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Post-Translational Modifications Drive Success and Failure of Fungal-Host Interactions

Charmaine Retanal1, Brianna Ball1, Jennifer Geddes-McAlister1

  • 1Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.

Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial for fungal pathogens like Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus to survive infections. Understanding these protein changes offers new therapeutic targets against deadly fungal diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein function and biological processes.
  • Fungal pathogens utilize PTMs to modulate virulence, host interactions, and survival during infection.
  • Emerging antifungal resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical roles of PTMs in medically relevant fungal pathogens (Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus).
  • To explore PTM involvement in fungal stress response, host adaptation, and immune evasion.
  • To highlight the significance of PTMs in antifungal resistance and identify therapeutic opportunities.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on PTMs in Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus.
  • Analysis of PTMs' roles in fungal pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
  • Critical evaluation of current knowledge and identification of research gaps.

Main Results:

  • PTMs like phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination are key to fungal virulence and survival.
  • Fungal PTMs are essential for adapting to host environments and evading immune responses.
  • PTMs contribute significantly to the development of antifungal resistance.

Conclusions:

  • PTMs are vital for fungal pathogen success and represent promising targets for new antifungal therapies.
  • Further research into fungal PTMs is crucial for developing effective treatments against invasive fungal infections.
  • Targeting PTMs could overcome existing antifungal resistance mechanisms.
Keywords:
anti-virulenceantifungal resistancefungal pathogenesishost–pathogen interactionspost-translational modificationsvirulence

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