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A two-way road: novel roles for fungal extracellular vesicles

Marcio L Rodrigues1,2, Arturo Casadevall3

  • 1Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil.

Molecular Microbiology
|August 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Fungal cells can internalize extracellular vesicles (EVs), impacting their physiology and virulence. This discovery reveals novel bidirectional transport mechanisms for fungal EVs, opening new research avenues.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) were traditionally viewed as mediators of molecular export and transport across the cell wall.
  • The capacity of fungal cells to internalize EVs was largely unexplored, limiting understanding of EV functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the novel concept of fungal cell internalization of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
  • To discuss the physiological and pathological implications of EV uptake in fungi.
  • To highlight emerging mechanisms of bidirectional transport involving fungal EVs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on fungal EV internalization.
  • Analysis of experimental evidence detailing the effects of EV uptake on fungal physiology.
  • Case studies illustrating EV-mediated effects in phytopathogenic fungi, yeast, and Cryptococcus gattii.

Main Results:

  • Fungal cells actively internalize host-derived and fungal EVs, significantly altering their physiology.
  • Uptake of plant EVs by phytopathogenic fungi leads to impaired growth and reduced virulence.
  • EV internalization influences prion transmission and biofilm formation in yeast, and mediates virulence transfer in Cryptococcus gattii.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal EV functions are mediated by previously unrecognized bidirectional transport mechanisms.
  • EV internalization represents a critical, yet underappreciated, aspect of fungal-host interactions.
  • This paradigm shift opens new avenues for investigating the role of EVs in fungal biology and pathogenesis.

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