The Cch1-Mid1 High-Affinity Calcium Channel Contributes to the Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans by Mitigating Oxidative Stress.

ABSTRACT: Pathogenic fungi have developed mechanisms to cope with stresses imposed by hosts. For Cryptococcus spp., this implies active defense mechanisms that attenuate and ultimately overcome the onslaught of oxidative stresses in macrophages. Among cellular pathways within Cryptococcus neoformans' arsenal is the plasma membrane high-affinity Cch1-Mid1 calcium (Ca(2+)) channel (CMC). Here we show that CMC has an unexpectedly complex and disparate role in mitigating oxidative stress. Upon inhibiting the Ccp1-mediated oxidative response pathway with antimycin, strains of C. neoformans expressing only Mid1 displayed enhanced growth, but this was significantly attenuated upon H2O2 exposure in the absence of Mid1, suggesting a regulatory role for Mid1 acting through the Ccp1-mediated oxidative stress r

SUBMITTER: Vu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4621313 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature