A sterol-regulatory element binding protein is required for cell polarity, hypoxia adaptation, azole drug resistance, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus.

At the site of microbial infections, the significant influx of immune effector cells and the necrosis of tissue by the invading pathogen generate hypoxic microenvironments in which both the pathogen and host cells must survive. Currently, whether hypoxia adaptation is an important virulence attribute of opportunistic pathogenic molds is unknown. Here we report the characterization of a sterol-regulatory element binding protein, SrbA, in the opportunistic pathogenic mold, Aspergillus fumigatus.

The Candida glabrata putative sterol transporter gene CgAUS1 protects cells against azoles in the presence of serum.

Objectives: The uptake of endogenous sterol from serum may allow Candida glabrata to survive azole treatment. This study aims to determine the contribution of a sterol transporter that alters fluconazole sensitivity in the presence of serum.

Methods: Bioinformatic analysis predicted CgAUS1 as the C.