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Immune cells fold and damage fungal hyphae

Judith M Bain1, M Fernanda Alonso1, Delma S Childers1

  • 1Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, United Kingdom.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 20, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Macrophages counteract fungal infections by folding invasive Candida albicans hyphae. This immune mechanism, involving Dectin-1 and actin polymerization, promotes fungal clearance and inhibits pathogen growth.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Innate immunity is crucial for fighting fungal infections.
  • Fungal pathogens like Candida albicans can evade immune cells by forming hyphae.
  • Phagocytosis and killing of fungi by immune cells are essential for host defense.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate macrophage mechanisms for overcoming fungal hyphal evasion.
  • To understand how macrophages interact with and control Candida albicans growth.

Main Methods:

  • Live imaging of Candida albicans-macrophage interactions.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways involved in macrophage-fungal interactions.
  • Investigating the roles of Dectin-1, β2-integrin, VASP, and actin-myosin dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Macrophages can fold fungal hyphae to facilitate engulfment.
  • Hyphal folding is promoted by Dectin-1, β2-integrin, VASP, actin-myosin polymerization, and cell motility.
  • Hyphal folding inhibits fungal growth and aids in fungal clearance.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophage hyphal folding is a novel mechanism to combat Candida albicans.
  • This process enhances phagocytosis and limits fungal proliferation.
  • Immune cell strategies like hyphal folding are key to controlling fungal infections.
Keywords:
cytoskeletonfungal hyphaemacrophagesmechanical forcepodosomes

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