title: Isolate-dependent growth, virulence, and cell wall composition in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: The ubiquitous fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is a mediator of allergic sensitization and invasive disease in susceptible individuals. The significant genetic and phenotypic variability between and among clinical and environmental isolates are important considerations in host-pathogen studies of A. fumigatus-mediated disease. We observed decreased radial growth, rate of germination, and ability to establish colony growth in a single environmental isolate of A. fumigatus, Af5517, when compared to other clinical and environmental isolates. Af5517 also exhibited increased hyphal diameter and cell wall β-glucan and chitin content, with chitin most significantly increased. Morbidity, mortality, lung fungal burden, and tissue pathology were decreased in neutropenic Af5517-infected mice when compared to the clinical isolate Af293. Our results support previous findings that suggest a correlation between in vitro growth rates and in vivo virulence, and we propose that changes in cell wall composition may contribute to this phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nansalmaa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amarsaikhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: O'Dea
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsoggerel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Owegi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillenwater
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Templeton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans; D002686:Chitin