Contribution of galactofuranose to the virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.

ABSTRACT: The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is responsible for a lethal disease called invasive aspergillosis that affects immunocompromised patients. This disease, like other human fungal diseases, is generally treated by compounds targeting the primary fungal cell membrane sterol. Recently, glucan synthesis inhibitors were added to the limited antifungal arsenal and encouraged the search for novel targets in cell wall biosynthesis. Although galactomannan is a major component of the A. fumigatus cell wall and extracellular matrix, the biosynthesis and role of galactomannan are currently unknown. By a targeted gene deletion approach, we demonstrate that UDP-galactopyranose mutase, a key enzyme of galactofuranose metabolism, controls the biosynthesis of galactomannan and galactofuranose co

SUBMITTER: Schmalhorst PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2519766 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature