An Atypical ABC Transporter Is Involved in Antifungal Resistance and Host Interactions in the Pathogenic Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Christopher J. Winski, Yuanyuan Qian, Shahriar Mobashery, Felipe H. Santiago‐Tirado
Abstract
Conserved across all kingdoms of life, ABC transporters comprise one of the largest protein families. They are associated with multidrug resistance, affecting aspects such as resistance to antimicrobials or anti-cancer drugs. Despite their importance, they are understudied in fungal pathogens. In the environmental fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, a leading cause of fungal infections, only a few ABC transporters have been studied. Here, we characterized an atypical, half-size, ABC transporter of the PDR-type, that affected both antifungal resistance and host-pathogen interactions. PDR-type transporters are only present in fungi and plants, and this subgroup of half-size transporters was conserved in fungal pathogens, yet their function was completely unknown. Because the current treatments for cryptococcal infection are suboptimal, understanding the mechanisms of antifungal resistance and the host interactions that drive the infection is critical to improving the management of this disease. Here, we provide insights into these important aspects of cryptococcal pathogenesis.