The protein phosphatase PhzA of A. fumigatus is involved in oxidative stress tolerance and fungal virulence

Abstract Protein phosphatases Z that are unique to the fungal kingdom have been associated to resistance to high salt concentration, cell wall integrity, cell cycle regulation, and oxidative stress in fungi. In Aspergillus fumigatus, it was shown that PHZA is under the control of the transcription factor Skn7 and is only involved in the control of the oxidative stress. Accordingly, the Δ phzA mutant showed a defect in virulence in an experimental model of corneal infection in immunocompetent animals and that the impact on susceptibility to cell wall drugs is only secondary.