Fungal Virulence Factors
Fungal Virulence Factors - Related Videos
08:51
Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
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Cited by 11 •
2015
The method described here is used to induce the apoptotic signaling cascade at defined steps in order to dissect the activity of an anti-apoptotic bacterial effector protein. This method can also be used for inducible expression of pro-apoptotic or toxic proteins, or for dissecting interference with other signaling pathways.
11:32
Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
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Cited by 18 •
2014
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading pathogen causing severe community-acquired pneumonia and responsible for over 2 million deaths worldwide. The impact of bacterial factors implicated in fitness or virulence can be monitored in real-time in an acute mouse pneumonia or bacteremia model using bioluminescent bacteria.
11:33
Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking
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Cited by 2 •
2013
This article illustrates the use of pulse-chase radio labeling in combination with site-specific photocrosslinking to monitor interactions between a protein of interest and other factors in E. coli. Unlike traditional chemical cross-linking methods, this approach generates high resolution “snapshots” of an ordered assembly pathway in a living cell.
08:52
Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis
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Cited by 22 •
2013
We describe methods for live-cell video microscopy of Candida albicans phagocytosis by macrophages. These methods enable stage-specific analysis of macrophage migration, recognition, engulfment and phagosome maturation and reveal novel aspects of phagocytosis.
09:42
Isolation and Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples and Evaluation of Fungal Virulence against Insect Pests
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Cited by 14 •
2021
Here we present a protocol based on the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)-bait system that was used for isolating and selecting entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) from soil samples. An effective conidia number (ECN) formula is used to select high stress tolerant EPF based on physiological characteristics for pest microbial control in the field.
FAQs
Adhesion is an early enabling step because attachment to host tissues helps fungi remain at a colonization site rather than being removed. Once established, attached cells can support later activities such as tissue invasion, nutrient acquisition, and interaction with host defenses. In biology, examining adhesion therefore connects a cellular trait with the location and progression of infection.
Secreted hydrolytic enzymes can help break down host-associated materials, while toxins can damage tissues or alter host responses. Together, these products connect fungal growth with nutrient acquisition, tissue invasion, and inflammation. Their effects are not interchangeable: enzymes primarily support access to resources or surfaces, whereas toxins contribute directly to harmful changes that can increase disease severity.
Morphological switching can change how a fungus interacts with host tissues and defenses. Yeast and filamentous forms represent different cellular arrangements, so changing between them may influence invasion, colonization, and the severity of disease. Studying this behavior helps explain why environmental conditions and host immunity can shape infection outcomes rather than producing identical results in every host.
A capsule can contribute to immune evasion by creating an outer structure that affects how fungal cells interact with host defenses. This can influence whether the host response limits colonization or permits continued growth. Because immune evasion is linked to infection severity, capsule formation provides a useful cellular feature for relating fungal structure to disease progression.
Environmental conditions and host immunity can shape which fungal traits are most important during infection. Changes in these factors may alter the balance among adhesion, enzyme or toxin secretion, capsule formation, and morphological switching. As a result, the same fungus may show different patterns of colonization, inflammation, tissue invasion, or disease severity in different biological settings.
Researchers can compare the presence and activity of traits associated with colonization, tissue invasion, immune evasion, nutrient acquisition, and inflammation. Differences across these features help distinguish fungi that cause disease from those that do not. This comparison also links individual cellular behaviors to broader outcomes, including infection severity and the ability to withstand host defenses.
Virulence factors provide potential targets because disrupting them could interfere with fungal colonization, invasion, immune evasion, or nutrient acquisition. Researchers can also examine whether particular molecules or cellular behaviors are useful for vaccine development. This approach complements direct study of fungal growth by focusing on the traits that connect fungal biology with host damage and disease severity.