Aspergillus lentulus是曲霉属烟曲霉组的新种，该菌致病性强，可引起免疫受损或非受损人群致命性感染，其致病机制不清楚。宿主对病原微生物的识别与应答高度依赖天然免疫系统，NLRP3炎症小体是该系统的重要组份 。以往研究证明NLRP3炎症小体在烟曲霉感染的应答中发挥重要作用。课题组前期研究也证实NLRP3参与皮肤癣菌感染的天然免疫反应。本项目在我们前期研究的基础上，研究A. lentulus可能的毒力因子与 NLRP3炎症小体相互作用的机理。A. lentulus 和烟曲霉是姐妹菌，因此有可能激活NLRP3，若不是通过NLRP3引起炎症反应，则有可能通过其他炎症小体引起炎症。本研究利用A. lentulus感染蜡螟模型，对其进行毒力评价；检测毒力形成的相关炎症因子和NLRP3的激活来揭示毒力的形成和强度是受NLRP3炎症小体调控。本研究有望对侵袭性曲霉病的防治提供新的理论依据。

Aspergillus Lentulus is new sibling species belonging to the section Aspergillus Fumigatus, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by A. lentulus is different from A. fumigatus that it can be fatal outcome to immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised patients. Pathogenesis of the A. lentulus is unclear. To study virulence and pathogenicity of A. lentulus, we will investigate the virulence, a number of factors supposedly involved in these pathogenesis processes to find out the relationship between virulence and the NLRP3 inflammasome.The Galleria mellonella as a model host to study virulence of A. lentulus and relatives species. G. Mellonella larvae’s survival time, body color and the damage degree of intestinal tissue cells were observed to evaluate the virulence.By detecting the level of IL-1β，the relevant inflammatory factors，and toxins to confirm formation of these virulence and the defense of host were regulated by NLRP3 but not others inflammasomes.Aim of this study is to find out pathogenicity and virulence of A. lentulus and the regulation ability of NLRP3 inflammasome in the process of infection and to control the invasive fungal disease provide theoretical basis.