Disruption of the Aspergillus fumigatus ECM33 homologue results in rapid conidial germination, antifungal resistance and hypervirulence.

The ECM33/SPS2 family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins plays an important role in maintaining fungal cell wall integrity and virulence. However, the precise molecular role of these proteins is unknown. In this work, AfuEcm33, the gene encoding the ECM33 homologue in the important pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, has been cloned and its function analysed.