Penicillium marneffei is a pathogenic fungus that afflicts immunocompromised individuals who live or travel in Southeast Asia. This species is unique, because it is the only dimorphic member of the genus Penicillium. Dimorphism results from a process, termed phase transition, which is regulated by temperature of incubation. At room temperature, the fungus grows filamentously (mould phase), but at body temperature (37°C), a uninucleate yeast form develops that reproduces by fission. Formation of the yeast phase appears to be a requisite for pathogenicity. The dimorphic nature of P. marneffei has attracted investigators interested in not only understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of its unique mode of cellular development, but also for the identification of novel targets that might be exploited in the development of new chemotherapeutic modalities.
Authors
Additional information
- Category
- Publikacja monograficzna
- Type
- rozdział, artykuł w książce - dziele zbiorowym /podręczniku w języku o zasięgu międzynarodowym
- Language
- angielski
- Publication year
- 2013
