Peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation pathways influence the virulence of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: An understanding of the connections between metabolism and elaboration of virulence factors during host colonization by the human-pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is important for developing antifungal therapies. Lipids are abundant in host tissues, and fungal pathogens in the phylum basidiomycota possess both peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation pathways to utilize this potential carbon source. In addition, lipids are important signaling molecules in both fungi and mammals. In this report, we demonstrate that defects in the peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation pathways influence the growth of C. neoformans on fatty acids as well as the virulence of the fungus in a mouse inhalation model of cryptococcosis. Disease attenuation may be due to the cumulative influence of alt

SUBMITTER: Kretschmer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3416069 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature