新生隐球菌细胞通讯研究进展

Cell-cell communication in human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

摘要:

细胞通讯系统调控多细胞生物的细胞增殖与分化等多种基础生物学过程，也是调控单细胞生物群体或社会性行为的重要策略。新生隐球菌是一种重要的环境来源病原真菌，主要感染免疫缺陷人群，具有很高的致死率。作为环境致病真菌，新生隐球菌进化出丰富的环境适应性策略。新生隐球菌细胞呈现出高度的异质性和社会性，不同形态的细胞承载着不同生物学功能和病原学特征。越来越多的研究表明，通过细胞通讯系统调控其群体或社会性行为，既是新生隐球菌适应多变的外界环境和宿主环境的关键策略，也与其致病能力密切相关。本文介绍新生隐球菌中细胞通讯系统的研究进展及其在有性生殖、细胞形态转换、适应环境及宿主压力等社会性行为中的调控作用。

Abstract:

Cell-cell communication has been well known about the control of various fundamental processes, such as proliferation and cellular differentiation, in multi-cellular organisms. In microbes, cell-cell communication system determines a variety of community and social behaviors. Cryptococcus neoformans is an important environmental human fungal pathogen, which is a common cause for fatal infection towards immune-compromised patients. This pathogen employs diverse strategies as environmental adaptation to maximize its survival during or between its infections. These strategies include cell-cell communication, which regulates the transition between different Cryptococcus neoformans morphotypes with distinct trade-offs against stressors from host or natural niches. In this review, the complex cell-cell communication systems in C. neoformans and their contribution to morphotype transition, stress adaptation and community behaviors are focused.