Vitamin B2 overproduction by Pseudogymnoascus destructans and\nhyperaccumulation within infected skin: the host-pathogen interplay

0470206 - ÚBO 2017 US eng A - Abstract
Pikula, J. - Banďouchová, H. - Černý, J. - Flieger, Miroslav - Chudíčková, Milada - Kolařík, Miroslav - Kováčová, V. - Novák, Petr - Šebesta, O. - Stodůlková, Eva - Martínková, Natália
Vitamin B2 overproduction by Pseudogymnoascus destructans and
hyperaccumulation within infected skin: the host-pathogen interplay.
Abstracts 46th Annual Symposium of North American Society for Bat Research. San Antonio: North American Society for Bat Research, 2016. s. 59-60.
[Annual Symposium of North American Society for Bat Research /46./. 12.10.2016-15.10.2016, San Antonio]
Institutional support: RVO:68081766 ; RVO:61388971
Keywords : bats * white-nose syndrome (WNS)
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology; EE - Microbiology, Virology (MBU-M)

Pseudogymnoascus destructans is one of the most deadly pathogens in recent history of wildlife diseases. We identified the main extracellular compound of P. destructans as riboflavin. Riboflavin is produced by pathogenic P. destructans isolates in a significantly higher quantity than by Pseudogymnoascus sp. strains. Its production curve over 12 weeks shows continual accumulation of the compound in the cultivation medium. Fluorescent properties of riboflavin characterized with lambda scan using a confocal microscope show the same pattern of fluorescence as in wing membrane skin lesions of bats infected naturally by P. destructans. Riboflavin concentration in bat skin lesions exceeds that found in culture, possibly due to chronic infection and hypoperfusion of hibernating bats’ tissues, facilitating riboflavin deposits. High riboflavin concentrations affect bats’ primary fibroblasts and induce cell detachment, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, polymerization of cortical actin, and cell necrosis. Recognition of UV fluorescence of fungal cupping erosions, which has been validated as a field-applicable diagnostic method for white-nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance, is caused by hyperaccumulation of riboflavin produced by P. destructans. Although vertebrates cannot synthesize it, riboflavin participates in oxidoreduction metabolic processes and energy metabolism. We argue that riboflavin hyperaccumulation in skin causes oxidative injury upon arousal and reperfusion of tissues that manifests as severe pathology in bats with WNS and determines morbidity or mortality outcome of the infection. High vitamin B2 production seems to be essential for P. destructans and highlights potential use of the riboflavin biosynthetic pathway as a target of novel anti-infective strategies.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0267910