The crucial role of the Aspergillus fumigatus siderophore system in interaction with alveolar macrophages

Iron plays a central role in manifestation of infections for a variety of pathogens To ensure an adequate supply with iron Aspergillus fumigatus employs extra- and intracellular siderophores (low-molecular mass iron chelators) which are of importance for fungal growth in particular during iron starvation Here we show that the lack of extracellular siderophores and especially, the lack of the entire siderophore system cause in immunosuppressed mice in vivo (i) a reduced extracellular growth rate, (ii) a reduced intracellular growth rate in alveolar macrophages and (m) an increased susceptibility to conidial growth inhibition by alveolar macrophages These data underline the crucial role of the fungal siderophore system not only for extracellular growth but also in the interaction with the host immune cells Moreover, the hyphal growth rate within alveolar macrophages compared to extracellular lavage fluid was significantly decreased indicating that besides elimination of fungal conidia inhibition of pathogenic growth is a function of macrophages (C) 2010 Institut Pasteur Published by Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved