Temperature during conidiophore development primes Aspergillus fumigatus spore transcriptome for asexual or sexual reproduction.

Temperature during late-stage conidiophore development in Aspergillus fumigatus determines whether conidia are primed for asexual or sexual reproduction, with 37°C favoring asexual and 50°C favoring sexual pathways.

• Why it matters: Understanding how environmental temperature influences spore development is crucial because it affects the pathogen's survival strategies and potential for antifungal resistance, especially in agricultural settings where temperature varies widely.
• What they did: The study used flow cytometry and transcriptomics to analyze gene expression and morphology in A. fumigatus during asexual development at 37°C or 50°C, focusing on late-stage conidiophore development.
• The result: Findings show that temperature during this window upregulates brlA at 37°C, promoting asexual development, while at 50°C, MAT1-1-1 is upregulated, priming spores for sexual development, which may enhance survival and resistance evolution.