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Eukaryotic Cell, March 2009, p. 261, Vol. 8, No. 3
1535-9778/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00046-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

SPOTLIGHT

Article of Significant Interest Selected from This Issue by the Editors

Agrobacterium Insertional Mutagenesis Unveils Novel pH-Dependent Factor Promoting Cryptococcus Virulence

Cryptococcus neoformans causes cryptococcosis worldwide, especially in immunocompromised individuals. As with many eukaryotic pathogens, performing mutant screens to identify new virulence determinants is a challenge. Idnurm et al. (p. 315-326) used insertional mutagenesis and incorporated unique signature tags, enabling pools of strains to be screened directly in a mouse model. One gene required for virulence that emerged was ENA1. Ena1 homologs function as salt pumps in other fungi. Interestingly, in C. neoformans the only identified phenotype for ena1 mutants in vitro is sensitivity to alkaline pH. Thus, Ena1 either plays a role in host niches where the pH is higher than physiological levels or has other novel functions. The signature-tagged mutant collection holds promise for identifying many new determinants of cryptococcal interaction with its hosts. Future analysis of Ena1 in this and other pathogens should result in new insights into fungal pathogenesis.

Eukaryotic Cell, March 2009, p. 261, Vol. 8, No. 3
1535-9778/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00046-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.




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