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.
Review
Microbiology
Silvia Radosa, Falk Hillmann
Summary: Free living amoebae exhibit similarities with innate immune cells and may have served as a training ground for environmental pathogens. Virulence determinants of some fungal pathogens can resist both innate immune cells and environmental phagocytic predators.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Pin Liang, Jiquan Song, Qin Liu
Summary: This study found that the combination of everolimus with two antifungal drugs, amphotericin B and azoles, showed synergistic effects in inhibiting Cryptococcus. The combination therapy also significantly lowered the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the antifungal drugs. These findings suggest that this combination treatment may be a potential therapeutic strategy for Cryptococcus infections.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chen-Hsin Yu, Poppy Sephton-Clark, Jennifer L. Tenor, Dena L. Toffaletti, Charles Giamberardino, Miriam Haverkamp, Christina A. Cuomo, John R. Perfect
Summary: This study provides insights into the gene expression patterns of Cryptococcus neoformans in human cerebrospinal fluid, highlighting the importance of carbon metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, transport, cell wall structure, and stress-related gene functions during growth in this environment. Highly expressed yeast genes in human CSF include those associated with survival or virulence, as well as genes encoding hypothetical proteins. The findings contribute to understanding how the yeast responds to stress in the central nervous system, with potential implications for developing new therapeutics targeting these genes and pathways.
Review
Immunology
Yan Wang, Siddhi Pawar, Orchi Dutta, Keyi Wang, Amariliz Rivera, Chaoyang Xue
Summary: Macrophages play a crucial role in the defense against Cryptococcus infection by clearing pathogens and shaping the immune response. The interaction between Cryptococcus and macrophages determines the outcome of the infection and the susceptibility of hosts. Understanding the origin, polarization, activation, and effector functions of macrophages during Cryptococcus infection is important for developing immunotherapy for cryptococcosis treatment.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Christopher J. Winski, Yuanyuan Qian, Shahriar Mobashery, Felipe H. Santiago-Tirado
Summary: This study demonstrates a novel dual role for PDR transporters in C. neoformans, which could represent a potential target for antifungal therapeutics. Furthermore, the atypical half-size transporter encoded by PDR6 is conserved in many fungal pathogens, but absent in model nonpathogenic fungi. This study provides insights into the function of this unique group of fungal half-size PDR transporters that, although conserved, remain largely understudied.
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
Microbiology
Katy M. Alden, Andrew J. Jezewski, Sarah R. Beattie, David Fox, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of acetyl-CoA metabolism pathways in the infection process of C. neoformans. ACS1 and KBC1 play crucial roles in adapting to the host environment, as evidenced by their increased expression in vivo.
Article
Microbiology
Nuria Trevijano-Contador, Elena Roselletti, Rocio Garcia-Rodas, Anna Vecchiarelli, Oscar Zaragoza
Summary: The study focused on the role of cytokine IL-17 in the formation of cryptococcal Titan cells, and found that IL-17 deficiency resulted in a lower proportion of Titan cells in infected mice and earlier dissemination to the brain. Additionally, IL-17 deficient mice showed an increased brain size and altered cytokine profile compared to wild-type mice, indicating a compensatory role of cytokines in influencing cryptococcal morphology and dissemination.
Article
Biology
Daniel F. Q. Smith, Quigly Dragotakes, Madhura Kulkarni, J. Marie Hardwick, Arturo Casadevall
Summary: Melanin production in insects plays a crucial role in the immune response against microbial infections. This study provides direct evidence that melanin encapsulation is fungicidal and enhances immune melanization. The research also demonstrates the antifungal mechanism of immune melanization in Galleria mellonella hosts.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Glauber R. de S. Araujo, Carolina de L. Alcantara, Noemia Rodrigues, Wanderley de Souza, Bruno Pontes, Susana Frases
Summary: Through advanced microscopy techniques, we described the morphological remodeling that occurs among the capsule, cell wall, and plasma membrane during cell division in Cryptococcus neoformans. Our findings show that the cell wall deforms to generate specialized regions, and the capsular polysaccharide undergoes reorganization.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Corinna Probst, Sarela Garcia-Santamarina, Jacob T. Brooks, Inge Van der Kloet, Oliver Baars, Martina Ralle, Dennis J. Thiele, J. Andrew Alspaugh
Summary: Copper homeostasis mechanisms are crucial for microbial adaptation during infection. In the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn), the protein Cbi1/Bim1 is induced during copper limitation and plays a role in copper uptake. Our study suggests that Cbi1 is involved in regulating cell wall integrity and architecture, connecting copper homeostasis with adaptive changes within the fungal cell wall.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Gustavo J. C. Freitas, Daniel A. Santos
Summary: Understanding the role of CP in inhibiting CD11b recognition of C. gattii can provide valuable information for diagnosing, preventing, and treating cryptococcosis. Deeply understanding the role of C. gattii during infection is crucial for influencing strategies in developing new vaccines against cryptococcosis.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(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
Caroline Patini Rezende, Patricia Kellen Martins Oliveira Brito, Thiago Aparecido Da Silva, Andre Moreira Pessoni, Leandra Naira Zambelli Ramalho, Fausto Almeida
Summary: The absence of Gal-3 does not significantly affect tissue histopathology, but may play a crucial role in modulating immune responses against cryptococcosis.
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
Microbiology
Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla, Leandro Honorato, Krupanandan Haranahalli, Isabella Dib Ferreira Gremiao, Sandro Antonio Pereira, Allan Guimaraes, Andrea Regina de Souza Baptista, Patricia de M. Tavares, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Kildare Miranda, Iwao Ojima, Maurizio Del Poeta, Leonardo Nimrichter
Summary: Sporotrichosis is an emerging mycosis caused by Sporothrix genus fungi, particularly affecting humans and cats. Treatment options for feline sporotrichosis, such as ITC, potassium iodide, and amphotericin B, can have deleterious adverse reactions. Acylhydrazone derivatives like D13 and SB-AF-1002 show potent antifungal activity with low toxicity, displaying additive effects with ITC. In a murine model, AH derivatives are more efficient than ITC, suggesting their potential in combating sporotrichosis.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Susana Ruiz Mendoza, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Tamas Takacs, Attila Gacser, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Allan J. Guimaraes
Summary: The prevalence of fungal infections has been increasing in immunocompromised patients, with arachidonic acid metabolites playing important roles in regulating immune function. Fungal-produced prostaglandins have immunomodulatory functions similar to mammalian counterparts, potentially serving as new targets for combating various fungal infections.
Review
Cell Biology
Taiane N. Souza, Alessandro F. Valdez, Juliana Rizzo, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Allan Jefferson Guimaraes, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Leonardo Nimrichter
Summary: Lipid microdomains are ordered regions of the plasma membrane enriched in specific components, playing important roles in host-pathogen interactions. Fungi interfere with infection outcomes by disrupting the dynamics of host cell membrane microdomains. Pathogenic fungi exploit lipid microdomains to invade and survive in host cells.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Diane Sthefany Lima de Oliveira, Verenice Paredes, Adrielle Veloso Caixeta, Nicole Moreira Henriques, Maggie P. Wear, Patricia Albuquerque, Maria Sueli Soares Felipe, Arturo Casadevall, Andre Moraes Nicola
Summary: Decades of studies on antibody structure have shown that while the V region binds antigens, the C region can affect affinity and specificity. This study identified the molecular basis of how the constant region impacts antigen binding, and how engineering antibodies with different constant regions can result in different binding patterns.
Article
Microbiology
Leandro Honorato, Joana Feital Demetrio de Araujo, Cameron C. Ellis, Alicia Corbellini Piffer, Yan Pereira, Susana Frases, Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araujo, Bruno Pontes, Maria Tays Mendes, Marcos Dias Pereira, Allan J. Guimaraes, Natalia Martins da Silva, Gabriele Vargas, Luna Joffe, Maurizio Del Poeta, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Flavia Coelho Garcia dos Reis, Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Sharon de Toledo Martins, Lysangela Ronalte Alves, Igor C. Almeida, Leonardo Nimrichter
Summary: This study investigates the impact of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) on biofilm formation and virulence in Candida albicans. The researchers found that C. albicans EVs inhibit biofilm formation and promote pseudohyphae formation. EVs from different strains of C. albicans, S. cerevisiae, and H. capsulatum also inhibit yeast-to-hyphae differentiation. The inhibitory effect of C. albicans EVs is attributed to a combination of lipid compounds.
Article
Immunology
Marina da Silva Ferreira, Susana Ruiz Mendoza, Diego de Souza Goncalves, Claudia de la Noval, Leandro Honorato, Leonardo Nimrichter, Luis Felipe Costa Ramos, Fabio C. S. Nogueira, Gilberto B. Domont, Jose Mauro Peralta, Allan J. Guimaraes
Summary: In this study, high-affinity ligands for mannosylated fungal cell wall residues expressed on the surface of amoebas and macrophages were identified. The binding of purified surface proteins from both phagocytes to isolated mannose/mannans and mannosylated fungal cell wall targets was observed. Blocking this pathway affects fungal internalization and survival in both phagocytes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Susana Ruiz Mendoza, Susie Coutinho Liedke, Claudia Rodriguez de La Noval, Marina da Silva Ferreira, Kamilla Xavier Gomes, Leandro Honorato, Leonardo Nimrichter, Jose Mauro Peralta, Allan Jefferson Guimaraes
Summary: Fungal infections are on the rise, requiring new and efficient treatment options. Passive immunizations targeting fungal cells with specific antibody structures could potentially play a role in early interventions.
Review
Immunology
Alessandro F. Valdez, Daniel Zamith Miranda, Allan Jefferson Guimaraes, Leonardo Nimrichter, Joshua D. Nosanchuk
Summary: This review discusses the virulence factors and pathogenesis traits of Histoplasma capsulatum, a thermally dimorphic fungus causing histoplasmosis. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing new preventive and therapeutic interventions.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Lysangela R. Alves, Alejandro Correa, Allan J. Guimaraes, Marcio L. Rodrigues
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Allan J. Guimaraes, Livia Kmetzsch, Marcos Dias Pereira
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Luana Pereira Borba-Santos, Rodrigo Rollin-Pinheiro, Yasmin da Silva Fontes, Giulia Maria Pires dos Santos, Glauber Ribeiro de Sousa Araujo, Anderson Messias Rodrigues, Allan J. Guimaraes, Wanderley de Souza, Susana Frases, Antonio Ferreira-Pereira, Eliana Barreto-Bergter, Sonia Rozental
Summary: High-content screening of compounds from the Pandemic Response Box library identified olorofim as a promising new antifungal drug against Sporothrix pathogenic species. Olorofim showed inhibitory and lethal effects on several Sporothrix species at lower concentrations than itraconazole, and it also displayed antibiofilm activity. The drug induced significant alterations on the cell surface and cell cycle arrest in Sporothrix yeasts, impairing their ability to adhere to keratinocytes.
Article
Microbiology
Ingrid S. Sousa, Tatiana D. P. Vieira, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto, Allan J. Guimaraes, Pauraic McCarron, Malachy McCann, Michael Devereux, Andre L. S. Santos, Lucimar F. Kneipp
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of metal-phen complexes on Fonsecaea spp. The results showed that these complexes could inhibit the viability of Fonsecaea fungi and showed good antifungal activity against F. pedrosoi.
Article
Microbiology
Alessandro F. Valdez, Taiane Nascimento de Souza, Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla, Daniel Zamith-Miranda, Alicia Corbellini Piffer, Glauber R. S. Araujo, Allan J. Guimaraes, Susana Frases, Alana Kelyene Pereira, Taicia Pacheco Fill, Igor L. Estevao, Angel Torres, Igor C. Almeida, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Leonardo Nimrichter
Summary: Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) have potential as therapeutic agents and targets for the treatment of fungal infections. This study found that caffeine, a subinhibitory concentration of methylxanthines, effectively reduces the release of H. capsulatum EVs, leading to a modulation of fungal virulence.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla, Leandro Honorato, Allan J. Guimaraes, Kildare Miranda, Leonardo Nimrichter
Summary: This research focuses on the green synthesis of chitosan-functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@Chi) and their potential applications in combating sporotrichosis. The results demonstrate that AgNPs@Chi exhibit low toxicity, inhibitory effects on fungal growth, and stimulating effects on cell growth and tissue repair. These nanocomposites have the potential to be a non-toxic and efficient alternative for sporotrichosis treatment.
FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)