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[Blood coagulation in domestic deep-seated mycoses]
Maria Ntefidou1, Christine Elsner, Annette Spreer
1St. Vincentius-Kliniken Karlsruhe, Germany.
Mycoses
|June 21, 2002
Summary
Invasive fungal infections can activate blood coagulation, leading to thrombi and tissue damage. A fungal enzyme, subtilisin-like proteinase (Arp), triggers severe coagulation in mucormycosis by affecting fibrinogen and antithrombin III.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Invasive fungal infections, such as candidosis, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis, can significantly impact blood coagulation.
- Thrombus formation and septic embolism are observed during vascular invasion by Candida and aspergilli.
- Mucormycosis is characterized by regular thrombotic occlusion and tissue necrosis.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which fungal pathogens activate blood coagulation.
- To investigate the role of fungal proteinases in coagulation disorders during mycoses.
- To discuss recent findings on the action of fungal subtilisin-like proteinase (Arp) in mucormycosis.
Summary:
- Fungal secreted aspartic proteinases can activate factor X in candidosis and aspergillosis.
- In mucormycosis, extracellular fungal subtilisin-like proteinase (Arp) causes severe coagulation via fibrinogen paracoagulation.
- Arp also inactivates antithrombin III, a key inhibitor of blood coagulation.
Impact:
- Understanding these fungal-induced coagulation pathways is crucial for managing invasive mycoses.
- This research highlights potential therapeutic targets for preventing thrombotic complications in fungal infections.
- The findings contribute to the knowledge of host-pathogen interactions in life-threatening fungal diseases.