Silencing of mitochondrial alternative oxidase gene of Aspergillus fumigatus enhances reactive oxygen species production and killing of the fungus by macrophages

Author(s)

Magnani, Taisa ^[1] ; Soriani, Frederico Marianetti ^[1] ; Martins, Vicente de Paulo ^[1] ; de Freitas Policarpo, Anna Carolina ^[1] ; Sorgi, Carlos Arterio ^[1] ; Faccioli, Lucia Helena ^[1] ; Curti, Carlos ^[2] ; Uyemura, Sergio Akira ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Quim & Fis, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes; v. 40, n. 6, p. 631-636, DEC 2008.
• Web of Science Citations: 29

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that conidia from Aspergillus fumigatus incubated with menadione and paraquat increases activity and expression of cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase (AOX). Here, we employed the RNA silencing technique in A. fumigatus using the vector pALB1/aoxAf in order to down-regulate the aox gene. Positive transformants for aox gene silencing of A. fumigatus were more susceptible both to an imposed in vitro oxidative stress condition and to macrophages killing, suggesting that AOX is required for the A. fumigatus pathogenicity, mainly for the survival of the fungus conidia during host infection and resistance to reactive oxygen species generated by macrophages. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/09781-3 - Cloning, expression and characterization of an alternative oxidase mitochondrial gene from Aspergillus fumigatus
• Grantee: Taisa Magnani Dinamarco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 06/04909-0 - Mitochondrial alternative pathways: alternative NADH dehydrogenase and alternative oxidase studies from fungi
• Grantee: Sergio Akira Uyemura
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants