Phenotype profiling of white-nose syndrome pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans and closely-related Pseudogymnoascus pannorum reveals metabolic differences underlying fungal lifestyles

Abstract

Background: Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a psychrophile, causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS). Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, a closely related fungus, causes human and canine diseases rarely. Both pathogens were reported from the same mines and caves in the United States, but only P. destructans caused WNS. Earlier genome comparisons revealed that P. pannorum contained more deduced proteins with ascribed enzymatic functions than P. destructans. Methods: We performed metabolic profiling with Biolog PM microarray plates to confirm in silico gene predictions. Results: P. pannorum utilized 78 of 190 carbon sources (41%), and 41 of 91 nitrogen sources (43%) tested. P. destructans used 23 carbon compounds (12%) and 23 nitrogen compounds (24%). P. destructans exhibited more robust growth on the phosphorous sources and nutrient supplements (83% and 15%, respectively) compared to P. pannorum (27% and 1%, respectively.). P. pannorum exhibited higher tolerance to osmolytes, pH extremes, and a variety of chemical compounds than P. destructans. Conclusions: An abundance of carbohydrate degradation pathways combined with robust stress tolerance provided clues for the soil distribution of P. pannorum. The limited metabolic profile of P. destructans validated in silico predictions of far fewer proteins and enzymes. P. destructans ability to catabolize diverse phosphorous and nutrient supplements might be critical in the colonization and invasion of bat tissues. The present study of 1,047 different metabolic activities provides a framework for future gene-function investigations of the unique biology of the psychrophilic fungi.

Phenotype profiling of white-nose syndrome pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans and closely-related Pseudogymnoascus pannorum reveals metabolic differences underlying fungal lifestyles

“…Nearly 1,047 different metabolic activities were analyzed for each test fungus (Datasets 1–4 14 ). P. pannorum metabolized far more carbon and nitrogen compounds; P. destructans exhibited prominent activity on phosphorous sources and nutrient supplements ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Most phosphorous sources tested supported the growth of P. destructans while P. pannorum only grew on few phosphosugars and phosphorylated nucleosides ( Figure 4 ). Both fungi did not utilize sulfur intermediates (Datasets 1–4 14 ). Fifteen of ninety-five nutrient supplements supported good growth of P. destructans while P. pannorum grew only on D-Pantothenic acid ( Supplementary files ).…”

“…Datasets 1–4: Excel sheets with OD 600 values for all Biolog plates tested in this study. DOI, 10.5256/f1000research.15067.d204679 14 …”

Desiccation does not drastically increase the accessibility of exogenous DNA to nuclear genomes: Evidence from the frequency of endosymbiotic DNA transfer

“…Aedes aegypti [105,106] Culex quinquefasciatus [107] Anopheles Anopheles culicifacies [108] Anopheles funestus [109] Dermatophagoides Dermatophagoides farina [110] Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [110] Meloidogyne Meloidogyne javanica [111] Meloidogyne incognita [111] Polypedilum Polypedilum vanderplanki [112] Polypedilum nubifer [112] Steinernema Steinernema carpocapsae [113] Steinernema glaseri [ [138] Ophiocordyceps sinensis [139] Pseudogymnoascus Pseudogymnoascus pannorum [140] Pseudogymnoascus destructans [140] The particular words or sentences supporting the desiccation tolerance/sensitivity of the above species were extracted from the references and are shown in Additional file 1: Table S3.…”

Desiccation does not drastically increase the accessibility of exogenous DNA to nuclear genomes: Evidence from the frequency of endosymbiotic DNA transfer

“…Pseudogymnoascus pannorum [140] Pseudogymnoascus destructans [140] The particular words or sentences supporting the desiccation tolerance/sensitivity of the above species were extracted from the references and are shown in Additional file 1: Table S3.…”