Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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The Developmental Regulators, FlbB and FlbE, are Involved in the Virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus

  • Kim, Sung-Su (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Daejeon University) ;
  • Kim, Young Hwan (Division of Mass Spectrometry Research, Korea Basic Science Institute) ;
  • Shin, Kwang-Soo (Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Daejeon University)
  • Received : 2013.01.02
  • Accepted : 2013.02.22
  • Published : 2013.06.28
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Abstract

Several upstream activators required for proper activation of brlA are involved in the development, vegetative growth, toxin production, and pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus. In this study, we characterized the roles of two upstream developmental regulators, A. fumigatus flbB (AfuflbB) and flbE (AfuflbE), in toxin production and virulence. The deletion of AfuflbB and AfuflbE resulted in reduction of the expression of AfulaeA. Moreover, only about 8% to 10% of fumagillin was produced in the two mutants compared with that of wild type, and ${\Delta}AfuflbB$ strain produced 85% of gliotoxin compared with wild type, whereas none was produced by ${\Delta}AfuflbB$. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed decreased necrotic and apoptotic polymorphonuclear leukocytes cell death after exposure to supernatants from ${\Delta}AfuflbB$ and ${\Delta}AfuflbB$ strains compared with the wild type. These results indicate that FlbB and FlbE are necessary for the proper laeA expression, toxin production, and virulence of A. fumigatus.

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