Galactomannan Produced by Aspergillus fumigatus : An Update on the Structure, Biosynthesis and Biological Functions of an Emblematic Fungal Biomarker

Journal of Fungi
Thierry Fontaine, Jean-Paul Latgé

Abstract

The galactomannan (GM) that is produced by the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is an emblematic biomarker in medical mycology. The GM is composed of two monosaccharides: mannose and galactofuranose. The furanic configuration of galactose residues, absent in mammals, is responsible for the antigenicity of the GM and has favoured the development of ELISA tests to diagnose aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. The GM that is produced by A. fumigatus is a unique fungal polysaccharide containing a tetramannoside repeat unit and having three different forms: (i) membrane bound through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor, (ii) covalently linked to β-1,3-glucans in the cell wall, or (iii) released in the culture medium as a free polymer. Recent studies have revealed the crucial role of the GM during vegetative and polarized fungal growth. This review highlights these recent data on its biosynthetic pathway and its biological functions during the saprophytic and pathogenic life of this opportunistic human fungal pathogen.

References

Jul 1, 1979·Infection and Immunity·E Reiss, P F Lehmann
Feb 1, 1997·Infection and Immunity·E CenciF Bistoni
Jan 8, 1999·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·M LussierH Bussey
Jun 28, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·T FontaineJ P Latgé
Jan 22, 2002·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Silvia BozzaLuigina Romani
Aug 13, 2002·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Salamatu S MambulaStuart M Levitz
Feb 24, 2004·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Silvia BellocchioLuigina Romani
Oct 21, 2004·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Diego Serrano-GómezAngel L Corbí
Dec 1, 2004·Biochemistry·Thierry FontaineMichael A J Ferguson
Jul 9, 2005·Eukaryotic Cell·W MorelleJ-P Latgé
Aug 23, 2005·Infection and Immunity·Viviane BalloyMichel Chignard
Oct 6, 2005·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Corina CostachelThierry Fontaine
Oct 7, 2005·Biological Chemistry·Hans BakkerFrançoise H Routier
Jun 8, 2006·Annual Review of Biochemistry·Chris Whitfield
Jul 25, 2006·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Martine Pittet, Andreas Conzelmann
Oct 6, 2006·Molecular Biology of the Cell·Morihisa FujitaYoshifumi Jigami
Jun 26, 2007·Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry·Masatoshi Goto
Oct 5, 2007·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Morihisa Fujita, Yoshifumi Jigami
Nov 1, 2007·Glycobiology·Catherine SimenelThierry Fontaine
Jun 17, 2008·Eukaryotic Cell·Philipp S SchmalhorstFrançoise H Routier
Jul 1, 2009·Cellular Microbiology·Claude LamarreJean-Paul Latgé
Jul 25, 2009·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Silvia BozzaLuigina Romani
Oct 21, 2009·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Jakob EngelFrançoise H Routier
Nov 6, 2009·Cellular Microbiology·Céline LoussertAnne Beauvais
Dec 2, 2009·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Amandine GasteboisThierry Fontaine

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 20, 2021·Reports of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·Bahareh ArghavanSassan Rezaie

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
deamination
ELISA

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by infection by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillosis occurs in chronic or acute forms which are clinically very distinct. Most cases of acute aspergillosis occur in patients with severely compromised immune systems. Chronic colonization or infection can cause complications in people with underlying respiratory illnesses. Discover the latest research on aspergillosis here.

Aspergillosis (ASM)

Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by infection by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillosis occurs in chronic or acute forms which are clinically very distinct. Most cases of acute aspergillosis occur in patients with severely compromised immune systems. Chronic colonization or infection can cause complications in people with underlying respiratory illnesses. Discover the latest research on aspergillosis here.