Sterylglucosides (SGs) are sterol conjugates widely distributed in nature. Although their universal presence in all living organisms suggests the importance of this kind of glycolipids, they are yet poorly understood. The glycosylation of sterols confers a more hydrophilic character, modifying biophysical properties of cell membranes and altering immunogenicity of the cells. In fungi, SGs regulate different cell pathways to help overcome oxygen and pH challenges, as well as help to accomplish cell recycling and other membrane functions. At the same time, the level of these lipids is highly controlled, especially in wild-type fungi. In addition, modulating SGs metabolism is becoming a novel tool for vaccine and antifungal development. In the present review, we bring together multiple observations to emphasize the underestimated importance of SGs for fungal cell functions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jof8111130 | DOI Listing |
mBio
April 2023
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
Invasive fungal infections are a leading cause of death in immunocompromised patients. Current therapies have several limitations, and innovative antifungal agents are critically needed. Previously, we identified the fungus-specific enzyme sterylglucosidase as essential for pathogenesis and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus () in murine models of mycoses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Fungi (Basel)
October 2022
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
Sterylglucosides (SGs) are sterol conjugates widely distributed in nature. Although their universal presence in all living organisms suggests the importance of this kind of glycolipids, they are yet poorly understood. The glycosylation of sterols confers a more hydrophilic character, modifying biophysical properties of cell membranes and altering immunogenicity of the cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucosal Immunol
June 2022
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
We previously reported that administration of Cryptococcus neoformans Δsgl1 mutant vaccine, accumulating sterylglucosides (SGs) and having normal capsule (GXM), protects mice from a subsequent infection even during CD4 T cells deficiency, a condition commonly associated with cryptococcosis. Here, we studied the immune mechanism that confers host protection during CD4T deficiency. Mice receiving Δsgl1 vaccine produce IFNγ and IL-17A during CD4 T (or CD8 T) deficiency, and protection was lost when either cytokine was neutralized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmBio
October 2022
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook Universitygrid.36425.36, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients, resulting in high mortality rates. Currently, no vaccine formulations to promote immune protection in at-risk individuals have been developed. In this work, we deleted the sterylglucosidase-encoding gene, , in Aspergillus fumigatus and investigated its role in fungal virulence and host vaccine protection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiosci Biotechnol Biochem
July 2022
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
Glycolipids are important components of cell membranes in several organisms. The major glycolipids in mammals are glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which are composed of ceramides. In mammals, GSLs are degraded stepwise from the non-reducing end of the oligosaccharides via exo-type glycosidases.
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