Immunity to Invasive Fungal Diseases

2022 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Casadevall

Invasive fungal diseases are rare in individuals with intact immunity. This, together with the fact that there are only a few species that account for most mycotic diseases, implies a remarkable natural resistance to pathogenic fungi. Mammalian immunity to fungi rests on two pillars, powerful immune mechanisms and elevated temperatures that create a thermal restriction zone for most fungal species. Conditions associated with increased susceptibility generally reflect major disturbances of immune function involving both the cellular and humoral innate and adaptive arms, which implies considerable redundancy in host defense mechanisms against fungi. In general, tissue fungal invasion is controlled through either neutrophil or granulomatous inflammation, depending on the fungal species. Neutrophils are critical against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. while macrophages are essential for controlling mycoses due to Cryptococcus spp., Histoplasma spp., and other fungi. The increasing number of immunocompromised patients together with climate change could significantly increase the prevalence of fungal diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology, Volume 40 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livia Liporagi-Lopes ◽  
Hany F. Sobhi ◽  
Lee J. Silverberg ◽  
Radames J.B. Cordero ◽  
Arturo Casadevall

ABSTRACTInvasive fungal diseases are prevalent in immunocompromised individuals in whom current therapies often provide suboptimal results. Additionally, the increased resistance to the available antifungal drugs necessitates a search for new compounds. This study reports the antifungal activity of six 5-, 6-, and 7-membered 2,3-diphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiaza-4-ones against Lomentospora prolificans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Our data showed that some of the compounds tested had a low MIC and damage on the cell surface of the tested fungal species.


Author(s):  
Surendra Kumar Makineni ◽  
Mahander Pratap Singh ◽  
Kamanio Chattopadhyay

Co base superalloys strengthened by coherent L12 ordered γ′ precipitate in a disordered face-centered cubic γ matrix represent a new opportunity for high-temperature alloy development. The emergence of alloys with low density and high specific yield strength at elevated temperatures has further energized the research and development efforts in the last 5 years. Initially stabilized by the addition of small amounts of Nb and Ta, these new generations of alloys with multiple alloying additions to form basic quaternary and ternary alloys have steadily expanded the property envelopes to raise hope for a modern class of superalloys with higher-temperature capabilities. This article reviews the work of a vibrant set of researchers across the globe whose findings are constantly unlocking the potential of these alloys. These developments have achieved high-temperature strength (at 870°C) >0.6 GPa, γ′ solvus temperature exceeding 1,100°C, and densities between 7.8 and 8.6 g/cm3. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Materials Science, Volume 51 is August 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary P. Munkvold ◽  
Robert H. Proctor ◽  
Antonio Moretti

Fusarium is one of the most important genera of plant-pathogenic fungi in the world and arguably the world's most important mycotoxin-producing genus. Fusarium species produce a staggering array of toxic metabolites that contribute to plant disease and mycotoxicoses in humans and other animals. A thorough understanding of the mycotoxin potential of individual species is crucial for assessing the toxicological risks associated with Fusarium diseases. There are thousands of reports of mycotoxin production by various species, and there have been numerous attempts to summarize them. These efforts have been complicated by competing classification systems based on morphology, sexual compatibility, and phylogenetic relationships. The current depth of knowledge of Fusarium genomes and mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways provides insights into how mycotoxin production is distributed among species and multispecies lineages (species complexes) in the genus as well as opportunities to clarify and predict mycotoxin risks connected with known and newly described species. Here, we summarize mycotoxin production in the genus Fusarium and how mycotoxin risk aligns with current phylogenetic species concepts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Phytopathology, Volume 59 is August 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


Author(s):  
Enrique Monte ◽  
Rosa Hermosa ◽  
María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco ◽  
Rafael M. Jiménez-Díaz

Abstract Precise naming of a species is very important for phytopathogenic fungi because names may carry key information for the management of the fungal diseases. Naming fungal species based on morphological traits or biological properties is outdated and unreliable. This chapter provides the classification of some plant pathogenic fungi including Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Verticillum based on morphological, pathogenicity, molecular and phylogenetic analysis. Debate on species identification is no longer a question of being in favour of 'splitters' rather than of 'lumpers', but defining phytopathogenic species is particularly complicated and requires further consideration of subspecific categorizations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuyun Tian ◽  
Hao Ding ◽  
Weixin Ke ◽  
Linqi Wang

Quorum sensing (QS) is one of the most studied cell-cell communication mechanisms in fungi. Research in the last 20 years has explored various fungal QS systems that are involved in a wide range of biological processes, especially eukaryote- or fungus-specific behaviors, mirroring the significant contribution of QS regulation to fungal biology and evolution. Based on recent progress, we summarize in this review fungal QS regulation, with an emphasis on its functional role in behaviors unique to fungi or eukaryotes. We suggest that using fungi as genetically amenable eukaryotic model systems to address why and how QS regulation is integrated into eukaryotic reproductive strategies and molecular or cellular processes could be an important direction for QS research. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


Mycoses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 485-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco M. Marty ◽  
Oliver A. Cornely ◽  
Kathleen M. Mullane ◽  
Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner ◽  
Rochelle M. Maher ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wende Liu ◽  
Lindsay Triplett ◽  
Xiao-Lin Chen

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) play crucial roles in regulating protein function and thereby control many cellular processes and biological phenotypes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Several recent studies illustrate how plant fungal and bacterial pathogens use these PTMs to facilitate development, stress response, and host infection. In this review, we discuss PTMs that have key roles in the biological and infection processes of plant-pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The emerging roles of PTMs during pathogen–plant interactions are highlighted. We also summarize traditional tools and emerging proteomics approaches for PTM research. These discoveries open new avenues for investigating the fundamental infection mechanisms of plant pathogens and the discovery of novel strategies for plant disease control. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Phytopathology, Volume 59 is August 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Akhtar ◽  
Rabia Ayoubi ◽  
Vinaypreet Kour ◽  
Umesh Goutam ◽  
M. Amin-ul Mannan

Abstract: Fungal diseases cause more deaths as compared to combined deaths due to malaria and tuberculosis. There are around 3.8 million fungal species, but only about 300 of them are pathogenic to humans. Invasive fungal diseases are majorly caused by Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Mucorales, and Pneumocystis. It has been estimated that around 1.5 million people die because of these infections across the globe. The emergence of resistance against the major classes of antifungal drugs poses a serious threat to public health. Moreover, the commonly used antifungal drugs are loaded with side effects. Some of them are nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, cause cardiomyopathy, and in acute cases, cytotoxicity. Hence, it is important to seek novel molecules that can be safe and effective antifungal drugs. Naturally occurring molecules in plants and various microorganisms can be a safe and effective alternative to the existing antifungal drugs. In this review, the role of various phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and phenols as potential antifungal agents has been discussed. Similarly, naturally occurring molecules in other microorganisms like algae, bacteria, and various other fungi have been summarized. The information discussed in this review can be useful in the identification of novel antifungals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faturrachman Faturrachman ◽  
Yanti Mulyana

Fungus easily grows in the plateau area with warm moist air. The fungus can enter and contaminate mosque rooms, especially on the surface of prayer rugs. If pathogenic fungi grow on prayer rugs, they can increase the health risk of those who come into contact with them. This research aimed to detect and identify pathogenic fungi on prayer rugs of the mosques in Jatinangor campus of Universitas Padjadjaran using laboratoric descriptive method. The data was collected by sampling of dust from the surface of prayer rugs, fungal culturing and mold identification. The existence of pathogenic fungi has been investigated and observed in twenty-eight samples of thirty mosques using simple random sampling. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar was the chosen medium to grow pathogenic fungi. We found fungal growth in all samples with a total of 8 fungal species (Alternaria spp, Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Fonsecaea spp, Mucor spp, Penicillium spp, Rhizopus spp, Rhodotorula spp) which are opportunistic fungi; however, no pathogenic fungi were found.Keywords : pathogenic fungi, prayer rugs, fungus, Aspergillus spp., Candida spp.


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