Global Reprogramming of Host Kinase Signaling in Response to Fungal Infection

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is a deadly fungal pathogen whose intracellular lifestyle is important for virulence. Host mechanisms controlling fungal phagocytosis and replication remain obscure. Here, we perform a global phosphoproteomic analysis of the host response to Cryptococcus infection. Our analysis reveals numerous and diverse host proteins that are differentially phosphorylated following fungal ingestion by macrophages, thereby indicating global reprogramming of host kinase signaling. Notably, phagocytosis of the pathogen activates the host autophagy initiation complex (AIC) and the upstream regulatory components LKB1 and AMPKα, which regulate autophagy induction through their kinase activities. Deletion of Prkaa1, the gene encoding AMPKα1, in monocytes results in resistance to fungal colonization of mice. Finally, the recruitment of AIC components to nascent Cryptococcus-containing vacuoles (CnCVs) regulates the intracellular trafficking and replication of the pathogen. These findings demonstrate that host AIC regulatory networks confer susceptibility to infection and establish a proteomic resource for elucidating host mechanisms that regulate fungal intracellular parasitism. [Display omitted] •C. neoformans infection results in global reprogramming of host cell kinase cascades•The host autophagy initiation complex confers susceptibility to fungal infection•Recruitment of autophagy initiation components to phagosomes promotes fungal uptake•Host AMPKα confers susceptibility to fungal infection in a murine cryptococcosis model Cryptococcus neoformans is a deadly fungal pathogen whose intracellular lifestyle is critical for virulence. Pandey et al. perform a global phosphoproteomic analysis of the host response to C. neoformans infection and reveal that the host autophagy initiation complex regulates intracellular parasitism.