Chinese  |  English

22 October 2018, Volume 37 Issue 10
    

  • Select all
    |
    Preface
  • Guang-Hua HUANG
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1255-1256. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180251
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save
  • Reviews
  • Yong CHEN, Zong-Wei LI, Xue-Lin HAN, Lin LIU, Li HAN
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1257-1266. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180161
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    The human microbiome plays an important role in health maintenance and disease development. Although this field of study is still in its early stage, the traditionally considered sterile lungs can harbor a diverse microbial community. As an important part of human microbiome, the role of fungi and their gene products in the development, prevention and treatment of lung diseases is still unclear. This review describes the current research techniques, community structure, and function of the lung mycobiome, and analyzes the major problems in this field and gives some advice for future study.

  • Xin-Yu YANG, Ruo-Yu LI, Wei LIU
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1267-1277. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180110
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Fungal infection is the most common opportunistic infection in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and is one of the most important causes of death. Common opportunistic fungal infections include candidiasis, pneumocystosis, cryptococcosis, Talaromyces marneffei infection, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis. This paper introduces the relationship between CD4+T lymphocytes and opportunistic fungal infections and the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatments and prevention of common fungal infections in AIDS patients. These knowledges are of great significance for clinicians to improve their understanding of the diseases and to make early diagnosis, to treat early, to select antifungal drugs reasonably, and to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients.

  • Qian HUANG, Jian BING, Hui-Zhen YUE, Guang-Hua HUANG, Yu-Jia WEI
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1278-1286. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180162
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    The “superbug fungus” Candida auris is a globally emerged pathogen that is often associated with multidrug resistance and high mortality. Since the first isolation in Japan in 2009, infections caused by this fungus have been reported in at least 27 countries on five continents, including China. Its wide spread and dramatically increased clinical cases lead to an intensive attention from both the clinical and the basic research communities worldwide. In this paper, we review recent progress of both clinical and biological aspects of C. auris. We focus on the global molecular epidemiology, genomic and virulent features, and drug resistance of clinical isolates. In addition, we discuss the potential measures for the diagnosis, treatment and control of C. auris infections in China.

  • Qiang-Qiang SUN, Yang LU
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1287-1298. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180158
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Candida albicans is a ubiquitous commensal of the mammalian microbiome and the most prevalent fungal pathogen of humans. It can cause superficial infections of the oropharynx, vagina, skin, and nails. In susceptible patients, C. albicans can enter the bloodstream and cause a frequently fatal disseminated infection. Morphological plasticity is its defining feature and is critical for its pathogenesis. A cell-type transition between yeast and hyphal morphologies in C. albicans was thought to underlie much of the variation in virulence observed in different host tissues. In addition, opaque, gray and gastrointestinally induced transition (GUT) cell types were recently reported that exhibit marked differences in vitro and in animal models of commensalism and disease. In this review, we explore the characteristics of these cell types of C. albicans. We highlight emerging knowledge about the associations of these different morphotypes with different host niches and virulence potential, as well as the environmental cues and signalling pathways that are involved in the morphological transitions.

  • Xiang-Zheng BAI, Lin-Qi WANG
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1299-1306. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180157
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Invasive pathogenic fungi can cause life-threatening infections with generally high mortality rate. Notably, most of these fatal fungi are environmental fungal pathogens (EFGs), which normally thrive in certain environmental niches, and invading host is not necessary for their proliferation. It is increasingly appreciated that infections by EFGs are likely linked with their exceptional abilities to adapt to fluctuating stress from their natural niches. Moreover, EFGs can employ meiotic recombination-dependent/-independent strategies to promote microevolution, which underlie production of hyper-virulent and drug-resistant variants in nature. In this review, we focus on Cryptococcus neoformans (a model organism of EFGs), summarize the sophisticated environmental adaptation strategies facilitating its infections, and discuss the determinants engaged in the evolution of Cryptococcus virulence.

  • Wen-Xia FANG, Cheng JIN
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1307-1316. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180142
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous saprotrophic filamentous fungus in the environment. It is also the most common and life-threatening serial fungal pathogen, causing a variety of acute or chronic diseases in immunocompromised or immunodeficiency patients, including invasive aspergillosis that with high mortality rate. As a unique extracellular matrix fungal cell wall plays major roles in maintaining cell shape, protecting cells against the external stress, establishing polarized growth, invading new ecological niche and stimulating host immune response. Cell wall components are the biomarkers for the diagnosis of fungal infections, thus cell wall has been considered as the ideal target for the development of antifungal drugs. In recent decades, genetic, biochemical and immunological studies on the cell wall of A. fumigatus have made it an ideal model for studying the fungal cell wall. This review outlines composition, biosynthesis and function of A. fumigatus cell wall, and future research directions are proposed.

  • Ke-Ming ZHANG, Lei ZHANG, Liang-Qi CAI, Xiao-Gang LIU, Wei-Hua PAN, Wan-Qing LIAO
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1317-1323. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180104
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Cryptococcus pneumonia is a common fungal disease which is caused by cryptococcal infection. Due to the nonspecific symptoms, it is difficult to make a definite diagnosis. As a conditional pathogenic fungal infection, the outcome of cryptococcal pneumonia is mainly related to host immunity. At present, the immunological pathogenesis of cryptococcal pneumonia is mainly limited to T cells and macrophages. In recent years, studies have shown that plasmacytoid dendritic cells, one of the subpopulations of dendritic cells, play a role in the human’s resistance to virus and bacterial immunity because they can produce large amounts of type I interferons and activate related T cells. However, the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in fungal diseases, especially in cryptococcosis, remains unclear. This article will introduce the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of Cryptococcus pneumonia, and the immune mechanisms of T cells and macrophages in Cryptococcus pneumonia and introduce the previously reported links between cryptococcal pneumonia and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in order to initially explain the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of cryptococcal pneumonia immunology.

  • Li-Ya HE, Xiao-Wen HUANG, Ying-Hui LIU, Zhi-Wen CHEN, Li-Yan XI
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1324-1329. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180175
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Talaromyces marneffei, formerly known as Penicillium marneffei, is a significant emerging pathogenic fungus in Southeast Asia which can cause life-threatening systemic infection. Most infections occurred in individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and the primarily reason for the increase in the number of cases is HIV pandemic. The pathogenesis of infection due to T. marneffei is unclear. Researchers often use animals for disease model studies to provide strong evidence for the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of the disease. This review summarizes the research on animal models of T. marneffei infection in recent years.

  • Yun-Yun WEI, Dan HE, Li WANG
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1330-1336. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180171
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Aspergillus fumigatus is a widespread saprophytic fungus in the environment, and it is an important opportunistic pathogen. In recent years, with numbers of immunocompromised patients, invasive aspergillosis caused by A. fumigates is increasing, which has highest morbidity in systemic filamentous fungal infections. Due to the differences between natural environment and host microenvironment, on the premise of the conidia adapting to the microenvironment that A. fumigates can survive inside the host and cause infection. It was found that the microenvironmental adaptation of A. fumigates, such as thermotolerance, oxidative stress, osmotic stress, hypoxia, nutrient limitation, is probable related to its virulence. This paper reviews the relationship between stress responses and pathogenicity of A. fumigatus. It will contribute to analyze the pathogenesis of A. fumigatus and the findings will have great significance for the early diagnosis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis.

  • Yan-Jian LI, Xin-Di GAO, Yang MENG, Chen DING
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1337-1348. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180148
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Metals are essential elements for many important biological processes in fungi and mammals. Numerous studies have extensively demonstrated the correlation between metal homeostasis and host-pathogen interaction. Metals, particularly copper and iron, participate in the modulation of fungal pathogenicity during systemic infection in the host. The host cells utilize copper and iron to battle fungal invasion. In this review, we elucidate fungal and mammalian homeostasis of copper and iron, and focus on the host-pathogen axis of cryptococcosis.

  • Chi ZHANG, Hui-Yu GU, Ling LU
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1349-1356. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180156
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Aspergillus is one of the most common airborne fungal genus in which Aspergillus niger plays important roles in production of food additives while a human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is a fatal-threat species, especially for immunocompromised patients worldwide. Therefore, establishing an efficient gene-editing system will give insight into the dynamic physiological process for these fungal species. In this review, various gene-editing techniques including traditional homologous integration using flanking regions and advanced CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9) gene-editing techniques used in different species of Aspergillus are summarized. This information may provide useful clues to further conduct efficient gene editing in other un-explored Aspergillus species.

  • Ping ZHANG, Chen-Xi LI, Xiao-Ran HAO, Xu-Dong ZHU
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1357-1363. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180159
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    The basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is one of the most encountered human fungal pathogens, which mainly infects immunocompromised patients and thus causes cryptococcal meningitis. Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) ranging from 20 to 30nt in length are distinctly abundant in C. neoformans. However, their biogenesis and biological function have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this paper, we summarize briefly the recent research progress on the characteristics, categories, biological functions as well as regulatory mechanisms of sRNAs in C. neoformans.

  • Yuan-Yuan WANG, Chang-Bin CHEN
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1364-1377. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180151
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    Candida albicans is one of the most common opportunistic human fungal pathogens and mainly colonizes on the surface of human mucosa. It has been appreciated that secreted proteins of C. albicans play vital roles in mediating the interactions of this fungus with the host. Understanding the functions and action modes of secreted proteins will greatly benefit the study of pathogenesis of C. albicans and provides novel strategies for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal infections. In this review, we describe the latest progresses in studying the secreted proteins in C. albicans and summarize their functions in tissue invasion, nutrient acquisition, cell wall maintenance and immune evasion when the fungus meets with the host. A few major directions that may gain more insights into this area is proposed.

  • Jing-Xiang ZHANG, Lan YAN, Yuan-Ying JIANG
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1378-1390. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180106
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    In the past three decades, the incidence of invasive fungal infections has continued to rise, and the mortality rate remains high. The limited therapeutic drugs are one of the important factors that contribute to its high mortality rate. The discovery of new targets and new antifungal drugs has become an urgent need. The new antifungal targets under development can be summed up as following aspects: (1) Signal pathway-mediated antifungal targets, including calcineurin and its molecular chaperone Hsp90, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PKH), and the enzymes that modify Ras protein, etc. Their antagonists include analogues of traditional immunosuppressants and antibodies to Hsp90, KP-372-1 and PS77, and leucomycin A etc; (2) The catalytic enzymes of GPI-anchored protein synthesis pathways. Their inhibitors include E1210 and M720; (3) Secreted aspartic proteases which can be inhibeted by special peptides, retrovirus inhibitors, and sulfone derivatives; (4) The two key enzymes, Tps1 and Tps2, of the trehalose synthesis. In consideration of invasive fungal infections seriously affect public health, and the development of new antifungal drugs relies on the exploration of new targets, therefore, this review aims at this core clinical problem and systematically introduces the current development of new antifungal drug targets, and provides the views on the feasibility of target selection and drug development strategies.

  • Jie LIU, Xiao-Ping HU, Wei LIU
    MYCOSYSTEMA. 2018, 37(10): 1391-1398. https://doi.org/10.13346/j.mycosystema.180109
    Abstract ( ) Download PDF ( ) HTML ( )   Knowledge map   Save

    The morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal infection is increasing year by year, and more and more new antifungal drugs are produced to the public. Posaconazole and voriconazole, having strong antifungal activity in vivo and vitro, are new spectral triazole drugs for the treatment and prevention of invasive fungal infections. They have the same mechanism of action and each owns characteristics in antifungal activity, drug metabolism and safety. Posaconazole and voriconazole are superior to the originally practical drugs itraconazole and fluconazole in molecular structure, having stronger and wider antifungal spectrum. The development and application of the two new drugs suggest that the research on antifungal drugs trends towards the obtainment of high efficiency, broad spectrum and low toxicity. The clinical research and blood concentration monitoring of the two drugs are still to be further explored. This paper reviews their molecular structures, action mechanism, clinical indications and pharmacokinetics. The future clinical application perspective of the two drugs is predicted.