Cryptococcus neoformans gene involved in mammalian pathogenesis identified by a Caenorhabditis elegans progeny-based approach.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Caenorhabditis elegans can serve as a substitute host for the study of microbial pathogenesis. We found that mutations in genes of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans involved in mammalian virulence allow C. elegans to produce greater numbers of progeny than when exposed to wild-type fungus. We used this property to screen a library of C. neoformans mutants for strains that permit larger C. elegans brood sizes. In this screen, we identified a gene homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae ROM2. C. neoformans rom2 mutation resulted in a defect in mating and growth defects at elevated temperature or in the presence of cell wall or hyperosmolar stresses. An effect of the C. neoformans rom2 mutation in virulence was confirmed in a murine inhalation infection model. We propose that a screen for progeny-permissive mutants of microorganisms can serve as a high-throughput method for identifying novel loci related to mammalian pathogenesis.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Tang, RJ; Breger, J; Idnurm, A; Gerik, KJ; Lodge, JK; Heitman, J; Calderwood, SB; Mylonakis, E
Published Date
- December 2005
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 73 / 12
Start / End Page
- 8219 - 8225
PubMed ID
- 16299318
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC1307092
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0019-9567
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1128/IAI.73.12.8219-8225.2005
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States