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Background <p><i>Trichosporon asahii</i> is an opportunistic basidiomycetous yeast increasingly recognized as a cause of invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals, often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its ability to adhere to host tissues and abiotic surfaces is considered a critical virulence factor, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this adhesion remain poorly understood.</p> Objective <p>To characterize gene sequences in <i>T. asahii</i> belonging to the flocculin family with potential adhesive functions.</p> Methods <p>The homologous flocculin genes <i>DHA1, DHA2, CPL1,</i> and <i>CFL1</i>, previously described in <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> as being involved in cell adhesion, were identified within the <i>T. asahii</i> predicted proteome. Four <i>T. asahii</i> strains were analyzed: two reference strains (CBS2479 and CBS7631) and two clinical strains (L2585 and L773). Cells were grown in planktonic morphology and biofilms in RPMI + MOPS medium with 2% glucose. The predominant morphology of the cells was observed using bright-field optical microscopy, and total RNA was extracted. The relative expression of the four flocculin genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR and normalized using the 2-ΔΔCt method and the actin gene.</p> Results <p>The flocculin proteins showed high similarity and common domains with <i>C. neoformans</i> flocculins and other adhesins. The strains exhibited a variety of morphologies, with the <i>T. asahii</i> CBS2479 strain predominantly displaying yeast forms, while the <i>T. asahii</i> L2585 strain presented a higher quantity of hyphae. All flocculins bound to human proteins in the PriaA/Cpl1_fungi domain and/or to the Cpl1-like domain. <i>T. asahii</i> flocculins were downregulated when compared to the reference strain CBS2479, while the clinical strain L2585 exhibited the highest expression of the flocculin <i>CFL1</i>. During biofilm formation, <i>DHA1</i> and <i>CFL1</i> were highly expressed.</p> Conclusion <p>Flocculins were expressed according to specific yeast/hyphal morphology and were also more expressed in biofilms, indicating their association with biofilm maintenance and development.</p>

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In Silico Analysis and Expression Profiling of Adhesin-Like Flocculins in Trichosporon asahii

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月2日

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  • Mateus Jorge Mendes dos Santos,
  • Danielle de Castro Quinto,
  • Guilherme de Souza Gagliano,
  • Elaine Cristina Francisco,
  • Ana Carolina Barbosa Padovan

摘要

Background

Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic basidiomycetous yeast increasingly recognized as a cause of invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals, often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its ability to adhere to host tissues and abiotic surfaces is considered a critical virulence factor, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this adhesion remain poorly understood.

Objective

To characterize gene sequences in T. asahii belonging to the flocculin family with potential adhesive functions.

Methods

The homologous flocculin genes DHA1, DHA2, CPL1, and CFL1, previously described in Cryptococcus neoformans as being involved in cell adhesion, were identified within the T. asahii predicted proteome. Four T. asahii strains were analyzed: two reference strains (CBS2479 and CBS7631) and two clinical strains (L2585 and L773). Cells were grown in planktonic morphology and biofilms in RPMI + MOPS medium with 2% glucose. The predominant morphology of the cells was observed using bright-field optical microscopy, and total RNA was extracted. The relative expression of the four flocculin genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR and normalized using the 2-ΔΔCt method and the actin gene.

Results

The flocculin proteins showed high similarity and common domains with C. neoformans flocculins and other adhesins. The strains exhibited a variety of morphologies, with the T. asahii CBS2479 strain predominantly displaying yeast forms, while the T. asahii L2585 strain presented a higher quantity of hyphae. All flocculins bound to human proteins in the PriaA/Cpl1_fungi domain and/or to the Cpl1-like domain. T. asahii flocculins were downregulated when compared to the reference strain CBS2479, while the clinical strain L2585 exhibited the highest expression of the flocculin CFL1. During biofilm formation, DHA1 and CFL1 were highly expressed.

Conclusion

Flocculins were expressed according to specific yeast/hyphal morphology and were also more expressed in biofilms, indicating their association with biofilm maintenance and development.