Cracking the code of a coastal oil yeast: the genome of INDKK.

INDKK, an oleaginous red yeast isolated from mangrove forest soil, efficiently metabolizes biomass hydrolysates and accumulates lipids of more than 60% of its dry weight. Hybrid genome assembly (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore) produced 24 scaffolds comprising a 21.05 Mb nuclear and ~26 kb mitochondrial genome.

Elucidating the virulence roles of secreted aspartyl proteinase (Sap 1972) in non-albicans Meyerozyma guilliermondii through construction of a structure-guided mutant.

Meyerozyma guilliermondii (Candida guilliermondii) is one of the non-albicans Candida species associated with invasive candidiasis. M. guilliermondii strain SO that was isolated from spoiled orange could express industrially important enzymes without hazardous methanol as inducer.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Experimentally Evolved Candida auris Isolates Reveals Modulation of Sterols, Sphingolipids, and Oxidative Stress in Acquired Amphotericin B Resistance.

Clinical isolates of Candida auris show a high prevalence of resistance to Amphotericin B (AmB)-an uncommon trait in most Candida species. Alterations in ergosterol biosynthesis can contribute to acquired AmB resistance in C. auris laboratory strains but are rarely seen in clinical isolates.

The experimentally evolved fluconazole-resistant clade II isolates of Candidozyma auris exhibit a distinct lipid compositional landscape, highlighting intraclade sphingolipid heterogeneity.

The intrinsic resistance of Candidozyma auris (C. auris) to antifungal drugs poses a major therapeutic challenge, with conventional resistance mechanisms providing only partial explanations. Sphingolipids (SLs), known for their interclade heterogeneity, play a crucial role in antifungal resistance.

ER-mitochondria encounter structure connections determine drug sensitivity and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a common fungal pathogen, causing fatal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. The limited availability of antifungals and increasing resistance in pathogens including C. neoformans emphasize the need to find new drugs.

Sustainable lipid production by oleaginous yeasts: Current outlook and challenges.

Yeast lipid has gained prominence as a sustainable energy source and so various oleaginous yeasts are being investigated to create efficient lipogenic platforms. This review aims to assess the various biotechnological strategies for enhanced production of yeast lipids via agro-waste processing and media engineering including multiomic analyses, genetic engineering, random mutagenesis, and laboratory adaptive evolution. The review also emphasizes the role of cutting-edge omics technologies in pinpointing differentially expressed genes and enriched networks crucial for designing advanced metabolic engineering strategies for prominent oleaginous yeast species.

Diversity in the lipidomes of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale and Trichophyton tonsurans, and their phenotypes.

Despite the prevalence of dermatophytosis which affects a quarter of the world's population, there is a pressing need for innovative and effective treatment strategies. Targeting lipid structures and their biosynthetic pathways has emerged as a promising approach to combat antimicrobial drug-resistant cases. However, our knowledge of Trichophyton-related lipids is rather limited.

Expression of major facilitator superfamily protein in transporters - Δ identifies a drug transporter.

To assess the functional relevance of a putative Major Facilitator Superfamily protein (PF3D7_0210300; 'MFSDT') as a drug transporter, using for orthologous protein expression. Complementary Determining Sequence encoding MFSDT was integrated into the genome of genetically engineered strain MSY8 via homologous recombination, followed by assessing its functional relevance as a drug transporter. The modified strain exhibited plasma membrane localization of MFSDT and characteristics of an Major Facilitator Superfamily transporter, conferring resistance to antifungals, ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Sphingolipid diversity in Candida auris: unraveling interclade and drug resistance fingerprints.

In this study, we explored the sphingolipid (SL) landscape in Candida auris, which plays pivotal roles in fungal biology and drug susceptibility. The composition of SLs exhibited substantial variations at both the SL class and molecular species levels among clade isolates. Utilizing principal component analysis, we successfully differentiated the five clades based on their SL class composition.

Development of engineered Candida tropicalis strain for efficient corncob-based xylitol-ethanol biorefinery.

Background: Xylitol has a wide range of applications in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetic, food and beverage industry. Microbial xylitol production reduces the risk of contamination and is considered as environment friendly and sustainable compared to the chemical method. In this study, random mutagenesis and genetic engineering approaches were employed to develop Candida tropicalis strains with reduced xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) activity to eliminate co-substrate requirement for corn cob-based xylitol-ethanol biorefinery.

Beyond membrane components: uncovering the intriguing world of fungal sphingolipid synthesis and regulation.

Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential to fungal survival and represent a major class of structural and signaling lipids. Unique SL structures and their biosynthetic enzymes in filamentous fungi make them an ideal drug target. Several studies have contributed towards the functional characterization of specific SL metabolism genes, which have been complemented by advanced lipidomics methods which allow accurate identification and quantification of lipid structures and pathway mapping.

Elucidating the Role of Santalol as a Potent Inhibitor of Tyrosinase: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.

This research work focuses on the potential application of an organic compound, santalol, obtained from santalum album, in the inhibition of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is actively involved in the biosynthesis of melanin pigment. Over-production of melanin causes undesirable pigmentation in humans as well as other organisms and significantly downgrades their aesthetic value. The study is designed to explain the purification of tyrosinase from the mushroom , followed by activity assays and enzyme kinetics to give insight into the santalol-modulated tyrosinase inhibition in a dose-dependent manner.

Identification of Thermostable Xylose Reductase from : A Biochemical Characterization Approach to Meet Biofuel Challenges.

The constant rise in energy demands, costs, and concerns about global warming has created a demand for new renewable alternative fuels that can be produced sustainably. Lignocellulose biomass can act as an excellent energy source and various value-added compounds like xylitol. In this research study, we have explored the xylose reductase that was obtained from the genome of a thermophilic fungus while searching for an enzyme to convert xylose to xylitol at higher temperatures.

The Colloquy between Microbiota and the Immune System in Colon Cancer: Repercussions on the Cancer Therapy.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and has engrossed researchers' attention toward its detection and prevention at early stages. Primarily associated with genetic and environmental risk factors, the disease has also shown its emergence due to dysbiosis in microbiota. The microbiota not only plays a role in modulating the metabolisms of metastatic tissue but also has a keen role in cancer therapy.

Inositol Phosphoryl Transferase, Ipt1, Is a Critical Determinant of Azole Resistance and Virulence Phenotypes in .

In this study, we have specifically blocked a key step of sphingolipid (SL) biosynthesis in by disruption of the orthologs of ScIpt1 and ScSkn1. Based on their close homology with counterparts, the proteins are predicted to catalyze the addition of a phosphorylinositol group onto mannosyl inositolphosphoryl ceramide (MIPC) to form mannosyl diinositolphosphoryl ceramide (M(IP)C), which accounts for the majority of complex SL structures in membranes. High throughput lipidome analysis confirmed the accumulation of MIPC structures in and cells, albeit to lesser extent in the latter.

Improved xylitol production by the novel inhibitor-tolerant yeast K2.

Production of potential value-added products from different lignocellulosic biomass is becoming more common due to the availability of the feedstocks in abundance and the environment- friendly nature of the microbial production process. Due to the large array of its applications in the pharmaceutical and food sectors, xylitol is considered as potential value-added compound for production. In this study, organic waste samples were collected from various habitats and screened for potential yeast isolates for xylitol production.

Enhanced biodiesel and β-carotene production in Rhodotorula pacifica INDKK using sugarcane bagasse and molasses by an integrated biorefinery framework.

Dependency on fossil fuels raises an economic and ecological concern that has urged to look for alternative sources of energy. Bio-refinery concept is one of the alternate frameworks for the biomass conversion into biofuel and other value-added by-products. The present work illustrates importance of an oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula pacifica INDKK in an integrated bio-refinery field by utilizing renewable sugars generated from lignocellulosic biomass.

Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a consolidated bioprocessing host to produce cellulosic ethanol: Recent advancements and current challenges.

Lignocellulosic biomass, a rich and inexpensive source of fermentable and renewable carbon, is the most abundant material on earth. Microbial bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels (bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel) is a sustainable blueprint to reduce our depleting energy reserves and carbon footprint. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, being an excellent industrial ethanologenic organism, is an ideal candidate to engineer as a consolidated bio-processing (CBP) host, a concept that integrates the different steps of cellulosic ethanol production, from hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose and fermentation of glucose to ethanol in one step.

Unmasking of CgYor1-Dependent Azole Resistance Mediated by Target of Rapamycin (TOR) and Calcineurin Signaling in Candida glabrata.

In this study, 18 predicted membrane-localized ABC transporters of Candida glabrata were deleted individually to create a minilibrary of knockouts (KO). The transporter KOs were analyzed for their susceptibility toward antimycotic drugs. Although Cg has previously been reported to be upregulated in various azole-resistant clinical isolates of C.

Metabolomic Profiling Revealed Diversion of Cytidinediphosphate-Diacylglycerol and Glycerol Pathway towards Denovo Triacylglycerol Synthesis in .

Oleaginous yeast has great biotechnological potential and scientific interest, yet the molecular rationale of its cellular behavior to carbon and nitrogen ratios with concurrent lipid agglomeration remains elusive. Here, metabolomics adaptations of the in response to varying glucose and nitrogen concentrations have been investigated. In preliminary screening we found that 5% glucose (/) was optimal for further analysis in 3641.

Isolation and identification of carotenoid-producing yeast and evaluation of antimalarial activity of the extracted carotenoid(s) against P. falciparum.

Plasmodial resistance to a variety of plant-based antimalarial drugs has led toward the discovery of more effective antimalarial compounds having chemical or biological origin. Since natural compounds are considered as safer drugs, in this study, yeast strains were identified and compared for the production of carotenoids that are well-known antioxidants and this metabolite was tested for its antiparasitic activity. Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain was selected as the target parasite for evaluation of antimalarial activity of yeast carotenoids using in vitro studies.

Multiple roles of ABC transporters in yeast.

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, first discovered as high-affinity nutrient importers in bacteria, rose to prominence when their ability to confer multidrug resistance (MDR) to cancer cells was realized. The most characterized human permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) is a dominant exporter of anti-cancer drugs and its overexpression is directly linked to MDR. The overexpression of drug efflux pumps belonging to the ABC superfamily is also a frequent cause of resistance to antifungals.

Harnessing pongamia shell hydrolysate for triacylglycerol agglomeration by novel oleaginous yeast INDKK.

Background: To meet the present transportation demands and solve food versus fuel issue, microbial lipid-derived biofuels are gaining attention worldwide. This study is focussed on high-throughput screening of oleaginous yeast by microwave-aided Nile red spectrofluorimetry and exploring pongamia shell hydrolysate (PSH) as a feedstock for lipid production using novel oleaginous yeast INDKK.

Results: A new oleaginous yeast INDKK was identified and selected for microbial lipid production.

Sphingolipidomics of drug resistant Candida auris clinical isolates reveal distinct sphingolipid species signatures.

Independent studies from our group and others have provided evidence that sphingolipids (SLs) influence the antimycotic susceptibility of Candida species. We analyzed the molecular SL signatures of drug-resistant clinical isolates of Candida auris, which have emerged as a global threat over the last decade. This included Indian hospital isolates of C.