Insights into the pathobiology of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from transcriptome analysis--advances and perspectives

Abstract

Paracoccidioiddes brasiliensis is a thermodimorphic fungus endemic to Latin America, where it causes the most prevalent systemic mycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). DNA microarray technology has been used to identify patterns of gene expression when a microbe is confronted with conditions of interest, such as in vitro and/or ex vivo interaction with specific cells. P. brasiliensis is one organism that has benefited from this approach. Even though its genome has not been sequenced yet, much has been discovered from its transcriptome and DNA array analyses. In this review, we will outline the current knowledge in P. brasiliensis transcriptome, with focus on differential expression analysis in vitro and on the discussion of the genes that are controlled during the host-pathogen interaction ex vivo in order to give insights into the pathobiology of this fungus. In vitro experiments enabled the delineation of whole metabolic pathways; the description of differential metabolism between mycelium and yeast cells and of the mainly signaling pathways controlling dimorphism, high temperature growth, thermal and oxidative stress, and virulence/ pathogenicity. Recent ex vivo experiments provided advances on the comprehension of the plasticity of response and indicate that P. brasiliensis is not only able to undergo fast and dramatic expression profile changes but can also discern subtle differences, such as whether it is being attacked by a macrophage or submitted to the bloodstream route conditions.