AUTHOR=Couger Brian , Weirick Tyler , Damásio André R. L. , Segato Fernando , Polizeli Maria De Lourdes Teixeira De Moraes , de Almeida Ricardo S. C. , Goldman Gustavo H. , Prade Rolf A. 

TITLE=The Genome of a Thermo Tolerant, Pathogenic Albino Aspergillus fumigatus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01827

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.01827

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Biotechnologists are interested in thermo tolerant fungi to manufacture enzymes active and stable at high temperatures, because they provide improved catalytic efficiency, strengthen enzyme substrate interactions, accelerate substrate enzyme conversion rates, enhance mass transfer, lower substrate viscosity, lessen contamination risk and offer the potential for enzyme recycling. Members of the genus <italic>Aspergillus</italic> live a wide variety of lifestyles, some embrace GRAS status routinely employed in food processing while others such as <italic>Aspergillus fumigatus</italic> are human pathogens. <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> produces melanins, pyomelanin protects the fungus against reactive oxygen species and DHN melanin produced by the <italic>pksP</italic> gene cluster confers the gray-greenish color. <italic>pksP</italic> mutants are attenuated in virulence. Here we report on the genomic DNA sequence of a thermo tolerant albino <italic>Aspergillus</italic> isolated from rain forest composted floors. Unexpectedly, the nucleotide sequence was 95.7% identical to the reported by <italic>Aspergillus fumigatus</italic> Af293. Genome size and predicted gene models were also highly similar, however differences in DNA content and conservation were observed. The albino strain, classified as <italic>Aspergillus fumigatus</italic> var. <italic>niveus</italic>, had 160 gene models not present in <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> Af293 and <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> Af293 had 647 not found in the albino strain. Furthermore, the major pigment generating gene cluster <italic>pksP</italic> appeared to have undergone genomic rearrangements and a key tyrosinase present in many aspergilli was missing from the genome. Remarkably however, despite the lack of pigmentation <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> var. <italic>niveus</italic> killed neutropenic mice and survived macrophage engulfment at similar rates as <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> Af293.</p>