Aspergillus fumigatus corneal infection is regulated by chitin synthases and by neutrophil-derived acidic mammalian chitinase.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus fumigatus is an important cause of pulmonary and systemic infections in immune compromised individuals, and of corneal ulcers and blindness in immune competent patients. To examine the role of chitin synthases in Aspergillus corneal infection, we analyzed Aspergillus mutants of chitin synthase family 1 and family 2, and found that compared with the parent strain, the quadruple mutants from both families were more readily killed by neutrophils in vitro, and that both also exhibited impaired hyphal growth in the cornea. Further, inhibition of chitin synthases using Nikkomycin Z enhanced neutrophil killing in vitro and in vivo in a murine model of A. fumigatus corneal infection. Acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is mostly produced by macrophages in asthmatic lungs; however, we n

SUBMITTER: de Jesus Carrion S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6999821 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature