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Recent advances in the understanding of the Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall

  • Review
  • Biology of Human Fungal Pathogen
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Abstract

Over the past several decades, research on the synthesis and organization of the cell wall polysaccharides of Aspergillus fumigatus has expanded our knowledge of this important fungal structure. Besides protecting the fungus from environmental stresses and maintaining structural integrity of the organism, the cell wall is also the primary site for interaction with host tissues during infection. Cell wall polysaccharides are important ligands for the recognition of fungi by the innate immune system and they can mediate potent immunomodulatory effects. The synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides is a complicated process that requires coordinated regulation of many biosynthetic and metabolic pathways. Continuous synthesis and remodeling of the polysaccharides of the cell wall is essential for the survival of the fungus during development, reproduction, colonization and invasion. As these polysaccharides are absent from the human host, these biosynthetic pathways are attractive targets for antifungal development. In this review, we present recent advances in our understanding of Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall polysaccharides, including the emerging role of cell wall polysaccharides in the host-pathogen interaction.

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  1. Mark J. Lee

    Present address: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Mark J. Lee & Donald C. Sheppard

  2. Infectious Diseases in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Donald C. Sheppard

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Lee, M.J., Sheppard, D.C. Recent advances in the understanding of the Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall. J Microbiol. 54, 232–242 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-6045-4

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