Unravelling cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis in pathogenic zygomycetes

该项目旨在确定控制米根霉细胞壁组成和稳定性的机制，米根霉是一种接合菌真菌，负责危及生命的人类感染。新发现的细胞壁多糖生物合成途径中涉及的重要酶的生化特性和功能将在生物化学，微生物学，细胞生物学和结构生物学的界面上使用创新的方法来确定。预期的结果包括合成主要聚焦型碳水化合物的酶的新知识，以指导未来抗真菌治疗新策略的发展。这些数据也将适用于相关接合菌病原体的动物保护。

This project aims to define mechanisms that control cell wall composition and stability in Rhizopus oryzae, a zygomycete fungus responsible for life-threatening human infections. The biochemical properties and function of vital enzymes involved in a newly discovered cell wall polysaccharide biosynthetic pathway will be determined using innovative approaches at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology and structural biology. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the enzymes that synthesise major fucose-based carbohydrates, to guide the future development of novel strategies for antifungal therapies. The data will also be applicable to animal protection from related zygomycete pathogens.