One fungus changes the brain and it's like Alzheimer's disease
Previous studies have linked fungi and chronic neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. However, scientists know little about how such pathogens lead to the development of these conditions.Working with animal models, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in the United States and other research centers have observed how the fungus Candida albicans enters the brain and activates various mechanisms. In particular, the fungus generated beta-amyloids, toxic protein fragments from amyloid precursor proteins. These are thought to be responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Candida albicans, a diploid fungus capable of mating but not in the meiosis form, is the causative agent of opportunistic human infections that are transmitted through the mouth and genitalia.
Previously, scientists found that C. albicans completely disappears in healthy mice after 10 days. Now biologists have realized that this was due to the mechanisms of microglia.
Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Historically, microglia were classified as a subtype of glial cells in the central nervous system. Microglia play an important role in brain formation, especially in the formation and maintenance of contacts between nerve cells - synapses.
It appears that C. albicans produces a protein called candylysin, which binds to microglia via the CD11b receptor. "Candialysin-mediated activation of microglia is necessary for Candida release in the brain. If we remove this pathway, fungi will no longer affect its function," the scientists conclude.
The study is published in the journal Cell Reports.