Giant transposons promote strain heterogeneity in a major fungal pathogen.

ABSTRACT: Fungal infections are difficult to prevent and treat in large part due to strain heterogeneity which confounds diagnostic predictability. Yet the genetic mechanisms driving strain-to-strain variation remain poorly understood. Here, we determined the extent to which Starships-giant transposons capable of mobilizing numerous fungal genes-generate genetic and phenotypic variability in the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We analyzed 519 diverse strains, including 11 newly sequenced with long-read technology and multiple isolates of the same reference strain, to reveal 20 distinct Starships that are generating genomic heterogeneity over timescales relevant for experimental reproducibility. Starship-mobilized genes encode diverse functions, includi

SUBMITTER: Gluck-Thaler E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11230402 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature