Fungal Virulence: Innovations in Understanding Cell Wall Dynamics and Glycosylation Processes

Fungal pathogens remain a significant cause of disease in humans and animals, especially as antifungal resistance rises and vulnerable patient populations expand. A central driver of fungal pathogenicity is the cell wall: an essential, dynamic structure that protects the fungus, shapes host–pathogen interactions and presents key molecules to the immune system. Because the cell wall is both indispensable for fungal survival and absent in humans, it also represents one of the most attractive arenas for discovering selective therapeutic targets and for improving prevention and treatment strategies.This article collection will focus on how fungal cell wall proteins and glycosylation pathways determine virulence, with emphasis on (i) discovering and validating novel virulence factors that sustain cell wall integrity under host stress, (ii) defining glycosylation-driven remodeling that supports immune evasion and persistence, and (iii) translating mechanistic insights into actionable antifungal strategies. Contributions leveraging genome-informed approaches, experimental pathogenicity studies, and enabling technologies (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 editing, multi-omics, and advanced bioinformatics) are especially encouraged to unravel complex genotype–phenotype links and to identify new intervention points in medically and veterinary relevant fungal pathogens. To explore how fungal cell wall integrity shapes pathogenesis, we welcome manuscripts that include but are not limited to the following areas. • Examination of new fungal cell wall proteins that function as virulence factors or determinants in vivo or in relevant infection models• Mapping glycosylation enzymes (glycosyltransferases, mannosyltransferases, etc.) that control wall architecture and stress tolerance• Studies linking cell wall glycan changes to immune recognition outcomes (e.g., altered masking/unmasking, PRR engagement, cytokine profiles)• Experimental pathogenicity studies testing how cell wall remodeling affects tissue invasion, dissemination, or transmission fitness • Genome-informed studies connecting clinical isolate variation to cell wall/glycosylation phenotypes and patient outcomes • Functional genomics screens to prioritize cell wall and glycosylation genes as drug targets• Multi-omics workflows that quantify cell wall proteins and glycan structures during infection-relevant conditions• Bioinformatics and machine-learning approaches that predict cell wall virulence factors or glycosylation networks from genomes and comparative datasets• Translational studies and drug repurposing strategies discovering or optimizing cell wall–active antifungals, synergistic combinations, or resistance mechanisms tied to wall pathways• Unconventional secretion and glycosylation of intracellullar proteins moonlighting as virulence factors at the cell wall• Differences in cell wall composition and organization among cryptic species and their impact on virulence• Reviews or Mini Reviews synthesizing current understanding of wall glycosylation, immune evasion, and therapeutic opportunities across major fungal pathogens Topic editors: Hector Mora Montes, Laura Cristina Garcia-Carnero Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78929/fungal-virulence-innovations-in-understanding-cell-wall-dynamics-and-glycosylation-processes