Melanization of Cryptococcus Neoformans and Histoplasma Capsulatum Reduces Their Susceptibilities to Amphotericin B and Caspofungin

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Nov, 2002  |  Pubmed ID: 12384341

The fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum produce melanin-like pigments in the presence of L-dopa in vitro and during mammalian infection. We investigated whether melanization affected the susceptibilities of the fungi to amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole, or flucytosine (5FC). Using the standard macrodilution MIC protocol (the M27A protocol) of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for yeast, we found no difference in the susceptibilities of melanized and nonmelanized C. neoformans and H. capsulatum isolates. Killing assays demonstrated that melanization reduced the susceptibilities of both fungi to amphotericin B and caspofungin. Laccase-deficient C. neoformans cells grown with L-dopa were significantly more susceptible than congenic melanin-producing yeast to killing by amphotericin B or caspofungin. Preincubation of amphotericin B or caspofungin with melanins decreased their antifungal activities. Elemental analysis of melanins incubated with amphotericin B or caspofungin revealed an alteration in the C:N ratios of the melanins, which indicated binding of these drugs by the melanins. In contrast, incubation of fluconazole, itraconazole, or 5FC with melanins did not significantly affect the antifungal efficacies of the drugs or the chemical composition of the melanins. The results suggest a potential explanation for the inefficacy of caspofungin against C. neoformans in vivo, despite activity in vitro. Furthermore, the results indicate that fungal melanins protect C. neoformans and H. capsulatum from the activities of amphotericin B and caspofungin and that this protection is not demonstrable by standard broth macrodilution assays.

Histoplasma Capsulatum Synthesizes Melanin-like Pigments in Vitro and During Mammalian Infection

Infection and Immunity. Sep, 2002  |  Pubmed ID: 12183562

Melanin is made by several important pathogenic fungi and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of fungal infections. This study investigated whether the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum produced melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Growth of H. capsulatum mycelia in chemically defined minimal medium produced pigmented conidia. Growth of H. capsulatum yeast in chemically defined minimal medium with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) or (-)-epinephrine produced pigmented cells. Treatment of the pigmented cells with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant, and hot concentrated acid yielded dark particles that were similar in size and shape to their respective propagules. Melanin-binding monoclonal antibodies (MAb) labeled pigmented conidia, yeast, and the isolated particles as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that pigmented yeast cells and particles derived from pigmented cells were stable free radicals consistent with their identification as melanins. Tissues from mice infected with H. capsulatum and from biopsy specimens from a patient with histoplasmosis contained fungal cells that were labeled by melanin-binding MAb. Digestion of infected mouse tissues yielded dark particles that reacted with the melanin-binding MAb and were similar in appearance to H. capsulatum yeast cells. Additionally, sera from infected mice contained antibodies that bound melanin particles. Phenoloxidase activity capable of synthesizing melanin from L-DOPA was detected in cytoplasmic yeast cell extracts. These findings indicate that H. capsulatum conidia and yeast can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and that yeast cells can synthesize pigment in vivo. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may have a similar role to play in the pathogenesis of histoplasmosis.

The Contribution of Melanin to Microbial Pathogenesis

Cellular Microbiology. Apr, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12675679

Melanins are enigmatic pigments that are produced by a wide variety of microorganisms including several species of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and helminths. The study of melanin is difficult because these pigments defy complete biochemical and structural analysis. Nevertheless, the availability of new reagents in the form of monoclonal antibodies and melanin-binding peptides, combined with the application of various physical techniques, has provided insights into the process of melanization. Melanization is important in microbial pathogenesis because it has been associated with virulence in many microorganisms. Melanin appears to contribute to virulence by reducing the susceptibility of melanized microbes to host defence mechanisms. However, the interaction of melanized microbes and the host is complex and includes immune responses to melanin-related antigens. Production of melanin has also been linked to protection against environmental insults. Interference with melanization is a potential strategy for antimicrobial drug and pesticide development. The process of melanization poses fascinating problems in cell biology and provides a type of pathogenic strategy that is common to highly diverse pathogens.

Melanin and Fungi

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. Apr, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12734441

Production of melanin has been associated with virulence in diverse microorganisms. Melanization of fungi has been noted for many years in predominantly subcutaneous infections such as chromoblastomycosis and more recently most extensively studied in a yeast causing systemic infection, Cryptococcus neoformans. Pigmented fungi are increasingly important human pathogens and currently available antifungals are often sub-optimal for serious infections. This review focuses on recent publications on melanin in fungi with particular reference to the role of melanin in virulence, protection against antifungal drugs, and promoting survival in the environment.

Synthesis of Melanin-like Pigments by Sporothrix Schenckii in Vitro and During Mammalian Infection

Infection and Immunity. Jul, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12819091

Melanin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human fungal pathogens. Existing data suggest that the conidia of the dimorphic fungal pathogen Sporothrix schenckii produce melanin or melanin-like compounds; in this study we aimed to confirm this suggestion and to demonstrate in vitro and in vivo production of melanin by yeast cells. S. schenckii grown on Mycosel agar produced visibly pigmented conidia, although yeast cells grown in brain heart infusion and minimal medium broth appeared to be nonpigmented macroscopically. However, treatment of both conidia and yeast cells with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant, and concentrated hot acid yielded dark particles similar in shape and size to the corresponding propagules, which were stable free radicals consistent with identification as melanins. Melanin particles extracted from S. schenckii yeast cells were used to produce a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which labeled pigmented conidia, yeast cells, and the isolated particles. Tissue from hamster testicles infected with S. schenckii contained fungal cells that were labeled by melanin-binding MAbs, and digestion of infected hamster tissue yielded dark particles that were also reactive. Additionally, sera from humans with sporotrichosis contained antibodies that bound melanin particles. These findings indicate that S. schenckii conidia and yeast cells can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and that yeast cells can synthesize pigment in vivo. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may have a similar role in the pathogenesis of sporotrichosis.

Budding of Melanized Cryptococcus Neoformans in the Presence or Absence of L-dopa

Microbiology (Reading, England). Jul, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12855745

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that produces melanin when incubated in the presence of certain phenolic substrates such as L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). Melanin is an enigmatic polymer that is deposited in the cell wall and contributes to virulence. Substantial progress has been made in understanding the synthesis of melanin and the mechanisms by which it contributes to virulence, but relatively little is known about how melanin is rearranged during growth and budding. In this study we used transmission and scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence of melanized cells and melanin 'ghosts' to study the process of melanization during replication. Budding in melanized C. neoformans results in focal disruption of cell-wall melanin at the bud site. In the presence of L-dopa, bud-related melanin defects are repaired and daughter cells are melanized. However, in the absence of substrate, mother cells cannot repair their melanin defects and daughter cells are non-melanized. Hence, melanin in the parent cell is not carried to the daughter cells, but rather is synthesized de novo in buds. These results imply that melanin remodelling occurs during cell growth in a process that involves degradation and synthesis at sites of budding.

Experimental Murine Cryptococcal Infection Results in Contamination of Bedding with Cryptococcus Neoformans

Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science / American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. Jul, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12906395

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that survives in diverse environments. To determine whether cages of mice infected with C. neoformans posed an infection risk to animal caregivers, we investigated whether the fungus could be isolated from the bedding or stool of mice infected by intratracheal (i.t.), intravenous (i.v.), or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes. The bedding of mice infected i.t. was contaminated with C. neoformans. In contrast, no contamination of bedding with C. neoformans was detected in cages of mice infected i.v. or i.p. C. neoformans was not isolated from murine feces. The C. neoformans strain recovered from bedding material was indistinguishable from the infecting strain by biochemical and molecular techniques. This result suggests that precautions may be warranted when disposing bedding from cages that housed mice with pulmonary C. neoformans infection.

Cryptococcus Neoformans Virulence is Enhanced After Growth in the Genetically Malleable Host Dictyostelium Discoideum

Infection and Immunity. Sep, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12933827

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated, environmental fungus that can cause life-threatening meningitis. Pathogenicity of C. neoformans for macrophages and vertebrate hosts may be a mechanism selected in evolution for protection against environmental predators. In this study, we investigated whether Dictyostelium discoideum could serve as an alternate host for C. neoformans. D. discoideum has a defined genetic system which provides significant advantages for the study of fungus-amoeba interactions. Our results show that D. discoideum is susceptible to infection with C. neoformans and that the interactions are similar to those described previously for this fungus with macrophages and Acanthamoeba castellanii. Acapsular C. neoformans cells did not replicate when coincubated with D. discoideum. However, incubation of acapsular C. neoformans with D. discoideum mutants defective in myosin VII synthesis resulted in infection, validating the concept that avirulent organisms can be virulent in impaired hosts even at the unicellular level. Phagocytosis of C. neoformans by D. discoideum could be inhibited with capsule-specific antibodies and various sugars. Passage of an encapsulated C. neoformans strain through D. discoideum cultures increased virulence and was accompanied by larger capsules and faster time to melanization. These results add to the evidence implicating soil ameboid predators as important factors for the maintenance of C. neoformans virulence in the environment and suggest that D. discoideum promises to be an extremely useful system for studying the interaction of C. neoformans with phagocytic cells.

'Ready Made' Virulence and 'dual Use' Virulence Factors in Pathogenic Environmental Fungi--the Cryptococcus Neoformans Paradigm

Current Opinion in Microbiology. Aug, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12941400

Environmental pathogenic fungi present a paradox in that they are virulent in animals without requiring animal hosts for replication or survival, a phenomenon we call 'ready-made' virulence. In the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, the capacity for virulence in animals may originate from environmental selective pressures imposed by such organisms as amoeboid and nematode predators. Many C. neoformans virulence factors appear to have 'dual use' capabilities that confer survival advantages in both animal hosts and in the environment. The findings with C. neoformans may provide a paradigm for understanding the origin and maintenance of virulence in other pathogenic environmental fungi.

Antibodies to a Cell Surface Histone-like Protein Protect Against Histoplasma Capsulatum

The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Oct, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 14561701

A protective role for antibodies has not previously been described for host defense against the pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc). Mouse mAb's were generated from mice immunized with Hc yeast that binds the cell surface of Hc. Administration of mAb's before Hc infection reduced fungal burden, decreased pulmonary inflammation, and prolonged survival in a murine infection model. Protection mediated by mAb's was associated with enhanced levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-gamma in the lungs of infected mice. The mAb's increased phagocytosis of yeast by J774.16 cells through a CR3-dependent process. Ingestion of mAb-opsonized Hc by J774.16 macrophage-like cells was associated with yeast cell growth inhibition and killing. The mAb's bound to a 17-kDa antigen expressed on the surface of Hc. The antigen was identified as a histone H2B-like protein. This study establishes that mAb's to a cell surface protein of Hc alter the intracellular fate of the fungus and mediate protection in a murine model of lethal histoplasmosis, and it suggests a new candidate antigen for vaccine development.

Susceptibility of the Human Pathogenic Fungi Cryptococcus Neoformans and Histoplasma Capsulatum to Gamma-radiation Versus Radioimmunotherapy with Alpha- and Beta-emitting Radioisotopes

Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. Feb, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 14960655

Fungal diseases are difficult to treat in immunosuppressed patients and, consequently, new approaches to therapy are urgently needed. One novel strategy is to use radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with fungal-binding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) labeled with radionuclides. However, many fungi manifest extreme resistance to gamma-radiation, such that the doses of several thousand gray are required for 90% cell killing, whereas for mammalian cells the lethal dose is only a few gray. We compared the susceptibility of human pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) and Histoplasma capsulatum (HC) to external gamma-radiation and to the organism-specific mAbs 18B7 and 9C7, respectively, conjugated to (213)Bi and (188)Re radionuclides.

Tuberculosis in New York City: Recent Lessons and a Look Ahead

The Lancet Infectious Diseases. May, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15120345

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, after decades of decline, the incidence of tuberculosis began to rise in New York city, reaching a peak of 3811 cases by 1992. The epidemic took root in a setting of inadequate treatment regimens, homelessness, a diminished public-health system, and the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In addition, a subepidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis occurred throughout New York city, most notably in a series of well documented nosocomial outbreaks. By 1994, using broadened initial treatment regimens, directly observed therapy, and improved US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for hospital control and disease prevention, New York city began to effectively halt the progression of the epidemic. By 2002, tuberculosis rates in New York city reached an historic low of 1084. However, given the presence of a large reservoir of latently infected individuals in the city and an ongoing tuberculosis pandemic, New York city continues to face significant challenges from this persistent pathogen.

Effects of Voriconazole on Cryptococcus Neoformans

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Jun, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15155193

Voriconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole that offers extended activity against molds and yeasts that are not susceptible to earlier azole-type drugs. Recent studies indicate that melanization can severely reduce the susceptibility of certain antifungal drugs, but there is no information as to whether voriconazole is vulnerable to this effect. The activity of voriconazole on C. neoformans was assessed by MIC analysis and time-kill assays for melanized and nonmelanized cells. Cell morphology, capsule release, and phagocytosis of C. neoformans were studied in the presence or absence of subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole. Voriconazole was fungicidal at concentrations of >/=8 microg/ml in vitro against the strains of C. neoformans examined, and its efficacy was not diminished by melanization. Cells grown in subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole had smaller cellular and capsular volumes than cells grown in the absence of drug. The induction of the capsule by serum was not affected by voriconazole. Cells grown in subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole released their capsule and were phagocytosed at rates comparable with yeast grown without the antifungal. The high activity of voriconazole against both melanized and nonmelanized cells results suggest that voriconazole may be a particularly valuable drug for cryptococcosis.

Dead Cells in Melanoma Tumors Provide Abundant Antigen for Targeted Delivery of Ionizing Radiation by a MAb to Melanin

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Oct, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15469923

Melanoma is a cancer with a rising incidence, and metastatic disease is almost always lethal. We investigated the feasibility of targeting melanin, an intracellular melanocyte pigment, to deliver cytotoxic radiation to human melanoma cells in vivo by using a melanin-binding mAb (6D2). Nude mice bearing MNT1 pigmented human melanoma tumors were treated with mAb 6D2 labeled with 1.5 mCi (1 Ci = 37 GBq) of the beta-emitter 188-Rhenium (188Re) and manifested inhibition of tumor growth and prolonged survival. mAb 6D2 bound tumor melanin and demonstrated no crossreactivity with normal melanized tissues in black mice. The mechanism of melanin targeting involved Ab binding to extracellular melanin released during tumor cell turnover or to dying cells with permeable membranes. In this approach, the cytotoxic radiation emanating from labeled Ab bound to melanin is presumably delivered by "crossfire" effect to the adjacent viable tumor cells. Our results establish the feasibility of targeting melanin released from dead melanoma cells in tumors with radiolabeled Abs to achieve a therapeutic effect. In contrast to conventional tumor antigens, melanin is insoluble, resistant to degradation, and can be expected to accumulate in targeted tissues, suggesting that the efficacy of therapy could increase with each subsequent treatment cycle.

Interaction of Blastomyces Dermatitidis, Sporothrix Schenckii, and Histoplasma Capsulatum with Acanthamoeba Castellanii

Infection and Immunity. Jun, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15155655

Several dimorphic fungi are important human pathogens, but the origin and maintenance of virulence in these organisms is enigmatic, since an interaction with a mammalian host is not a requisite for fungal survival. Recently, Cryptococcus neoformans was shown to interact with macrophages, slime molds, and amoebae in a similar manner, suggesting that fungal pathogenic strategies may arise from environmental interactions with phagocytic microorganisms. In this study, we examined the interactions of three dimorphic fungi with the soil amoeba Acanthameobae castellanii. Yeast forms of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Sporothrix schenckii, and Histoplasma capsulatum were each ingested by amoebae and macrophages, and phagocytosis of yeast cells resulted in amoeba death and fungal growth. H. capsulatum conidia were also cytotoxic to amoebae. For each fungal species, exposure of yeast cells to amoebae resulted in an increase in hyphal cells. Exposure of an avirulent laboratory strain of H. capsulatum to A. castellanii selected for, or induced, a phenotype of H. capsulatum that caused a persistent murine lung infection. These results are consistent with the view that soil amoebae may contribute to the selection and maintenance of certain traits in pathogenic dimorphic fungi that confer on these microbes the capacity for virulence in mammals.

Blastomyces Dermatitidis Produces Melanin in Vitro and During Infection

FEMS Microbiology Letters. Oct, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15451118

Melanin is made by several important pathogenic fungi and is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of mycoses. This study investigates whether the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis produces melanin. Using techniques developed to study melanization in other fungi, we demonstrate that B. dermatitidis conidia and yeast produce melanin in vitro and that yeast cells synthesize melanin or melanin-like pigment in vivo. Melanization reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B, but not to itraconazole or voriconazole. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may affect the pathogenesis of blastomycosis.

Microstructure of Cell Wall-associated Melanin in the Human Pathogenic Fungus Cryptococcus Neoformans

Biochemistry. Mar, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15751945

Melanin is a virulence factor for many pathogenic fungal species, including Cryptococcus neoformans. Melanin is deposited in the cell wall, and melanin isolated from this fungus retains the shape of the cells, resulting in hollow spheres called "ghosts". In this study, atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that melanin ghosts are covered with roughly spherical granular particles approximately 40-130 nm in diameter, and that the melanin is arranged in multiple concentric layers. Nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry indicated melanin ghosts contain pores with diameters between 1 and 4 nm, in addition to a small number of pores with diameters near 30 nm. Binding of the antibodies to melanin reduced the apparent measured volume of these pores, suggesting a mechanism for their antifungal effect. We propose a model of cryptococcal melanin structure whereby the melanin granules are held together in layers. This structural model has implications for cell division, cell wall remodeling, and antifungal drug discovery.

Melanization of Cryptococcus Neoformans Affects Lung Inflammatory Responses During Cryptococcal Infection

Infection and Immunity. Apr, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15784542

The production of melanin pigments is associated with virulence for many microbes. Melanin is believed to contribute to microbial virulence by protecting microbial cells from oxidative attack during infection. However, there is also evidence from various systems that melanins have immunomodulatory properties, which conceivably could contribute to virulence by altering immune responses. To investigate the effect of melanin on the immune response, we compared the murine pulmonary responses to infection with melanized and nonmelanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells. Infection with melanized cells resulted in a greater fungal burden during the early stages of infection and was associated with higher levels of interleukin-4 and MCP-1 and greater numbers of infiltrating leukocytes. Infection with laccase-positive (melanotic) C. neoformans cells also elicited higher MCP-1 levels and more infiltrating leukocytes than did infection with laccase-negative cells. Melanization interfered with phagocytosis in vivo for encapsulated C. neoformans but not for nonencapsulated cells. The results provide strong evidence that cryptococcal melanization can influence the immune response to infection and suggest that immunomodulation is an additional mechanism by which the pigment contributes to virulence.

Synthesis of Melanin Pigment by Candida Albicans in Vitro and During Infection

Infection and Immunity. Sep, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16113337

Melanins are implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human diseases. This study confirmed the presence of melanin particles in Candida albicans in vitro and during infection. Dark particles were isolated from the digestion of C. albicans cultures and from infected tissue, as established by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques.

Dual Infections with Pigmented and Albino Strains of Cryptococcus Neoformans in Patients with or Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in India

Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Sep, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16145139

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast-like fungus of worldwide distribution. Melanin production is an important virulence factor of C. neoformans. We report the identification of distinct cryptococcal isolates with either pigmented or white colony phenotypes on L-dihydroxyphenylalanine agar plates in three patients who presented with meningitis to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in India. Two of the patients were also infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Biochemical studies, India ink analysis, immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to capsular antigen, and serotyping confirmed that the melanotic and albino strains were C. neoformans serotypes A and D, respectively. Genotyping with M13 and [GACA]4 primers revealed that all the C. neoformans isolates were genetically different. The CNLAC1 gene associated with melanin production was identified in all the strains by PCR. Standard MIC testing revealed that the strains had similar susceptibilities to amphotericin B, but time-kill assays with the antifungal showed reduced susceptibility in melanin-producing strains. Infection studies with A/Jcr mice showed that the melanin-lacking yeast were less virulent than melanin-producing isolates. These findings indicate that these patients had dual infections with pigmented and albino strains of C. neoformans that were phenotypically and biologically different. Continued surveillance of primary isolates from patients with cryptococcosis by analyzing phenotypic differences and by molecular methods may reveal that mixed infections occur more commonly than is currently realized.

Effect of Amphotericin B on Capsule and Cell Size in Cryptococcus Neoformans During Murine Infection

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Oct, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16189121

Antifungal drugs can affect the cellular morphology of Cryptococcus neoformans in culture, which alters its interactions with phagocytes. We examined the effects of amphotericin B on C. neoformans during murine infection. The antifungal reduced capsule size and serum polysaccharide, which suggests an additional mechanism for amphotericin B's efficacy in cryptococcosis.

Comparative Analysis of Cryptococcus Neoformans Acid-resistant Particles Generated from Pigmented Cells Grown in Different Laccase Substrates

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B. Dec, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16289955

Cryptococcus neoformans produces pigments in vitro in the presence of exogenous substrate. We characterized acid-resistant particles isolated from pigmented cells grown in L-dopa, methyl-dopa, (-)-epinephrine or (-)-norepinephrine. The goals of this study were to determine whether pigments made from each of these substrates were melanins and the consequences of pigmentation on related cell characteristics. The greatest yield of acid-resistant particles occurred with methyl-dopa followed by L-dopa. Electron microscopy indicated that L-dopa and methyl-dopa produced particles with thicker shells. The mAb 6D2 reacted with all particles, but a lower reactivity was observed with epinephrine-derived particles. ESR analysis revealed that epinephrine-derived particles failed to produce a stable free radical signal typical of melanins. Growth of C. neoformans in different substrates affected cell and capsule size but not capsule induction. Hence, the type of pigment produced by C. neoformans is dependent on the substrate and not all pigments meet the criteria for melanins.

Investigation of Fungal Deterioration of Synthetic Paint Binders Using Vibrational Spectroscopic Techniques

Macromolecular Bioscience. Jan, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15635715

The deterioration of synthetic polymers caused by biological process is usually evaluated by visual inspection and measuring physical effects. In contrast to this approach, we have applied vibrational spectroscopies to study the biodegradation of the synthetic resins. 29 synthetic resins used as paint binding media, including acrylic, alkyd and poly(vinyl acetate) polymers, were examined for potential susceptibility to fungal degradation using the standard method ASTM G21-96(2002). In addition, the degraded resins were analysed by Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR and FT-IR photoacoustic spectroscopy. Almost all the acrylic resins studied proved to be resistant to microbial attack, while all alkyd resins and some poly(vinyl acetates) turned out to be biodegradable. Within a few days of inoculation Aspergillus niger was the most copious fungus on the biodegraded resins. A comparison of the IR and Raman spectra of control and biodegraded resins did not show any differences, but photoacoustic spectroscopy revealed additional bands for the fungal-degraded resins, consistent with the presence of fungal-derived substances. The additional bands in the photoacoustic spectra were due to the presence of Aspergillus niger and melanin, a fungal pigment. Since IR photoacoustic spectroscopy can be also a suitable technique for the chemical characterisation of binding media, the same spectroscopic analysis can be employed to both characterise the material and obtain evidence for fungal colonization. Microbial growth on Sobral 1241ML (alkyd resin) after 28 d (growth rating 4) compared with the non-inoculated resin.

Current Status and Future of Antifungal Therapy for Systemic Mycoses

Recent Patents on Anti-infective Drug Discovery. Jan, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 18221136

Since the 1950s there has been an increase in the incidence of invasive fungal disease. The first successful systemically administered antifungal drug, amphotericin B, was introduced in the 1950s and, until very recently, was considered the best therapeutic drug for severe mycoses. The development of new antifungals to treat systemic disease has been slow compared to that of antibacterial compounds, with the introduction of only a single new class of drugs over the past 20 years. This review discusses the antifungal drugs that are clinically in use and summarizes interesting new applications and patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Adrenal Infections

International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. Sep, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16483815

Adrenal infections are an important but under-recognized clinical entity. The adrenal gland can be infected by a myriad of pathogens including fungi, viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Infection can directly or indirectly cause tissue damage and alteration in endocrine function. Direct damage occurs via microbial replication and local production of toxic compounds, such as endotoxins. Indirect damage results from alterations in the regulation of a host's immunologic and endocrine mediators in response to damage by a microbe at a distant site. Variations in pathogen tropism, adrenal anatomy, and host immune integrity contribute to the progression of active disease and discernable adrenal dysfunction. Early recognition and intervention in the case of adrenal infection can significantly improve outcome, demonstrating the need for increased clinical suspicion in the appropriate clinical setting.

Radiolabeled Melanin-binding Peptides Are Safe and Effective in Treatment of Human Pigmented Melanoma in a Mouse Model of Disease

Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals. Apr, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16706632

The incidence of melanoma is rising, and therapeutic options for metastatic melanoma are limited. We report the results of experimental melanoma therapy with 188-Rhenium-labeled melanin-binding decapeptide ((188)RE-HYNIC-4B4) and a comprehensive safety evaluation of this treatment. (188)RE-HYNIC- 4B4 bound only to nonviable eumelanotic MNT1 and pheomelanotic SK-28-MEL human melanoma cells in vitro, as determined by immunofluorescence, which is consistent with the inaccessibility of intracellular melanin in live cells, and suggests specificity for tumors with a significant amount of extracellular melanin. Administration of 1 mCi (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 to MNT1 tumor-bearing mice significantly slowed tumor growth, with the therapeutic effect being a result of specific binding to tumor melanin, as irrelevant (188)RE-labeled decapeptide did not produce therapeutic gain. Repeated doses of (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 had a more profound effect on tumor growth than a single dose. Treatment of tumors with 0.3-0.4 cm diameter was more effective than of larger ones (0.5-0.7 cm). There was no difference in uptake of (188)REHYNIC- 4B4 in melanized tissues of black C57BL6 mice and no histologically apparent damage to these tissues in comparison with white BALB/C mice. Treatment of C57BL6 mice with (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 did not change their behavior, as established by SHIRPA protocol, and did not cause damage to neurons and glial cells. These results indicate that radiolabeled melanin-binding peptides are efficient and safe in treatment of melanoma and could be potentially useful against this tumor.

Effects of Disrupting the Polyketide Synthase Gene WdPKS1 in Wangiella [Exophiala] Dermatitidis on Melanin Production and Resistance to Killing by Antifungal Compounds, Enzymatic Degradation, and Extremes in Temperature

BMC Microbiology. 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16784529

Wangiella dermatitidis is a human pathogenic fungus that is an etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis. W. dermatitidis produces a black pigment that has been identified as a dihydroxynaphthalene melanin and the production of this pigment is associated with its virulence. Cell wall pigmentation in W. dermatitidis depends on the WdPKS1 gene, which encodes a polyketide synthase required for generating the key precursor for dihydroxynaphthalene melanin biosynthesis.

Efficacy of Voriconazole in Experimental Cryptococcus Neoformans Infection

Mycopathologia. Aug, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16897589

Voriconazole is a third generation triazole with improved activity against many fungal pathogens. We examined the efficacy of voriconazole in a murine infection model and evaluated the drug's effect on cellular characteristics and serum polysaccharide levels. The antifungal reduced serum polysaccharide and significantly prolonged the survival of lethally infected animals.

Impact of Melanin on Microbial Virulence and Clinical Resistance to Antimicrobial Compounds

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Nov, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 17065617

DIAGNOSIS OF HISTOPLASMOSIS

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]. Jan, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 20445761

Endemic mycoses can be challenging to diagnose and accurate interpretation of laboratory data is important to ensure the most appropriate treatment for the patients. Although the definitive diagnosis of histoplasmosis (HP), one of the most frequent endemic mycoses in the world, is achieved by direct diagnosis performed by micro and/or macroscopic observation of Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum), serologic evidence of this fungal infection is important since the isolation of the etiologic agents is time-consuming and insensitive. A variety of immunoassays have been used to detect specific antibodies to H. capsulatum. The most applied technique for antibody detection is immunodiffusion with sensitivity between 70 to 100 % and specificity of 100%, depending on the clinical form. The complement fixation (CF) test, a methodology extensively used on the past, is less specific (60 to 90%). Detecting fungal antigens by immunoassays is valuable in immunocompromised individuals where such assays achieve positive predictive values of 96-98%. Most current tests in diagnostic laboratories still utilize unpurified antigenic complexes from either whole fungal cells or their culture filtrates. Emphasis has shifted, however, to clinical immunoassays using highly purified and well-characterized antigens including recombinant antigens. In this paper, we review the current conventional diagnostic tools, such as complement fixation and immunodiffusion, outline the development of novel diagnostic reagents and methods, and discuss their relative merits and disadvantages to the immunodiagnostic of this mycosis.

Synthetic Consolidants Attacked by Melanin-producing Fungi: Case Study of the Biodeterioration of Milan (Italy) Cathedral Marble Treated with Acrylics

Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Jan, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17071788

Monuments and artistic stone surfaces are often consolidated and protected with synthetic polymers, in particular, acrylics. Although it is generally thought that acrylic polymers are resistant to biodeterioration, we report for the first time the systematic occurrence of dematiaceous meristematic fungi on many marble samples of the cathedral in Milan (Italy) previously treated with this material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy applied to the Milan cathedral stone samples revealed characteristic features of biodeteriorated synthetic resins that differentiated them from the aged but nonbiodeteriorated samples. Samples showing biological colonization were analyzed for the presence of fungi. Cultivation and morphological characterization and methods independent from cultivation, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis coupled with partial 18S rRNA gene sequencing and immunofluorescence staining with melanin-binding antibodies, showed that melanin-producing species are heavily present on stone surfaces protected with acrylic resins. This observation raises the question of the effectiveness of acrylics in protecting stone artworks.

Coccidioides Posadasii Produces Melanin in Vitro and During Infection

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B. Jun, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17074521

Using techniques developed to study melanization in other fungi, we demonstrate that Coccidioides posadasii arthroconidia, spherules, and endospores produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and tissue forms synthesize pigment in vivo. Since melanin is an important virulence factor in other pathogenic fungi, it may affect the pathogenesis of coccidioidomycosis.

Use of Mycelial-phase Sporothrix Schenckii Exoantigens in an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Sporotrichosis by Antibody Detection

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. Mar, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17215334

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for specific antibody detection in serum specimens of patients with sporotrichosis. The assay was made with mycelial-phase Sporothrix schenckii exoantigens and was tested against 90 sera from patients with different clinical forms of sporotrichosis. Potential cross-reactions were analyzed with 72 heterologous sera from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, and American tegumentary leishmaniasis, as well as 76 sera from healthy controls. We found a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 89% in this assay. Some cross-reactions were seen, as observed in other immunoassays for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis. The ELISA appears to be especially useful for cutaneous forms of disease, since these are not promptly diagnosed with available immunoprecipitation or agglutination techniques. These results suggest that the ELISA using mycelial-phase S. schenckii exoantigens is a very sensitive diagnostic tool for the serodiagnosis of sporotrichosis and can be used in conjunction with conventional methods of diagnosis, particularly in cases where cross-reactions or false-positive results are experienced with the serodiagnosis.

Virulence of Candida Parapsilosis, Candida Orthopsilosis, and Candida Metapsilosis in Reconstituted Human Tissue Models

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B. Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17391997

Candida parapsilosis is an increasingly important human pathogen. To study the interactions of C. parapsilosis with human tissues, we evaluated the effects of the CBS 604 type strain and three different clinical isolates on reconstituted human oral epithelial and epidermal tissues. The newly described species Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis were also examined in these models. Microscopy of reconstituted tissues infected with yeast cells revealed severe attenuation, morphological changes and cellular damage. C. orthopsilosis caused damage similar to C. parapsilosis isolates, whereas C. metapsilosis was less virulent. To further quantitate tissue damage, we measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture supernatant. The relative LDH measurements correlated with our histopathological observations. We also examined the effect of the lipase inhibitor Ebelactone B and proteinase inhibitor Pepstatin A, to establish the utility of this model for studying factors of C. parapsilosis virulence. Both Ebelactone B and Pepstatin A reduced the destruction of epidermal and epithelial tissues. Our data show that reconstituted human tissues are extremely useful for modeling host interactions with C. parapsilosis and for studying fungal virulence factors.

Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi

PloS One. 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17520016

Melanin pigments are ubiquitous in nature. Melanized microorganisms are often the dominating species in certain extreme environments, such as soils contaminated with radionuclides, suggesting that the presence of melanin is beneficial in their life cycle. We hypothesized that ionizing radiation could change the electronic properties of melanin and might enhance the growth of melanized microorganisms.

Immunoglobulins G, M, and A Against Sporothrix Schenckii Exoantigens in Patients with Sporotrichosis Before and During Treatment with Itraconazole

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. Sep, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17634504

Sporotrichosis is an important subcutaneous mycosis, with an increasing worldwide incidence. However, few data are available regarding the immunological aspects of Sporothrix schenckii infection, particularly the humoral responses to the fungus. In this study we measured immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA in sera from 41 patients with sporotrichosis before antifungal treatment and from another 35 patients with sporotrichosis during itraconazole treatment by using a recently described S. schenckii exoantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). More than 95% of patients had detectable IgA antibodies, and more than 85% had IgM and IgG antibodies before treatment. The number of patients with IgG antibodies increased to 91% during treatment. Conversely, significantly fewer samples from treated patients were positive for IgM (71%) and IgA (89%). Overall, 78% of patients had detectable levels of all isotypes tested at diagnosis, and this percentage dropped to 62.9% in patients receiving itraconazole. Testing of all three isotypes improved the sensitivity; at least two isotypes were detected in 93% of patients before and 89% after treatment. The reactivity of 94 sera from patients with other diseases and healthy individuals was also tested. Cross-reactivity occurred in 33% of the heterologous sera. Most of them were positive only in one isotype, 8.5% were positive for at least two isotypes, and only one serum (1.1%) was positive for the three isotypes. Antibodies produced during S. schenckii infection are diverse, and we demonstrate that an exoantigen ELISA for the detection of combinations of IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic assay for sporotrichosis.

Lipase 8 Affects the Pathogenesis of Candida Albicans

Infection and Immunity. Oct, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17646357

The production of lipases can affect microbial fitness and virulence. We examined the role of the lipase 8 (LIP8) gene in the virulence of Candida albicans by constructing Deltalip8 strains by the URA-blaster disruption method. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments demonstrated the absence of LIP8 expression in the homozygous knockout mutants. Reconstituted strains and overexpression mutants were generated by introducing a LIP8 open reading frame under control of a constitutive actin promoter. Knockout mutants produced more mycelium, particularly at higher temperatures and pH >or=7. Diminished LIP8 expression resulted in reduced growth in lipid-containing media. Mutants deficient in the LIP8 gene were significantly less virulent in a murine intravenous infection model. The results clearly indicate that Lip8p is an important virulence factor of C. albicans.

Monoclonal Antibody to Fungal Glucosylceramide Protects Mice Against Lethal Cryptococcus Neoformans Infection

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. Oct, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17715331

Glucosylceramides (GlcCer) are involved in the regulation of Cryptococcus neoformans virulence. In the present study, we demonstrate that passive immunization with a monoclonal antibody to GlcCer significantly reduces host inflammation and prolongs the survival of mice lethally infected with C. neoformans, revealing a potential therapeutic strategy to control cryptococcosis.

Targeted Gene Deletion in Candida Parapsilosis Demonstrates the Role of Secreted Lipase in Virulence

The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Oct, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17853941

Candida parapsilosis is a major cause of human disease, yet little is known about the pathogen's virulence. We have developed an efficient gene deletion system for C. parapsilosis based on the repeated use of the dominant nourseothricin resistance marker (caSAT1) and its subsequent deletion by FLP-mediated, site-specific recombination. Using this technique, we deleted the lipase locus in the C. parapsilosis genome consisting of adjacent genes CpLIP1 and CpLIP2. Additionally we reconstructed the CpLIP2 gene, which restored lipase activity. Lipolytic activity was absent in the null mutants, whereas the WT, heterozygous, and reconstructed mutants showed similar lipase production. Biofilm formation was inhibited with lipase-negative mutants and their growth was significantly reduced in lipid-rich media. The knockout mutants were more efficiently ingested and killed by J774.16 and RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. Additionally, the lipase-negative mutants were significantly less virulent in infection models that involve inoculation of reconstituted human oral epithelium or murine intraperitoneal challenge. These studies represent what we believe to be the first targeted disruption of a gene in C. parapsilosis and show that C. parapsilosis-secreted lipase is involved in disease pathogenesis. This efficient system for targeted gene deletion holds great promise for rapidly enhancing our knowledge of the biology and virulence of this increasingly common invasive fungal pathogen.

Caspofungin Reduces the Incidence of Fungal Contamination in Cell Culture

Mycopathologia. Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17899440

Fungal contamination is a major problem in cell culture, and the antifungal compounds currently in use can affect cultured cells. Echinocandins are antifungal drugs that inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis by targeting an enzyme that has no counterpart in mammalian cells. We evaluated whether the echinocandin caspofungin affected the growth or morphology of six murine cell lines (a macrophage-like cell line (J774.16) and five hybridoma lines), or primary human endothelial cells. The antifungal did not influence cellular characteristics at concentrations less than 512 microg/ml, while effectively reducing the incidence of fungal contamination. Also, caspofungin did not affect the production of antibody by hybridoma cells, or alter the cytokine production of J774.16 cells, although modest increases in IL-4 and IFN-gamma occurred upon LPS stimulation. Hence, echinocandins appear to be relatively non-toxic, and protect against fungal contamination in cell culture.

Phage Display Library Derived Peptides That Bind to Human Tumor Melanin As Potential Vehicles for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma

Bioconjugate Chemistry. Nov-Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17907769

Metastatic melanoma remains an incurable disease, and there is a great need for novel therapeutic modalities. We have recently identified melanin as a target for radionuclide therapy of melanoma and demonstrated the feasibility of this approach using a 188-rhenium ( (188)Re)-radiolabeled melanin-binding decapeptide to fungal melanin known as 4B4. Although the results indicated that radiolabeled melanin-binding decapeptide had activity against melanoma, that peptide also manifested high kidney uptake and this might become a concern during clinical trials. We hypothesized that by identifying peptides with different amino acid composition against tumor melanin we might be able to decrease their kidney uptake. Using the Heptapeptide Ph.D.-7 Phage Display Library, we identified three heptapeptides that bind to human tumor melanin. These peptides were radiolabeled with (188)Re via HYNIC ligand, and their comprehensive biodistribution in A2058 human metastatic melanoma tumor-bearing nude mice was compared to that of (188)Re-4B4 decapeptide. While tumor uptake of heptapeptides was quite similar to that of (188)Re-4B4 decapeptide, there was dramatically less uptake in the kidneys at both 3 h (6% ID/g vs 38%) and 24 h (2% ID/g vs 15%) postinjection. Administration of one of the generated heptapeptides, (188)Re-HYNIC-AsnProAsnTrpGlyProArg, to A2058 human metastatic melanoma-bearing nude mice resulted in significant retardation of the tumor growth. Immunofluorescence showed that in spite of their relatively small size heptapeptides were not able to penetrate through the membranes of viable melanoma cells and bound only to extracellular melanin, which provides assurance that they will be safe to healthy melanin-containing tissues during radionuclide therapy. Thus, these heptapeptides appear to have potentially significant advantages for targeted therapy of melanoma relative to existing melanin-binding peptides.

Voriconazole Inhibits Melanization in Cryptococcus Neoformans

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17923488

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal drug that inhibits ergosterol synthesis and has broad activity against yeast and molds. While studying the interaction of voriconazole and Cryptococcus neoformans, we noted that cells grown in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole reduced melanin pigmentation. We investigated this effect systematically by assessing melanin production in the presence of voriconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, and fluconazole. Only voriconazole impeded the formation of melanin at subinhibitory concentrations. Voriconazole did not affect the autopolymerization of l-dopa, and 0.5 MIC of voriconazole did affect the gene expression of C. neoformans. However, voriconazole inhibited the capacity of laccase to catalyze the formation of melanin. Hence, voriconazole affects melanization in C. neoformans by interacting directly with laccase, which may increase the efficacy of this potent antifungal against certain pigmented fungi.

Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Cryptococcus Neoformans Contain Protein Components Associated with Virulence

Eukaryotic Cell. Jan, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18039940

Cryptococcus neoformans produces vesicles containing its major virulence factor, the capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). These vesicles cross the cell wall to reach the extracellular space, where the polysaccharide is supposedly used for capsule growth or delivered into host tissues. In the present study, we characterized vesicle morphology and protein composition by a combination of techniques including electron microscopy, proteomics, enzymatic activity, and serological reactivity. Secretory vesicles in C. neoformans appear to be correlated with exosome-like compartments derived from multivesicular bodies. Extracellular vesicles manifested various sizes and morphologies, including electron-lucid membrane bodies and electron-dense vesicles. Seventy-six proteins were identified by proteomic analysis, including several related to virulence and protection against oxidative stress. Biochemical tests indicated laccase and urease activities in vesicles. In addition, different vesicle proteins were recognized by sera from patients with cryptococcosis. These results reveal an efficient and general mechanism of secretion of pathogenesis-related molecules in C. neoformans, suggesting that extracellular vesicles function as "virulence bags" that deliver a concentrated payload of fungal products to host effector cells and tissues.

The PD-1/PD-L Costimulatory Pathway Critically Affects Host Resistance to the Pathogenic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Feb, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18268348

The PD-1 costimulatory receptor inhibits T cell receptor signaling upon interacting with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. The PD-1/PD-L pathway is critical in maintaining self-tolerance. In this study, we examined the role of PD-1 in a mouse model of acute infection with Histoplasma capsulatum, a major human pathogenic fungus. In a lethal model of histoplasmosis, all PD-1-deficient mice survived infection, whereas the wild-type mice died with disseminated disease. PD-L expression on macrophages and splenocytes was up-regulated during infection, and macrophages from infected mice inhibited in vitro T cell activation. Of interest, antibody blocking of PD-1 significantly increased survival of lethally infected wild-type mice. Thus, our studies extend the role of the PD-1/PD-L pathway in regulating antimicrobial immunity to fungal pathogens. The results show that the PD-1/PD-L pathway has a key role in the regulation of antifungal immunity, and suggest that manipulation of this pathway represents a strategy of immunotherapy for histoplasmosis.

Methamphetamine Inhibits Antigen Processing, Presentation, and Phagocytosis

PLoS Pathogens. Feb, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18282092

Methamphetamine (Meth) is abused by over 35 million people worldwide. Chronic Meth abuse may be particularly devastating in individuals who engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners because it is associated with a 2-fold higher risk for obtaining HIV and associated secondary infections. We report the first specific evidence that Meth at pharmacological concentrations exerts a direct immunosuppressive effect on dendritic cells and macrophages. As a weak base, Meth collapses the pH gradient across acidic organelles, including lysosomes and associated autophagic organelles. This in turn inhibits receptor-mediated phagocytosis of antibody-coated particles, MHC class II antigen processing by the endosomal-lysosomal pathway, and antigen presentation to splenic T cells by dendritic cells. More importantly Meth facilitates intracellular replication and inhibits intracellular killing of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, two major AIDS-related pathogens. Meth exerts previously unreported direct immunosuppressive effects that contribute to increased risk of infection and exacerbate AIDS pathology.

Vesicular Transport in Histoplasma Capsulatum: an Effective Mechanism for Trans-cell Wall Transfer of Proteins and Lipids in Ascomycetes

Cellular Microbiology. Aug, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18419773

Vesicular secretion of macromolecules has recently been described in the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans, raising the question as to whether ascomycetes similarly utilize vesicles for transport. In the present study, we examine whether the clinically important ascomycete Histoplasma capsulatum produce vesicles and utilized these structures to secrete macromolecules. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows transcellular secretion of vesicles by yeast cells. Proteomic and lipidomic analyses of vesicles isolated from culture supernatants reveal a rich collection of macromolecules involved in diverse processes, including metabolism, cell recycling, signalling and virulence. The results demonstrate that H. capsulatum can utilize a trans-cell wall vesicular transport secretory mechanism to promote virulence. Additionally, TEM of supernatants collected from Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Sporothrix schenckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae documents that vesicles are similarly produced by additional ascomycetes. The vesicles from H. capsulatum react with immune serum from patients with histoplasmosis, providing an association of the vesicular products with pathogenesis. The findings support the proposal that vesicular secretion is a general mechanism in fungi for the transport of macromolecules related to virulence and that this process could be a target for novel therapeutics.

The Radioprotective Properties of Fungal Melanin Are a Function of Its Chemical Composition, Stable Radical Presence and Spatial Arrangement

Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. Apr, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18426412

Melanized microorganisms are often found in environments with very high background radiation levels such as in nuclear reactor cooling pools and the destroyed reactor in Chernobyl. These findings and the laboratory observations of the resistance of melanized fungi to ionizing radiation suggest a role for this pigment in radioprotection. We hypothesized that the radioprotective properties of melanin in microorganisms result from a combination of physical shielding and quenching of cytotoxic free radicals. We have investigated the radioprotective properties of melanin by subjecting the human pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum in their melanized and non-melanized forms to sublethal and lethal doses of radiation of up to 8 kGy. The contribution of chemical composition, free radical presence, spatial arrangement, and Compton scattering to the radioprotective properties of melanin was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography, electron spin resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and autoradiographic techniques. Melanin protected fungi against ionizing radiation and its radioprotective properties were a function of its chemical composition, free radical quenching, and spherical spatial arrangement.

A Monoclonal Antibody to Histoplasma Capsulatum Alters the Intracellular Fate of the Fungus in Murine Macrophages

Eukaryotic Cell. Jul, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18487350

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to a cell surface histone on Histoplasma capsulatum modify murine infection and decrease the growth of H. capsulatum within macrophages. Without the MAbs, H. capsulatum survives within macrophages by modifying the intraphagosomal environment. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the affects of a MAb on macrophage phagosomes. Using transmission electron and fluorescence microscopy, we showed that phagosome activation and maturation are significantly greater when H. capsulatum yeast are opsonized with MAb. The MAb reduced the ability of the organism to regulate the phagosomal pH. Additionally, increased antigen processing and reduced negative costimulation occur in macrophages that phagocytose yeast cells opsonized with MAb, resulting in more-efficient T-cell activation. The MAb alters the intracellular fate of H. capsulatum by affecting the ability of the fungus to regulate the milieu of the phagosome.

Histoplasma Capsulatum at the Host-pathogen Interface

Microbes and Infection / Institut Pasteur. Jul, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18672088

Histoplasma capsulatum is the most common cause of invasive fungal pulmonary disease worldwide. The interaction of H. capsulatum with a host is a complex, dynamic process. Severe disease most commonly occurs in individuals with compromised immunity, and the increasing utilization of immunomodulators in medicine has revealed significant risks for reactivation disease in patients with latent histoplasmosis. Fortunately, there are well developed molecular tools and excellent animal models for studying H. capsulatum virulence and numerous recent advances have been made regarding the pathogenesis of this fungus that will improve our capacity to combat disease.

Melanin As a Virulence Factor of Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis and Other Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungi: a Minireview

Mycopathologia. Apr-May, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18777637

Melanin pigments are substances produced by a broad variety of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and helminths. Microbes predominantly produce melanin pigment via tyrosinases, laccases, catecholases, and the polyketide synthase pathway. In fungi, melanin is deposited in the cell wall and cytoplasm, and melanin particles ("ghosts") can be isolated from these fungi that have the same size and shape of the original cells. Melanin has been reported in several human pathogenic dimorphic fungi including Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides posadasii. Melanization appears to contribute to virulence by reducing the susceptibility of melanized fungi to host defense mechanisms and antifungal drugs.

Candida Parapsilosis, an Emerging Fungal Pathogen

Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Oct, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18854483

SUMMARY: Candida parapsilosis is an emerging major human pathogen that has dramatically increased in significance and prevalence over the past 2 decades, such that C. parapsilosis is now one of the leading causes of invasive candidal disease. Individuals at the highest risk for severe infection include neonates and patients in intensive care units. C. parapsilosis infections are especially associated with hyperalimentation solutions, prosthetic devices, and indwelling catheters, as well as the nosocomial spread of disease through the hands of health care workers. Factors involved in disease pathogenesis include the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, adhesion to prosthetics, and biofilm formation. New molecular genetic tools are providing additional and much-needed information regarding C. parapsilosis virulence. The emerging information will provide a deeper understanding of C. parapsilosis pathogenesis and facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches for treating C. parapsilosis infections.

A Role for Vesicular Transport of Macromolecules Across Cell Walls in Fungal Pathogenesis

Communicative & Integrative Biology. 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 19169363

In our recent work, we have shown that fungal species from different phyla produce extracellular vesicles. The vesicles are heterogeneous and morphologically similar to mammalian exosomes, with intact bilayered membranes. Proteomic analyses reveal that the vesicles contain a broad array of macromolecules, many of which are associated with fungal virulence. Further, the biological import of the extracellular fungal vesicles is supported by their presence during murine cryptococcosis and the immunoreactivity of convalescent serum from patients with Cryptococcus neoformans or Histoplasma capsulatum vesicle protein extracts.In contrast to most eukaryotic cells, fungi have complex cell walls, that could in theory provide a significant barrier to the secretion of large molecules. The discovery of trans-cell wall vesicular transport in fungi provides a solution to the problem of extracellular transport of macromolecules. Identifying similar vesicles in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes suggest that the shuttle system is ancient, predating the divergence of these branches 0.5-1.0 billion years ago. Importantly, the discovery of this trans-cell wall vesicular transport system also poses new, interesting questions for future investigations.

Vesicular Trans-Cell Wall Transport in Fungi: A Mechanism for the Delivery of Virulence-Associated Macromolecules?

Lipid Insights. Aug, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 20617119

Fungal cells are encaged in rigid, complex cell walls. Until recently, there was remarkably little information regarding the trans-fungal cell wall transfer of intracellular macromolecules to the extracellular space. Recently, several studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms that fungal cells utilize to secrete a wide variety of macromolecules through the cell wall. The combined use of transmission electron microscopy, serology, biochemistry, proteomics and lipidomics have revealed that the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Sporothrix schenckii, as well as the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, each produces extracellular vesicles that carry lipids, proteins, polysaccharides and pigment-like structures of unquestionable biological significance. Compositional analysis of the C. neoformans and H. capsulatum extracellular vesicles suggests that they may function as 'virulence bags', with the potential to modulate the host-pathogen interaction in favor of the fungus. The cellular origin of the extracellular vesicles remains unknown, but morphological and biochemical features indicate that they are similar to the well-described mammalian exosomes.

Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanoparticles Are Therapeutic for Staphylococcus Aureus Abscesses in a Murine Model of Infection

PloS One. 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19915659

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a leading cause of a diverse spectrum of bacterial diseases, including abscesses. Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical component of the natural host defense against pathogens such as SA, but its therapeutic applications have been limited by a lack of effective delivery options. We tested the efficacy of a NO-releasing nanoparticle system (NO-np) in methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) abscesses in mice. The results show that the NO-np exert antimicrobial activity against MRSA in vitro and in abscesses. Topical or intradermal NO-np treatment of abscesses reduces the involved area and bacterial load while improving skin architecture. Notably, we evaluated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are involved in immunomodulation and wound healing, revealing that NO-np lead to a reduction in angiogenesis preventing bacterial dissemination from abscesses. These data suggest that NO-np may be useful therapeutics for microbial abscesses.

Fatty Acid Synthase Impacts the Pathobiology of Candida Parapsilosis in Vitro and During Mammalian Infection

PloS One. 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 20027295

Cytosolic fungal fatty acid synthase is composed of two subunits alpha and beta, which are encoded by Fas1 and Fas2 genes. In this study, the Fas2 genes of the human pathogen Candida parapsilosis were deleted using a modified SAT1 flipper technique. CpFas2 was essential in media lacking exogenous fatty acids and the growth of Fas2 disruptants (Fas2 KO) was regulated by the supplementation of different long chain fatty acids, such as myristic acid (14ratio0), palmitic acid (16ratio0), and Tween 80, in a dose-specific manner. Lipidomic analysis revealed that Fas2 KO cells were severely restricted in production of unsaturated fatty acids. The Fas2 KO strains were unable to form normal biofilms and were more efficiently killed by murine-like macrophages, J774.16, than the wild type, heterozygous and reconstituted strains. Furthermore, Fas2 KO yeast were significantly less virulent in a systemic murine infection model. The Fas2 KO cells were also hypersensitive to human serum, and inhibition of CpFas2 in WT C. parapsilosis by cerulenin significantly decreased fungal growth in human serum. This study demonstrates that CpFas2 is essential for C. parapsilosis growth in the absence of exogenous fatty acids, is involved in unsaturated fatty acid production, influences fungal virulence, and represents a promising antifungal drug target.

Monoclonal Antibodies to Heat Shock Protein 60 Alter the Pathogenesis of Histoplasma Capsulatum

Infection and Immunity. Apr, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19179416

Heat shock proteins with molecular masses of approximately 60 kDa (Hsp60) are widely distributed in nature and are highly conserved immunogenic molecules that can function as molecular chaperones and enhance cellular survival under physiological stress conditions. The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum displays an Hsp60 on its cell surface that is a key target of the cellular immune response during histoplasmosis, and immunization with this protein is protective. However, the role of humoral responses to Hsp60 has not been fully elucidated. We generated immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to H. capsulatum Hsp60. IgG1 and IgG2a MAbs significantly prolonged the survival of mice infected with H. capsulatum. An IgG2b MAb was not protective. The protective MAbs reduced intracellular fungal survival and increased phagolysosomal fusion of macrophages in vitro. Histological examination of infected mice showed that protective MAbs reduced the fungal burden and organ damage. Organs of infected animals treated with protective MAbs had significantly increased levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and decreased levels of IL-4 and IL-10. Hence, IgG1 and IgG2a MAbs to Hsp60 can modify H. capsulatum pathogenesis in part by altering the intracellular fate of the fungus and inducing the production of Th1-associated cytokines.

Iatrogenic Meningitis in an Obstetric Patient After Combined Spinal-epidural Analgesia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Southern Medical Journal. Mar, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19204609

Iatrogenic meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal condition. We report a case of meningitis after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and review previous reports of meningitis subsequent to spinal, combined spinal-epidural and epidural analgesia or anesthesia. Streptococci remain the most commonly identified agent, although cultures are frequently negative. Droplet contamination or needle contamination from incompletely sterilized skin are the major routes for infection. Strict aseptic technique and infection control measures should be employed when accessing the epidural space.

Radioimmunotherapy of Experimental Human Metastatic Melanoma with Melanin-binding Antibodies and in Combination with Dacarbazine

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Apr, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19293257

Melanin has emerged as an attractive target for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of melanoma, and a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (mAb) 6D2 to melanin is currently in clinical evaluation. We investigated two approaches to improve the targeting of radiation to tumors using melanin-binding mAbs: (a) the use of an additional mAb to melanin could provide information on whether using antibodies to melanin can serve as a general approach to development of therapeutics for melanoma, and (b) as melanin targeting involves the antibody binding to extracellular melanin released from necrotic melanoma cells, we hypothesized that the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent followed by RIT would facilitate the delivery of radiation to the tumors due to the increased presence of free melanin.

Vesicular Transport Across the Fungal Cell Wall

Trends in Microbiology. Apr, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19299133

Recent findings indicate that fungi use vesicular transport to deliver substances across their cell walls. Fungal vesicles are similar to mammalian exosomes and could originate from cytoplasmic multivesicular bodies. Vesicular transport enables the export of large molecules across the cell wall, and vesicles contain lipids, proteins and polysaccharides, many of which are associated with virulence. Concentration of fungal products in vesicles could increase their efficiency in food acquisition and/or delivering potentially noxious substances to other cells, such as amoebae or phagocytes. The discovery of vesicular transport in fungi opens many new avenues for investigation in basic cell biology and pathogenesis.

Growth Conditions Influence Melanization of Brazilian Clinical Sporothrix Schenckii Isolates

Microbes and Infection / Institut Pasteur. Apr, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19328867

Sporothrix schenckii is known to produce DHN melanin on both conidial and yeast cells, however little information is available regarding the factors inducing fungal melanization. We evaluated whether culture conditions influenced melanization of 25 Brazilian S. schenckii strains and one control strain (ATCC 10212). Tested conditions included different media, pH, temperature, incubation time, glucose concentrations, and presence or absence of tricyclazole or L-DOPA. Melanization was reduced on Sabouraud compared to defined chemical medium. The majority of strains produced small amounts of melanin at 37 degrees C and none melanized at basic pH. Increased glucose concentrations did not inhibit melanization, rather increasing glucose enhanced pigment production in 27% of strains. Melanin synthesis was also enhanced by the addition of L-DOPA and its addition to medium with tricyclazole, an inhibitor of melanin synthesis, resulted in fungal melanization, including hyphal melanin production. Our results suggest that different S. schenckii strains have distinct control of melanization and that this fungus can use phenolic compounds to enhance melanization in vitro.

Antimicrobial and Healing Efficacy of Sustained Release Nitric Oxide Nanoparticles Against Staphylococcus Aureus Skin Infection

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19387479

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a leading cause of both superficial and invasive infections in community and hospital settings, frequently resulting in chronic refractory disease. It is imperative that innovative therapeutics to which the bacteria are unlikely to evolve resistance be developed to curtail associated morbidity and mortality and ultimately improve our capacity to treat these infections. In this study, a previously unreported nitric oxide (NO)-releasing nanoparticle technology is applied to the treatment of methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) wound infections. The results show that the nanoparticles exert antimicrobial activity against MRSA in a murine wound model. Acceleration of infected wound closure in NO-treated groups was clinically shown compared with controls. The histology of wounds revealed that NO nanoparticle treatment decreased suppurative inflammation, minimal bacterial burden, and less collagen degradation, providing potential mechanisms for biological activity. Together, these data suggest that these NO-releasing nanoparticles have the potential to serve as a novel class of topically applied antimicrobials for the treatment of cutaneous infections and wounds.

Methamphetamine Enhances Histoplasmosis by Immunosuppression of the Host

The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Jul, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19473099

The effect of methamphetamine on the host response to an opportunistic pathogen has not been extensively described. Methamphetamine is a major public health and safety problem in the United States. Chronic methamphetamine abuse is associated with a 2-fold higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection and, possibly, additional infections. Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that is endemic in the Midwest of the United States and that causes respiratory and systemic disease, particularly in individuals with impaired immunity. We showed that methamphetamine abrogates normal macrophage function, resulting in an inability to control histoplasmosis. Methamphetamine decreased phagocytosis and killing of yeast by primary macrophages by alkalization of the phagosome. Furthermore, mice that received methamphetamine prior to H. capsulatum infection were immunologically impaired, with increased fungal burden, increased pulmonary inflammation, and decreased survival. Immunosuppression by methamphetamine may be associated with deregulation of cytokines in the lungs of infected mice, aberrant processing of H. capsulatum within macrophages, and immobilization of MAC-1 receptors on the surface of macrophages that are involved in phagocytosis. Additionally, methamphetamine inhibits T cell proliferation and alters antibody production, which are important components of adaptive immunity. With use of a murine model of histoplasmosis, this study establishes that methamphetamine may alter the immune system of the host and enhance fungal pathogenesis.

Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin) Reduces Damage to Reconstituted Human Tissues Infected with Candida Species by Inhibiting Extracellular Fungal Lipases

Microbes and Infection / Institut Pasteur. Dec, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19703582

A reconstituted human tissue model was used to mimic Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis infection in order to investigate the protective effects of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, ASA). We found that therapeutic concentrations of ASA reduced tissue damage in the in vitro infection model. We further evaluated the lipase inhibitory effects of ASA by investigating the growth of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. parapsilosis lipase negative (Deltacplip1-2/Deltacplip1-2) mutants in a lipid rich minimal medium supplemented with olive oil and found that a therapeutic concentration of ASA inhibited the growth of wild type fungi. The lipase inhibitors quinine and ebelactone B were also shown to reduce growth and protect against tissue damage from Candida species, respectively. A lipolytic activity assay also showed that therapeutic concentrations of ASA inhibited C. antarctica and C. cylindracea purified lipases obtained through a commercial kit. The relationship between ASA and lipase was characterized through a computed structural model of the Lipase-2 protein from C. parapsilosis in complex with ASA. The results suggest that development of inhibitors of fungal lipases could result in broad-spectrum therapeutics, especially since fungal lipases are not homologous to their human analogues.

The Use of Chitosan to Damage Cryptococcus Neoformans Biofilms

Biomaterials. Feb, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 19819009

The use of indwelling medical devices (e.g. pacemakers, prosthetic joints, catheters, etc) continues to increase, yet these devices are all too often complicated by infections with biofilm-forming microbes with increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and host defense mechanisms. We investigated the ability of chitosan, a polymer isolated from crustacean exoskeletons, to damage biofilms formed by the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Using 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium-hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay and CFU determinations, we showed that chitosan significantly reduced both the metabolic activity of the biofilms and cell viability, respectively. We further demonstrated that chitosan penetrated biofilms and damaged fungal cells using confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Notably, melanization, an important virulence determinant of C. neoformans, did not protect cryptococcal biofilms against chitosan. The chitosan concentrations used in this study to evaluate fungal biofilm susceptibility were not toxic to human endothelial cells. Our results indicate that cryptococcal biofilms are susceptible to treatment with chitosan, suggesting an option for the prevention or treatment of fungal biofilms on indwelling medical devices.

Aggregation of Streptococcus Pneumoniae by a Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide-specific Human Monoclonal IgM Correlates with Antibody Efficacy in Vivo

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. May, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20200186

Acquired antibody immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) has been linked to serotype (ST)-specific opsonic antibodies to the relevant pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS) that mediate protection by enhancing the bactericidal effect of host phagocytes. Despite the well-recognized role of opsonic IgG in host defense against pneumococcus, PPS-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that mediate protection against lethal challenge with ST3 pneumococcus in mice but do not promote phagocytic killing in vitro (nonopsonic antibodies) have been described. In this study, we sought to determine the biological activity of one such MAb, A7 (a human PPS3-specific IgM), and the mechanism by which it mediates protection. In vitro studies demonstrated that coincubation of A7 with ST3 in the absence of phagocytes or a complement source resulted in a reduction in CFU on blood agar plates that was largely reversible by sonication. A chromogenic cellular proliferation assay demonstrated that A7 did not affect replication of ST3 in liquid culture. The ability of A7 to induce aggregation of ST3 was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry: A7 induced aggregation of ST3, and in the presence of a complement source, A7 promoted deposition of complement component 3 (C3) on aggregated bacteria in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly, administration of preincubated mixtures of A7 and ST3 intraperitoneally to mice protected them from the lethality of ST3 in a dose-dependent fashion. These findings suggest that A7-mediated aggregation enhances resistance to ST3, most likely by enhancing C3 deposition on the ST3 capsule, thereby promoting host antipneumococcal activity in vivo.

Demonstration of Antibiofilm and Antifungal Efficacy of Chitosan Against Candidal Biofilms, Using an in Vivo Central Venous Catheter Model

The Journal of Infectious Diseases. May, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20331379

Candida species are a major cause of catheter infections. Using a central venous catheter Candida albicans biofilm model, we demonstrated that chitosan, a polymer isolated from crustacean exoskeletons, inhibits candidal biofilm formation in vivo. Furthermore, chitosan statistically significantly decreased both the metabolic activity of the biofilms and the cell viability of C. albicans and Candida parapsilosis biofilms in vitro. In addition, confocal and scanning electron microscopic examination demonstrated that chitosan penetrates candidal biofilms and damages fungal cells. Importantly, the concentrations of chitosan that were used to evaluate fungal biofilm susceptibility were not toxic to human endothelial cells. Chitosan should be considered for the prevention or treatment of fungal biofilms on central venous catheters and perhaps other medical devices.

Melanin-covered Nanoparticles for Protection of Bone Marrow During Radiation Therapy of Cancer

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Dec, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20421152

Protection of bone marrow against radiotoxicity during radioimmunotherapy and in some cases external beam radiation therapy such as hemi-body irradiation would permit administration of significantly higher doses to tumors, resulting in increased efficacy and safety of treatment. Melanin, a naturally occurring pigment, possesses radioprotective properties. We hypothesized that melanin, which is insoluble, could be delivered to the bone marrow by intravenously administrated melanin-covered nanoparticles (MNs) because of the human body's "self-sieving" ability, protecting it against ionizing radiation.

Cryptococcus Neoformans Responds to Mannitol by Increasing Capsule Size in Vitro and in Vivo

Cellular Microbiology. Jun, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20070311

The polysaccharide capsule of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is its main virulence factor. In this study, we determined the effects of mannitol and glucose on the capsule and exopolysaccharide production. Growth in mannitol significantly increased capsular volume compared with cultivation in glucose. However, cells grown in glucose concentrations higher than 62.5 mM produced more exopolysaccharide than cells grown in mannitol. The fibre lengths and glycosyl composition of capsular polysaccharide from yeast grown in mannitol was structurally different from that of yeast grown in glucose. Furthermore, mannitol treatment of mice infected intratracheally with C. neoformans resulted in fungal cells with significantly larger capsules and the mice had reduced fungal dissemination to the brain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of carbohydrate source and concentration to modify the expression of a major virulence factor of C. neoformans. These findings may impact the clinical management of cryptococcosis.

Extracellular Vesicles from Cryptococcus Neoformans Modulate Macrophage Functions

Infection and Immunity. Apr, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20145096

Cryptococcus neoformans and distantly related fungal species release extracellular vesicles that traverse the cell wall and contain a varied assortment of components, some of which have been associated with virulence. Previous studies have suggested that these extracellular vesicles are produced in vitro and during animal infection, but the role of vesicular secretion during the interaction of fungi with host cells remains unknown. In this report, we demonstrate by fluorescence microscopy that mammalian macrophages can incorporate extracellular vesicles produced by C. neoformans. Incubation of cryptococcal vesicles with murine macrophages resulted in increased levels of extracellular tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Vesicle preparations also resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of nitric oxide production by phagocytes, suggesting that vesicle components stimulate macrophages to produce antimicrobial compounds. Treated macrophages were more effective at killing C. neoformans yeast. Our results indicate that the extracellular vesicles of C. neoformans can stimulate macrophage function, apparently activating these phagocytic cells to enhance their antimicrobial activity. These results establish that cryptococcal vesicles are biologically active.

A Histoplasma Capsulatum-specific IgG1 Isotype Monoclonal Antibody, H1C, to a 70-kilodalton Cell Surface Protein is Not Protective in Murine Histoplasmosis

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. Jul, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20484567

Monoclonal antibodies to Histoplasma capsulatum can modify pathogenesis. We now show that monoclonal antibody H1C to a 70-kDa antigen increases intracellular fungal growth and reduces macrophage nitric oxide release but has no effect on fungal burden or survival in murine infection. This further demonstrates the complexities of host-pathogen interactions.

Characterization of Yeast Extracellular Vesicles: Evidence for the Participation of Different Pathways of Cellular Traffic in Vesicle Biogenesis

PloS One. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20559436

Extracellular vesicles in yeast cells are involved in the molecular traffic across the cell wall. In yeast pathogens, these vesicles have been implicated in the transport of proteins, lipids, polysaccharide and pigments to the extracellular space. Cellular pathways required for the biogenesis of yeast extracellular vesicles are largely unknown.

Fungal Cell Gigantism During Mammalian Infection

PLoS Pathogens. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20585557

The interaction between fungal pathogens with the host frequently results in morphological changes, such as hyphae formation. The encapsulated pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is not considered a dimorphic fungus, and is predominantly found in host tissues as round yeast cells. However, there is a specific morphological change associated with cryptococcal infection that involves an increase in capsule volume. We now report another morphological change whereby gigantic cells are formed in tissue. The paper reports the phenotypic characterization of giant cells isolated from infected mice and the cellular changes associated with giant cell formation. C. neoformans infection in mice resulted in the appearance of giant cells with cell bodies up to 30 microm in diameter and capsules resistant to stripping with gamma-radiation and organic solvents. The proportion of giant cells ranged from 10 to 80% of the total lung fungal burden, depending on infection time, individual mice, and correlated with the type of immune response. When placed on agar, giant cells budded to produce small daughter cells that traversed the capsule of the mother cell at the speed of 20-50 m/h. Giant cells with dimensions that approximated those in vivo were observed in vitro after prolonged culture in minimal media, and were the oldest in the culture, suggesting that giant cell formation is an aging-dependent phenomenon. Giant cells recovered from mice displayed polyploidy, suggesting a mechanism by which gigantism results from cell cycle progression without cell fission. Giant cell formation was dependent on cAMP, but not on Ras1. Real-time imaging showed that giant cells were engaged, but not engulfed by phagocytic cells. We describe a remarkable new strategy for C. neoformans to evade the immune response by enlarging cell size, and suggest that gigantism results from replication without fission, a phenomenon that may also occur with other fungal pathogens.

Monoclonal Antibodies Against Peptidorhamnomannans of Scedosporium Apiospermum Enhance the Pathogenicity of the Fungus

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20976055

Scedosporium apiospermum is part of the Pseudallescheria-Scedosporium complex. Peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs) are cell wall glycopeptides present in some fungi, and their structures have been characterized in S. apiospermum, S. prolificans and Sporothrix schenckii. Prior work shows that PRMs can interact with host cells and that the glycopeptides are antigenic. In the present study, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, IgG1) to S. apiospermum derived PRM were generated and their effects on S. apiospermum were examined in vitro and in vivo. The mAbs recognized a carbohydrate epitope on PRM. In culture, addition of the PRM mAbs increased S. apiospermum conidia germination and reduced conidial phagocytosis by J774.16 macrophages. In a murine infection model, mice treated with antibodies to PRM died prior to control animals. Thus, PRM is involved in morphogenesis and the binding of this glycopeptide by mAbs enhanced the virulence of the fungus. Further insights into the effects of these glycopeptides on the pathobiology of S. apiospermum may lead to new avenues for preventing and treating scedosporiosis.

The Use of Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanoparticles As a Treatment Against Acinetobacter Baumannii in Wound Infections

Virulence. Mar-Apr, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21178416

Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is a frequent cause of hospital acquired pneumonia and recently has increased in incidence as the causative agent of severe disease in troops wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ab clinical isolates are frequently extremely resistant to antimicrobials, significantly complicating our capacity to treat infections due to this pathogen. Hence, the development of innovative therapeutics targeting mechanisms to which the bacteria are unlikely to evolve resistance is urgently needed. We examined the capacity of a nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticle (NO-np) to treat wounds infected with Ab. We found that the NO-nps were therapeutic in an experimental Ab murine wound model. Treatment with NO-nps significantly accelerated healing of infected wounds. Histological study demonstrated that NO-np treatment reduced suppurative inflammation, decreased microbial burden, and reduced the degradation of collagen. Furthermore, NO-np treatment alters the local cytokine milieu. In sum, we demonstrated that the NO-nps are an easily administered topical antimicrobial for the treatment of Ab wound infections, and our findings suggest that NO-nps may also be ideal for use in combat or disaster situations.

Biogenesis of Extracellular Vesicles in Yeast: Many Questions with Few Answers

Communicative & Integrative Biology. Nov, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21331232

The cellular events required for unconventional protein secretion in eukaryotic pathogens are beginning to be revealed. In fungi, extracellular release of proteins involves passage through the cell wall by mechanisms that are poorly understood. In recent years, several studies demonstrated that yeast cells produce vesicles that traverse the cell wall to release a wide range of cellular components into the extracellular space. These studies suggested that extracellular vesicle release involves components of both conventional and unconventional secretory pathways, although the precise mechanisms required for this process are still unknown. We discuss here cellular events that are candidates for regulating this interesting but elusive event in the biology of yeast cells.

Mycobacteria Release Active Membrane Vesicles That Modulate Immune Responses in a TLR2-dependent Manner in Mice

The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Apr, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21364279

Bacteria naturally release membrane vesicles (MVs) under a variety of growth environments. Their production is associated with virulence due to their capacity to concentrate toxins and immunomodulatory molecules. In this report, we show that the 2 medically important species of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin, release MVs when growing in both liquid culture and within murine phagocytic cells in vitro and in vivo. We documented MV production in a variety of virulent and nonvirulent mycobacterial species, indicating that release of MVs is a property conserved among mycobacterial species. Extensive proteomic analysis revealed that only MVs from the virulent strains contained TLR2 lipoprotein agonists. The interaction of MVs with macrophages isolated from mice stimulated the release of cytokines and chemokines in a TLR2-dependent fashion, and infusion of MVs into mouse lungs elicited a florid inflammatory response in WT but not TLR2-deficient mice. When MVs were administered to mice before M. tuberculosis pulmonary infection, an accelerated local inflammatory response with increased bacterial replication was seen in the lungs and spleens. Our results provide strong evidence that actively released mycobacterial vesicles are a delivery mechanism for immunologically active molecules that contribute to mycobacterial virulence. These findings may open up new horizons for understanding the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and developing vaccines.

Candida Parapsilosis Fat Storage-inducing Transmembrane (FIT) Protein 2 Regulates Lipid Droplet Formation and Impacts Virulence

Microbes and Infection / Institut Pasteur. Jul, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21396481

Neutral lipid storage in lipid droplets (LDs) is a conserved process across diverse species. Although significant attention has focused on LDs in the biology of obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, there is limited information on the role of LDs in pathogenic fungi. We have disrupted the Fat storage-Inducing Transmembrane (FIT) protein 2 genes of the emerging pathogenic fungus Candida parapsilosis and demonstrated that LD formation is significantly reduced in the mutant cells. Disruption of FIT2 genes also reduced accumulation of triacylglycerols. The production of other lipids such as phospholipids and steryl esters were also affected in the mutant strain. Inhibition of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis by triclosan in the FIT2 disruptants reduced fungal growth in rich medium YPD, indicating that TAGs or fatty acids from the LDs could be important for cell proliferation. FIT2 disruption was associated with enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress. Furthermore, we showed that FIT2 deletion yeast cells were significantly attenuated in murine infection models, suggesting an involvement of LDs in the pathobiology of the fungus.

Autophagy-related Lipase FgATG15 of Fusarium Graminearum is Important for Lipid Turnover and Plant Infection

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B. Mar, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21094265

Autophagy is a non-selective degradation pathway in eukaryotic cells that is conserved from yeasts to humans. Autophagy is involved in the virulence of several pathogenic fungi such as Magnaporthe grisea or Colletotrichum orbiculare. In the current study, we identified and disrupted an autophagy-like lipase FgATG15 in Fusarium graminearum. We showed that FgATG15 exhibits lipase activity when heterologously expressed in P. pastoris. We used a gene deletion approach to characterize the function of the enzyme. We demonstrate that FgATG15 is involved in fungal growth and aerial hyphae production. FgATG15 is also involved in conidia production and germination, and disruption of FgATG15 led to aberrant conidia shapes. FgATG15 disruptants were reduced in storage lipid degradation under starvation conditions, implicating FgATG15's involvement in lipid turnover. Moreover, wheat head infection by the disruptants was severely attenuated, indicating the involvement of FgATG15 in pathogenesis. Additionally, we found that the deoxynivalenol levels of FgATG15 disruptants were significantly decreased compared with the wild type strain. Taken together, we show that FgATG15 is involved in numerous developmental processes and could be exploited as an antifungal target.

Phenylalanine Hydroxylase (PAH) from the Lower Eukaryote Leishmania Major

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology. Jan, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 20887755

Aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (AAAH) typically use tetrahydrobiopterin (H(4)B) as the cofactor. The protozoan parasite Leishmania major requires biopterin for growth and expresses strong salvage and regeneration systems to maintain H(4)B levels. Here we explored the consequences of genetic manipulation of the sole L. major phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) to explore whether it could account for the Leishmania H(4)B requirement. L. major PAH resembles AAAHs of other organisms, bearing eukaryotic-type domain organization, and conservation of key catalytic residues including those implicated in pteridine binding. A pah(-) null mutant and an episomal complemented overexpressing derivative (pah-/+PAH) were readily obtained, and metabolic labeling studies established that PAH was required to hydroxylate Phe to Tyr. Neither WT nor overexpressing lines were able to hydroxylate radiolabeled tyrosine or tryptophan, nor to synthesize catecholamines. WT but not pah(-) parasites showed reactivity with an antibody to melanin when grown with l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), although the reactive product is unlikely to be melanin sensu strictu. WT was auxotrophic for Phe, Trp and Tyr, suggesting that PAH activity was insufficient to meet normal Tyr requirements. However, pah(-) showed an increased sensitivity to Tyr deprivation, while the pah(-)/+PAH overexpressor showed increased survival and could be adapted to grow well without added Tyr. pah(-) showed no alterations in H(4)B-dependent differentiation, as established by in vitro metacyclogenesis, or survival in mouse or macrophage infections. Thus Leishmania PAH may mitigate but not alleviate Tyr auxotrophy, but plays no essential role in the steps of the parasite infectious cycle. These findings suggest PAH is unlikely to explain the Leishmania requirement for biopterin.

The Stearoyl-coenzyme A Desaturase 1 is Essential for Virulence and Membrane Stress in Candida Parapsilosis Through Unsaturated Fatty Acid Production

Infection and Immunity. Jan, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 20974817

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) are essential components of cells. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, stearoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) desaturase 1 (OLE1) affects cell viability through the regulation of oleic (18:1) or palmitoleic (16:1) acid production. In this study, we used a targeted gene deletion approach to determine the impact of OLE1 on the emerging human pathogenic fungus Candida parapsilosis. We found that the deletion of OLE1 resulted in an auxotrophic yeast strain (designated OLE1 KO) that required unsaturated fatty acids for growth but not saturated fatty acids. Additionally, the production of UFA by OLE1 KO yeast cells was markedly reduced, suggesting that Ole1 is essential for UFA production. In contrast to wild-type C. parapsilosis, which produced pseudohyphal growth on UFA-supplemented medium agar, pseudohyphal formation in the OLE1 KO cells was severely impaired, suggesting that Ole1 regulates morphology. Furthermore, the OLE1 KO cells were hypersensitive to various stress-inducing factors, such as salts, SDS, and H(2)O(2), especially at the physiological temperature. The results indicate that OLE1 is essential for the stress response, perhaps through the production of UFA for cell membrane biosynthesis. The OLE1 KO cells also were hypersensitive to human and fetal bovine serum, suggesting that targeting Ole1 could suppress the dissemination of yeast cells in the bloodstream. Murine-like macrophage J774.16 more efficiently killed the OLE1 KO yeasts, and significantly larger amounts of nitric oxide were detected in cocultures of macrophages and OLE1 KO cells than with wild-type or heterozygous strains. Moreover, the disruption of OLE1 significantly reduced fungal virulence in systemic murine infection. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Ole1 regulates the pathobiology of C. parapsilosis via UFA and that the OLE1 pathway is a promising antifungal target.

Melanogenesis in Dermatophyte Species in Vitro and During Infection

Microbiology (Reading, England). Aug, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21565930

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that are the most common cause of fungal skin infections worldwide. Melanin has been isolated from several important human fungal pathogens, and the polymeric pigment is now recognized as an important virulence determinant. This study investigated whether dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum, produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Digestion of the pigmented microconidia and macroconidia of dermatophytes with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and hot concentrated acid yielded dark particles that retained the size and shape of the original fungal cells. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical signal, consistent with the pigments being a melanin. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated reactivity of a melanin-binding mAb with the pigmented conidia and hyphae, as well as the isolate particles. Laccase, an enzyme involved in melanization, was detected in the dermatophytes by an agar plate assay using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the substrate. Skin scrapings from patients with dermatophytoses contained septate hyphae and arthrospores that were reactive with the melanin-binding mAb. These findings indicate that dermatophytes can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Based on what is known about the function of melanin as a virulence factor of other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may have a similar role in the pathogenesis of dermatophytic diseases.

Susceptibility of Gram-positive and -negative Bacteria to Novel Nitric Oxide-releasing Nanoparticle Technology

Virulence. May-Jun, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21577055

The rapidly evolving crisis of antibiotic resistance among microorganisms has contributed to the rise of patient morbidity and mortality from nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Therefore, innovative antimicrobial technology targeting mechanisms to which the bacteria are unlikely to evolve resistance is urgently needed. We have previously described a nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticle (NO-np) with efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro and in murine wound and abscess models. Although the prior findings suggest that the NO-np can be a useful therapeutic for skin and soft tissue infections, the antimicrobial spectrum of NO-np has yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of a NO-np against several Gram-positive and -negative clinical isolates. We found that the NO-np were uniformly active against all of the Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates examined, including strains that were both sensitive and resistant to commonly used antibiotics. We concluded that the NO-np have the potential to serve as a novel broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.

A Rat Model of Neonatal Candidiasis Demonstrates the Importance of Lipases As Virulence Factors for Candida Albicans and Candida Parapsilosis

Mycopathologia. Sep, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21667319

The host factors that contribute to the increased susceptibility of preterm neonates to invasive candidiasis have not been fully identified. In addition, there has been a lack of suitable models to study this problem. We show that rat pups, similar to premature neonates, display increased susceptibility to experimental Candida albicans infection. Further, we find that both C. albicans and Candida parapsilosis lipase disruptant mutants exhibit decreased virulence in rat pups, demonstrating the utility of the model to evaluate the impact of specific genes in disease pathogenesis. Our findings highlight the contribution of lipases to the virulence of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis and provide a new system to study the increased susceptibility of neonates to Candida infections.

Detection of Antibodies Against Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis Melanin in in Vitro and in Vivo Studies During Infection

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI. Oct, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21813659

Several cell wall constituents, including melanins or melanin-like compounds, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of microbial diseases caused by diverse species of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and helminthes. Among these microorganisms, the dimorphic fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis produces melanin in its conidial and yeast forms. In the present study, melanin particles from P. brasiliensis were injected into BALB/c mice in order to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We identified five immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) κ-chain and four IgM melanin-binding MAbs. The five IgG1 κ-chain isotypes are the first melanin-binding IgG MAbs ever reported. The nine MAbs labeled P. brasiliensis conidia and yeast cells both in vitro and in pulmonary tissues. The MAbs cross-reacted with melanin-like purified particles from other fungi and also with commercial melanins, such as synthetic and Sepia officinalis melanin. Melanization during paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) was also further supported by the detection of IgG antibodies reactive to melanin from P. brasiliensis conidia and yeast in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from P. brasiliensis-infected mice, as well as in sera from human patients with PCM. Serum specimens from patients with other mycoses were also tested for melanin-binding antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and cross-reactivities were detected for melanin particles from different fungal sources. These results suggest that melanin from P. brasiliensis is an immunologically active fungal structure that activates a strong IgG humoral response in humans and mice.

The Homeostasis of Iron, Copper, and Zinc in Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis, Cryptococcus Neoformans Var. Grubii, and Cryptococcus Gattii: a Comparative Analysis

Frontiers in Microbiology. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21833306

Iron, copper, and zinc are essential for all living organisms. Moreover, the homeostasis of these metals is vital to microorganisms during pathogenic interactions with a host. Most pathogens have developed specific mechanisms for the uptake of micronutrients from their hosts in order to counteract the low availability of essential ions in infected tissues. We report here an analysis of genes potentially involved in iron, copper, and zinc uptake and homeostasis in the fungal pathogens Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, and Cryptococcus gattii. Although prior studies have identified certain aspects of metal regulation in Cryptococcus species, little is known regarding the regulation of these elements in P. brasiliensis. We also present amino acid sequences analyses of deduced proteins in order to examine possible conserved domains. The genomic data reveals, for the first time, genes associated to iron, copper, and zinc assimilation and homeostasis in P. brasiliensis. Furthermore, analyses of the three fungal species identified homologs to genes associated with high-affinity uptake systems, vacuolar and mitochondrial iron storage, copper uptake and reduction, and zinc assimilation. However, homologs to genes involved in siderophore production were only found in P. brasiliensis. Interestingly, in silico analysis of the genomes of P. brasiliensisPb01, Pb03, and Pb18 revealed significant differences in the presence and/or number of genes involved in metal homeostasis, such as in genes related to iron reduction and oxidation. The broad analyses of the genomes of P. brasiliensis, C. neoformans var. grubii, and C. gattii for genes involved in metal homeostasis provide important groundwork for numerous interesting future areas of investigation that are required in order to validate and explore the function of the identified genes and gene pathways.

Lipid Droplet Formation Protects Against Gluco/lipotoxicity in Candida Parapsilosis: an Essential Role of Fatty Acid Desaturase Ole1

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.). Sep, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21897120

Elevated levels of glucose and lipids can result in cellular dysfunction in eukaryotic cells ranging from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts to human cells. Moreover, glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity can cause cell death, although the mechanism(s) for lethality is unclear. In the present study, we utilized Candida parapsilosis fatty acid desaturase (OLE1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS2) gene deletion mutants and wild-type (WT) yeast cells to unravel the relationship to glucose and lipid induced cell death in eukaryotic cells. Incubation of WT yeast cells with glucose led to the rapid accumulation of lipid droplets, whereas lipid droplet formation was severely impaired in yeast cells with deletion of OLE1 (ole1Δ/Δ) or FAS2 (fas2Δ/Δ). Interestingly, ole1Δ/Δ yeast cells died within hours in a 1% glucose medium without fatty acid supplementation, whereas the WT or fas2Δ/Δ yeast cells did not. In glucose medium, ole1Δ/Δ yeast cells accumulated saturated fatty acids, while fas2Δ/Δ did not. Addition of saturated fatty acids (e.g., palmitic acid) enhanced ole1Δ/Δ yeast cell death, whereas the addition of unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic or palmitoleic acid) rescued cell death. Furthermore, palmitic acid and glucose medium induced apopotic cell death in ole1Δ/Δ yeast cells, which was dependent on mitochondrial function. Thus, our results show that glucotoxicity is directly linked to lipotoxicity, which we demonstrate is mediated by mitochondrial function.

Sodium Butyrate Inhibits Pathogenic Yeast Growth and Enhances the Functions of Macrophages

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21911344

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that is produced by several human commensal bacteria, such as Clostridium and Lactobacillus species. Butyrate is also known to inhibit histone deacetylase. In this study we assessed the antifungal activity of sodium butyrate (SB) against the human pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Improved Antimicrobial Efficacy with Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanoparticle Generated S-nitrosoglutathione

Nitric Oxide : Biology and Chemistry / Official Journal of the Nitric Oxide Society. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21946032

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a vital role in mammalian host defense through a variety of mechanisms. In particular, NO can oxidize to form reactive nitrogen species or interact with protein thiols and metal centers, blocking essential microbial processes. S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a potent NO donor formed by the interaction of NO with intracellular glutathione (GSH), is a major factor in this pathway and is considered one of the strongest naturally occurring nitrosating agent. We previously described the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of a nanoparticulate platform capable of controlled and sustained release of NO (NO-np). Interestingly, in vivo efficacy of the NO-np surpassed in vitro data generated. We hypothesized that the enhanced activity was in part achieved via the interaction between the generated NO and available GSH, forming GSNO. In the current study, we investigated the efficiency of NO-np to form GSNO in the presence of GSH was evaluated, and assessed the antimicrobial activity of the formed GSNO against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When GSH was combined with NO-np, GSNO was rapidly produced and significant concentrations of GSNO were maintained for >24h. The GSNO generated was more effective compared to NO-np alone against all bacterial strains examined, with P. aeruginosa being the most sensitive and K. pneumoniae the most resistant. We conclude that the combination of NO-np with GSH is an effective means of generating GSNO, and presents a novel approach to potent antimicrobial therapy.

Secreted Lipases Supply Fatty Acids for Yeast Growth in the Absence of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis

Virulence. Nov-Dec, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22030857

The yeast Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a major human pathogen. The fungus is found in diverse environments as well as in different mammalian hosts, indicative of a successful adaptation to various niches. Fatty acids are the building blocks of cell membranes. Thus, the yeast must have evolved efficient ways to assimilate fatty acids from different sources, such as glucose via de novo fatty acid synthesis or lipids via lipolysis. We have recently shown that blocking the fatty acid synthesis pathway or interfering with the production of secreted lipases impeded yeast growth in glucose and lipid-containing media, respectively. However, in a more complex media (e.g. presence of glucose and lipids), blockage of either pathway individually resulted in growth similar to wild-type yeast. Here, we demonstrate that dual inhibition of these pathways significantly decreased yeast growth in complex media. Therefore, we propose that simultaneously targeting secreted lipases and fatty acid pathways might be ideal to combat C. parapsilosis disease and perhaps other pathogenic fungi.

Vesicular Transport Systems in Fungi

Future Microbiology. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22082294

Canonical and unconventional mechanisms of secretion in many eukaryotic cells are relatively well known. In contrast to the situation in animal cells, mechanisms of secretion in fungi must include the capacity for trans-cell wall passage of macromolecules to the extracellular space. Although these mechanisms remain somewhat elusive, several studies in recent years have suggested that vesicular transport is required for trans-cell wall secretion of large molecules. Several fungal molecules, including proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and pigments, are released to the extracellular space in vesicles. In pathogenic fungi, a number of these vesicular components are associated with fungal virulence. Indeed, extracellular vesicles produced by fungi can interfere with the immunomodulatory activity of host cells. Fungal vesicles share many functional aspects with mammalian exosomes and extracellular vesicles produced by bacteria, plants and protozoa, but their cellular origin remains unknown. Here, we discuss the involvement of vesicular transport systems in fungal physiology and pathogenesis, making parallels with the mammalian, bacterial, protozoan and plant cell literature.

Effects of Microplusin, a Copper-chelating Antimicrobial Peptide, Against Cryptococcus Neoformans

FEMS Microbiology Letters. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22092765

Microplusin is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Its copper-chelating ability is putatively responsible for its bacteriostatic activity against Micrococcus luteus as microplusin inhibits respiration in this species, which is a copper-dependent process. Microplusin is also active against Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC(50) = 0.09 μM), the etiologic agent of cryptococcosis. Here, we show that microplusin is fungistatic to C. neoformans and this inhibitory effect is abrogated by copper supplementation. Notably, microplusin drastically altered the respiratory profile of C. neoformans. In addition, microplusin affects important virulence factors of this fungus. We observed that microplusin completely inhibited fungal melanization, and this effect correlates with the inhibition of the related enzyme laccase. Also, microplusin significantly inhibited the capsule size of C. neoformans. Our studies reveal, for the first time, a copper-chelating antimicrobial peptide that inhibits respiration and growth of C. neoformans and modifies two major virulence factors: melanization and formation of a polysaccharide capsule. These features suggest that microplusin, or other copper-chelation approaches, may be a promising therapeutic for cryptococcosis.

Surface Architecture of Histoplasma Capsulatum

Frontiers in Microbiology. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22121356

The dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum is the most frequent cause of clinically significant fungal pneumonia in humans. H. capsulatum virulence is achieved, in part, through diverse and dynamic alterations to the fungal cell surface. Surface components associated with H. capsulatum pathogenicity include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and melanins. Here, we describe the various structures comprising the cell surface of H. capsulatum that have been associated with virulence and discuss their involvement in the pathobiology of disease.

Radioimmunotherapy of Fungal Diseases: the Therapeutic Potential of Cytocidal Radiation Delivered by Antibody Targeting Fungal Cell Surface Antigens

Frontiers in Microbiology. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22275913

Radioimmunotherapy is the targeted delivery of cytocidal radiation to cells via specific antibody. Although mature for the treatment of cancer, RIT of infectious diseases is in pre-clinical development. However, as there is an obvious and urgent need for novel approaches to treat infectious diseases, RIT can provide us with a powerful approach to combat serious diseases, including invasive fungal infections. For example, RIT has proven more effective than standard amphotericin B for the treatment of experimental cryptococcosis. This review will discuss the concepts of RIT, its applications for infectious diseases, and the strides made to date to bring RIT of infectious diseases to fruition. Finally, we will discuss the potential of PAN-FUNGAL RIT, the targeting of conserved fungal cell surface antigens by RIT, as a treatment modality for fungi prior to the formal microbiological identification of the specific pathogen. In sum, RIT provides a mechanism for the targeted killing of drug susceptible or resistant fungi irrespective of the host immune status and may dramatically reduce the length of therapy currently required for many invasive fungal diseases.

The Identification of Gene Duplication and the Role of Secreted Aspartyl Proteinase 1 in Candida Parapsilosis Virulence

The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Feb, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22301631

In this study, we analyzed the role of Candida parapsilosis-secreted aspartyl proteinase isoenzyme 1 (SAPP1) in virulence. The in silico analysis of SAPP1 sequence revealed a 2871 base pair-duplicated region (SAPP1a and SAPP1b) in the genome of C. parapsilosis. We generated homozygous ΔΔsapp1a, ΔΔsapp1b, and ΔΔsapp1a-ΔΔsapp1b mutants. Notably, Sapp1 production in an inducer medium was reduced by approximately 50% in the ΔΔsapp1a and ΔΔsapp1b mutants, but the other validated SAPP gene (SAPP2) was not affected. In contrast, Sapp2 production was increased in the ΔΔsapp1a-ΔΔsapp1b mutant relative to wild-type (WT) yeast. The ΔΔsapp1a-ΔΔsapp1b strain was hypersusceptible to human serum and was attenuated in its capacity to damage host-effector cells. The phagocytosis and killing of ΔΔsapp1a-ΔΔsapp1b yeasts by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and PBMC-derived macrophages (PBMC-DM) was significantly enhanced relative to WT. Phagolysosomal fusion in PBMC-DMs occurred more than twice as frequently with ingested ΔΔsapp1a-ΔΔsapp1b yeast cells compared with WT.

Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanoparticles Accelerate Wound Healing by Promoting Fibroblast Migration and Collagen Deposition

The American Journal of Pathology. Feb, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22306734

Wound healing is a complex process that involves coordinated interactions between diverse immunological and biological systems. Long-term wounds remain a challenging clinical problem, affecting approximately 6 million patients per year, with a high economic impact. To exacerbate the problem, these wounds render the individual susceptible to life-threatening microbial infections. Because current therapeutic strategies have proved suboptimal, it is imperative to focus on new therapeutic approaches and the development of technologies for both short- and long-term wound management. In recent years, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a critical molecule in wound healing, with NO levels increasing rapidly after skin damage and gradually decreasing as the healing process progresses. In this study, we examined the effects of a novel NO-releasing nanoparticle technology on wound healing in mice. The results show that the NO nanoparticles (NO-np) significantly accelerated wound healing. NO-np modified leukocyte migration and increased tumor growth factor-β production in the wound area, which subsequently promoted angiogenesis to enhance the healing process. By using human dermal fibroblasts, we demonstrate that NO-np increased fibroblast migration and collagen deposition in wounded tissue. Together, these data show that NO-releasing nanoparticles have the ability to modulate and accelerate wound healing in a pleiotropic manner.