Journal Article

Conidial surface proteins at the interface of fungal infections

Kniemeyer, Olaf, Brakhage, Axel A., Blango, Matthew G.

2019

Overview

Another important protein on the surface of A. fumigatus conidia is the Mep1p metalloprotease, which is released from spores in the mammalian lung to cleave host complement proteins and enhance infection, similar to the Alp1p serine protease released from mycelia for the same purpose [44]. In particular, detection of fungal conidia from environmental samples might provide an early warning to those suffering from lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in which patients show a heightened susceptibility to allergic exacerbations due to fungal sensitization [46]. [...]conidial surface proteins play an integral role at the interface between normal fungal function and pathogenesis while offering a wealth of potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. Levdansky E, Kashi O, Sharon H, Shadkchan Y, Osherov N. The Aspergillus fumigatus cspA gene encoding a repeat-rich cell wall protein is important for normal conidial cell wall architecture and interaction with host cells.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Antifungal agents / Asthma / Biology and Life Sciences / Biomarkers / Causes of / Cell walls / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Conidia / Development and progression / Ecosystems / Flowers & plants / Fungal infections / Fungal Proteins - metabolism / Fungi / Health aspects / Humans / Identification and classification / Infections / Lung diseases / Lungs / Medicine and Health Sciences / Membrane Proteins - metabolism / Metalloproteinase / Microorganisms / Mycelia / Mycoses / Mycoses - metabolism / Mycoses - pathology / Obstructive lung disease / Pathogenesis / Pearls / Physical Sciences / Proteins / Seeds / Serine / Serine proteinase / Spores / Spores, Fungal - metabolism / Spores, Fungal - physiology / Therapeutic applications / Viral proteins