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Pathogenic mucorales: Deciphering their cell wall polysaccharidome and immunostimulatory potential

Summary

Scientists studied three types of dangerous fungi that cause serious infections in people with weak immune systems. They looked at the outer coating of these fungi cells, which is what the body’s immune system first encounters during infection. They found that this coating contains multiple types of sugar-like substances that trigger strong inflammatory responses in immune cells. Understanding these fungi better could help develop better treatments for these serious infections.

Background

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening emerging infection caused by pathogenic filamentous fungi of the Order Mucorales with high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. The fungal cell wall is the first component to interact with the host immune system and its composition and organization are species-specific. Understanding cell wall organization and immunomodulatory potential of pathogenic Mucorales species is crucial for improved disease management.

Objective

To characterize cell wall organization, composition, and polysaccharide exposure patterns of three prevalent pathogenic Mucorales species (Rhizopus arrhizus, Mucor circinelloides, and Lichtheimia corymbifera) and assess their immunostimulatory potential on human immune cells.

Results

All three Mucorales species showed surface-exposed mannans on spores and germ-tubes while β-1,3-glucan was distinctly distributed. Glucose was the major fibrillar polysaccharide in all species with species-dependent amorphous components. Cell walls contained β-1,3-glucan, β-1,6-glucan, and amylase-digestible glucan as major glycan polymers. Spores and cell wall polysaccharides from all species induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release regardless of species.

Conclusion

Pathogenic Mucorales species display both common and species-specific cell wall composition patterns. The cell wall polysaccharides are highly pro-inflammatory and may contribute to immunopathology of mucormycosis. These findings provide important information on cell wall glycobiology and immunobiology of clinically significant Mucorales species.
  • Published in:Virulence,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40621682; DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2025.2528079
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