Melanization of Penicillium marneffei in vitro and in vivo

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 291-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirida Youngchim ◽  
Roderick J. Hay ◽  
Andrew J. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Penicillium Marneffei ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Stable Free Radical ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Melanin Binding

Melanins are found universally in nature and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several important human fungal pathogens. This study investigated whether the conidia and the yeast cells of the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Treatment of conidia with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and concentrated hot acid yielded dark particles that were similar in size and shape to the conidia. A melanin-binding monoclonal antibody (mAb) labelled pigmented conidia, yeast cells and the isolated particles as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical compound, consistent with their identification as melanins. Skin tissue from penicilliosis marneffei patients contained yeast cells that were labelled by melanin-binding mAb. Additionally, sera from P. marneffei-infected mice developed a significant antibody response (both IgG and IgM) against melanin. Phenoloxidase activity capable of synthesizing melanin from l-DOPA was detected in cytoplasmic yeast cell extracts. These findings indicate that P. marneffei conidia and yeast cells can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and that the yeast cells can synthesize pigment in vivo. Accordingly this pigment may play some role in the virulence of P. marneffei.

scholarly journals Detection of Melanin-Like Pigments in the Dimorphic Fungal Pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis In Vitro and during Infection

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 5760-5767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz L. Gómez ◽  
Joshua D. Nosanchuk ◽  
Soraya Dı́ez ◽  
Sirida Youngchim ◽  
Philip Aisen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Microbial Infections ◽  
Melanin Binding

ABSTRACT Melanins are implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including some microbial infections. In this study, we analyzed whether the conidia and the yeasts of the thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Growth of P. brasiliensis mycelia on water agar alone produced pigmented conidia, and growth of yeasts in minimal medium withl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) produced pigmented cells. Digestion of the pigmented conidia and yeasts with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant, and hot concentrated acid yielded dark particles that were the same size and shape as their propagules. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated reactivity of a melanin-binding monoclonal antibody (MAb) with the pigmented conidia, yeasts, and particles. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy identified the yeast-derived particles produced in vitro when P. brasiliensis was grown in l-DOPA medium as a melanin-like compound. Nonreducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cytoplasmic yeast extract revealed a protein that catalyzed melanin synthesis from l-DOPA. The melanin binding MAb reacted with yeast cells in tissue from mice infected with P. brasiliensis. Finally digestion of infected tissue liberated particles reactive to the melanin binding MAb that had the typical morphology of P. brasiliensis yeasts. These data strongly suggest that P. brasiliensis propagules, both conidia and yeast cells, can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and in vivo. Based on what is known about the function of melanin in the virulence of other fungi, this pigment may play a role in the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

scholarly journals Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection

Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (8) ◽  
pp. 2348-2356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirida Youngchim ◽  
Soraya Pornsuwan ◽  
Joshua D. Nosanchuk ◽  
Wiyada Dankai ◽  
Nongnuch Vanittanakom
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Trichophyton Mentagrophytes ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Microsporum Gypseum ◽  
Stable Free Radical ◽  
Melanin Binding

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.

scholarly journals Histoplasma capsulatum Synthesizes Melanin-Like Pigments In Vitro and during Mammalian Infection

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 5124-5131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Nosanchuk ◽  
Beatriz L. Gómez ◽  
Sirida Youngchim ◽  
Soraya Díez ◽  
Philip Aisen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Minimal Medium ◽  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Mouse Tissues ◽  
Melanin Binding

ABSTRACT 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.

scholarly journals Synthesis of Melanin-Like Pigments by Sporothrix schenckii In Vitro and during Mammalian Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 4026-4033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Morris-Jones ◽  
Sirida Youngchim ◽  
Beatriz L. Gomez ◽  
Phil Aisen ◽  
Roderick J. Hay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Sporothrix Schenckii ◽  
Brain Heart Infusion ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Important Virulence Factor ◽  
Mammalian Infection

ABSTRACT 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.

scholarly journals ADR1-Mediated Transcriptional Activation Requires the Presence of an Intact TFIID Complex

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5861-5867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip B. Komarnitsky ◽  
Edward R. Klebanow ◽  
P. Anthony Weil ◽  
Clyde L. Denis
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Transactivation Domains ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Genes Expression ◽  
Tfiid Complex

ABSTRACT The yeast transcriptional activator ADR1, which is required forADH2 and other genes’ expression, contains four transactivation domains (TADs). While previous studies have shown that these TADs act through GCN5 and ADA2, and presumably TFIIB, other factors are likely to be involved in ADR1 function. In this study, we addressed the question of whether TFIID is also required for ADR1 action. In vitro binding studies indicated that TADI of ADR1 was able to retain TAFII90 from yeast extracts and TADII could retain TBP and TAFII130/145. TADIV, however, was capable of retaining multiple TAFIIs, suggesting that TADIV was binding TFIID from yeast whole-cell extracts. The ability of TADIV truncation derivatives to interact with TFIID correlated with their transcription activation potential in vivo. In addition, the ability of LexA-ADR1-TADIV to activate transcription in vivo was compromised by a mutation in TAFII130/145. ADR1 was found to associate in vivo with TFIID in that immunoprecipitation of either TAFII90 or TBP from yeast whole-cell extracts specifically coimmunoprecipitated ADR1. Most importantly, depletion of TAFII90 from yeast cells dramatically reducedADH2 derepression. These results indicate that ADR1 physically associates with TFIID and that its ability to activate transcription requires an intact TFIID complex.

In vitro Lipolysis as a Tool for the Establishment of IVIVC for Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 688-697
Author(s):  
Ravinder Verma ◽  
Deepak Kaushik
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Fed State ◽  
In Vitro Lipolysis ◽  
Ph Stat

: In vitro lipolysis has emerged as a powerful tool in the development of in vitro in vivo correlation for Lipid-based Drug Delivery System (LbDDS). In vitro lipolysis possesses the ability to mimic the assimilation of LbDDS in the human biological system. The digestion medium for in vitro lipolysis commonly contains an aqueous buffer media, bile salts, phospholipids and sodium chloride. The concentrations of these compounds are defined by the physiological conditions prevailing in the fasted or fed state. The pH of the medium is monitored by a pH-sensitive electrode connected to a computercontrolled pH-stat device capable of maintaining a predefined pH value via titration with sodium hydroxide. Copenhagen, Monash and Jerusalem are used as different models for in vitro lipolysis studies. The most common approach used in evaluating the kinetics of lipolysis of emulsion-based encapsulation systems is the pH-stat titration technique. This is widely used in both the nutritional and the pharmacological research fields as a rapid screening tool. Analytical tools for the assessment of in vitro lipolysis include HPLC, GC, HPTLC, SEM, Cryo TEM, Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) for the characterization of the lipids and colloidal phases after digestion of lipids. Various researches have been carried out for the establishment of IVIVC by using in vitro lipolysis models. The current publication also presents an updated review of various researches in the field of in vitro lipolysis.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Antifungal Activity of Sorbicillinoids Produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 428
Author(s):  
Men Thi Ngo ◽  
Minh Van Nguyen ◽  
Jae Woo Han ◽  
Myung Soo Park ◽  
Hun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Blight ◽  
Culture Filtrate ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Gray Mold ◽  
Trichoderma Longibrachiatum ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Natural Agents ◽  
Blight Disease

In the search for antifungal agents from marine resources, we recently found that the culture filtrate of Trichoderma longibrachiatum SFC100166 effectively suppressed the development of tomato gray mold, rice blast, and tomato late blight. The culture filtrate was then successively extracted with ethyl acetate and n-butanol to identify the fungicidal metabolites. Consequently, a new compound, spirosorbicillinol D (1), and a new natural compound, 2′,3′-dihydro-epoxysorbicillinol (2), together with 11 known compounds (3–13), were obtained from the solvent extracts. The chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature values. The results of the in vitro antifungal assay showed that of the tested fungal pathogens, Phytophthora infestans was the fungus most sensitive to the isolated compounds, with MIC values ranging from 6.3 to 400 µg/mL, except for trichotetronine (9) and trichodimerol (10). When tomato plants were treated with the representative compounds (4, 6, 7, and 11), bisvertinolone (6) strongly reduced the development of tomato late blight disease compared to the untreated control. Taken together, our results revealed that the culture filtrate of T. longibrachiatum SFC100166 and its metabolites could be useful sources for the development of new natural agents to control late blight caused by P. infestans.

scholarly journals Important Role for Phylogenetically Invariant PP2Acα Active Site and C-Terminal Residues Revealed by Mutational Analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R H Evans ◽  
Brian A Hemmings
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Catalytic Function

Abstract PP2A is a central regulator of eukaryotic signal transduction. The human catalytic subunit PP2Acα functionally replaces the endogenous yeast enzyme, Pph22p, indicating a conservation of function in vivo. Therefore, yeast cells were employed to explore the role of invariant PP2Ac residues. The PP2Acα Y127N substitution abolished essential PP2Ac function in vivo and impaired catalysis severely in vitro, consistent with the prediction from structural studies that Tyr-127 mediates substrate binding and its side chain interacts with the key active site residues His-118 and Asp-88. The V159E substitution similarly impaired PP2Acα catalysis profoundly and may cause global disruption of the active site. Two conditional mutations in the yeast Pph22p protein, F232S and P240H, were found to cause temperature-sensitive impairment of PP2Ac catalytic function in vitro. Thus, the mitotic and cell lysis defects conferred by these mutations result from a loss of PP2Ac enzyme activity. Substitution of the PP2Acα C-terminal Tyr-307 residue by phenylalanine impaired protein function, whereas the Y307D and T304D substitutions abolished essential function in vivo. Nevertheless, Y307D did not reduce PP2Acα catalytic activity significantly in vitro, consistent with an important role for the C terminus in mediating essential protein-protein interactions. Our results identify key residues important for PP2Ac function and characterize new reagents for the study of PP2A in vivo.

scholarly journals Biological control of strawberry crown rot, root rot and grey mould by the beneficial fungus Aureobasidium pullulans

BioControl ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudassir Iqbal ◽  
Maha Jamshaid ◽  
Muhammad Awais Zahid ◽  
Erik Andreasson ◽  
Ramesh R. Vetukuri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Aureobasidium Pullulans ◽  
Grey Mould ◽  
Lesion Size ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Whole Plants

AbstractUtilization of biocontrol agents is a sustainable approach to reduce plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. In the present study, we tested the effect of the candidate biocontrol fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (De Bary) G. Armaud on strawberry under in vitro and in vivo conditions to control crown rot, root rot and grey mould caused by Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert and Cohn) and Botrytis cinerea Pers, respectively. A dual plate confrontation assay showed that mycelial growth of P. cactorum and B. cinerea was reduced by 33–48% when challenged by A. pullulans as compared with control treatments. Likewise, detached leaf and fruit assays showed that A. pullulans significantly reduced necrotic lesion size on leaves and disease severity on fruits caused by P. cactorum and B. cinerea. In addition, greenhouse experiments with whole plants revealed enhanced biocontrol efficacy against root rot and grey mould when treated with A. pullulans either in combination with the pathogen or pre-treated with A. pullulans followed by inoculation of the pathogens. Our results demonstrate that A. pullulans is an effective biocontrol agent to control strawberry diseases caused by fungal pathogens and can be an effective alternative to chemical-based fungicides.

scholarly journals A complex control region of the mouse rRNA gene directs accurate initiation by RNA polymerase I.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
K G Miller ◽  
J Tower ◽  
B Sollner-Webb
Keyword(s):  
Initiation Site ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Reaction Conditions ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
S 100 ◽  
Initiation Reaction ◽  
Polymerase I

To determine the size and location of the mouse rDNA promoter, we constructed systematic series of deletion mutants approaching the initiation site from the 5' and 3' directions. These templates were transcribed in vitro under various conditions with S-100 and whole-cell extracts. Surprisingly, the size of the rDNA region that determines the level of transcription differed markedly, depending on the reaction conditions. In both kinds of cell extracts, the apparent 5' border of the promoter was at residue ca. -27 under optimal transcription conditions, but as reaction conditions became less favorable, the 5' border moved progressively out to residues -35, -39, and -45. The complete promoter, however, extends considerably further, for under other nonoptimal conditions, we observed major effects of promoter domains extending in the 5' direction to positions ca. -100 and -140. In contrast, the apparent 3' border of the mouse rDNA promoter was at residue ca. +9 under all conditions examined. We also show that the subcloned rDNA region from -39 to +9 contains sufficient information to initiate accurately and that the region between +2 and +9 can influence the specificity of initiation. These data indicate that, although the polymerase I transcription factors recognize and accurately initiate with only the sequences downstream of residue -40, sequences extending out to residue -140 greatly favor the initiation reaction; presumably, this entire region is involved in rRNA transcription in vivo.

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