Chromatin Immunoprecipitation-DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) for identification of genes induced during Caspofungin treatment in Aspergillus fumigatus

• Grant number: 18/14821-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Grantee: Ana Cristina Colabardini
• Supervisor: Wong Koon Ho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Macau (UM), China
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/07536-4 - Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Paradoxal Growth Induced by Caspofungin in Aspergillus fumigatus, BP.PD

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe opportunistic disease caused mainly by thefilamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Echinocandins represent the second linetherapy for IA treatment, and have been used in combined therapies since azole resistantstrains emerged. This class of drugs acts specifically against fungal cell wall, however it loses its effect at high concentrations, the so-called paradoxical growth (CPE). Althoughnot completely elucidated, it is known that CPE depends on a complex interaction between fungal signaling pathways and that the transcription factor CrzA plays a central role in this process. In this project we will use chromatin immunoprecipitation technique coupled to deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) to understand in great detail the elements responsible for CPE in A. fumigatus.