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The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans - A Versatile In Vivo Model to Study Host-microbe Interactions
Published on: October 18, 2017
Caenorhabditis elegans: a simple nematode infection model for Penicillium marneffei
Xiaowen Huang1, Dedong Li2, Liyan Xi3
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America; Department of Dermatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Penicillium marneffei, one of the most important thermal dimorphic fungi, is a severe threat to the life of immunocompromised patients. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of P. marneffei remain largely unknown. In this work, we developed a model host by using nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the virulence of P. marneffei. Using two P. marneffei clinical isolate strains 570 and 486, we revealed that in both liquid and solid media, the ingestion of live P. marneffei was lethal to C. elegans (P<0.001). Meanwhile, our results showed that the strain 570, which can produce red pigment, had stronger pathogenicity in C. elegans than the strain 486, which can't produce red pigment (P<0.001). Microscopy showed the formation of red pigment and hyphae within C. elegans after incubation with P. marneffei for 4 h, which are supposed to be two contributors in nematodes killing. In addition, we used C. elegans as an in vivo model to evaluate different antifungal agents against P. marneffei, and found that antifungal agents including amphotericin B, terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole successfully prolonged the survival of nematodesinfected by P. marneffei. Overall, this alternative model host can provide us an easy tool to study the virulence of P. marneffei and screen antifungal agents.
Insights
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a model to study Penicillium marneffei fungus. This research shows C. elegans can be used to test antifungal drugs and understand P. marneffei virulence factors like red pigment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Model Organisms
Background:
- Penicillium marneffei is a dimorphic fungus posing a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals.
- The pathogenic mechanisms of P. marneffei are not well understood.
- There is a need for effective models to study fungal virulence and screen antifungal agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host for investigating P. marneffei virulence.
- To compare the pathogenicity of different P. marneffei clinical isolates in C. elegans.
- To evaluate the efficacy of various antifungal agents using the C. elegans model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host.
- Infected C. elegans with two clinical isolates of Penicillium marneffei (strains 570 and 486).
- Observed fungal growth, pigment production, and hyphae formation within nematodes via microscopy.
- Assessed the survival rate of infected nematodes treated with different antifungal agents.
Main Results:
- Live P. marneffei infection was lethal to C. elegans in both liquid and solid media (P<0.001).
- Strain 570, producing red pigment, exhibited stronger pathogenicity than non-pigmented strain 486 (P<0.001).
- Red pigment and hyphae were observed within C. elegans, suggesting their role in nematode killing.
- Antifungal agents (amphotericin B, terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole) significantly prolonged nematode survival.
Conclusions:
- Caenorhabditis elegans is a viable and effective model host for studying P. marneffei virulence.
- The red pigment produced by P. marneffei may contribute to its pathogenicity.
- The C. elegans model offers a straightforward platform for screening antifungal agents against P. marneffei.
