Rho2 regulates granulocyte-triggered stress adaptation and cell wall remodeling in Aspergillus fumigatus.

ABSTRACT: The airborne opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus poses a deadly threat to immunocompromised patients. Neutrophil granulocytes play a key role in the defense against invasive infections caused by this pathogen. The mechanisms by which Aspergillus defends itself against attacks by the immune system are only partially understood. Here we show that human granulocytes activate the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway of A. fumigatus and that key components of the CWI such as the cell wall stress sensor MidA and the Rho GTPases Rho2 and Rho4 are important for the survival of Aspergillus hyphae under granulocyte attacks. A more detailed investigation of the role of Rho2 revealed that a mutant lacking rho2 is less virulent in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Overexpression of Rh

SUBMITTER: Ruf D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856758 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature