The role of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans high temperature growth and virulence.

ABSTRACT: Fungal infections are often difficult to treat due to the inherent similarities between fungal and animal cells and the resulting host toxicity from many antifungal compounds. Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans that causes life-threatening disease, primarily in immunocompromised patients. Since antifungal therapy for this microorganism is limited, many investigators have explored novel drug targets aim at virulence factors, such as the ability to grow at mammalian physiological temperature (37°C). To address this issue, we used the Agrobacterium tumefaciens gene delivery system to create a random insertion mutagenesis library that was screened for altered growth at elevated temperatures. Among several mutants unable to grow at 37°C, we explored one bearin

SUBMITTER: de Gontijo FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4286198 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature