烟曲霉锌稳态相关基因研究进展

Progress in zinc homeostasis-related genes in Aspergillus fumigatus

烟曲霉是一种通过空气传播的机会性致病真菌。其感染免疫功能低下患者肺部并引起严重的侵袭性曲霉病。锌是微生物生长所必需的微量元素,所有真菌包括烟曲霉生长都需要锌元素。有研究表明宿主体内的真菌毒力高低与真菌摄取锌的能力直接相关。由于元素锌在人体内大部分与锌结合蛋白结合导致在宿主组织微环境中的离子浓度远低于真菌最适生长浓度。烟曲霉演化出几种锌转运蛋白,使烟曲霉能够在锌缺乏的条件下有效吸收锌元素,同时抵抗锌元素过量,防止对烟曲霉细胞造成损害。本文将总结概述烟曲霉锌稳态调控对其生长发育及毒力的作用以及相关基因。明确烟曲霉对元素锌水平调控基因的研究现状并探讨干扰烟曲霉锌稳态是否会成为开发治疗侵袭性曲霉病的新一代辅助治疗措施和真菌治疗方案。

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus transmitted through the air.It targets the the lungs of immunocompromised patients and can cause severe invasive aspergillosis.Zinc,an essential trace element for microbial growth,is required by all fungi,including Aspergillus fumigatus.Some studies have shown a direct correlation between the virulence of fungi within the host and the uptake of zinc by them.However,zinc in the human body mostly binds to zinc-binding proteins,resulting in ion concentrations in the host′s tissue microenvironment much lower than the optimal growth concentration for fungi.There are several zinc transport proteins in Aspergillus fumigatus,enabling it to efficiently absorb zinc even in the condition of zinc deficiency.These proteins also protect the cells of Aspergillus fumigatu from the damage caused by excessive zinc.This article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the roles of zinc homeostasis regulation in the growth,development and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus as well as the related genes,summarize the current research status of genes regulating zinc levels in Aspergillus fumigatus and investigate whether interference with zinc homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus will be a new generation of adjunctive therapy for invasive aspergillosis or antifungal strategy.