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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism
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Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2019) | Viewed by 22444

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Steffen Rupp

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: human fungal pathogens; host-pathogen interaction; next generation sequencing; proteomics methodologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases remain one of the most prevalent health threats worldwide. In the Western world especially opportunistic infections are on the rise. Particularly, in cases of immune deficiencies opportunistic fungal infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized patients, mostly due to inefficient diagnosis and treatment regimens. Notably, fungal diseases cause annual healthcare costs exceeding double-digit billions in USA and Europe. Hence, fungal infections represent a major socio-economic and clinical problem worldwide, and remain a high priority challenge for global healthcare provision.

Several new concepts for a better understanding and treatment of fungal disease have been developed recently. This includes a better understanding of the key mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction, both on the host and pathogen side. Particularly mechanisms of the innate immune system against fungal infections, as well as the immune evasion strategies of the fungal invader and the switch from a commensal behavior to invasive disease have been studied in great detail. In addition the role of the microbiome has been recognized and its function in the context of fungal disease has been analyzed recently. These studies have opened the door for new concepts in prevention and treatment of fungal infections. This is supported by the development of new diagnostic concepts based on Next Generation Sequencing technologies or novel biomarkers, which are currently in development for clinical application.

In this Special Issue of Microorganisms, we invite you to send contributions concerning all aspects related to molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction in fungal disease. This includes contributions to host mechanisms of defense, as well as fungal evasion strategies, including the microbiome and its effects on fungal colonization and disease development. New concepts in diagnostics of fungal disease and in the development of new antifungals are appreciated as well.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Rupp
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Opportunistic Fungal Infections
  • Host-pathogen interaction
  • Candida
  • Colonization
  • Cell wall
  • Virulence factors
  • Microbiome
  • Innate Immunity
  • Immune Receptors
  • Cytokines

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 2943 KiB  
Article
A Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor with Antifungal Activity against CTG clade Candida Species
by Michael Tscherner and Karl Kuchler
Microorganisms 2019, 7(7), 201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7070201 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2909
Abstract
Candida species represent one of the most frequent causes of hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised patient cohorts. Due to a very limited set of antifungals available and an increasing prevalence of drug resistance, the discovery of novel antifungal targets is essential. Targeting chromatin modifiers [...] Read more.
Candida species represent one of the most frequent causes of hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised patient cohorts. Due to a very limited set of antifungals available and an increasing prevalence of drug resistance, the discovery of novel antifungal targets is essential. Targeting chromatin modifiers as potential antifungal targets has gained attention recently, mainly due to their role in regulating virulence in Candida species. Here, we describe a novel activity for the histone acetyltransferase inhibitor Cyclopentylidene-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)hydrazone (CPTH2) as a specific inhibitor of CTG clade Candida species. Furthermore, we show that CPTH2 has fungicidal activity and protects macrophages from Candida-mediated death. Thus, this work could provide a starting point for the development of novel antifungals specific to CTG clade Candida species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism)
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19 pages, 2682 KiB  
Article
The Transcription Factor Sfp1 Regulates the Oxidative Stress Response in Candida albicans
by Shao-Yu Lee, Hsueh-Fen Chen, Ying-Chieh Yeh, Yao-Peng Xue and Chung-Yu Lan
Microorganisms 2019, 7(5), 131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7050131 - 14 May 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3737
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal that inhabits the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Because of the increasing immunocompromised population and the limited classes of antifungal drugs available, C. albicans has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen with high mortality rates. During infection [...] Read more.
Candida albicans is a commensal that inhabits the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Because of the increasing immunocompromised population and the limited classes of antifungal drugs available, C. albicans has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen with high mortality rates. During infection and therapy, C. albicans frequently encounters immune cells and antifungal drugs, many of which exert their antimicrobial activity by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, antioxidative capacity is important for the survival and pathogenesis of C. albicans. In this study, we characterized the roles of the zinc finger transcription factor Sfp1 in the oxidative stress response against C. albicans. A sfp1-deleted mutant was more resistant to oxidants and macrophage killing than wild-type C. albicans and processed an active oxidative stress response with the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Hog1 and high CAP1 expression. Moreover, the sfp1-deleted mutant exhibited high expression levels of antioxidant genes in response to oxidative stress, resulting in a higher total antioxidant capacity, glutathione content, and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity than the wild-type C. albicans. Finally, the sfp1-deleted mutant was resistant to macrophage killing and ROS-generating antifungal drugs. Together, our findings provide a new understanding of the complex regulatory machinery in the C. albicans oxidative stress response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism)
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Review

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29 pages, 1639 KiB  
Review
Pathogenetic Impact of Bacterial–Fungal Interactions
by Filomena Nogueira, Shirin Sharghi, Karl Kuchler and Thomas Lion
Microorganisms 2019, 7(10), 459; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7100459 - 16 Oct 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6470
Abstract
Polymicrobial infections are of paramount importance because of the potential severity of clinical manifestations, often associated with increased resistance to antimicrobial treatment. The intricate interplay with the host and the immune system, and the impact on microbiome imbalance, are of importance in this [...] Read more.
Polymicrobial infections are of paramount importance because of the potential severity of clinical manifestations, often associated with increased resistance to antimicrobial treatment. The intricate interplay with the host and the immune system, and the impact on microbiome imbalance, are of importance in this context. The equilibrium of microbiota in the human host is critical for preventing potential dysbiosis and the ensuing development of disease. Bacteria and fungi can communicate via signaling molecules, and produce metabolites and toxins capable of modulating the immune response or altering the efficacy of treatment. Most of the bacterial–fungal interactions described to date focus on the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and different bacteria. In this review, we discuss more than twenty different bacterial–fungal interactions involving several clinically important human pathogens. The interactions, which can be synergistic or antagonistic, both in vitro and in vivo, are addressed with a focus on the quorum-sensing molecules produced, the response of the immune system, and the impact on clinical outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism)
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22 pages, 1969 KiB  
Review
Candida glabrata: A Lot More Than Meets the Eye
by Kundan Kumar, Fizza Askari, Mahima Sagar Sahu and Rupinder Kaur
Microorganisms 2019, 7(2), 39; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms7020039 - 30 Jan 2019
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 8960
Abstract
Candida glabrata is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes superficial mucosal and life-threatening bloodstream infections in individuals with a compromised immune system. Evolutionarily, it is closer to the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than to the most prevalent Candida bloodstream pathogen, C. albicans [...] Read more.
Candida glabrata is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes superficial mucosal and life-threatening bloodstream infections in individuals with a compromised immune system. Evolutionarily, it is closer to the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than to the most prevalent Candida bloodstream pathogen, C. albicans. C. glabrata is a haploid budding yeast that predominantly reproduces clonally. In this review, we summarize interactions of C. glabrata with the host immune, epithelial and endothelial cells, and the ingenious strategies it deploys to acquire iron and phosphate from the external environment. We outline various attributes including cell surface-associated adhesins and aspartyl proteases, biofilm formation and stress response mechanisms, that contribute to the virulence of C. glabrata. We further discuss how, C. glabrata, despite lacking morphological switching and secreted proteolytic activity, is able to disarm macrophage, dampen the host inflammatory immune response and replicate intracellularly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Fungal Virulence and Commensalism)
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