Oxidative Stress Responses in Fungal Pathogens

Fungal pathogens confront a hostile oxidative environment during infection, primarily through reactive oxygen species generated by host phagocytes. To survive and proliferate, these organisms have evolved sophisticated antioxidant defences, redox‐balancing systems and stress‐responsive signalling cascades. Key elements include the rapid induction of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalases and superoxide dismutases, and the activation of stress‐activated protein kinase modules that orchestrate transcriptional programmes. Many pathogens also remodel their cell wall and produce biofilms to mitigate oxidative damage, thereby enhancing persistence in diverse host niches. Understanding these responses is critical for tackling clinical challenges posed by drug resistance and recurrent infections, and offers avenues for novel therapeutic interventions that exploit fungal vulnerabilities in redox homeostasis.

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Oxidative Stress Responses in Fungal Pathogens publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in oxidative stress responses in fungal pathogens across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive oxygen‐containing molecules that can inflict damage on proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
Oxidative burst: A rapid and transient release of ROS by immune cells aimed at destroying invading pathogens.
Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK): A kinase enzyme that conveys external stress signals into changes in gene expression via phosphorylation cascades.
Antioxidant enzymes: Enzymatic defences, such as catalases and superoxide dismutases, that neutralise ROS and protect cellular integrity.
Biofilm: A multicellular, surface‐attached community of microbes embedded within an extracellular matrix that confers protection against environmental stresses.

References

1. Halofantrine Hydrochloride Acts as an Antioxidant Ability Inhibitor That Enhances Oxidative Stress Damage to Candida albicans. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Host-derived reactive oxygen species trigger activation of the Candida albicans transcription regulator Rtg1/3. PLOS Pathogens (2023).
3. NmrB (AN9181) expression is activated under oxidative stress conditions acting as a metabolic repressor of Aspergillus nidulans. Frontiers in Microbiology (2024).