Neutrophil extracellular traps capture and kill Candida albicans yeast and hyphal forms

Neutrophil extracellular traps capture and kill Candida albicans yeast and hyphal forms

2006 | Constantin F. Urban, Ulrike Reichard, Volker Brinkmann and Arturo Zychlinsky
Neutrophils, a key component of the innate immune system, are capable of phagocytosing and killing microbes through phagolysosomal fusion. Recently, it has been discovered that activated neutrophils form extracellular traps (NETs) composed of granule proteins and chromatin, which degrade virulence factors and kill both Gram-positive and negative bacteria. This study demonstrates for the first time that *Candida albicans*, a eukaryotic pathogen, induces NET formation and is susceptible to NET-mediated killing. *C. albicans* is the primary cause of fungal infections in humans, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The ability of *C. albicans* to switch between yeast and hyphal forms poses a significant challenge to neutrophil-mediated killing. The research shows that NETs can kill both yeast and hyphal forms of *C. albicans*, and that granule components mediate this fungal killing. The findings suggest that neutrophils use NETs to trap and kill ascomycetous yeasts. The study also highlights the potential role of NETs in controlling eukaryotic pathogens and provides insights into the mechanisms of fungal infection and immunity.Neutrophils, a key component of the innate immune system, are capable of phagocytosing and killing microbes through phagolysosomal fusion. Recently, it has been discovered that activated neutrophils form extracellular traps (NETs) composed of granule proteins and chromatin, which degrade virulence factors and kill both Gram-positive and negative bacteria. This study demonstrates for the first time that *Candida albicans*, a eukaryotic pathogen, induces NET formation and is susceptible to NET-mediated killing. *C. albicans* is the primary cause of fungal infections in humans, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The ability of *C. albicans* to switch between yeast and hyphal forms poses a significant challenge to neutrophil-mediated killing. The research shows that NETs can kill both yeast and hyphal forms of *C. albicans*, and that granule components mediate this fungal killing. The findings suggest that neutrophils use NETs to trap and kill ascomycetous yeasts. The study also highlights the potential role of NETs in controlling eukaryotic pathogens and provides insights into the mechanisms of fungal infection and immunity.
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[slides and audio] Neutrophil extracellular traps capture and kill Candida albicans yeast and hyphal forms