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Updated: May 7, 2026
Gene Expression Profiling of Infecting Microbes Using a Digital Bar-coding Platform
Published on: January 13, 2016
Phospholipase gene expression during Paracoccidioides brasiliensis morphological transition and infection
Deyze Alencar Soares1, Marilia Barros Oliveira, Adriane Feijó Evangelista
1Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, GoiâniaGO, Brasil.
Abstract:
Phospholipase is an important virulence factor for pathogenic fungi. In this study, we demonstrate the following: (i) the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis pld gene is preferentially expressed in mycelium cells, (ii) the plb1 gene is mostly up-regulated by infection after 6 h of co-infection of MH-S cells or during BALB/c mice lung infection, (iii) during lung infection, plb1, plc and pld gene expression are significantly increased 6-48 h post-infection compared to 56 days after infection, strongly suggesting that phospholipases play a role in the early events of infection, but not during the chronic stages of pulmonary infection by P. brasiliensis.
Insights
Phospholipases are key virulence factors in pathogenic fungi. This study shows Paracoccidioides brasiliensis phospholipase genes are crucial in early infection stages but not chronic phases.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pathogenic Fungi Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Phospholipases are recognized as critical virulence factors in pathogenic fungi.
- Understanding the role of specific phospholipase genes in fungal infections is essential for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis phospholipase genes (pld, plb1, plc) during infection.
- To determine the role of these phospholipases in the early versus chronic stages of pulmonary infection.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis of pld, plb1, and plc in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
- In vitro co-infection models using MH-S cells.
- In vivo infection models using BALB/c mice lungs.
Main Results:
- The pld gene shows preferential expression in mycelium cells.
- The plb1 gene is upregulated during early infection stages (post 6 hours) in both cell culture and mouse models.
- Expression of plb1, plc, and pld genes significantly increases 6-48 hours post-infection, diminishing by 56 days.
Conclusions:
- Phospholipase genes play a significant role in the initial stages of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis pulmonary infection.
- These phospholipases are not critical during the chronic phases of infection, suggesting a temporal role in pathogenesis.
