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Things you wanted to know about fungal extracellular vesicles (but were afraid to ask)

Summary

Fungal extracellular vesicles are tiny particles released by fungal cells that play important roles in how fungi cause disease and how our immune system responds. These particles can either help fight infections or make them worse depending on the type of fungus and conditions involved. Scientists are discovering that these vesicles could potentially be used as vaccines and may explain why some antifungal drugs stop working.

Background

Fungal diseases claim over 2 million lives annually, yet research on fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) remains limited despite their significant role in pathogenesis and immune responses. Fungal EVs were first discovered in 2007 and have since become an expanding area of research with exponential growth in scientific interest.

Objective

This perspective article addresses fundamental questions about fungal extracellular vesicles that may be of particular interest to newcomers and researchers in the field, including whether they are real biological structures or artifacts, if all fungi produce them, and their roles in host immunity.

Results

The article establishes that fungal EVs are real biological structures with regulated export mechanisms, likely produced by all fungi species, function as either immunoprotective or immunosuppressive agents depending on fungal species and conditions, and play important roles in drug resistance, biofilm formation, and cell-to-cell communication.

Conclusion

Fungal extracellular vesicles represent an integral part of cellular physiology with significant implications for understanding fungal pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to comprehensively understand their biogenesis mechanisms, establish standardized isolation protocols, and fully elucidate their immunological functions in various fungal infections.
  • Published in:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases,
  • Study Type:Perspective Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40403031, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013038
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