scholarly journals Chromosomal rearrangements and loss of subtelomeric adhesins linked to clade-specific phenotypes in Candida auris

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
José F. Muñoz ◽  
Rory M. Welsh ◽  
Terrance Shea ◽  
Dhwani Batra ◽  
Lalitha Gade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins ◽  
Invasive Infections ◽  
Subtelomeric Regions

ABSTRACTCandida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen of rising concern due to its increasing incidence, its ability to cause healthcare-associated outbreaks and antifungal resistance. Genomic analysis revealed that early cases of C. auris that were detected contemporaneously were geographically stratified into four major clades. Clade II, also termed East Asian clade, consists of the initial isolates described from cases of ear infection, is less frequently resistant to antifungal drugs and to date, the isolates from this group have not been associated with outbreaks. Here, we generate nearly complete genomes (“telomere-to-telomere”) of an isolate of this clade and of the more widespread Clade IV. By comparing these to genome assemblies of the other two clades, we find that the Clade II genome appears highly rearranged, with 2 inversions and 9 translocations resulting in a substantially different karyotype. In addition, large subtelomeric regions have been lost from 10 of 14 chromosome ends in the Clade II genomes. We find that shorter telomeres and genome instability might be a consequence of a naturally occurring loss-of-function mutation in DCC1 exclusively found in Clade II isolates, resulting in a hypermutator phenotype. We also determine that deleted subtelomeric regions might be linked to clade-specific adaptation as these regions are enriched in Hyr/Iff-like cell surface proteins, novel candidate cell surface proteins, and an ALS-like adhesin. The presence of these cell surface proteins in the clades responsible for global outbreaks causing invasive infections suggests an explanation for the different phenotypes observed between clades.IMPORTANCECandida auris was unknown prior to 2009 and since then it has quickly spread around the world, causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities and representing a high fraction of candidemia cases in some regions. The emergence of C. auris is a major concern, since it is often multidrug-resistant, easily spread between patients, and causes invasive infections. While isolates from three global clades cause invasive infections, isolates from Clade II primarily cause ear infections and have not been implicated in outbreaks, though cases of Clade II infections have been reported on different continents. Here, we describe genetic differences between Clade II and Clades I, III and IV, including a loss-of-function mutation in a gene associated with telomere length maintenance and genome stability, and the loss of cell wall proteins involved in adhesion and biofilm formation, that may suggest an explanation for the lower virulence and potential for transmission of Clade II isolates.

scholarly journals Clade-specific chromosomal rearrangements and loss of subtelomeric adhesins in Candida auris

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José F Muñoz ◽  
Rory M Welsh ◽  
Terrance Shea ◽  
Dhwani Batra ◽  
Lalitha Gade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Genome Instability ◽  
Chromosomal Rearrangements ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Cell Wall Proteins ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins

Abstract Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen of rising concern due to global spread, the ability to cause healthcare-associated outbreaks, and antifungal resistance. Genomic analyses revealed that early contemporaneously detected cases of C. auris were geographically stratified into four major clades. While Clades I, III, and IV are responsible for ongoing outbreaks of invasive and multidrug-resistant infections, Clade II, also termed the East Asian clade, consists primarily of cases of ear infection, is often susceptible to all antifungal drugs, and has not been associated with outbreaks. Here, we generate chromosome-level assemblies of twelve isolates representing the phylogenetic breadth of these four clades and the only isolate described to date from Clade V. This Clade V genome is highly syntenic with those of Clades I, III, and IV, although the sequence is highly divergent from the other clades. Clade II genomes appear highly rearranged, with translocations occurring near GC-poor regions, and large subtelomeric deletions in most chromosomes, resulting in a substantially different karyotype. Rearrangements and deletion lengths vary across Clade II isolates, including two from a single patient, supporting ongoing genome instability. Deleted subtelomeric regions are enriched in Hyr/Iff-like cell-surface proteins, novel candidate cell wall proteins, and an ALS-like adhesin. Cell wall proteins from these families and other drug-related genes show clade-specific signatures of selection in Clades I, III, and IV. Subtelomeric dynamics and the conservation of cell surface proteins in the clades responsible for global outbreaks causing invasive infections suggest an explanation for the different phenotypes observed between clades.

scholarly journals Cell Surface Expression of Nrg1 Protein in Candida auris

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 262
Author(s):  
Anuja Paudyal ◽  
Govindsamy Vediyappan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Zinc Ion ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins ◽  
Biofilm Growth

Candida auris is an emerging antifungal resistant human fungal pathogen increasingly reported in healthcare facilities. It persists in hospital environments, and on skin surfaces, and can form biofilms readily. Here, we investigated the cell surface proteins from C. auris biofilms grown in a synthetic sweat medium mimicking human skin conditions. Cell surface proteins from both biofilm and planktonic control cells were extracted with a buffer containing β-mercaptoethanol and resolved by 2-D gel electrophoresis. Some of the differentially expressed proteins were excised and identified by mass spectrometry. C. albicans orthologs Spe3p, Tdh3p, Sod2p, Ywp1p, and Mdh1p were overexpressed in biofilm cells when compared to the planktonic cells of C. auris. Interestingly, several proteins with zinc ion binding activity were detected. Nrg1p is a zinc-binding transcription factor that negatively regulates hyphal growth in C. albicans. C. auris does not produce true hypha under standard in vitro growth conditions, and the role of Nrg1p in C. auris is currently unknown. Western blot analyses of cell surface and cytosolic proteins of C. auris against anti-CalNrg1 antibody revealed the Nrg1p in both locations. Cell surface localization of Nrg1p in C. auris, an unexpected finding, was further confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Nrg1p expression is uniform across all four clades of C. auris and is dependent on growth conditions. Taken together, the data indicate that C. auris produces several unique proteins during its biofilm growth, which may assist in the skin-colonizing lifestyle of the fungus during its pathogenesis.

What do nanometer molecular trajectories tell us about heterogeneous cell surface domaines?

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 786-787
Author(s):  
Watt W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Protein Diffusion ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins ◽  
Membrane Heterogeneity ◽  
Fluorescence Photobleaching Recovery ◽  
Photobleaching Recovery ◽  
Plasma Membrane Heterogeneity

Plasma membrane heterogeneity is implicit in the existence of specialized cell surface organelles which are necessary for cellular function; coated pits, post and pre-synaptic terminals, microvillae, caveolae, tight junctions, focal contacts and endothelial polarization are examples. The persistence of these discrete molecular aggregates depends on localized restraint of the constituent molecules within specific domaines in the cell surface by strong intermolecular bonds and/or anchorage to extended cytoskeleton. The observed plasticity of many of organelles and the dynamical modulation of domaines induced by cellular signaling evidence evanescent intermolecular interactions even in conspicuous aggregates. There is also strong evidence that universal restraints on the mobility of cell surface proteins persist virtually everywhere in cell surfaces, not only in the discrete organelles. Diffusion of cell surface proteins is slowed by several orders of magnitude relative to corresponding protein diffusion coefficients in isolated lipid membranes as has been determined by various ensemble average methods of measurement such as fluorescence photobleaching recovery(FPR).

scholarly journals Understudied G Protein-Coupled Receptors in the Kidney

Nephron ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Nathan A. Zaidman ◽  
Jennifer L. Pluznick
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
G Protein ◽  
External Environment ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins ◽  
Large Subset ◽  
G Protein Coupled

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins which play a key role in allowing cells, tissues, and organs to respond to changes in the external environment in order to maintain homeostasis. Despite the fact that GPCRs are known to play key roles in a variety of tissues, there are a large subset of GPCRs that remain poorly studied. In this minireview, we will summarize what is known regarding the “understudied” GPCRs with respect to renal function, and in so doing will highlight the promise represented by studying this gene family.

Functions of red cell surface proteins

Vox Sanguinis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 070807042627006-??? ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Red Cell ◽  
Cell Surface Proteins
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