Histoplasma capsulatum Pathogenesis

SEEKING FUNDING

Histoplasma capsulatum is one of several systemic dimorphic fungal pathogens that switch their growth program from an infectious mold form in the soil to a pathogenic yeast form in mammalian hosts. H. capsulatum causes up to 500,000 infections per year in the U.S. alone, making it the most common cause of fungal respiratory infections in healthy hosts. Infection occurs when the soil is disrupted, facilitating dispersion of hyphal fragments or spores that are inhaled by humans. Spores and hyphal fragments are the primary infectious agents; however, once introduced into the host, the pathogen converts to a budding-yeast form, which survives and replicates within host macrophages. In the laboratory, the switch between the infectious and parasitic states is modeled by changing the temperature: cells grow in the filamentous form at room temperature, whereas growth at 37ÂșC is sufficient to trigger growth in the yeast form and expression of virulence factors. Our long-term research goal is to understand how H. capsulatum cells sense host temperature and activate the expression of genes required for cell morphology and virulence.

Despite its importance to human health, very little is known about how H. capsulatum senses and responds to human body temperature. Our prior research findings significantly contributed to the understanding of the molecular mechanism used by H. capsulatum to regulate cell morphology and virulence gene expression: she found that four transcriptional regulators, Ryp1,2,3,4, are the core components of a temperature-responsive intersecting regulatory network. In this project, we aim to identify and characterize novel virulence factors of H. capsulatum. Specifically, downstream targets of the Ryp proteins will be tested for their role in pathogenesis. Additionally, we are investigating factors that regulate Ryp proteins in response to host temperature. These studies will provide fundamental information on how cells sense temperature and turn on the appropriate virulence pathways in the host. Ultimately, the information obtained from this project can be used to develop therapeutics for H. capsulatum infections and help prevent other dimorphic fungal infections.

Funding

Funding for this project provided through NIH-NIAID R00 award (R00AI112691).

Principal Investigator

Related Research

SEEKING FUNDING

Publications

Virulence. 2019-12-01; 10.1: 793-800.
Sensing the heat and the host: Virulence determinants of Histoplasma capsulatum
Beyhan S, Sil A
PMID: 31560240
PLoS biology. 2019-09-30; 17.9: e3000168.
Opposing signaling pathways regulate morphology in response to temperature in the fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum
Rodriguez L, Voorhies M, Gilmore S, Beyhan S, Myint A, Sil A
PMID: 31568523
Journal of natural products. 2019-06-28; 82.6: 1616-1626.
Secondary Metabolites of Onygenales Fungi Exemplified by Aioliomyces pyridodomos
Lin Z, Kakule TB, Reilly CA, Beyhan S, Schmidt EW
PMID: 31155876
Journal of natural products. 2018-12-28; 81.12: 2605-2611.
Onydecalins, Fungal Polyketides with Anti- Histoplasma and Anti-TRP Activity
Lin Z, Phadke S, Lu Z, Beyhan S, Abdel Aziz MH, Reilly C, Schmidt EW
PMID: 30507122

Principal Investigator

Related Research

SEEKING FUNDING

This project is currently seeking a funding partner. Please contact the JCVI Development Office

Jill Mullen
Sr. Vice President of Philanthropy and Strategic Alliances

jmullen@jcvi.org

858-200-1885