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PAMPs of the Fungal Cell Wall and Mammalian PRRs

Remi Hatinguais1, Janet A Willment1, Gordon D Brown2

  • 1MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|March 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The immune system recognizes fungal pathogens using pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that bind to fungal cell wall components. This interaction is crucial for controlling fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fungi cause significant mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients.
  • The innate immune system, through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), recognizes fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).
  • Both innate and adaptive immunity are essential for controlling fungal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe mammalian PRRs that bind to fungal cell wall PAMPs.
  • To detail the functions and ligands of these key immune receptors.
  • To provide an overview of fungal pathogen recognition by the immune system.

Main Methods:

  • Focus on mammalian PRRs recognizing PAMPs from fungal cell walls.
  • Description of receptors, their functions, and ligands.
  • Review of immune response to four major fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pneumocystis jirovecii.

Main Results:

  • Mammalian PRRs identify PAMPs on the fungal cell wall.
  • PRR binding initiates pathogen internalization, killing, and inflammatory responses.
  • Immune recognition occurs at the interface of host immune cells and fungal pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding PRR-PAMP interactions is key to antifungal immunity.
  • This knowledge aids in developing strategies against life-threatening fungal infections.
  • The described receptors and their ligands are central to host defense against fungi.

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