A novel mannan-specific chimeric antigen receptor M-CAR redirects T cells to interact with Candida spp. hyphae and Rhizopus oryzae spores

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are responsible for elevated rates of morbidity and mortality, causing around of 1.5 million deaths annually worldwide. One of the main causative agents of IFIs is Candida albicans, and non-albicans Candida species have emerged as a spreading global public health co...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guimarães, Júlia Garcia [UNESP], de Campos, Gabriela Yamazaki, Machado, Michele Procópio, Oliveira Brito, Patrícia Kellen Martins, dos Reis, Thaila Fernanda, Goldman, Gustavo Henrique, Bonini Palma, Patricia Vianna, de Campos Fraga-Silva, Thais Fernanda, Cavallin, Daniela Cardoso Umbelino [UNESP], Venturini, James, da Silva, Thiago Aparecido [UNESP]
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/296992
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2025.2458786
https://hdl.handle.net/11449/296992
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:candida spp
Chimeric Antigen Receptor
invasive fungal infection
jurkat cells
mannan
rhizopus oryzae
Descripción
Sumario:Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are responsible for elevated rates of morbidity and mortality, causing around of 1.5 million deaths annually worldwide. One of the main causative agents of IFIs is Candida albicans, and non-albicans Candida species have emerged as a spreading global public health concernment. Furthermore, COVID-19 has contributed to a boost in the incidence of IFIs, such as mucormycosis, in which Rhizopus oryzae is the most prevalent causative agent. The effector host immune response against IFIs depends on the activity of T cells, which are susceptible to the regulatory effects triggered by fungal virulence factors. The fungal cell wall plays a crucial role as a virulence factor, and its remodeling compromises the development of a specific T-cell response. The redirection of Jurkat T cells to target Candida spp. by recognizing targets expressed on the fungal cell wall can be facilitated using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology. This study generated an M-CAR that contains an scFv with specificity to α-1,6 mannose backbone of fungal mannan, and the expression of M-CAR on the surface of modified Jurkat cells triggered a strong activation against Candida albicans (hyphae form), Candida tropicalis (hyphae form), Candida parapsilosis (pseudohyphal form), and Candida glabrata (yeast form). Moreover, M-CAR Jurkat cells recognized Rhizopus oryzae spores, which induced high expression of cell activation markers. Thus, a novel Mannan-specific CAR enabled strong signal transduction in modified Jurkat cells in the presence of Candida spp. or R. oryzae.