Expression and Immunostaining Analyses Suggest that Pneumocystis Primary Homothallism Involves Trophic Cells Displaying Both Plus and Minus Pheromone Receptors

Author:

Luraschi A.1,Richard S.1,Almeida J. M. G. C. F.2,Pagni M.3,Cushion M. T.45,Hauser P. M.1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

2. UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal

3. Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland

4. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

5. Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Abstract

The fungi belonging to the genus Pneumocystis may cause severe pneumonia in immunocompromised humans, a disease that can be fatal if not treated. This disease is nowadays one of the most frequent invasive fungal infections worldwide. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the sexuality of these fungi involves a single partner that can self-fertilize. Here, we report that two receptors recognizing specifically excreted pheromones are involved in this self-fertility within infected human lungs. Using fluorescent antibodies binding specifically to these receptors, we observed that most often, the fungal cells display both receptors at their surface. These pheromone-receptor systems might play a role in mate recognition and/or postfertilization events. They constitute an integral part of the Pneumocystis obligate sexuality within human lungs, a cycle that is necessary for the dissemination of the fungus to new individuals.

Funder

Swiss National Science Foundation

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Subject

Virology,Microbiology

Cited by 6 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3