The sat1 Gene Is Required for the Growth and Virulence of the Human Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01558-21
• Publication Date: 2022-02-02T15:31:41Z
• Authors: Yunyun Wei; Dan He; Busi Zhao; Yuhuan Liu; Song Gao; Xiaowei Zhang; Li Wang
• Keywords: Fungal protein

Aspergillus fumigatus is an important opportunistic pathogenic fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised humans. Regulated fungal growth essential for disease development and progression. Thus, screening genes regulate may lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets (IA). Screening transfer DNA (T-DNA) random-insertion A. mutants identified a severe deficiency mutant AFM2954 featured sat1 as mutated gene described putative intracellular protein transporter unknown function. The deletion exhibited defects significantly increased nematode mouse survival rates decreased loads histopathological damages lungs. Transcriptomic analyses revealed expression changes associated with cell wall synthesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), oxidative phosphorylation mutant. Deletion resulted resistance wall-perturbing agents thickened well reduced ATP contents mitochondrial membrane potential, suggested affected synthesis function fumigatus. All together, our study uncovered novel functions virulence provided theoretical basis new target treating IA patients. IMPORTANCE main causative agent hosts, up 90% lethality. Nevertheless, factors pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Better understanding mechanisms controlling provide targets. In present study, we characterized pathogen remains We proved its role virulence, likely because effects on functions.