NK Cell Recognition of Candida glabrata through Binding of NKp46 and NCR1 to Fungal Ligands Epa1, Epa6, and Epa7

Natural killer (NK) cells form an important arm of the innate immune system and function to combat a wide range of invading pathogens, ranging from viruses to bacteria. However, the means by which NK cells accomplish recognition of pathogens with a limited repertoire of receptors remain largely unknown. In the current study, we describe the recognition of an emerging fungal pathogen, Candida glabrata, by the human NK cytotoxic receptor NKp46 and its mouse ortholog, NCR1. Using NCR1 knockout mice, we observed that this receptor-mediated recognition was crucial for controlling C. glabrata infection in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we delineated the fungal ligands to be the C. glabrata adhesins Epa1, Epa6, and Epa7 and demonstrated that clearance of systemic C. glabrata infections in vivo depends on their recognition by NCR1. As NKp46 and NCR1 have been previously shown to bind viral adhesion receptors, we speculate that NKp46/NCR1 may be a novel type of pattern recognition receptor.