Abstract
The parasitic cycle of Coccidioides immitis is unique among the human systemic fungal pathogens. However, at the level of cell wall biosynthesis and modification C. immitis demonstrates features which are shared by other fungal pathogens. Three distinct events in the morphogenesis of parasitic cells, or spherules, of Coccidioides are examined in this study. These include the diametric growth phase of round cells (young spherules), spherule segmentation, and endosporulation. Three enzymatic products of developing spherules have been suggested to participate in regulation of these successive morphogenetic stages of C. immitis. Preliminary evidence is presented that a ß-1,3-endoglucanase contributes to plasticization of the round cell wall, and consequently plays a role in diametric expansion of young spherules. Results of earlier studies of a 34 kDa proteinase are reviewed which suggest that this wall-associated enzyme may function in development of the segmentation wall. Data from recent studies of a 100 kDa chitinase are presented which suggest that this enzyme participates in endosporulation of the parasitic cells. Morphogenetic studies of Coccidioides may lead to the identification of regulatory factors which are common to other pathogenic fungi, and therby, to the characterization of molecular targets for development of future antifungal reagents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Pappagianis, Epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis, Curr. Top. Med. Mycol. 2: 199 (1988).
D. J. Drutz and M. Huppert, Coccidioidomycosis: factors affecting the host-parasite interaction, J.Infect. Dis. 147: 372 (1983).
S. H. Sun, G. T. Cole, D. J. Drutz and J. L. Harrison, Electron-microscopic observations of the Coccidioides immitis parasitic cycle in vivo, J. Med. Vet. Mycol. 24: 183 (1986).
G. T. Cole and T. N. Kirkland, Conidia of Coccidioides immitis: their significance in disease initiation, in: “The Fungal Spore and Disease Initiation in Plants and Animals”, G. T. Cole and H. C. Hoch, eds., Plenum Press, New York (1991).
G. T. Cole and S. H. Sun, Arthroconidium spherule-endospore transformation in Coccidioides immitis ,in: “Fungal Dimorphism: With Emphasis on Fungi Pathogenic for Humans”, P. J. Szaniszlo and J. L. Harris, eds., Plenum Press, New York (1985).
S. H. Sun and M. Huppert, A cytological study of morphogenesis in Coccidioides immitis, Sabouraudia 14: 185 (1976).
M. J. Dolan, C. P. Lattuada, G. P. Melcher, R. Zellmer, R. Allendoerfer and M. G. Rinaldi,Coccidioides immitis presenting as a mycelial pathogen with empyema and hydropneumothorax, J. Med. Vet. Mycol. 30: 249 (1992).
H. B. Levine, Purification of the spherule-endospore phase of Coccidioides immitis, Sabouraudia 1: 112 (1961).
G. T. Cole and W. B. Kendrick, A thin culture chamber for time-lapse photo-micrography of fungi at high magnification, Mycologia 60: 340 (1968).
G. T. Cole, Preparation of microfungi for scanning electron microscopy, in: “Ultrastructure Techniques for Microorganisms”, H. C. Aldrich and W. J. Todd, eds., Plenum Press, New York (1986).
D. Kruse and G. T. Cole, A seroreactive 120 kilodalton ß-1,3-glucanase of Coccidioides immitis which may participate in spherule morphogenesis, Infect. Immun. 60: 4350 (1992).
B. Wittmann-Meixner, E. Weber and A. Bresinsky, Different grades of correlation between relative nuclear DNA content, chromosome number, and ploidy levels in fungi, Oper. Bot. 100: 267 (1989).
G. T. Cole, Graphiola phoenicis: a taxonomic enigma, Mycologia 75: 93 (1983).
J. E. Whitaker, R. P. Haugland and F. G. Prendergast, Spectral and photophysical studies of benzo[c]xanthene dyes: dual emission pH sensors, Anal. Biochem. 194: 330 (1991).
R. P. Haugland, “Handbook of Fluorescent Probes and Research Chemicals”, 5thed., Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oregon (1992).
G. T. Cole, S. Zhu, L Hsu, D. Kruse, K. R. Seshan and F. Wang, Isolation and expression of a gene which encodes a wall-associated proteinase of Coccidioides immitis, Infect. Immun. 60: 416 (1992).
T. N. Kirkland, S. Zhu, D. Kruse, L. Hsu, K. R. Seshan and G. T. Cole, Coccidioides immitis fractions which are antigenic for immune T lymphocytes, Infect. Immun. 59: 3952 (1991).
A. Feinberg and B. Vogelstein, A technique for radiolabeling DNA restriction endonuclease fragments to high specific activity, Anal. Biochem. 132: 6 (1983).
S. Pan and G. T. Cole, Electrophoretic karyotypes of clinical isolates of Cocciâioides immitis, Infect. Immun. 60: 4872 (1992).
A. R. Bowen, J. L. Chen-Wu, M. Momany, R. Young, P. J. Szaniszlo and P. W. Robbins,Classification of fungal chitin synthases, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89: 519 (1992).
B. I. Restrepo and A. G. Barbour, Cloning of 18S and 25S rDNAs for the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans,J. Bacteriol. 171: 5596 (1989).
G. T. Cole, T. N. Kirkland and S. H. Sun, An immunoreactive, water-soluble conidial wall fraction of Coccitioides immitis, Infect. Immun. 55: 657 (1987).
G. T. Cole, D. Kruse and K. R. Seshan, Antigen complex of Coccitioides immitis which elicits a precipitin antibody response in patients, Infect. Immun. 59: 2434 (1991).
B. L. Zimmer and D. Pappagianis, Characterization of a soluble protein of Coccidioides immitis with activity as an immunodiffusion-complement fixation antigen, J. Clin. Microbiol. 26: 2250 (1988).
W. L. Whelan, The genetics of medically important fungi, Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 14: 99 (1987).
G. F. Carle, M. Frank and M. V. Olson, Electrophoretic separations of large DNA molecules by periodic inversion of the electric field, Science 232: 65 (1986).
W.S. Bump, Observations on growth of Coccidioides immitis, J. Infect. Dis. 36: 561 (1925).
S. Bartnicki-Garcia, Fundamental aspects of hyphal morphogenesis, in: “Microbial Differentiation. Twenty-third Symposium of the Society for General Microbiology”, J. M. Ashworth and J. E. Smith, eds., Cambridge Univ. Press, London (1973).
N. A. R. Gow, Control of extension of the hyphal apex, Curr. Top. Med. Mycol. 3: 109 (1989).
R. F. Hector and D. Pappagianis, Enzymatic degradation of the wall of spherules of Coccidioides immitis, Exptl. Mycol. 6: 136 (1982).
L. Yuan, G. T. Cole and S. H. Sun, Possible role of a proteinase in endosporulation of Coccidioides immitis, Infect. Immun. 56: 1551 (1988).
S. M. Johnson and D. Pappagianis, The coccidioidal complement fixation and immunodiffusion-complement fixation antigen is a chitinase, Infect. Immun. 60: 2588 (1992).
J. L. Slonczewski, pH-regulated genes in enteric bacteria, Am. Soc. Microbiol. News 58: 140 (1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cole, G.T. et al. (1993). Factors Regulating Morphogenesis in Coccidioides Immitis . In: Vanden Bossche, H., Odds, F.C., Kerridge, D. (eds) Dimorphic Fungi in Biology and Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2834-0_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2834-0_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6226-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2834-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive