Project name: Aspergillus fumigatus

Description: In patients with chronic pulmonary disease colonization with the mold Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with declining pulmonary function and obstructive airway disease. One potential effector of this inflammatory response is the pulmonary mast cell. In vitro studies have demonstrated that A. fumigatus contact induces IgE-independent mast cell degranulation. Conversely, the Aspergillus secondary metabolite gliotoxin has been shown to suppress mast cell activation. These contradictory results emphasize the need for a better understanding of the interactions between A. fumigatus and mast cells. Thus, the objective of this work was to identify A. fumigatus genes that are differentially regulated upon exposure to mast cells. Transcriptional profiling experiments indicated that, in addition to genes encoding for iron acquisition systems, allergens and putative virulence factors, genes from the gliotoxin biosynthesis cluster were significantly down-regulated upon exposure to mast cells. Globally, the results from this study provide insight into the A. fumigatus response to mast cells and suggest that one mechanism by which the host may circumvent the effects of gliotoxin is via the suppression of fungal gliotoxin synthesis by mast cells.Overall design: Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae were exposed either to RBL-2H3 mast cells or culture medium for 1.5hr or 3hrs. Hybridizations were performed with biological replicates and flip-dye pairs.

Data type: Transcriptome or Gene expression

Sample scope: Multiisolate

Relevance: Environmental

Release date: 2012-03-02

Last updated: 2011-03-01