The protein phosphatase PhzA of A. fumigatus is involved in oxidative stress tolerance and fungal virulence

• Protein phosphatases Z are unique to the fungal kingdom.
• In A. fumigatus, PhzA is involved in the control of oxidative stress.
• The ΔphzA mutant showed an increased susceptibility to killing by the neutrophils.
• The ΔphzA mutant displayed a defect in virulence in a model of corneal infection.

Protein phosphatases Z that are unique to the fungal kingdom have been associated to resistance to high salt concentration, cell wall integrity, cell cycle regulation, and oxidative stress in fungi. In Aspergillus fumigatus, it was shown that PHZA is under the control of the transcription factor Skn7 and is only involved in the control of the oxidative stress. Accordingly, the ΔphzA mutant showed a defect in virulence in an experimental model of corneal infection in immunocompetent animals and that the impact on susceptibility to cell wall drugs is only secondary.