Fungal Extracellular Vesicles in Pathophysiology.

Fungal pathogens are a concern in medicine and agriculture that has been exacerbated by the emergence of antifungal-resistant varieties that severely threaten human and animal health, as well as food security. This had led to the search for new and sustainable treatments for fungal diseases. Innovative solutions require a deeper understanding of the interactions between fungal pathogens and their hosts, and the key determinants of fungal virulence. Recently, a link has emerged between the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and fungal virulence that may contribute to finding new methods for fungal control. Fungal EVs carry pigments, carbohydrates, protein, nucleic acids and other macromolecules with similar functions as those found in EVs from other organisms, however certain fungal features, such as the fungal cell wall, impact EV release and cargo. Fungal EVs modulate immune responses in the host, have a role in cell-cell communication and transport molecules that function in virulence. Understanding the function of fungal EVs will expand our knowledge of host-pathogen interactions and may provide new and specific targets for antifungal drugs and agrichemicals.