AUTHOR=Wang Mengyan , Zhang Zhongdong , Dong Xiaotian , Zhu Biao 

TITLE=Targeting β-glucans, vital components of the Pneumocystis cell wall

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1094464

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1094464

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>β-glucan is the most abundant polysaccharide in the cell wall of <italic>Pneumocystis jirovecii</italic>, which has attracted extensive attention because of its unique immunobiological characteristics. β-glucan binds to various cell surface receptors, which produces an inflammatory response and accounts for its immune effects. A deeper comprehension of the processes by <italic>Pneumocystis</italic> β-glucan recognizes its receptors, activates related signaling pathways, and regulates immunity as required. Such understanding will provide a basis for developing new therapies against <italic>Pneumocystis</italic>. Herein, we briefly review the structural composition of β-glucans as a vital component of the <italic>Pneumocystis</italic> cell wall, the host immunity mediated by β-glucans after their recognition, and discuss opportunities for the development of new strategies to combat <italic>Pneumocystis</italic>.</p>