Proteases of Sporothrix schenckii: Cytopathological effects on a host-cell model.

Background: Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by the Sporothrix schenckii complex. The adhesion of the fungus to the host tissue has been considered the key step in the colonization and invasion, but little is known about the early events in the host-parasite interaction.

Aims: To evaluate the proteolytic activity of S.

Cell wall glycoproteins participate in the adhesion of Sporothrix schenckii to epithelial cells.

Sporothrix schenckii is the etiologic agent of sporotrichosis. This fungal infection is an emerging disease potentially fatal in immunocompromised patients. The adhesion to host cells is a crucial early event related with the dissemination of pathogens.