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Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2023There are a few reports on the resistance of microsporidia, including . Here, the alkali-soluble germination proteins of were used as immunogens to prepare a monoclonal...
There are a few reports on the resistance of microsporidia, including . Here, the alkali-soluble germination proteins of were used as immunogens to prepare a monoclonal antibody, and its single-chain variable fragments effectively blocked microsporidia infection. Our study has provided novel strategies for microsporidiosis control and demonstrated a useful method for the potential treatment of other microsporidia diseases.
Topics: Animals; Bombyx; Nosema; Microsporidiosis; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Spores; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37811955
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00681-23 -
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms May 2022Invasive non-native amphipods (Crustacea) are becoming a model system in which to explore the impact and diversity of invasive parasites-parasites that are carried along...
Invasive non-native amphipods (Crustacea) are becoming a model system in which to explore the impact and diversity of invasive parasites-parasites that are carried along an invasion route with their hosts. Gammarus varsoviensis is a freshwater amphipod species that has a recently explored invasion history. We provide a histopathological survey for a putatively invasive non-native population of this amphipod, identifying 8 symbiotic groups: Acanthocephala, Rotifera, Digenea, ciliated protozoa, Haplosporidia, Microsporidia, 'Candidatus Aquirickettsiella', and a putative nudivirus, at various prevalence. Our survey indicates that the parasites have no sex bias and that each has the potential to be carried in either sex along an invasion route. We discuss the pathology and prevalence of the above symbiotic groups and whether those that are parasitic may pose a risk if G. varsoviensis were to carry them to novel locations.
Topics: Acanthocephala; Amphipoda; Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Microsporidia; Parasites
PubMed: 35510820
DOI: 10.3354/dao03658 -
Revista Argentina de Microbiologia 2021Microsporidia are obligate intracellular fungi with a remarkable ability to infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Namely, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is...
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular fungi with a remarkable ability to infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Namely, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently microsporidia reported worldwide, and mainly associated with chronic diarrhea and wasting syndrome in AIDS patients. Microscopy and PCR-based detection techniques are effective for diagnosis and identification of species and genotypes; however, these methods should be standardized in each laboratory. In this study, we performed microscopy and nested PCR techniques with PCR product sequencing to detect E. bieneusi in human stool samples. These techniques, if applied together, might prove useful for diagnosis and future epidemiological studies of intestinal microsporidiosis in Argentina.
Topics: Enterocytozoon; Feces; Humans; Microsporidia; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 32595002
DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2020.04.005 -
MSphere May 2021Aaron Reinke studies microsporidian evolution and how microsporidia interact with their hosts. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how the papers "A...
Aaron Reinke studies microsporidian evolution and how microsporidia interact with their hosts. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how the papers "A promiscuous biotin ligase fusion protein identifies proximal and interacting proteins in mammalian cells" (K. J. Roux, D. I. Kim, M. Raida, and B. Burke, J Cell Biol 196:801-810, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201112098) and "Proteomic mapping of mitochondria in living cells via spatially restricted enzymatic tagging" (H.-W. Rhee, P. Zou, N. D. Udeshi, J. D. Martell, et al., Science 339:1328-1331, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1230593) impacted his thinking on how to determine where proteins from intracellular pathogens are located within host cells.
Topics: Animals; Fungal Proteins; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Microsporidia; Proteomics
PubMed: 33952666
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00365-21 -
Folia Parasitologica Sep 2020Hexokinase (HXK) is the first key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway and plays an extremely important role in energy metabolism. By searching the microsporidian database,...
Hexokinase (HXK) is the first key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway and plays an extremely important role in energy metabolism. By searching the microsporidian database, we found a sequence (NBO_27g0008) of Nosema bombycis Nägali, 1857 with high similarity to hexokinase-2, and named it as NbHXK2. The NbHXK2 gene has 894 bp and encodes 297 amino acids with 34.241 kD molecular weight and 5.26 isoelectric point. NbHXK2 contains 31 phosphorylation sites and 4 potential N-glycosylation sites with signal peptides and no transmembrane domain. Multiple sequence alignment showed that NbHXK2 shares more than 40% amino acid identity with that of other microsporidia, and the homology with hexokinase-2 of Nosema tyriae Canning, Curry, Cheney, Lafranchi-Tristem, Kawakami, Hatakeyama, Iwano et Ishihara, 1999, Nosema pyrausta (Paillot, 1927) and Nosema ceranae Fries, Feng, da Silva, Slemenda et Pieniazek, 1996 was 89.17%, 87.82% and 69.86%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the amino acid sequence of hexokinase showed that all microsporidia cluster together in the same clade, and are far away from animals, plants and fungi, and that N. bombycis is closely related to N. tyriae; N. pyrausta; N. ceranae and Nosema apis Zander, 1909. Immunolocalisation with the prepared polyclonal antibody showed that NbHXK2 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm and plasmalemma in proliferative, sporulation stage and mature spore of N. bombycis. qRT-PCR assay showed that the NbHXK2 expressed at higher level during spore germination and at early stage of proliferation. These results indicate that N. bombycis may use its own glycolytic pathways to supply energy for infection and development, especially germination and in the early stage of proliferation, and acquire energy from the host through certain ways as well.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Fungal Proteins; Hexokinase; Nosema; Phylogeny; Sequence Alignment
PubMed: 33021201
DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.023 -
Nature Microbiology Oct 2023
Topics: Microsporidia; Spores, Fungal; Microsporidiosis; Ribosomes
PubMed: 37709901
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01481-0 -
Acta Parasitologica Sep 2023The aim of this study was to identify Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. in fecal samples of HIV + /AIDS and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy,...
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to identify Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. in fecal samples of HIV + /AIDS and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and comparing the results to healthy individuals in Mazandaran province, north of Iran.
METHODS
Stool samples were collected from 50 HIV + /AIDS patients, 50 cancer patients, and 50 healthy samples referred to medical centers in north of Iran. Stool samples were kept in 2.5% potassium dichromate at 4 °C, and stained by modified trichrome for light microscopy examination. The multiplex/nested-PCR targeted the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. To characterize genotypes, the nested PCR products sequenced by Bioneer Company and was subjected to phylogenetic analyses.
RESULTS
Ten of 50 samples (20%) of HIV + /AIDS patients, 5 of 50 samples (10%) of cancer patients, and 1 of healthy individuals (2%) were microscopically positive. From 50 HIV + / AIDS patients, E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. were detected in 10 (20%) and 6 (12%) cases, respectively. Furthermore, among cancer patients, 7 (14%) and 2 (4%) cases were E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp., respectively. Out of 50 samples of healthy individuals, only 3 (6%) cases of E. bieneusi were observed. The genotypes D and M were detected among positive samples of E. bieneusi.
CONCLUSIONS
E. bieneusi and then Encephalitozoon spp. are common intestinal microsporidia in HIV + /AIDS patients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Mazandaran province. E. bieneusi genotype D seems to be the predominant genotype in Mazandaran province. Due to the considerable prevalence of intestinal microsporidia, physicians are advised to pay more attention to this opportunistic infection in high-risk groups.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Microsporidiosis; Iran; Phylogeny; Encephalitozoon; Genotype; Enterocytozoon; Neoplasms; Feces; Microsporidia
PubMed: 37566357
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00704-y -
Parasitology Nov 2022We conducted a molecular survey on microsporidian diversity in different lineages (operational taxonomic units = OTUs) of from 30 sites throughout Europe. Host body...
We conducted a molecular survey on microsporidian diversity in different lineages (operational taxonomic units = OTUs) of from 30 sites throughout Europe. Host body length was determined, and DNA was extracted from host tissue excluding the intestine and amplified by microsporidian-specific primers. In total, 247 specimens were analysed from which 26.7% were PCR-positive for microsporidians, with significantly more infections in larger individuals. Prevalence ranged between 10 and 90%. At 9 sites, no microsporidians were detected. A significant relationship was found between the frequency of infected individuals and habitat type, as well as host OTU. The lowest proportion of infected individuals was detected in spring-habitats (8.7%, = 46) and the highest in ponds (37.7%, = 53). Proportion of infected individuals among host OTUs A, D and J was 31.7, 21.7 and 32.1%, respectively. No infections were detected in OTU F. Our results are, however, accompanied by a partially low sample size, as only a minimum of 5 individuals was available at a few locations. Overall, 17 different microsporidian molecular taxonomic units (MICMOTUs) were distinguished with 5 abundant isolates (found in 4–17 host individuals) while the remaining 12 MICMOTUs were “rare” and found only in 1–3 host individuals. No obvious spatio-genetic pattern could be observed. The MICMOTUs predominantly belonged to Nosematida and Enterocytozoonida. The present study shows that microsporidians in are abundant and diverse but do not show obvious patterns related to host genetic lineages or geography.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Microsporidia; Isopoda; DNA Primers; Ecosystem; Geography; Phylogeny
PubMed: 36117283
DOI: 10.1017/S003118202200124X -
Genome Biology and Evolution Apr 2022DNA repair is an important component of genome integrity and organisms with reduced repair capabilities tend to accumulate mutations at elevated rates. Microsporidia are...
DNA repair is an important component of genome integrity and organisms with reduced repair capabilities tend to accumulate mutations at elevated rates. Microsporidia are intracellular parasites exhibiting high levels of genetic divergence postulated to originate from the lack of several proteins, including the heterotrimeric Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 DNA repair clamp. Microsporidian species from the Encephalitozoonidae have undergone severe streamlining with small genomes coding for about 2,000 proteins. The highly divergent sequences found in Microsporidia render functional inferences difficult such that roughly half of these 2,000 proteins have no known function. Using a structural homology-based annotation approach combining protein structure prediction and tridimensional similarity searches, we found that the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 DNA clamp is present in Microsporidia, together with many other components of the DNA repair machinery previously thought to be missing from these organisms. Altogether, our results indicate that the DNA repair machinery is present and likely functional in Microsporidia.
Topics: Cell Cycle Proteins; DNA; DNA Repair; Exonucleases; Microsporidia
PubMed: 35439302
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac053 -
Current Biology : CB Aug 2022Phylogenomic analyses have boosted our understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of all living forms by providing continuous improvements to the tree of life....
Phylogenomic analyses have boosted our understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of all living forms by providing continuous improvements to the tree of life. Within this tree, fungi represent an ancient eukaryote group, having diverged from the animals ∼1.35 billion years ago. Estimates of the number of extant species range between 1.5 and 3.8 million. Recent reclassifications and the discovery of the deep-branching Sanchytriomycota lineage have brought the number of proposed phyla to 20, 21 if the Microsporidia are included. Uncovering how the diverse and globally distributed fungi are related to each other is fundamental for understanding how their lifestyles, morphologies, and metabolic capacities evolved. To date, many of the proposed relationships among the phyla remain controversial and no phylogenomic study has examined the entire fungal tree using a taxonomically comprehensive dataset and suitable models of evolution. We assembled and curated a 299-protein dataset with a taxon sampling broad enough to encompass all recognized fungal diversity with available data, but selective enough to run computationally intensive analyses using best-fitting models. Using a range of reconstruction methods, we were able to resolve many contested nodes, such as a sister relationship of Chytridiomyceta to all other non-Opisthosporidia fungi (with Chytridiomycota being sister to Monoblepharomycota + Neocallimastigomycota), a branching of Blastocladiomycota + Sanchytriomycota after the Chytridiomyceta but before other non-Opisthosporidia fungi, and a branching of Glomeromycota as sister to the Dikarya. Our up-to-date fungal tree of life will serve as a springboard for future investigations on the early evolution of fungi.
Topics: Animals; Chytridiomycota; Eukaryota; Evolution, Molecular; Fungi; Microsporidia; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35830854
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.057