Pathogenesis

Ref ID: 19452

Author:

J.P. Latge

Author address:

Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

Full conference title:

6th Trends in Medical Mycology 2013

Date: 11 October 2014

Abstract:

For anyone facing Aspergillus fumigatus, the first question to be
asked remains: how is this Mr Hyde saprotrophic fungus becoming a
Dr Jekyll, pathogen for human beings? This question often leads to
the hypothesis of the presence of virulence factors specifically synthe-
sized by A. fumigatus that are essential for the invasion of its mam-
malian host. However, the concept of microbial virulence factors that
originates from the bacteriology and plant pathology fields, where a
microbial pathogen is strongly associated with its host, cannot be
applied to an opportunistic fungus which normal habitat is the decay-
ing vegetation and which does not need a human host to complete
its biological cycle. The numerous virulence studies undertaken to
date suggest that the virulence of A.fumigatus is polygenic. Only an
omic approach can be used to identify the multiple pathways that are
regulating or favouring the growth of A.fumigatus in vivo. Recently
RNA seq technology has been applied to A. fumigatus to identify
genes that were regulated during biofilm formation. This methodol-
ogy has been now used to follow the transcriptome of A. fumigatus
infecting immunocompromised mice. Specific and global pathways
expressed during active growth in vivo can be identified. This large
scale strategy can be complemented by more focused approaches.
One example given will be the study of the active role of the polysac-
charides present in the outer layer of the cell wall during infection.
Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches will be discussed.

Abstract Number: w08-4

Conference Year: 2013

Link to conference website: NULL

New link: NULL

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