PUBLICATION

Bifunctional Small Molecules Enhance Neutrophil Activities Against Aspergillus fumigatus in vivo and in vitro

Authors
Jones, C.N., Ellett, F., Robertson, A.L., Forrest, K.M., Judice, K., Balkovec, J.M., Springer, M., Markmann, J.F., Vyas, J.M., Warren, H.S., Irimia, D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190427-9
Date
2019
Source
Frontiers in immunology   10: 644 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ellett, Felix, Robertson, Anne
Keywords
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), bifunctional molecules, cloudbreak, fungi (mycelium and spores), microfluidic, neutrophil, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Aspergillus fumigatus/immunology*
  • Aspergillosis/drug therapy*
  • Aspergillosis/immunology
  • Aspergillosis/pathology
  • Zebrafish
  • Neutrophils/immunology*
  • Neutrophils/pathology
  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
(all 10)
PubMed
31024528 Full text @ Front Immunol
Abstract
Aspergillosis is difficult to treat and carries a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Neutrophils play a critical role in control of infection but may be diminished in number and function during immunosuppressive therapies. Here, we measure the effect of three bifunctional small molecules that target Aspergillus fumigatus and prime neutrophils to generate a more effective response against the pathogen. The molecules combine two moieties joined by a chemical linker: a targeting moiety (TM) that binds to the surface of the microbial target, and an effector moiety (EM) that interacts with chemoattractant receptors on human neutrophils. We report that the bifunctional compounds enhance the interactions between primary human neutrophils and A. fumigatus in vitro, using three microfluidic assay platforms. The bifunctional compounds significantly enhance the recruitment of neutrophils, increase hyphae killing by neutrophils in a uniform concentration of drug, and decrease hyphal tip growth velocity in the presence of neutrophils compared to the antifungal targeting moiety alone. We validated that the bifunctional compounds are also effective in vivo, using a zebrafish infection model with neutrophils expressing the appropriate EM receptor. We measured significantly increased phagocytosis of A. fumigatus conidia by neutrophils expressing the EM receptor in the presence of the compounds compared to receptor-negative cells. Finally, we demonstrate that treatment with our lead compound significantly improved the antifungal activity of neutrophils from immunosuppressed patients ex vivo. This type of bifunctional compounds strategy may be utilized to redirect the immune system to destroy fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (3 images)
Show all Figures
Expression
No data available
Phenotype
No data available
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
gl23TgTransgenic Insertion
    uwm1TgTransgenic Insertion
      w2
        		Point Mutation
        1 - 3 of 3
        Show
        Human Disease / Model
        Sequence Targeting Reagents
        Fish
        Antibodies
        Orthology
        Engineered Foreign Genes
        Marker Marker Type Name
        GFPEFGGFP
        mCherryEFGmCherry
        1 - 2 of 2
        Show
        Mapping
        Your Input Welcome
        We welcome your input and comments. Please use this form to recommend updates to the information in ZFIN. We appreciate as much detail as possible and references as appropriate. We will review your comments promptly.
        Citation
        Jones, C.N., Ellett, F., Robertson, A.L., Forrest, K.M., Judice, K., Balkovec, J.M., Springer, M., Markmann, J.F., Vyas, J.M., Warren, H.S., Irimia, D. (2019) Bifunctional Small Molecules Enhance Neutrophil Activities Against Aspergillus fumigatus in vivo and in vitro. Frontiers in immunology. 10:644.