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SntB Triggers the Antioxidant Pathways to Regulate Development and Aflatoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus

Summary

This research investigated how a protein called SntB controls toxic compound production in the fungus Aspergillus flavus. The study found that SntB works by regulating antioxidant pathways that help the fungus deal with cellular stress. Understanding this mechanism could help develop better ways to prevent fungal contamination of food crops. Impacts on everyday life: – Could lead to better methods for preventing food contamination by toxic fungal compounds – May help reduce crop losses due to fungal infections – Could improve food safety by controlling aflatoxin contamination – May lead to new antifungal treatments – Could help reduce economic losses in agriculture and food industry

Background

Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophytic fungus and the second largest pathogenic fungus after Aspergillus fumigatus. It produces highly toxic aflatoxins that are carcinogenic and harmful to human and animal health. The epigenetic reader SntB was previously identified as an important transcriptional regulator of growth, development, and secondary metabolite synthesis in A. flavus, but its underlying molecular mechanism remained unclear.

Objective

To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which SntB regulates fungal development, mycotoxin production, and virulence in A. flavus through gene deletion, complementation, and genome-wide analyses.

Results

Deletion of sntB significantly inhibited mycelial growth, conidiation, sclerotia formation, aflatoxin synthesis, and host colonization. Integration of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq revealed SntB plays key roles in oxidative stress response, particularly through regulation of catalase C (catC). SntB regulated catC expression with or without oxidative stress. The ΔcatC strain showed impaired fungal morphogenesis, altered ROS levels, and reduced aflatoxin production, especially under oxidative stress conditions.

Conclusion

This study revealed that SntB regulates fungal development, mycotoxin production and virulence through modulation of antioxidant pathways, particularly through regulation of catalase C. The findings provide new insights into potential strategies for controlling A. flavus contamination and aflatoxin production.
  • Published in:eLife,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.7554/eLife.94743
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