Fungal Hyphal Growth – Spitzenkörper versus Apical Vesicle Crescent

Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium species are filamentous fungi widely distributed in nature. Some are considered emerging pathogen due to its clinical importance, especially in immunocompromised patients. During the last few years, many virulence factors have been described, some of them being molecules localized on the fungal cell wall, such as glycoproteins, polysaccharides and glycolipids. In this context, one glycosphingolipid specifically, glucosylceramide (GlcCer), has been chemically identified and its biological roles have been described. GlcCer is a conserved structure in the Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium complex and also in other fungal species. In addition, it plays important roles in fungal growth and differentiation, host-pathogen interaction, immune response modulation and it has been considering a potential target for new antifungal drugs. The use of monoclonal antibodies has shown a possible synergism with current antifungal drugs use in the clinical settings. Therefore, the study of this class of lipids is promising in order to clarify the Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium growth, pathogenesis and fungal treatment.