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Genetic Manipulation in Sporothrix Species: Molecular Tools, Challenges, and Applications

Mafalda Barros1,2, Matheus Tavares1,2, Ricardo Silvestre1,2

  • 1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.

Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Sporothrix fungi cause sporotrichosis, a global skin infection. New genetic tools now allow researchers to study Sporothrix virulence factors and how these fungi infect hosts, improving our understanding of this emerging zoonotic threat.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Fungal Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Sporothrix species are thermally dimorphic fungi causing sporotrichosis, a prevalent subcutaneous mycosis.
  • Sporothrix brasiliensis poses an emerging zoonotic threat, with recent outbreaks linked to cat-to-human transmission.
  • Understanding Sporothrix virulence factors is crucial, but limited molecular tools have historically hindered functional studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the available genetic toolbox for Sporothrix research.
  • To outline current challenges in studying fungal virulence.
  • To discuss how new genetic strategies are advancing the understanding of Sporothrix pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Summary of advancements in molecular tools for Sporothrix, including random mutagenesis, protoplast-mediated transformation, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
  • Functional validation of key virulence factors.
  • Investigation of gene function in environmental and clinical Sporothrix strains.

Main Results:

  • Recent advances in genetic tools have overcome previous limitations in functional studies of Sporothrix.
  • These tools enable the validation of virulence factors like melanin production, cell wall remodeling, extracellular vesicles, and thermotolerance.
  • Gene function can now be investigated in diverse Sporothrix strains.

Conclusions:

  • The expanding genetic toolbox is revolutionizing the study of Sporothrix virulence.
  • These molecular strategies are essential for dissecting fungal pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
  • This progress is critical for addressing the growing threat of sporotrichosis, particularly Sporothrix brasiliensis infections.
Keywords:
CRISPR/Cas9Sporothrix brasiliensisfungal transformationgenetic toolsthermal dimorphismvirulence factors

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