Molecular Genetics Analysis of Arginine Biosynthetic Genes in The Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen mainly infecting immunocompromised patients. This dissertation addresses the role of arginine biosynthesis genes in the human fungal pathogen C. neoformans. Chapter One introduces and provides an overview of fungal infections and addressed the high burden of cryptococcal disease and the importance of the search for new alternatives for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. Chapter Two details a literature review of the role of amino acid metabolism in the virulence of human pathogenic fungi to determine if amino acid utilization is essential for the survival and infectivity of pathogenic fungi within the host. Chapter Three presents a molecular genetics analysis of arginine biosynthetic genes in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans by using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing techniques. Chapter Four presents an original bench research that evaluates the characterization of two genes of the acetate utilization mutants in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Chapter Five presents a summary of each of the chapters, conclusions, and recommendations for future research.