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Fibronectin-binding molecules of Scedosporium apiospermum: focus on adhesive events

  • Bacterial and Fungal Pathogenesis - Research Paper
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Abstract

Scedosporium apiospermum is a widespread, emerging, and multidrug-resistant filamentous fungus that can cause localized and disseminated infections. The initial step in the infection process involves the adhesion of the fungus to host cells and/or extracellular matrix components. However, the mechanisms of adhesion involving surface molecules in S. apiospermum are not well understood. Previous studies have suggested that the binding of fungal receptors to fibronectin enhances its ability to attach to and infect host cells. The present study investigated the effects of fibronectin on adhesion events of S. apiospermum. The results revealed that conidial cells were able to bind to both immobilized and soluble human fibronectin in a typically dose-dependent manner. Moreover, fibronectin binding was virtually abolished in trypsin-treated conidia, suggesting the proteinaceous nature of the binding site. Western blotting assay, using fibronectin and anti-fibronectin antibody, evidenced 7 polypeptides with molecular masses ranging from 55 to 17 kDa in both conidial and mycelial extracts. Fibronectin-binding molecules were localized by immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry microscopies at the cell wall and in intracellular compartments of S. apiospermum cells. Furthermore, a possible function for the fibronectin-like molecules of S. apiospermum in the interaction with host lung cells was assessed. Conidia pre-treated with soluble fibronectin showed a significant reduction in adhesion to either epithelial or fibroblast lung cells in a classically dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the pre-treatment of the lung cells with anti-fibronectin antibodies considerably diminished the adhesion. Collectively, the results demonstrated the presence of fibronectin-binding molecules in S. apiospermum cells and their role in adhesive events.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Denise Rocha de Souza, who is supported by FAPERJ scholarship, for her technical assistance.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES – financial support 001), and Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    André L. S. Santos, Bianca A. Silva, Marta H. Branquinha & Thaís P. Mello

  2. Rede Micologia RJ – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    André L. S. Santos & Marta H. Branquinha

  3. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    André L. S. Santos

  4. Instituto de Saúde de Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Bianca A. Silva

  5. Núcleo Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa UFRJ-Xerém em Biologia (NUMPEX-BIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marcel M. L. da Cunha

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  1. André L. S. Santos
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Santos, A.L.S., Silva, B.A., da Cunha, M.M.L. et al. Fibronectin-binding molecules of Scedosporium apiospermum: focus on adhesive events. Braz J Microbiol 54, 2577–2585 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-023-01062-7

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