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Virulence in an insect model differs between mating types in Aspergillus fumigatus
Manjinder S Cheema1, Julian K Christians
1Simon Fraser University, Biological Sciences, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Medical Mycology
|September 8, 2010
Summary
Aspergillus fumigatus mating types influence virulence. MAT1-1 strains showed lower virulence in a wax moth model, suggesting mating type impacts fungal infection severity.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogen Biology
Background:
- Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, exhibits sexual reproduction.
- Previous research indicated mating type-dependent differences in invasiveness.
- The impact of mating types on virulence remained largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether mating types of Aspergillus fumigatus influence virulence.
- To compare the virulence of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating types in an in vivo model.
- To assess differences in virulence between clinical and environmental isolates.
Main Methods:
- Virulence of 20 Aspergillus fumigatus isolates (MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, clinical and environmental) was assessed.
- The wax moth Galleria mellonella served as an in vivo model.
- Larvae were injected with 2,500 conidia per replicate, with virulence measured by larval survival.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in virulence were observed between Aspergillus fumigatus mating types.
- Larvae infected with MAT1-1 isolates exhibited lower survival rates compared to MAT1-2 isolates.
- Environmental isolates unexpectedly showed lower survival rates in larvae compared to clinical isolates.
Conclusions:
- Aspergillus fumigatus mating type is a determinant of virulence.
- MAT1-1 strains are less virulent in the Galleria mellonella model.
- Understanding virulence variation mechanisms may reveal new therapeutic targets for Aspergillus infections.
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