Antifungal efficacy of photodynamic therapy on Cryptococcus and Candida species is enhanced by Streptomyces spp. extracts in vitro.

The research on actinobacteria isolated from traditional medicinal plants is limited. Here, four new Streptomyces isolates (Ha1, Pp1, UzK and UzM) were obtained from the rhizospheres of Helianthus annuus, Pongamia pinnata and Ziziphus mauritiana, frequently utilized in Indian traditional medicine. The Streptomyces isolates aqueous extracts were studied alone against the growth of the Cryptococcus neoformans H99 reference strain, the fluconazole-tolerant T1-5796 and 89-610 strains, three histone deacetylase (HDAC) genes mutant strains, C.

Engineered Fluorescent Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans: a Versatile Toolbox for Studies of Host-Pathogen Interactions and Fungal Biology, Including the Viable but Nonculturable State.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen known for its remarkable ability to infect and subvert phagocytes. This ability provides survival and persistence within the host and relies on phenotypic plasticity. The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) phenotype was recently described in C.

Insights into the Lignocellulose-Degrading Enzyme System of var. Based on Genome and Transcriptome Analysis.

Humicola grisea var. is a thermophilic ascomycete and important enzyme producer that has an efficient enzymatic system with a broad spectrum of thermostable carbohydrate-active (CAZy) enzymes. These enzymes can be employed in lignocellulose biomass deconstruction and other industrial applications.

Base Excision Repair AP-Endonucleases-Like Genes Modulate DNA Damage Response and Virulence of the Human Pathogen .

Pathogenic microbes are exposed to a number of potential DNA-damaging stimuli during interaction with the host immune system. Microbial survival in this situation depends on a fine balance between the maintenance of DNA integrity and the adaptability provided by mutations. In this study, we investigated the association of the DNA repair response with the virulence of , a basidiomycete that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals.

The role of Cryptococcus neoformans histone deacetylase genes in the response to antifungal drugs, epigenetic modulators and to photodynamic therapy mediated by an aluminium phthalocyanine chloride nanoemulsion in vitro.

Cryptococcus is a globally distributed fungal pathogen that primarily afflicts immunocompromised individuals. The therapeutic options are limited and include mostly amphotericin B or fluconazole, alone or in combination. The extensive usage of antifungals allowed the selection of resistant pathogens posing threats to global public health.

Epigenetic manipulation of filamentous fungi for biotechnological applications: a systematic review.

The study of the epigenetic regulation of gene function has reached pivotal importance in life sciences in the last decades. The mechanisms and effects of processes such as DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications and non-coding RNAs, as well as their impact on chromatin structure and dynamics, are clearly involved in physiology homeostasis in plants, animals and microorganisms. In the fungal kingdom, studies on the model yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe contributed enormously to the elucidation of the eukaryote epigenetic landscape.

Photodynamic therapy inhibits cell growth and enhances the histone deacetylase-mediated viability impairment in Cryptococcus spp. in vitro.

Cryptococcosis is a disseminated infection caused mainly by C. neoformans and C. gattii.

Exposure to Maghemite Nanoparticles Induces Epigenetic Alterations in Human Submandibular Gland Cells.

Even though nanotechnology has revolutionized the biomedical research, a plethora of studies debate the nanoparticles safety. In order to contribute to these studies, we evaluated the cytotoxic and epigenetic effects of maghemite nanoparticles covered with citric acid on human submandibular gland cells. This work objective was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and epigenetic alterations induced in human salivary gland cells after treatment with maghemite nanoparticles covered with citric acid.

HDAC genes play distinct and redundant roles in Cryptococcus neoformans virulence.

The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes many phenotypic changes to promote its survival in specific ecological niches and inside the host. To explore the role of chromatin remodeling on the expression of virulence-related traits, we identified and deleted seven genes encoding predicted class I/II histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the C. neoformans genome.

The DNA-methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine affects Humicola grisea enzyme activities and the glucose-mediated gene repression.

Humicola grisea var. thermoidea (Hgvt) is a thermophilic ascomycete that produces lignocellulolytic enzymes and it is proposed for the conversion of agricultural residues into useful byproducts. Drugs that inhibit the DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) activity are employed in epigenetic studies but nothing is known about a possible effect on the production of fungal enzymes.

DNA methylation alterations induced by transient exposure of MCF-7 cells to maghemite nanoparticles.

Aim: To evaluate the DNA methylation profile of MCF-7 cells during and after the treatment with maghemite nanoparticles (MNP-CIT).

Materials & Methods: Noncytotoxic MNP-CIT concentrations and cell morphology were evaluated by standard methods. DNA methylation was assessed by whole genome bisulfite sequencing.

The Relation Between Promoter Chromatin Status, Xyr1 and Cellulase Ex-pression in Trichoderma reesei.

The ascomycete Trichoderma reesei is used for the production of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in industrial scale. The interplay of the transactivator Xyr1 and the repressor Cre1 mainly regulates the expression of these enzymes. During induc-ing conditions, such as in the presence of sophorose, the transcription of the two major cellulase-encoding genes, cbh1 and cbh2, is activated as well as the expression of xyr1.

Thermophilic molds: Biology and applications.

Thermophilic molds thrive in a variety of natural habitats including soils, composts, wood chip piles, nesting materials of birds and other animals, municipal refuse and others, and ubiquitous in their distribution. These molds grow in simple media containing carbon and nitrogen sources and mineral salts. Polyamines are synthesized in these molds and the composition of lipids varies considerably, predominantly containing palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids with low levels of lauric, palmiotoleic and stearic acids.

The impact of chromatin remodelling on cellulase expression in Trichoderma reesei.

Background: Trichoderma reesei is used for industry-scale production of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, in particular cellulases, but also xylanases. The expression of the encoding genes was so far primarily investigated on the level of transcriptional regulation by regulatory proteins. Otherwise, the impact of chromatin remodelling on gene expression received hardly any attention.

Histone deacetylases inhibitors effects on Cryptococcus neoformans major virulence phenotypes.

Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes phenotypical changes during host infection in order to promote persistence and survival. Studies have demonstrated that such adaptations require alterations in gene transcription networks by distinct mechanisms. Drugs such as the histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) Sodium Butyrate (NaBut) and Trichostatin A (TSA) can alter the chromatin conformation and have been used to modulate epigenetic states in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

A truncated form of the Carbon catabolite repressor 1 increases cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei.

Background: Rut-C30 is a cellulase-hyperproducing Trichoderma reesei strain and, consequently, became the ancestor of most industry strains used in the production of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, in particular cellulases. Due to three rounds of undirected mutagenesis its genetic background differs from the wild-type QM6a in many ways, of which two are the lack of a 83 kb large sequence in scaffold 15 and the partial lack of the gene encoding the Carbon catabolite repressor 1 (CREI). However, it is still unclear, what exactly enhances cellulase production in Rut-C30.

An Acidic Thermostable Recombinant Aspergillus nidulans Endoglucanase Is Active towards Distinct Agriculture Residues.

Aspergillus nidulans is poorly exploited as a source of enzymes for lignocellulosic residues degradation for biotechnological purposes. This work describes the A. nidulans Endoglucanase A heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris, the purification and biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme.

Carbon source and pH-dependent transcriptional regulation of cellulase genes of Humicola grisea var. thermoidea grown on sugarcane bagasse.

Time-course expression profiles of one xylanase and eight cellulase encoding genes, as well as of two transcription factor encoding genes of Humicola grisea var. thermoidea were established in different culture media pHs and carbon sources (glucose and sugarcane bagasse). Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed a remarkable and parallel increase in mRNA accumulation for cbh1.

From an electrophoretic mobility shift assay to isolated transcription factors: a fast genomic-proteomic approach.

Background: Hypocrea jecorina (anamorph Trichoderma reesei) is a filamentous ascomycete of industrial importance due to its hydrolases (e.g., xylanases and cellulases).

Expression of a glucose-tolerant beta-glucosidase from Humicola grisea var. thermoidea in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A beta-glucosidase gene (bgl4) from Humicola grisea var thermoidea was successfully expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The recombinant protein (BGL4(Sc)) was initially detected associated with yeast cells and later in the culture medium. BGL4(Sc) showed optimal pH and temperature of 6.

Interaction of bracken-fern extract with vitamin C in human submandibular gland and oral epithelium cell lines.

The consumption of bracken-fern (Pteridium aquilinum) as food is associated with a high incidence of cancer in humans and animals. Thus far, the carcinogenic effects of bracken-fern consumption could be related to chromosome aberrations verified in animal and in human peripheral lymphocytes. We tested the in vitro effects of vitamin C (10 and 100 microg/ml) on the reversibility of DNA damage caused by bracken-fern on human submandibular gland (HSG) cells and on oral epithelium cells (OSCC-3) previously exposed to bracken-fern extract.

Overview and perspectives the transcriptome of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic and thermo-regulated fungus which is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, an endemic disease widespread in Latin America that affects 10 million individuals. Pathogenicity is assumed to be a consequence of the dimorphic transition from mycelium to yeast cells during human infection. This review shows the results of the P.

Cell cycle, DNA replication, repair, and recombination in the dimorphic human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

DNA replication, together with repair mechanisms and cell cycle control, are the most important cellular processes necessary to maintain correct transfer of genetic information to the progeny. These processes are well conserved throughout the Eukarya, and the genes that are involved provide essential information for understanding the life cycle of an organism. We used computational tools for data mining of genes involved in these processes in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis.

Functional genome of the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic and thermo-regulated fungus which is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, an endemic disease widespread in Latin America. Pathogenicity is assumed to be a consequence of the cellular differentiation process that this fungus undergoes from mycelium to yeast cells during human infection. In an effort to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in this process a network of Brazilian laboratories carried out a transcriptome project for both cell types.

Transcriptional profiles of the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in mycelium and yeast cells.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a disease that affects 10 million individuals in Latin America. This report depicts the results of the analysis of 6,022 assembled groups from mycelium and yeast phase expressed sequence tags, covering about 80% of the estimated genome of this dimorphic, thermo-regulated fungus. The data provide a comprehensive view of the fungal metabolism, including overexpressed transcripts, stage-specific genes, and also those that are up- or down-regulated as assessed by in silico electronic subtraction and cDNA microarrays.