Biology subjects

May, R. C.

Publications and source records attributed to May, R. C..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Loss of the scavenger receptor MARCO results in uncontrolled vomocytosis of fungi from macrophages.

Vomocytosis, also known as nonlytic exocytosis, is a process whereby fully phagocytosed microbes are expelled from phagocytes without discernible damage to either the phagocyte or microbe. Although this phenomenon was first described in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans in 2006, to date, mechanistic studies have been hampered by an inability to reliably stimulate or inhibit vomocytosis. Here we present the fortuitous discovery that macrophages lacking the scavenger receptor MAcrophage Receptor with COllagenous domain (MARCO), exhibit near-total vomocytosis of internalised cryptococci within a few hours of infection. Our findings suggest that MARCOs role in modulating vomocytosis is independent of its role as a phagocytic receptor and instead may be driven by variation in cytoskeletal arrangement between wildtype and MARCO-deficient macrophages.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Airway epithelial cells as a novel intracellular host reservoir for Cryptococcus spores

Human fungal pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans, cause 1.5 million annual deaths. Cryptococcus causes disease when it disseminates out of the lung and into the brain which can occur years after initial exposure (latency) via mechanisms that remain unknown. Spores of Cryptococcus display distinct surface epitopes, host-interactions, and disease kinetics to the vegetatively growing yeast morphotype, yet they remain understudied likely contributing to our lack of understanding of pathogenesis. One of the first barriers spores encounter are non-professional phagocytic Airway Epithelial Cells (AECs). Here, we demonstrated that Cryptococcus spores preferentially invade AECs both in vitro and in vivo. Once inside spores can germinate, subsequently replicate, persist and/or escape. This ability to enter AECs correlates with a preferential ability of spore to cross AEC barriers. Together our work indicates that AECs can be invaded by Cryptococcus spores and may serve as a previously ignored intracellular host niche, providing alternative hypothesis for both Cryptococcus dissemination and latency.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Tur1 regulates alternative TSS usage in Cryptococcus

Alternative transcription start site (TSS) usage regulation has been identified as a major means of gene expression regulation in metazoans. However, in fungi, its impact remains elusive as its study has thus far been restricted to model yeasts. Here, we first re-analysed TSS-seq data to define genuine TSS clusters in two species of pathogenic Cryptococcus. We identified two types of TSS clusters associated with specific DNA sequence motifs. Our analysis also revealed that alternative TSS usage regulation in response to environmental cues is widespread in Cryptococcus, altering gene expression and protein targeting. Importantly, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify a unique transcription factor (TF) named Tur1, which regulates alternative TSS (altTSS) usage genome-wide when cells switch from exponential phase to stationary phase. ChiP-Seq and DamID-Seq analyses suggest that at some loci the role of Tur1 might be direct. Tur1 has been previously shown to be essential for virulence in C. neoformans. We demonstrated here that a tur1{Delta} mutant strain is more sensitive to superoxide stress and phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages than the wild-type (WT) strain.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Reciprocal regulation of TLR4, TLR3 and Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1 regulates nonopsonic phagocytosis of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

The opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes lethal infections in immunocompromised patients. Macrophages are central to the host response to cryptococci; however, it is unclear how C. neoformans is recognized and phagocytosed by macrophages. Here we investigate the role of TLR4 in the nonopsonic phagocytosis of C. neoformans. We find that loss of TLR4 function unexpectedly increases phagocytosis of nonopsonized cryptococci. The increased phagocytosis observed in Tlr4-/- cells was dampened by pre-treatment of macrophages with either a TLR3 inhibitor or oxidised-LDL, a known ligand of scavenger receptors. The scavenger receptor, macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) (also known as SR-A1 or CD204) was upregulated in Tlr4-/- macrophages and there was a 75% decrease in phagocytosis of nonopsonized cryptococci by Msr1-/- macrophages. Furthermore, immunofluorescence imaging revealed colocalization of MSR1 and internalised cryptococci. Together, these results identify MSR1 as a key receptor for the phagocytosis of nonopsonized C. neoformans and demonstrate TLR4/MSR1 crosstalk in the phagocytosis of C. neoformans.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Amoeba Predation of Cryptococcus: A Quantitative and Population Genomic Evaluation of the Accidental Pathogen Hypothesis

The "Amoeboid Predator-Fungal Animal Virulence Hypothesis" posits that interactions with environmental phagocytes shape the evolution of virulence traits in fungal pathogens. In this hypothesis, selection to avoid predation by amoeba inadvertently selects for traits that contribute to fungal escape from phagocytic immune cells. Here, we investigate this hypothesis in the human fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus deneoformans. Applying quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and comparative genomics, we discovered a cross-species QTL region that is responsible for variation in resistance to amoeba predation. In C. neoformans, this same QTL was found to have pleiotropic effects on melanization, an established virulence factor. Through fine mapping and population genomic comparisons, we identified the gene encoding the transcription factor Bzp4 that underlies this pleiotropic QTL and we show that decreased expression of this gene reduces melanization and increases susceptibility to amoeba predation. Despite the joint effects of BZP4 on amoeba resistance and melanin production, we find no relationship between BZP4 genotype and escape from macrophages or virulence in murine models of disease. Our findings provide new perspectives on how microbial ecology shapes the genetic architecture of fungal virulence, and suggests the need for more nuanced models for the evolution of pathogenesis that account for the complexities of both microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Author summaryA prominent hypothesis for the evolution of many environmental pathogens proposes that opportunistic pathogenesis is an "accidental" by-product of selection to survive encounters with microbial predators. Chief among the predators that have been suggested as relevant to the evolution of virulence are phagocytic amoebae. Amoebae share many characteristics with macrophages and other primary immune cells that microbial pathogens encounter during infection of animal hosts. This has led to the suggestion that amoebae may act as "training grounds" for both bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this study we test key tenets of the accidental pathogen hypothesis by examining two related questions: "Do alleles important for survival in the face of amoeba predation correspond to known virulence genes? And does genetic variation that increases resistance to amoeba predation increase virulence potential?" We carried out quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in two species of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus and identified an orthologous QTL, shared by the two species, where allelic variation is a key predictor of resistance to amoeba predation. In C. neoformans we show that this QTL corresponds to a deletion upstream of a transcription factor gene, BZP4. Variation at BZP4 also predicts melanin synthesis, another trait implicated in Cryptococcus virulence. Although BZP4 genotype is a strong predictor of resistance to amoeba predation, we find no correlation between genetic variation at this locus and the ability to proliferate in macrophages or to kill animal hosts. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary landscape of fungal virulence is complex, and highlights the importance of accounting for natural genetic variation when evaluating evolutionary hypotheses.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Microglia protect fungi against copper starvation and promote brain infection

Microglia provide protection against a range of brain infections, but how these glial cells respond to fungi is poorly understood. We investigated the role of microglia in the context of cryptococcal meningitis, the most common cause of fungal brain infections in humans. Using a series of transgenic- and chemical-based microglia depletion methods we found that, contrary to their protective role during other infections, microglia supported cryptococcal fungal brain infection. We show that microglia become hosts for intracellular fungal growth and are a site in which the fungus accesses the restricted micronutrient copper. We developed a reporter fungal strain to track copper starvation responses by the fungus and found that yeast were protected from copper starvation within microglia. Lastly, we show that stimulation of microglia with IFN{gamma} causes restriction of phagosomal copper to intracellular fungi. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for why microglia depletion has a therapeutic effect in the context of this life-threatening fungal infection and is one of the few examples of microglia acting to promote infection. Our data demonstrate how tissue-resident phagocytes can support cryptococcal infections by acting as intracellular reservoirs and sites of microbial nutrient acquisition, and how these mechanisms may be blocked by IFN{gamma} immunotherapy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Phospholipid tail asymmetry allows cellular adaptation to anoxic environments

Membrane biophysical properties are critical to cell fitness and depend on unsaturated phospholipid acyl tails. These can only be produced in aerobic environments since eukaryotic desaturases require molecular oxygen. This raises the question of how cells maintain bilayer properties in anoxic environments. Here, we demonstrate the existence of an alternative pathway to regulate membrane fluidity that exploits phospholipid acyl-tail length asymmetry, replacing unsaturated species in the membrane lipidome. We show that the fission yeast, S. japonicus, which can grow in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, is capable of utilizing this strategy whereas its sister species, the well-known model organism S. pombe, cannot. The incorporation of asymmetric-tailed phospholipids might be a general adaptation to hypoxic environmental niches. One-Sentence SummaryIn anoxic environments, saturated asymmetric acyl-tailed phospholipids can replace unsaturated ones to maintain membrane physical properties.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Topology-based fluorescence image analysis for automated cell identification and segmentation

Cell segmentation refers to the body of techniques used to identify cells in images and extract biologically relevant information from them; however, manual segmentation is laborious and subjective. We present Topological Boundary Line Estimation using Recurrence Of Neighbouring Emissions (TOBLERONE), a topological image analysis tool which identifies persistent homological image features as opposed to the geometric analysis commonly employed. We demonstrate that topological data analysis can provide accurate segmentation of arbitrarily-shaped cells, offering a means for automatic and objective data extraction. One cellular feature of particular interest in biology is the plasma membrane, which has been shown to present varying degrees of lipid packing, or membrane order, depending on the function and morphology of the cell type. With the use of environmentally-sensitive dyes, images derived from confocal microscopy can be used to quantify the degree of membrane order. We demonstrate that TOBLERONE is capable of automating this task.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

An in vitro method for inducing titan cells reveals novel features of yeast-to-titan switching in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcosis is a potentially lethal fungal infection of humans caused by organisms within the Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex. Whilst C. neoformans is a relatively common pathogen of immunocompromised individuals, C. gattii is capable of acting as a primary pathogen of immunocompetent individuals. Within the host, both species undergo morphogenesis to form titan cells: exceptionally large cells that are critical for disease establishment. To date, the induction, defining attributes, and underlying mechanism of titanisation have been mainly characterized in C. neoformans. Here, we report the serendipitous discovery of a simple and robust protocol for in vitro induction of titan cells in C. gattii. Using this in vitro approach, we reveal a remarkably high capacity for titanisation within C. gattii, especially in strains associated with the Pacific Northwest Outbreak, and characterise strain-specific differences within the clade. In particular, this approach demonstrates for the first time that cell size changes, DNA amplification, and budding are not always synchronous during titanisation. Interestingly, however, exhibition of these cell cycle phenotypes was correlated with genes associated with cell cycle progression including CDC11, CLN1, BUB2, and MCM6. Finally, our findings reveal exogenous p-Aminobenzoic acid to be a key inducer of titanisation in this organism. Consequently, this approach offers significant opportunities for future exploration of the underlying mechanism of titanisation in this genus.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Pre-copulatory reproductive behaviours are preserved in Drosophila melanogaster infected with bacteria.

Reproduction and immunity are crucial traits that determine an animals fitness. Terminal investment hypothesis predicts that reproductive investment should increase in the face of a mortality risk caused by infection. However, due to competitive allocation of energetic resources, individuals fighting infections are expected to decrease reproductive efforts. While there is evidence for both hypotheses, the factors that determine the choice between these strategies are poorly understood. Here, we assess the impact of bacterial infection on pre-copulatory behaviours in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that male flies infected with six different bacteria, including pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains, show no significant differences in courtship intensity and mating success. Similarly, bacterial infections did not affect sexual receptivity in female flies. Our data suggest that pre-copulatory reproductive behaviours remain preserved in infected animals, despite the huge metabolic cost of infection.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

Host-derived Reactive Nitrogen Species mediate the Cryptococcus neoformans yeast-to-titan switch via fungal-derived superoxide

In the host lung, the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes a morphological switch from small haploid yeast to large polyploid titan cell, contributing to C. neoformans virulence. Titan cells are less readily phagocytosed and can survive host nitrosative and oxidative stresses. We and others previously showed that titanization is triggered by host-relevant signals including CO2 and lung-resident bacteria, and addition of these factor is sufficient to induce titan cells in vitro. Here we investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive this transition and demonstrate that host-derived immune signals can increase the degree and frequency of titanization. Specifically, host-relevant reactive nitrogen species increase the accumulation of endogenous superoxide within cryptococcal cells, particularly within nuclei, where it can cause genotoxic stress. Consistent with this, we observe the accumulation of Rad51 protein, a marker of the double strand break repair pathway, in titanizing cultures. Blocking superoxide accumulation inhibits titanization, yet titanization also requires superoxide detoxification through Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity. Loss of mitochondrial Sod2 activity locks cells in the yeast phase, while Sod1 is required for the production of viable titan daughter cells. We hypothesize that the redox responsive transcription factor Yap1 in part mediates this response by regulating SOD2/SOD1. In addition, we show that Sod1 translocates to the nucleus, where it is likely involved in the detoxification of genotoxic superoxide. Together, these findings reveal a major new regulatory mechanism for the yeast-to-titan transition. Author SummaryDuring fungal infection, host phagocytes produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), major determinants of infection outcome. Fungal pathogens have developed numerous strategies to neutralize and detoxify ROS, but RNS remain important effectors for infection control. In the lung, the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans can undergo a morphological switch from small haploid yeast to large highly polyploid titan cells with increased ROS/RNS stress resistance, and the capacity to produce haploid or aneuploid daughters. Here, we report that RNS are a major signal driving the frequency and degree of titanization and act by increasing endogenous ROS within the fungus. We show that the accumulation of endogenous ROS is required for the yeast-to-titan transition, and is associated with increased genotoxic stress leading to polyploidy. Yet, failure to detoxify this ROS, either in mutants defective in Superoxide Dismutase activity or the oxidative stress response protein Yap1, impairs titan cell budding and reduces progeny viability. Therefore, the interface of exogenous RNS and endogenous ROS regulation during host-pathogen interaction represents an Achilles heel for this major human fungal pathogen.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

New insights into Cryptococcus extracellular vesicles suggest a new structural model and an antifungal vaccine strategy

Whereas extracellular vesicle (EV) research has become commonplace in different biomedical fields, this field of research is still in its infancy in mycology. Here we provide a robust set of data regarding the structural and compositional aspects of EVs isolated from the fungal pathogenic species Cryptococcus neoformans, C. deneoformans and C. deuterogattii. Using cutting-edge methodological approaches including cryogenic electron microscopy and cryogenic electron tomography, proteomics, and flow cytometry, we revisited cryptococcal EV features and suggest a new EV structural model, in which the vesicular lipid bilayer is covered by mannoprotein-based fibrillar decoration, bearing the capsule polysaccharide as its outer layer. About 10% of the EV population is devoid of fibrillar decoration, adding another aspect to EV diversity. By analyzing EV protein cargo from the three species, we characterized the typical Cryptococcus EV proteome. It contains several membrane-bound protein families, including some Tsh proteins bearing a SUR7/PalI motif. The presence of known protective antigens on the surface of Cryptococcus EVs, resembling the morphology of encapsulated virus structures, suggested their potential as a vaccine. Indeed, mice immunized with EVs obtained from an acapsular C. neoformans mutant strain rendered a strong antibody response in mice and significantly prolonged their survival upon C. neoformans infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Cryptococcus neoformans secretes small molecules that inhibit IL-1β inflammasome-dependent secretion

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that causes disease mainly in immunosuppressed hosts. It is considered a facultative intracellular pathogen because of its capacity to survive and replicate inside phagocytes, especially macrophages. This capacity is heavily dependent on various virulence factors, particularly the glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) component of the polysaccharide capsule, that render the non- or poorly-activated macrophage ineffective against phagocytosed yeast. Strategies utilized by macrophages to prevent this scenario include pyroptosis (a rapid highly inflammatory cell death) and vomocytosis (the expulsion of the pathogen from the intracellular environment without lysis). Inflammasome activation in phagocytes is usually protective against fungal infections, including cryptococcosis. Nevertheless, recognition of C. neoformans by inflammasome receptors requires specific changes in morphology or the opsonization of the yeast, impairing a proper inflammasome function. In this context, we analyzed the impact of molecules secreted by C. neoformans B3501 strain and its acapsular mutant{Delta} cap67 in an inflammasome activation in vitro model. Our results showed that conditioned media derived from B3501 was capable of inhibiting inflammasome dependent events (i. e. IL-1{beta} secretion and LDH release via pyroptosis) more strongly than conditioned media from{Delta} cap67, regardless of GXM presence. We also demonstrated that macrophages treated with conditioned media were less responsive against infection with the virulent strain H99, exhibiting lower rates of phagocytosis, increased fungal burdens and enhanced vomocytosis. Moreover, we showed that the aromatic metabolite DL-Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) was present in B3501s conditioned media and that this fungal metabolite is involved in the regulation of inflammasome activation by C. neoformans. Overall, the results presented show that conditioned media from a wild-type strain can inhibit an important recognition pathway and subsequent fungicidal functions of macrophages, contributing to fungal survival in vitro and suggesting that this serves as an important role for secreted molecules during cryptococcal infections. Authors SummaryCryptococcus neoformans is the agent of cryptococcal meningitis, a disease that can be life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts such as those infected with HIV. The infection thrives in hosts that poorly activate their immune system, mainly because of the yeasts ability to survive inside macrophages and migrate towards the central nervous system. Emerging data indicate that cryptococci modulate the host immune response, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Here we show that secreted molecules from a wild-type strain of C. neoformans impair inflammatory responses driven by inflammasome activation, which in turn impact the macrophage antifungal activity. We further show that this inhibition does not involve GXM, the main constituent of the fungal capsule, but rather is partially dependent on DL-Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), a metabolite not previously implicated in fungal virulence.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Viral infection enhances vomocytosis of intracellular fungi via Type I interferons

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen, which causes serious disease in immunocompromised hosts. Infection with this pathogen is particularly relevant in HIV+ patients, where it leads to around 200,000 deaths per annum. A key feature of cryptococcal pathogenesis is the ability of the fungus to survive and replicate within the phagosome of macrophages, as well as its ability to escape via a novel non-lytic mechanism known as vomocytosis. We have been exploring whether viral infection affects the interaction between C. neoformans and macrophages. Here we show that viral infection enhances cryptococcal vomocytosis without altering phagocytosis or intracellular proliferation of the fungus. This effect occurs with distinct, unrelated human viral pathogens and is recapitulated when macrophages are stimulated with the anti-viral cytokine interferon alpha (IFN). Importantly, the effect is abrogated when type-I interferon signalling is blocked, thus underscoring the importance of type-I interferons in this phenomenon. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating specific context cues while studying host-pathogen interactions. By doing so, we found that acute viral infection may trigger the release of latent cryptococci from intracellular compartments, with significant consequences for disease progression.\n\nNon-Technical Author SummaryInfectious diseases are typically studied in the laboratory in isolation, but in real life people often encounter multiple infections simultaneously. Here we investigate how the innate immune response to the fatal fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is influenced by viral coinfection. Whilst virally-infected macrophages retain a normal capacity to engulf and kill Cryptococci, they demonstrate a dramatically enhanced propensity to expel them via the process known as non-lytic expulsion or vomocytosis. Activation of vomocytosis is independent of the type of virus encountered, since both HIV and measles (two entirely unrelated viral pathogens) trigger the same effect. Instead it is driven by interferon-, a generic antiviral response, which signals back to the infected macrophage, triggering expulsion of the fungus. We propose that this hitherto unobserved phenomenon represents a reprioritisation pathway for innate immune cells, by which they can alter the frequency with which they expel one pathogen (Cryptococcus) depending on the level of threat from a secondary viral infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Redistribution of a glucuronoxylomannan epitope towards the capsule surface coincides with Titanisation in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Disseminated infections with the fungal species Cryptococcus neoformans or, less frequently, C. gattii, are a leading cause of mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Central to the virulence of both species is an elaborate polysaccharide capsule that consists predominantly of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM). Due to its abundance, GXM is an ideal target for host antibodies, and several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have previously been derived using purified GXM or whole capsular preparations as antigen. In addition to their application in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis, anti-GXM mAbs are invaluable tools for studying capsule structure. In this study, we report the production and characterisation of a novel anti-GXM mAb, Crp127, that unexpectedly reveals a role for GXM remodelling during the process of fungal Titanisation. We show that Crp127 recognises a GXM epitope in an O-acetylation dependent, but xylosylation-independent, manner. The epitope is differentially expressed by the four main serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans and gattii, is heterogeneously expressed within clonal populations of C. gattii serotype B strains and is typically confined to the central region of the enlarged capsule. Uniquely, however, this epitope redistributes to the capsular surface in Titan cells, a recently recognised subset of giant fungal cells that are produced in the host lung and are critical for successful infection. Crp127 therefore highlights hitherto unexpected features of cryptococcal morphological change and may hold significant therapeutic potential in differentially identifying cryptococcal strains and subtypes.\n\nImportanceCryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the etiological agents of cryptococcosis, an invasive fungal infection responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths each year and 15% of AIDS-related deaths annually. Whilst the main virulence factor for both species is a highly variable polysaccharide capsule, formation of Titan cells also underlies the pathogenesis of C. neoformans. Previous studies have shown that capsule composition differs between yeast and Titan cells, however no clear distinctions in the expression or localisation of specific capsular epitopes have been made. In this study, we characterise a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to a capsular epitope that is differentially distributed throughout the capsules produced by yeast and Titan cells. Whilst this epitope is found within the midzone of yeast capsules, the presentation of this epitope on the surface of Titan cell capsules may represent a way in which these cell types are perceived differently by the immune system.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Transcriptional heterogeneity of Cryptococcus gattii VGII compared with non-VGII lineages underpins key pathogenicity pathways

Cryptococcus gattii is a pathogenic yeast of humans and other animals, which causes disease predominantly in immunocompetent hosts. Infection begins when aerosolized yeast or spores enter the body, triggering an immune response, including engulfment by macrophages. To understand the early transcriptional signals in both the yeast and its mammalian host, we performed a time-course dual RNA-seq experiment for four lineages of C. gattii (VGI-IV) interacting with mouse macrophages at 1hr, 3hr and 6hr post infection. Comparison of in vitro to ex vivo gene expression indicates lineage VGII is transcriptionally divergent to non-VGII lineages, including differential expression of genes involved in capsule synthesis, capsule attachment and ergosterol production. Various paralogs demonstrate sub-functionalisation between lineages including an upregulation of capsule biosynthesis-related gene CAP2, and downregulation of CAP1 in VGIII. Isolates also compensate for lineage-specific gene-losses by over-expression of genetically similar paralogs, including an over-expression of capsule gene CAS3 in VGIV having lost CAS31. Differential expression of one in five C. gattii genes was detected following co-incubation with mouse macrophages; all isolates showed high induction of oxidative-reduction functions and a downregulation of capsule attachment genes. We also show that VGII switches expression of two laccase paralogs (from LAC1 to LAC2) during co-incubation of macrophages. Finally, we found that mouse macrophages respond to all four lineages of C. gattii by upregulating FosB/Jun/Egr1 regulatory proteins at early time points. This study highlights the evolutionary breadth of expression profiles amongst the lineages of C. gattii and the diversity of transcriptional responses at this host-pathogen interface.\n\nImportanceThe transcriptional profiles of related pathogens and their response to host induced stresses underpin their pathogenicity. Expression differences between related pathogens during host interaction can indicate when and how these genes contribute to virulence, ultimately informing new and improved treatment strategies for those diseases. In this paper, we compare the transcriptional profiles of five isolates representing four lineages of C. gattii in rich media. Our analyses identified key processes including cell capsule, ergosterol production and melanin that are differentially expressed between lineages, and we find that VGII has the most distinct profile in terms of numbers of differentially expressed genes. All lineages have also undergone sub-functionalisation for various paralogs including capsule biosynthesis and attachment genes. Most genes appeared down-regulated during co-incubation with macrophages, with the largest decrease observed for capsule attachment genes, which appears coordinated with a stress response, as all lineages also upregulated oxidative stress response genes. Furthermore, VGII upregulated many genes that are linked to ergosterol biosynthesis and switched expression of the laccase LAC1 to LAC2 ex vivo. Finally, we saw a pronounced increase in the FosB/Jun/Egr1 regulatory proteins at early time points in bone marrow derived macrophages, marking a role in the host response to C. gattii. This work highlights the dynamic roles of key C. gattii virulence genes in response to macrophages.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2017

The Cryptococcus neoformans Titan cell is an inducible and regulated morphotype underlying pathogenesis

Fungi undergo changes in cell shape in response to environmental stimuli that drive pathogenesis and niche adaptation, such as the yeast-to-hyphal transition of dimorphic fungi in response to changing temperature. The basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes an unusual morphogenetic transition in the host lung from haploid yeast to large, highly polyploid cells termed Titan cells. Titan cells influence fungal interaction with host cells, including through increased drug resistance, altered cell size, and altered Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern exposure. Despite the important role these cells play in pathogenesis, understanding the environmental stimuli that drive the morphological transition, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their unique biology, has been hampered by the lack of a reproducible in vitro induction system. Here we demonstrate reproducible in vitro Titan cell induction in response to environmental stimuli consistent with the host lung. In vitro Titan cells exhibit all the properties of in vivo generated Titan cells, the current gold standard, including altered capsule, cell wall, size, high mother cell ploidy, and aneuploid progeny. We identify bacterial peptidoglycan as a serum compound associated with shift in cell size and ploidy, and demonstrate the capacity of bronchial lavage fluid and E. coli co-culture to induce Titanisation. Additionally, we demonstrate the capacity of our assay to identify established and previously undescribed regulators of Titanisation in vitro and investigate the Titanisation capacity of clinical isolates and their impact on disease outcome. Together, these findings provide new insight into the environmental stimuli and molecular mechanisms underlying the yeast-to-titan transition and establish an essential in vitro model for the future characterization of this important morphotype.\n\nAuthor SummaryChanges in cell shape underlie fungal pathogenesis by allowing immune evasion and dissemination. Aspergillus and Candida albicans hyphae drive tissue penetration. Histoplasma capsulatum and C. albicans yeast growth allows evasion and dissemination. As major virulence determinates, morphogenic transitions are extensively studied in animal models and in vitro. The pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is a budding yeast that, in the host lung, switches to an unusual morphotype termed the Titan cell. Titans are large, polyploid, have altered cell wall and capsule, and produce haploid daughters. Their size prevents engulfment by phagocytes, yet they are linked to dissemination and altered immune response. Despite their important influence on disease, replicating the yeast-to-Titan switch in vitro has proved challenging. Here we show that Titans are induced by host-relevant stimuli, including serum and bronchio-alveolar lavage fluid. We identify bacterial peptidoglycan as a relevant inducing compound and predict an in vivo Titan defect for a clinical isolate. Genes regulating in vivo Titanisation also influence in vitro formation. Titanisation is a conserved morphogenic switch across the C. neoformans species complex. Together, we show that Titan cells are a regulated morphotype analogous to the yeast-to-hyphal transition and establish new ways to study Titans outside the host lung.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Mycophenolate mofetil increases susceptibility toopportunistic fungal infection independent of lymphocytes

Anti-proliferative agents that target lymphoid cells are common immunosuppressive agents used in the treatment of diverse autoimmune, graft versus host and inflammatory diseases. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an anti-proliferative agent that targets lymphoid dependence on inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase for the de novo purine synthesis of deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) for DNA replication. Here we show that MMF has a distinct and specific in vivo effect on macrophages, in the absence of lymphoid cells. This results in increased macrophage cell death that is dependent on the depletion of cellular GTP, independent of DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the macrophage specific effect of MMF treatment causes an increase in susceptibility to the opportunistic fungal infection Cryptococcus neoformans by reducing phagocytosis and increasing the release of intracellular pathogens via macrophage lysis. Our study demonstrates the need for a better mechanistic understanding of immunosuppressive treatments used in clinical practice and of the specific infection risks associated with certain treatment regimens.

immunology↗