transcription Factors Are Required for Epithelial Damage Occurring via Contact- or Soluble Effector-Mediated Mechanisms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:907519. [PMID: 35982778 PMCID: PMC9379863 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.907519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to the lung epithelium is a unifying feature of disease caused by the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the mechanistic basis and the regulatory control of such damage is poorly characterized. Previous studies have identified A. fumigatus mediated pathogenesis as occurring at early (≤ 16 hours) or late (>16 hours) phases of the fungal interaction with epithelial cells, and respectively involve direct contact with the host cell or the action of soluble factors produced by mature fungal hyphae. Both early and late phases of epithelial damage have been shown to be subject to genetic regulation by the pH-responsive transcription factor PacC. This study sought to determine whether other transcriptional regulators play a role in modulating epithelial damage. In particular, whether the early and late phases of epithelial damage are governed by same or distinct regulators. Furthermore, whether processes such as spore uptake and hyphal adhesion, that have previously been documented to promote epithelial damage, are governed by the same cohorts of epithelial regulators. Using 479 strains from the recently constructed library of A. fumigatus transcription factor null mutants, two high-throughput screens assessing epithelial cell detachment and epithelial cell lysis were conducted. A total of 17 transcription factor mutants were found to exhibit reproducible deficits in epithelial damage causation. Of these, 10 mutants were defective in causing early phase damage via epithelial detachment and 8 mutants were defective in causing late phase damage via epithelial lysis. Remarkably only one transcription factor, PacC, was required for causation of both phases of epithelial damage. The 17 mutants exhibited varied and often unique phenotypic profiles with respect to fitness, epithelial adhesion, cell wall defects, and rates of spore uptake by epithelial cells. Strikingly, 9 out of 10 mutants deficient in causing early phase damage also exhibited reduced rates of hyphal extension, and culture supernatants of 7 out of 8 mutants deficient in late phase damage were significantly less cytotoxic. Our study delivers the first high-level overview of A. fumigatus regulatory genes governing lung epithelial damage, suggesting highly coordinated genetic orchestration of host-damaging activities that govern epithelial damage in both space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayema Rahman
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Darren D Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zorana Carter
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Fortune-Grant
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Magnus Rattray
- Division of Informatics, School of Heath Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael John Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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20
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Feys S, Almyroudi MP, Braspenning R, Lagrou K, Spriet I, Dimopoulos G, Wauters J. A Visual and Comprehensive Review on COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA). J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:1067. [PMID: 34947049 PMCID: PMC8708864 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a severe fungal infection complicating critically ill COVID-19 patients. Numerous retrospective and prospective studies have been performed to get a better grasp on this lethal co-infection. We performed a qualitative review and summarized data from 48 studies in which 7047 patients had been included, of whom 820 had CAPA. The pooled incidence of proven, probable or putative CAPA was 15.1% among 2953 ICU-admitted COVID-19 patients included in 18 prospective studies. Incidences showed great variability due to multiple factors such as discrepancies in the rate and depth of the fungal work-up. The pathophysiology and risk factors for CAPA are ill-defined, but therapy with corticosteroids and anti-interleukin-6 therapy potentially confer the biggest risk. Sampling for mycological work-up using bronchoscopy is the cornerstone for diagnosis, as imaging is often aspecific. CAPA is associated with an increased mortality, but we do not have conclusive data whether therapy contributes to an increased survival in these patients. We conclude our review with a comparison between influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) and CAPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Feys
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Maria Panagiota Almyroudi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Reinout Braspenning
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Spriet
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - George Dimopoulos
- ICU of 1st Department of Critical Care, Sotiria Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Joost Wauters
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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21
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Thammasit P, Sripetchwandee J, Nosanchuk JD, Chattipakorn SC, Chattipakorn N, Youngchim S. Cytokine and Chemokine Responses in Invasive Aspergillosis Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Past Evidence for Future Therapy of Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:753. [PMID: 34575791 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a frequent complication in immunocompromised individuals, and it continues to be an important cause of mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In addition to antifungal therapy used for mycoses, immune-modulatory molecules such as cytokines and chemokines can modify the host immune response and exhibit a promising form of antimicrobial therapeutics to combat invasive fungal diseases. Cytokine and chemokine profiles may also be applied as biomarkers during fungal infections and clinical research has demonstrated different activation patterns of cytokines in invasive mycoses such as aspergillosis. In this review, we summarize different aspects of cytokines that have been described to date and provide possible future directions in research on invasive pulmonary aspergillosis following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These findings suggest that cytokines and chemokines may serve as useful biomarkers to improve diagnosis and monitoring of infection.
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22
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Han X, Su X, Li Z, Liu Y, Wang S, Zhu M, Zhang C, Yang F, Zhao J, Li X, Chen F, Han L. Complement receptor 3 mediates Aspergillus fumigatus internalization into alveolar epithelial cells with the increase of intracellular phosphatidic acid by activating FAK. Virulence 2021; 12:1980-1996. [PMID: 34338598 PMCID: PMC8331038 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1958042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement receptor 3 (CD11b/CD18) is an important receptor that mediates adhesion, phagocytosis and chemotaxis in various immunocytes. The conidia of the medically-important pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus can be internalized into alveolar epithelial cells to disseminate its infection in immunocompromised host; however, the role of CR3 in this process is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the potential role of CR3 on A. fumigatus internalization into type II alveolar epithelial cells and its effect on host intracellular PA content induced by A. fumigatus. We found that CR3 is expressed in alveolar epithelial cells and that human serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) could improve A. fumigatus conidial internalization into A549 type II alveolar epithelial cell line and mouse primary alveolar epithelial cells, which were significantly inhibited by the complement C3 quencher and CD11b-blocking antibody. Serum-opsonization of swollen conidia, but not resting conidia led to the increase of cellular phosphatidic acid (PA) in A549 cells during infection. Moreover, both conidial internalization and induced PA production were interfered by CD11b-blocking antibody and dependent on FAK activity, but not Syk in alveolar epithelial cells. Overall, our results revealed that CR3 is a critical modulator of Aspergillus fumigatus internalization into alveolar epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Han
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xueting Su
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqian Li
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Blood Transfusion, the 907th Hospital, Fujian, Nanping, China
| | - Yanxi Liu
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Qinghai, Xining, China
| | - Miao Zhu
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Changjian Zhang
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Central Laboratory of the sixth medical center of PLA general hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jingya Zhao
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xianping Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyan Chen
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Li Han
- Department for Disinfection and Infection Control, Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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23
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Rowley J, Namvar S, Gago S, Labram B, Bowyer P, Richardson MD, Herrick SE. Differential Proinflammatory Responses to Aspergillus fumigatus by Airway Epithelial Cells In Vitro Are Protease Dependent. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:468. [PMID: 34200666 PMCID: PMC8228831 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important human respiratory mould pathogen. In addition to a barrier function, airway epithelium elicits a robust defence against inhaled A. fumigatus by initiating an immune response. The manner by which A. fumigatus initiates this response and the reasons for the immunological heterogeneity with different isolates are unclear. Both direct fungal cell wall-epithelial cell interaction and secretion of soluble proteases have been proposed as possible mechanisms. Our aim was to determine the contribution of fungal proteases to the induction of epithelial IL-6 and IL-8 in response to different A. fumigatus isolates. Airway epithelial cells were exposed to conidia from a low or high protease-producing strain of A. fumigatus, and IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression and protein production were quantified. The role of proteases in cytokine production was further determined using specific protease inhibitors. The proinflammatory cytokine response correlated with conidia germination and hyphal extension. IL-8 induction was significantly reduced in the presence of matrix metalloprotease or cysteine protease inhibitors. With a high protease-producing strain of A. fumigatus, IL-6 release was metalloprotease dependent. Dectin-1 antagonism also inhibited the production of both cytokines. In conclusion, A. fumigatus-secreted proteases mediate a proinflammatory response by airway epithelial cells in a strain-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rowley
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Sara Namvar
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - Sara Gago
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Briony Labram
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Paul Bowyer
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Malcolm D. Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
- Mycology Reference Centre, ECMM Excellence Centre of Medical Mycology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Sarah E. Herrick
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; (J.R.); (S.N.); (S.G.); (B.L.); (P.B.); (M.D.R.)
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24
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Ben-Ghazzi N, Moreno-Velásquez S, Seidel C, Thomson D, Denning DW, Read ND, Bowyer P, Gago S. Characterisation of Aspergillus fumigatus Endocytic Trafficking within Airway Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Automated Quantitative Confocal Microscopy. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:454. [PMID: 34200399 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise characterization of the mechanisms modulating Aspergillus fumigatus survival within airway epithelial cells has been impaired by the lack of live-cell imaging technologies and user-friendly quantification approaches. Here we described the use of an automated image analysis pipeline to estimate the proportion of A. fumigatus spores taken up by airway epithelial cells, those contained within phagolysosomes or acidified phagosomes, along with the fungal factors contributing to these processes. Coupling the use of fluorescent A. fumigatus strains and fluorescent epithelial probes targeting lysosomes, acidified compartments and cell membrane, we found that both the efficacy of lysosome recruitment to phagosomes and phagosome acidification determines the capacity of airway epithelial cells to contain A. fumigatus growth. Overall, the capability of the airway epithelium to prevent A. fumigatus survival was higher in bronchial epithelial than alveolar epithelial cells. Certain A. fumigatus cell wall mutants influenced phagosome maturation in airway epithelial cells. Taken together, this live-cell 4D imaging approach allows observation and measurement of the very early processes of A. fumigatus interaction within live airway epithelial monolayers.
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25
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Dewi IM, Janssen NA, Rosati D, Bruno M, Netea MG, Brüggemann RJ, Verweij PE, van de Veerdonk FL. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis associated with viral pneumonitis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 62:21-27. [PMID: 34034082 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients with viral pneumonitis has increasingly been reported in recent years. Influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are the two most common forms of this fungal infection. These diseases cause high mortality in patients, most of whom were previously immunocompetent. The pathogenesis of IAPA and CAPA is still not fully understood, but involves viral, fungal and host factors. In this article, we discuss several aspects regarding IAPA and CAPA, including their possible pathogenesis, the use of immunotherapy, and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Intan Mw Dewi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Microbiology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Nico Af Janssen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Diletta Rosati
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mariolina Bruno
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Germany; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roger Jm Brüggemann
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Paul E Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboudumc - CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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26
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van Rhijn N, Bromley M. The Consequences of Our Changing Environment on Life Threatening and Debilitating Fungal Diseases in Humans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:367. [PMID: 34067211 PMCID: PMC8151111 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities have significantly impacted the environment and are changing our climate in ways that will have major consequences for ourselves, and endanger animal, plant and microbial life on Earth. Rising global temperatures and pollution have been highlighted as potential drivers for increases in infectious diseases. Although infrequently highlighted, fungi are amongst the leading causes of infectious disease mortality, resulting in more than 1.5 million deaths every year. In this review we evaluate the evidence linking anthropomorphic impacts with changing epidemiology of fungal disease. We highlight how the geographic footprint of endemic mycosis has expanded, how populations susceptible to fungal infection and fungal allergy may increase and how climate change may select for pathogenic traits and indirectly contribute to the emergence of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
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27
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Baltussen TJH, Coolen JPM, Verweij PE, Dijksterhuis J, Melchers WJG. Identifying Conserved Generic Aspergillus spp. Co-Expressed Gene Modules Associated with Germination Using Cross-Platform and Cross-Species Transcriptomics. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:270. [PMID: 33916245 PMCID: PMC8067318 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus spp. is an opportunistic human pathogen that may cause a spectrum of pulmonary diseases. In order to establish infection, inhaled conidia must germinate, whereby they break dormancy, start to swell, and initiate a highly polarized growth process. To identify critical biological processes during germination, we performed a cross-platform, cross-species comparative analysis of germinating A. fumigatus and A. niger conidia using transcriptional data from published RNA-Seq and Affymetrix studies. A consensus co-expression network analysis identified four gene modules associated with stages of germination. These modules showed numerous shared biological processes between A. niger and A. fumigatus during conidial germination. Specifically, the turquoise module was enriched with secondary metabolism, the black module was highly enriched with protein synthesis, the darkgreen module was enriched with protein fate, and the blue module was highly enriched with polarized growth. More specifically, enriched functional categories identified in the blue module were vesicle formation, vesicular transport, tubulin dependent transport, actin-dependent transport, exocytosis, and endocytosis. Genes important for these biological processes showed similar expression patterns in A. fumigatus and A. niger, therefore, they could be potential antifungal targets. Through cross-platform, cross-species comparative analysis, we were able to identify biologically meaningful modules shared by A. fumigatus and A. niger, which underscores the potential of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim J. H. Baltussen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.P.M.C.); (P.E.V.); (W.J.G.M.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jordy P. M. Coolen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.P.M.C.); (P.E.V.); (W.J.G.M.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul E. Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.P.M.C.); (P.E.V.); (W.J.G.M.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Dijksterhuis
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.P.M.C.); (P.E.V.); (W.J.G.M.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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28
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Bertuzzi M, Howell GJ. Single-Cell Analysis of Fungal Uptake in Cultured Airway Epithelial Cells Using Differential Fluorescent Staining and Imaging Flow Cytometry. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2260:83-109. [PMID: 33405032 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1182-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The respiratory epithelium is the initial point of host contact for inhaled particles, leading to orchestrated, but highly heterogeneous, responses. Human airway epithelial cells (AECs) play a crucial role in host defense by promoting uptake and killing of inhaled microorganisms and concomitant cytokine production in order to recruit professional phagocytes to the site of infection. However, inhaled pathogens can also reside and replicate intracellularly to evade host immune defenses or circulating antimicrobial drugs, ultimately causing apoptosis or cell death of the infected AECs. Imaging flow cytometry (IFC) combines flow cytometry, fluorescent microscopy, and advanced data-processing algorithms to dissect the heterogeneity of the interaction of AECs and inhaled microorganisms and its outcomes at the single-cell level. Here, we describe a novel single-cell approach based on differential fluorescent staining and state-of-the-art IFC to identify, quantify, and analyze individual host-pathogen complexes from cultured AECs infected with spores of the major human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility Building, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Gareth J Howell
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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29
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Rahman S, Thomson DD, Bertuzzi M. Automated Quantitative Analysis of Airway Epithelial Cell Detachment Upon Fungal Challenge. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2260:225-239. [PMID: 33405042 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1182-1_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Host-pathogen interactions involve a complex interplay between host and pathogen factors, resulting in either host protective immunity or establishment of disease. One of the hallmarks for disease progression is host tissue destruction. The first host surface to interact with the opportunistic respiratory fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, is the airway epithelium. Unravelling the mechanisms involved in airway epithelial cell damage by A. fumigatus is essential to understanding the establishment and progression of infection in the host. Although host cell damage can be measured in vitro by indirect cell lysis assays, here, we describe an automated, simple, and low-cost assay to directly visualize and quantify epithelial cell line damage after challenge with A. fumigatus. We employ the previously characterized tissue noninvasive A. fumigatus ΔpacC mutant to demonstrate the quantitative difference in cell damage relative to its parental tissue invasive strain. This assay is easily scaled up for high-throughput screening of multiple Aspergillus mutants and can be adapted to suit diverse host cell lines, different time points of infection, challenge with other microbes, and drugs or novel compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayema Rahman
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Darren D Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility Building, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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30
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Valsecchi I, Stephen-Victor E, Wong SSW, Karnam A, Sunde M, Guijarro JI, Rodríguez de Francisco B, Krüger T, Kniemeyer O, Brown GD, Willment JA, Latgé JP, Brakhage AA, Bayry J, Aimanianda V. The Role of RodA-Conserved Cysteine Residues in the Aspergillus fumigatus Conidial Surface Organization. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6030151. [PMID: 32859091 PMCID: PMC7558875 DOI: 10.3390/jof6030151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune inertness of Aspergillusfumigatus conidia is attributed to its surface rodlet-layer made up of RodAp, characterized by eight conserved cysteine residues forming four disulfide bonds. Earlier, we showed that the conserved cysteine residue point (ccrp) mutations result in conidia devoid of the rodlet layer. Here, we extended our study comparing the surface organization and immunoreactivity of conidia carrying ccrp-mutations with the RODA deletion mutant (∆rodA). Western blot analysis using anti-RodAp antibodies indicated the absence of RodAp in the cytoplasm of ccrp-mutant conidia. Immunolabeling revealed differential reactivity to conidial surface glucans, the ccrp-mutant conidia preferentially binding to α-(1,3)-glucan, ∆rodA conidia selectively bound to β-(1,3)-glucan; the parental strain conidia showed negative labeling. However, permeability of ccrp-mutants and ∆rodA was similar to the parental strain conidia. Proteomic analyses of the conidial surface exposed proteins of the ccrp-mutants showed more similarities with the parental strain, but were significantly different from the ∆rodA. Ccrp-mutant conidia were less immunostimulatory compared to ∆rodA conidia. Our data suggest that (i) the conserved cysteine residues are essential for the trafficking of RodAp and the organization of the rodlet layer on the conidial surface, and (ii) targeted point mutation could be an alternative approach to study the role of fungal cell-wall genes in host–fungal interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Valsecchi
- Aspergillus Unit, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (I.V.); (J.-P.L.)
| | - Emmanuel Stephen-Victor
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre de Recherché des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (E.S.-V.); (A.K.)
| | - Sarah Sze Wah Wong
- Molecular Mycology Unit, Institut Pasteur, CNRS-UMR-2000, 10098 Paris, France;
| | - Anupama Karnam
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre de Recherché des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (E.S.-V.); (A.K.)
| | - Margaret Sunde
- School of Medical Sciences and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) 2006, Australia;
| | - J. Iñaki Guijarro
- Biological NMR Technological Platform, Institut Pasteur, CNRS-UMR-3528, 75015 Paris, France; (J.I.G.); (B.R.d.F.)
| | - Borja Rodríguez de Francisco
- Biological NMR Technological Platform, Institut Pasteur, CNRS-UMR-3528, 75015 Paris, France; (J.I.G.); (B.R.d.F.)
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany; (T.K.); (O.K.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany; (T.K.); (O.K.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM), University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (G.D.B.); (J.A.W.)
| | - Janet A. Willment
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM), University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (G.D.B.); (J.A.W.)
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Aspergillus Unit, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France; (I.V.); (J.-P.L.)
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany; (T.K.); (O.K.); (A.A.B.)
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jagadeesh Bayry
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre de Recherché des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (E.S.-V.); (A.K.)
- Correspondence: (J.B.); (V.A.); Tel.: +33-1-44278203 (J.B.); +33-1-45688225 (V.A.)
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Molecular Mycology Unit, Institut Pasteur, CNRS-UMR-2000, 10098 Paris, France;
- Correspondence: (J.B.); (V.A.); Tel.: +33-1-44278203 (J.B.); +33-1-45688225 (V.A.)
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Amich J, Mokhtari Z, Strobel M, Vialetto E, Sheta D, Yu Y, Hartweg J, Kalleda N, Jarick KJ, Brede C, Jordán-Garrote AL, Thusek S, Schmiedgen K, Arslan B, Pinnecker J, Thornton CR, Gunzer M, Krappmann S, Einsele H, Heinze KG, Beilhack A. Three-Dimensional Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy of Lungs To Dissect Local Host Immune-Aspergillus fumigatus Interactions. mBio 2020; 11:e02752-19. [PMID: 32019790 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02752-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animal models of infection is essential to advance our understanding of the complex host-pathogen interactions that take place during Aspergillus fumigatus lung infections. As in the case of humans, mice need to suffer an immune imbalance in order to become susceptible to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), the most serious infection caused by A. fumigatus. There are several immunosuppressive regimens that are routinely used to investigate fungal growth and/or immune responses in murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. However, the precise consequences of the use of each immunosuppressive model for the local immune populations and for fungal growth are not completely understood. Here, to pin down the scenarios involving commonly used IPA models, we employed light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) to analyze whole lungs at cellular resolution. Our results will be valuable to optimize and refine animal models to maximize their use in future research. Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening invasive lung infections in immunodeficient patients. The cellular and molecular processes of infection during onset, establishment, and progression of A. fumigatus infections are highly complex and depend on both fungal attributes and the immune status of the host. Therefore, preclinical animal models are of paramount importance to investigate and gain better insight into the infection process. Yet, despite their extensive use, commonly employed murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis are not well understood due to analytical limitations. Here, we present quantitative light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) to describe fungal growth and the local immune response in whole lungs at cellular resolution within its anatomical context. We analyzed three very common murine models of pulmonary aspergillosis based on immunosuppression with corticosteroids, chemotherapy-induced leukopenia, or myeloablative irradiation. LSFM uncovered distinct architectures of fungal growth and degrees of tissue invasion in each model. Furthermore, LSFM revealed the spatial distribution, interaction, and activation of two key immune cell populations in antifungal defense: alveolar macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Interestingly, the patterns of fungal growth correlated with the detected effects of the immunosuppressive regimens on the local immune cell populations. Moreover, LSFM demonstrates that the commonly used intranasal route of spore administration did not result in complete intra-alveolar deposition, as about 80% of fungal growth occurred outside the alveolar space. Hence, characterization by LSFM is more rigorous than by previously used methods employing murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and pinpoints their strengths and limitations.
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Feldman MB, Dutko RA, Wood MA, Ward RA, Leung HM, Snow RF, De La Flor DJ, Yonker LM, Reedy JL, Tearney GJ, Mou H, Hurley BP, Vyas JM. Aspergillus fumigatus Cell Wall Promotes Apical Airway Epithelial Recruitment of Human Neutrophils. Infect Immun 2020; 88:e00813-19. [PMID: 31767773 DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00813-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen capable of causing multiple pulmonary diseases, including invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, fungal colonization, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Intact mucociliary barrier function and early airway neutrophil responses are critical for clearing fungal conidia from the host airways prior to establishing disease. Following inhalation, Aspergillus conidia deposit in the small airways, where they are likely to make their initial host encounter with epithelial cells. Challenges in airway infection models have limited the ability to explore early steps in the interactions between A. fumigatus and the human airway epithelium. Here, we use inverted air-liquid interface cultures to demonstrate that the human airway epithelium responds to apical stimulation by A. fumigatus to promote the transepithelial migration of neutrophils from the basolateral membrane surface to the apical airway surface. Promoting epithelial transmigration with Aspergillus required prolonged exposure with live resting conidia. Swollen conidia did not expedite epithelial transmigration. Using A. fumigatus strains containing deletions of genes for cell wall components, we identified that deletion of the hydrophobic rodlet layer or dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin in the conidial cell wall amplified the epithelial transmigration of neutrophils, using primary human airway epithelium. Ultimately, we show that an as-yet-unidentified nonsecreted cell wall protein is required to promote the early epithelial transmigration of human neutrophils into the airspace in response to A. fumigatus Together, these data provide critical insight into the initial epithelial host response to Aspergillus.
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Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus; its primary habitat is the soil. In its ecological niche, the fungus has learned how to adapt and proliferate in hostile environments. This capacity has helped the fungus to resist and survive against human host defenses and, further, to be responsible for one of the most devastating lung infections in terms of morbidity and mortality. In this review, we will provide (i) a description of the biological cycle of A. fumigatus; (ii) a historical perspective of the spectrum of aspergillus disease and the current epidemiological status of these infections; (iii) an analysis of the modes of immune response against Aspergillus in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients; (iv) an understanding of the pathways responsible for fungal virulence and their host molecular targets, with a specific focus on the cell wall; (v) the current status of the diagnosis of different clinical syndromes; and (vi) an overview of the available antifungal armamentarium and the therapeutic strategies in the clinical context. In addition, the emergence of new concepts, such as nutritional immunity and the integration and rewiring of multiple fungal metabolic activities occurring during lung invasion, has helped us to redefine the opportunistic pathogenesis of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Latgé
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Antunes D, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Genetic Regulation of the Host-Fungus Interaction in the Pathogenesis of Aspergillosis. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12281-019-00344-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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35
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Labram B, Namvar S, Hussell T, Herrick SE. Endothelin-1 mediates Aspergillus fumigatus-induced airway inflammation and remodelling. Clin Exp Allergy 2019; 49:861-873. [PMID: 30737857 PMCID: PMC6563189 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways and patients sensitized to airborne fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus have more severe asthma. Thickening of the bronchial subepithelial layer is a contributing factor to asthma severity for which no current treatment exists. Airway epithelium acts as an initial defence barrier to inhaled spores, orchestrating an inflammatory response and contributing to subepithelial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE We aimed to analyse the production of pro-fibrogenic factors by airway epithelium in response to A fumigatus, in order to propose novel anti-fibrotic strategies for fungal-induced asthma. METHODS We assessed the induction of key pro-fibrogenic factors, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, periostin and endothelin-1, by human airway epithelial cells and in mice exposed to A fumigatus spores or secreted fungal factors. RESULTS Aspergillus fumigatus specifically caused production of endothelin-1 by epithelial cells in vitro but not any of the other pro-fibrogenic factors assessed. A fumigatus also induced endothelin-1 in murine lungs, associated with extensive inflammation and airway remodelling. Using a selective endothelin-1 receptor antagonist, we demonstrated for the first time that endothelin-1 drives many features of airway remodelling and inflammation elicited by A fumigatus. CONCLUSION Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that elevated endothelin-1 levels contribute to subepithelial thickening and highlight this factor as a possible therapeutic target for difficult-to-treat fungal-induced asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briony Labram
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineFaculty of Biology Medicine and HealthSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
| | - Sara Namvar
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineFaculty of Biology Medicine and HealthSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
- Environment and Life SciencesUniversity of SalfordGreater ManchesterUK
| | - Tracy Hussell
- Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR)University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Sarah E. Herrick
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineFaculty of Biology Medicine and HealthSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
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Gago S, Denning DW, Bowyer P. Pathophysiological aspects of Aspergillus colonization in disease. Med Mycol 2019; 57:S219-S227. [PMID: 30239804 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus colonization of the lower respiratory airways is common in normal people, and of little clinical significance. However, in some patients, colonization is associated with severe disease including poorly controlled asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) with sputum plugs, worse lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary aspergillosis (COPD), invasive aspergillosis, and active infection in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Therefore, understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of fungal colonization in disease is essential to develop strategies to avert or minimise disease. Aspergillus cell components promoting fungal adherence to the host surface, extracellular matrix, or basal lamina are indispensable for pathogen persistence. However, our understanding of individual differences in clearance of A. fumigatus from the lung in susceptible patients is close to zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton, Street, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - David W Denning
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton, Street, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom.,National Aspergillosis Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton, Street, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
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Bertuzzi M, Hayes GE, Bignell EM. Microbial uptake by the respiratory epithelium: outcomes for host and pathogen. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2019; 43:145-161. [PMID: 30657899 PMCID: PMC6435450 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular occupancy of the respiratory epithelium is a useful pathogenic strategy facilitating microbial replication and evasion of professional phagocytes or circulating antimicrobial drugs. A less appreciated but growing body of evidence indicates that the airway epithelium also plays a crucial role in host defence against inhaled pathogens, by promoting ingestion and quelling of microorganisms, processes that become subverted to favour pathogen activities and promote respiratory disease. To achieve a deeper understanding of beneficial and deleterious activities of respiratory epithelia during antimicrobial defence, we have comprehensively surveyed all current knowledge on airway epithelial uptake of bacterial and fungal pathogens. We find that microbial uptake by airway epithelial cells (AECs) is a common feature of respiratory host-microbe interactions whose stepwise execution, and impacts upon the host, vary by pathogen. Amidst the diversity of underlying mechanisms and disease outcomes, we identify four key infection scenarios and use best-characterised host-pathogen interactions as prototypical examples of each. The emergent view is one in which effi-ciency of AEC-mediated pathogen clearance correlates directly with severity of disease outcome, therefore highlighting an important unmet need to broaden our understanding of the antimicrobial properties of respiratory epithelia and associated drivers of pathogen entry and intracellular fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
| | - Gemma E Hayes
- Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple EX31 4JB, UK
| | - Elaine M Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
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Clark HR, Powell AB, Simmons KA, Ayubi T, Kale SD. Endocytic Markers Associated with the Internalization and Processing of Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia by BEAS-2B Cells. mSphere 2019; 4:e00663-18. [PMID: 30728282 DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00663-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Conidia from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are notorious for their ability to stay airborne. This characteristic is believed to allow conidia to penetrate into the cleanest environments. Several hundred conidia are thought to be inhaled each day by a given individual and then expelled by mucociliary clearance. Given that airway epithelial cells make up a significant portion of the pulmonary-air interface, we set out to determine the percentage of conidia that are actually internalized after initial contact with airway epithelial cells. We determined this through an in vitro assay using an immortalized bronchial airway epithelial cell line known as BEAS-2B. Our results suggest a small fraction of conidia are internalized by BEAS-2B cells, while the majority stay adherent to the surface of cells or are washed away during sample processing. Internalization of conidia was observed at 6 h postchallenge and not prior. Our data also indicate conidia are rendered metabolically inactive within 3 h of challenge, suggesting BEAS-2B cells process a large number of conidia without internalization in this early time frame. We have also identified several host endocytosis markers that localize around internalized conidia as well as contribute to the processing of conidia. Understanding how these host endocytosis markers affect the processing of internal and/or external conidia may provide a novel avenue for therapeutic development. Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous mold that produces small airborne conidia capable of traversing deep into the respiratory system. Recognition, processing, and clearance of A. fumigatus conidia by bronchial airway epithelial cells are thought to be relevant to host defense and immune signaling. Using z-stack confocal microscopy, we observed that only 10 to 20% of adherent conidia from the AF293 clinical isolate are internalized by BEAS-2B cells 6 h postchallenge and not prior. Similar percentages of internalization were observed for the CEA10 clinical isolate. A large subset of both AF293 and CEA10 conidia are rendered metabolically inactive without internalization at 3 h postchallenge by BEAS-2B cells. A significantly larger percentage of CEA10 conidia are metabolically active at 9 and 12 h postchallenge in comparison to the AF293 isolate, demonstrating heterogeneity among clinical isolates. We identified 7 host markers (caveolin, flotillin-2, RAB5C, RAB8B, RAB7A, 2xFYVE, and FAPP1) that consistently localized around internalized conidia 9 h postchallenge. Transient gene silencing of RAB5C, PIK3C3, and flotillin-2 resulted in a larger population of metabolically active conidia. Our findings emphasize the abundance of both host phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P) and PI4P around internalized conidia, as well as the importance of class III PI3P kinase for conidial processing. Therapeutic development focused on RAB5C-, PIK3C3-, and flotillin-2-mediated pathways may provide novel opportunities to modulate conidial processing and internalization. Determination of how contacted, external conidia are processed by airway epithelial cells may also provide a novel avenue to generate host-targeted therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Conidia from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are notorious for their ability to stay airborne. This characteristic is believed to allow conidia to penetrate into the cleanest environments. Several hundred conidia are thought to be inhaled each day by a given individual and then expelled by mucociliary clearance. Given that airway epithelial cells make up a significant portion of the pulmonary-air interface, we set out to determine the percentage of conidia that are actually internalized after initial contact with airway epithelial cells. We determined this through an in vitro assay using an immortalized bronchial airway epithelial cell line known as BEAS-2B. Our results suggest a small fraction of conidia are internalized by BEAS-2B cells, while the majority stay adherent to the surface of cells or are washed away during sample processing. Internalization of conidia was observed at 6 h postchallenge and not prior. Our data also indicate conidia are rendered metabolically inactive within 3 h of challenge, suggesting BEAS-2B cells process a large number of conidia without internalization in this early time frame. We have also identified several host endocytosis markers that localize around internalized conidia as well as contribute to the processing of conidia. Understanding how these host endocytosis markers affect the processing of internal and/or external conidia may provide a novel avenue for therapeutic development.
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Richard N, Marti L, Varrot A, Guillot L, Guitard J, Hennequin C, Imberty A, Corvol H, Chignard M, Balloy V. Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Inhibit Aspergillus fumigatus Germination of Extracellular Conidia via FleA Recognition. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15699. [PMID: 30356167 PMCID: PMC6200801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an environmental filamentous fungus that may act as an opportunistic pathogen causing a variety of diseases, including asthma or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and infection, ranging from asymptomatic colonization to invasive pulmonary form, especially in immunocompromised patients. This fungus is characterized by different morphotypes including conidia which are the infective propagules able to germinate into hyphae. Due to their small size (2–3 µm), conidia released in the air can reach the lower respiratory tract. The objective of this study was to characterize the interactions between conidia and bronchial epithelial cells. To this end, we studied the role of bronchial epithelial cells, i.e., the BEAS-2B cell line and human primary cells, in conidial germination of a laboratory strain and three clinical strains of A. fumigatus. Microscopic observations and galactomannan measurements demonstrated that contact between epithelial cells and conidia leads to the inhibition of conidia germination. We demonstrated that this fungistatic process is not associated with the release of any soluble components nor internalization by the epithelial cells. We highlight that this antifungal process involves the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway on the host cellular side and the lectin FleA on the fungal side. Collectively, our results show that bronchial epithelial cells attenuate fungal virulence by inhibiting germination of extracellular conidia, thus preventing the morphological change from conidia to filaments, which is responsible for tissue invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Richard
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France
| | - Léa Marti
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France
| | - Annabelle Varrot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Loïc Guillot
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France
| | - Juliette Guitard
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital St Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Hennequin
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital St Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Anne Imberty
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Harriet Corvol
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France.,Pneumologie Pédiatrique, AP-HP, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Michel Chignard
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France
| | - Viviane Balloy
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine Paris, Paris, France.
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Gago S, Overton NLD, Ben-Ghazzi N, Novak-Frazer L, Read ND, Denning DW, Bowyer P. Lung colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus is controlled by ZNF77. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3835. [PMID: 30237437 PMCID: PMC6147781 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06148-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a critical pathogen of humans. Exposure to A. fumigatus conidia occurs frequently but is normally cleared from the respiratory airways. In contrast, individuals with respiratory diseases are often highly colonized by fungi. Here, we use genome-edited epithelial cells to show that the genetic variant rs35699176 in ZNF77 causes loss of integrity of the bronchial epithelium and increases levels of extracellular matrix proteins. These changes promote A. fumigatus conidial adhesion, germination and growth. RNA-seq and LC/MS-MS analysis reveal rs35699176 upregulates vesicle trafficking leading to an increment of adhesion proteins. These changes make cells carrying rs35699176 more receptive to A. fumigatus in the early stages of infection. Moreover, patients with fungal asthma carrying rs35699176+/- have higher A. fumigatus loads in their respiratory airway. Our results indicate ZNF77 as a key controller of Aspergillus colonization and suggest its utility as a risk-marker for patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gago
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - Nicola L D Overton
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK.,Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology Group, CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Nagwa Ben-Ghazzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - Lilyann Novak-Frazer
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK.,Mycology Reference Centre, ECMM Excellence Centre of Medical Mycology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK
| | - Nick D Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - David W Denning
- National Aspergillosis Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK.
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41
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Richardson JP, Naglik JR. Special Issue: Mucosal Fungal Infections. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:E43. [PMID: 29587454 DOI: 10.3390/jof4020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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