Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE23827: Contribution of CgPDR1-regulated genes in enhanced virulence of azole-resistant Candida glabrata (part 1) GSE23828: Contribution of CgPDR1-regulated genes in enhanced virulence of azole-resistant Candida glabrata (part 2) Refer to individual Series
Project description:Fungal infections are a major health concern because of limited antifungal drugs and development of drug resistance. Candida can develop azole drug resistance by overexpression of drug efflux pumps or mutating ERG11, the target of azoles. However, the role of epigenetic histone modifications in azole-induced gene expression and drug resistance is poorly understood in Candida glabrata. In this study, we show that Set1 mediates histone H3K4 methylation in C. glabrata. In addition, loss of SET1 and histone H3K4 methylation increases azole susceptibility in both C. glabrata and S. cerevisiae. This increase in azole susceptibility in S. cerevisiae and C. glabrata strains lacking SET1 is due to distinct mechanisms. For S. cerevisiae, loss of SET1 decreased the expression and function of the efflux pump Pdr5, but not ERG11 expression under azole treatment. In contrast, loss of SET1 in C. glabrata does not alter expression or function of efflux pumps. However, RNA sequencing revealed that C. glabrata Set1 is necessary for azole-induced expression of all 12 genes in the late ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, including ERG11 and ERG3. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis shows histone H3K4 trimethylation increases upon azole-induced ERG gene expression. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated Set1 is necessary for maintaining proper ergosterol levels under azole treatment. Clinical isolates lacking SET1 were also hypersusceptible to azoles which is attributed to reduced ERG11 expression but not defects in drug efflux. Overall, Set1 contributes to azole susceptibility in a species-specific manner by altering the expression and consequently disrupting pathways known for mediating drug resistance.
Project description:Microarray was used to analyze azole resistance of Candida glabrata oropharyngeal isolates from 7 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. Transcriptional profiling of the sequential-paired clinical isolates by microarray revealed 19 genes upregulated in the majority of resistant isolates compared to their paired-susceptible isolates. All seven resistant isolates had greater than two fold upregulation of CgPDR1, a master transcriptional regulator of PDR network, and all 7 resistant isolates showed upregulation of known CgPDR1-target genes. The altered transcriptome can be explained in part by the observation that all 7 resistant isolates had acquired a single nonsynonymous mutation in their CgPDR1 ORF. Four mutations occurred in the regulatory domain (L280P, L344S, G348A, S391L) and one in the activation domain (G943S) while two mutations (N764I, R772I) occurred in an undefined region. Association of azole resistance and the CgPDR1 mutations was investigated in the same genetic background by introducing the CgPDR1 sequences from one sensitive and five resistant isolates into a laboratory azole-sensitive strain (cgpdr1) via integrative transformation. The cgpdr1 strain was restored to wild-type fluconazole susceptibility when transformed with CgPDR1 from the susceptible isolate but became resistant when transformed with CgPDR1 from the resistant isolates. However, despite the identical genetic background, upregulation of CgPDR1 and CgPDR1-target genes varied between the 5 transformants, independent of the domain locations in which the mutations occurred. In sum, gain-of-function mutations in CgPDR1 not only contributed to the clinical azole resistance but different mutations had varying degrees of impact on the CgPDR1-target genes.
Project description:Homo sapiens fresh whole blood was infected with Candida glabrata. RNA-pool of both species extracted at 0min (control), 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min. Samples are rRNA depleted. Measurement of Candida glabrata gene expression.