Are there pathogenicity factors in fungi?
Morschhäuser, J.; Köhler, G.; Hacker, J.
Mycoses 39(Suppl): 51-54
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0933-7407 PMID: 8767271 Document Number: 456652
Since many years so-called pathogenicity or virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria have been studied intensively. Whereas these factors are produced especially by obligate but also facultative pathogenic bacteria, their presence and function in pathogenic fungi is still a matter of debate. In this minireview we summarize some data about possible pathogenicity factors of Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. The production of adhesins, proteases and capsules contributes to the virulence of these fungi. As fungal infections usually affect immunocompromised patients, the immune status of the host plays a decisive role in addition to the virulence factors produced by fungi.