La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Incannex, Melbourne, Australia.
Subcell Biochem. 2021;97:151-177. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-67171-6_7.
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.
真菌病原体是医学和农业领域的一个关注点，抗真菌耐药品种的出现使这一问题更加严重，严重威胁着人类和动物的健康以及粮食安全。这导致人们寻求新的和可持续的真菌病治疗方法。创新的解决方案需要更深入地了解真菌病原体与其宿主之间的相互作用，以及真菌毒力的关键决定因素。最近，真菌细胞外囊泡 (EV) 的释放与真菌毒力之间出现了联系，这可能有助于找到新的真菌控制方法。真菌 EV 携带与其他生物体 EV 中发现的具有相似功能的色素、碳水化合物、蛋白质、核酸和其他大分子，但某些真菌特征，如真菌细胞壁，会影响 EV 的释放和货物。真菌 EV 调节宿主的免疫反应，在细胞间通讯中发挥作用，并运输在毒力中起作用的分子。了解真菌 EV 的功能将扩展我们对宿主-病原体相互作用的认识，并可能为抗真菌药物和农用化学品提供新的和特定的靶标。
