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Staniscuaski F, Kmetzsch L, Soletti RC, Reichert F, Zandonà E, Ludwig ZMC, Lima EF, Neumann A, Schwartz IVD, Mello-Carpes PB, Tamajusuku ASK, Werneck FP, Ricachenevsky FK, Infanger C, Seixas A, Staats CC, de Oliveira L. Gender, Race and Parenthood Impact Academic Productivity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Survey to Action. Front Psychol 2021; 12:663252. [PMID: 34054667 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.04.187583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is altering dynamics in academia, and people juggling remote work and domestic demands - including childcare - have felt impacts on their productivity. Female authors have faced a decrease in paper submission rates since the beginning of the pandemic period. The reasons for this decline in women's productivity need to be further investigated. Here, we analyzed the influence of gender, parenthood and race on academic productivity during the pandemic period based on a survey answered by 3,345 Brazilian academics from various knowledge areas and research institutions. Productivity was assessed by the ability to submit papers as planned and to meet deadlines during the initial period of social isolation in Brazil. The findings revealed that male academics - especially those without children - are the least affected group, whereas Black women and mothers are the most impacted groups. These impacts are likely a consequence of the well-known unequal division of domestic labor between men and women, which has been exacerbated during the pandemic. Additionally, our results highlight that racism strongly persists in academia, especially against Black women. The pandemic will have long-term effects on the career progression of the most affected groups. The results presented here are crucial for the development of actions and policies that aim to avoid further deepening the gender gap in academia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Staniscuaski
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rossana C Soletti
- Interdisciplinary Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Tramandaí, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Reichert
- Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eugenia Zandonà
- Department of Ecology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Zelia M C Ludwig
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Neumann
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ida V D Schwartz
- Department of Genetic, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernanda P Werneck
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Felipe K Ricachenevsky
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Camila Infanger
- Graduate Program in Management, Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana Seixas
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley C Staats
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Staniscuaski F, Kmetzsch L, Soletti RC, Reichert F, Zandonà E, Ludwig ZMC, Lima EF, Neumann A, Schwartz IVD, Mello-Carpes PB, Tamajusuku ASK, Werneck FP, Ricachenevsky FK, Infanger C, Seixas A, Staats CC, de Oliveira L. Gender, Race and Parenthood Impact Academic Productivity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Survey to Action. Front Psychol 2021; 12:663252. [PMID: 34054667 PMCID: PMC8153681 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.663252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [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: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is altering dynamics in academia, and people juggling remote work and domestic demands - including childcare - have felt impacts on their productivity. Female authors have faced a decrease in paper submission rates since the beginning of the pandemic period. The reasons for this decline in women's productivity need to be further investigated. Here, we analyzed the influence of gender, parenthood and race on academic productivity during the pandemic period based on a survey answered by 3,345 Brazilian academics from various knowledge areas and research institutions. Productivity was assessed by the ability to submit papers as planned and to meet deadlines during the initial period of social isolation in Brazil. The findings revealed that male academics - especially those without children - are the least affected group, whereas Black women and mothers are the most impacted groups. These impacts are likely a consequence of the well-known unequal division of domestic labor between men and women, which has been exacerbated during the pandemic. Additionally, our results highlight that racism strongly persists in academia, especially against Black women. The pandemic will have long-term effects on the career progression of the most affected groups. The results presented here are crucial for the development of actions and policies that aim to avoid further deepening the gender gap in academia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Staniscuaski
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rossana C Soletti
- Interdisciplinary Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Tramandaí, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Reichert
- Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eugenia Zandonà
- Department of Ecology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Zelia M C Ludwig
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Neumann
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ida V D Schwartz
- Department of Genetic, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernanda P Werneck
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Felipe K Ricachenevsky
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Camila Infanger
- Graduate Program in Management, Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana Seixas
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley C Staats
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Reuwsaat JCV, Doering TL, Kmetzsch L. Too much of a good thing: Overproduction of virulence factors impairs cryptococcal pathogenicity. Microb Cell 2021; 8:108-110. [PMID: 33981763 PMCID: PMC8080896 DOI: 10.15698/mic2021.05.750] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of virulence factor production and deployment is crucial for the establishment of microbial infection and subsequent pathogenesis. If these processes are not properly coordinated, the infecting pathogen is less likely to both survive the immune response and cause damage to the host. One key virulence factor of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, which kills almost 200,000 people each year worldwide, is a polysaccharide capsule that surrounds the cell wall; this structure helps the fungal cells resist engulfment and elimination by host phagocytes. Another important virulence trait is the development of a giant (Titan) cell morphotype that increases fungal resistance to phagocytosis, oxidative stress, and antifungal treatment. We recently identified the transcription factor Pdr802 as essential for C. neoformans adaptation to and survival under host conditions both in vitro and in vivo (Reuwsaat et al., mBio, doi: 10.1128/mBio.03457-20). Cryptococci lacking Pdr802 display enlarged capsules and enhanced Titan cell production, along with dramatically reduced virulence in a mouse model of infection. These results demonstrate that more is not necessarily better when it comes to virulence factors. Instead, precise regulation of these traits, to avoid both under- and overexpression, is critical for the success of this pathogen as it faces the challenges imposed by the host environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C V Reuwsaat
- Molecular Biology of Pathogens Laboratory, Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tamara L Doering
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Molecular Biology of Pathogens Laboratory, Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Staniscuaski F, ZandonÀ E, Reichert F, Soletti RC, Oliveira LDE, Ricachenevsky FK, Tamajusuku ASK, Kmetzsch L, Schwartz IVD, Werneck FP, Ludwig ZMC, Lima EF, Infanger C, Neumann A, BrandÃo A, Wiggers GA, Seixas A, Mello-Carpes PB. Maternity in the Brazilian CV Lattes: when will it become a reality? AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201370. [PMID: 33624716 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Staniscuaski
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department, Biosciences Institute, Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eugenia ZandonÀ
- State University of Rio de Janeiro, Department of Ecology, São Francisco Xavier, 524, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Reichert
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Management School, Washington Luiz 855, 90010-460 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rossana C Soletti
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Interdisciplinary Department, RS 030, Km 11700, 95590-000 Tramandaí, RS, Brazil
| | - Leticia DE Oliveira
- Fluminense Federal University, Biomedical Institute, Prof Hernani Melo, 101, 24210-130 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Felipe K Ricachenevsky
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Botanic Department, Biosciences Institute, Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department, Biosciences Institute, Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Center, Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ida V D Schwartz
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul & Medical Genetics Service, Genetic Department, Biosciences Institute, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90035-007 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda P Werneck
- National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Biodiversity Coordination, André Araújo 2.936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Zelia M C Ludwig
- Federal University of Juiz de Fora/UFJF, Physics Department, Via Local 880, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Eliade F Lima
- Federal University of Pampa/UNIPAMPA, BR 472, Km 585, 97501-970 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Camila Infanger
- Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, Graduate Program in Management, Guilherme Schell 350, 04018-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana Neumann
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Mathematics and Statistics Institute, Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alessandra BrandÃo
- Paraíba State University, Cel. Pedro Targino, s/n, 58233-000 Araruna, PB, Brazil
| | - Giulia A Wiggers
- Federal University of Pampa/UNIPAMPA, BR 472, Km 585, 97501-970 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Adriana Seixas
- Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Pharmacoscience Department, Sarmento Leite 245, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Pamela B Mello-Carpes
- Federal University of Pampa/UNIPAMPA, BR 472, Km 585, 97501-970 Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
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Arsand JB, Hoff RB, Jank L, Bussamara R, Dallegrave A, Bento FM, Kmetzsch L, Falção DA, do Carmo Ruaro Peralba M, de Araujo Gomes A, Pizzolato TM. Presence of antibiotic resistance genes and its association with antibiotic occurrence in Dilúvio River in southern Brazil. Sci Total Environ 2020; 738:139781. [PMID: 32526421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
It is known that antibiotics are widely used in human and veterinary medicine. In some countries the use is controlled, however few restrictions to their use are enforced in many countries. Antibiotics and their metabolites can reach the water bodies through sewage systems, especially in those countries with partial or absent wastewater treatment systems. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has been linked with the increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The relation between the occurrence of antibiotics and resistance genes in surface waters has been widely studied worldwide evincing the great importance of this subject. In this work, a methodology for quantification of 40 antibiotics of 5 different classes, in river water, by SPE-LC-MS/MS was validated. Samples were taken during a two-year period from Dilúvio River, a stream that crosses the city of Porto Alegre (RS - Brazil) and receives in nature domestic effluent. The methodology met the requirements of validation, with Limit of Quantification varying from 20 ng L-1 to 100 ng L-1. A total of 48 samples was analyzed for the presence of antibiotics for two years. From the 40 antibiotics analyzed, 8 of them (Azithromycin, Cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, norfloxacin, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) were present in all sampling points in the range of <LOQ to 344 ng L-1. The occurrence of antibiotics resistance genes in the sampling points was determined using qPCR. Specific primers were utilized to detected resistance genes to the β-lactam cephalexin (blaTEM gene), to the quilonones ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (qnrS gene), to the macrolides azithromycin and clindamycin (ermB gene), and to the sulfonamides sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole (sulI gene), which were quantified the selected water samples. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed the presence of ARGs in all samples, with the highest concentration found for blaTEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Bazzan Arsand
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Barcellos Hoff
- Laboratório Nacional Agropecuário - LANAGRO/RS, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento do Brasil, Estrada da Ponta Grossa 3036, 91780-580 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Louise Jank
- Laboratório Nacional Agropecuário - LANAGRO/RS, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento do Brasil, Estrada da Ponta Grossa 3036, 91780-580 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Roberta Bussamara
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alexsandro Dallegrave
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fatima Menezes Bento
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, ICBS/UFRGS, Rua Sarmento Leite 500, 90035-190 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia. Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, prédio 43421
| | - Daiane Acosta Falção
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia. Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, prédio 43421
| | - Maria do Carmo Ruaro Peralba
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Adriano de Araujo Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tânia Mara Pizzolato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Garcia AWA, Kinskovski UP, Diehl C, Reuwsaat JCV, Motta de Souza H, Pinto HB, Trentin DDS, de Oliveira HC, Rodrigues ML, Becker EM, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Participation of Zip3, a ZIP domain-containing protein, in stress response and virulence in Cryptococcus gattii. Fungal Genet Biol 2020; 144:103438. [PMID: 32738289 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is an etiologic agent of cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal disease that affects humans and animals. The successful infection of mammalian hosts by cryptococcal cells relies on their ability to infect and survive in macrophages. Such phagocytic cells present a hostile environment to intracellular pathogens via the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, as well as low pH and reduced nutrient bioavailability. To overcome the low-metal environment found during infection, fungal pathogens express high-affinity transporters, including members of the ZIP family. Previously, we determined that functional zinc uptake driven by Zip1 and Zip2 is necessary for full C.gattiivirulence. Here, we characterized the ZIP3 gene of C. gattii, an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATX2, which codes a manganese transporter localized to the membrane of the Golgi apparatus. Cryptococcal cells lacking Zip3 were tolerant to toxic concentrations of manganese and had imbalanced expression of intracellular metal transporters, such as the vacuolar Pmc1 and Vcx1, as well as the Golgi Pmr1. Moreover, null mutants of the ZIP3 gene displayed higher sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and substantial alteration in the expression of ROS-detoxifying enzyme-coding genes. In line with these phenotypes, cryptococcal cells displayed decreased virulence in a non-vertebrate model of cryptococcosis. Furthermore, we found that the ZIP3 null mutant strain displayed decreased melanization and secretion of the major capsular component glucuronoxylomannan, as well as an altered extracellular vesicle dimensions profile. Collectively, our data suggest that Zip3 activity impacts the physiology, and consequently, several virulence traits of C. gattii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uriel Perin Kinskovski
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Camila Diehl
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Heryk Motta de Souza
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Helber Barboza Pinto
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
| | - Danielle da Silva Trentin
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
| | | | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Instituto de Microbiologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emilene Mendes Becker
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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8
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Staniscuaski F, Reichert F, Werneck FP, de Oliveira L, Mello-Carpes PB, Soletti RC, Almeida CI, Zandona E, Ricachenevsky FK, Neumann A, Schwartz IVD, Tamajusuku ASK, Seixas A, Kmetzsch L. Impact of COVID-19 on academic mothers. Science 2020; 368:724. [PMID: 32409466 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc2740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Staniscuaski
- Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Reichert
- Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90010-460, Brazil
| | - Fernanda P Werneck
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, AM, 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Letícia de Oliveira
- Biomedical Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil
| | | | - Rossana C Soletti
- Interdisciplinary Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Tramandaí, RS, 95590-000, Brazil
| | - Camila Infanger Almeida
- Graduate Program in Management, Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, São Paulo, SP, 04018-010, Brazil
| | - Eugenia Zandona
- Department of Ecology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Neumann
- Mathematics and Statistics Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Ida Vanessa D Schwartz
- Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Seixas
- Pharmacoscience Department, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
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Zimbres ACG, Reuwsaat JCV, Barcellos VA, Joffe LS, Fonseca FL, Staats CC, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Rodrigues ML. Pharmacological inhibition of pigmentation inCryptococcus. FEMS Yeast Res 2018; 19:5173039. [DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foy119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Claudia G Zimbres
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Julia C V Reuwsaat
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Vanessa A Barcellos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Luna S Joffe
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Fernanda L Fonseca
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Charley C Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Expression Regulation (LabReg), Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, PR 81310-020, Brazil
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10
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Peres da Silva R, Martins SDT, Rizzo J, Dos Reis FCG, Joffe LS, Vainstein M, Kmetzsch L, Oliveira DL, Puccia R, Goldenberg S, Rodrigues ML, Alves LR. Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Protein (GRASP) Participates in Vesicle-Mediated RNA Export in Cryptococcus Neoformans. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9080400. [PMID: 30096850 PMCID: PMC6115741 DOI: 10.3390/genes9080400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Golgi reassembly and stacking protein (GRASP) is required for polysaccharide secretion and virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. In fungal species, extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in the export of polysaccharides, proteins and RNA. In the present work, we investigated if EV-mediated RNA export is functionally connected with GRASP in C. neoformans using a graspΔ mutant. Since GRASP-mediated unconventional secretion involves autophagosome formation in yeast, we included the atg7Δ mutant with defective autophagic mechanisms in our analysis. All fungal strains exported EVs but deletion of GRASP or ATG7 profoundly affected vesicular dimensions. The mRNA content of the graspΔ EVs differed substantially from that of the other two strains. The transcripts associated to the endoplasmic reticulum were highly abundant transcripts in graspΔ EVs. Among non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), tRNA fragments were the most abundant in both mutant EVs but graspΔ EVs alone concentrated 22 exclusive sequences. In general, our results showed that the EV RNA content from atg7Δ and WT were more related than the RNA content of graspΔ, suggesting that GRASP, but not the autophagy regulator Atg7, is involved in the EV export of RNA. This is a previously unknown function for a key regulator of unconventional secretion in eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Peres da Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia da Escola Paulista de Medicina-UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | | | - Juliana Rizzo
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil.
| | - Flavia C G Dos Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR 81310-020, Brazil.
| | - Luna S Joffe
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Marilene Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Débora L Oliveira
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Rosana Puccia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia da Escola Paulista de Medicina-UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil.
| | - Samuel Goldenberg
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR 81310-020, Brazil.
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR 81310-020, Brazil.
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil.
| | - Lysangela R Alves
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR 81310-020, Brazil.
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11
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Barcellos VA, Martins LMS, Fontes ACL, Reuwsaat JCV, Squizani ED, de Sousa Araújo GR, Frases S, Staats CC, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH. Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Cryptococcus gattii VGII Clinical Isolates and Its Impact on Virulence. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:132. [PMID: 29467743 PMCID: PMC5808156 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cryptococcus gattii species complex harbors the main etiological agents of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. C. gattii molecular type VGII predominates in the north and northeastern regions of Brazil, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. C. gattii VGII isolates have a strong clinical relevance and phenotypic variations. These phenotypic variations among C. gattii species complex isolates suggest that some strains are more virulent than others, but little information is available related to the pathogenic properties of those strains. In this study, we analyzed some virulence determinants of C. gattii VGII strains (CG01, CG02, and CG03) isolated from patients in the state of Piauí, Brazil. The C. gattii R265 VGIIa strain, which was isolated from the Vancouver outbreak, differed from C. gattii CG01, CG02 and CG03 isolates (also classified as VGII) when analyzed the capsular dimensions, melanin production, urease activity, as well as the glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) secretion. Those differences directly reflected in their virulence potential. In addition, CG02 displayed higher virulence compared to R265 (VGIIa) strain in a cryptococcal murine model of infection. Lastly, we examined the genotypic diversity of these strains through Multilocus Sequence Type (MLST) and one new subtype was described for the CG02 isolate. This study confirms the presence and the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of highly virulent strains in the Northeast region of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa A Barcellos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Liline M S Martins
- Laboratório de Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil.,Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
| | - Alide C L Fontes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Julia C V Reuwsaat
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eamim D Squizani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Glauber R de Sousa Araújo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Charley C Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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12
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Fonseca FL, Reis FCG, Sena BAG, Jozefowicz LJ, Kmetzsch L, Rodrigues ML. The Overlooked Glycan Components of the Cryptococcus Capsule. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 422:31-43. [PMID: 30203395 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic species of Cryptococcus kill approximately 200,000 people each year. The most important virulence mechanism of C. neoformans and C. gattii, the causative agents of human and animal cryptococcosis, is the ability to form a polysaccharide capsule. Acapsular mutants of C. neoformans are avirulent in mice models of infection, and extracellularly released capsular polysaccharides are deleterious to the immune system. The principal capsular component in the Cryptococcus genus is a complex mannan substituted with xylosyl and glucuronyl units, namely glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). The second most abundant component of the cryptococcal capsule is a galactan with multiple glucuronyl, xylosyl, and mannosyl substitutions, namely glucuronoxylomannogalactan (GXMGal). The literature about the structure and functions of these two polysaccharides is rich, and a number of comprehensive reviews on this topic are available. Here, we focus our discussion on the less explored glycan components associated with the cryptococcal capsule, including mannoproteins and chitin-derived molecules. These glycans were selected for discussion on the basis that i) they have been consistently detected not only in the cell wall but also within the cryptococcal capsular network and ii) they have functions that impact immunological and/or pathogenic mechanisms in the Cryptococcus genus. The reported functions of these molecules strongly indicate that the biological roles of the cryptococcal capsule go far beyond the well-known properties of GXM and GXMGal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda L Fonseca
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flavia C G Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Bianca A G Sena
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Luísa J Jozefowicz
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular E Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil. .,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. .,Cidade Industrial de Curitiba, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 2135-2261, Curitiba, PR, 81310-020, Brazil.
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13
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Ribeiro NS, Dos Santos FM, Garcia AWA, Ferrareze PAG, Fabres LF, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Rott MB, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Modulation of Zinc Homeostasis in Acanthamoeba castellanii as a Possible Antifungal Strategy against Cryptococcus gattii. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1626. [PMID: 28883816 PMCID: PMC5573748 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a basidiomycetous yeast that can be found in the environment and is one of the agents of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening disease. During its life cycle, cryptococcal cells take hold inside environmental predators such as amoebae. Despite their evolutionary distance, macrophages and amoebae share conserved similar steps of phagocytosis and microbial killing. To evaluate whether amoebae also share other antifungal strategies developed by macrophages, we investigated nutritional immunity against cryptococcal cells. We focused on zinc homeostasis modulation in Acanthamoeba castellanii infected with C. gattii. The intracellular proliferation rate (IPR) in amoebae was determined using C. gattii R265 and mutants for the ZIP1 gene, which displays defects of growth in zinc-limiting conditions. We detected a reduced IPR in cells lacking the ZIP1 gene compared to wild-type strains, suggesting that amoebae produce a low zinc environment to engulfed cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis employing the zinc probe Zinpyr-1 confirmed the reduced concentration of zinc in cryptococcal-infected amoebae. qRT-PCR analysis of zinc transporter-coding genes suggests that zinc export by members of the ZnT family would be involved in the reduced intracellular zinc concentration. These results indicate that amoebae may use nutritional immunity to reduce fungal cell proliferation by reducing zinc availability for the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Francine M Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ane W A Garcia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Patrícia A G Ferrareze
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Laura F Fabres
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilise B Rott
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley C Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulPorto Alegre, Brazil
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14
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Ferrareze PAG, Streit RSA, Santos PRD, Santos FMD, Almeida RMCD, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. Transcriptional Analysis Allows Genome Reannotation and Reveals that Cryptococcus gattii VGII Undergoes Nutrient Restriction during Infection. Microorganisms 2017; 5:microorganisms5030049. [PMID: 28832534 PMCID: PMC5620640 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms5030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a human and animal pathogen that infects healthy hosts and caused the Pacific Northwest outbreak of cryptococcosis. The inhalation of infectious propagules can lead to internalization of cryptococcal cells by alveolar macrophages, a niche in which C. gattii cells can survive and proliferate. Although the nutrient composition of macrophages is relatively unknown, the high induction of amino acid transporter genes inside the phagosome indicates a preference for amino acid uptake instead of synthesis. However, the presence of countable errors in the R265 genome annotation indicates significant inhibition of transcriptomic analysis in this hypervirulent strain. Thus, we analyzed RNA-Seq data from in vivo and in vitro cultures of C. gattii R265 to perform the reannotation of the genome. In addition, based on in vivo transcriptomic data, we identified highly expressed genes and pathways of amino acid metabolism that would enable C. gattii to survive and proliferate in vivo. Importantly, we identified high expression in three APC amino acid transporters as well as the GABA permease. The use of amino acids as carbon and nitrogen sources, releasing ammonium and generating carbohydrate metabolism intermediaries, also explains the high expression of components of several degradative pathways, since glucose starvation is an important host defense mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Silva Araujo Streit
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Patricia Ribeiro Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Francine Melise Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501970 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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15
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Ferrareze PAG, Streit RSA, Dos Santos FM, Schrank A, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Staats CC. sRNAs as possible regulators of retrotransposon activity in Cryptococcus gattii VGII. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:294. [PMID: 28403818 PMCID: PMC5389150 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3688-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The absence of Argonaute genes in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii R265 and other VGII strains indicates that yeasts of this genotype cannot have a functional RNAi pathway, an evolutionarily conserved gene silencing mechanism performed by small RNAs. The success of the R265 strain as a pathogen that caused the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island outbreaks may imply that RNAi machinery loss could be beneficial under certain circumstances during evolution. As a result, a hypermutant phenotype would be created with high rates of genome retrotransposition, for instance. This study therefore aimed to evaluate in silicio the effect of retrotransposons and their control mechanisms by small RNAs on genomic stability and synteny loss of C. gattii R265 through retrotransposons sequence comparison and orthology analysis with other 16 C. gattii genomic sequences available. Results Retrotransposon mining identified a higher sequence count to VGI genotype compared to VGII, VGIII, and VGIV. However, despite the lower retrotransposon number, VGII exhibited increased synteny loss and genome rearrangement events. RNA-Seq analysis indicated highly expressed retrotransposons as well as sRNA production. Conclusions Genome rearrangement and synteny loss may suggest a greater retrotransposon mobilization caused by RNAi pathway absence, but the effective presence of sRNAs that matches retrotransposon sequences means that an alternative retrotransposon silencing mechanism could be active in genomic integrity maintenance of C. gattii VGII strains. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3688-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Silva Araujo Streit
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Francine Melise Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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16
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Oliveira DL, Fonseca FL, Zamith-Miranda D, Nimrichter L, Rodrigues J, Pereira MD, Reuwsaat JC, Schrank A, Staats C, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Rodrigues ML. The putative autophagy regulator Atg7 affects the physiology and pathogenic mechanisms of Cryptococcus neoformans. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:1405-1419. [PMID: 27750454 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM We investigated the involvement of the autophagy protein 7 (Atg7) in physiology and pathogenic potential of Cryptococcus neoformans. MATERIALS & METHODS The C. neoformans gene encoding Atg7 was deleted by biolistic transformation for characterization of autophagy mechanisms, pigment formation, cell dimensions, interaction with phagocytes and pathogenic potential in vivo. RESULTS & CONCLUSION ATG7 deletion resulted in defective autophagy mechanisms, enhanced pigmentation and increased cellular size both in vitro and in vivo. The atg7Δ mutant had decreased survival in the lung of infected mice, higher susceptibility to the killing machinery of different host phagocytes and reduced ability to kill an invertebrate host. These results connect Atg7 with mechanisms of pathogenicity in the C. neoformans model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora L Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda L Fonseca
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos D Pereira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Julia Cv Reuwsaat
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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17
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Mendes LFS, Garcia AF, Kumagai PS, de Morais FR, Melo FA, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Rodrigues ML, Costa-Filho AJ. New structural insights into Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Protein (GRASP) in solution. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29976. [PMID: 27436376 PMCID: PMC4951691 DOI: 10.1038/srep29976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Among all proteins localized in the Golgi apparatus, a two-PDZ (PSD95/DlgA/Zo-1) domain protein plays an important role in the assembly of the cisternae. This Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Protein (GRASP) has puzzled researchers due to its large array of functions and relevance in Golgi functionality. We report here a biochemical and biophysical study of the GRASP55/65 homologue in Cryptococcus neoformans (CnGRASP). Bioinformatic analysis, static fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies, calorimetry, small angle X-ray scattering, solution nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography and proteolysis assays were used to unravel structural features of the full-length CnGRASP. We detected the coexistence of regular secondary structures and large amounts of disordered regions. The overall structure is less compact than a regular globular protein and the high structural flexibility makes its hydrophobic core more accessible to solvent. Our results indicate an unusual behavior of CnGRASP in solution, closely resembling a class of intrinsically disordered proteins called molten globule proteins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first structural characterization of a full-length GRASP and observation of a molten globule-like behavior in the GRASP family. The possible implications of this and how it could explain the multiple facets of this intriguing class of proteins are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís F. S. Mendes
- Laboratório de Biofísica Molecular, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Assuero F. Garcia
- Laboratório de Biofísica Molecular, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia S. Kumagai
- Departamento de Física e Informática, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabio R. de Morais
- Departamento de Física, Centro Multiusuário de Inovação Biomolecular, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Fernando A. Melo
- Departamento de Física, Centro Multiusuário de Inovação Biomolecular, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene H. Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonio J. Costa-Filho
- Laboratório de Biofísica Molecular, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Rodrigues J, Fonseca FL, Schneider RO, Godinho RMDC, Firacative C, Maszewska K, Meyer W, Schrank A, Staats C, Kmetzsch L, Vainstein MH, Rodrigues ML. Pathogenic diversity amongst serotype C VGIII and VGIV Cryptococcus gattii isolates. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11717. [PMID: 26153364 PMCID: PMC4495446 DOI: 10.1038/srep11717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is one of the causative agents of human cryptococcosis. Highly virulent strains of serotype B C. gattii have been studied in detail, but little information is available on the pathogenic properties of serotype C isolates. In this study, we analyzed pathogenic determinants in three serotype C C. gattii isolates (106.97, ATCC 24066 and WM 779). Isolate ATCC 24066 (molecular type VGIII) differed from isolates WM 779 and 106.97 (both VGIV) in capsule dimensions, expression of CAP genes, chitooligomer distribution, and induction of host chitinase activity. Isolate WM 779 was more efficient than the others in producing pigments and all three isolates had distinct patterns of reactivity with antibodies to glucuronoxylomannan. This great phenotypic diversity reflected in differential pathogenicity. VGIV isolates WM 779 and 106.97 were similar in their ability to cause lethality and produced higher pulmonary fungal burden in a murine model of cryptococcosis, while isolate ATCC 24066 (VGIII) was unable to reach the brain and caused reduced lethality in intranasally infected mice. These results demonstrate a high diversity in the pathogenic potential of isolates of C. gattii belonging to the molecular types VGIII and VGIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda L Fonseca
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael O Schneider
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo M da C Godinho
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Firacative
- 1] Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia [2] Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Krystyna Maszewska
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Charley Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marilene H Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- 1] Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [2] Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Abstract
The interaction of pathogens and its hosts causes a drastic change in the transcriptional landscape in both cells. Among the several mechanisms of gene regulation, transcriptional initiation is probably the main point. In such scenario, the access of transcriptional machinery to promoter is highly regulated by post-translational modification of histones, such as acetylation, phosphorylation and others. Inhibition of histone deacetylases is able to reduce fungal pathogens fitness during infection and, therefore, is currently being considered for the development of new antifungal therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Kmetzsch
- a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular; Centro de Biotecnologia; UFRGS ; Porto Alegre , Brazil.,b Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia ; Instituto de Biociências; UFRGS ; Porto Alegre , Brazil
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20
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Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Cupertino JB, Fonseca FL, Rodrigues ML, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. The calcium transporter Pmc1 provides Ca2+ tolerance and influences the progression of murine cryptococcal infection. FEBS J 2013; 280:4853-64. [PMID: 23895559 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The Ca(2+)-calcineurin signaling pathway in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is essential for adaptation to the host environment during infection. Calcium transporters regulate cytosolic calcium concentrations, providing Ca(2+) loading into storage organelles. The three calcium transporters that have been characterized in C. neoformans, Cch1, Eca1 and Vcx1, are required for fungal virulence, supporting a role for calcium-mediated signaling in cryptococcal pathogenesis. In the present study, we report the functional characterization of the putative vacuolar calcium ATPase Pmc1 in C. neoformans. Our results demonstrate that Pmc1 provides tolerance to high Ca(2+) concentrations. The double knockout of C. neoformans PMC1 and VCX1 genes impaired the intracellular calcium transport, resulting in a significant increase in cytosolic calcium levels. Furthermore, Pmc1 was essential for both the progression of pulmonary infection and brain colonization in mice, emphasizing the crucial role of calcium signaling and transport for cryptococcal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Staats CC, Kmetzsch L, Lubeck I, Junges A, Vainstein MH, Schrank A. Metarhizium anisopliae chitinase CHIT30 is involved in heat-shock stress and contributes to virulence against Dysdercus peruvianus. Fungal Biol 2013; 117:137-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Rodrigues ML, Schrank A, Vainstein MH. Calcium signaling components in the human pathogen: Cryptococcus neoformans. Commun Integr Biol 2011; 4:186-7. [PMID: 21655435 DOI: 10.4161/cib.4.2.14271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium signaling through calmodulin and the phosphatase calcineurin are required for key events of the biology of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, including mating, morphogenesis, growth at 37°C and virulence. In a recent work we described the functional characterization of a new component of this calcium signaling network: the vacuolar calcium exchanger Vcx1. This transporter is involved in calcium tolerance and virulence in C. neoformans. Two other uncharacterized calcium transporters which are putative orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PMC1 (a vacuolar calcium ATPase) and PMR1 (a Golgi calcium ATPase) are also functional in C. neoformans. No ortholog of CRZ1, the target of calcineurin in other fungi, has been identified in C. neoformans, indicating a high complexity in cryptococcal calcium-related pathways. Future studies are necessary for the complete understanding of calcium signaling regulation in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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