Role of inositol sensing and catabolism in Cryptococcus pathogenesis

Cryptococcus neoformans is a major fungal pathogen and the leading cause of fungal meningitis. Its disease mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our previous studies demonstrated the important role of inositol utilization in C. neoformans virulence, especially during the brain infection. We have recently identified an inositol sensor Itr4 and the inositol oxygenase proteins (Mio1, Mio2 and Mio3) that is essential to convert inositol to D-glucuronic acid. Both Itr4 and MIO proteins are required for fungal full virulence. Here we performed RNA-seq analysis to dissect genes involved in the inositol sensing and catabolism by comparing transcriptome profiles when C. neoformans grows on in vitro medium with or without 1% inositol. We will also compare the transcriptiomes in wild type strain H99 and its itr4 and mio deletion mutants under these different inositol conditions.