Abstract
α-(1,3)-Glucan is a major component of the cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human fungal pathogen. There are three genes (AGS1, AGS2 and AGS3) controlling the biosynthesis of α-(1,3)-glucan in this fungal species. Deletion of all the three AGS genes resulted in a triple mutant that was devoid of α-(1,3)-glucan in its cell wall; however, its growth and germination was identical to that of the parental strain in vitro. In the experimental murine aspergillosis model, this mutant was less pathogenic than the parental strain. The AGS deletion resulted in an extensive structural modification of the conidial cell wall, especially conidial surface where the rodlet layer was covered by an amorphous glycoprotein matrix. This surface modification was responsible for viability reduction of conidia in vivo, which explains decrease in the virulence of triple agsΔ mutant.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Aspergillosis / enzymology*
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Aspergillosis / genetics
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Aspergillosis / pathology
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Aspergillus fumigatus / enzymology*
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Aspergillus fumigatus / genetics
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Aspergillus fumigatus / pathogenicity*
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Cell Wall / enzymology*
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Cell Wall / genetics
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Fungal Polysaccharides / biosynthesis*
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Fungal Polysaccharides / genetics
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Fungal Proteins / genetics
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Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
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Gene Deletion
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Glucosyltransferases / genetics
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Glucosyltransferases / metabolism*
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Humans
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Mice, Knockout
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Spores, Fungal / enzymology
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Spores, Fungal / genetics
Substances
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Fungal Polysaccharides
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Fungal Proteins
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Glucosyltransferases
Grants and funding
Research in the Aspergillus Unit of JP Latgé was supported by the ESF Fuminomics RNP-06132, ALLFUN FP7- 260338 and ERA-NetPathoGenoMics AntiFun. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.