Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41378875›Full record

ReviewmBio2026

Immunomodulatory functions of fungal melanins in respiratory infections.

Kyle J Basham, Rebecca A Ward, Jatin M Vyas, Kirstine Nolling Jensen

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in mBio, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A Putative Multicopper Oxidase Encoded byInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Kyle J BashamDivision of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Rebecca A WardDivision of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Jatin M VyasDivision of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9985-9565
Kirstine Nolling JensenDivision of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7625-7529

Funding

Control of Type I Interferon Production in Response to Candida albicansR01AI150181 · NIAID · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI Jatin M Vyas · 2020 to 2026
$5.4M
Fungal Melanin Modulation of Calcium-Mediated Responses in Lung EpitheliumR01AI193212 · NIAID · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI Jatin M Vyas · 2025 to 2026
$1.7M
Deciphering the Role of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase in the Host Defense Against Aspergillus fumigatusR01AI187259 · NIAID · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI Jatin M Vyas · 2025 to 2026
$1.7M
Host Responses to Coccidioides by Human Airway EpitheliumR21AI152499 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI VYAS, JATIN M · 2022 to 2023
$462k
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI150181NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI187259NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI193212NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI152499
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rate of invasive fungal infections has risen drastically over the last decade and continues to carry devastatingly high mortality rates. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines and limited antifungal agents in clinical trials for fungal-mediated diseases. The limited effectiveness of FDA-approved antifungal medications against invasive fungal infections and the lack of mechanistic understanding of how these infections manifest pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Therefore, understanding the molecular details of the host-fungal interactions has never been more urgent. Here, we examine the role of fungal melanin as a virulence factor through its immunomodulatory effects during respiratory infections. Although previous literature on fungal pathogenicity has touched briefly on fungal pigments, they are incomplete in discussing how melanin dysregulates essential functions of the innate immune system. To provide a contemporary perspective, literature on melanized fungal species commonly associated with infections via the respiratory tract has been reviewed to detail holistic mechanisms by which melanin subverts the immune system and manipulates the respiratory epithelium.

Indexed as

FungiImmunologic FactorsImmunomodulationMelaninsMycosesRespiratory Tract InfectionsAnimalsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansImmunity, InnateVirulence FactorsImmunologic FactorsMelaninsVirulence FactorsAspergillusCryptococcusinnate immuntylung epitheliummycologyRhizopus

Identifiers

PMID41378875
PMCPMC12802247

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.