Regulation of Development in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus
Mycobiology
;
: 229-237, 2010.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-729918
ABSTRACT
Members of the genus Aspergillus are the most common fungi and all reproduce asexually by forming long chains of conidiospores (or conidia). The impact of various Aspergillus species on humans ranges from beneficial to harmful. For example, several species including Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger are used in industry for enzyme production and food processing. In contrast, Aspergillus flavus produce the most potent naturally present carcinogen aflatoxins, which contaminate various plant- and animal-based foods. Importantly, the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has become the most prevalent airborne fungal pathogen in developed countries, causing invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients with a high mortality rate. A. fumigatus produces a massive number of small hydrophobic conidia as the primary means of dispersal, survival, genome-protection, and infecting hosts. Large-scale genome-wide expression studies can now be conducted due to completion of A. fumigatus genome sequencing. However, genomics becomes more powerful and informative when combined with genetics. We have been investigating the mechanisms underlying the regulation of asexual development (conidiation) and gliotoxin biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, primarily focusing on a characterization of key developmental regulators identified in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In this review, I will summarize our current understanding of how conidiation in two aspergilli is regulated.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Aspergillosis
/
Aspergillus
/
Aspergillus flavus
/
Aspergillus fumigatus
/
Aspergillus nidulans
/
Aspergillus niger
/
Aspergillus oryzae
/
Spores, Fungal
/
Transcription Factors
/
Developed Countries
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mycobiology
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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