for Investigating Chitosan as an Antifungal and Gene Modulator.

Chitosan is a biopolymer with a wide range of applications. The use of chitosan in clinical medicine to control infections by fungal pathogens such as spp. is one of its most promising applications in view of the reduced number of antifungals available. Chitosan increases intracellular oxidative stress, then permeabilizes the plasma membrane of sensitive filamentous fungus and yeast. Transcriptomics reveals plasma membrane homeostasis and oxidative metabolism genes as key players in the response of fungi to chitosan. A lipase and a monosaccharide transporter, both inner plasma membrane proteins, and a glutathione transferase are main chitosan targets in Biocontrol fungi such as have a low content of polyunsaturated free fatty acids in their plasma membranes and are resistant to chitosan. Genome sequencing of reveals a wide gene machinery to degrade and assimilate chitosan. Chitosan increases sporulation and enhances parasitism of plant parasitic nematodes by the fungus. studies allow understanding the mode of action of chitosan and help its development as an antifungal and gene modulator.