203
stantly by humans. In a healthy human, the immune system rapidly removes it to
protect the lungs. In an immunocompromised patient, the inhaled conidia infiltrate
the lungs and sinuses and cause invasive aspergillosis (Haas 2014). Apart from
allergy and aspergillosis, Histoplasma capsulatum causes histoplasmosis through
conidia or mycelial fragmentation (Timmerman and Woods 1999). Conidia requires
Fe for its growth. Fungi secrete Fe
3+
chelating hydroxamate siderophore during
mycelial growth to acquire Fe from the host. Thus, the siderophore-iron complex
plays a vital role in allergic reactions and other diseases in humans.
12.5.2 Mucormycosis and Zygomycosis
Many fungi cause life-threatening diseases in patients with decreased immunity.
C. albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the common fungal pathogens causing superficial mucosal infections, candidiasis and meningoencephalitis in humans
(Sloan and Parris 2014; Caza and Kronstad 2013; Moyes and Naglik 2011).
Mucormycosis is a fatal fungal infection caused by the Rhizopus species, Lichtheimia
species, Cunninghamella bertholletia and A. fumigatus in patients with renal failure, diabetes and in patients under chemotherapy or steroid therapy (Schwartze
et al. 2014; Boelaert et al. 1988; Nakamura et al. 1989; Rex et al. 1988; Boelaert
et al. 1988). The disease is common in renal failure patients under dialysis with iron
overload and receiving chelation therapy with the deferoxamine (Boelaert et al.
1993). Xenosiderophores such as S. cerevisia, Candida spp. and C. neoformans also
cause mucormycosis disease. Zygomycosis is caused by R. rhizopodiformis that
shows increased growth rate during desferrioxamine therapy (Boelaert et al. 1994).
12.5.3 Fungal Diseases in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by the mutation in the CF Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene which is an autosomal recessive disorder. CF mainly
affects the respiratory system and the digestive system (Williams et al. 2016).
Nearly 50% of CF patients are reported with invading A. fumigatus and Candida
spp. Recently, Scedosporium apiospermum is reported in CF patients. It causes fatal
infection during lung transplant without any clinical signs. A common fungal disease in CF patients is the allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and its prevalence
is high. The fungi form a biofilm that is resistant to antimicrobial drugs and the host
defence system, and produce a defect in lungs and respiratory function (Boelaert
et al. 1993; Sass et al. 2019). The formation of biofilm requires Fe (Lin et al. 2012).
During the initial stages of CF, Fe availability is highly limited for the infecting
microorganism. In the host body, Fe is present in the bound form of ferritin, transferrin and lactoferrin. A. Fumigatus acquires Fe from transferrin by producing siderophores. C. albicans acquires Fe directly from the ferritin and transferrin by
12 A Summary on Up-To-Date Research on Fungal Siderophores on Disease…
stantly by humans. In a healthy human, the immune system rapidly removes it to
protect the lungs. In an immunocompromised patient, the inhaled conidia infiltrate
the lungs and sinuses and cause invasive aspergillosis (Haas 2014). Apart from
allergy and aspergillosis, Histoplasma capsulatum causes histoplasmosis through
conidia or mycelial fragmentation (Timmerman and Woods 1999). Conidia requires
Fe for its growth. Fungi secrete Fe
3+
chelating hydroxamate siderophore during
mycelial growth to acquire Fe from the host. Thus, the siderophore-iron complex
plays a vital role in allergic reactions and other diseases in humans.
12.5.2 Mucormycosis and Zygomycosis
Many fungi cause life-threatening diseases in patients with decreased immunity.
C. albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the common fungal pathogens causing superficial mucosal infections, candidiasis and meningoencephalitis in humans
(Sloan and Parris 2014; Caza and Kronstad 2013; Moyes and Naglik 2011).
Mucormycosis is a fatal fungal infection caused by the Rhizopus species, Lichtheimia
species, Cunninghamella bertholletia and A. fumigatus in patients with renal failure, diabetes and in patients under chemotherapy or steroid therapy (Schwartze
et al. 2014; Boelaert et al. 1988; Nakamura et al. 1989; Rex et al. 1988; Boelaert
et al. 1988). The disease is common in renal failure patients under dialysis with iron
overload and receiving chelation therapy with the deferoxamine (Boelaert et al.
1993). Xenosiderophores such as S. cerevisia, Candida spp. and C. neoformans also
cause mucormycosis disease. Zygomycosis is caused by R. rhizopodiformis that
shows increased growth rate during desferrioxamine therapy (Boelaert et al. 1994).
12.5.3 Fungal Diseases in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by the mutation in the CF Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene which is an autosomal recessive disorder. CF mainly
affects the respiratory system and the digestive system (Williams et al. 2016).
Nearly 50% of CF patients are reported with invading A. fumigatus and Candida
spp. Recently, Scedosporium apiospermum is reported in CF patients. It causes fatal
infection during lung transplant without any clinical signs. A common fungal disease in CF patients is the allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and its prevalence
is high. The fungi form a biofilm that is resistant to antimicrobial drugs and the host
defence system, and produce a defect in lungs and respiratory function (Boelaert
et al. 1993; Sass et al. 2019). The formation of biofilm requires Fe (Lin et al. 2012).
During the initial stages of CF, Fe availability is highly limited for the infecting
microorganism. In the host body, Fe is present in the bound form of ferritin, transferrin and lactoferrin. A. Fumigatus acquires Fe from transferrin by producing siderophores. C. albicans acquires Fe directly from the ferritin and transferrin by
12 A Summary on Up-To-Date Research on Fungal Siderophores on Disease…