Conservation of the Polyamines Pathway in Ustilaginomycetes A Genomic and Experimental Approach.

Polyamines are organic and aliphatic molecules essential for the growth, development, and survival of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In fungi, polyamines play a crucial role in cellular differentiation and pathogenesis. Since fungi and animals are closely related evolutionarily, and fungi can be easily genetically manipulated in the lab, they serve as excellent models for studying polyamine metabolism and the molecular mechanisms controlled by these biomolecules.

Silencing of unveils the role of -linked glycans during the host-fungus interaction.

Background: is a neglected fungal pathogen for the human being and other mammals. In several fungal systems, Och1 is a Golgi α1,6-mannosyltransferase with a key function in the synthesis of -linked glycans; which are important elements during the host-fungus interplay. The role of in fungal virulence seems to be species-specific, being an essential component for virulence and dispensable during the interaction of with the host.

Phosphomannosylation and the Functional Analysis of the Extended -Like Gene Family.

Phosphomannosylation is a modification of cell wall proteins that occurs in some species of yeast-like organisms, including the human pathogen . These modified mannans confer a negative charge to the wall, which is important for the interactions with phagocytic cells of the immune systems and cationic antimicrobial peptides. In , the synthesis of phosphomannan relies on two enzymes, the phosphomannosyltransferase Ktr6 and its positive regulator Mnn4.

The Gene Encoding for the Ribosomal Protein L6 Has Constitutive and Stable Expression and Works as an Endogenous Control in Gene Expression Analysis.

is one of the causative agents of sporotrichosis, a worldwide-distributed mycosis that affects humans and other mammals. The interest in basic and clinical features of this organism has significantly increased in the last years, yet little progress in molecular aspects has been reported. Gene expression analysis is a set of powerful tools that helps to assess the cell response to changes in the extracellular environment, the genetic networks controlling metabolic pathways, and the adaptation to different growth conditions.

Purification of Single-Stranded cDNA Based on RNA Degradation Treatment and Adsorption Chromatography.

Analysis of gene expression is a common research tool to study networks controlling gene expression, the role of genes with unknown function, and environmentally induced responses of organisms. Most of the analytical tools used to analyze gene expression rely on accurate cDNA synthesis and quantification to obtain reproducible and quantifiable results. Thus far, most commercial kits for isolation and purification of cDNA target double-stranded molecules, which do not accurately represent the abundance of transcripts.

Current progress in the biology of members of the Sporothrix schenckii complex following the genomic era.

Sporotrichosis has been attributed for more than a century to one single etiological agent, Sporothrix schencki. Only eight years ago, it was described that, in fact, the disease is caused by several pathogenic cryptic species. The present review will focus on recent advances to understand the biology and virulence of epidemiologically relevant pathogenic species of the S.

In Vitro Studies of Chromone-Tetrazoles against Pathogenic Protozoa, Bacteria, and Fungi.

In vitro studies to fourteen previously synthesized chromone-tetrazoles and four novel fluorine-containing analogs were conducted against pathogenic protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica), pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus), and human fungal pathogens (Sporothrix schenckii, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis), which have become in a serious health problem, mainly in tropical countries.