Dataset Information

Cryptococcus neoformans Thermotolerance to Avian Body Temperature Is Sufficient For Extracellular Growth But Not Intracellular Survival In Macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is a fatal fungal pathogen of humans that efficiently parasitises macrophages. Birds can be colonised by cryptococci and can transmit cryptococcosis to humans via inhalation of inoculated bird excreta. However, colonisation of birds appears to occur in the absence of symptomatic infection. Here, using a pure population of primary bird macrophages, we demonstrate a mechanism for this relationship. We find that bird macrophages are able to suppress the growth of cryptococci seen in mammalian cells despite C. neoformans being able to grow at bird body temperature, and are able to escape from bird macrophages by vomocytosis. A small subset of cryptococci are able to adapt to the inhibitory intracellular environment of bird macrophages, exhibiting a large cell phenotype that rescues growth suppression. Thus, restriction of intracellular growth combined with survival at bird body temperature explains the ability of birds to efficiently spread C. neoformans in the environment whilst avoiding systemic disease.

SUBMITTER: Johnston SA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4756366 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cryptococcus neoformans Thermotolerance to Avian Body Temperature Is Sufficient For Extracellular Growth But Not Intracellular Survival In Macrophages.

Johnston Simon A SA Voelz Kerstin K May Robin C RC

Scientific reports 20160217

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fatal fungal pathogen of humans that efficiently parasitises macrophages. Birds can be colonised by cryptococci and can transmit cryptococcosis to humans via inhalation of inoculated bird excreta. However, colonisation of birds appears to occur in the absence of symptomatic infection. Here, using a pure population of primary bird macrophages, we demonstrate a mechanism for this relationship. We find that bird macrophages are able to suppress the growth of cryptococci ...[more]

PMID: 26883088

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Project description:The underlying mechanism of thermotolerance, which is a key virulence factor essential for pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, is largely unexplored. In this study, our findings suggest that Set302, a homolog of Set3 and a subunit of histone deacetylase complex Set3C, contributes to thermotolerance in C. neoformans. Specifically, the deletion of the predicted Set3C core subunit, Set302, resulted in further reduction in the growth of C. neoformans at 39°C, and survival of transient incubation at 50°C. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that the expression levels of numerous heat stress-responsive genes altered at both 30°C and 39°C due to the lack of Set302. Notably, at 39°C, the absence of Set302 led to the downregulation of gene expression related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Based on the GFP-α-synuclein overexpression model to characterize misfolded proteins, we observed a pronounced accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein at 39°C, consequently inhibiting C. neoformans thermotolerance. Furthermore, the loss of Set302 exacerbated the accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein during heat stress. Interestingly, the set302∆ strain exhibited a similar phenotype under proteasome stress as it did at 39°C. Moreover, the absence of Set302 led to reduced production of capsule and melanin. set302∆ strain also displayed significantly reduced pathogenicity and colonization ability compared to the wild-type strain in the murine infection model. Collectively, our findings suggest that Set302 modulates thermotolerance by affecting the degradation of misfolded proteins and multiple virulence factors to mediate the pathogenicity of C. neoformans.IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that poses a potential and significant threat to public health. Thermotolerance plays a crucial role in the wide distribution in natural environments and host colonization of this fungus. Herein, Set302, a critical core subunit for the integrity of histone deacetylase complex Set3C and widely distributed in various fungi and mammals, governs thermotolerance and affects survival at extreme temperatures as well as the formation of capsule and melanin in C. neoformans. Additionally, Set302 participates in regulating the expression of multiple genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). By eliminating misfolded proteins under heat stress, Set302 significantly contributes to the thermotolerance of C. neoformans. Moreover, Set302 regulates the pathogenicity and colonization ability of C. neoformans in a murine model. Overall, this study provides new insight into the mechanism of thermotolerance in C. neoformans.

Dataset Information

Cryptococcus neoformans Thermotolerance to Avian Body Temperature Is Sufficient For Extracellular Growth But Not Intracellular Survival In Macrophages.

Publications

Cryptococcus neoformans Thermotolerance to Avian Body Temperature Is Sufficient For Extracellular Growth But Not Intracellular Survival In Macrophages.

Similar Datasets

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