AIM: We investigated the involvement of the autophagy protein 7 (Atg7) in physiology and pathogenic potential of Cryptococcus neoformans. MATERIALS & METHODS: The C. neoformans gene encoding Atg7 was deleted by biolistic transformation for characterization of autophagy mechanisms, pigment formation, cell dimensions, interaction with phagocytes and pathogenic potential in vivo. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: ATG7 deletion resulted in defective autophagy mechanisms, enhanced pigmentation and increased cellular size both in vitro and in vivo. The atg7Δ mutant had decreased survival in the lung of infected mice, higher susceptibility to the killing machinery of different host phagocytes and reduced ability to kill an invertebrate host. These results connect Atg7 with mechanisms of pathogenicity in the C. neoformans model.
AIM: We investigated the involvement of the autophagy protein 7 (Atg7) in physiology and pathogenic potential of Cryptococcus neoformans. MATERIALS & METHODS: The C. neoformans gene encoding Atg7 was deleted by biolistic transformation for characterization of autophagy mechanisms, pigment formation, cell dimensions, interaction with phagocytes and pathogenic potential in vivo. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: ATG7 deletion resulted in defective autophagy mechanisms, enhanced pigmentation and increased cellular size both in vitro and in vivo. The atg7Δ mutant had decreased survival in the lung of infected mice, higher susceptibility to the killing machinery of different host phagocytes and reduced ability to kill an invertebrate host. These results connect Atg7 with mechanisms of pathogenicity in the C. neoformans model.
Authors: Hao Ding; Mélissa Caza; Yifei Dong; Arif A Arif; Linda C Horianopoulos; Guanggan Hu; Pauline Johnson; James W Kronstad Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2018-08-22 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: Fabiano de Assis Gontijo; Amanda Teixeira de Melo; Renata C Pascon; Larissa Fernandes; Hugo Costa Paes; J Andrew Alspaugh; Marcelo A Vallim Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-05-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Roberta Peres da Silva; Sharon de Toledo Martins; Juliana Rizzo; Flavia C G Dos Reis; Luna S Joffe; Marilene Vainstein; Livia Kmetzsch; Débora L Oliveira; Rosana Puccia; Samuel Goldenberg; Marcio L Rodrigues; Lysangela R Alves Journal: Genes (Basel) Date: 2018-08-08 Impact factor: 4.096