{"title":"Biology and function of exo-polysaccharides from human fungal pathogens.","authors":"Krystal Y Chung, Jessica C S Brown","doi":"10.1007/s40588-020-00137-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Environmental fungi such as <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> must survive many different and changing environments as they transition from their environmental niches to human lungs and other organs. Fungi alter their cell surfaces and secreted macromolecules to respond to and manipulate their surroundings.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>This review focuses on exo-polysaccharides, chains of sugars that transported out of the cell and spread to the local environment. Major exo-polysaccharides for <i>C. neoformans</i> and <i>A. fumigatus</i> are glucuronylxylomannan (GXM) and galactosaminogalactan (GAG), respectively, which accumulate at high concentrations in growth medium and infected patients.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Here we discuss GXM and GAG synthesis and export, their immunomodulatory properties, and their roles in biofilm formation. We also propose areas of future research to address outstanding questions in the field that could facilitate development of new disease treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":45506,"journal":{"name":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2020-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40588-020-00137-5","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40588-020-00137-5","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2020/1/17 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
Purpose of review: Environmental fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus must survive many different and changing environments as they transition from their environmental niches to human lungs and other organs. Fungi alter their cell surfaces and secreted macromolecules to respond to and manipulate their surroundings.
Recent findings: This review focuses on exo-polysaccharides, chains of sugars that transported out of the cell and spread to the local environment. Major exo-polysaccharides for C. neoformans and A. fumigatus are glucuronylxylomannan (GXM) and galactosaminogalactan (GAG), respectively, which accumulate at high concentrations in growth medium and infected patients.
Summary: Here we discuss GXM and GAG synthesis and export, their immunomodulatory properties, and their roles in biofilm formation. We also propose areas of future research to address outstanding questions in the field that could facilitate development of new disease treatments.
期刊介绍:
Current Clinical Microbiology Reports commissions expert reviews from leading scientists at the forefront of research in microbiology. The journal covers this broad field by dividing it into four key main areas of study: virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and mycology. Within each of the four sections, experts from around the world address important aspects of clinical microbiology such as immunology, diagnostics, therapeutics, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and vaccines. Some of the world’s foremost authorities in the field of microbiology serve as section editors and editorial board members. Section editors select topics for which leading researchers are invited to contribute comprehensive review articles that emphasize new developments and recently published papers of major importance, which are highlighted in annotated reference lists. These timely reviews of the literature examine the latest scientific discoveries and controversies as they emerge and are indispensable to both researchers and clinicians. The editorial board, composed of more than 20 internationally diverse members, reviews the annual table of contents, ensures that topics address all aspects of emerging research, and where applicable suggests topics of critical importance to various countries/regions.