Evolution of the human pathogenic lifestyle in fungi

Nature Microbiology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 7(5), С. 607 - 619

Опубликована: Май 4, 2022

Fungal pathogens cause more than a billion human infections every year, resulting in 1.6 million deaths annually. Understanding the natural history and evolutionary ecology of fungi is helping us understand how disease-relevant traits have repeatedly evolved. Different types mechanisms genetic variation contributed to evolution fungal pathogenicity specific differences distinguish from non-pathogens. Insights into traits, elements, ecological that contribute are crucial for developing strategies both predict emergence develop drugs combat them.

Язык: Английский

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An Overlooked and Underrated Endemic Mycosis—Talaromycosis and the Pathogenic Fungus Talaromyces marneffei

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 36(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 17, 2023

Talaromycosis is an invasive mycosis endemic in tropical and subtropical Asia caused by the pathogenic fungus Talaromyces marneffei. Approximately 17,300 cases of T. marneffei infection are diagnosed annually, reported mortality rate extremely high (~1/3). Despite devastating impact talaromycosis on immunocompromised individuals, particularly HIV-positive persons, increase occurrences HIV-uninfected diagnostic therapeutic approaches for have received far too little attention worldwide. In 2021, scientists living countries where raised a global demand it to be recognized as neglected disease. Therefore,

Язык: Английский

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Pathogenicity and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus

Virulence, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 8, 2023

Pulmonary infections caused by the mould pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Compromised lung defences arising from immunosuppression, chronic respiratory conditions or more recently, concomitant viral bacterial pulmonary recognised risks factors for development aspergillosis. In this review, we will summarise our current knowledge mechanistic basis aspergillosis with focus on emerging at-risk populations.

Язык: Английский

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The KdmB-EcoA-RpdA-SntB chromatin complex binds regulatory genes and coordinates fungal development with mycotoxin synthesis

Nucleic Acids Research, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 50(17), С. 9797 - 9813

Опубликована: Сен. 12, 2022

Abstract Chromatin complexes control a vast number of epigenetic developmental processes. Filamentous fungi present an important clade microbes with poor understanding underlying mechanisms. Here, we describe chromatin binding complex in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans composing H3K4 histone demethylase KdmB, cohesin acetyltransferase (EcoA), deacetylase (RpdA) and reader/E3 ligase protein (SntB). In vitro vivo evidence demonstrate that this KERS is assembled from EcoA-KdmB SntB-RpdA heterodimers. KdmB SntB play opposing roles regulating cellular levels stability EcoA, as prevents SntB-mediated degradation EcoA. The recruited to transcription initiation start sites at active core promoters exerting promoter-specific transcriptional effects. Interestingly, deletion any one subunits results common negative effect on morphogenesis production secondary metabolites, molecules for niche securement filamentous fungi. Consequently, entire mycotoxin sterigmatocystin gene cluster downregulated asexual development reduced four mutants. elucidation recruitment regulators via provides first mechanistic, chromatin-based how connected small molecule synthesis

Язык: Английский

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Regulators of the Asexual Life Cycle of Aspergillus nidulans

Cells, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 12(11), С. 1544 - 1544

Опубликована: Июнь 4, 2023

The genus Aspergillus, one of the most abundant airborne fungi, is classified into hundreds species that affect humans, animals, and plants. Among these, Aspergillus nidulans, as a key model organism, has been extensively studied to understand mechanisms governing growth development, physiology, gene regulation in fungi. A. nidulans primarily reproduces by forming millions asexual spores known conidia. life cycle can be simply divided development (conidiation). After certain period vegetative growth, some cells (hyphae) develop specialized structures called conidiophores. Each conidiophore composed foot cell, stalk, vesicle, metulae, phialides, 12,000 This vegetative-to-developmental transition requires activity various regulators including FLB proteins, BrlA, AbaA. Asymmetric repetitive mitotic cell division phialides results formation immature Subsequent conidial maturation multiple such WetA, VosA, VelB. Matured conidia maintain cellular integrity long-term viability against stresses desiccation. Under appropriate conditions, resting germinate form new colonies, this process governed myriad regulators, CreA SocA. To date, plethora for each developmental stage have identified investigated. review summarizes our current understanding formation, maturation, dormancy, germination nidulans.

Язык: Английский

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Recent developments in Aspergillus fumigatus research: diversity, drugs, and disease

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 10, 2025

SUMMARY Advances in modern medical therapies for many previously intractable human diseases have improved patient outcomes. However, successful disease treatment outcomes are often prevented due to invasive fungal infections caused by the environmental mold Aspergillus fumigatus . As contemporary antifungal not experienced same robust advances as other therapies, defining mechanisms of A. initiation and progression remains a critical research priority. To this end, World Health Organization recently identified priority pathogen Centers Disease Control has highlighted emergence triazole-resistant isolates. The expansion diversity host populations susceptible aspergillosis complex dynamic genotypic phenotypic call reinvigorated assessment pathobiological drug-susceptibility mechanisms. Here, we summarize recent advancements field discuss challenges our understanding heterogeneity its pathogenesis diverse populations.

Язык: Английский

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The Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana Employs Autophagy as a Persistence and Recovery Mechanism during Conidial Dormancy

mBio, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 21, 2023

Many filamentous fungi develop a conidiation process as an essential mechanism for their dispersal and survival in natural ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying conidial persistence environments are still not fully understood. Here, we report that autophagy is crucial lifespans (i.e., viability) vitality (e.g., stress responses virulence) mycopathogen Beauveria bassiana. Specifically, Atg11-mediated selective played important, but dominant, role total autophagic flux. Furthermore, aspartyl aminopeptidase Ape4 was found to be involved during dormancy. Notably, vacuolar translocation of dependent on its physical interaction with autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8) associated Atg8, determined through truncation assay critical carboxyl-tripeptide. These observations revealed acted subcellular recovery dormancy environments. In addition, novel Atg8-dependent targeting route hydrolase identified, which exit from long-term new insights improved our understanding roles physiological ecology well molecular autophagy. IMPORTANCE Conidial environmental fungal ecosystems while also serving determinant biocontrol efficacy entomopathogenic integrated pest management. This study identified safeguard postmaturation. this mechanism, translocates into vacuoles via survival. The maintaining dormancy, documenting Thus, these provided insight documented

Язык: Английский

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A roadmap to understanding diversity and function of coral reef-associated fungi

FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 46(6)

Опубликована: Июнь 23, 2022

Abstract Tropical coral reefs are hotspots of marine productivity, owing to the association reef-building corals with endosymbiotic algae and metabolically diverse bacterial communities. However, functional importance fungi, well-known for their contribution shaping terrestrial ecosystems global nutrient cycles, remains underexplored on reefs. We here conceptualize how fungal traits may have facilitated spread, diversification, ecological adaptation fungi propose that functions reef-associated be go beyond hitherto described roles pathogens bioeroders, including but not limited reef-scale biogeochemical cycles structuring coral-associated environmental microbiomes via chemical mediation. Recent technological conceptual advances will allow elucidation physiological, ecological, contributions understudied holobiont reef ecosystem functioning health help provide an outlook management actions.

Язык: Английский

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Fungal Priming: Prepare or Perish

Journal of Fungi, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 8(5), С. 448 - 448

Опубликована: Апрель 25, 2022

Priming (also referred to as acclimation, acquired stress resistance, adaptive response, or cross-protection) is defined an exposure of organism mild that leads the development a subsequent stronger and more protective response. This memory previously encountered likely provides strong survival advantage in rapidly shifting environment. has been identified animals, plants, fungi, bacteria. Examples include innate immune priming transgenerational epigenetic inheritance animals biotic abiotic mechanisms are diverse alterations levels specific mRNAs, proteins, metabolites, changes such DNA methylation histone acetylation target genes.

Язык: Английский

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Aspergillus fumigatus Can Display Persistence to the Fungicidal Drug Voriconazole

Microbiology Spectrum, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11(2)

Опубликована: Март 13, 2023

Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus that can infect the lungs of patients with immunosuppression and/or underlying lung diseases. The mortality associated chronic and invasive aspergillosis infections remain very high, despite availability antifungal treatments. In last decade, there has been worrisome emergence spread resistance to first-line antifungals, azoles. caused by resistant isolates even higher, patient management complicated as therapeutic options are reduced. Nevertheless, treatment failure also common in infected azole-susceptible isolates, which be due several non-mutually exclusive reasons, such poor drug absorption. addition, phenomena tolerance or persistence, where susceptible pathogens survive action an antimicrobial for extended periods, have bacterial infections, their occurrence fungal already proposed. Here, we demonstrate some A. display persistence voriconazole. A subpopulation persister periods grow at low rates presence supra-MIC voriconazole seemingly other Persistence cannot eradicated adjuvant drugs combinations seemed reduce efficacy certain individuals Galleria mellonella model infection. Furthermore, implies distinct transcriptional profile, demonstrating it active response. We propose azole might relevant underestimated factor could influence outcome infection human aspergillosis. IMPORTANCE antibacterial pathogenic microbes cidal concentrations, received significant attention decade. Several mechanisms elucidated, relevance demonstrated. contrast, our knowledge and, particular, still limited. this study, characterized response prominent pathogen therapy comprehensively show fungicidal various potential action. using alternative infection, provide initial evidence suggest may cause individuals. Therefore, important consider further investigate fumigatus.

Язык: Английский

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