Airborne Bacterial Volatiles stimulate Fungal Growth

Scientists from the team led by Jean-Paul Latgé, Director of the Aspergillus Unit at the Institut Pasteur, have discovered a new communication pathway between two pathogens that colonize the same ecological niche and are both involved in acute pulmonary pathologies, particularly in patients with cystic fibrosis (the most common genetic disease in Europe).

The scientists demonstrated that the Aspergillus fumigatus fungus was able to feed on volatile organic compounds released by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium. The volatile organic compound produced by the bacteria which was mainly responsible for stimulating fungal growth was identified as dimethyl sulfide. By ingesting this compound, A. fumigatus, which relies on sulfur for its vegetative growth, can compensate for the lack of free sulfur in the pulmonary environment.

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