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Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases
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Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2019) | Viewed by 20305

Special Issue Editors

Mr. Tyler Normile

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, 150 Life Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: host-pathogen interactions; sphingolipids; immunology; vaccination; infectious diseases
Dr. Arielle Bryan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, 150 Life Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: Cryptococcus neoformans; sphingolipids in fungal infections; sphingolipids
Prof. Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, 150 Life Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: novel antifungal development; sphingolipid metabolism and signaling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipids are a diverse group of compounds that have many biological functions, particularly in eukaryotic cells. In fungi, lipids have been shown to play major roles in essential processes, such as cell division, hyphae formation, spore germination, apoptosis, and virulence. Lipids are well-known to be the major structural component in cell membranes, and upon the discovery of the bioactive capabilities of sphingolipids in the late 1980s, a greater appreciation for the complex and dynamic characteristics of lipid signaling was realized. More recently, the characterization of distinct lateral membrane domains comprising sterols and sphingolipids, called lipid rafts, has ignited research that has helped to develop a better understanding of how lipids function in biological membranes. Lipids are of particular importance for pathogenic fungi, as they offer a specific target to aid in the development of broad-spectrum antifungal therapies. Sphingolipids also play a key role in regulating immunity to fungal pathogens. This Special Issue of the Journal of Fungi, “Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases”, will highlight current progress on how lipids participate in both fungal virulence and the host response to control fungal infections.

Mr. Tyler Normile
Dr. Arielle Bryan
Prof. Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sphingolipids
  • fungal lipids
  • cell membrane
  • fungal virulence
  • fungal infections

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2224 KiB  
Article
Structural Differences Influence Biological Properties of Glucosylceramides from Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Scedosporium aurantiacum and Pseudallescheria minutispora
by Adriana Caneppa, Jardel Vieira de Meirelles, Rodrigo Rollin-Pinheiro, Mariana Ingrid Dutra da Silva Xisto, Livia Cristina Liporagi-Lopes, Lauro de Souza, Maria Teresa Villela Romanos and Eliana Barreto-Bergter
J. Fungi 2019, 5(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5030062 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3157
Abstract
Scedosporium/Lomentospora complex is composed of filamentous fungi, including some clinically relevant species, such as Pseudallescheria boydii, Scedosporium aurantiacum, and Scedosporium apiospermum. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer), a conserved neutral glycosphingolipid, has been described as an important cell surface molecule playing a role in fungal [...] Read more.
Scedosporium/Lomentospora complex is composed of filamentous fungi, including some clinically relevant species, such as Pseudallescheria boydii, Scedosporium aurantiacum, and Scedosporium apiospermum. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer), a conserved neutral glycosphingolipid, has been described as an important cell surface molecule playing a role in fungal morphological transition and pathogenesis. The present work aimed at the evaluation of GlcCer structures in S. aurantiacum and Pseudallescheria minutispora, a clinical and an environmental isolate, respectively, in order to determine their participation in fungal growth and host-pathogen interactions. Structural analysis by positive ion-mode ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometer) revealed the presence of different ceramide moieties in GlcCer in these species. Monoclonal antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus GlcCer could recognize S. aurantiacum and P. minutispora conidia, suggesting a conserved epitope in fungal GlcCer. In addition, these antibodies reduced fungal viability, enhanced conidia phagocytosis by macrophages, and decreased fungal survival inside phagocytic cells. Purified GlcCer from both species led to macrophage activation, increasing cell viability as well as nitric oxide and superoxide production in different proportions between the two species. These results evidenced some important properties of GlcCer from species of the Scedosporium/Lomentospora complex, as well as the effects of monoclonal anti-GlcCer antibodies on fungal cells and host-pathogen interaction. The differences between the two species regarding the observed biological properties suggest that variation in GlcCer structures and strain origin could interfere in the role of GlcCer in host-pathogen interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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13 pages, 781 KiB  
Review
Antifungal Drug Development: Targeting the Fungal Sphingolipid Pathway
by Kyle McEvoy, Tyler G. Normile and Maurizio Del Poeta
J. Fungi 2020, 6(3), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6030142 - 20 Aug 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5029
Abstract
Fungal infections are becoming more prevalent and problematic due to the continual rise of immune deficient patients as well as the progressive development of drug resistance towards currently available antifungal drugs. There has been a significant increase in the development of antifungal compounds [...] Read more.
Fungal infections are becoming more prevalent and problematic due to the continual rise of immune deficient patients as well as the progressive development of drug resistance towards currently available antifungal drugs. There has been a significant increase in the development of antifungal compounds with a similar mechanism of action of current drugs. In contrast, there has been very little progress in developing compounds inhibiting totally new fungal targets or/and fungal pathways. This review focuses on novel compounds recently discovered to target the fungal sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases)
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14 pages, 640 KiB  
Review
Advances in Understanding the Acyl-CoA-Binding Protein in Plants, Mammals, Yeast, and Filamentous Fungi
by Shangkun Qiu and Bin Zeng
J. Fungi 2020, 6(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6010034 - 10 Mar 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3911
Abstract
Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is an important protein with a size of about 10 kDa. It has a high binding affinity for C12–C22 acyl-CoA esters and participates in lipid metabolism. ACBP and its family of proteins have been found in all [...] Read more.
Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is an important protein with a size of about 10 kDa. It has a high binding affinity for C12–C22 acyl-CoA esters and participates in lipid metabolism. ACBP and its family of proteins have been found in all eukaryotes and some prokaryotes. Studies have described the function and structure of ACBP family proteins in mammals (such as humans and mice), plants (such as Oryza sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Hevea brasiliensis) and yeast. However, little information on the structure and function of the proteins in filamentous fungi has been reported. This article concentrates on recent advances in the research of the ACBP family proteins in plants and mammals, especially in yeast, filamentous fungi (such as Monascus ruber and Aspergillus oryzae), and fungal pathogens (Aspergillus flavus, Cryptococcus neoformans). Furthermore, we discuss some problems in the field, summarize the binding characteristics of the ACBP family proteins in filamentous fungi and yeast, and consider the future of ACBP development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases)
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16 pages, 849 KiB  
Review
Steryl Glycosides in Fungal Pathogenesis: An Understudied Immunomodulatory Adjuvant
by Tyler G. Normile, Kyle McEvoy and Maurizio Del Poeta
J. Fungi 2020, 6(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6010025 - 24 Feb 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4325
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections pose an increasing threat to human hosts, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In response to the increasing morbidity and mortality of fungal infections, numerous groups have shown great strides in uncovering novel treatment options and potential efficacious vaccine candidates for this [...] Read more.
Invasive fungal infections pose an increasing threat to human hosts, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In response to the increasing morbidity and mortality of fungal infections, numerous groups have shown great strides in uncovering novel treatment options and potential efficacious vaccine candidates for this increasing threat due to the increase in current antifungal resistance. Steryl glycosides are lipid compounds produced by a wide range of organisms, and are largely understudied in the field of pathogenicity, especially to fungal infections. Published works over the years have shown these compounds positively modulating the host immune response. Recent advances, most notably from our lab, have strongly indicated that steryl glycosides have high efficacy in protecting the host against lethal Cryptococcal infection through acting as an immunoadjuvant. This review will summarize the keystone studies on the role of steryl glycosides in the host immune response, as well as elucidate the remaining unknown characteristics and future perspectives of these compounds for the host–fungal interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases)
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10 pages, 571 KiB  
Review
The Squeaky Yeast Gets Greased: The Roles of Host Lipids in the Clearance of Pathogenic Fungi
by Gaelen Guzman, Patrick Niekamp and Fikadu Geta Tafesse
J. Fungi 2020, 6(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6010019 - 31 Jan 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2936
Abstract
Fungal infections remain a global health threat with high morbidity and mortality. The human immune system must, therefore, perpetually defend against invasive fungal infections. Phagocytosis is critical for the clearance of fungal pathogens, as this cellular process allows select immune cells to internalize [...] Read more.
Fungal infections remain a global health threat with high morbidity and mortality. The human immune system must, therefore, perpetually defend against invasive fungal infections. Phagocytosis is critical for the clearance of fungal pathogens, as this cellular process allows select immune cells to internalize and destroy invading fungal cells. While much is known about the protein players that enable phagocytosis, the various roles that lipids play during this fundamental innate immune process are still being illuminated. In this review, we describe recent discoveries that shed new light on the mechanisms by which host lipids enable the phagocytic uptake and clearance of fungal pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids and Fungal Infectious Diseases)
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