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Frontiers in Immunology 2022mutations are known to predispose patients to phaeohyphomycosis caused by different dematiaceous fungal species. In this study, we report for the first time a patient... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
mutations are known to predispose patients to phaeohyphomycosis caused by different dematiaceous fungal species. In this study, we report for the first time a patient of chromoblastomycosis caused by , who harbored mutation. Through a series of and studies, especially a comparative transcriptome study, we compared this case with our former patient suffering from phaeohyphomycosis caused by . We showed that is prone to forming sclerotic bodies both and in knockout mice, and has a stronger immunogenicity than . These data preliminary demonstrated that besides host defense, fungal specificity also contributed to the clinical phenotype in deficient patients with dematiaceous fungal infections.
Topics: Animals; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Chromoblastomycosis; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Phaeohyphomycosis; Transcriptome
PubMed: 36159827
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.984093 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, a species characterized by rapid growth and high drought resistance, has been used widely for vegetative restoration of arid regions in Northwest China that are prone...
, a species characterized by rapid growth and high drought resistance, has been used widely for vegetative restoration of arid regions in Northwest China that are prone to desertification. Desert soil is typically deficient in available water and the alleviation of drought stress to host plants by endophytes could be an efficient strategy to increase the success of desert restoration. With the objective to seek more beneficial symbionts that can be used in the revegetation strategies, we addressed the question whether can benefit from inoculation by dark septate endophytes (DSEs) isolated from other desert plants. We investigated the influences of four non-host DSE strains ( sp., sp., sp., and ) isolated from other desert plants on the performance of under different soil water conditions. Differences in plant performance, such as plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous concentration under all the treatments, were examined. Four DSE strains could colonize the roots of successfully, and they established a positive symbiosis with the host plants depending on DSE species and water availability. The greatest benefits of DSE inoculation occurred in water stress treatment. Specifically, sp. and sp. improved the root biomass, total biomass, nutrient concentration, and antioxidant enzyme activities of host plants under water deficit conditions. These data contribute to the understanding of the ecological function of DSE fungi in drylands.
PubMed: 31354772
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00903 -
Microorganisms Apr 2020Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are often trace element (TE)-tolerant fungi and are abundant in TE-polluted environments. The production of melanin, a black polymer found...
Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are often trace element (TE)-tolerant fungi and are abundant in TE-polluted environments. The production of melanin, a black polymer found in cell walls, was hypothesized by several authors to play a role in the TE tolerance of DSEs. To test this hypothesis, we established a series of experiments using albino strains and melanin inhibitors and examined the responses to Cd and Zn. Six DSEs belonging to genera sp., sp. and , were evaluated. The strains mainly produced 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin whereas 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanin melanin was also synthetized. Cd and Zn decreased melanin synthesis in most of the strains. A reduction in melanin concentration in hyphae through the use of tricyclazole, an inhibitor of DHN-melanin synthesis, did not reduce the tolerance of the strains to Cd and Zn. Similarly, albino mutants of sp. were not more sensitive to Cd and Zn than the WT strain. Moreover, tricyclazole-treated colonies accumulated less Cd but more Zn compared to untreated colonies. The Cd and Zn contents of albino strains were variable and similar to that of the WT. The results suggest that melanin production is not an important functional trait that contributes to Cd and Zn tolerance, but might contribute to Cd accumulation.
PubMed: 32276491
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040537 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022-related inherited immune disorders are a major risk factor for chronic disseminated fungal infection. In addition to pathogens of and dermatophytes, the environmental...
-related inherited immune disorders are a major risk factor for chronic disseminated fungal infection. In addition to pathogens of and dermatophytes, the environmental opportunists of the black yeast-like fungi are relatively frequent in this patient cohort. Particularly the genus is overrepresented. We investigated two isolates of a strain of residing in a patient, sampled with a period of ten years apart. Genomes, melanization and antifungal susceptibility of progenitor and derived strains were compared, and potential adaptation to the host habitat was investigated with proteomic techniques using post-translational modification as a proxy. Global lactylation analysis was performed using high accuracy nano-LC-MS/MS in combination with enrichment of lactylated peptides from digested cell lysates, and subsequent peptide identification. The genome of the derived isolate had accumulated 6945 SNPs, of which 31 were detected in CDS. A large number of identified proteins were significantly enriched, e.g. in melanin biosynthesis. A total of 636 lactylation sites on 420 lactylated proteins were identified, which contained in 26 types of modification motifs. Lysine lactylation (Kla) was found in 23 constituent proteins of the ribosome, indicating an impact of Kla in protein synthesis. Twelve lactylated proteins participated in pathogenicity. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis suggested that protein lactylations are widely distributed influencing various biological processes. Our findings reveal widespread roles for lysine lactylation in regulating metabolism and melanin biosynthesis in black fungi. Several large rearrangements and inversions were observed in the genome, but genomic changes could not be linked to adaptation or to known clinically relevant properties of progenitor to derived isolate; antifungal susceptibility had largely remained unaltered.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Humans; Immune System Diseases; Lysine; Melanins; Phialophora; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteomics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 36003392
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.966457 -
Mycopathologia Jun 2021Phialophora verrucosa (P. verrucosa) is a pathogen that can cause chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils can produce...
Phialophora verrucosa (P. verrucosa) is a pathogen that can cause chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils can produce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can protect against invasive pathogens. As such, we herein explored the in vitro functional importance of P. verrucosa-induced NET formation. By assessing the co-localization of neutrophil elastase and DNA, we were able to confirm the formation of classical NETs entrapping P. verrucosa specimens. Sytox Green was then used to stain these NETs following neutrophil infection with P. verrucosa in order to quantify the formation of these extracellular structures. NET formation was induced upon neutrophil exposure to both live, UV-inactivated, and dead P. verrucosa fungi. The ability of these NETs to kill fungal hyphae and conidia was demonstrated through MTT and pouring plate assays, respectively. Overall, our results confirmed that P. verrucosa was able to trigger the production of NETs, suggesting that these extracellular structures may represent an important innate immune effector mechanism controlling physiological responses to P. verrucosa infection, thereby aiding in pathogen control during the acute phases of infection.
Topics: Extracellular Traps; Humans; Hyphae; Neutrophils; Phialophora
PubMed: 34013384
DOI: 10.1007/s11046-021-00554-0 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within...
, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal herbs play an important ecological role in their host plants and can serve as a valuable source for identifying active components. However, little is known about the diversity, and structure of endophytic fungi in . In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaves, stems, and roots of at both 1- and 2-year-growth stages using a modern culture-independent method using both culture-independent (high-throughput sequencing, HTS) and culture-based methods. Using HTS, our results revealed that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in varied depending on the organs and growth stages. Specifically, stems and leaves exhibited significantly higher diversity compared to roots. Additionally, the highest diversity of endophytic fungi was observed in the stems of the 2-year-old plants. At the genus level, , , and were the most abundant endophytic fungi in 1-year-old samples, while , , and were prevalent in 2-year-old samples. A total of 55 endophytic fungal strains belonging to two phyla and 24 genera were isolated from 150 plant tissue segments using culture-based methods. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of these isolates was evaluated in vitro and five of them, PCAM010, PCBM027, LP41, SR60, and SM81, showed strong activity (>50% inhibition rate). These findings will serve as a theoretical basis and practical guide for comprehending the structural composition, biological diversity and bioactivity of endophytic fungi in .
PubMed: 38535204
DOI: 10.3390/jof10030195 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024This study used the ITS approach based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing to assess the endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities in healthy and diseased faba bean plants....
This study used the ITS approach based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing to assess the endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities in healthy and diseased faba bean plants. The findings indicate that the most predominant phyla in all samples were Ascomycota (49.89-99.56%) and Basidiomycota (0.33-25.78%). In healthy endosphere samples, Glomeromycota (0.08-1.17%) was the only predominant phylum. In diseased endosphere samples, Olpidiomycota (0.04-1.75%) was the only predominant phylum. At the genus level, (0.47-35.21%) was more abundant in rhizosphere soil, while (3.48-91.16%) was predominant in the endosphere roots of faba bean plants. Significant differences were observed in the alpha diversity of rhizosphere samples from different germplasm resources ( < 0.05). The fungal community structures were clearly distinguished between rhizosphere and endosphere samples and between healthy and diseased endosphere samples ( < 0.05). was significantly enriched in diseased endosphere samples, whereas was enriched in healthy endosphere samples. and were enriched in diseased rhizosphere samples, while was enriched in healthy rhizosphere samples. Diseased samples displayed more strongly correlated genera than healthy samples. Saprotrophs accounted for a larger proportion of the fungal microbes in rhizosphere soil than in endosphere roots. This study provides a better understanding of the composition and diversity of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and endosphere of faba bean plants as well as a theoretical guidance for future research on the prevention or control of faba bean root rot disease.
PubMed: 38276030
DOI: 10.3390/jof10010084 -
JFMS Open Reports 2022A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a...
CASE SUMMARY
A 10-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat from Quilmes (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) presented at the Infectious Diseases and Parasitology Unit with a hyperpigmented nodule of 5 cm diameter on the nasal plane with a small ulceration of more than 1 year's evolution. A scaly and hyperpigmented alopecic lesion of 3 cm in diameter was found on the lower edge of the tail. The patient was under immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids for lymphoplasmacytic duodenitis. Samples of the lesion present on the nasal plane were taken under a surgical procedure. In the wet mount preparations, pigmented irregular hyphae were observed. They developed dark colonies when cultured on Sabouraud medium. On micromorphology, structures compatible with species were identified. PCR and sequencing of (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) confirmed as the etiologic agent. A therapeutic scheme that included a combination of itraconazole oral solution (1.5 mg/kg PO q12h) with terbinafine (30 mg/kg PO q24h) was indicated for a period of 10 months. The patient died of complications resulting from its underlying disease.
RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION
As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to report as an etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis in cats. In this case study, the species was identified using molecular tests.
PubMed: 35281676
DOI: 10.1177/20551169221077611 -
Mycoscience 2022Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of...
Some Asian fungi are morphologically very similar to European species but belong to different species. A fungus that resembles , which commonly occurs on the petioles of in Europe, was found on the petioles of spp. and other tree leaves in Japan. The apothecia of this fungus were smaller than those of , suggesting that it is a different species. To examine this possibility, specimens of this fungus were collected from various hosts in Japan. A detailed morphological examination elucidated that this fungus differed from in smaller apothecia, marginal cells of the ectal excipulum, and conidia. The ITS sequence difference between this fungus and was 3.3-4.3%, and they formed distinct clades in the phylogenetic analysis, supporting that they are different species. Consequently, a new species, is described. Since an undescribed phialophora-state was observed in the cultures of for the first time, the morphology under culture is also reported in detail.
PubMed: 37090199
DOI: 10.47371/mycosci.2022.07.003 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were...
adopts a tolerant strategy as a metal excluder to survive toxic metal concentrations. Biodiversity and the endophytic fungal community colonizing the roots were assessed from a mining area (MA) and a neighboring non-mining area (nMA) in southwestern China. All roots formed fully developed dark septate endophytes (DSEs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Total DSE colonization was higher for the MA versus nMA, in contrast to the total AMF colonization in the two sites. The DSE colonization was higher than AMF colonization regardless of the site. Pure-culture data showed that the fungi closely related to , and dominantly colonized the roots. A total of 450 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified showing the presence of a distinct fungal community in MA and nMA, which was shaped by soil physiochemical properties, including soil Zn concentrations and organic matter. We found that accumulates and adapts efficiently to local endophytic fungi to achieve the expansion of its community, including the spontaneously reclaimed DSE. This property may be targeted to achieve its colonization with a pioneer plant for phytoremediation in the restoration of a vegetation cover in a metal-contaminated area.
PubMed: 34961202
DOI: 10.3390/plants10122731