Open AccessTasting the fungal cell wall
Author(s) -
Latgé JeanPaul
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01474.x
Subject(s) - biology , cell wall , bacterial adhesin , receptor , chitin , polysaccharide , microbiology and biotechnology , epitope , host (biology) , cell adhesion , cell , biochemistry , immunology , gene , antigen , virulence , genetics , chitosan
Summary The search for common host mechanisms that recognize human fungal pathogens as non‐self has led to an increased interest in cell wall polysaccharides since they are absent from mammals and at least for some of them, common to all fungal species. Even though the receptors recognizing mannans and β‐1,3‐glucans have been extensively studied to date, the epitope of the polysaccharide ligand is often not well defined. In addition, receptors recognizing other cell wall major components such as chitin, α‐1,3‐glucan or galactose polymers remain to be identified. Moreover, the fungal adhesins playing a role in adhesion to host have been only explored in yeasts. Eventhough progresses have been made in the last 10 years, a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between the host membrane receptors and the fungal cell wall components is still lacking.