title: NETs formed by human neutrophils inhibit growth of the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) represent a distinct mechanism to control and eliminate microbial infections. Our results show that conidia and germ tubes of the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus are able to trigger the formation of NETs. Viable fungal cells are not essentially required for this host-pathogen interaction. Neutrophils engulf conidia and thereby inhibit their germination, a process that is independent of NETosis. In the experimental set-up used in this study neutrophils do not kill germ tubes, but reduce their polar growth and this inhibition depends on NETs as it can be overcome by the addition of DNase-1. The Zn(2+) chelator calprotectin is associated with the Aspergillus-induced NETs and addition of Zn(2+) abrogates the NET-mediated growth inhibition. In summary, our data provide evidence that NETs are not sufficient to kill A. fumigatus, but might be a valuable tool to confine infection.
authors.affiliation: Max-von-Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Pettenkoferstr. 9a, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heesemann
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loeffler
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heesemann
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ebel
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D004247:DNA; D015032:Zinc