The Trojan Horse Model

GIUSIANO G

PATHOGENESIS OF DIMORPHIC FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Frontiers Editorial

Lugar: Lausanne; Año: 2021; p. 201 - 209

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most relevant systemic endemic mycosis limited toLatin American countries. The etiological agents are thermally dimorphic species of thegenus Paracoccidioides. Infection occurs via respiratory tract by inhalation of propagulesfrom the environmental (saprophytic) phase. In the lung alveoli the fungus converts to thecharacteristic yeast phase (parasitic) where interact with extracellular matrix proteins,epithelial cells, and the host cellular immunity. The response involves phagocytic cellsrecognition but intracellular Paracoccidioides have demonstrated the ability to survive andalso multiply inside the neutrophils, macrophages, giant cells, and dendritic cells.Persistence of Paracoccidioides as facultative intracellular pathogen is important interms of the fungal load but also regarding to the possibility to disseminate penetratingother tissues even protected by the phagocytes. This strategy to invade other organs viatransmigration of infected phagocytes is called Trojan horse mechanism and it was alsodescribed for other fungi and considered a factor of pathogenicity. This mini reviewcomprises a literature revision of the spectrum of tools and mechanisms displayed byParacoccidioides to overcame phagocytosis, discusses the Trojan horse model and theimmunological context in proven models or the possibility that Paracoccidioides apply thistool for dissemination to other tissues.