Control of morphogenesis in the human fungal pathogen Penicillium marneffei

Abstract

Fungal pathogens are an increasing threat to human health due to the increasing population of immunocompromised individuals and the increased incidence of treatment-derived infections. Penicillium marneffei is an emerging fungal pathogen endemic to South-east Asia, where it is AIDS defining. Like many other fungal pathogens, P. marneffei is capable of alternating between a filamentous and a yeast growth form, known as dimorphic switching, in response to environmental stimuli. P. marneffei grows in the filamentous form at 25°C and in the yeast form at 37°C. During filamentous growth and in response to environmental cues, P. marneffei undergoes asexual development to form complex multicellular..