Article
Microbiology
Lei Zhang, Keming Zhang, Hang Li, Carolina Coelho, Diego de Souza Goncalves, Man Shun Fu, Xinhua Li, Ernesto S. Nakayasu, Young-Mo Kim, Wanqing Liao, Weihua Pan, Arturo Casadevall
Summary: The study showed that extracellular vesicles released by Cryptococcus-infected macrophages can reduce fungal burdens but lead to shorter survival in infected mice. These EVs also induce inflammatory responses in naive macrophages and activate immune-related pathways to combat C. neoformans.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Keigo Ueno, Akiko Nagamori, Nahoko Oniyama Honkyu, Michiyo Kataoka, Kiminori Shimizu, Yun C. Chang, Kyung J. Kwon-Chung, Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
Summary: The CNAG_03308 gene plays an important role in the heat adaptation of Cryptococcus neoformans during infection.
Article
Microbiology
Emily S. Smith-Peavler, Ronakkumar Patel, Adejumoke Mary Onumajuru, Bethany G. Bowring, Joyce L. Miller, Jean Michel Brunel, Julianne T. Djordjevic, Moses M. Prabu, Erin E. McClelland
Summary: The study revealed that the RTA1 gene in Cn plays a crucial role in resistance to 7-aminocholesterol and secretion of various fungal virulence factors. Knock-out or overexpression of RTA1 leads to changes in capsule size.
Article
Microbiology
Juliana Rizzo, Adele Trottier, Frederique Moyrand, Jean-Yves Coppee, Corinne Maufrais, Ana Claudia G. Zimbres, Thi Tuong Vi Dang, Alexandre Alanio, Marie Desnos-Ollivier, Isabelle Mouyna, Gerard Pehau-Arnaude, Pierre-Henri Commere, Sophie Novault, Iuliana V. Ene, Leonardo Nimrichter, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Guilhem Janbon
Summary: We report the identification of the first regulators of EV production and uncover a novel role of EVs in modulating antifungal drug resistance. Disruption of EV production is associated with altered lipid composition and changes in fluconazole susceptibility. Our study reveals a new mechanism of drug resistance, where cells adapt to azole stress by modulating EV production.
Article
Microbiology
Vanessa K. A. Silva, Somanon Bhattacharya, Natalia Kronbauer Oliveira, Anne G. Savitt, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Bettina C. Fries
Summary: This study investigates the age-associated modifications to the cell wall of Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) and Candida glabrata (Cg). The findings reveal that old yeast cells exhibit upregulated genes of cell wall biosynthesis, leading to cell wall reorganization and significant thickening. The ultrastructural changes in old cells, such as abundant vesicle-like particles and altered vacuoles, suggest enhanced intracellular trafficking. These modifications may contribute to the increased resistance of old cells to antifungals and phagocytic attacks.
Article
Microbiology
Vanessa K. A. Silva, Somanon Bhattacharya, Natalia Kronbauer Oliveira, Anne G. Savitt, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Bettina C. Fries
Summary: This study investigates the effects of replicative aging on the cell wall of Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida glabrata, revealing significant changes in cell wall thickness, gene regulation, and ultrastructure in old cells, suggesting a potential involvement of intracellular trafficking in cell wall modifications.
Review
Microbiology
Brittney N. Conn, Karen L. Wozniak
Summary: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes a significant number of deaths in HIV/AIDS patients each year. Innate phagocytes in the lungs, including dendritic cells and macrophages, are the first to encounter the pathogen and play a crucial role in its detection and clearance. However, C. neoformans has developed strategies to evade the host's immune system, and innate immune cells can also contribute to its pathogenesis. This review provides insights into the interactions between innate pulmonary phagocytes and C. neoformans based on recent literature.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Santhasiri Orrapin, Sittiruk Roytrakul, Narumon Phaonakrop, Siriwan Thaisakun, Khajornsak Tragoolpua, Amornrat Intorasoot, Suzanne McGill, Richard Burchmore, Sorasak Intorasoot
Summary: The study evaluated the biological activities of recombinant javanicin against the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, showing concentration- and time-dependent antifungal activity. Microscopic and proteomics analysis indicated that javanicin may inhibit fungal growth by interfering with carbohydrate metabolism and energy production pathways.
Article
Microbiology
Arjun Sukumaran, Brianna Ball, Jonathan R. Krieger, Jennifer Geddes-McAlister
Summary: The interactions between a host and microbe are crucial in determining the health and disease status of the host. Dual infections are common and contribute to disease severity in immunocompromised individuals. This study investigates the global reprogramming of host cells in response to immediate and established microbial infections with fungal and bacterial pathogens.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kritapat Kietrungruang, Sanonthinee Sookkree, Sirikwan Sangboonruang, Natthawat Semakul, Worrapan Poomanee, Kuntida Kitidee, Yingmanee Tragoolpua, Khajornsak Tragoolpua
Summary: This study demonstrates the inhibitory effects of Nio-EEP, a propolis-loaded niosome, on PLB1 production and biofilm formation, as well as the reduction in intracellular replication of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Article
Immunology
Diego de Souza Goncalves, Claudia Rodriguez de la Noval, Marina da Silva Ferreira, Leandro Honorato, Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araujo, Susana Frases, Claudia Vera Pizzini, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Radames J. B. Cordero, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Jose Mauro Peralta, Leonardo Nimrichter, Allan J. Guimaraes
Summary: The cell wall is a common structure in the fungal kingdom, with different species having varying features. Some fungi produce polysaccharides similar in composition and anti-phagocytic properties to GXM. A study characterized glycans produced by Histoplasma capsulatum with reactivity to GXM mAbs, suggesting their potential role in immunogenicity and phagocytosis resistance.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zhengxia Wang, Wei Liu, Huidi Hu, Jingxian Jiang, Chen Yang, Xijie Zhang, Qi Yuan, Xiaofan Yang, Mao Huang, Yanming Bao, Ningfei Ji, Mingshun Zhang
Summary: This study found that decreased expression of CD146 in pulmonary tissues is associated with increased inflammatory response in pulmonary cryptococcosis. Furthermore, CD146 deficiency worsens the infection by C. neoformans.
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Herdson Renney de Sousa, Getulio Pereira de Oliveira Jr, Stefania de Oliveira Frazao, Kaio Cesar de Melo Gorgonha, Camila Pereira Rosa, Emanuella Melgaco Garcez, Joaquim Lucas Jr, Amabel Fernandes Correia, Waleriano Ferreira de Freitas, Higor Matos Borges, Lucas Gomes de Brito Alves, Hugo Costa Paes, Luciana Trilles, Marcia dos Santos Lazera, Marcus de Melo Teixeira, Vitor Laerte Pinto Jr, Maria Sueli Soares Felipe, Arturo Casadevall, Ildinete Silva-Pereira, Patricia Albuquerque, Andre Moraes Nicola
Summary: This study systematically investigated the virulence attributes of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus spp. and found that C. neoformans isolates have stronger melanization ability and thinner capsules than C. gattii. The study also revealed a positive correlation between faster melanization and the virulence, survival capability in Galleria mellonella, and prognosis in humans.
Article
Immunology
Wenwen Liu, Yuting Deng, Aiping Tan, Fei Zhao, Ouqing Chang, Fang Wang, Yingtiao Lai, Zhibin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the interactions between N. seriolae and macrophages and deciphered the intracellular survival mechanism of N. seriolae. It was found that N. seriolae entered macrophages and induced apoptosis in the early infection stage, but inhibited apoptosis in the middle and later periods of infection to survive inside the cells. Furthermore, N. seriolae inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species and released large amounts of nitric oxide, which contributed to its intracellular survival.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthias Ryma, Tina Tylek, Julia Liebscher, Carina Blum, Robin Fernandez, Christoph Bohm, Wolfgang Kastenmuller, Georg Gasteiger, Jurgen Groll
Summary: This study demonstrates that culturing human-monocyte-derived macrophages on specific types of collagen fibers can induce strong prohealing polarization, suggesting the importance of topographical structures in cellular behavior. Additionally, the use of melt electrofibrillation strategy can produce biomimetic nanofiber bundles with a structural similarity to native collagen I.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jana Havlikova, Robin C. May, Iain B. Styles, Helen J. Cooper
Summary: The ESKAPE pathogens were successfully identified using liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry (LESA MS), with a identification success rate of 79%.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Christopher D. Shave, Linda Millyard, Robin C. May
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Herbert Itabangi, Poppy C. S. Sephton-Clark, Diana P. Tamayo, Xin Zhou, Georgina P. Starling, Zamzam Mahamoud, Ignacio Insua, Mark Probert, Joao Correia, Patrick J. Moynihan, Teclegiorgis Gebremariam, Yiyou Gu, Ashraf S. Ibrahim, Gordon D. Brown, Jason S. King, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Kerstin Voelz
Summary: Opportunistic infections by environmental fungi are a growing clinical problem. A study has found that a bacterial endosymbiont in Rhizopus microsporus plays a crucial role in its pathogenesis in animals, as it can suppress the growth of soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and protect fungal spores from phagocytosis by human macrophages.
Review
Immunology
Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, Robin C. May
Summary: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing lethal cryptococcal meningitis, with genetic polymorphisms playing a significant role in disease trajectory. Studies have linked polymorphisms in various immune-related genes to susceptibility to cryptococcal disease, but the specific mechanisms remain unclear and may vary across different populations. Future research should focus on including diverse populations in genetic association studies to better understand the impact of these polymorphisms.
Article
Biology
Saloni Rose, Esteban J. Beckwith, Charlotte Burmester, Robin C. May, Marc S. Dionne, Carolina Rezaval
Summary: In this study, we used fruit flies as a model organism to investigate the impact of immune system activation on pre-copulatory reproductive behavior. Contrary to expectations, infected flies still exhibited high levels of courtship and mating success.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Josie F. Gibson, Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Robert J. Evans, Alfred Alinafe Kamuyango, Richard Hotham, Anne K. Lagendijk, Benjamin M. Hogan, Philip W. Ingham, Stephen A. Renshaw, Simon A. Johnston
Summary: Meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans involves blood vessel damage and infarction. This study used a zebrafish model to investigate the mechanism of how infection leads to vessel damage and pathogen dissemination. The findings show that cryptococcal cells become trapped within the vasculature and proliferate there, resulting in vasodilation. The localized growth of cryptococcal cells in the vessels was associated with dissemination and loss of blood vessel integrity. Manipulating blood vessel tension increased dissemination events. These results suggest a positive feedback loop where infection leads to vessel damage and subsequent dissemination.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack A. Bryant, Lily Riordan, Rowan Watson, Naa Dei Nikoi, Wioleta Trzaska, Louise Slope, Callum Tibbatts, Morgan R. Alexander, David J. Scurr, Robin C. May, Felicity de Cogan
Summary: There is a growing concern about antimicrobial resistant infections in healthcare settings. While bacterial infections are well-documented, fungal infections receive less attention despite their significant impact on society and potential lethality. Fungi share many biological features with humans, making it challenging to develop effective technologies and infrastructure for combating fungal infections. This study presents a novel antimicrobial surface modified with the broad-spectrum biocide chlorhexidine, which demonstrates rapid killing of the opportunistic fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, and outperforms current available technologies like silver and copper.
Article
Microbiology
Lamin Saidykhan, Joao Correia, Andrey Romanyuk, Anna F. A. Peacock, Guillaume E. Desanti, Leanne Taylor-Smith, Maria Makarova, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Robin C. May
Summary: This study discovered a simple and effective method to induce titan cells in C. gattii under in vitro conditions, explored the titanisation ability in immunocompetent individuals, and characterized the differences among strains. The study also found that genes associated with cell cycle progression played a crucial role in titanisation, and identified exogenous p-Aminobenzoic acid as a key inducer of titanisation.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Luca Panconi, Maria Makarova, Eleanor R. Lambert, Robin C. May, Dylan M. Owen
Summary: Cell segmentation is a technique to identify cells and extract information from them, but manual segmentation is laborious and subjective. TOBLERONE, a topological image analysis tool, can accurately segment cells of arbitrary shapes and automate the data extraction process.
JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Lamin Saidykhan, Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, Robin C. May
Summary: In this review, we highlight the major phenotypic differences between the C. gattii and neoformans species complexes and justify the need to study the virulence and pathogenicity of the C. gattii species complex as a distinct cryptococcal group.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Correction
Microbiology
Lamin Saidykhan, Joao Correia, Andrey Romanyuk, Anna F. A. Peacock, Guillaume E. Desanti, Leanne Taylor-Smith, Maria Makarova, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Robin C. May
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Israel Kiiza Njovu, Pauline Petra Nalumaga, Lucas Ampaire, Edwin Nuwagira, James Mwesigye, Benson Musinguzi, Kennedy Kassaza, Kabanda Taseera, James Kiguli Mukasa, Joel Bazira, Jacob Stanley Iramiot, Andrew Baguma, Felix Bongomin, Richard Kwizera, Beatrice Achan, Michael J. Cox, Jason S. King, Robin May, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Herbert Itabangi
Summary: This study aims to investigate the metabolic and molecular ecological evolution of opportunistic pulmonary fungal coinfections among patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. Establishing key fungal-bacterial cross-kingdom synergistic relationships is crucial for instituting fungal bacterial coinfecting etiology.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, Guillaume E. Desanti, Alex L. Wilkinson, Samuel Lara-Reyna, Eva-Maria Frickel, Gyorgy Fejer, Olivier D. Christophe, Clare E. Bryant, Subhankar Mukhopadhyay, Siamon Gordon, Robin C. May
Summary: Loss of TLR4 function enhances phagocytosis of non-opsonised C. neoformans by macrophages, and this is dampened by pre-treatment with oxidised-LDL. The scavenger receptor MSR1 is upregulated in Tlr4(-/-) macrophages and is shown to be a key non-opsonic receptor for C. neoformans.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sally H. Mohamed, Man Shun Fu, Sofia Hain, Alanoud Alselami, Eliane Vanhoffelen, Yanjian Li, Ebrima Bojang, Robert Lukande, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Robin C. May, Chen Ding, Greetje Vande Velde, Rebecca A. Drummond
Summary: Microglia do not provide protection against Cryptococcus neoformans brain infection, but may act as a reservoir for early infection and a site for the fungus to access copper micronutrient.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuying Du, Robin C. May, Helen J. Cooper
Summary: In this study, we demonstrated that intact non-covalent protein complexes can be directly detected from bacterial colonies growing on agar by combining electroporation with native ambient mass spectrometry. Homodimers HdeA and HdeB, as well as the 50 kDa Mn-bound superoxide dismutase homodimer, were identified, along with some previously undetected monomeric proteins.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)