ReviewClinical microbiology reviews2000
Pathogenic roles for fungal melanins.
Review in Clinical microbiology reviews, 2000. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 181 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
181 citing papers in PubMed, 469 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fungal Melanins as Potential Reactive Oxygen Species-Scavenging Neuroprotective Agents.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- First report ofMedical mycology case reports · 2026Article
- Fatal Pulmonary Phaeohyphomycosis Associated with Large Vessel Thrombosis in a Dog.Microorganisms · 2026Article
- From black particles to molecular proof: PD-associated peritonitis byMedical mycology case reports · 2026Article
- Current Insights intoJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Plant melanin as a microcapsule wall component for flaxseed oil oxidative stability improvement.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Fungal Melanin in Plant Pathogens: Complex Biosynthesis Pathways and Diverse Biological Functions.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Biosynthesis of the Paecilomyces marquandii conidial pigment saintopin.Fungal biology and biotechnology · 2025Article
- Article
- Dematiaceous Molds.Infectious disease clinics of North America · 2025Review
- Non-Candida mycosis in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: perspective of a low-incidence region.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Review
- Regulation of melanin production in fungi.Frontiers in fungal biology · 2025Review
- Whole-Genome Sequencing and Genome Annotation of PathogenicJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- The Brief Case: Hidden in plain sight-Journal of clinical microbiology · 2024Review
- Phaeohyphomycosis of the Eyelid: A Case Report.Cureus · 2024Article
- The Hemibiotrophic Apple Scab FungusJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Article
- Exploring the Agricultural Applications of Microbial Melanin.Microorganisms · 2024Review
- First Genome Sequence of the Microcolonial Black FungusMicroorganisms · 2024Article
- Pan-genome survey ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2024Article
121 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Melanins represent virulence factors for several pathogenic fungi; the number of examples is growing. Thus, albino mutants of several genera (in one case, mutated precisely in the melanizing enzyme) exhibit decreased virulence in mice. We consider the phenomenon in relation to known chemical properties of melanin, beginning with biosynthesis from ortho-hydroquinone precursors which, when oxidized enzymatically to quinones, polymerize spontaneously to melanin. It follows that melanizing intermediates are cross-linking reagents; melanization stabilizes the external cell wall against hydrolysis and is thought to determine semipermeability in the osmotic ram (the appressorium) of certain plant pathogens. Polymeric melanins undergo reversible oxidation-reduction reactions between cell wall-penetrating quinone and hydroquinone oxidation states and thus represent polymeric redox buffers; using strong oxidants, it is possible to titrate the melanin on living cells and thereby demonstrate protection conferred by melanin in several species. The amount of buffering per cell approximately neutralizes the amount of oxidant generated by a single macrophage. Moreover, the intermediate oxidation state, the semiquinone, is a very stable free radical and is thought to trap unpaired electrons. We have suggested that the oxidation state of external melanin may be regulated by external Fe(II). An independent hypothesis holds that in Cryptococcus neoformans, an important function of the melanizing enzyme (apart from melanization) is the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III), thereby forestalling generation of the harmful hydroxyl radical from H(2)O(2). Thus, problems in fungal pathogenesis have led to evolving hypotheses regarding melanin functioning.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.