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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

A Worl-Like Transcription Factor Is Essential for Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans

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Author(s):
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Paes, Hugo Costa [1] ; Derengowski, Lorena da Silveira [2] ; Ferreira Peconick, Luisa Defranco [3] ; Albuquerque, Patricia [3] ; Pappas Jr, Georgios Joannis ; Nicola, Andre Moraes [4] ; Alves Silva, Fabiana Brendan [5] ; Vallim, Marcelo Afonso [6] ; Andrew Alspaugh, J. [7] ; Soares Felipe, Maria Sueli [8] ; Fernandes, Larissa [3]
Total Authors: 11
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Brasilia, Med Sch, Clin Med Div, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
[2] Mil Coll, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
[3] Univ Brasilia, Ceilandia Coll, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
[4] Univ Brasilia, Med Sch, Pathol Div, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
[5] Univ Paulista, Dept Biomed, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
[6] Sao Paulo Fed Univ, Biol Sci Dept, Cellular & Mol Biol Div, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[7] Duke Univ, Sch Med, Dept Med, Durham, NC 27706 - USA
[8] Univ Catolica Brasilia, Grad Sch Genom Sci, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 8
Document type: Journal article
Source: FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY; v. 8, NOV 13 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Gti1/Pac2 transcription factors occur exclusively in fungi and their roles vary according to species, including regulating morphological transition and virulence, mating and secondary metabolism. Many of these functions are important for fungal pathogenesis. We therefore hypothesized that one of the two proteins of this family in Cryptococcus neoformans, a major pathogen of humans, would also control virulence-associated cellular processes. Elimination of this protein in C. neoformans results in reduced polysaccharide capsule expression and defective cytokinesis and growth at 37 degrees C. The mutant loses virulence in a mouse model of cryptococcal infection and retains only partial virulence in the Galleria mellonella alternative model at 30 degrees C. We performed RNA-Seq experiments on the mutant and found abolished transcription of genes that, in combination, are known to account for all the observed phenotypes. The protein has been named Required for cytokinesis and virulence 1 (Rcv1). (AU)