Manganese and fungal pathogens: Metabolism and potential association with virulence

Nutritional immunity is one of the strategies employed by the host to combat invading pathogens. It consists of actively controlling micronutrient bioavailability in the site of infection to hinder microbial growth. The role of manganese in cell biology and nutritional immunity for bacterial pathogens is well understood, but data regarding fungi are still limited. Fungi have evolved complex regulatory systems to acquire, distribute, and utilize manganese. Therefore, the disruption of manganese homeostasis in pathogenic fungi may lead to severe phenotypes and impact virulence. Because the host presents tools for man-ganese sequestration, and this condition can reduce the growth of important fungal path-ogens such as Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans, it is feasible to suppose that manganese nutritional immunity could play an important role in fungal infections. However, direct evidence is still lacking, and little is known about manganese homeostasis, nutritional immunity, and specific adaptations in individual spe-cies of fungal pathogens. In this opinion, we present the current body of knowledge about these subjects, arguing about manganese importance in host-pathogen interactions. (c) 2022 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Nutritional immunity is a host strategy to combat invading pathogens by controlling micronutrient bioavailability to hinder microbial growth. While the role of manganese is well understood in bacterial pathogens, limited data is available for fungi. Fungi have evolved complex regulatory systems for manganese acquisition, distribution, and utilization. Disruption of manganese homeostasis in pathogenic fungi may impact virulence and phenotypes. Further research is needed to determine the importance of manganese in host-pathogen interactions in fungal infections.