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| Open AccessFungal antigenic variation using mosaicism and reassortment of subtelomeric genes’ repertoires
Here the authors find that surface antigenic variation of the human pathogenic fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii involves mosaicism and reassortment of the repertoire of 80 genes present in each strain, from which single genes are retrieved for mutually exclusive expression.
- Caroline S. Meier
- , Marco Pagni
- & Philippe M. Hauser
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| Open AccessUstilago maydis PR-1-like protein has evolved two distinct domains for dual virulence activities
Plant PR-1 proteins participate in defense responses against pathogens. Here, the authors show that PR-1-like proteins from the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis are important for virulence by detecting plant-derived phenolics and modulating plant PR-1-mediated defenses.
- Yu-Han Lin
- , Meng-Yun Xu
- & Lay-Sun Ma
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| Open AccessMultifactor transcriptional control of alternative oxidase induction integrates diverse environmental inputs to enable fungal virulence
Metabolic flexibility allows fungi to invade hostile niches. Here, Liu et al. dissect the molecular mechanisms by which Candida albicans upregulates virulence-enabling alternative oxidase expression in response to host-relevant respiratory stresses.
- Zhongle Liu
- , Pauline Basso
- & Leah E. Cowen
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| Open AccessInhibition of myeloid-derived suppressor cell arginase-1 production enhances T-cell-based immunotherapy against Cryptococcus neoformans infection
Cryptococcus neoformans causes opportunistic infection and potentially lethal immunopathology but therapeutic options are limited. Here the authors implicate myeloid derived suppressor cells during C. neoformans infection and suggest targeting arginase-1 production as a potential therapeutic strategy.
- Ya-Nan Li
- , Zhong-Wei Wang
- & Xin-Ming Jia
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Article
| Open AccessCandida albicans evades NK cell elimination via binding of Agglutinin-Like Sequence proteins to the checkpoint receptor TIGIT
Natural killer cells have emerged as critical immune cells in the response to fungal infection. Here the authors identify how Candida albicans evades the natural killer cell response via expression of ligands that directly modify the natural killer cell response and can be therapeutically targeted to restore the anti-Candida immunity.
- Yoav Charpak-Amikam
- , Tom Lapidus
- & Ofer Mandelboim
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| Open AccessThe phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum detoxifies plant glucosinolate hydrolysis products via an isothiocyanate hydrolase
Some plants produce toxic isothiocyanates that protect them against pathogens. Here, Chen et al. show that the plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum converts isothiocyanates into non-toxic compounds via glutathione conjugation and, more effectively, via hydrolysis to amines using an isothiocyanate hydrolase.
- Jingyuan Chen
- , Chhana Ullah
- & Daniel G. Vassão
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| Open AccessImmune modulation by complement receptor 3-dependent human monocyte TGF-β1-transporting vesicles
Extracellular vesicles can carry immunoregulatory cytokines such as TGF-β. Here the authors use CD11b-deficient mice and macrophages to show that such vesicles carrying TGF-β are produced in response to Candida albicans infections and can limit the proinflammatory response partly via a positive feedback on TGF-β production by endothelial cells.
- Luke D. Halder
- , Emeraldo A. H. Jo
- & Christine Skerka
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| Open AccessAn effector protein of the wheat stripe rust fungus targets chloroplasts and suppresses chloroplast function
Chloroplasts are important for plant immunity against microbial pathogens. Here Xu et al. identify, in the wheat stripe rust fungus, a haustorium-specific protein that is translocated into chloroplasts and affects chloroplast function by interacting with a putative component of the plant cytochrome b6-f complex.
- Qiang Xu
- , Chunlei Tang
- & Xiaojie Wang
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| Open AccessNon-canonical signalling mediates changes in fungal cell wall PAMPs that drive immune evasion
The authors show that the fungal pathogen Candida albicans exploits diverse host-associated signals, including specific nutrients and stresses, to promote immune evasion by masking cell wall β-glucan, a major pathogen-associated molecular pattern.
- Arnab Pradhan
- , Gabriela M. Avelar
- & Alistair J. P. Brown
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Article
| Open AccessThermotolerance in the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is linked to antigen masking via mRNA decay-dependent reprogramming
The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans can adapt to mammalian core body temperature. Here, Bloom et al. show that Ccr4-mediated decay of ribosomal protein mRNAs is important for thermotolerance and immune evasion by promoting masking of cell wall glucans.
- Amanda L. M. Bloom
- , Richard M. Jin
- & John C. Panepinto
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Article
| Open AccessA fungal pathogen deploys a small silencing RNA that attenuates mosquito immunity and facilitates infection
Fungi that infect insects can potentially be exploited for disease vector control. Here the authors show that the fungus Beauveria bassiana exports a microRNA-like RNA into mosquito cells that modulates host immunity by suppressing expression of Toll receptor ligand Spätzle 4.
- Chunlai Cui
- , Yan Wang
- & Sibao Wang
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Article
| Open AccessA fungal substrate mimicking molecule suppresses plant immunity via an inter-kingdom conserved motif
Pit2 is a secreted Ustilago maydis effector that contributes to corn smut disease by inhibiting papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) in maize. Here Misas Villamil et al. show that Pit2 mimics PLCP substrates, and is cleaved to release a peptide that blocks PLCP activity and represses host immunity.
- Johana C. Misas Villamil
- , André N. Mueller
- & Gunther Doehlemann