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The role of Kdnase (sialidase) in cell wall integrity and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus

Resource type
Thesis type
(Thesis) M.Sc.
Date created
2018-08-17
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the leading airborne fungal pathogen worldwide. In immunocompromised individuals, exposure to conidiospores can lead to an infection known as invasive aspergillosis. We have previously shown that A. fumigatus possesses a sialidase that preferentially cleaves the sialic acid, Kdn (3-deoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid) and is therefore a Kdnase. The purpose of my research was to characterize a Δkdnase knockout strain. Under hyperosmotic stress, cell wall α-glucan and chitin levels were significantly increased in Δkdnase hyphae compared to wild type (WT). Δkdnase was more susceptible to growth inhibition by amphotericin B and caspofungin but resistant to nikkomycin. Virulence of the Δkdnase strain in neutropenic mice was attenuated compared to WT when mice were also treated with amphotericin B, but not in the absence of the drug. uHPLC-MS analysis showed that WT and Δkdnase conidiospores, and WT hyphae contained Kdn; however, Kdn was not detectable in Δkdnase hyphae.
Document
Identifier
etd19771
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Copyright is held by the author.
Permissions
This thesis may be printed or downloaded for non-commercial research and scholarly purposes.
Scholarly level
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor: Moore, Margo
Member of collection
Model
English
Download file Size
etd19771.pdf 23.46 MB

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