MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Pathogenic mucorales: Deciphering their cell wall polysaccharidome and immunostimulatory potential

Summary

Researchers studied three dangerous fungi that cause serious infections called mucormycosis. They examined the outer coating of these fungi, called the cell wall, which is made of sugar-like molecules called polysaccharides. When these fungi were exposed to human immune cells, they triggered strong inflammatory responses. Understanding these fungal components could help develop better treatments and vaccines for this life-threatening infection.

Background

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening emerging infection caused by pathogenic filamentous fungi of the order Mucorales, with significantly high mortality in immunocompromised patients. The fungal cell wall is the first component to interact with the host immune system and plays a crucial role in pathogenesis. Understanding cell wall composition and organization of pathogenic Mucorales species is essential for better disease management.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the cell wall organization and composition of three prevalent pathogenic Mucorales species (Rhizopus arrhizus, Mucor circinelloides, and Lichtheimia corymbifera) and investigate their immunomodulatory potential. The researchers sought to determine surface-exposed polysaccharides and their immunostimulatory effects on human immune cells.

Results

All three Mucorales species displayed surface-exposed mannans on spores and germ-tubes with distinctly distributed β-1,3-glucan. Gas chromatography revealed glucose as the major fibrillar polysaccharide, with species-dependent amorphous components. Cell wall contained β-1,3-glucan, β-1,6-glucan, and amylase-digestible glucan. Stimulation of immune cells produced pro-inflammatory cytokines regardless of species.

Conclusion

The three Mucorales species analyzed show common and species-specific cell wall composition patterns. Cell wall polysaccharides are highly pro-inflammatory, suggesting that excessive inflammation may contribute to mucormycosis immunopathology. This information provides a foundation for further analysis of cell wall glycobiology and immunobiology of pathogenic Mucorales.
  • Published in:Virulence,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40621682, DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2025.2528079
Scroll to Top