title: Proteome analysis for pathogenicity and new diagnostic markers for Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: With the completion of the Aspergillus fumigatus genome it is now possible to study protein regulation on a global scale. One of the most suitable protein separation techniques is based on 2D-gel electrophoresis, which allows the separation of proteins based on their charge and size in a gel matrix. In addition, gel-free proteomics techniques based on liquid-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry have gained importance. With the application of proteomic tools a comprehensive overview about the proteins of A. fumigatus present or induced during environmental changes and stress conditions can be obtained. For A. fumigatus, several proteomic studies have already been published including the response of the fungus to oxidative stress that induced the up-regulation of many proteins including catalases and thioredoxin peroxidase. Since many of the identified proteins/genes were apparently regulated by a putative Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yap1 homolog, the corresponding gene of A. fumigatus was identified, designated Afyap1 and further characterized. In addition, some of the gene products expressed under stress conditions are also known fungal antigens, such as the thioredoxin peroxidase AspF3. Thus, besides pathogenicity studies, proteomics also delivers the tools to screen for new antigens which could improve the diagnosis of diseases caused by A. fumigatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany. olaf.kniemeyer@hki-jena.de
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kniemeyer
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lessing
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brakhage
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D037521:Virulence Factors