Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
08:48

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

Nutrient acquisition by pathogenic fungi: nutrient availability, pathway regulation, and differences in substrate

Christian B Fleck1, Felicitas Schöbel, Matthias Brock

  • 1Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany.

International Journal of Medical Microbiology : IJMM
|May 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Targeting microbial metabolism offers a route to new antimicrobial drugs. This review examines metabolic pathways in pathogenic fungi like Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, highlighting potential drug targets absent in humans.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Pathogenic microorganisms require host nutrients for survival.
  • Targeting essential metabolic pathways is a key strategy for developing new antimicrobial drugs.
  • Nutrient availability and pathogen strategies vary significantly across different host environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare key metabolic pathways in pathogenic fungi, focusing on Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.
  • To identify metabolic pathways essential for fungal survival during infection.
  • To highlight potential antifungal drug targets, particularly those absent in human metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of fungal metabolism during infection.
  • Comparative analysis of metabolic pathways in Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.
  • Identification of conserved and unique metabolic strategies.

Main Results:

  • Fungal pathogens utilize diverse strategies to acquire nutrients from hosts.
  • Metabolic pathway regulation differs based on the host niche and fungal species.
  • Several metabolic pathways, absent in humans, are crucial for fungal pathogens, representing potential drug targets.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding fungal-specific metabolic pathways is critical for antifungal drug development.
  • The complexity of nutrient acquisition and metabolic regulation poses challenges for identifying universally essential pathways.
  • Targeting unique fungal metabolic vulnerabilities offers a promising avenue for novel antimicrobial therapies.

More Related Videos

Non-invasive Imaging of Disseminated Candidiasis in Zebrafish Larvae10:45

Non-invasive Imaging of Disseminated Candidiasis in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: July 30, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation01:26

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...