Vera M. Tereshina Dr.Sci. (Biology) Head of the group INMI, room 306  +7 (499) 135-01-69 v.m.tereshina@inbox.ru

Main research directions:

• Biochemical adaptation of filamentous fungi to various stress influences
• Study of resting cells in fungal life cycle
• Diversity of the lipid composition of eukaryotic cells of microorganisms – representatives of different taxa of lower fungi and Oomycetes
• Study of heterothallism and dimorphism in Mucorales
• Development of biotechnological foundations for the synthesis of biologically active lipids, using producers of pharmacologically active essential PUFAs
• Development of new medications, based on fungal biologically active substances

Since 1996, the main objective of the research group was to study the biochemical mechanisms that allow fungi to adapt to various stress impacts. These studies were part of the main research direction, dedicated to biochemical adaptation of organisms to stress. In the laboratory, not only biomembrane lipids were studied, but also other biomolecules involved in biochemical adaptation of fungi – the so-called chemical chaperones – fungal cytosol carbohydrates, i.e. non-cyclic polyols and disaccharides. Among the latter, special attention was given to trehalose, that not only stabilizes the membranes and protects them from free radicals, but also protects cells from heat shock death, by interacting with HSPs. The main stress factors, the effects of which on adaptation were studied, were light, temperature and nutrient-deprivation (starvation). The study of the heat shock effects allowed to suggest 2 new hypothesis about the origins of thermophilic fungi and about protection of the membranes by membrane stabilizing compounds (trehalose, glycolipids, sterols, etc.).

Using three filamentous fungi as an example, the fundamental difference between the response to the heat shock and to the moderate thermal impacts was revealed for the first time. Only in response to heat shock the increase of the level of trehalose and phosphatidic acids was observed, while at the same time the unsaturation degree of phospholipids didn’t decrease. A new hypothesis of stabilization of membrane under heat shock conditions by thermoprotectors was suggested.

The study of heterothallism in Zygomycetes have showed a number of physiological and biochemical features of the (+) and (-) strains. Cooperative synthesis of sexual hormones (trisporic acids) leads to carotenogenesis stimulation and changes in fungal lipogenesis. Study of the composition of trisporoids during stimulation of carotenogenesis by azines allowed to suggest the scheme for increasing their production.

Using Mucor spp. as model organisms, it was found that the age of sporangiospores affects the dimorphism phenomenon – the ability to germinate in both filamentous and yeast types. The use of itraconazole (inhibitor of the ergosterol biosynthesis) allowed to demonstrate dimorphic shift and hyphal growth pattern in the presence of lipids required for polarized growth – ergosterol and triacylglycerols. It is shown that spore germination correlates with the lipid composition and the ratio of their individual classes – TAG, PA, PC/PE and ESt/SSt. The obtained results indicate the role of lipids in the formation of the cell wall and alternative morphotypes of the mucorous fungi.

Selected publications:

1. Ianutsevich E.A., Danilova O.A., Bondarenko S.A., Tereshina V.M. Membrane lipid and osmolyte readjustment in the alkaliphilic micromycete Sodiomyces tronii under cold, heat and osmotic shocks // Microbiology 2021;167:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001112
2. Fedoseeva E.V., Tereshina V.M., Danilova O.A., Ianutsevich E.A., Yakimenko O.S., Terekhova V.A. Effect of humic acid on the composition of osmolytes and lipids in a melanin-containing phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata // Environ Res. 2021. Vol. 193. №110395 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110395
3. Danilova O.A., Ianutsevich E.A., Bondarenko S.A., Georgieva M.L., Vikchizhanina D.A., Groza N. V., Bilanenko E.N., Tereshina V.M. Osmolytes and membrane lipids in the adaptation of micromycete Emericellopsis alkalina to ambient pH and sodium chloride // Fungal Biol. 2020. V. 124. №10. P. 884–891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2020.07.004
4. Mysyakina I.S., Sorokin V.V., Dorofeeva I.K., Bokareva D.A. Elemental composition of dormant and germinating fungal spores. Microbiology (Mikrobiologiya). 2019. V. 88. № 4. P. 444-450. https://doi.org/10.1134/S002626171904009X
5. Ianutsevich E.A., Danilova O.A., Kurilov D. V., Zavarzin I. V., Tereshina V.M. Osmolytes and membrane lipids in adaptive response of thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor miehei to cold, osmotic and oxidative shocks // Extremophiles. 2020. V. 24. P. 391–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-020-01163-3
6. Kozlova M. V., Ianutsevich E.A., Danilova O.A., Kamzolkina O. V., Tereshina V.M. Lipids and soluble carbohydrates in the mycelium and ascomata of alkaliphilic fungus Sodiomyces alkalinus // Extremophiles. 2019. V. 23. №4. P. 487–494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-019-01100-z
7. Ianutsevich E.A., Tereshina V.M. Combinatorial impact of osmotic and heat shocks on the composition of membrane lipids and osmolytes in Aspergillus niger // Microbiology. 2019. V. 165. №5. P. 554–562. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000796
8. Bondarenko S.A., Ianutsevich E.A., Danilova O.A., Grum-Grzhimaylo A.A., Kotlova E.R., Kamzolkina O.V., Bilanenko E.N., Tereshina V.M. Membrane lipids and soluble sugars dynamics of the alkaliphilic fungus Sodiomyces tronii in response to ambient pH // Extremophiles. 2017. V. 21. №4. P. 743–754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-017-0940-4
9. Ianutsevich E.A., Danilova O.A., Groza N. V, Kotlova E.R., Tereshina V.M. Heat shock response of thermophilic fungi: membrane lipids and soluble carbohydrates under elevated temperatures // Microbiology. 2016. V. 162. №6. P. 989–999. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000279
10. Yanutsevich E.A., Memorskaya A.S., Groza N. V., Kochkina G.A., Tereshina V.M. Heat shock response in the thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor miehei // Microbiology. 2014. V. 83. № 5. P. 498–504. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261714050282