RNA-Seq analysis of gene expression changes by wildtype and Nlrx1 deficient BEAS-2B airway epithelial cells in response to A. fumigatus viable conidia

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of the respiratory system that may cause invasive infection or an allergic response. Bronchial airway epithelial cells compromise the most abundant cell type of the pulmonary-air interface. Our recent findings suggest loss of Nlrx1 by BEAS-2B airway epithelial cells result in a hyper inflammatory response as well as decreased conidial processing. We challenged wildtype Nlrx1 deficient BEAS-2B cells with viable A. fumigatus AF293 conidia to identify early response differentially expressed genes and pathways between the two cell populations. Wildtype and Nlrx1 deficient BEAS-2B cells were challenged with viable Aspergillus fumigatus conidia for 0 and 3 hours. Total RNA was extracted prior to challenge (0 hrs) and 3 hours post challenge.