TY - JOUR
T1 - Melanin as a virulence factor of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and other dimorphic pathogenic fungi
T2 - A minireview
AU - Taborda, Carlos P.
AU - Da Silva, Marcelo B.
AU - Nosanchuk, Joshua D.
AU - Travassos, Luiz R.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - Melanin pigments are substances produced by a broad variety of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and helminths. Microbes predominantly produce melanin pigment via tyrosinases, laccases, catecholases, and the polyketide synthase pathway. In fungi, melanin is deposited in the cell wall and cytoplasm, and melanin particles ("ghosts") can be isolated from these fungi that have the same size and shape of the original cells. Melanin has been reported in several human pathogenic dimorphic fungi including Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides posadasii. Melanization appears to contribute to virulence by reducing the susceptibility of melanized fungi to host defense mechanisms and antifungal drugs.
AB - Melanin pigments are substances produced by a broad variety of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and helminths. Microbes predominantly produce melanin pigment via tyrosinases, laccases, catecholases, and the polyketide synthase pathway. In fungi, melanin is deposited in the cell wall and cytoplasm, and melanin particles ("ghosts") can be isolated from these fungi that have the same size and shape of the original cells. Melanin has been reported in several human pathogenic dimorphic fungi including Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides posadasii. Melanization appears to contribute to virulence by reducing the susceptibility of melanized fungi to host defense mechanisms and antifungal drugs.
KW - Dimorphic fungi
KW - Melanin
KW - Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
KW - Pathogenesis
KW - Susceptibility
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U2 - 10.1007/s11046-007-9061-4
DO - 10.1007/s11046-007-9061-4
M3 - Short survey
C2 - 18777637
AN - SCOPUS:42549145387
VL - 165
SP - 331
EP - 339
JO - Mycopathologia
JF - Mycopathologia
SN - 0301-486X
IS - 4-5
ER -