Characterization of PbPga1, an antigenic GPI-protein in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e44792. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044792. Epub 2012 Sep 14.

Abstract

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiologic agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), one of the most prevalent mycosis in Latin America. P. brasiliensis cell wall components interact with host cells and influence the pathogenesis of PCM. Cell wall components, such as glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-proteins play a critical role in cell adhesion and host tissue invasion. Although the importance of GPI-proteins in the pathogenesis of other medically important fungi is recognized, little is known about their function in P. brasiliensis cells and PCM pathogenesis. We cloned the PbPga1 gene that codifies for a predicted GPI-anchored glycoprotein from the dimorphic pathogenic fungus P. brasiliensis. PbPga1 is conserved in Eurotiomycetes fungi and encodes for a protein with potential glycosylation sites in a serine/threonine-rich region, a signal peptide and a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol attachment signal sequence. Specific chicken anti-rPbPga1 antibody localized PbPga1 on the yeast cell surface at the septum between the mother cell and the bud with stronger staining of the bud. The exposure of murine peritoneal macrophages to rPbPga1 induces TNF-α release and nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages. Furthermore, the presence of O-glycosylation sites was demonstrated by β-elimination under ammonium hydroxide treatment of rPbPga1. Finally, sera from PCM patients recognized rPbPga1 by Western blotting indicating the presence of specific antibodies against rPbPga1. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the PbPga1gene codifies for a cell surface glycoprotein, probably attached to a GPI-anchor, which may play a role in P. brasiliensis cell wall morphogenesis and infection. The induction of inflammatory mediators released by rPbPga1 and the reactivity of PCM patient sera toward rPbPga1 imply that the protein favors the innate mechanisms of defense and induces humoral immunity during P. brasiliensis infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Chickens
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / immunology*
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / immunology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Gene Order
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Paracoccidioides / genetics
  • Paracoccidioides / immunology*
  • Paracoccidioides / metabolism
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / immunology*
  • Pichia / genetics
  • Pichia / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Fungal Proteins
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil (FAPESP) predoctoral fellowships awarded to CXRV, FBRA, TFR, ARLD, a Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico postdoctoral fellowship awarded to LRB and FAPESP research grants (03/01440–2 and 08/55831–6) awarded to PSRC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.