alpha 1,3 Glucans Are Dispensable in Aspergillus fumigatus

A triple alpha 1,3 glucan synthase mutant of Aspergillus fumigatus obtained by successive deletions of the three alpha 1,3 glucan synthase genes (AGS1, AGS2, and AGS3) has a cell wall devoid of alpha 1,3 glucans. The lack of alpha 1,3 glucans affects neither conidial germination nor mycelial vegetative growth and is compensated by an increase in beta 1,3 glucan and/or chitin content.