Host-pathogen transcriptomics of Mucor circinelloides spores phagocytosed by mouse macrophages

Here, we have studied the first stage of this infection—the interaction of Mucor circinelloides spores with phagocytic cells—from an integrated transcriptomic and functional perspective. Our transcriptomic results showed that a relevant gene network is remodelled in response to phagocytosis, enriched in crucial functions to survive the phagosome, such as nutritional adaptation and response to oxidative stress. An additional transcriptomic analysis of atf1 and atf2 mutants unveiled the complex gene network of secondarily regulated genes involved in the response to phagocytosis. These new insights into the initial phase of mucormycosis define genetic regulators and molecular processes that could serve as pharmacological targets. Overall design: 24 samples are provided and analyzed, comprising 2 replicates (a and b) for each coculture interacting samples and each single culture, which are as follows: Mucor strain R7B cocultured with mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) for 5h, strain NRRL cocultured with mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) for 5h, wild-type control strain (R7B) cocultured with mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) for 5h, Mucor atf1 mutant cocultured with mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) for 5h, Mucor atf2 mutant cocultured with mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) for 5h, wild-type control strain (R7B) singlecultured in cell media for 5h, Mucor strain NRRL singlecultured in cell media for 5h, mouse macrophages (cell line J774A.1) singlecultured in cell media (4 replicates) for 5h, strain R7B singlecultured in MMC media for 24h, Mucor atf1 mutant singlecultured in MMC media for 24h, Mucor atf2 mutant singlecultured in MMC media for 24h. Libraries were prepared with Illumina TruSeq strand-specific mRNA kits and sequenced with an Illumina HiSeq 2500 system to generate 50-bp, first-strand (or reverse) and single-end reads.