Journal Article

Paracoccidioides lutzii Infects Galleria mellonella Employing Formamidase as a Virulence Factor

Weber, Simone Schneider, Graziani, Daniel, Martins, Juliana Assis, Cruz-Leite, Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem, Soares, Célia Maria de Almeida, Pereira, Elisa Dias, Moreira, Thalison Rodrigues, Amaral, André Corrêa, Souza Silva, Lana O’Hara, Tomazett, Mariana Vieira, Parente-Rocha, Juliana Alves, Borges, Clayton Luiz

2024

Overview

The formamidase (FMD) enzyme plays an important role in fungal thriving by releasing a secondary nitrogen source as a product of its activity. In Paracoccidioides species, previous studies have demonstrated the upregulation of this enzyme in a wide range of starvation and infective-like conditions. However, Paracoccidioides lutzii formamidase has not yet been defined as a virulence factor. Here, by employing in vivo infections using an fmd -silenced strain in Galleria mellonella larvae model, we demonstrate the influence of formamidase in P . lutzii ’s immune stimulation and pathogenicity. The formamidase silencing resulted in improper arrangement of the nodules, poor melanogenesis and decreased fungal burden. Thus, we suggest that formamidase may be a piece composing the process of molecular recognition by Galleria immune cells. Furthermore, formamidase silencing doubled the observed survival rate of the larvae, demonstrating its importance in fungal virulence in vivo . Therefore, our findings indicate that formamidase contributes to Galleria ’s immune incitement and establishes the role of this enzyme as a P . lutzii virulence factor.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Animals / Chemical properties / Disease Models, Animal / Enzymes / Evaluation / Formamidase / Fungal Proteins - genetics / Fungal Proteins - metabolism / Fungi / Galleria mellonella / Gene Silencing / Health aspects / Immune response / Immune system / Immunological research / Infections / Investigations / Larva - microbiology / Larvae / Metabolism / Microbial enzymes / Moths - microbiology / Nitrogen / Nodules / Paracoccidioides - enzymology / Paracoccidioides - genetics / Paracoccidioides - pathogenicity / Paracoccidioides lutzii / Paracoccidioidomycosis - microbiology / Pathogenicity / Pathogens / Proteins / Virulence / Virulence (Microbiology) / Virulence factors / Virulence Factors - genetics / Virulence Factors - metabolism / Yeast