Molecular characterization of the putative transcription factor SebA involved in virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus

Eukaryot Cell. 2012 Apr;11(4):518-31. doi: 10.1128/EC.00016-12. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a major opportunistic pathogen and allergen of mammals. Nutrient sensing and acquisition mechanisms, as well as the capability to cope with different stressing conditions, are essential for A. fumigatus virulence and survival in the mammalian host. This study characterized the A. fumigatus SebA transcription factor, which is the putative homologue of the factor encoded by Trichoderma atroviride seb1. The ΔsebA mutant demonstrated reduced growth in the presence of paraquat, hydrogen peroxide, CaCl2, and poor nutritional conditions, while viability associated with sebA was also affected by heat shock exposure. Accordingly, SebA::GFP (SebA::green fluorescent protein) was shown to accumulate in the nucleus upon exposure to oxidative stress and heat shock conditions. In addition, genes involved in either the oxidative stress or heat shock response had reduced transcription in the ΔsebA mutant. The A. fumigatus ΔsebA strain was attenuated in virulence in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Furthermore, killing of the ΔsebA mutant by murine alveolar macrophages was increased compared to killing of the wild-type strain. A. fumigatus SebA plays a complex role, contributing to several stress tolerance pathways and growth under poor nutritional conditions, and seems to be integrated into different stress responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Outbred Strains
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / growth & development
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / pathogenicity
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / physiology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / immunology
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidants / pharmacology
  • Paraquat / pharmacology
  • Phenotype
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virulence
  • Zinc Fingers

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Oxidants
  • Transcription Factors
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Paraquat
  • Calcium