The trojan horse model in paracoccidioides : a fantastic pathway to survive infecting human cells
Resumen
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most relevant systemic endemic mycosis limited to
Latin American countries. The etiological agents are thermally dimorphic species of the
genus Paracoccidioides. Infection occurs via respiratory tract by inhalation of propagules
from the environmental (saprophytic) phase. In the lung alveoli the fungus converts to the
characteristic yeast phase (parasitic) where interact with extracellular matrix proteins,
epithelial cells, and the host cellular immunity. The response involves phagocytic cells
recognition but intracellular Paracoccidioides have demonstrated the ability to survive and
also multiply inside the neutrophils, macrophages, giant cells, and dendritic cells.
Persistence of Paracoccidioides as facultative intracellular pathogen is important in
terms of the fungal load but also regarding to the possibility to disseminate penetrating
other tissues even protected by the phagocytes. This strategy to invade other organs via
transmigration of infected phagocytes is called Trojan horse mechanism and it was also
described for other fungi and considered a factor of pathogenicity. This mini review
comprises a literature revision of the spectrum of tools and mechanisms displayed by
Paracoccidioides to overcame phagocytosis, discusses the Trojan horse model and the
immunological context in proven models or the possibility that Paracoccidioides apply this
tool for dissemination to other tissues.
Colecciones
- Artículos de revista [52]