Biology subjects

Schaeuble, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Schaeuble, S..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

M-CSF stimulated alveolar macrophages safeguard from invasive aspergillosis

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening complication in immunocompromised individuals, including recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). While systemic neutropenia is traditionally considered the primary risk factor for IPA, we demonstrate that tissue-resident alveolar macrophages (AMs), rather than recruited neutrophils, dictate survival during the critical early window after transplantation. Utilizing an ultra-low dose Aspergillus fumigatus infection model that mimics physiological exposure, we identify alveolar macrophages (AMs) as key players in pulmonary antifungal defense. In immunocompromised mice, AMs conferred protection against lethal invasive aspergillosis by day 6, but not day 4 post-allo-HCT. To enhance AM function at the earlier time point, we tested cytokine-based interventions and show that M-CSF, but not IL-34, which both bind to the CSF-1 receptor, promotes migratory activity, phagolysosomal function and fungal killing in both mouse and human primary tissue-resident AMs. In allo-HCT recipient mice, M-CSF treatment preserved lung tissue integrity, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, and protected mice from lethal invasive aspergillosis. The M-CSF-driven protective effect was abrogated upon AM depletion. Our findings demonstrate a critical role of tissue-resident AMs in pulmonary antifungal immunity and suggest that therapeutic modulation of AM activity via M-CSF may offer a promising strategy to combat severe fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=107 SRC="FIGDIR/small/736478v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (51K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@49ba37org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@607c4forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@814894org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c413c9_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Transient protein phosphorylation promotes disease tolerance to sepsis

One of the enduring paradoxes of sepsis is that organs fail despite little evidence of irreversible tissue injury. Emerging evidence suggests that this state reflects a regulated metabolic shutdown within host tissues, yet whether such hypometabolism contributes to pathology or promotes survival remains unclear. This phenomenon resembles torpor, a physiological state of profound hypometabolism induced by environmental stress and mediated through reversible protein phosphorylation. Septic hypometabolism is identified here as a conserved tissue-specific metabolic adaptation which is characterized by transient activation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)3{beta}. This activation reduced disease severity of bacterial sepsis without affecting the hosts pathogen burden, indicating that GSK3{beta} activity promotes disease tolerance to infection. Consistent with these findings, plasma signatures associated with GSK3{beta} inhibition correlated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis. Together, these results define septic hypometabolism as a torpor-like response and identify reversible phosphorylation as a key mechanism governing host adaptation to severe bacterial infection.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

The murine lung microbiome is dynamic and transient

BackgroundWhether the lung microbiome represents a stable microbial colonization or a transient ecosystem shaped by continuous microbial turnover and controlled by host immunity remains unresolved. The murine lung microbiome largely consists of species from the former Lactobacillus genus with Ligilactobacillus murinus as a dominant species, bacterial genera such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Mammaliicoccus, Enterococcus and other less frequently detected bacteria. Here, we directly addressed the question of persistence and host interaction of a dominant murine lung commensal in vivo and focused on the host immune response towards lung commensal bacteria. ResultsWe developed a transformation strategy for stable genomic integration of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding gene to track the fate of a lung bacterium. Following intranasal administration of GFP-labeled L. murinus in mice, bacteria were readily detected in the lungs at early time points but declined rapidly and became undetectable after 72 hours, as determined by quantification of viable bacteria and qPCR. Flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging revealed efficient uptake of GFP-labeled bacteria by lung phagocytes. These findings indicate that even dominant members of the murine pulmonary microbiota normally detected at low abundances are transiently present in the lungs without causing infection. We further analyzed the effects of moderate and high bacterial concentrations. While moderate bacterial loads were efficiently controlled without clinical effects, high concentrations induced severe lethargy, indicating a threshold-dependent host response. Finally, we demonstrated that pulmonary commensals such as L. murinus, Staphylococcus xylosus, and Mammaliicoccus sciuri, as well as conidia of the opportunistic lung pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, are phagocytosed at comparable rates in macrophage assays. ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that even lung-adapted bacterial species fail to establish stable colonization and are instead subject to rapid immune-mediated elimination contributing to the maintenance of a low microbial burden in the lungs. While this homeostatic balance supports health, elevated bacterial loads trigger immune activation and, at high levels, lead to health deterioration. Together, these results support a model of a highly dynamic and transient lung microbiome, maintained by continual microbial immigration rather than long-term colonization. Accounting for the lung microbiome dynamics is essential for understanding host-microbiota interactions and respiratory health.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

The fungal transcription factor SmpR coordinates secondary metabolism and antibacterial defence in Aspergillus fumigatus during interspecies interaction

Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human fungal pathogen, encodes numerous secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are tightly regulated and often remain silent under standard conditions. Co-cultivation with Streptomyces rapamycinicus or treatment with the secondary metabolite from this species, the arginoketide azalomycin F, induce the otherwise silent fumicycline (fcc) BGC of A. fumigatus. To elucidate the underlying regulatory circuitry, we performed transcriptome analyses of A. fumigatus exposed to azalomycin F or co-cultured with S. rapamycinicus. Both conditions triggered a coordinated antibacterial response, characterized by induction of specific secondary metabolites and antibacterial effectors, alongside repression of other BGCs, including those for fusarinine C, pyripyropene A, and fumagillin. Among the most strongly induced genes was a zinc cluster transcription factor, designated SmpR for secondary metabolite multiple pathway regulator, which is conserved within Ascomycota. SmpR expression was selectively induced by azalomycin F, specific Streptomyces species and other bacteria isolated from soil such as Kribbella spp. and Arthrobacter spp.. Functional analyses revealed that SmpR is required for activation of the fumicycline BGC: its deletion reduced, whereas its overexpression enhanced fumicycline production independently of external stimuli. We further demonstrate that SmpR acts upstream of the pathway-specific regulator FccR and additionally controls multiple antibacterial BGCs, including those for hexadehydroastechrome, helvolic acid and xanthocillin. Together, our data identify SmpR as a key regulator coordinating antibacterial secondary metabolism in response to bacterial signals in A. fumigatus.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Unveiling immune interference: How the dendritic cell response to co-infection with Aspergillus fumigatus is modulated by human cytomegalovirus and its virokine CMVIL-10

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a master of immune evasion and a potent modulator of the human immune system. The best-characterized mechanism employed by HCMV to suppress host immunity is the production of a viral interleukin-10 homolog (CMVIL-10). While CMVIL-10 is known to suppress immune responses and promote viral persistence, its capacity to promote increased susceptibility to co-infecting pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus remains unknown. Therefore, we studied the impact of wild-type (WT) HCMV (strain TB40 BAC4), a CMVIL-10-deficient HCMV mutant ({Delta}UL111A), and recombinant CMVIL-10 on the immune activity of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) during co-infection with A. fumigatus. Using a combination of transcriptomic and phenotypic readouts, our data revealed a strong and time-dependent immuno-paralytic effect of HCMV by suppressing pathogen recognition pathways, cytokine production, DC maturation, and expression of genes that are essential for host defense and tissue repair. Although infection with {Delta}UL111A lacking CMVIL-10 led to stronger expression of type I interferons, IFN-{gamma}-inducible chemokines, and proinflammatory cytokines than WT infection, interference with antifungal immune defense and fungal clearance during co-infection was largely similar between both strains. The limited effect of CMVIL-10 on antifungal immune defense persisted even after prolonged pre-exposure of DCs to the recombinant virokine. In summary, although CMVIL-10 contributes to shaping an anti-inflammatory environment, HCMVs suppression of antifungal immunity appears to be multifactorial, with CMVIL-10 alone playing a rather subtle role in altering DC responses to A. fumigatus during viral-fungal co-infection. ImportanceHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a highly prevalent herpesvirus that establishes lifelong latency and frequently reactivates in immunocompromised individuals, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Reactivation not only causes direct disease but also increases the risk of secondary infections, such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Specifically, studies estimated that about 6-25% of critically ill HCMV-positive patients develop HCMV-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. However, the mechanisms by which HCMV creates a permissive environment for fungal superinfection remain poorly understood. HCMV encodes a viral homolog of interleukin-10 (CMVIL-10), which mimics host IL-10 and elicits potent immunomodulatory activity. Here, we show that CMVIL-10 dampens specific anti-viral responses, DC activation, and cytokine signaling. However, HCMV-mediated impairment of fungal control in co-infection settings occurred largely independent of CMVIL-10 expression. These findings suggest that HCMV undermines antifungal defenses through multifactorial mechanisms beyond CMVIL-10, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to restore immune function in high-risk patients.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Mod5 mediates a molecular trade-off between optimal gene expression and antifungal resistance.

Increasing antifungal drug resistance is a major concern associated with human fungal pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus. Genetic mutation and epimutation mechanisms clearly drive resistance, yet the epitranscriptome remains relatively untested. Here, deletion of the A. fumigatus tRNA-modifying isopentenyl transferase ortholog, Mod5, led to altered stress response and unexpected resistance against the antifungal drug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC). After confirming the canonical isopentenylation activity of Mod5 by LC-MS/MS and Nano-tRNAseq, we performed simultaneous profiling of transcriptomes and proteomes to reveal a comparable overall response to 5-FC stress; however, a premature activation of cross-pathway control (CPC) genes in the knockout was further increased after antifungal treatment. We identified several orthologues of the A. nidulans Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporter nmeA as specific CPC-client genes in A. fumigatus. Overexpression of Mod5-target tRNATyrG{Psi}A in the {Delta}mod5 strain rescued select phenotypes but failed to reverse 5-FC resistance, whereas deletion of nmeA largely, but incompletely, reverted the resistance phenotype, implying additional relevant exporters. In conclusion, 5-FC resistance in the absence of Mod5 and i6A likely originates from multifaceted transcriptional and translational changes that skew the fungus towards premature CPC-dependent activation of antifungal toxic-intermediate exporter nmeA, offering a potential mechanism reliant on RNA modification to facilitate transient antifungal resistance.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

CD56-mediated activation of human natural killer cells is triggered by Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan

Invasive aspergillosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are pivotal for antifungal defense. Thus far, CD56 is the only known pathogen recognition receptor on NK cells triggering potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms and the fungal ligand of CD56 have remained unknown. Using purified cell wall components, biochemical treatments, and A. fumigatus mutants with altered cell wall composition, we herein found that CD56 interacts with the A. fumigatus cell wall carbohydrate galactosaminogalactan (GAG). This interaction induced NK cell activation, degranulation, and secretion of immune-enhancing chemokines and cytotoxic effectors. Supernatants from GAG-stimulated NK cells elicited antifungal activity and enhanced antifungal effector responses of polymorphonuclear cells. In conclusion, we identified A. fumigatus GAG as a ligand of CD56 on human primary NK cells, stimulating potent antifungal effector responses and activating other immune cells.

microbiology↗