The basic leucine zipper transcription factor MeaB is critical for biofilm formation, cell wall integrity, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus.

ABSTRACT: The regulation of fungal cell wall biosynthesis is crucial for cell wall integrity maintenance and directly impacts fungal pathogen virulence. Although numerous genes are involved in fungal cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis through multiple pathways, the underlying regulatory mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a direct downstream target of SomA, the basic-region leucine zipper transcription factor MeaB, playing a certain role in Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall integrity. Loss of meaB reduces hyphal growth, causes severe defects in galactosaminogalactan-mediated biofilm formation, and attenuates virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Furthermore, the meaB null mutant strain exhibit

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10900910 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature