{"id":{"repo_id":"texas-state","oai_identifier":"oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/20119"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/texas-state/oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/20119","repository":{"repo_id":"texas-state","name":"Texas State University","base_url":"https://digital.library.txst.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Cellular Copper Import Mechanisms via Secreted Cuproproteins: Exploring Metal Homeostasis in Pseudogymnoascus destructans","abstract":"This thesis investigates the metal stress response of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which causes White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how cellular metal status effects Bim1-like Proteins (BLPs) and high-affinity copper transporters (CTR proteins) transcription levels. These two families of copper-binding proteins have been shown to facilitate copper uptake, which is critical for fungal growth, survival, and virulence, especially in the nutrient-restrictive conditions encountered during host colonization niche. Kinetic growth assays demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between fungal growth and copper concentrations, where copper acted both as a growth enhancer at lower concentrations and a stressor at higher levels. Iron supplementation similarly influenced fungal growth, while the presence of copper and iron chelators, such as bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCS) and bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS), restricted growth, underscoring the dependency of P. destructans on these metals. Differential gene expression analyses further highlighted copper-responsive pathways that modulate copper transport and oxidative stress responses. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data revealed copper homeostasis adjustments, particularly under copper- or iron-limiting conditions. Microscopy with Phen Green FL provided visualization of intracellular copper dynamics, where copper chelation and supplementation induced marked changes in fluorescence, reflecting variations in intracellular copper levels. These findings support a model where BLPs, by scavenging copper and interfacing with CTR transporters, play a pivotal role in maintaining copper homeostasis. This function is essential for overcoming metal-limiting environments imposed by the host during infection. Collectively, the study provides insights into the metal acquisition strategies of P. destructans, contributing to broader understanding of fungal pathogenesis and opening avenues for anti-fungal strategies targeting metal homeostasis pathways.","abstract_html":"This thesis investigates the metal stress response of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which causes White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how cellular metal status effects Bim1-like Proteins (BLPs) and high-affinity copper transporters (CTR proteins) transcription levels. These two families of copper-binding proteins have been shown to facilitate copper uptake, which is critical for fungal growth, survival, and virulence, especially in the nutrient-restrictive conditions encountered during host colonization niche. Kinetic growth assays demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between fungal growth and copper concentrations, where copper acted both as a growth enhancer at lower concentrations and a stressor at higher levels. Iron supplementation similarly influenced fungal growth, while the presence of copper and iron chelators, such as bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCS) and bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS), restricted growth, underscoring the dependency of P. destructans on these metals. Differential gene expression analyses further highlighted copper-responsive pathways that modulate copper transport and oxidative stress responses. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data revealed copper homeostasis adjustments, particularly under copper- or iron-limiting conditions. Microscopy with Phen Green FL provided visualization of intracellular copper dynamics, where copper chelation and supplementation induced marked changes in fluorescence, reflecting variations in intracellular copper levels. These findings support a model where BLPs, by scavenging copper and interfacing with CTR transporters, play a pivotal role in maintaining copper homeostasis. This function is essential for overcoming metal-limiting environments imposed by the host during infection. Collectively, the study provides insights into the metal acquisition strategies of P. destructans, contributing to broader understanding of fungal pathogenesis and opening avenues for anti-fungal strategies targeting metal homeostasis pathways.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gonzalez, Daniella"],"institution":"Texas State University","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Biochemistry","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Peterson, Ryan"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Lewis, Lysle Kevin","Lu, Yuan"],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-12","date_published":"2024-12","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:22:45Z","subjects":["copper","fungal pathogen","copper transporter","CTR","BLP","metal-homeostasis","white-nose syndrome","WNS","bats","infectious disease"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10877/20119","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Peterson, Ryan"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Lewis, Lysle Kevin","Lu, Yuan"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gonzalez, Daniella"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-01-07T17:33:52Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-01-07T17:33:52Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2024-12"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biochemistry"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Texas State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["copper","fungal pathogen","copper transporter","CTR","BLP","metal-homeostasis","white-nose syndrome","WNS","bats","infectious disease"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10877/20119"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis investigates the metal stress response of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which causes White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how cellular metal status effects Bim1-like Proteins (BLPs) and high-affinity copper transporters (CTR proteins) transcription levels. These two families of copper-binding proteins have been shown to facilitate copper uptake, which is critical for fungal growth, survival, and virulence, especially in the nutrient-restrictive conditions encountered during host colonization niche. Kinetic growth assays demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between fungal growth and copper concentrations, where copper acted both as a growth enhancer at lower concentrations and a stressor at higher levels. Iron supplementation similarly influenced fungal growth, while the presence of copper and iron chelators, such as bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCS) and bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS), restricted growth, underscoring the dependency of P. destructans on these metals. Differential gene expression analyses further highlighted copper-responsive pathways that modulate copper transport and oxidative stress responses. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data revealed copper homeostasis adjustments, particularly under copper- or iron-limiting conditions. Microscopy with Phen Green FL provided visualization of intracellular copper dynamics, where copper chelation and supplementation induced marked changes in fluorescence, reflecting variations in intracellular copper levels. These findings support a model where BLPs, by scavenging copper and interfacing with CTR transporters, play a pivotal role in maintaining copper homeostasis. This function is essential for overcoming metal-limiting environments imposed by the host during infection. Collectively, the study provides insights into the metal acquisition strategies of P. destructans, contributing to broader understanding of fungal pathogenesis and opening avenues for anti-fungal strategies targeting metal homeostasis pathways."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["Text"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["1 file (.pdf)"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Cellular Copper Import Mechanisms via Secreted Cuproproteins: Exploring Metal Homeostasis in Pseudogymnoascus destructans"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Peterson, Ryan"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Lewis, Lysle Kevin","Lu, Yuan"],"dc:creator":["Gonzalez, Daniella"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-01-07T17:33:52Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-01-07T17:33:52Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2024-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis investigates the metal stress response of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which causes White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how cellular metal status effects Bim1-like Proteins (BLPs) and high-affinity copper transporters (CTR proteins) transcription levels. These two families of copper-binding proteins have been shown to facilitate copper uptake, which is critical for fungal growth, survival, and virulence, especially in the nutrient-restrictive conditions encountered during host colonization niche. Kinetic growth assays demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between fungal growth and copper concentrations, where copper acted both as a growth enhancer at lower concentrations and a stressor at higher levels. Iron supplementation similarly influenced fungal growth, while the presence of copper and iron chelators, such as bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCS) and bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS), restricted growth, underscoring the dependency of P. destructans on these metals. Differential gene expression analyses further highlighted copper-responsive pathways that modulate copper transport and oxidative stress responses. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data revealed copper homeostasis adjustments, particularly under copper- or iron-limiting conditions. Microscopy with Phen Green FL provided visualization of intracellular copper dynamics, where copper chelation and supplementation induced marked changes in fluorescence, reflecting variations in intracellular copper levels. These findings support a model where BLPs, by scavenging copper and interfacing with CTR transporters, play a pivotal role in maintaining copper homeostasis. This function is essential for overcoming metal-limiting environments imposed by the host during infection. Collectively, the study provides insights into the metal acquisition strategies of P. destructans, contributing to broader understanding of fungal pathogenesis and opening avenues for anti-fungal strategies targeting metal homeostasis pathways."],"dc:format":["Text"],"dc:format.medium":["1 file (.pdf)"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10877/20119"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:subject":["copper","fungal pathogen","copper transporter","CTR","BLP","metal-homeostasis","white-nose syndrome","WNS","bats","infectious disease"],"dc:title":["Cellular Copper Import Mechanisms via Secreted Cuproproteins: Exploring Metal Homeostasis in Pseudogymnoascus destructans"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biochemistry"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Texas State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:22:45Z"}