Enniatin and Beauvericin Biosynthesis in Fusarium Species: Production Profiles and Structural Determinant Prediction

Citation: Liuzzi, V. C., Mirabelli, V., Cimmarusti, M. T., Haidukowski, M., Leslie, J. F., Logrieco, A. F., . . . Mule, G. (2017). Enniatin and Beauvericin Biosynthesis in Fusarium Species: Production Profiles and Structural Determinant Prediction. Toxins, 9(2), 17. doi:10.3390/toxins9020045Members of the fungal genus Fusarium can produce numerous secondary metabolites, including the nonribosomal mycotoxins beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENNs). Both mycotoxins are synthesized by the multifunctional enzyme enniatin synthetase (ESYN1) that contains both peptide synthetase and S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent N-methyltransferase activities. Several Fusarium species can produce ENNs, BEA or both, but the mechanism(s) enabling these differential metabolic profiles is unknown. In this study, we analyzed the primary structure of ESYN1 by sequencing esyn1 transcripts from different Fusarium species. We measured ENNs and BEA production by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array and Acquity QDa mass detector (UPLC-PDA-QDa) analyses. We predicted protein structures, compared the predictions by multivariate analysis methods and found a striking correlation between BEA/ENN-producing profiles and ESYN1 three-dimensional structures. Structural differences in the beta strand's Asn789-Ala793 and His797-Asp802 portions of the amino acid adenylation domain can be used to distinguish BEA/ENN-producing Fusarium isolates from those that produce only ENN

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may exploit human transcription factors involved in retinoic acid and interferon-mediated response: a hypothesis supported by an in silico analysis

The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in acute respiratory disease, is a worldwide emergency. Because recently it has been found that SARS-CoV is dependent on host transcription factors (TF) to express the viral genes, efforts are required to understand the molecular interplay between virus and host response. By bioinformatic analysis, we investigated human TF that can bind the SARS-CoV-2 sequence and can be involved in viral transcription. In particular, we analysed the key role of TF involved in interferon (IFN) response. We found that several TF could be induced by the IFN antiviral response, specifically some induced by IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) and by unphosphorylated ISGF3, which were found to promote the transcription of several viral open reading frame. Moreover, we found 22 TF binding sites present only in the sequence of virus infecting humans but not bat coronavirus RaTG13. The 22 TF are involved in IFN, retinoic acid signalling and regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, thus facilitating its own replication cycle. This mechanism, by competition, may steal the human TF involved in these processes, explaining SARS-CoV-2's disruption of IFN-I signalling in host cells and the mechanism of the SARS retinoic acid depletion syndrome leading to the cytokine storm. We identified three TF binding sites present exclusively in the Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant that may explain the higher severity of the respiratory syndrome. These data shed light on SARS-CoV-2 dependence from the host transcription machinery associated with IFN response and strengthen our knowledge of the virus's transcription and replicative activity, thus paving the way for new targets for drug design and therapeutic approaches

High flux cold Rubidium atomic beam for strongly coupled Cavity QED

This paper presents a setup capable of producing a high-flux continuous beam of cold rubidium atoms for cavity QED experiments in the regime of strong coupling. A 2 $D^+$ MOT, loaded by rubidium getters in a dry film coated vapor cell, fed a secondary moving-molasses MOT (MM-MOT) at a rate of 1.5 x $10^{10}$ atoms/sec. The MM-MOT provided a continuous beam with tunable velocity. This beam was then directed through the waist of a 280 $\mu$m cavity resulting in a Rabi splitting of more than +/- 10 MHz. The presence of sufficient number of atoms in the cavity mode also enabled splitting in the polarization perpendicular to the input. The cavity was in the strong coupling regime, with parameters (g, $\kappa$, $\gamma$)/2$\pi$ equal to (7, 3, 6)/ 2$\pi$ MHz.Comment: Journal pape

Aflatoxin B1-Adsorbing Capability of Pleurotus eryngii Mycelium: Efficiency and Modeling of the Process

Aflatoxin B1 (AfB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that contaminates food and feed worldwide. We determined the AfB1-adsorption capability of non-viable Pleurotus eryngii mycelium, an edible fungus, as a potential means for removal of AfB1 from contaminated solutions. Lyophilized mycelium was produced and made enzymatically inert by sterilization at high temperatures. The material thus obtained was characterized by scanning electron microscopy with regard to the morpho-structural properties of the mycotoxin-adsorbing surfaces. The active surfaces appeared rough and sponge-like. The AfB1-mycelium system reached equilibrium at 37°C, 30 min, and pH 5–7, conditions that are compatible with the gastro-intestinal system of animals. The system remained stable for 48 h at room temperature, at pH 3, pH 7, and pH 7.4. A thermodynamic study of the process showed that this is a spontaneous and physical adsorption process, with a maximum of 85 ± 13% of removal efficiency of AfB1 by P. eryngii mycelium. These results suggest that biosorbent materials obtained from the mycelium of the mushroom P. eryngii could be used as a low-cost and effective feed additive for AfB1 detoxification

The Human Virome and Its Crosslink with Glomerulonephritis and IgA Nephropathy

The prokaryotic, viral, fungal, and parasitic microbiome exists in a highly intricate connection with the human host. In addition to eukaryotic viruses, due to the existence of various host bacteria, phages are widely spread throughout the human body. However, it is now evident that some viral community states, as opposed to others, are indicative of health and might be linked to undesirable outcomes for the human host. Members of the virome may collaborate with the human host to retain mutualistic functions in preserving human health. Evolutionary theories contend that a particular microbe’s ubiquitous existence may signify a successful partnership with the host. In this Review, we present a survey of the field’s work on the human virome and highlight the role of viruses in health and disease and the relationship of the virobiota with immune system control. Moreover, we will analyze virus involvement in glomerulonephritis and in IgA nephropathy, theorizing the molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for the crosslink with these renal diseases

In vitro single and combined mycotoxins degradation by Ery4 laccase from Pleurotus eryngii and redox mediators

Mycotoxin contamination of staple food commodities is a relevant health and economic issue worldwide. The development of green and effective reduction strategies to counteract the contamination by multiple mycotoxins has become an urgent need. The aim of this work was to evaluate the capability of a laccase (LC) from Pleurotus eryngii and a laccase-mediator systems (LMSs) to degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), fumonisin B1 (FB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), Zearalenone (ZEN) and T-2 toxin in in vitro assays. In addition, the simultaneous mycotoxin degradation capability with selected LMSs was evaluated with combinations of AFB1 and ZEN, and FB1 and T-2 toxin. Redox mediators were found to drastically increasethe degradation efficiencies of the enzyme. AFB1, FB1, OTA, ZEN and T-2 toxin degradation by the best performing LMS were 73%, 74%, 27%, 100% and 40%, respectively. No degradation was registered for DON. Notably, AFB1 and ZEN were simultaneously degraded by 86% and 100%, while FB1 and T-2 by 25% and 100%, respectively. LMS proved to be a promising approach to enhance degradation properties of LC enzymes and for the potential development of a multi-mycotoxin reducing method

Analisi del paesaggio vegetale ed agricolo della Riserva Naturale Statale di Torre Guaceto (Brindisi Puglia). Cartografia della vegetazione, degli habitat e dell'uso del suolo

The preliminary results of an INTERREG project (III A Greece-Italy 2000-2006) congerning the monitoring of "Torre Guaceto" State Natural Reserve are here presented. The knowledge on vegetation, communitary habitats and distribution of threatened species has been updated. The agricultural areas have been monitored, taking a census of each agrarian cultivation and of the respective surface. The collected data have been organized in a GIS and the following thematic maps have been produced: land use map (according to the CORINE Land Cover legend), vegetation map, Habitat map (according to the 92/43 EEC directive). The maps of the distribution of the threatened plant species have been implemente

Analisi del paesaggio vegetale ed agricolo della Riserva Naturale Statale di "Torre Guaceto" (Brindisi - Puglia). Cartografia della vegetazione, degli habitat e dell'uso del suolo. + 2 carte.

The preliminary results of an INTERREG project (III A Greece-Italy 2000-2006) congerning the monitoring of "Torre Guaceto" State Natural Reserve are here presented. The knowledge on vegetation, communitary habitats and distribution of threatened species has been updated. The agricultural areas have been monitored, taking a census of each agrarian cultivation and of the respective surface. The collected data have been organized in a GIS and the following thematic maps have been produced: land use map (according to the CORINE Land Cover legend), vegetation map, Habitat map (according to the 92/43 EEC directive). The maps of the distribution of the threatened plant species have been implemente