Complexation of fungal extracellular nucleic acids by host LL-37 peptide shapes neutrophil response to Candida albicans biofilm.

ABSTRACT: Candida albicans remains the predominant cause of fungal infections, where adhered microbial cells form biofilms - densely packed communities. The central feature of C. albicans biofilms is the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM) consisting of polymers and extracellular nucleic acids (eDNA, eRNA), which significantly impedes the infiltration of host cells. Neutrophils, as crucial players in the innate host defense, employ several mechanisms to eradicate the fungal infection, including NETosis, endocytosis, or the release of granules containing, among others, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The main representative of these is the positively charged peptide LL-37 formed from an inactive precursor (hCAP18). In addition to its antimicrobial functions, this peptide possesse

SUBMITTER: Juszczak M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10880380 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature