Molecular mechanism of Aspergillus fumigatus adherence to host constituents

• Published in: Current opinion in microbiology Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 375 - 379
• Main Author: Sheppard, Donald C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: animal models; Animals; Aspergillus fumigatus; Aspergillus fumigatus - genetics; Aspergillus fumigatus - pathogenicity; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Adhesion; Cell Wall - metabolism; cell wall components; conidia; epithelial cells; extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungal proteins; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; fungi; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genes, Fungal; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Hyphae - growth & development; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis - microbiology; ligands; mannose; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mycology; Pathology; polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - genetics; Polysaccharides - metabolism; receptors; sialic acids; Spores, Fungal - growth & development; Spores, Fungal - pathogenicity; virulence; Fungi; Fungi Imperfecti; Review; Aspergillus fumigatus; Adhesion; Mechanism
• ISSN: 1369-5274; 1879-0364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2011.07.006

Highlights ► Adherence to host constituents is a key early step in the pathogenesis of invasive aspergillosis. ► Early studies focused on the identification of fungal proteins as adhesins. ► Recently fungal cell wall and secreted glycans have been implicated in adherence. ► Galactosaminogalactan, a component of the extracellular matrix mediates adherence.