Deciphering Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: From Cell Biology to Pathogenesis

Purpose of Review Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases, but their role in fungal virulence has only recently started to emerge. Here we summarize recent discoveries in this field and highlight areas where more research is urgently neede...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current clinical microbiology reports 2019-09, Vol.6 (3), p.89-97
Main Authors: Silva, Vanessa K. A., Rodrigues, Marcio L., May, Robin C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjuvants
Allergens
Antifungal agents
Biofilms
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cell interactions
Drug resistance
Extracellular vesicles
Fungi
Heat shock proteins
Immune system
Infectious diseases
Lipids
Medical Microbiology
Mycology (M Noverr
Pathogenesis
Pigments
Polysaccharides
Section Editor
Topical Collection on Mycology
Virulence
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Summary:Purpose of Review Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases, but their role in fungal virulence has only recently started to emerge. Here we summarize recent discoveries in this field and highlight areas where more research is urgently needed. Recent Findings In fungi, EVs carry a heterogenous molecular content including polysaccharides, lipids, allergens, heat-shock proteins (HSPs), enzymes, pigments, and RNAs. Many of these components have been shown to modulate the host immune system and to participate in biofilm production, drug resistance, cell communication, and virulence enhacement. However, the influence of EVs on the course of fungal disease remains elusive, primarily due to technical limitations. Nevertheless, there are many potential medical applications yet to be investigated, including the development of diagnostic tools, vaccine adjuvants, and design of antifungal agents. Summary Although at a very early stage, the field of fungal EVs is rapidly expanding and holds exciting potential to strongly impact on our understanding and treatment of this group of diseases.
ISSN:2196-5471
2196-5471
DOI:10.1007/s40588-019-00128-1