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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
PubMed

Insights

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.

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