Characterization of transcription factors of Aspergillus fumigatus important for responses to different stresses

• Grant number: 16/22062-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2017
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Grantee: Jéssica Chiaratto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic fungus and one of the main human pathogenic fungi. Their conidia are inhaled and reach the lungs, where they become active and germinate, giving rise to a disease known as aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is a set of clinical forms that presents high risk, mainly for immunosuppressed patients. Echinocandins, such as a caspofungin, are antifungal whose target is a cell wall of the fungus. These agents reduce the total concentration of 1,3-²-D-glucans in the cell wall by inhibiting 1,3-²-glucan synthase activity. Inhibition of the synthesis of cell wall components by antifungal drugs may be an important target against infections caused by A. fumigatus. Null mutants for CBF / NF-Y family transcription factors, increase the sensitivity at high concentrations of caspogungin in A. fumigatus. Calcium corresponds to a secondary messenger, and plays an important role in the regulation of several physiological responses in eukaryotes. We also identified another transcription factor, NsdC, which, when deleted, is sensitive to calcium. As bioinformatic analyzes suggest that this transcription factor may be involved in sexual development in A. fumigatus. Therefore, more studies are needed to confirm the role, transcription factors of the adaptive responses of the fungus.

Scientific publications

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

DE CASTRO, PATRICIA ALVES; COLABARDINI, ANA CRISTINA; MANFIOLLI, ADRIANA OLIVEIRA; CHIARATTO, JESSICA; SILVA, LILIAN PEREIRA; MATTOS, ELICIANE CEVOLANI; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; ALMEIDA, FAUSTO; PERSINOTI, GABRIELA FELIX; ANNICK RIES, LAURE NICOLAS; et al. Aspergillus fumigatus calcium-responsive transcription factors regulate cell wall architecture promoting stress tolerance, virulence and caspofungin resistance. PLOS GENETICS, v. 15, n. 12, DEC 2019. (17/07536-4, 16/21392-2, 14/06863-3, 16/12948-7, 16/07870-9, 16/22062-6, 14/04783-2, 17/19288-5)

DE CASTRO, PATRICIA ALVES; VALERO, CLARA; CHIARATTO, JESSICA; COLABARDINI, ANA CRISTINA; PARDESHI, LAKHANSING; SILVA, LILIAN PEREIRA; ALMEIDA, FAUSTO; ROCHA, MARINA CAMPOS; SILVA, ROBERTO NASCIMENTO; MALAVAZI, IRAN; et al. Novel Biological Functions of the NsdC Transcription Factor in Aspergillus fumigatus. MBIO, v. 12, n. 1, JAN-FEB 2021. (16/07870-9, 18/00715-3, 16/21392-2, 17/07536-4, 16/22062-6, 16/12948-7, 19/10097-8)

VALERO, CLARA; COLABARDINI, ANA CRISTINA; CHIARATTO, JESSICA; PARDESHI, LAKHANSING; DE CASTRO, PATRICIA ALVES; FERREIRA FILHO, JAIRE ALVES; SILVA, LILIAN PEREIRA; ROCHA, MARINA CAMPOS; MALAVAZI, IRAN; COSTA, JONAS HENRIQUE; et al. Aspergillus fumigatus Transcription Factors Involved in the Caspofungin Paradoxical Effect. MBIO, v. 11, n. 3, p. 22-pg., 2020-05-01. (16/21392-2, 17/07536-4, 16/12948-7, 16/07870-9, 16/22062-6, 18/00715-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CHIARATTO, Jéssica. Characterization of transcription factors of Aspergillus fumigatus important for responses to different stresses. 2019. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.