David C Rinker, Thomas J C Sauters, Karin Steffen, Adiyantara Gumilang, Huzefa A Raja, Manuel Rangel-Grimaldo, Camila Figueiredo Pinzan, Patrícia Alves de Castro, Thaila Fernanda Dos Reis, Endrews Delbaje, Jos Houbraken, Gustavo H Goldman, Nicholas H Oberlies, Antonis Rokas
Fungal pathogens exhibit extensive strain heterogeneity, including variation in virulence. Whether closely related non-pathogenic species also exhibit strain heterogeneity remains unknown. Here, we comprehensively characterized the pathogenic potentials (i.e., the ability to cause morbidity and mortality) of 16 diverse strains of Aspergillus fischeri , a non-pathogenic close relative of the major pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus . In vitro immune response assays and in vivo virulence assays using a mouse model of pulmonary aspergillosis showed that A...
March 10, 2024: bioRxiv