Seminar of the Department of Microbiology

Conserved Immunophilins: A Unifying Link Across Three Phytomyxid Pathogens

 

Anagha Santhosh – PhD Candidate – UIBK – Mykologie

10.04.2025, 11:00 - Hybrid

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  • or in presence: Seminarraum Biologie - Foyer (Technikerstraße 25, Viktor-Franz-Hess Haus, Parterre).

 

 Abstract

Anagha

Immunophilins are a family of proteins observed in a broad range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Immunophilins span three subfamilies: cyclophilins, FK-506 binding proteins, and parvulins. They are essential for various functions, including protein folding, virulence, and oxidative stress response. Phytomyxids, which comprise Phagomyxida and Plasmodiophorida, constitute the obligate biotrophic pathogens of oomycetes, diatoms, brown algae, and plants. However, there is not much data on the presence of immunophilins in phytomyxids. Here, we examined the immunophilins already identified in Plasmodiophora brassicae against the datasets of two other phytomyxid pathogens parasitic of distinct hosts, such as Maullinia ectocarpii, and Spongospora subterranea, and analysed the protein structure and domains. We also investigated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in M. ectocarpii. Our results indicate the conservation of immunophilins across these phytopathogens, and also the conservation of the protein domains. There was a light-independent generation of superoxides (O2-•) across various stages of infection. Furthermore, the identification of the principal site of ROS generation, mitochondria, in a similar pattern as that of O2-• in the infected cells, strengthened this assumption. The immunophilins might have contributed to the increased production of ROS. We anticipate that these findings could provide insights into the defence reaction in these pathogen-host interactions.

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