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Review
. 2006 Dec;5(12):1941-9.
doi: 10.1128/EC.00277-06. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Parallels in fungal pathogenesis on plant and animal hosts

Adrienne C Sexton  1 , Barbara J Howlett
Affiliations
Review

Parallels in fungal pathogenesis on plant and animal hosts

Adrienne C Sexton et al. Eukaryot Cell. 2006 Dec.
No abstract available

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Comparison of infection mechanisms used by ascomycete pathogens of plants and animals. Stage 1, attachment of conidia, ascospores (plant pathogens), yeast cells, hyphae, or arthrospores to a surface and recognition of the host. Stage 2a, germination of ascospores (plant pathogens), conidia, or arthrospores. Stage 2b, dimorphic switching of animal pathogens from a yeast phase to a pathogenic hyphal stage or from hyphae to a pathogenic yeast phase. Stage 3, penetration of the host surface or host cells may involve mechanical pressure, such as that produced by appressoria in some plant pathogens; lytic enzymes, such as proteases; and additional cell wall-degrading enzymes, including cutinases, cellulases, pectinases, and xylanases in plant pathogens. Natural openings in the host, such as stomata in plants or wounds in animals and plants, are also entry points for pathogenic fungi. Stage 3a, some animal pathogens (e.g., Histoplasma capsulatum) use receptors on host cells to bind and facilitate endocytosis as a means of penetrating the host cells. Stage 4, avoidance of host defenses. Pathogenic fungi may detoxify oxidative molecules such as superoxide and antifungal compounds and synthesize protective molecules such as melanin. Animal-pathogenic ascomycetes often avoid or inhibit animal immune system components. Plant pathogens may avoid exposure to fungal wall-degrading enzymes by causing little host cell damage when undergoing intercellular biotrophic growth or by producing inhibitors of these plant enzymes. Stage 5, colonization of the host environment. Colonization often results in host cell death, may require specific nutritional mechanisms such as those for iron uptake in animal hosts, and can produce other changes in host physiology, such as the pH level, to create a more favorable environment for the pathogen. Stage 6a, asexual reproduction often results in conidia emerging from lesions on the host surface of plants. Stage 6b, spore formation in the host is less common in animal pathogens, and direct host-to-host transmission is rare. Coccidioides immitis produces endospores in host tissue by numerous mitotic divisions inside a spherule. Stage 7, sexual reproduction. Mating and meiotic division produce ascospores during the disease cycle of plant-pathogenic fungi. This can result in recombinant offspring if mating occurs with a genetically different individual (obligatory in heterothallic but not in homothallic fungi). Sexual reproduction is not reported to occur in animal-pathogenic fungi, with a few exceptions, such as Pneumocystis spp. EP, plant epidermis/cuticle; EL, endothelium; m, macrophage.
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