Immune cells fold and damage fungal hyphae
Judith M. Bain, María Fernanda Alonso, Delma S. Childers, Catriona A. Walls, K. MacKenzie, Arnab Pradhan, Leanne E. Lewis, Johanna Louw, Gabriela M. Avelar, Daniel E. Larcombe, Mihai G. Netea, Neil A. R. Gow, Gordon D. Brown, Lars P. Erwig, Alistair J. P. Brown
Abstract
Significance Macrophages protect against microbial infection, in part by engulfing and killing invading microbes. Fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans are known to evade phagocytic killing by forming hyphae that are physically challenging to engulf because of their length. We now find that macrophages can respond by folding the hyphae of C. albicans (and other fungal species). Hyphal folding implies that immune cells can continue to apply mechanical force after their cargo has been internalized. The involvement of Dectin-1, β2-integrin, and actin–myosin polymerization provides initial mechanistic insight. Folding damages hyphae, inhibits their growth, and facilitates their complete engulfment. Therefore, hyphal folding represents an additional weapon in the immune cell armory that presumably contributes to fungal clearance.