ABSTRACT
Dectin-1 is an essential innate immune receptor that recognizes β-glucans in fungal cell walls. Its importance is underscored by the mechanisms that fungal pathogens have evolved to avoid detection by this receptor. One such pathogen is
Histoplasma capsulatum
, and in a recent article in
mBio
, Rappleye’s group presented data showing that yeasts of this organism secrete a β-glucanase, Eng1, which acts to prune β-glucans that are exposed on the fungal cell surface [A. L. Garfoot et al., mBio 7(2):e01388-15, 2016,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01388-15
]. The trimming of these sugars reduces immune recognition through Dectin-1 and subsequent inflammatory responses, enhancing the pathogenesis of
H. capsulatum
.
Flying under the radar: Histoplasma capsulatum avoidance of innate immune recognition
