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Black yeasts and their filamentous relatives: principles of pathogenesis and host defense

Seyedmojtaba Seyedmousavi1, Mihai G Netea2, Johan W Mouton3

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran S.Seyedmousavi@gmail.com.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|July 2, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Melanized fungi, or "black yeasts," cause severe infections. Understanding their virulence factors and host immune responses is crucial for developing effective treatments against these challenging fungal diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Melanized fungi, including
  • black yeasts
  • and related filamentous species, are significant etiological agents of severe human and animal infections such as phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma.
  • Pathogenicity and virulence can vary considerably even among closely related species.
  • Key virulence factors may include melanin, carotene, thick cell walls, meristematic growth, yeast-like phases, thermo- and osmotolerance, adhesion, hydrophobicity, aromatic hydrocarbon assimilation, and siderophore production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the pathogenesis of infections caused by melanized fungi.
  • To explore host defense mechanisms against these fungi.
  • To highlight the importance of in vitro susceptibility testing for guiding treatment protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on melanized fungi pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of host immune responses, including innate and T-cell-mediated immunity.
  • Discussion of factors influencing disease severity, chronicity, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Host defense primarily involves innate immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages.
  • T-cell responses, particularly elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) and low gamma interferon (IFN-γ) levels, are associated with detrimental outcomes.
  • Lack of standardized therapies necessitates individualized in vitro susceptibility testing.

Conclusions:

  • Melanized fungi present complex challenges in human and animal health due to diverse virulence factors and host immune interactions.
  • Effective management requires a thorough understanding of fungal pathogenesis and host responses.
  • Personalized treatment strategies based on fungal isolate susceptibility are essential for successful disease control and prevention.

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