scholarly journals The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored DFG Family Is Essential for the Insertion of Galactomannan into the β-(1,3)-Glucan–Chitin Core of the Cell Wall of Aspergillus fumigatus

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laetitia Muszkieta ◽  
Thierry Fontaine ◽  
Rémi Beau ◽  
Isabelle Mouyna ◽  
Marian Samuel Vogt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT The fungal cell wall is a complex and dynamic entity essential for the development of fungi. It is composed mainly of polysaccharides that are synthetized by protein complexes. At the cell wall level, enzyme activities are involved in postsynthesis polysaccharide modifications such as cleavage, elongation, branching, and cross-linking. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins have been shown to participate in cell wall biosynthesis and specifically in polysaccharide remodeling. Among these proteins, the DFG family plays an essential role in controlling polar growth in yeast. In the filamentous fungus and opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, the DFG gene family contains seven orthologous DFG genes among which only six are expressed under in vitro growth conditions. Deletions of single DFG genes revealed that DFG3 plays the most important morphogenetic role in this gene family. A sextuple-deletion mutant resulting from the deletion of all in vitro expressed DFG genes did not contain galactomannan in the cell wall and has severe growth defects. This study has shown that DFG members are absolutely necessary for the insertion of galactomannan into the cell wall of A. fumigatus and that the proper cell wall localization of the galactomannan is essential for correct fungal morphogenesis in A. fumigatus. IMPORTANCE The fungal cell wall is a complex and dynamic entity essential for the development of fungi. It is composed mainly of polysaccharides that are synthetized by protein complexes. Enzymes involved in postsynthesis polysaccharide modifications, such as cleavage, elongation, branching, and cross-linking, are essential for fungal life. Here, we investigated in Aspergillus fumigatus the role of the members of the Dfg family, one of the 4 GPI-anchored protein families common to yeast and molds involved in cell wall remodeling. Molecular and biochemical approaches showed that DFG members are required for filamentous growth, conidiation, and cell wall organization and are essential for the life of this fungal pathogen.

scholarly journals Two KTR Mannosyltransferases Are Responsible for the Biosynthesis of Cell Wall Mannans and Control Polarized Growth inAspergillus fumigatus

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Henry ◽  
Jizhou Li ◽  
François Danion ◽  
Laura Alcazar-Fuoli ◽  
Emilia Mellado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Filamentous Fungi ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Polarized Growth ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTFungal cell wall mannans are complex carbohydrate polysaccharides with different structures in yeasts and molds. In contrast to yeasts, their biosynthetic pathway has been poorly investigated in filamentous fungi. InAspergillus fumigatus, the major mannan structure is a galactomannan that is cross-linked to the β-1,3-glucan-chitin cell wall core. This polymer is composed of a linear mannan with a repeating unit composed of four α1,6-linked and α1,2-linked mannoses with side chains of galactofuran. Despite its use as a biomarker to diagnose invasive aspergillosis, its biosynthesis and biological function were unknown. Here, we have investigated the function of three members of the Ktr (also named Kre2/Mnt1) family (Ktr1, Ktr4, and Ktr7) inA. fumigatusand show that two of them are required for the biosynthesis of galactomannan. In particular, we describe a newly discovered form of α-1,2-mannosyltransferase activity encoded by theKTR4gene. Biochemical analyses showed that deletion of theKTR4gene or theKTR7gene leads to the absence of cell wall galactomannan. In comparison to parental strains, theΔktr4andΔktr7mutants showed a severe growth phenotype with defects in polarized growth and in conidiation, marked alteration of the conidial viability, and reduced virulence in a mouse model of invasive aspergillosis. In yeast, the KTR proteins are involved in protein 0- and N-glycosylation. This study provided another confirmation that orthologous genes can code for proteins that have very different biological functions in yeasts and filamentous fungi. Moreover, inA. fumigatus, cell wall mannans are as important structurally as β-glucans and chitin.IMPORTANCEThe fungal cell wall is a complex and dynamic entity essential for the development of fungi. It allows fungal pathogens to survive environmental challenge posed by nutrient stress and host defenses, and it also is central to polarized growth. The cell wall is mainly composed of polysaccharides organized in a three-dimensional network.Aspergillus fumigatusproduces a cell wall galactomannan whose biosynthetic pathway and biological functions remain poorly defined. Here, we described two new mannosyltransferases essential to the synthesis of the cell wall galactomannan. Their absence leads to a growth defect with misregulation of polarization and altered conidiation, with conidia which are bigger and more permeable than the conidia of the parental strain. This study showed that in spite of its low concentration in the cell wall, this polysaccharide is absolutely required for cell wall stability, for apical growth, and for the full virulence ofA. fumigatus.

scholarly journals Potential of Chemically Synthesized Oligosaccharides To Define the Carbohydrate Moieties of the Fungal Cell Wall Responsible for the Human Immune Response, Using Aspergillus fumigatus Galactomannan as a Model

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Sze Wah Wong ◽  
Vadim B. Krylov ◽  
Dmitry A. Argunov ◽  
Alexander A. Karelin ◽  
Jean-Phillipe Bouchara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Immune Response ◽  
Synthetic Oligosaccharides

ABSTRACT Methodologies to identify epitopes or ligands of the fungal cell wall polysaccharides influencing the immune response of human pathogens have to date been imperfect. Using the galactomannan (GM) of Aspergillus fumigatus as a model, we have shown that synthetic oligosaccharides of distinct structures representing key fragments of cell wall polysaccharides are the most precise tools to study the serological and immunomodulatory properties of a fungal polysaccharide.

scholarly journals An Ssd1 Homolog Impacts Trehalose and Chitin Biosynthesis and Contributes to Virulence inAspergillus fumigatus

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsa Thammahong ◽  
Sourabh Dhingra ◽  
Katherine M. Bultman ◽  
Joshua D. Kerkaert ◽  
Robert A. Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Wall Biosynthesis ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTRegulation of fungal cell wall biosynthesis is critical to maintain cell wall integrity in dynamic fungal infection microenvironments. Genes involved in this response that impact fungal fitness and host immune responses remain to be fully defined. In this study, we observed that a yeastssd1homolog,ssdA, in the filamentous fungusAspergillus fumigatusis involved in trehalose and cell wall homeostasis. AnssdAnull mutant strain exhibited an increase in trehalose levels and a reduction in fungal colony growth rate. In contrast, overexpression ofssdAperturbed trehalose biosynthesis and reduced germination of conidia. ThessdAnull mutant strain was more resistant to cell wall-perturbing agents, while overexpression ofssdAincreased sensitivity. Overexpression ofssdAsignificantly increased chitin levels, and both loss and overexpression ofssdAaltered subcellular localization of the class V chitin synthase CsmA. Strikingly, overexpression ofssdAabolished adherence to abiotic surfaces and severely attenuated the virulence ofA. fumigatusin a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Despite the severein vitrofitness defects observed upon loss ofssdA, neither surface adherence nor murine survival was impacted. In conclusion,A. fumigatusSsdA plays a critical role in cell wall homeostasis impactingA. fumigatus-host interactions.IMPORTANCEThe incidence of life-threatening infections caused by the filamentous fungusAspergillus fumigatusis increasing along with an increase in the number of fungal strains resistant to contemporary antifungal therapies. The fungal cell wall and the associated carbohydrates required for its synthesis and maintenance are attractive drug targets given that many genes encoding proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis and integrity are absent in humans. Importantly, genes and associated cell wall biosynthesis and homeostasis regulatory pathways remain to be fully defined inA. fumigatus. In this report, we identify SsdA as an important component of trehalose and fungal cell wall biosynthesis inA. fumigatusthat consequently impacts the host immune response and fungal virulence in animal models of infection.

scholarly journals Chitosan Biosynthesis and Virulence in the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus gattii

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Woei C. Lam ◽  
Rajendra Upadhya ◽  
Charles A. Specht ◽  
Abigail E. Ragsdale ◽  
Camaron R. Hole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Fungal Pathogenesis ◽  
Protective Response ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mammalian Infection

ABSTRACT Cryptococcus gattii R265 is a hypervirulent fungal strain responsible for the recent outbreak of cryptococcosis in Vancouver Island of British Columbia in Canada. It differs significantly from Cryptococcus neoformans in its natural environment, its preferred site in the mammalian host, and its pathogenesis. Our previous studies of C. neoformans have shown that the presence of chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, in the cell wall attenuates inflammatory responses in the host, while its absence induces robust immune responses, which in turn facilitate clearance of the fungus and induces a protective response. The results of the present investigation reveal that the cell wall of C. gattii R265 contains a two- to threefold larger amount of chitosan than that of C. neoformans. The genes responsible for the biosynthesis of chitosan are highly conserved in the R265 genome; the roles of the three chitin deacetylases (CDAs) have, however, been modified. To deduce their roles, single and double CDA deletion strains and a triple CDA deletion strain were constructed in a R265 background and were subjected to mammalian infection studies. Unlike C. neoformans where Cda1 has a discernible role in fungal pathogenesis, in strain R265, Cda3 is critical for virulence. Deletion of either CDA3 alone or in combination with another CDA (cda1Δ3Δ or cda2Δ3Δ) or both (cda1Δ2Δ3Δ) rendered the fungus avirulent and cleared from the infected host. Moreover, the cda1Δ2Δ3Δ strain of R265 induced a protective response to a subsequent infection with R265. These studies begin to illuminate the regulation of chitosan biosynthesis of C. gattii and its subsequent effect on fungal virulence. IMPORTANCE The fungal cell wall is an essential organelle whose components provide the first line of defense against host-induced antifungal activity. Chitosan is one of the carbohydrate polymers in the cell wall that significantly affects the outcome of host-pathogen interaction. Chitosan-deficient strains are avirulent, implicating chitosan as a critical virulence factor. C. gattii R265 is an important fungal pathogen of concern due to its ability to cause infections in individuals with no apparent immune dysfunction and an increasing geographical distribution. Characterization of the fungal cell wall and understanding the contribution of individual molecules of the cell wall matrix to fungal pathogenesis offer new therapeutic avenues for intervention. In this report, we show that the C. gattii R265 strain has evolved alternate regulation of chitosan biosynthesis under both laboratory growth conditions and during mammalian infection compared to that of C. neoformans.

scholarly journals The Transcription Factor SomA Synchronously Regulates Biofilm Formation and Cell Wall Homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Chen ◽  
Francois Le Mauff ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Ruiyang Lu ◽  
Donald C. Sheppard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Wall Stress ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Glucan Synthase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Wall Stress ◽  
Chitin Synthases

ABSTRACT Polysaccharides are key components of both the fungal cell wall and biofilm matrix. Despite having distinct assembly and regulation pathways, matrix exopolysaccharide and cell wall polysaccharides share common substrates and intermediates in their biosynthetic pathways. It is not clear, however, if the biosynthetic pathways governing the production of these polysaccharides are cooperatively regulated. Here, we demonstrate that cell wall stress promotes production of the exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG)-depend biofilm formation in the major fungal pathogen of humans Aspergillus fumigatus and that the transcription factor SomA plays a crucial role in mediating this process. A core set of SomA target genes were identified by transcriptome sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to sequencing (ChIP-Seq). We identified a novel SomA-binding site in the promoter regions of GAG biosynthetic genes agd3 and ega3, as well as its regulators medA and stuA. Strikingly, this SomA-binding site was also found in the upstream regions of genes encoding the cell wall stress sensors, chitin synthases, and β-1,3-glucan synthase. Thus, SomA plays a direct regulation of both GAG and cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis. Consistent with these findings, SomA is required for the maintenance of normal cell wall architecture and compositions in addition to its function in biofilm development. Moreover, SomA was found to globally regulate glucose uptake and utilization, as well as amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, which provides precursors for polysaccharide synthesis. Collectively, our work provides insight into fungal adaptive mechanisms in response to cell wall stress where biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis were synchronously regulated. IMPORTANCE The cell wall is essential for fungal viability and is absent from human hosts; thus, drugs disrupting cell wall biosynthesis have gained more attention. Caspofungin is a member of a new class of clinically approved echinocandin drugs to treat invasive aspergillosis by blocking β-1,3-glucan synthase, thus damaging the fungal cell wall. Here, we demonstrate that caspofungin and other cell wall stressors can induce galactosaminogalactan (GAG)-dependent biofilm formation in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We further identified SomA as a master transcription factor playing a dual role in both biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis. SomA plays this dual role by direct binding to a conserved motif upstream of GAG biosynthetic genes and genes involved in cell wall stress sensors, chitin synthases, and β-1,3-glucan synthase. Collectively, these findings reveal a transcriptional control pathway that integrates biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis and suggest SomA as an attractive target for antifungal drug development.

scholarly journals In vitro and in vivo reactivity to fungal cell wall agents in sarcoidosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 166 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Terčelj ◽  
S. Stopinšek ◽  
A. Ihan ◽  
B. Salobir ◽  
S. Simčič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Fungal Cell

scholarly journals The Volatome of Aspergillus fumigatus

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1014-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Heddergott ◽  
A. M. Calvo ◽  
J. P. Latgé
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Terpene Biosynthesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Volatile Terpenes ◽  
Nutritional Environment ◽  
Volatile Production ◽  
Related Compounds

ABSTRACT Early detection of invasive aspergillosis is absolutely required for efficient therapy of this fungal infection. The identification of fungal volatiles in patient breath can be an alternative for the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus that still remains problematic. In this work, we investigated the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by A. fumigatus in vitro , and we show that volatile production depends on the nutritional environment. A. fumigatus produces a multiplicity of VOCs, predominantly terpenes and related compounds. The production of sesquiterpenoid compounds was found to be strongly induced by increased iron concentrations and certain drugs, i.e., pravastatin. Terpenes that were always detectable in large amounts were α-pinene, camphene, and limonene, as well as sesquiterpenes, identified as α-bergamotene and β- trans -bergamotene. Other substance classes that were found to be present in the volatome, such as 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, and pyrazines, were found only under specific growth conditions. Drugs that interfere with the terpene biosynthesis pathway influenced the composition of the fungal volatome, and most notably, a block of sesquiterpene biosynthesis by the bisphosphonate alendronate fundamentally changed the VOC composition. Using deletion mutants, we also show that a terpene cyclase and a putative kaurene synthase are essential for the synthesis of volatile terpenes by A. fumigatus . The present analysis of in vitro volatile production by A. fumigatus suggests that VOCs may be used in the diagnosis of infections caused by this fungus.

scholarly journals M-ficolin is present in Aspergillus fumigatus infected lung and modulates epithelial cell immune responses elicited by fungal cell wall polysaccharides

Virulence ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1870-1879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasper Jensen ◽  
Kit P. Lund ◽  
Kimmie B. Christensen ◽  
Anne T. Holm ◽  
Lalit Kumar Dubey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Fungal Cell

scholarly journals Protein Kinase A and High-Osmolarity Glycerol Response Pathways Cooperatively Control Cell Wall Carbohydrate Mobilization inAspergillus fumigatus

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro José de Assis ◽  
Adriana Manfiolli ◽  
Eliciane Mattos ◽  
João H. T. Marilhano Fabri ◽  
Iran Malavazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Glycogen Synthesis ◽  
Fungal Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Wall Biosynthesis ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Osmolarity ◽  
High Osmolarity Glycerol ◽  
Kinase A

ABSTRACTAspergillus fumigatusmitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in maintaining the normal morphology of the cell wall and providing resistance against cell wall-damaging agents. Upon cell wall stress, cell wall-related sugars need to be synthesized from carbohydrate storage compounds. Here we show that this process is dependent on cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) activity and regulated by the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) MAPKs SakA and MpkC. These protein kinases are necessary for normal accumulation/degradation of trehalose and glycogen, and the lack of these genes reduces glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. Alterations in glycogen synthesis were observed for thesakAandmpkCdeletion mutants, which also displayed alterations in carbohydrate exposure on the cell wall. Carbohydrate mobilization is controlled by SakA interaction with PkaC1 and PkaR, suggesting a putative mechanism where the PkaR regulatory subunit leaves the complex and releases the SakA-PkaC1 complex for activation of enzymes involved in carbohydrate mobilization. This work reveals the communication between the HOG and PKA pathways for carbohydrate mobilization for cell wall construction.IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatusis an opportunistic human pathogen causing allergic reactions or systemic infections such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, especially in immunocompromised patients. The fungal cell wall is the main component responsible for recognition by the immune system, due to the specific composition of polysaccharide carbohydrates exposed on the surface of the fungal cell wall called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Key enzymes in the fungal cell wall biosynthesis are a good target for fungal drug development. This report elucidates the cooperation between the HOG and PKA pathways in the mobilization of carbohydrates for fungal cell wall biosynthesis. We suggest that the reduced mobilization of simple sugars causes defects in the structure of the fungal cell wall. In summary, we propose that SakA is important for PKA activity, therefore regulating the availability and mobilization of monosaccharides for fungal cell wall biosynthesis during cell wall damage and the osmotic stress response.

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