Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus

Mycelial growth as biofilm structures and the activation of secondary metabolism leading to the release of low-molecular-weight molecules (known as secondary metabolites), are among the previously described strategies used by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus to adapt and survive. Our stud...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alicia Gomez-Lopez, Candela Fernandez-Fernandez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Biofilm
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207524000637
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850060860702064640
author Alicia Gomez-Lopez
Candela Fernandez-Fernandez
author_facet Alicia Gomez-Lopez
Candela Fernandez-Fernandez
author_sort Alicia Gomez-Lopez
collection DOAJ
description Mycelial growth as biofilm structures and the activation of secondary metabolism leading to the release of low-molecular-weight molecules (known as secondary metabolites), are among the previously described strategies used by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus to adapt and survive. Our study unveils that A. fumigatus strains can activate mechanisms linked to the production of gliotoxin, a crucial metabolite for Aspergillus, in the established in vitro biofilm model. Gliotoxin production exhibits strain- and time-dependent patterns and is associated -in a coordinated manner-with the expression levels of several genes involved in its regulation and synthesis. The transcriptional study of some of these genes by qPCR shows temporal inter-strain differences, which correlate with those obtained when evaluating the amounts of metabolites produced. Given that A. fumigatus forms biofilm structures within the site of infection, understanding the regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis may have a role in the evolution of Aspergillus infection and guide diagnostic and treatment strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-e3b911fa075e46919de4b57fb34dc7d5
institution DOAJ
issn 2590-2075
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Biofilm
spelling doaj-art-e3b911fa075e46919de4b57fb34dc7d52025-08-20T02:50:26ZengElsevierBiofilm2590-20752024-12-01810023810.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100238Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatusAlicia Gomez-Lopez0Candela Fernandez-Fernandez1Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology (CNM-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Center for Biomedical Research in Network in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-CB21/13/00105), Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author. Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory (National Center for Microbiology CNM-ISCIII, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, 28220, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.Mycology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology (CNM-ISCIII), Madrid, SpainMycelial growth as biofilm structures and the activation of secondary metabolism leading to the release of low-molecular-weight molecules (known as secondary metabolites), are among the previously described strategies used by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus to adapt and survive. Our study unveils that A. fumigatus strains can activate mechanisms linked to the production of gliotoxin, a crucial metabolite for Aspergillus, in the established in vitro biofilm model. Gliotoxin production exhibits strain- and time-dependent patterns and is associated -in a coordinated manner-with the expression levels of several genes involved in its regulation and synthesis. The transcriptional study of some of these genes by qPCR shows temporal inter-strain differences, which correlate with those obtained when evaluating the amounts of metabolites produced. Given that A. fumigatus forms biofilm structures within the site of infection, understanding the regulation of gliotoxin biosynthesis may have a role in the evolution of Aspergillus infection and guide diagnostic and treatment strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207524000637Aspergillus fumigatusBiofilmSecondary metabolismGliotoxinLiquid chromatographyTranscriptional analysis
spellingShingle Alicia Gomez-Lopez
Candela Fernandez-Fernandez
Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
Biofilm
Aspergillus fumigatus
Biofilm
Secondary metabolism
Gliotoxin
Liquid chromatography
Transcriptional analysis
title Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
title_full Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
title_fullStr Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
title_full_unstemmed Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
title_short Molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of Aspergillus fumigatus
title_sort molecular characterization of gliotoxin synthesis in a biofilm model of aspergillus fumigatus
topic Aspergillus fumigatus
Biofilm
Secondary metabolism
Gliotoxin
Liquid chromatography
Transcriptional analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207524000637
work_keys_str_mv AT aliciagomezlopez molecularcharacterizationofgliotoxinsynthesisinabiofilmmodelofaspergillusfumigatus
AT candelafernandezfernandez molecularcharacterizationofgliotoxinsynthesisinabiofilmmodelofaspergillusfumigatus