A bacterial endosymbiont of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus drives phagocyte evasion and opportunistic virulence

Itabangi, Herbert; Sephton-Clark, Poppy; Tamayo, Diana; Zhou, Xin; Starling, Georgina P.; Mahamoud, Zamzam; Insua, Ignacio; Probert, Matt; Correia, Joao; Moynihan, Patrick J.; Gebremariam, Teclegiorgis; Gu, Ying; Ibrahim, Ashraf S.; Brown, Gordon D.; King, Jason; Ballou, Elizabeth R.; Voelz, Kerstin

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.028

Cited by 31 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 129 publications

(232 reference statements)

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“…S1A in the supplemental material), which are significantly larger than dormant spores (5.2 μm ± 0.5 μm, unpaired t test: t = 5.93, df = 3.2, P = 0.0081; see Table S1A ). A reduced uptake of swollen R. microsporus spores was previously also reported for macrophages ( 35 ). Although the increase in spore size makes it difficult for P. aurantium (mean diameter of approximately 13.2 μm ± 2.2 μm) to ingest swollen spores, in some rare cases we observed phagocytosis of swollen spores and R. microsporus germlings (see Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…However, ingestion of spores has lethal consequences for the amoeba when R. microsporus spores contain the toxin-producing endosymbiont ( 5 ). Although it was previously suggested that Ralstonia pickettii , an endosymbiont of R. microsporus , secretes growth suppressing factors against the soil-dwelling amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum ( 35 ), we present the first report of rhizoxin-mediated killing of a fungivorous amoeba. These results highlight that endosymbionts protect their fungal host from being attacked by mycophagous amoeba.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

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Toxin-Producing Endosymbionts Shield Pathogenic Fungus against Micropredators

Hertweck

Radosa

Cseresnyés

et al. 2022

mBio

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Toxin-Producing Endosymbionts Shield Pathogenic Fungus against Micropredators

Hertweck

Radosa

Cseresnyés

et al. 2022

mBio

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“…To evade predation, R. microsporus relies on molecules secreted by its endosymbiont bacterium Ralstonia pickettii , which interfere with phagocytosis by D. discoidenum (Itabangi et al . 2022 ). Interestingly, this anti-phagocyte activity also protects R. microsporus from clearance by human macrophages during opportunistic infections, and R. microscopus virulence is greatly reduced in absence of the endosymbiont (Itabangi et al .…”

Section: Fungal Effector-mediated Manipulation Of Plant Host Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, this anti-phagocyte activity also protects R. microsporus from clearance by human macrophages during opportunistic infections, and R. microscopus virulence is greatly reduced in absence of the endosymbiont (Itabangi et al . 2022 ). Hence, the recruitment of microbial symbionts can extend the virulence potential of fungal pathogens and, possibly, effector proteins could play a role in such a recruitment.…”

Section: Fungal Effector-mediated Manipulation Of Plant Host Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiota manipulation through the secretion of effector proteins is fundamental to the wealth of lifestyles in the fungal kingdom

Snelders

Rövenich

Thomma

2022

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

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Fungi are well-known decomposers of organic matter that thrive in virtually any environment on earth where they encounter wealths of other microbes. Some fungi evolved symbiotic lifestyles, including pathogens and mutualists, that have mostly been studied in binary interactions with their hosts. However, we now appreciate that such interactions are greatly influenced by the ecological context in which they take place. While establishing their symbioses, fungi not only interact with their hosts, but also with the host-associated microbiota. Thus, they target the host and its associated microbiota as a single holobiont. Recent studies have shown that fungal pathogens manipulate the host microbiota by means of secreted effector proteins with selective antimicrobial activity to stimulate disease development. In this review we discuss the ecological contexts in which such effector-mediated microbiota manipulation is relevant for the fungal lifestyle and argue that this is not only relevant for pathogens of plants and animals, but beneficial in virtually any niche where fungi occur. Moreover, we reason that effector-mediated microbiota manipulation likely evolved already in fungal ancestors that encountered microbial competition long before symbiosis with land plants and mammalian animals evolved. Thus, we claim that effector-mediated microbiota manipulation is fundamental to fungal biology.

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“…Endosymbiotic bacteria are related to plant infection through the production of rhizoxin, a toxin that blocks plant cell mitosis and necrotizes plant tissue, favoring the development of R. microsporus [ 100 ]. Regarding mucormycosis, these symbiotic bacteria drive phagocyte evasion and opportunistic virulence [ 102 ].…”

Section: Genetic Manipulation In Mucorales and New...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mucorales and Mucormycosis: Recent Insights and Future Prospects

Tahiri

Lax

Cánovas-Márquez

et al. 2023

JoF

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The classification of Mucorales encompasses a collection of basal fungi that have traditionally demonstrated an aversion to modern genetic manipulation techniques. This aversion led to a scarcity of knowledge regarding their biology compared to other fungal groups. However, the emergence of mucormycosis, a fungal disease caused by Mucorales, has attracted the attention of the clinical field, mainly because available therapies are ineffective for decreasing the fatal outcome associated with the disease. This revitalized curiosity about Mucorales and mucormycosis, also encouraged by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, has spurred a significant and productive effort to uncover their mysteries in recent years. Here, we elaborate on the most remarkable breakthroughs related to the recently discovered genetic advances in Mucorales and mucormycosis. The utilization of a few genetic study models has enabled the identification of virulence factors in Mucorales that were previously described in other pathogens. More notably, recent investigations have identified novel genes and mechanisms controlling the pathogenic potential of Mucorales and their interactions with the host, providing fresh avenues to devise new strategies against mucormycosis. Finally, new study models are allowing virulence studies that were previously hampered in Mucorales, predicting a prolific future for the field.

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A bacterial endosymbiont of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus drives phagocyte evasion and opportunistic virulence

Cited by 31 publications

References 129 publications

Toxin-Producing Endosymbionts Shield Pathogenic Fungus against Micropredators

Toxin-Producing Endosymbionts Shield Pathogenic Fungus against Micropredators

Microbiota manipulation through the secretion of effector proteins is fundamental to the wealth of lifestyles in the fungal kingdom

Mucorales and Mucormycosis: Recent Insights and Future Prospects

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