Biology subjects

Fries, B. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Fries, B. C..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Achieving Resilience in Aging: How Mitochondrial Modulation Drives Age-associated Fluconazole Tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is an opportunistic fungal microorganism that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis. During the infection, the microbial population is heterogeneously composed of cells with varying generational ages, with older cells accumulating during chronic infections. This is attributed to their enhanced resistance to phagocytic killing and tolerance of antifungals like fluconazole (FLC). In this study, we investigated the role of ergosterol synthesis, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and mitochondrial metabolism in the regulation of age-dependent FLC tolerance. We find that old Cn cells increase the production of ergosterol and exhibit upregulation of ABC transporters. Old cells also show transcriptional and phenotypic characteristics consistent with increased metabolic activity, leading to increased ATP production. This is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in mitochondrial fragmentation. This study demonstrates that the metabolic changes occurring in the mitochondria of old cells drive the increase in ergosterol synthesis and the upregulation of ABC transporters, leading to FLC tolerance. IMPORTANCEInfections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans cause more than 180,000 deaths annually. Estimated one-year mortality for patients receiving care ranges from 20% in developed countries to 70% in developing countries, suggesting that current treatments are inadequate. Some fungal cells can persist and replicate despite the usage of current antifungal regimens, leading to death or treatment failure. In replicative aging, older cells display a resilient phenotype, characterized by their enhanced tolerance against antifungals and resistance to killing by host cells. This study shows that age-dependent increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species drive changes in ABC transporters and ergosterol synthesis, ultimately leading to the heightened tolerance against fluconazole in old C. neoformans cells. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of this age-associated antifungal tolerance will enable more targeted antifungal therapies for cryptococcal infections.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Replicative Aging Remodels Cell Wall and is Associated with Increased Intracellular Trafficking in Human Pathogenic Yeasts

Replicative aging is an underexplored field of research in medical mycology. Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) and Candida glabrata (Cg) are dreaded fungal pathogens that cause fatal invasive infections. The fungal cell wall is essential for yeast viability and pathogenesis. In this study, we provide data characterizing age-associated modifications to the cell wall of Cn and Cg. Here, we report that old yeast cells upregulate genes of cell wall biosynthesis, leading to cell wall reorganization, and increased levels of all major components, including glucan, chitin and its derivatives, as well as mannan. This results in a significant thickening of the cell wall in aged cells. Old generation yeast cells exhibited drastic ultrastructural changes, including the presence of abundant vesicle-like particles in the cytoplasm, and enlarged vacuoles with altered pH homeostasis. Our findings suggest that the cell wall modifications could be enabled by augmented intracellular trafficking. This work furthers our understanding of the cell phenotype that emerges during aging. It highlights differences in these two fungal pathogens and elucidates mechanisms that explain the enhanced resistance of old cells to antifungals and phagocytic attacks. IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans and Candida glabrata are two opportunistic human fungal pathogens that cause life-threatening diseases. During infection, both microorganisms have the ability to persist for long periods, and treatment failure can occur even if standard testing identifies the yeasts to be sensitive to antifungals. Replicative lifespan is a trait that is measured by the number of divisions a cell undergoes before death. Aging in fungi is associated with enhanced tolerance to antifungals and resistance to phagocytosis, and characterization of old cells may help identify novel antifungal targets. The cell wall remains an attractive target for new therapies because it is essential for fungi and is not present in humans. This study shows that the organization of the fungal cell wall changes remarkably during aging and becomes thicker and is associated with increased intracellular trafficking as well as the alteration of vacuole morphology and pH homeostasis.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

A monoclonal antibody against staphylococcal enterotoxin B superantigen inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry in vitro

We recently discovered a superantigen-like motif, similar to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), near the S1/S2 cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, which might explain the multisystem-inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) observed in children and cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 patients. We show here that an anti-SEB monoclonal antibody (mAb), 6D3, can bind this viral motif, and in particular its PRRA insert, to inhibit infection by blocking the access of host cell proteases, TMPRSS2 or furin, to the cleavage site. The high affinity of 6D3 for the furin-cleavage site originates from a poly-acidic segment at its heavy chain CDR2, a feature shared with SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing mAb 4A8. The affinity of 6D3 and 4A8 for this site points to their potential utility as therapeutics for treating COVID-19, MIS-C, or common cold caused by human coronaviruses (HCoVs) that possess a furin-like cleavage site.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

SERUM ANTIBODY RESPONSES AGAINST CARBAPENEM-RESISTANT KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE IN INFECTED PATIENTS

BackgroundCapsular polysaccharide (CPS) heterogeneity within carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) strain ST258 must be considered when developing CPS-based vaccines. We sought to characterize CPS-specific antibody responses elicited by CR-Kp infected patients. MethodPlasma and bacterial isolates were collected from 33 hospital patients with positive CR-Kp culture. Isolates capsule were typed by wzi sequencing. Reactivity and measures of efficacy of patient antibodies were studied against 3 prevalent CR-Kp CPS types (wzi29, 154 and 50). ResultsHigh IgG titers against wzi154 and wzi50 CPS were documented in 79% of infected patients. Patient-derived (PD) IgGs agglutinated CR-Kp and limited growth better than naive IgG, and promoted phagocytosis of strains across the serotype isolated from their donors. Additionally, poly-IgG from wzi50 and wzi154 patients promoted phagocytosis of non-concordant CR-Kp serotypes. Such effects were lost when poly-IgG was depleted of CPS-specific IgG. Additionally, mice infected with wzi50, wzi154, and wzi29 CR-Kp strains pre-opsonized with wzi50 patient-derived IgG exhibited lower lung CFU than controls. Depletion of wzi50 Abs reversed this effect in wzi50 and wzi154 infections, whereas wzi154 Ab depletion reduced Poly-IgG efficacy against wzi29 CR-Kp. ConclusionsWe are first to report cross-reactive properties of CPS-specific Abs from CR-Kp patients through both in-vitro and in-vivo models. ImportanceCarbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a rapidly emerging public health threat that can cause fatal infections in ~40-50% of immunocompromised patients. Due to its resistance to nearly all antimicrobials, development of alternate therapies like antibodies and vaccines are urgently needed. Capsular polysaccharides are emerging as important immunotargets as they are a crucial for Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenesis. Studying how hosts immune system protect against specific bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoiniae, with respect to their specific capsule-type is crucial to develop effective anti-CPS immunotherapies. In this manuscript, we are the first to characterize humoral responses developed in infected patients against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae expressing different wzi-capsule types. This study is the first to report efficacy of cross-reactive properties of CPS-specific Abs in both in-vitro and in-vivo models.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

The Role of IgG Subclass in Antibody-Mediated Protection against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Monoclonal antibodies (Abs) have the potential to assist in the battle against multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp). However, the characteristics by which these Abs function, such as the role of antibody subclass, must be determined before such modalities can be carried from the bench to the bedside. We performed a subclass switch on anti-capsular monoclonal murine IgG3 (mIgG3) hybridomas and identified and purified a murine IgG1 (mIgG1) hybridoma line through sib selection. We then compared the ability of the mIgG1 and mIgG3 antibodies to control CR-Kp ST258 infection both in vitro and in vivo. We found by ELISA and flow cytometry that mIgG3 has superior binding to CR-Kp CPS and superior agglutinating ability compared to mIgG1. The mIgG3 also predictably had better complement-mediated serum bactericidal activity than the mIgG1 and also promoted neutrophil-mediated killing at concentrations lower than the mIgG1. In contrast, the mIgG1 had marginally better activity in improving macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Comparing their activities in a pulmonary infection model with wild type as well as neutropenic mice, both antibodies reduced organ burden in a non-lethal challenge, regardless of neutrophil status, with mIgG1 having the highest overall burden reduction in both scenarios. However, at a lethal inoculum, both antibodies showed reduced efficacy in neutropenic mice, with mIgG3 retaining the most activity. These findings suggest the viability of monoclonal Ab adjunctive therapy in neutropenic patients that cannot mount their own immune response, while also providing some insight into the relative contributions of immune mediators in CR-Kp protection. ImportanceCarbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is an urgent public health threat that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised hosts. Its resistance to nearly all antibiotics necessitates novel strategies to treat it, including the use of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are emerging as important adjuncts to traditional pharmaceuticals, and studying how they protect against specific bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae is crucial to their development as effective therapies. Antibody subclass is often overlooked but is a major factor in how an antibody interacts with other mediators of immunity. This paper is the first to examine how the subclass of anti-capsular monoclonal antibodies can affect efficacy against CR-Kp. Additionally, this work sheds light on the viability of monoclonal antibody therapy in neutropenic patients, who are most vulnerable to CR-Kp infection.

immunology↗