Seminar: Small molecule, BIG impact: how glutathione metabolism impacts fungal virulence via redox regulation

Abstract: Being a pathogen is no easy task – it requires the exquisite coordination of attack and defence systems to evade host immunity and facilitate infection. The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, however, is well adapted to its host environment. It has several defence mechanisms to combat phagocytic host cells during infection. Among them, melanin production is linked to both fungal virulence and defence against harmful free radicals that facilitate host innate immunity. Our recent work shows that the antioxidant glutathione is inextricably linked to redox-active processes that facilitate melanin production and ultimately impact fungal survival and dissemination of disease. Building upon this, we developed a suite of genetic tools to quantify and manipulate cellular redox status and elucidate the overall impact of redox flux on pathogen adaptation to the host environment.