Integrative phenotypic and transcriptomic validation of an alveolar-like macrophage model reveals early host-pathogen dynamics during Aspergillus fumigatus infection

The saprophytic mold Aspergillus fumigatus produces small (2-3 {micro}m) airborne spores (conidia) that can reach the lung alveoli upon inhalation. There, they encounter the surfactant-rich environment of the alveolar epithelium and initiate swelling and germination. Primary alveolar macrophages are essential for the rapid clearance of conidia and maintenance of pulmonary homeostasis. However, A. fumigatus remains the leading cause of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients, and the mechanisms governing fungal clearance versus invasion remain poorly understood. In this study, we adapted a previously established monocyte-derived alveolar-like macrophage (ALM) model to i