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Elastase Activity in Aspergillus fumigatus Can Arise by Random, Spontaneous Mutations
Joint Authors
García, Marta E.
Flores-Moya, Antonio
López-Rodas, Victoria
Costas, Eduardo
Álvarez-Pérez, Sergio
Blanco, Jose L.
Source
International Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Issue
Vol. 2010, Issue 2010 (31 Dec. 2010), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2010-04-11
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius has the capacity to degrade elastin (the principal protein of the lungs) and it is considered that elastase activity (EA) is among the most important pathogenicity factors of this mold.
In particular, there is a strong correlation between EA in A.
fumigatus and invasive aspergillosis.
However, EA is not universal in this mold, and it is unknown whether the capacity to degrade elastin is the consequence of physiological mechanisms and/or genetic changes (putative adaptive mutations) induced after the exposure to this substrate or, on the contrary, it is due to random spontaneous mutations that occur under nonselective conditions.
In order to discriminate between these possibilities, a Luria-Delbrück fluctuation analysis was carried out on an elastase-negative (EA−) A.
fumigatus strain, using as selective factor a culture medium containing elastin as the sole source of nitrogen.
Here we show that the EA−→EA+ transformation in A.
fumigatus appears by rare, random mutations before the exposure of the strain to selective conditions.
This work represents the first experimental evidence of pathogenicity factor acquisition in mycelial fungi by preselective mutation.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Álvarez-Pérez, Sergio& Blanco, Jose L.& López-Rodas, Victoria& Flores-Moya, Antonio& Costas, Eduardo& García, Marta E.. 2010. Elastase Activity in Aspergillus fumigatus Can Arise by Random, Spontaneous Mutations. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology،Vol. 2010, no. 2010, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-484187
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Álvarez-Pérez, Sergio…[et al.]. Elastase Activity in Aspergillus fumigatus Can Arise by Random, Spontaneous Mutations. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology No. 2010 (2010), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-484187
American Medical Association (AMA)
Álvarez-Pérez, Sergio& Blanco, Jose L.& López-Rodas, Victoria& Flores-Moya, Antonio& Costas, Eduardo& García, Marta E.. Elastase Activity in Aspergillus fumigatus Can Arise by Random, Spontaneous Mutations. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2010. Vol. 2010, no. 2010, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-484187
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-484187