title: Fungal glycans and the innate immune recognition.
abstract: Polysaccharides such as α- and β-glucans, chitin, and glycoproteins extensively modified with both N- and O-linked carbohydrates are the major components of fungal surfaces. The fungal cell wall is an excellent target for the action of antifungal agents, since most of its components are absent from mammalian cells. Recognition of these carbohydrate-containing molecules by the innate immune system triggers inflammatory responses and activation of microbicidal mechanisms by leukocytes. This review will discuss the structure of surface fungal glycoconjugates and polysaccharides and their recognition by innate immune receptors.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barreto-Bergter
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas/Unidade de Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism; D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition; D002686:Chitin
keywords: fungal pathogens; glycoconjugates; innate immunity; pattern recognition receptors; polysaccharides