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Dynamic Fungal Cell Wall Architecture in Stress Adaptation and Immune Evasion

Alex Hopke1, Alistair J P Brown2, Rebecca A Hall3

  • 1Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA; Current address: BioMEMS Resource Center, Division of Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Burns Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.

Trends in Microbiology
|February 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Opportunistic fungal infections are increasing due to immunocompromised populations. This review examines fungal cell wall dynamics, crucial for pathogenesis and therapy, and how stresses impact immune masking.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Rising frequency of deadly opportunistic fungal infections.
  • Advances in medicine and the HIV/AIDS pandemic contribute to increased at-risk immunocompromised populations.
  • The fungal polysaccharide cell wall is a key factor in pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dynamics of the fungal polysaccharide cell wall.
  • To explore its role as an environmental barrier and in host immune interaction.
  • To understand how cell wall architecture influences immune evasion and potential therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on fungal cell wall structure and dynamics.
  • Analysis of host-pathogen interactions and immune surveillance mechanisms.
  • Examination of signaling pathways regulating fungal immune recognition.

Main Results:

  • Fungal pathogens employ architectural strategies to mask epitopes and evade host immune surveillance.
  • Biotic and abiotic stresses during infection can modulate epitope masking, affecting immune recognition.
  • Signaling components regulating fungal immune recognition offer insights into cell wall dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding fungal cell wall dynamics is critical for combating opportunistic infections.
  • Fungal cell wall architecture and its response to stress are key determinants of pathogenesis.
  • Targeting cell wall regulation pathways presents potential for novel immunomodulatory therapies against fungal diseases.
Keywords:
cell wallevasionfungiglucaninnate immunity

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