Work

The Aminoalkylindole BML-190 Negatively Regulates Chitosan Synthesis via the Cyclic AMP/Protein Kinase A1 Pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that kills ∼200,000 people every year. The cell wall is an essential organelle that protects fungi from the environment. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, has been shown to be an essential component of the cryptococcal cell wall during infection of a mammalian host. In this study, we screened a set of 480 compounds, which are known to have defined biological activities, for activity that reduced chitosan production in C. neoformans . Two of these compounds were confirmed using an alternative method of measuring chitosan, and one of these was demonstrated to impact the cAMP signal transduction pathway. This work demonstrates that the cAMP pathway regulates chitosan biosynthesis in C. neoformans and validates that this screening approach could be used to find potential antifungal agents.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02264-19

Authors: Brian T. Maybruck, Woei C. Lam, Charles A. Specht, Ma. Xenia G. Ilagan, Maureen J. Donlin, Jennifer K. Lodge

Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Saint Louis University

Language: English

Topic: Fungal Infections and Studies

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900