Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations

ABSTRACT In dimorphic yeasts, hyphal growth is primarily associated with infection and mycosis progression, with Trichosporon asahii causing deep-seated mycosis and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Magnesium accelerates hyphal growth in T. asahii, leading to multi-septation, vacuolar expans...

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Main Authors: Keita Aoki, Moriya Ohkuma, Takashi Sugita, Yuuki Kobayashi, Naoto Tanaka, Masako Takashima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-04-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03210-24
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author Keita Aoki
Moriya Ohkuma
Takashi Sugita
Yuuki Kobayashi
Naoto Tanaka
Masako Takashima
author_facet Keita Aoki
Moriya Ohkuma
Takashi Sugita
Yuuki Kobayashi
Naoto Tanaka
Masako Takashima
author_sort Keita Aoki
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT In dimorphic yeasts, hyphal growth is primarily associated with infection and mycosis progression, with Trichosporon asahii causing deep-seated mycosis and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Magnesium accelerates hyphal growth in T. asahii, leading to multi-septation, vacuolar expansion, and decreased lipid droplet size. However, the commonality of these phenotypes has not been studied in Trichosporonales yeasts. Therefore, to explore whether similar magnesium-induced phenotypes occur across Trichosporonales yeasts, we examined hyphal growth, multi-septation, vacuolar extension, and lipid droplet size and number in 30 species. Cell length increased with magnesium treatment in 13 yeasts: 5 Trichosporon (T. asahii, Trichosporon aquatile, Trichosporon asteroides, Trichosporon coremiiforme, and Trichosporon ovoides), three Apiotrichum (Apiotrichum brassicae, Apiotrichum montevideense, and Apiotrichum veenhuisii), three Cutaneotrichosporon (Cutaneotrichosporon cavernicola, Cutaneotrichosporon cutaneum, and Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis), Pascua guehoae, and Takashimella koratensis. C. dermatis also underwent pseudo-hyphal growth. Multi-septation increased in seven dimorphic yeasts, including five Trichosporon spp., Trichosporon faecale, and C. dermatis. The vacuolar area was significantly extended in T. asahii, T. aquatile, T. ovoides, and C. dermatis. Lipid droplet size increased only in Trichosporon inkin; however, it decreased in T. asahii, T. coremiiforme, and T. faecale. Additionally, lipid droplet number was preferentially altered in Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon. These results suggested that magnesium-induced multi-septation and vacuolar area expansion phenotypically distinguish Trichosporon hyphae from Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon hyphae and distinguish C. dermatis pseudo-hyphae from Cutaneotrichosporon spp. Moreover, differences in lipid droplet size can discriminate species within Trichosporon. Our results suggest that phenotypic alteration via magnesium treatment can contribute to the characterization of Trichosporonales yeasts. These findings provide insights into fungal pathogenesis and may support new treatment strategies.IMPORTANCEMagnesium sulfate considerably affects hyphal growth and cellular organization in Trichosporon asahii. To examine the commonality of this phenotype in Trichosporonales, we treated 30 Trichosporonales yeasts with magnesium sulfate and observed genus-level phenotypic alterations. Using cell length measurement, lipid droplet staining, septum staining, and vacuole staining, considerable hyphal diversity was observed among Trichosporonales. Notably, differences in the multi-septation phenotype and vacuolar size distinguished Trichosporon hyphae from Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon hyphae and distinguished Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis from other Cutaneotrichosporon spp. Moreover, differences in lipid droplet phenotype divided Trichosporon hyphae into two groups. Our study revealed the relationship between hyphal morphology and phylogenetic systematics in Trichosporonales.
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spelling doaj-art-9bf0b9a6f2014d33a37f8a0a7c4a39bc2025-08-20T02:53:50ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-04-0113410.1128/spectrum.03210-24Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observationsKeita Aoki0Moriya Ohkuma1Takashi Sugita2Yuuki Kobayashi3Naoto Tanaka4Masako Takashima5Laboratory of Yeast Systematics, Tokyo NODAI Research Institute, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanJapan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanDepartment of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose, Tokyo, JapanLaboratory of Yeast Systematics, Tokyo NODAI Research Institute, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanLaboratory of Yeast Systematics, Tokyo NODAI Research Institute, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanABSTRACT In dimorphic yeasts, hyphal growth is primarily associated with infection and mycosis progression, with Trichosporon asahii causing deep-seated mycosis and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Magnesium accelerates hyphal growth in T. asahii, leading to multi-septation, vacuolar expansion, and decreased lipid droplet size. However, the commonality of these phenotypes has not been studied in Trichosporonales yeasts. Therefore, to explore whether similar magnesium-induced phenotypes occur across Trichosporonales yeasts, we examined hyphal growth, multi-septation, vacuolar extension, and lipid droplet size and number in 30 species. Cell length increased with magnesium treatment in 13 yeasts: 5 Trichosporon (T. asahii, Trichosporon aquatile, Trichosporon asteroides, Trichosporon coremiiforme, and Trichosporon ovoides), three Apiotrichum (Apiotrichum brassicae, Apiotrichum montevideense, and Apiotrichum veenhuisii), three Cutaneotrichosporon (Cutaneotrichosporon cavernicola, Cutaneotrichosporon cutaneum, and Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis), Pascua guehoae, and Takashimella koratensis. C. dermatis also underwent pseudo-hyphal growth. Multi-septation increased in seven dimorphic yeasts, including five Trichosporon spp., Trichosporon faecale, and C. dermatis. The vacuolar area was significantly extended in T. asahii, T. aquatile, T. ovoides, and C. dermatis. Lipid droplet size increased only in Trichosporon inkin; however, it decreased in T. asahii, T. coremiiforme, and T. faecale. Additionally, lipid droplet number was preferentially altered in Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon. These results suggested that magnesium-induced multi-septation and vacuolar area expansion phenotypically distinguish Trichosporon hyphae from Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon hyphae and distinguish C. dermatis pseudo-hyphae from Cutaneotrichosporon spp. Moreover, differences in lipid droplet size can discriminate species within Trichosporon. Our results suggest that phenotypic alteration via magnesium treatment can contribute to the characterization of Trichosporonales yeasts. These findings provide insights into fungal pathogenesis and may support new treatment strategies.IMPORTANCEMagnesium sulfate considerably affects hyphal growth and cellular organization in Trichosporon asahii. To examine the commonality of this phenotype in Trichosporonales, we treated 30 Trichosporonales yeasts with magnesium sulfate and observed genus-level phenotypic alterations. Using cell length measurement, lipid droplet staining, septum staining, and vacuole staining, considerable hyphal diversity was observed among Trichosporonales. Notably, differences in the multi-septation phenotype and vacuolar size distinguished Trichosporon hyphae from Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon hyphae and distinguished Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis from other Cutaneotrichosporon spp. Moreover, differences in lipid droplet phenotype divided Trichosporon hyphae into two groups. Our study revealed the relationship between hyphal morphology and phylogenetic systematics in Trichosporonales.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03210-24Trichosporonaleshyphal diversityfungal dimorphism
spellingShingle Keita Aoki
Moriya Ohkuma
Takashi Sugita
Yuuki Kobayashi
Naoto Tanaka
Masako Takashima
Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
Microbiology Spectrum
Trichosporonales
hyphal diversity
fungal dimorphism
title Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
title_full Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
title_fullStr Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
title_full_unstemmed Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
title_short Analyses of hyphal diversity in Trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
title_sort analyses of hyphal diversity in trichosporonales yeasts based on fluorescent microscopic observations
topic Trichosporonales
hyphal diversity
fungal dimorphism
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03210-24
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