Dectin-1/CARD9-induction of the TFEB and TFE3 gene network is dispensable for phagocyte anti-Aspergillus activity in the lung.

Neutrophils play a crucial role in immunity against Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common etiologic agent of mold pneumonia worldwide. Phagocytes rapidly engulf A. fumigatus conidia in the lung to prevent germination and tissue damage. Phagosome maturation, including fusion with the lysosome, is a critical process in killing conidia but if this regulated at the transcriptional level remains unknown. To investigate the transcriptional response in neutrophils to fungal engagement, we compared the transcriptomes of lung neutrophils that were either bystanders or engaged with fungal cells. Sorted pulmonary neutrophils from mice infected with A. fumigatus for 24 hours. Neutrophils were sorted based on whether they were bystanders or fungus-engaged.