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Identifier

000435036

Title

Exploring molecular mechanisms of antifungal activity of human serum

Alternative Title

Εξερεύνηση των μοριακών μηχανισμών της καταπολέμησης μυκήτων από τον ανθρώπινο ορό 2020

Author

Νίδρης, Βασίλειος

Thesis advisor

Χαμηλός, Γεώργιος
Πίκουλας, Α.

Abstract

Fungi are saprophytic organisms, which rarely cause infections in humans. However, immunocompromised patients can be affected by invasive diseases caused by filamentous fungi (molds), mainly Aspergillus spp. and the Mucorales. Mucormycosis is a devastating disease with high mortality rates that can exceed 80% in disseminated disease. When compared to other fungal diseases mucormycosis has unique epidemiological and pathogenetic features. Metabolic abnormalities, including poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, acidosis, and iron overload syndromes, are unique risk factor for Mucormycosis development. Immunosuppression associated with treatment of hematologic malignancies and transplantation is also a major risk factor for Mucormycosis. Inhibition of intracellular and extracellular fungal growth is an essential host defense strategy against Mucorales. It has been shown that human serum can inhibit the growth of fungi spores via incompletely understood mechanisms. Unpublished data have demonstrate that low serum albumin levels are associated with development of Mucormycosis. In our work we explored whether albumin has direct antifungal activity against Mucorales spores. Herein, we found that free fatty acids bound to albumin inhibit germination of Mucorales spores, block the expression of major virulence factors and attenuate fungal pathogenicity in vivo. Our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized immunological function of albumin with potential therapeutic implications in management of mucormycosis.

Language

English

Subject

Albumin

Inate immune response

Mucorales

Rhizopous oryzae

Αλβουμίνη

Ενδογενής ανοσία

Issue date

2020-12-17

Collection