The Transcriptional Regulator HbxA Governs Development, Secondary Metabolism, and Virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus fumigatus is the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis, which in immunocompromised patients results in a mortality rate as high as 90%. Earlier studies showed that HbxA is a global regulator in Aspergillus flavus affecting morphological development and secondary metabolism. Here, we determined its role in A. fumigatus, examining whether HbxA influences the regulation of asexual development, natural product biosynthesis, and virulence of this fungus. Our analysis demonstrated that removal of the hbxA gene caused a near-complete loss of conidial production in the mutant strain, as well as a slight reduction in colony growth. Other aspects of asexual development are affected, such as size and germination of conidia. Furthermore, we showed that in A. fumigatus, the loss of hbxA d

SUBMITTER: Satterlee T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6974638 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature