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A conserved fungal morphogenetic kinase regulates pathogenic growth in response to carbon source diversity

Adela Martin-Vicente1, Ana Camila Oliveira Souza2, Xabier Guruceaga1

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.

Nature Communications
|October 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The kinase CotA controls Aspergillus fumigatus invasive growth by sensing nutrient quality. It translates carbon source signals into invasive growth, impacting fungal virulence.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Fungal pathogens require nutritional plasticity for virulence.
  • Efficient translation of nutrient signals to morphogenetic machinery is crucial but poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the role of the morphogenesis-related kinase CotA in Aspergillus fumigatus invasive growth.
  • Elucidate how nutrient sensing is translated into pathogenic growth.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mutant strains lacking specific CotA isoforms.
  • Assessed invasive growth in host-mimicking environments and during infection.
  • Examined regulation by carbon catabolite repression and interaction with SsdA.

Main Results:

  • CotA exhibits isoform-specific control over invasive growth.
  • CotA-mediated growth depends on carbon source quality.
  • CotA is independent of carbon catabolite repression.
  • CotA partially mediates growth and virulence via SsdA.

Conclusions:

  • A. fumigatus CotA translates host-relevant carbon source quality into morphogenetic outputs.
  • CotA drives pathogenic growth and efficient tissue invasion.

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