RNA-based therapeutics to treat human fungal infections. Issue 5 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bruch, Alexander; Kelani, Abdulrahman A.; Blango, Matthew G.
• Is Part Of: Trends in microbiology. Volume 30:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 411
• Page End: 420
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: RNA-based therapeutics -- fungi -- medical mycology -- antifungal -- fungal infection; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Virulence (Microbiology) -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Virulence -- Periodicals; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Infection -- Périodiques; Virulence (Microbiologie) -- Périodiques; Infection; Microbiology; Virulence (Microbiology); 579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.09.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-842X

Abstract

Abstract : In recent decades, RNA-based therapeutics have transitioned from a near impossibility to a compelling treatment alternative for genetic disorders and infectious diseases. The mRNA vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are truly groundbreaking, and new adaptations are already being proposed to fight other microbes. Unfortunately, the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to treat human fungal infections has remained mostly absent from the conversation, despite the fact that invasive fungal infections kill as many per year as tuberculosis and even more than malaria. Here, we argue that RNA-based therapeutics should be investigated for the treatment of human fungal infections and discuss several major roadblocks and potential circumventions that may allow for the realization of RNA-based therapies against human fungal pathogens. Highlights: Fungal infections are a major problem affecting over one billion people annually. Emerging pathogens and increasing resistance rates are complicating the situation, while new therapeutic options remain slow to materialize. RNA-based therapeutics are changing the way we treat both genetic and infectious diseases, building on several decades of basic research. The most notable advancement in RNA-based therapeutics came as the mRNA vaccines used to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Experiments with fungal plant pathogens have revealed that RNA interference can be leveraged as a tool to limit phytopathogens from destroying crops, providing a proof-of-principle that RNA-based therapeutics can fight fungi. Barriers remain to using RNA-based therapeutics against fungal infections, namely, delivery across complicated fungal cell wall structures. Extracellular vesicles may provide one solution.