The Transcription Factor StuA Regulates Oxidative Stress-Responsive Genes in .

Fungi can remarkably sense and adapt to various extracellular stimuli and stress conditions. Oxidative stress, which results from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defenses, leads to cellular damage and death. In , oxidative stress is managed by a complex antioxidant system, including thioredoxins, glutathione, catalases, peroxidases, and superoxide dismutase, with glutathione playing a crucial role.

The StuA Transcription Factor and Alternative Splicing Mechanisms Drive the Levels of MAPK Hog1 Transcripts in the Dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum.

Trichophyton rubrum is a human fungal pathogen that causes dermatophytosis, an infection that affects keratinized tissues. Integrated molecular signals coordinate mechanisms that control pathogenicity. Transcriptional regulation is a core regulation of relevant fungal processes.

Molecular Signaling and Metabolic Responses during the Interaction between Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT) and the Dermatophyte .

is the leading causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. Keratinocytes are the first line of defense that drives an immune response against fungal invasion. Host-specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to trigger immunological pathways.

The Transcription Factor StuA Regulates the Glyoxylate Cycle in the Dermatophyte under Carbon Starvation.

is the primary causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. This fungus colonizes keratinized tissues and uses keratin as a nutritional source during infection. In -host interactions, sensing a hostile environment triggers the adaptation of its metabolic machinery to ensure its survival.

Insights and Perspectives on the Role of Proteostasis and Heat Shock Proteins in Fungal Infections.

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that infect humans, animals, and plants. To successfully colonize their hosts, pathogenic fungi must continuously adapt to the host's unique environment, e.g.

Transcriptome Analysis of Co-Cultures of THP-1 Human Macrophages with Inactivated Germinated Conidia.

Although most mycoses are superficial, the dermatophyte can cause systemic infections in patients with a weakened immune system, resulting in serious and deep lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the transcriptome of a human monocyte/macrophage cell line (THP-1) co-cultured with inactivated germinated conidia (IGC) in order to characterize deep infection. Analysis of macrophage viability by lactate dehydrogenase quantification showed the activation of the immune system after 24 h of contact with live germinated conidia (LGC).

Addressing Microbial Resistance Worldwide: Challenges over Controlling Life-Threatening Fungal Infections.

Fungal infections are a serious global concern because of their ability to spread and colonize host tissues in immunocompromised individuals. Such infections have been frequently reported worldwide and are currently gaining clinical research relevance owing to their resistant character, representing a bottleneck in treating affected people. Resistant fungi are an emergent public health threat.

The Antidepressant Sertraline Affects Cell Signaling and Metabolism in .

The dermatophyte is responsible for most human cutaneous infections. Its treatment is complex, mainly because there are only a few structural classes of fungal inhibitors. Therefore, new strategies addressing these problems are essential.

Alternative Splicing in Occurs in Efflux Pump Transcripts in Response to Antifungal Drugs.

Dermatophytes are challenging to treat because they have developed many strategies to neutralize the stress triggered by antifungals. Drug tolerance is achieved by mechanisms such as drug efflux and biofilm formation, and cellular efflux is a consequence of the synergistic and compensatory regulation of efflux pumps. Alternative splicing (AS) has also been considered as a mechanism that enhances fungal adaptive responses.

Synergism between the Antidepressant Sertraline and Caspofungin as an Approach to Minimise the Virulence and Resistance in the Dermatophyte .

is responsible for several superficial human mycoses. Novel strategies aimed at controlling this pathogen are being investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of the antidepressant sertraline (SRT), either alone or in combination with caspofungin (CASP).

The bZIP Ap1 transcription factor is a negative regulator of virulence attributes of the anthropophilic dermatophyte .

is a fungus that causes chronic skin and nail infections in healthy individuals and immunocompromised patients. During infection, invades host cutaneous tissues by adapting to the acidic pH and the innate immune response of the host. Several genes are upregulated during the growth of in substrates found in human tissue, including the gene, which codes for the transcription factor Ap1.

Peptidase Regulation in Is Mediated by the Synergism Between Alternative Splicing and StuA-Dependent Transcriptional Mechanisms.

is the most common causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide and uses keratinized substrates such as skin and nails as its main source of nutrition during infection. Its pathogenic character relies on colonization and viability maintenance at the target host sites. Since fungal physiology must adapt and respond to host conditions for the successful establishment of infection, biological mechanisms are constantly being triggered by to guarantee its survival in the host environment.

Relevance of Nutrient-Sensing in the Pathogenesis of and .

The growth and development of organisms depend on nutrient availability. Dermatophytes must sense nutrient levels and adapt to the host environment to colonize human and animal keratinized tissues. Owing to the clinical importance of the genus, this study compared the expression profile of genes involved in metabolism, cell cycle control, and proteases in two species, , and , in response to nutrients and environmental pH.

Fungal Extracellular Vesicles Are Involved in Intraspecies Intracellular Communication.

Fungal infections are associated with high mortality rates in humans. The risk of fungal diseases creates the urgent need to broaden the knowledge base regarding their pathophysiology. In this sense, the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been described to convey biological information and participate in the fungus-host interaction process.

State-of-the-Art Dermatophyte Infections: Epidemiology Aspects, Pathophysiology, and Resistance Mechanisms.

The burden of fungal infections is not widely appreciated. Although these infections are responsible for over one million deaths annually, it is estimated that one billion people are affected by severe fungal diseases. Mycoses of nails and skin, primarily caused by fungi known as dermatophytes, are the most common fungal infections.

StuA-Regulated Processes in the Dermatophyte : Transcription Profile, Cell-Cell Adhesion, and Immunomodulation.

Fungal infections represent a significant concern worldwide, contributing to human morbidity and mortality. Dermatophyte infections are among the most significant mycoses, and appears to be the principal causative agent. Thus, an understanding of its pathophysiology is urgently required.

Reassessing the Use of Undecanoic Acid as a Therapeutic Strategy for Treating Fungal Infections.

Treating fungal infections is challenging and frequently requires long-term courses of antifungal drugs. Considering the limited number of existing antifungal drugs, it is crucial to evaluate the possibility of repositioning drugs with antifungal properties and to revisit older antifungals for applications in combined therapy, which could widen the range of therapeutic possibilities. Undecanoic acid is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with known antifungal effects; however, its antifungal properties have not been extensively explored.

Cellular and Molecular Response of Macrophages THP-1 during Co-Culture with Inactive Conidia.

is causing an increasing number of invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised and diabetic patients. The fungal invasive infectious process is complex and has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms during the interaction of macrophages and .

The stuA gene controls development, adaptation, stress tolerance, and virulence of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum.

The APSES family, comprising of the transcriptional regulators Asm1p, Phd1p, Sok2p, Efg1p, and StuA, is found exclusively in fungi and has been reported to control several cellular processes in these organisms. However, its function in dermatophytes has not yet been completely understood. Here, we generated two null mutant strains by deleting the stuA gene in the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum, the most common clinical isolate obtained from human skin and nail mycoses.

The PAC-3 transcription factor critically regulates phenotype-associated genes in Neurospora crassa.

Transcription factors play an important role in fungal environmental adaptive process by promoting adjustment to challenging stimuli via gene modulation and activation of signaling networks. The transcription factor encoded by the pac-3/rim101/pacC gene is involved in pH regulation and is associated with a wide variety of cellular functions. The deletion of pac-3 affects fungal development.

Saline stress affects the pH-dependent regulation of the transcription factor PacC in the dermatophyte Trichophyton interdigitale.

Fungal growth and development depend on adaptation to the particular pH of their environment. Ambient pH sensing implies the activation of the pacC signaling pathway, which then acts as a critical regulator for different physiological conditions. The PacC transcription factor may also be associated with the control of salt stress tolerance.

HacA Governs Virulence Traits and Adaptive Stress Responses in .

The ability of fungi to sense environmental stressors and appropriately respond is linked to secretory system functions. The dermatophyte infection process depends on an orchestrated signaling regulation that triggers the transcription of genes responsible for adherence and penetration of the pathogen into host-tissue. A high secretion system is activated to support the host-pathogen interaction and assures maintenance of the dermatophyte infection.

Comprehensive analysis of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum transcriptional profile reveals dynamic metabolic modulation.

The environmental challenges imposed onto fungal pathogens require a dynamic metabolic modulation, which relies on activation or repression of critical factors and is essential for the establishment and perpetuation of host infection. Wherefore, to overcome the different host microenvironments, pathogens not only depend on virulence factors but also on metabolic flexibility, which ensures their dynamic response to stress conditions in the host. Here, we evaluate Trichophyton rubrum interaction with keratin from a metabolic perspective.

The Transcriptional Profile of Co-Cultured with Human Keratinocytes Shows New Insights about Gene Modulation by Terbinafine.

The dermatophyte is the main causative agent of dermatophytoses worldwide. Although a superficial mycosis, its incidence has been increasing especially among diabetic and immunocompromised patients. Terbinafine is commonly used for the treatment of infections caused by dermatophytes.

Global Analysis of Cell Wall Genes Revealed Putative Virulence Factors in the Dermatophyte .

The fungal cell wall is a structure in constant contact with the external environment. It confers shape to the cell and protects it from external threats. During host adaptation, the cell wall structure of fungal pathogens is continuously reshaped by the orchestrated action of numerous genes.