Characteristics and potential clinical applications of the extracellular vesicles of human pathogenic Fungi

Amir Ullah; Yiyi Huang; Kening Zhao; Yuneng Hua; Shafi Ullah; Mujeeb Ur Rahman; Jingyu Wang; Qian Wang; Xiumei Hu; Lei Zheng

doi:10.1186/s12866-023-02945-3

Characteristics and potential clinical applications of the extracellular vesicles of human pathogenic Fungi

BMC Microbiol. 2023 Aug 19;23(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-02945-3.

Authors

Amir Ullah^#¹, Yiyi Huang^#¹, Kening Zhao^{1

2}, Yuneng Hua³, Shafi Ullah⁴, Mujeeb Ur Rahman⁵, Jingyu Wang¹, Qian Wang⁶, Xiumei Hu⁷, Lei Zheng⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
² La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Center for Clinical Laboratory, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
⁶ Center for Clinical Laboratory, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
⁷ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
⁸ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. [email protected].

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of lipid membrane-enclosed compartments that contain different biomolecules and are released by almost all living cells, including fungal genera. Fungal EVs contain multiple bioactive components that perform various biological functions, such as stimulation of the host immune system, transport of virulence factors, induction of biofilm formation, and mediation of host-pathogen interactions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on EVs of human pathogenic fungi, mainly focusing on their biogenesis, composition, and biological effects. We also discuss the potential markers and therapeutic applications of fungal EVs.

Keywords: Biogenesis; Biomarkers; Composition; Extracellular vesicles; Fungi; Immunomodulation; Therapeutic applications.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biofilms
Biomarkers
Extracellular Vesicles* / chemistry
Fungal Vaccines / immunology
Fungi* / chemistry
Fungi* / classification
Fungi* / cytology
Fungi* / pathogenicity
Humans
Immunotherapy
Mycoses / microbiology

Substances

Fungal Vaccines
Biomarkers