Reeves, Emer P. and Murphy, Thomas and Daly, Paul and Kavanagh, Kevin (2004) Amphotericin B enhances the synthesis and release of the immunosuppressive agent gliotoxin from the pulmonary pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 53. pp. 1-7.

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Abstract

Exposure of the pulmonary pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to amphotericin B alters membrane permeability as indicated by the escape of amino acids and protein from the mycelium. Amphotericin B exposure for periods of 2-4 h also leads to increased release of the immunosuppressive agent gliotoxin into the surrounding culture medium. Examination of the intracellular gliotoxin concentration following exposure to amphotericin B indicated elevated levels within the hyphae as well as in the culture medium - an effect which was also evident upon exposure of A. fumigatus to DMSO. These results indicate that in parallel with the ability of amphotericinBto act as a fungistatic agent it can also induce the synthesis of gliotoxin and facilitate its release by increasing the permeability of the fungal cell membrane. Increased synthesis of gliotoxin may result from the commencement of secondary metabolism in the presence of amphotericin B. The ability of amphotericin B to enhance the synthesis and release of gliotoxin may exacerbate the effects of the toxin and facilitate fungal invasion of pulmonary tissue.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Amphotericin B; gliotoxin; pulmonary pathogen;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	307
Depositing User:	Dr. Kevin Kavanagh
Date Deposited:	14 Jun 2006
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Medical Microbiology
Publisher:	American Society for Microbiology
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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