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XB-ART-47842
Science 2013 Oct 18;3426156:366-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1243316.
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The invasive chytrid fungus of amphibians paralyzes lymphocyte responses.

Fites JS , Ramsey JP , Holden WM , Collier SP , Sutherland DM , Reinert LK , Gayek AS , Dermody TS , Aune TM , Oswald-Richter K , Rollins-Smith LA .


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The chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, causes chytridiomycosis and is a major contributor to global amphibian declines. Although amphibians have robust immune defenses, clearance of this pathogen is impaired. Because inhibition of host immunity is a common survival strategy of pathogenic fungi, we hypothesized that B. dendrobatidis evades clearance by inhibiting immune functions. We found that B. dendrobatidis cells and supernatants impaired lymphocyte proliferation and induced apoptosis; however, fungal recognition and phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils was not impaired. Fungal inhibitory factors were resistant to heat, acid, and protease. Their production was absent in zoospores and reduced by nikkomycin Z, suggesting that they may be components of the cell wall. Evasion of host immunity may explain why this pathogen has devastated amphibian populations worldwide.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
GO keywords: T cell proliferation involved in immune response

References [+] :
Ben-Ami, Enemy of the (immunosuppressed) state: an update on the pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus infection. 2010, Pubmed