Attachment of spores of the human pathogenic fungus Rhizopus oryzae to extracellular matrix components

Abstract

Fungi of the order Mucorales determine various infections involving principally the respiratory tract. In spite of their medical importance, little is known about their mechanisms of adherence to the host tissues. Thus we have attempted to define the morphological stages involved in the adherence process of Rhizopus oryzae which is the main causative agent of mucormycoses. The study of the kinetics of germination and adherence to plastic revealed that attachment occurred prior to germination and decreased dramatically with germ tube formation. This correlates with important modifications of the cell wall of the fungus with respect to both carbohydrate composition and distribution of anionic sites. Moreover, the attachment of spores to extracellular matrix components immobilized onto wells of polystyrene microtiter plates has been investigated. Spores adhered readily to immobilized laminin or type IV collagen, but not to fibronectin or the glycosaminoglycans. Attachment to laminin and collagen was dose-dependent and specific. Adhesion was not inhibited by the different carbohydrates tested, suggesting that a lectin was not involved in these interactions. Finally, immunofluorescence revealed that laminin and type IV collagen interacted exclusively with spores and mother cells of germ tubes. Thus, the recognition of laminin or collagen by spores may participate in their adherence to epithelial basement membranes exposed after epithelial tissue damage which frequently accompanies the predisposing factors for mucormycoses.