Albumin orchestrates a natural host defence mechanism against mucormycosis.

ABSTRACT: Mucormycosis is an emerging, life-threatening human infection caused by Mucorales fungi^1-3. Metabolic disorders uniquely predispose an ever-expanding group of patients to mucormycosis through poorly understood mechanisms^1,2,4,5, suggesting that uncharacterized host metabolic effectors may confer protective immunity against this infection. Here we uncover a master regulatory role of albumin in host defence against Mucorales through the modulation of fungal pathogenicity. Our initial studies identified severe hypoalb uminaemia as a prominent metabolic abnormality and an independent biomarker of poor mucormycosis outcome across three distinct cohorts of patients with mucormycosis. Notably, purified albumin selectively inhibits Mucorales growth among a range of pathogens,

SUBMITTER: Pikoulas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12804082 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature