Article
Microbiology
Tatsuro Hirayama, Taiga Miyazaki, Makoto Sumiyoshi, Nobuyuki Ashizawa, Takahiro Takazono, Kazuko Yamamoto, Yoshifumi Imamura, Koichi Izumikawa, Katsunori Yanagihara, Shigeru Kohno, Hiroshi Mukae
Summary: Experimental studies using mouse models have shown that the ERG3 gene in Candida albicans plays a crucial role in intestinal infection and colonization, affecting virulence and pathogenicity. The results suggest that the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway may be associated with C. albicans gut colonization and subsequent dissemination.
Review
Immunology
Pablo Mata-Martinez, Marta Bergon-Gutierrez, Carlos del Fresno
Summary: Dectin-1, a C-type lectin receptor, plays a crucial role in antifungal responses and immune memory. It recognizes various ligands and triggers different immune reactions. However, the underlying mechanisms of its involvement in trained immunity are not fully understood.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aina Mesquida, Ana Alvarez-Uria, Teresa Vicente, Patricia Munoz, Jesus Guinea, Pilar Escribano
Summary: Gastrointestinal colonization of Candida species is mainly monoclonal and dominated by one genotype.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanan Zhu, Tao Shi, Xia Lu, Zhen Xu, Junxing Qu, Zhiyong Zhang, Guoping Shi, Sunan Shen, Yayi Hou, Yugen Chen, Tingting Wang
Summary: Mice lacking Dectin-3 showed increased tumorigenesis and Candida albicans burden, leading to enhanced IL-22 production in innate lymphoid cells, highlighting the significance of commensal fungi in regulating host immunity and promoting tumorigenesis.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zewei Chen, Tengshuo Luo, Fengke Huang, Fuzhen Yang, Wenting Luo, Guanfeng Chen, Mengfei Cao, Fengyun Wang, Jun Zhang
Summary: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infectious disease caused by Candida species, and drug resistance is a growing problem. Chinese botanical medicine, such as Kangbainian lotion (KBN), has advantages in treating drug-resistant VVC and can improve patients' treatment outcomes and comfort.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mohammed J. A. Haider, Zahraa Albaqsumi, Fahd Al-Mulla, Rasheed Ahmad, Fatema Al-Rashed
Summary: This study evaluated the expression and function of Dectin-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from diabetic patients and found that Dectin-2 expression was significantly increased in the monocytes of diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic controls. The activation of Dectin-2 was associated with markers of glucose homeostasis and elevated levels of inflammatory markers in PBMCs from diabetic patients.
Article
Biology
Rohan P. Choraghe, Aaron K. Neumann
Summary: Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN collaborate to enhance the capture and retention of Candida albicans, with Dectin-1 playing a crucial role in promoting the recruitment of DC-SIGN to the contact site.
Article
Immunology
Sarit Cohen-Kedar, Efrat Shaham Barda, Keren Masha Rabinowitz, Danielle Keizer, Hanan Abu-Taha, Shoshana Schwartz, Kawsar Kaboub, Liran Baram, Eran Sadot, Ian White, Nir Wasserberg, Meirav Wolff-Bar, Adva Levy-Barda, Iris Dotan
Summary: This study discovered that human intestinal epithelial cells can phagocytose fungal particles containing beta-glucan through autophagy-associated processes. This mechanism contributes to the maintenance of mucosal tolerance towards commensal fungi.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jakob L. Sprague, Lydia Kasper, Bernhard Hube
Summary: This review focuses on the mechanisms of fungal translocation of Candida albicans from the intestine into the bloodstream that leads to systemic infections. It compares the differences between enteric bacterial pathogens and C. albicans, while discussing various hypotheses for how C. albicans enters and disseminates through the bloodstream following translocation.
Article
Microbiology
Chien-Hsiung Pan, Hsiu-Jung Lo, Jia-Ying Yan, Yu-Ju Hsiao, Jun-Wei Hsueh, Di-Wei Lin, Tsung-Han Lin, Sze-Hsien Wu, Yee-Chun Chen
Summary: This study established a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis developed through translocation of Candida from the gut, providing a new investigative tool for delineating the pathogenesis of C. albicans and its cross-talk with the gut microbiota. The model mimics the infection route of Candida and demonstrated features of gastrointestinal colonization and dissemination without interference from antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Norma V. Solis, Rohan S. Wakade, Virginia E. Glazier, Tomye L. Ollinger, Melanie Wellington, Aaron P. Mitchell, Scott G. Filler, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is a common infection that can cause mild or severe disease depending on the patient. The transcriptional regulation of C. albicans biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces is also involved in OPC, but the network characteristics and functional connections during infection are distinct from those observed in vitro.
Article
Microbiology
Norma Solis, Rohan S. Wakade, Virginia E. Glazier, Tomye L. Ollinger, Melanie Wellington, Aaron P. Mitchell, Scott G. Filler, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is a common infection that can range from mild to severe, depending on the patient. The transcriptional regulation of C. albicans biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces involves six key factors, some of which play roles in OPC infectivity in a mouse model. The relationship between fungal burden, hyphae morphogenesis, and infectivity is of significant research interest.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yuzhu Ge, Min Pan, Chuanfeng Zhang, Changzhong Wang, Kelong Ma, Guiming Yan, Tianming Wang, Daqiang Wu, Jing Shao
Summary: The study demonstrates that supplementing C. albicans exacerbates UC, while Paeonol (PAE) can relieve its adverse effects on colitis. PAE may act through the Dectin-1/NF-kappa B pathway in collaboration with TLR2 and TLR4 to treat fungal dysbiosis-associated UC.
Article
Immunology
Patrick K. Nuro-Gyina, Na Tang, Hui Guo, Chengkai Yan, Qiuming Zeng, Thomas J. Waldschmidt, Jian Zhang
Summary: The study revealed the essential role of Nedd4 in signaling through Dectin-1 and Dectin-2/3, with Nedd4-deficient mice showing increased susceptibility to systemic C. albicans infection. The molecular mechanisms involve impaired activation of TGF-beta-activating kinase-1 and NF-kappa B in macrophages lacking Nedd4, highlighting the regulatory role of Nedd4 in antifungal immunity.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Suresh Ambati, Tuyetnhu Pham, Zachary A. Lewis, Xiaorong Li, Richard B. Meagher
Summary: This study found that targeting antifungal drugs to fungal glycans can improve drug efficacy and reduce drug dosage, which is of great significance for various invasive fungal infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Katja Schaefer, Jeanette Wagener, Ryan M. Ames, Stella Christou, Donna M. MacCallum, Steven Bates, Neil A. R. Gow
Review
Microbiology
Man Shun Fu, Rebecca A. Drummond
Article
Microbiology
Xin Huang, Charlotte Hurabielle, Rebecca A. Drummond, Nicolas Bouladoux, Jigar Desai, Choon K. Sim, Yasmine Belkaid, Michail S. Lionakis, Julia A. Segre
Summary: The study found that Candida auris establishes long-term residence within the skin tissue compartment, evading clinical surveillance, and clades of C. auris from different geographical origins differ in their abilities to colonize murine skin. IL-17 receptor signaling and specific arms of immunity protect mice from long-term C. auris skin colonization, and chlorhexidine antiseptic serves as a protective and decolonizing agent against C. auris.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Brendan D. Snarr, Rebecca A. Drummond, Michail S. Lionakis
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dora E. Corzo-Leon, Mark Peacock, Patricia Rodriguez-Zulueta, Grace J. Salazar-Tamayo, Donna M. MacCallum
Summary: This study reports the first outbreak of invasive candidiasis in Mexico caused by azole-resistant C. parapsilosis associated with the Y132F substitution. It identified the genetic mutations leading to this resistance in several isolates of C. parapsilosis. Some of the isolates showed close relatedness within the same cluster based on microsatellite typing.
Article
Immunology
Dora E. Corzo-Leon, Donna M. MacCallum, Carol A. Munro
Summary: Malassezia species are important members of the normal mycobiota, colonizing sebum-rich skin regions and causing various infections. The study observed differences in skin responses to Malassezia sympodialis under oily and non-oily skin conditions, affecting the expression of immune-related genes and protein levels in the tissue.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Rebecca A. Drummond
Summary: Rebecca Drummond, working in the field of antifungal immunity, reflects on the impact of papers by Amit et al. and Ayres et al., introducing her to new concepts in immune system complexity.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Rebecca A. Drummond, Joshua J. Obar
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Soumya Palliyil, Mark Mawer, Sami A. Alawfi, Lily Fogg, Tyng H. Tan, Giuseppe Buda De Cesare, Louise A. Walker, Donna M. MacCallum, Andrew J. Porter, Carol A. Munro
Summary: This study describes the early-stage development of monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapies for fungal infections. The researchers successfully generated recombinant human antibodies targeting specific cell wall proteins in Candida albicans and demonstrated their potential therapeutic effects by enhancing phagocytosis. Animal models showed that the lead antibody achieved improved survival and reduced fungal burden, surpassing the therapeutic efficacy of any previously reported anti-Candida antibody.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rebecca A. Drummond, Jigar Desai, Emily E. Ricotta, Muthulekha Swamydas, Clay Deming, Sean Conlan, Mariam Quinones, Veronika Matei-Rascu, Lozan Sherif, David Lecky, Chyi-Chia R. Lee, Nathaniel M. Green, Nicholas Collins, Adrian M. Zelazny, D. Rebecca Prevots, David Bending, David Withers, Yasmine Belkaid, Julia A. Segre, Michail S. Lionakis
Summary: Antibiotics increase susceptibility to invasive candidiasis by impairing antifungal immunity and increasing the risk of systemic bacterial co-infection. Vancomycin has a similar effect by reducing the frequency of Th17 cells in the gut. In humans, antibiotics are associated with an increased risk of invasive candidiasis and death.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yasmin Ahmed, Melanie A. C. Ikeh, Donna M. MacCallum, Alison M. Day, Kevin Waldron, Janet Quinn
Summary: Polyphosphate mobilization plays a vital role in the pathobiology of Candida albicans, impacting processes such as activation of the Pho4 transcription factor, cell cycle progression, stress resistance, morphogenetic switching, and virulence. Blocking polyphosphate mobilization leads to significant morphological defects and attenuated virulence.
Review
Immunology
Sally H. H. Mohamed, Tinashe K. K. Nyazika, Kenneth Ssebambulidde, Michail S. S. Lionakis, David B. B. Meya, Rebecca A. A. Drummond
Summary: Cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of central nervous system fungal infections in humans, especially in Africa due to high HIV burden and limited access to antifungal treatments. The immune response to Cryptococcus neoformans is not fully understood, but CD4(+) T-cells producing IFN-gamma play a crucial role in fungal clearance.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Elizabeth R. Ballou, Rebecca A. Drummond
Summary: In this study, a fungal morphotype uniquely adapted for extrapulmonary dissemination was identified, contributing to invasive infection and evasion of host immune responses.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sally H. Mohamed, Man Shun Fu, Sofia Hain, Alanoud Alselami, Eliane Vanhoffelen, Yanjian Li, Ebrima Bojang, Robert Lukande, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Robin C. May, Chen Ding, Greetje Vande Velde, Rebecca A. Drummond
Summary: Microglia do not provide protection against Cryptococcus neoformans brain infection, but may act as a reservoir for early infection and a site for the fungus to access copper micronutrient.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rebecca A. Drummond, Jigar V. Desai, Amy P. Hsu, Vasileios Oikonomou, Donald C. Vinh, Joshua A. Acklin, Michael S. Abers, Magdalena A. Walkiewicz, Sarah L. Anzick, Muthulekha Swamydas, Simon Vautier, Mukil Natarajan, Andrew J. Oler, Daisuke Yamanaka, Katrin D. Mayer-Barber, Yoichiro Iwakura, David Bianchi, Brian Driscoll, Ken Hauck, Ahnika Kline, Nicholas S. P. Viall, Christa S. Zerbe, Elise M. N. Ferre, Monica M. Schmitt, Tom DiMaggio, Stefania Pittaluga, John A. Butman, Adrian M. Zelazny, Yvonne R. Shea, Cesar A. Arias, Cameron Ashbaugh, Maryam Mahmood, Zelalem Temesgen, Alexander G. Theofiles, Masayuki Nigo, Varsha Moudgal, Karen C. Bloch, Sean G. Kelly, M. Suzanne Whitworth, Ganesh Rao, Cindy J. Whitener, Neema Mafi, Juan Gea-Banacloche, Lawrence C. Kenyon, William R. Miller, Katia Boggian, Andrea Gilbert, Matthew Sincock, Alexandra F. Freeman, John E. Bennett, Rodrigo Hasbun, Constantinos M. Mikelis, Kyung J. Kwon-Chung, Yasmine Belkaid, Gordon D. Brown, Jean K. Lim, Douglas B. Kuhns, Steven M. Holland, Michail S. Lionakis
Summary: The study explores the immune protection mechanisms against subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by viral particles. The researchers found that CLEC7A gene mutations are associated with susceptibility to the disease. Animal experiments further confirmed the importance of this gene in immune defense against phaeohyphomycosis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)