Mechanisms of Surface Antigenic Variation in the Human Pathogenic Fungus <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i>.

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_463F4AEF8751
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Mechanisms of Surface Antigenic Variation in the Human Pathogenic Fungus <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i>.
Journal
mBio
Author(s)
Schmid-Siegert E., Richard S., Luraschi A., Mühlethaler K., Pagni M., Hauser P.M.
ISSN
2150-7511 (Electronic)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
07/11/2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
8
Number
6
Pages
e01470-17
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Microbial pathogens commonly escape the human immune system by varying surface proteins. We investigated the mechanisms used for that purpose by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> This uncultivable fungus is an obligate pulmonary pathogen that in immunocompromised individuals causes pneumonia, a major life-threatening infection. Long-read PacBio sequencing was used to assemble a core of subtelomeres of a single <i>P. jirovecii</i> strain from a bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimen from a single patient. A total of 113 genes encoding surface proteins were identified, including 28 pseudogenes. These genes formed a subtelomeric gene superfamily, which included five families encoding adhesive glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoproteins and one family encoding excreted glycoproteins. Numerical analyses suggested that diversification of the glycoproteins relies on mosaic genes created by ectopic recombination and occurs only within each family. DNA motifs suggested that all genes are expressed independently, except those of the family encoding the most abundant surface glycoproteins, which are subject to mutually exclusive expression. PCR analyses showed that exchange of the expressed gene of the latter family occurs frequently, possibly favored by the location of the genes proximal to the telomere because this allows concomitant telomere exchange. Our observations suggest that (i) the <i>P. jirovecii</i> cell surface is made of a complex mixture of different surface proteins, with a majority of a single isoform of the most abundant glycoprotein, (ii) genetic mosaicism within each family ensures variation of the glycoproteins, and (iii) the strategy of the fungus consists of the continuous production of new subpopulations composed of cells that are antigenically different. <b>IMPORTANCE</b> <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> is a fungus causing severe pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. It is the second most frequent life-threatening invasive fungal infection. We have studied the mechanisms of antigenic variation used by this pathogen to escape the human immune system, a strategy commonly used by pathogenic microorganisms. Using a new DNA sequencing technology generating long reads, we could characterize the highly repetitive gene families encoding the proteins that are present on the cellular surface of this pest. These gene families are localized in the regions close to the ends of all chromosomes, the subtelomeres. Such chromosomal localization was found to favor genetic recombinations between members of each gene family and to allow diversification of these proteins continuously over time. This pathogen seems to use a strategy of antigenic variation consisting of the continuous production of new subpopulations composed of cells that are antigenically different. Such a strategy is unique among human pathogens.
Keywords
Antigenic Variation, Antigens, Fungal/genetics, Antigens, Fungal/immunology, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology, DNA, Fungal/genetics, Fungal Proteins/genetics, Fungal Proteins/immunology, Fungal Proteins/isolation & purification, Glycosylphosphatidylinositols/chemistry, Glycosylphosphatidylinositols/metabolism, Humans, Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics, Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology, Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism, Mosaicism, Nucleotide Motifs, Pneumocystis carinii/chemistry, Pneumocystis carinii/genetics, Pneumocystis carinii/immunology, Pneumocystis carinii/pathogenicity, Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/immunology, Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/microbiology, Pseudogenes/genetics, Sequence Analysis, DNA, PCP, PacBio sequencing, Pneumocystis carinii, Pneumocystis jirovecii, adhesin, gene exchange, major surface glycoprotein, mosaicism, subtelomere, telomere exchange
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
15/11/2017 9:00
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:51
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