Fungal adhesin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fungal adhesins are proteins located on the surface of fungal cells, specifically found on the outside of the cell wall.[1] They allow fungi to colonize various substrates and to bind to host tissues. Adhesion to tissue is an obligatory first step in pathogenesis by many yeasts. Adhesins also have other functions, such as mating and biofilm formation.[2]

Candida albicans[edit]

Candida albicans can cause opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans.

Hwp1[edit]

Hwp1 is a fungal adhesin belonging to the opportunistic dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. Hwp1 is unique among fungal adhesins discovered to date in that it is a mammalian transglutaminase substrate. The host enzyme allows C. albicans to form covalent bonds to the host tissue via Hwp1.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ de Groot, Piet W. J.; Bader, Oliver; de Boer, Albert D.; Weig, Michael; Chauhan, Neeraj (12 April 2013). "Adhesins in Human Fungal Pathogens: Glue with Plenty of Stick". Eukaryotic Cell. 12 (4): 470–481. doi:10.1128/EC.00364-12. PMC 3623432. PMID 23397570.
  2. ^ Dranginis, Anne M.; Rauceo, Jason M.; Coronado, Juan E.; Lipke, Peter N. (June 2007). "A Biochemical Guide to Yeast Adhesins: Glycoproteins for Social and Antisocial Occasions". Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 71 (2): 282–294. doi:10.1128/MMBR.00037-06. PMC 1899881. PMID 17554046.
  3. ^ Staab, J. F. (1999). "Adhesive and Mammalian Transglutaminase Substrate Properties of Candida albicans Hwp1". Science. 283 (5407): 1535–1538. Bibcode:1999Sci...283.1535S. doi:10.1126/science.283.5407.1535. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 10066176.