Project name: The peroxiredoxin Asp f3 acts as redox sensor in Aspergillus fumigatus

Description: The human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is readily eradicated by the innate immunity of immunocompetent human hosts, but can cause severe infections, such as invasive aspergillosis (IA), in immunocompromised individuals. During infection, the fungal redox homeostasis can be challenged by reactive oxygen (ROS) species, either derived from the oxidative burst of innate immune cells or the action of antifungal drugs. The peroxiredoxin Asp f3 was found to be essential to cause IA in mice, but how Asp f3 integrates to fungal redox homeostasis remains unknown. Here, we show that in vivo, Asp f3 acts as a sensor for ROS. While global transcription in fungal hyphae under minimal growth conditions was fully independent of Asp f3, a robust induction of the oxidative stress response required the presence of the peroxiredoxin. Hyphae devoid of Aspf 3 failed to activate several redox active genes, like members of the gliotoxin biosynthesis gene cluster and integral members of the Afyap1 regulon, the central activator of the ROS defence machinery in fungi. Upon deletion of the asp f3 gene Afyap1 displayed significantly reduced nuclear localization during ROS exposure, indicating that Asp f3 can act as an intracellular redox sensor for several target proteinsOverall design: A total of 12 samples was analyzed. The strains used were the Aspergillus fumigatus wild type D141 and the asp f3 knock out mutant. Both strains were analyzed both with and without treatment (challenge with reactive oxygen species) in three biological replicates

Data type: Transcriptome or Gene expression

Sample scope: Multiisolate

Relevance: Environmental

Last updated: 2021-04-26