Virulence comparisons of Aspergillus nidulans mutants are confounded by the inflammatory response of p47phox-/- mice.
While investigating the requirement for phagosomal alkalinization in the host defense against pulmonary aspergillosis, we observed high morbidity of p47(phox)(-/-) mice infected with pH-insensitive Aspergillus nidulans mutants despite a paucity of fungal growth. Fatal infection also resulted from a normally avirulent p-aminobenzoate auxotroph. This demonstrates that p47(phox)(-/-) murine immunity contributes significantly to A. nidulans lethality. These data have wider implications for microbial virulence studies with p47(phox)(-/-) mice.
Bignell
Elaine
E
Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom. e.bignell@imperial.ac.uk
Negrete-Urtasun
Susana
S
Calcagno
Ana Maria
AM
Arst
Herbert N
HN
Rogers
Tom
T
Haynes
Ken
K
D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014774:Virulence
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C060505:neutrophil cytosolic factor 1