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Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous soil decomposer and an opportunistic pathogen that is characterized by its large metabolic machinery for acquiring nutrients from media. Lately, an ever-increasing number of genes involved in fungal nutrition has been associated with its virulence. Of these, nitrogen, iron, and zinc metabolism-related genes are particularly noteworthy, since 78% of them have a direct implication in virulence. In this review, we describe the sensing, uptake and regulation process of the acquisition of these nutrients, the connections between pathways and the virulence-implicated genes. Nevertheless, only 40% of the genes mentioned in this review have been assayed for roles in virulence, leaving a wide field of knowledge that remains uncertain and might offer new therapeutic and diagnostic targets.
Uxue Perez-Cuesta; Xabier Guruceaga; Saioa Cendon-Sanchez; Eduardo Pelegri-Martinez; Fernando Hernando; Andoni Ramirez-Garcia; Ana Abad-Diaz-De-Cerio; Aitor Rementeria. Nitrogen, Iron, and Zinc Acquisition: Key Nutrients to Aspergillus fumigatus Virulence. Journal of Fungi 2021, 7, 518 .
AMA StyleUxue Perez-Cuesta, Xabier Guruceaga, Saioa Cendon-Sanchez, Eduardo Pelegri-Martinez, Fernando Hernando, Andoni Ramirez-Garcia, Ana Abad-Diaz-De-Cerio, Aitor Rementeria. Nitrogen, Iron, and Zinc Acquisition: Key Nutrients to Aspergillus fumigatus Virulence. Journal of Fungi. 2021; 7 (7):518.
Chicago/Turabian StyleUxue Perez-Cuesta; Xabier Guruceaga; Saioa Cendon-Sanchez; Eduardo Pelegri-Martinez; Fernando Hernando; Andoni Ramirez-Garcia; Ana Abad-Diaz-De-Cerio; Aitor Rementeria. 2021. "Nitrogen, Iron, and Zinc Acquisition: Key Nutrients to Aspergillus fumigatus Virulence." Journal of Fungi 7, no. 7: 518.
Fumagillin is a mycotoxin produced, above all, by the saprophytic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. This mold is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause invasive aspergillosis, a disease that has high mortality rates linked to it. Its ability to adapt to environmental stresses through the production of secondary metabolites, including several mycotoxins (gliotoxin, fumagillin, pseurotin A, etc.) also seem to play an important role in causing these infections. Since the discovery of the A. fumigatus fumagillin in 1949, many studies have focused on this toxin and in this review we gather all the information currently available. First of all, the structural characteristics of this mycotoxin and the different methods developed for its determination are given in detail. Then, the biosynthetic gene cluster and the metabolic pathway involved in its production and regulation are explained. The activity of fumagillin on its target, the methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (MetAP2) enzyme, and the effects of blocking this enzyme in the host are also described. Finally, the applications that this toxin and its derivatives have in different fields, such as the treatment of cancer and its microsporicidal activity in the treatment of honeybee hive infections with Nosema spp., are reviewed. Therefore, this work offers a complete review of all the information currently related to the fumagillin mycotoxin secreted by A. fumigatus, important because of its role in the fungal infection process but also because it has many other applications, notably in beekeeping, the treatment of infectious diseases, and in oncology.
Xabier Guruceaga; Uxue Perez-Cuesta; Ana Abad-Diaz De Cerio; Oskar Gonzalez; Rosa M. Alonso; Fernando Luis Hernando; Andoni Ramirez-Garcia; Aitor Rementeria. Fumagillin, a Mycotoxin of Aspergillus fumigatus: Biosynthesis, Biological Activities, Detection, and Applications. Toxins 2019, 12, 7 .
AMA StyleXabier Guruceaga, Uxue Perez-Cuesta, Ana Abad-Diaz De Cerio, Oskar Gonzalez, Rosa M. Alonso, Fernando Luis Hernando, Andoni Ramirez-Garcia, Aitor Rementeria. Fumagillin, a Mycotoxin of Aspergillus fumigatus: Biosynthesis, Biological Activities, Detection, and Applications. Toxins. 2019; 12 (1):7.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXabier Guruceaga; Uxue Perez-Cuesta; Ana Abad-Diaz De Cerio; Oskar Gonzalez; Rosa M. Alonso; Fernando Luis Hernando; Andoni Ramirez-Garcia; Aitor Rementeria. 2019. "Fumagillin, a Mycotoxin of Aspergillus fumigatus: Biosynthesis, Biological Activities, Detection, and Applications." Toxins 12, no. 1: 7.