title: cipC is important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence.
abstract: Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of invasive aspergillosis, a disease that affects immunocompromised patients and has a high mortality rate. We previously observed that the transcription of a cipC-like gene was increased when A. fumigatus encountered an increased CO2concentration, as occurs during the infection process. CipC is a protein of unknown function that might be associated with fungal pathogenicity. In this study, the cipC gene was disrupted in A. fumigatus to evaluate its importance for fungal pathogenicity. The gene was replaced, and the germination, growth phenotype, stress responses, and virulence of the resultant mutant were assessed. Although cipC was not essential, its deletion attenuated A. fumigatus virulence in a low-dose murine infection model, suggesting the involvement of the cipC gene in the virulence of this fungus. This study is the first to disrupt the cipC gene in A. fumigatus.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heliara Maria Spina
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Canela
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Akira
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Eliana
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: da Silva Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: 
  Aspergillus fumigatus
  ; 
  cipC
  ; invasive aspergillosis; pathogenicity; virulence