Biology subjects

Vitale, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Vitale, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Spatially resolved human kidney multi-omics single cell atlas highlights the key role of the fibrotic microenvironment in kidney disease progression

Kidneys possess one of the most intricate three-dimensional cellular structures in the body, yet the spatial and molecular principles of kidney health and disease remain inadequately understood. Here, we have generated high-quality datasets for 81 samples, including single cell (sc), single nuclear (sn), spot level (Visium) and single cell resolution (CosMx) spatial (sp)-RNA expression, and sn open chromatin, capturing cells from healthy, diabetic, and hypertensive diseased human kidneys. By combining the snRNA, snATAC and scRNA sequencing we identify cell types and map these cell types to their locations within the tissue. Unbiased deconvolution of the spatial data identifies 4 distinct spatial microenvironments: glomerular, immune, tubule and fibrotic. We describe the complex, heterogenous cellular and spatial organization of human microenvironments in health and disease. Further, we find that the fibrotic microenvironment spatial gene signature is not only able to molecularly classify human kidneys, but it also offers an improved prognosis prediction compared to traditional histopathological analysis. We provide a comprehensive spatially resolved molecular roadmap of the human kidney and the fibrotic process, demonstrating the clinical utility of spatial transcriptomics.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

Combination of the Systemin peptide with the beneficial fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 improves plant defense responses against pests and diseases

Trichoderma spp. are among the most widely used plant beneficial fungi in agriculture. A novel approach to enhance their effectiveness in plant defense is to use the fungi in combination with bioactive molecules including plant-derived compounds. Here, we show that plant treatment with Trichoderma afroharzianum (strain T22) and Systemin (Sys), a tomato plant peptide active in triggering plant defense, confers protection against the fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea and the insect pest Tuta absoluta. The observed defensive response was associated with increased accumulation of metabolites and transcripts involved in the Jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. Our findings suggest that the innovative combination of T. afroharzianum T22 and Sys can result in a more effective and robust control of different biotic stress agents.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2021

Impairment of the cellulose degradation machinery enhances fungal virulence but limits reproductive fitness

Fungal endophytes grow in the apoplastic space, in constant contact with the plant cell wall (CW) that hinders microbe progression, while representing a source of nutrients. Although numerous fungal CW modifying proteins have been identified, their role during host colonization remains underexplored. Here we show that the root-infecting plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) does not require its complete arsenal of cellulases to infect the host plant. Quite the opposite, Fo mutants impaired in cellulose degradation become hypervirulent by enhancing the secretion of virulence factors. On the other hand, the reduction on cellulase activity had a severe negative effect on saprophytic growth and microconidia production during the final stages of the Fo infection cycle. These findings enhance our understanding on the function of plant CW degradation on the outcome of host-microbe interactions and reveal an unexpected role of cellulose degradation in a pathogens evolutionary success. TeaserUnexpectedly, fungi compromised in their capacity to degrade plant cellulose are hypervirulent but impaired in sporulation.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Integration of chemosensing and carbon catabolite repression impacts fungal enzyme regulation and plant associations

Fungal metabolism and enzyme production are regulated by nutrient availability and by interactions with the living environment. We investigated the mechanisms underpinning adaptation of the biotechnological fungus Trichoderma reesei to decaying plant biomass versus living plants. We found that concentration-gated response to glucose, the main molecule sensed from dead plant biomass, is mediated by a conserved signaling pathway downstream of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), while the carbon catabolite repressor CRE1 is critical for glucose concentration gating. The GPCRs CSG1 and CSG2 are further required for root colonization and formation of appressorium like structures on plant surfaces. Acceleration of sexual development in the presence of plant roots and their interactions with fruiting bodies indicates preferential association with plants. Our results reveal a complex sensing network governing resource distribution, enzyme production and fungal development that explains previously observed phenomena in fermentations and opens new perspectives for industrial strain improvement and agriculture.

microbiology↗