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Roles of the Sec2p Gene in the Growth and Pathogenicity Regulation of Aspergillus fumigatus

Summary

Researchers studied a gene called Sec2p in a dangerous fungus that causes serious lung infections in people with weak immune systems. By removing this gene, they found the fungus grew slower, caused less damage, and fewer infected mice died. This discovery suggests that blocking Sec2p could be a new way to treat these fungal infections.

Background

Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The Sec2p gene encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates Rab proteins and may play roles in fungal growth and virulence.

Objective

To investigate the function of the Sec2p gene in A. fumigatus by examining its effects on fungal growth, autophagy pathways, cell wall integrity signaling, and pathogenicity in a mouse infection model.

Results

Deletion of Sec2p reduced fungal colony growth by 42% and increased autophagosome accumulation indicating impaired degradation. The ΔSec2p strain showed enhanced resistance to cell wall stressors and reduced virulence with 67% mouse survival compared to 22% in wild-type infected mice.

Conclusion

Sec2p positively regulates the autophagy pathway and negatively regulates cell wall integrity pathway genes during stress, thereby coordinating growth and pathogenicity of A. fumigatus. Targeting Sec2p may represent a therapeutic strategy for preventing aspergillosis.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39852455, DOI: 10.3390/jof11010036
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