Proteomic analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus – clinical implications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus capable of producing small airborne spores, which are frequently inhaled by humans. In healthy individuals, the fungus is rapidly cleared by innate mechanisms, including immune cells. However, in individuals with impaired lung function or immunosuppression the spores can germinate and prompt severe allergic responses, and disease with limited or extensive invasiveness.

Areas covered: The traits that make A. fumigatus a successful colonizer and pathogen of humans are multi-factorial. Thus, a global investigative approach is required to elucidate the mechanisms utilized by the fungus to cause disease.

Expert commentary: In doing so, a better understanding of disease pathology can be achieved with improved therapeutic/diagnostic solutions, thereby improving patient outcome. Proteomic analysis permits such investigations and recent work has yielded insight into these mechanisms.

KEYWORDS:

• Aspergillus fumigatus
• proteome
• immunoproteome
• infection
• secondary metabolism
• development
• biomarkers
• antifungal
• adhesion
• fungal proteomics

Acknowledgments

The authors are extremely grateful to Dr Paul Dowling for providing the DIGE gel image for Figure 1.

Declaration of Interest

Aspergillus work in the Doyle laboratory is funded by Science Foundation Ireland Awards (11/PI/1188 and 12/IP/1695). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.