Brilacidin, a host defense peptide mimetic, potentiates ibrexafungerp antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus .

Unlabelled: is the primary etiological agent of aspergillosis. Here, we show that the host defense peptide mimetic brilacidin (BRI) can potentiate ibrexafungerp (IBX) against clinical isolates of . BRI + IBX can inhibit the growth of voriconazole- and caspofungin-resistant clinical isolates.

Brilacidin, a novel antifungal agent against .

Unlabelled: causes cryptococcosis, one of the most prevalent fungal diseases, generally characterized by meningitis. There is a limited and not very effective number of drugs available to combat this disease. In this manuscript, we show the host defense peptide mimetic brilacidin (BRI) as a promising antifungal drug against .

Brilacidin, a host defense peptide mimetic, potentiates ibrexafungerp antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus .

is the primary etiological agent of aspergillosis. Here, we show that the host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin (BRI) can potentiate ibrexafungerp (IBX) against clinical isolates of . CAS-resistant strains with mutations in that encodes the 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase are not IBX-resistant and BRI+IBX can inhibit their growth.

Aspergillus fumigatus mitogen-activated protein kinase MpkA is involved in gliotoxin production and self-protection.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic fungus that can cause a variety of human diseases known as aspergillosis. Mycotoxin gliotoxin (GT) production is important for its virulence and must be tightly regulated to avoid excess production and toxicity to the fungus. GT self-protection by GliT oxidoreductase and GtmA methyltransferase activities is related to the subcellular localization of these enzymes and how GT can be sequestered from the cytoplasm to avoid increased cell damage.

Identification and immunogenic potential of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in .

In fungal pathogens the cell wall plays an important role in host-pathogen interactions because its molecular components (e.g., polysaccharides and proteins) may trigger immune responses during infection.

Vacuoles and peroxisomes are involved in gliotoxin production and self-protection.

is a saprophytic fungus that can cause a variety of human diseases known as aspergillosis. Mycotoxin gliotoxin (GT) production is important for its virulence and must be tightly regulated to avoid excess production and toxicity to the fungus. GT self-protection by GliT oxidoreductase and GtmA methyltransferase activities is related to the subcellular localization of these enzymes and how GT can be sequestered from the cytoplasm to avoid increased cell damage.

A host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin, potentiates caspofungin antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi.

Fungal infections cause more than 1.5 million deaths a year. Due to emerging antifungal drug resistance, novel strategies are urgently needed to combat life-threatening fungal diseases.

Green and Chemical Silver Nanoparticles and Pomegranate Formulations to Heal Infected Wounds in Diabetic Rats.

Infected cutaneous ulcers from diabetic rats with and were treated with spray formulations containing green silver nanoparticles (GS), chemical silver nanoparticles (CS), or pomegranate peel extract (PS). After wound development and infection, the treatments were performed twice per day for 14 days. The wound healing was analyzed on days 2, 7, and 14 through the determination of CFUs, inflammatory infiltrate, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, myeloperoxidase, and collagen determination.

Heterogeneity in the transcriptional response of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to the antifungal agent caspofungin.

Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), a severe disease that affects immunosuppressed patients worldwide. The fungistatic drug caspofungin (CSP) is the second line of therapy against IPA but has increasingly been used against clinical strains that are resistant to azoles, the first line antifungal therapy. In high concentrations, CSP induces a tolerance phenotype with partial reestablishment of fungal growth called CSP paradoxical effect (CPE), resulting from a change in the composition of the cell wall.

Aspergillus fumigatus Acetate Utilization Impacts Virulence Traits and Pathogenicity.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a major opportunistic fungal pathogen of immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. To successfully establish an infection, A. fumigatus needs to use host carbon sources, such as acetate, present in the body fluids and peripheral tissues.

Erratum to "Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein phosphatases are involved in adhesion and biofilm formation" [Cell Surf. 1 (2018) 43-56].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.

The Aspergillus fumigatus Phosphoproteome Reveals Roles of High-Osmolarity Glycerol Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Promoting Cell Wall Damage and Caspofungin Tolerance.

The filamentous fungus can cause a distinct set of clinical disorders in humans. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common life-threatening fungal disease of immunocompromised humans. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are essential to the adaptation to the human host.

GPCR-mediated glucose sensing system regulates light-dependent fungal development and mycotoxin production.

Microorganisms sense environmental fluctuations in nutrients and light, coordinating their growth and development accordingly. Despite their critical roles in fungi, only a few G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been characterized. The Aspergillus nidulans genome encodes 86 putative GPCRs.

The Aspergillus fumigatus Mismatch Repair Homolog Is Important for Virulence and Azole Resistance.

The genetic stability of every living organism depends on accurate DNA replication and repair systems. Here, we investigated the mismatch repair (MMR) gene MshA and how it impacts virulence and the evolution of azole resistance. We examined gene variation in 62 environmental and clinical strains.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cross-Talk Interaction Modulates the Production of Melanins in Aspergillus fumigatus.

The pathogenic fungus is able to adapt to extremely variable environmental conditions. The genome contains four genes coding for mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are important regulatory knots involved in diverse cellular responses. From a clinical perspective, MAPK activity has been connected to salvage pathways, which can determine the failure of effective treatment of invasive mycoses using antifungal drugs.

Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein phosphatases are involved in adhesion and biofilm formation.

The main characteristic of biofilm formation is extracellular matrix (ECM) production. The cells within the biofilm are surrounded by ECM which provides structural integrity and protection. During an infection, this protection is mainly against cells of the immune system and antifungal drugs.

The Influence of Genetic Stability on Virulence and Azole Resistance.

Genetic stability is extremely important for the survival of every living organism, and a very complex set of genes has evolved to cope with DNA repair upon DNA damage. Here, we investigated the AtmA (Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated, ATM) and AtrA kinases, and how they impact virulence and the evolution of azole resistance. We demonstrated that and null mutants are haploid and have a discrete chromosomal polymorphism.

Aspergillus fumigatus protein phosphatase PpzA is involved in iron assimilation, secondary metabolite production, and virulence.

Metal restriction imposed by mammalian hosts during an infection is a common mechanism of defence to reduce or avoid the pathogen infection. Metals are essential for organism survival due to its involvement in several biological processes. Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive aspergillosis, a disease that typically manifests in immunocompromised patients.

The low affinity glucose transporter HxtB is also involved in glucose signalling and metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans.

One of the drawbacks during second-generation biofuel production from plant lignocellulosic biomass is the accumulation of glucose, the preferred carbon source of microorganisms, which causes the repression of hydrolytic enzyme secretion by industrially relevant filamentous fungi. Glucose sensing, subsequent transport and cellular signalling pathways have been barely elucidated in these organisms. This study therefore characterized the transcriptional response of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans to the presence of high and low glucose concentrations under continuous chemostat cultivation with the aim to identify novel factors involved in glucose sensing and signalling.