![]() Zinc, an essential divalent micronutrient, is the second most abundant transition metal in organisms after iron and is involved in many cellular processes. Our data suggest that HcZrt2 is a vital part of zinc homeostasis and essential for the pathogenesis of histoplasmosis. Sixty-seven percent of mice infected with a lethal dose of HcZrt2-RNAi#1 survived, and 100% of mice infected with HcZrt2-RNAi#2 withstood lethal infection. Fungal burden was reduced in mice infected with HcZrt2 silenced strains compared to a control strain. Gene silencing revealed that HcZrt2 is essential for growth in zinc deficient medium and plays a role in zinc accumulation. Complementation analysis demonstrated HcZrt2's ability to functionally replace the characterized Saccharomyces cerevisiae zinc plasma membrane transporters Zrt1 and Zrt2 in zinc deficient medium. In this study we functionally analyzed a putative zinc regulated transporter, HcZrt2, in zinc limiting conditions by complementation of HcZrt2 and gene knockdown through RNA interference (RNAi). ![]() Yeast encounter a restrictive host environment low in nutrients such as zinc. ![]() Histoplasma capsulatum ( Hc) exists in the soil and is capable of adapting to the shift in environment during infection to ensure survival. ![]()
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