Cell cycle dynamics and quorum sensing in Candida albicans chlamydospores are distinct from budding and hyphal growth

The regulation of morphogenesis in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is under investigation to better understand how the switch between budding and hyphal growth is linked to virulence. Therefore, in this study we examined the ability of C. albicans to undergo a distinct type of morphogenesis to form large thick-walled chlamydospores whose role in infection is unclear, but they act as a resting form in other species. During chlamydospore morphogenesis, cells switch to filamentous growth and then develop elongated suspensor cells that give rise to chlamydospores. These filamentous cells were distinct from true hyphae in that they were wider and were not inhibited by the quorum-sensing factor farnesol. Instead, farnesol increased chlamydospore production, indicating that quorum sensing can also have a positive role. Nuclear division did not occur across the necks of chlamydospores, as it does in budding. Interestingly, nuclei divided within the suspensor cells, and then one daughter nucleus subsequently migrated into the chlamydospore. Septins were not detected near mitotic nuclei but were localized at chlamydospore necks. At later stages, septins localized throughout the chlamydospore plasma membrane and appeared to form long filamentous structures. Deletion of the CDC10 or CDC11 septins caused greater curvature of cells growing in a filamentous manner and morphological defects in suspensor cells and chlamydospores. These studies identify aspects of chlamydospore morphogenesis that are distinct from bud and hyphal morphogenesis.     

Induction and morphogenesis of chlamydospores in an agerminative variant of Candida albicans

A strain of Candida albicans that did not form germ tubes was endowed with a pronounced ability for massive production of chlamydospores under appropriate environmental conditions. Development of chlamydospores was induced by N-acetyl hexosamines, especially N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and this induction did not depend on non-specific utilization of N-acetyl hexosamines as metabolic sources nor did it correlate with induction of germ-tube formation. Formation of chlamydospores in N-acetyl hexosamine-agar medium occurs through a multiplication stage (10-12 h) consisting of a few cycles of budding leading to short, "pseudo-hypha-like" structures, followed by progressive differentiation of most cells into young chlamydospores (16-18 h) which go to complete maturation in 36-48 h. There were marked differences in chlamydospore formation among different strains of C. albicans but, when induced, the morphology and kinetics of sporulation were identical in all strains. This study shows that chlamydospore formation is not necessarily associated with the mycelial phase and suggests that N-acetyl hexosamines may induce sporulation by controlling endogenous metabolism rather than through products of their own metabolism.     

氨基糖代谢通路影响尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型厚垣孢子的形成

尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense（FOC）是威胁香蕉生产的重要土传病原真菌,其厚垣孢子可在土壤中存活多年,是香蕉枯萎病的重要侵染源。为解析该病菌厚垣孢子的形成机制,本研究建立了厚垣孢子的诱导形成体系。通过氨基糖添加试验,证明添加N-乙酰葡糖胺可抑制厚垣孢子的形成;通过对该病菌厚垣孢子形成前期（0h）、初期（24h）、中期（48h）和后期（96h）的转录组分析,发现氨基糖代谢通路中有41个基因的表达水平在厚垣孢子形成过程中发生了变化,其中9个基因与几丁质合成相关,32个基因与糖类化合物的合成和代谢及催化转换相关。本研究首次证明了氨基糖代谢通路与尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型厚垣孢子形成的相关性。     

The effect of temperature and relative humidity on the formation of Metarhizium anisopliae chlamydospores in tick eggs

The influence of ambient conditions on the development of Metarhizium anisopliae chlamydospores in tick eggs is reported for the first time. The infection of tick eggs by M. anisopliae involves common events, such as adhesion, conidial germination, appressoria formation, invasion, and development within the eggs. However, the final stage of fungal development differs according to the environmental conditions. At high humidity (close to 100%) and moderate temperature (25°C) the fungus emerged from the eggs and formed conidiophores and conidia externally on the dead eggs. Elevating the temperature to 30°C or reducing humidity to 55-75% induced the production of chlamydospores inside the eggs, without conidiogenesis. When eggs with mature chlamydospores were returned to the appropriate conditions (25°C and 100% RH), conidiogenesis was recovered. Formation of chlamydospores, observed by means of histology and TEM, began with the thickening and septation of hyphae. As the chlamydospore wall thickened a new external undulated wall layer appeared. The mature chlamydospore in eggs has an oval shape (5.3 ± 0.9 microm long, 2.5 ± 0.2 microm wide); its wall comprises three distinct layers. The ability of M. anisopliae to produce chlamydospores under harsh conditions is advantageous and should be considered in application.     

Über Entstehung und Keimung der Chlamydosporen von Botrytis cinerea Pers.

On the genesis and germination of the chlamydospores of Botrytis cinerea Pers. The chlamydospores of Botrytis cinerea are hyaline single cells of extremely variable form and size. They are formed under conditions unfavourable for growth as terminal or intercalary cells by transformation of vegetative mycelium parts and are liberated by hyphal disintegration. The chlamydospore genesis in vitro in aging malt agar cultures began about after one month. But the chlamydospore formation could also be initiated earlier by different conditions of culture. The chlamydospores germinated either with hypha or by microconidia — a herewith first described mode of germination. Intermediates of these both modes of chlamydospore germination could be regulated very differentiatedly by transferring the chlamydospores into malt solution (2%)and/or destilled water and by changing the duration of stay in the individual media. Under adverse external conditions no germination occurred. The three Botrytis cinerea-isolates did not show any differences in habitus, genesis and germination of their chlamydospores. Also in vivo on outdoor- and greenhouse-tomatoplants the occurrence of chlamydospores was no rarity. Since the chlamydospores are produced under very different adverse conditions of growth but cannot survive a period of drought lasting longer than three months without damage, they do not represent long-termed resistant perennating structures, but temporary stages of the fungus for intervening periods.     

Function of Cryptococcus neoformans KAR7 (SEC66) in karyogamy during unisexual and opposite-sex mating

The human basidiomycetous fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans serves as a model fungus to study sexual development and produces infectious propagules, basidiospores, via the sexual cycle. Karyogamy is the process of nuclear fusion and an essential step to complete mating. Therefore, regulation of nuclear fusion is central to understanding sexual development of C. neoformans. However, our knowledge of karyogamy genes was limited. In this study, using a BLAST search with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae KAR genes, we identified five C. neoformans karyogamy gene orthologs: CnKAR2, CnKAR3, CnKAR4, CnKAR7 (or CnSEC66), and CnKAR8. There are no apparent orthologs of the S. cerevisiae genes ScKAR1, ScKAR5, and ScKar9 in C. neoformans. Karyogamy involves the congression of two nuclei followed by nuclear membrane fusion, which results in diploidization. ScKar7 (or ScSec66) is known to be involved in nuclear membrane fusion. In C. neoformans, kar7 mutants display significant defects in hyphal growth and basidiospore chain formation during both a-α opposite and α-α unisexual reproduction. Fluorescent nuclear imaging revealed that during kar7 × kar7 bilateral mutant matings, the nuclei congress but fail to fuse in the basidia. These results demonstrate that the KAR7 gene plays an integral role in both opposite-sex and unisexual mating, indicating that proper control of nuclear dynamics is important. CnKAR2 was found to be essential for viability, and its function in mating is not known. No apparent phenotypes were observed during mating of kar3, kar4, or kar8 mutants, suggesting that the role of these genes may be dispensable for C. neoformans mating, which demonstrates a different evolutionary trajectory for the KAR genes in C. neoformans compared to those in S. cerevisiae.     

Effects of abiotic factors and biocontrol agents on chlamydospore formation in Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium sporotrichioides

Chlamydospores are vital asexual resting cells, which allow most of the Fusarium pathogenic strains to retain their longevity, thus ensuring survival of viable reproductive cells. This study suggested that both abiotic – extreme temperature and growth media, and biotic – antagonistic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SMCD 518 and mycoparasititic Acremonium strictum SMCD 504 are natural stressors able to shift chlamydospores formation in Fusarium graminearum and F. sporotrichioides under in vitro conditions. In F. sporotrichioides, Minimal Conversion Media (MCM) with mannitol supplement induced high chlamydospore size, and chain abundance at optimal 21°C and extreme 37°C temperatures, respectively. F. graminearum showed low chlamydospore formation on MCM–mannitol, even when exposed to 37°C under prolonged 5 days incubation. Generally, F. sporotrichioides has higher chlamydospore abundance, longer chlamydospore chain, and production rapidity compared to F. graminearum in both abiotic and biotic treatments. However, biocontrol bacteria and mycoparasite posed minimal effects on chlamydospore formation, as compared to abiotic stressors, thus controlling the Fusaria but not triggering them to generate chlamydospores as protection shields.     

Chlamydospore Production and Germ-Tube Formation by Auxotrophs of Candida albicans

A prototrophic strain and 21 auxotrophic strains of Candida albicans were assessed for their capacity to produce chlamydospores and germ tubes. All of the mutants were able to produce germ-tubes in human serum but only two mutants produced them in defined medium with L-alpha-amino-n-butyric acid as the sole source of nitrogen. Most auxotrophs were not able to produce chlamydospores on corn meal agar with 1% Tween 80, but they could be induced to do so if the medium was supplemented with their growth requirement(s). Although L-cysteine was able to support the growth of two methionine mutants, it did not support chlamydospore formation when added to corn meal agar with 1% Tween 80. Mutants of C. albicans that do not form chlamydospores could be incorrectly identified in laboratories that rely on chlamydospore formation for identification.     

Roles of low pH, carbon and inorganic nitrogen source use in chlamydospore formation by Fusarium solani.

Citrate and malate were poorer sources of exogenous carbon than several hexose, pentose, or disaccharide sugars for supporting macroconidial germination by Fusarium solani at high conidial density (1 X 10(5) condia/ml). Only citrate, however, failed to block chlamydospore morphogenesis to a degree comparable to glucose or other readily used sugars. Mostly immature chlamydospores were formed in the presence of citrate. At low conidial density (5 X 10(3) conidia/ml), exogenous carbon-independent macroconidial germination and subsequent rapid chalmydospore formation on germ tubes was not inhibited by ammonium or nitrate nitrogen. The citrate-phosphate buffered, low pH (4.0) medium of Cochrane induced more immature chlamydospore formation by F. solani than a pH 6.0 medium, but few mature chlamydospores were formed in either medium. Condensation of hyphal cytoplasm into developing chlamydospores, a character typical of chlamydospore formation, did not occur extensively and macroconidia, hyphae, and immature chlamydospores stained deeply with Sudan III, suggesting lipid biosynthesis. This inhibition of chlamydospore maturation may be due partly to nitrogen deficiency imposed by the high C:N ratio of the medium and to the presence of citrate. Only vesiculate hyphal cells were formed by F. solani f. sp. phaseoli in both media. Field soils to which the clone of F. solani used is indigenous had mean pH values ranging from 5.2 to 6.0.     

Trematodes enhance the development of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys (Duddingtonia) flagrans

The capability of helminth (nematode and trematode) parasites in stimulating nematode trap and chlamydospore development of the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys (formerly Duddingtonia) flagrans was explored. Dead adult specimens of trematodes (the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi) and nematodes (the ascarid Parascaris equorum and the strongylid Oesophagostomum spp.), as well as their secretory products, were placed onto corn meal agar plates concurrently inoculated with A. flagrans. Trapping organs were observed after 5 d and chlamydospores after 16 d, including in the control plates in the absence of parasitic stimulus. However, our data shows that both nematodes and trematodes increase trap and chlamydospore production compared with controls. We show for the first time that significantly higher numbers of traps and chlamydospores were observed in the cultures coinoculated with adult trematodes. We conclude that both the traps and chlamydospores formation are not only related to nematode-specific stimuli. The addition of secretory products of the trematode C. daubneyi to culture medium has potential for use in the large scale production of chlamydospores.     

Chlamydospore Production,Inoculation Methods and Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum M12-4A,a Biocontrol for Striga hermonthica

Fusarium oxysporum isolate M12-4A is currently being evaluated for the biological control of Striga hermonthica . Inoculum production, inoculum delivery to the target, chlamydospore germination, and weed growth suppression of this weed-pathogen system were investigated. Liquid fermentation systems using organic material were evaluated for the production of large numbers of chlamydospores. A 1% sorghum straw powder (< 1 mm) substrate, exposed to black light at 21°C for 21 days, yielded 3.23 X 10 8 colony forming units (CFU) l -1 medium. A two-stage fermentation system using 5% w/v straw substrate under black light at 30°C for 14 days yielded 3.5 X 10 8 CFU l -1 medium. In vitro variations in chlamydospore germination were governed by the presence of exogenous carbon, nitrogen, and sorghum root exudates. Ammonium-nitrogen compounds and urea, in combination with glucose had a stronger stimulatory effect on chlamydospore germ tube growth than did potassium nitrate. Maximal germ tube elongation occurred when chlamydospores were exposed to urea at a C/N ratio of 10. Some mineral solutions and sorghum root exudates inhibited chlamydospore germ tube elongation; however, arabic gum, a complex polysaccharide, stimulated chlamydospore germ tube elongation and the production of secondary chlamydospores. In field trials, chlamydospore powder harvested from small-scale fermenters reduced S. hermonthica emergence by 92%. Complete inhibition of S. hermonthica emergence occurred when the chlamydospore powder was added to the soil at sowing and when sorghum seeds coated with chlamydospores were sown. Effective biological control of S. hermonthica was achieved using a simple fermentation system with sorghum straw as the inoculum growth substrate. For inoculum delivery to the farmers' fields, sorghum seeds were coated with the inoculum using arabic gum as the adhesive. This simple delivery system permits a uniform inoculation of the field as well as the proper positioning of the inoculum in the immediate environment of sorghum roots, where S. hermonthica attaches to its host. To facilitate a broad usage of F. oxysporum M12-4A for the biocontrol of S. hermonthica , we propose an inoculum production strategy based on a cottage industry model that utilizes a liquid fermentation process and inexpensive locally-available substrates including sorghum straw and arabic gum.     

Calcineurin is required for hyphal elongation during mating and haploid fruiting in Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Its growth is sensitive to the immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin, which inhibit the Ca2+- calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase calcineurin. Calcineurin is required for growth at 37 degrees C and virulence of C.neoformans. We found that calcineurin is also required for mating. FK506 blocks mating of C.neoformans via FKBP12-dependent inhibition of calcineurin, and mutants lacking calcineurin are bilaterally sterile. Calcineurin is not essential for the initial fusion event, but is required for hyphal elongation and survival of the heterokaryon produced by cell fusion. It is also required for hyphal elongation in diploid strains and during asexual haploid fruiting of MATalpha cells in response to nitrogen limitation. Because mating and haploid fruiting produce infectious basidiospores, our studies suggest a second link between calcineurin and virulence of C.neoformans. Calcine urin regulates filamentation and 37 degrees C growth via distinct pathways. Together with studies revealing that calcineurin mediates neurite extension and neutrophil migration in mammals, our findings indicate that calcineurin plays a conserved role in the control of cell morphology.     

Production of Chlamydospores and Conidia in Submerged Culture by Rhynchosporium alismatis, a Mycoherbicide of Alismataceae in Rice Crops

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of chlamydospores and conidia of Rhynchosporium alismatis in a liquid Czapex-Dox based medium supplemented with increasing concentrations of sodium nitrate and malt extract. In addition, the germination of chlamydospores was evaluated. A high concentration of malt extract (4.4 g L^-1) as the sole carbon source and a high level of sodium nitrate as the sole nitrogen source (3.3 g L^-1) were shown to increase chlamydospore production while agitation (150 rpm) enhanced conidial yields. Maximum chlamydospore production (2.03×10⁵±0.7 total chlamydospores mg DW^-1) was achieved in cultures grown in a medium supplemented with 8.8 g L^-1 malt extract and 5.74 g L^-1 sodium nitrate. Two days growth was required for maximum chlamydospore and conidial production, while 6 days was necessary to obtain maximum dry weight accumulation (350 mg per flask). Germination of chlamydospores (90%) was significantly higher than germination of conidia (47%) after 2 days growth.     

Carbonic anhydrase and CO2 sensing during Cryptococcus neoformans growth, differentiation, and virulence

The gas carbon dioxide (CO2) plays a critical role in microbial and mammalian respiration, photosynthesis in algae and plants, chemoreception in insects, and even global warming . However, how CO2 is transported, sensed, and metabolized by microorganisms is largely not understood. For instance, CO2 is known to induce production of polysaccharide capsule virulence determinants in pathogenic bacteria and fungi via unknown mechanisms . Therefore, we studied CO2 actions in growth, differentiation, and virulence of the basidiomycetous human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. The CAN2 gene encoding beta-carbonic anhydrase in C. neoformans was found to be essential for growth in environmental ambient conditions but dispensable for in vivo proliferation and virulence at the high CO2 levels in the host. The can2Delta mutant in vitro growth defect is largely attributable to defective fatty acid synthesis. CO2 was found to inhibit cell-cell fusion but not filamentation during sexual reproduction. The can2 mutation restored early mating events in high CO2 but not later steps (fruiting body formation, sporulation), indicating a major role for carbonic anhydrase and CO2/HCO3- in this developmental cascade leading to the production of infectious spores. Our studies illustrate diverse roles of an ancient enzyme class in enabling environmental survival of a ubiquitous human pathogen.     

Growth and sporulation of Phytophthora ramorum in vitro in response to temperature and light

Phytophthora ramorum, recently found in the US, is causing concern for hardwood forests and the nursery industry. In an effort to identify some of the environmental limitations to growth and sporulation we undertook a laboratory study of four US and three European (EU) isolates. On V8 media, isolates grew when incubated at 2-28 C and produced chlamydospores at 8-28 C. Sporangia were produced at all temperatures tested: 10-30 C for US isolates and 6-26 C for EU isolates. Optimal temperatures were 16-26 C for growth, 14-26 C for chlamydospore production and 16-22 C for sporangia production. US isolates grew less and produced fewer spores when exposed to increasing doses of near-UV radiation (50-300 microW/cm(2)) and visible radiation (250-1500 microW/cm(2)). EU isolates were exposed to 300 microW/cm(2) near-UV only, which significantly reduced growth of one of three isolates and had no significant effect on spore production. In our studies P. ramorum tolerated a broad range of temperature and light conditions, which suggests that it is capable of establishment in a wide geographic area.     

稻曲球及稻曲病菌菌落微结构的SEM观察

本文对不同培养条件下稻曲病菌菌落及稻曲球的微结构进行了扫描电镜比较研究。在PS培养液里进行液体培养时,稻曲病菌很少产生分生孢子和厚垣孢子,只有培养后期漂浮在培养液表面的菌落可以产生大量的厚垣孢子。病原菌在进行PSA固体培养时,大部分菌株在培养后期产生大量的成堆分布的厚垣孢子,少部分菌株在菌落上产生散生的厚垣孢子。说明暴露于空气有助于稻曲病菌产生厚垣孢子。在煮熟的带壳谷粒上稻曲病菌的生长明显比在去壳上的要慢得多。微结构分析表明,稻曲球表面是一层密集的厚垣孢子,菌丝与稻粒的胚乳层界限分明,大部分稻曲球中部有大块的发育良好的胚乳,并充满密集的淀粉粒。说明稻曲病菌可能在开花灌浆后开始侵染,而且至少后期是腐生的。     

稻曲球及稻曲病菌菌落微结构的SEM观察

本文对不同培养条件下稻曲病菌菌落及稻曲球的微结构进行了扫描电镜比较研究。在PS培养液里进行液体培养时,稻曲病菌很少产生分生孢子和厚垣孢子,只有培养后期漂浮在培养液表面的菌落可以产生大量的厚垣孢子。病原菌在进行PSA固体培养时,大部分菌株在培养后期产生大量的成堆分布的厚垣孢子,少部分菌株在菌落上产生散生的厚垣孢子。说明暴露于空气有助于稻曲病菌产生厚垣孢子。在煮熟的带壳谷粒上稻曲病菌的生长明显比在去壳上的要慢得多。微结构分析表明,稻曲球表面是一层密集的厚垣孢子,菌丝与稻粒的胚乳层界限分明,大部分稻曲球中部有大块的发育良好的胚乳,并充满密集的淀粉粒。说明稻曲病菌可能在开花灌浆后开始侵染,而且至少后期是腐生的。     

The comparison of six media for chlamydospore production by Candida albicans

Six different cultural media (corn meal agar, rice extract agar, chlamydospore agar, PCB, Tween 80-oxgall-caffeic acid and diluted milk) were compared for chlamydospore production by 224 yeastlike fungi isolates. Candida albicans formed chlamydospores to a variable degree in all of the media, as did C. stellatoidea to a lesser extent. C. tropicalis, C. parasilopsis, C. guilliermondii and C. krusei did not produce chlamydospores in any of the media tested. Statistically, the most productive media were the milk and TOC media. Milk medium is particularly useful because of its simplicity and economy.