scholarly journals The Early Transcriptional Response of Human Granulocytes to Infection with Candida albicans Is Not Essential for Killing but Reflects Cellular Communications

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1493-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Fradin ◽  
Abigail L. Mavor ◽  
Günther Weindl ◽  
Martin Schaller ◽  
Karin Hanke ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is a polymorphic opportunistic fungus that can cause life-threatening systemic infections following hematogenous dissemination in patients susceptible to nosocomial infection. Neutrophils form part of the innate immune response, which is the first line of defense against microbes and is particularly important in C. albicans infections. To compare the transcriptional response of leukocytes exposed to C. albicans, we investigated the expression of key cytokine genes in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes after incubation with C. albicans for 1 h. Isolated mononuclear cells expressed high levels of genes encoding proinflammatory signaling molecules, whereas neutrophils exhibited much lower levels, similar to those observed in whole blood. The global transcriptional profile of neutrophils was examined by using an immunology-biased human microarray to determine whether different morphological forms or the viability of C. albicans altered the transcriptome. Hyphal cells appeared to have the broadest effect, although the most strongly induced genes were regulated independently of morphology or viability. These genes were involved in proinflammatory cell-cell signaling, cell signal transduction, and cell growth. Generally, genes encoding known components of neutrophil granules showed no upregulation at this time point; however, lactoferrin, a well-known candidacidal peptide, was secreted by neutrophils. Addition to inhibitors of RNA or protein de novo synthesis did not influence the killing activity within 30 min. These results support the general notion that neutrophils do not require gene transcription to mount an immediate and direct attack against microbes. However, neutrophils exposed to C. albicans express genes involved in communication with other immune cells.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Harman ◽  
Marianne Kraus ◽  
Chris R. Bye ◽  
Karen Byth ◽  
Stuart G. Turville ◽  
...  

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. HIV interacts with these cells through 2 pathways in 2 temporal phases, initially via endocytosis and then via de novo replication. Here the transcriptional response of human DCs to HIV-1 was studied in these phases and at different stages of the virus replication cycle using purified HIV-1 envelope proteins, and inactivated and viable HIV-1. No differential gene expression was detected in response to envelope. However, more than 100 genes were differentially expressed in response to entry of viable and inactivated HIV-1 in the first phase. A completely different set of genes was differentially expressed in the second phase, predominantly in response to viable HIV-1, including up-regulation of immune regulation genes, whereas genes encoding lysosomal enzymes were down-regulated. Cathepsins B, C, S, and Z RNA and protein decreased, whereas cathepsin L was increased, probably reflecting a concomitant decrease in cystatin C. The net effect was markedly diminished cathepsin activity likely to result in enhanced HIV-1 survival and transfer to contacting T lymphocytes but decreased HIV-1 antigen processing and presentation to these T cells.


Author(s):  
Christophe d'Enfert ◽  
Ann-Kristin Kaune ◽  
Leovigildo-Rey Alaban ◽  
Sayoni Chakraborty ◽  
Nathaniel Cole ◽  
...  

Abstract Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans. It exists as a commensal in the oral cavity, gut or genital tract of most individuals, constrained by the local microbiota, epithelial barriers and immune defences. Their perturbation can lead to fungal outgrowth and the development of mucosal infections such as oropharyngeal or vulvovaginal candidiasis, and patients with compromised immunity are susceptible to life-threatening systemic infections. The importance of the interplay between fungus, host and microbiota in driving the transition from C. albicans commensalism to pathogenicity is widely appreciated. However, the complexity of these interactions, and the significant impact of fungal, host and microbiota variability upon disease severity and outcome, are less well understood. Therefore, we summarise the features of the fungus that promote infection, and how genetic variation between clinical isolates influences pathogenicity. We discuss antifungal immunity, how this differs between mucosae, and how individual variation influences a person's susceptibility to infection. Also, we describe factors that influence the composition of gut, oral and vaginal microbiotas, and how these affect fungal colonisation and antifungal immunity. We argue that a detailed understanding of these variables, which underlie fungal-host-microbiota interactions, will present opportunities for directed antifungal therapies that benefit vulnerable patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianqian Yang ◽  
Lei Gao ◽  
Maocan Tao ◽  
Zhe Chen ◽  
Xiaohong Yang ◽  
...  

Candida albicansis the major invasive fungal pathogen of humans, causing diseases ranging from superficial mucosal infections to disseminated, systemic infections that are often life-threatening. Resistance ofC. albicansto antifungal agents and limited antifungal agents has potentially serious implications for management of infections. As a famous multiherb prescription in China, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJJD,Orengedokutoin Japan) is efficient againstTrichophyton mentagrophytesandC. albicans. But the antifungal mechanism of HLJDD remains unclear. In this study, by using RNA-seq technique, we performed a transcriptomics analysis of gene expression changes forC. albicansunder the treatment of HLJDD. A total of 6057 predicted protein-encoding genes were identified. By gene expression analysis, we obtained a total of 735 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 700 upregulated genes and 35 downregulated genes. Genes encoding multidrug transporters such as ABC transporter and MFS transporter were identified to be significantly upregulated. Meanwhile, by pathway enrichment analysis, we identified 26 significant pathways, in which pathways of DNA replication and transporter activity were mainly involved. These results might provide insights for the inhibition mechanism of HLJDD againstC. albicans.


2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2793-2801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Lien Chen ◽  
Sarah Kauffman ◽  
Todd B. Reynolds

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an important cause of life-threatening systemic bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients. In order to cause infections, C. albicans must be able to synthesize the essential metabolite inositol or acquire it from the host. Based on the similarity of C. albicans to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it was predicted that C. albicans may generate inositol de novo, import it from the environment, or both. The C. albicans inositol synthesis gene INO1 (orf19.7585) and inositol transporter gene ITR1 (orf19.3526) were each disrupted. The ino1Δ/ino1Δ mutant was an inositol auxotroph, and the itr1Δ/itr1Δ mutant was unable to import inositol from the medium. Each of these mutants was fully virulent in a mouse model of systemic infection. It was not possible to generate an ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/itr1Δ double mutant, suggesting that in the absence of these two genes, C. albicans could not acquire inositol and was nonviable. A conditional double mutant was created by replacing the remaining wild-type allele of ITR1 in an ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/ITR1 strain with a conditionally expressed allele of ITR1 driven by the repressible MET3 promoter. The resulting ino1Δ/ino1Δ itr1Δ/PMET3 ::ITR1 strain was found to be nonviable in medium containing methionine and cysteine (which represses the PMET3 promoter), and it was avirulent in the mouse model of systemic candidiasis. These results suggest a model in which C. albicans has two equally effective mechanisms for obtaining inositol while in the host. It can either generate inositol de novo through Ino1p, or it can import it from the host through Itr1p.


mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Yang ◽  
Vladimir Gritsenko ◽  
Yaniv Slor Futterman ◽  
Lu Gao ◽  
Cheng Zhen ◽  
...  

Candida albicans is a prevalent human fungal commensal and also a pathogen that causes life-threatening systemic infections. Treatment failures are frequent because few therapeutic antifungal drug classes are available and because drug resistance and tolerance limit drug efficacy.


Author(s):  
Lin Zheng ◽  
Zhimin Duan ◽  
Dingjie Tang ◽  
Yanzhi He ◽  
Xu Chen ◽  
...  

Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in humans, causing invasive disease and even potentially life-threatening systemic infections when tissue homeostasis is disrupted. Previous studies have identified an essential role of platelets in infection and immunity, especially when they are activated. However, it is still unclear whether platelets can be activated by C. albicans, and even less is known about the role of platelets in C. albicans infection. Herein, we showed that C. albicans induced platelet activation in vitro. C. albicans elevated the levels of AKT Ser473 phosphorylation, and inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway reversed C. albicans-induced platelet activation. Surprisingly, C. albicans-induced platelet activation occurred in an integrin glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa-dependent manner but was independent of the pattern recognition receptors toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4. Interestingly, platelets enhanced the phagocytosis of human monocytes challenged with C. albicans and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which were dependent on platelet activation mediated by GP IIb/IIIa. The present work provides new insights into the role of activated platelets in the defense against C. albicans, highlighting the importance of GP IIb/IIIa in the recognition of C. albicans.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (28) ◽  
pp. 2554-2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelio Ortiz ◽  
Estibaliz Sansinenea

Background:: Candida species are in various parts of the human body as commensals. However, they can cause local mucosal infections and, sometimes, systemic infections in which Candida species can spread to all major organs and colonize them. Objective:: For the effective treatment of the mucosal infections and systemic life-threatening fungal diseases, a considerably large number of antifungal drugs have been developed and used for clinical purposes that comprise agents from four main drug classes: the polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, and antimetabolites. Method: : The synthesis of some of these drugs is available, allowing synthetic modification of the molecules to improve the biological activity against Candida species. The synthetic methodology for each compound is reviewed. Results: : The use of these compounds has caused a high-level resistance against these drugs, and therefore, new antifungal substances have been described in the last years. The organic synthesis of the known and new compounds is reported. Conclusion: : This article summarizes the chemistry of the existing agents, both the old drugs and new drugs, in the treatment of infections due to C. albicans, including the synthesis of the existing drugs.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Yanru Fan ◽  
Wanfeng Li ◽  
Zhexin Li ◽  
Shaofei Dang ◽  
Suying Han ◽  
...  

The study of somatic embryogenesis can provide insight into early plant development. We previously obtained LaMIR166a-overexpressing embryonic cell lines of Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with miR166 in this species, the transcriptional profiles of wild-type (WT) and three LaMIR166a-overexpressing transgenic cell lines were subjected to RNA sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 system. In total, 203,256 unigenes were generated using Trinity de novo assembly, and 2467 differentially expressed genes were obtained by comparing transgenic and WT lines. In addition, we analyzed the cleaved degree of LaMIR166a target genes LaHDZ31–34 in different transgenic cell lines by detecting the expression pattern of LaHdZ31–34, and their cleaved degree in transgenic cell lines was higher than that in WT. The downstream genes of LaHDZ31–34 were identified using Pearson correlation coefficients. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase report assays revealed that the transcription factors LaHDZ31–34 could bind to the promoters of LaPAP, LaPP1, LaZFP5, and LaPHO1. This is the first report of gene expression changes caused by LaMIR166a overexpression in Japanese larch. These findings lay a foundation for future studies on the regulatory mechanism of miR166.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2127
Author(s):  
Jakub Suchodolski ◽  
Anna Krasowska

Candida albicans is a pathogenic fungus that is increasingly developing multidrug resistance (MDR), including resistance to azole drugs such as fluconazole (FLC). This is partially a result of the increased synthesis of membrane efflux transporters Cdr1p, Cdr2p, and Mdr1p. Although all these proteins can export FLC, only Cdr1p is expressed constitutively. In this study, the effect of elevated fructose, as a carbon source, on the MDR was evaluated. It was shown that fructose, elevated in the serum of diabetics, promotes FLC resistance. Using C. albicans strains with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged MDR transporters, it was determined that the FLC-resistance phenotype occurs as a result of Mdr1p activation and via the increased induction of higher Cdr1p levels. It was observed that fructose-grown C. albicans cells displayed a high efflux activity of both transporters as opposed to glucose-grown cells, which synthesize Cdr1p but not Mdr1p. Additionally, it was concluded that elevated fructose serum levels induce the de novo production of Mdr1p after 60 min. In combination with glucose, however, fructose induces Mdr1p production as soon as after 30 min. It is proposed that fructose may be one of the biochemical factors responsible for Mdr1p production in C. albicans cells.


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