title: Biochemical characterization of potential virulence markers in the human fungal pathogen Pseudallescheria boydii.
abstract: The ubiquitous Pseudallescheria boydii (anamorph Scedosporium apiospermum) is a saprophytic filamentous fungus recognized as a potent etiologic agent of a wide variety of infections in immunocompromised as well as in immunocompetent patients. Very little is known about the virulence factors expressed by this fungal pathogen. The present review provides an overview of recent discoveries related to the identification and biochemical characterization of potential virulence attributes produced by P. boydii, with special emphasis on surface and released molecules. These structures include polysaccharides (glucans), glycopeptides (peptidorhamnomannans), glycolipids (glucosylceramides) and hydrolytic enzymes (proteases, phosphatases and superoxide dismutase), which have been implicated in some fundamental cellular processes in P. boydii including growth, differentiation and interaction with host molecules. Elucidation of the structure of cell surface components as well as the secreted molecules, especially those that function as virulence determinants, is of great relevance to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of P. boydii.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudos Integrados em Bioquimica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral/IMPPG, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: André L S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Vera C B
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: Marcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Bianca A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barreto-Bergter
mesh_terms: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037521:Virulence Factors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases