Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
JoMMID
Medical Sciences
http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir
1
admin
2345-5349
2345-5330
8
10.61186/JoMMID
14
8888
13
en
jalali
1394
10
1
gregorian
2016
1
1
4
1
online
1
fulltext
en
Capsule Polysaccharide Synthase 1 (CPS1) Homolog in Aspergillus fumigatus: A Gene Disruption Study
Anti-microbial agents, resistance and treatment protocols
Anti-microbial agents, resistance and treatment protocols
Original article
Original article
<p dir="ltr"><strong><span style="font-family:garamond,serif;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Introduction:</span></span></strong><span style="font-family:garamond,serif;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> <em>Aspergillus fumigatus</em> is the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients with a high rate of mortality. Despite introduction of several classes of antifungal drugs, the limitations of current therapies have prompted an intense research toward the discovery of new antifungal compounds. In a recent study, several potential drug targets were identified based on <em>in silico</em> comparative proteome analyses of <em>A. fumigatus</em> and <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>. A potential target, capsule polysaccharide synthase1 (CPS1) homolog gene, was identified and chosen for further study. <strong>Methods</strong>: The genome sequence of CPS1 homolog in <em>A. fumigatus</em> (<em>AfuCPS1</em>) was retrieved from the database and analyzed. The RT-PCR analysis was carried out to show the presence of the transcripts. A gene disruption cassette was prepared and subsequently transformed into <em>A. fumigatus</em> strain AF293. An <em>AfuCPS1</em> disruptant strain was isolated and further analyzed. <strong>Results</strong>: The <em>AfuCPS1</em> gene sequence was annotated, and the signal sequence and a glycosyltransferase motif were identified. The RT-PCR analysis showed that <em>AfuCPS1 </em>is expressed throughout the life cycle of the fungus. The <em>AfuCPS1</em> mutant showed normal colony morphology. Antifungal susceptibility assay of the mutant using different classes of known antifungal drugs confirmed a similar susceptibility pattern to the wild-type strain. However, spore germination was affected, and a delay in germination was observed. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: The findings showed that the <em>AfuCPS</em>1 is not essential for the normal growth of <em>A. fumigatus</em>. More investigation is underway to elucidate the physiological role of this gene in spore germination process.</span></span></p>
Aspergillus fumigatus, Cell wall, Gene, Spores, Aspergillosis
25
30
http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-139-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Sepideh
Farmand Azadeh
sepide.farmand@yahoo.com
10031947532846001514
10031947532846001514
No
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Najmeh
Zarei
shamimzarein@yahoo.com
10031947532846001515
10031947532846001515
No
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Vahid
Khalaj
v_khalaj@yahoo.com
10031947532846001516
10031947532846001516
No
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad
Azizi
mohazizi2003@yahoo.co.uk
10031947532846001517
10031947532846001517
Yes
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran