We are pleased to highlight a new collaborative research article published in Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, featuring contributions from our colleagues Anastasia Solomatina, Yann Bachelot, Carl-Magnus Svensson, and Marc Thilo Figge.
The study, “Host-to-Pathogen Transfer of Neutrophil Components via Extracellular Vesicles Shields Candida albicans From Immune Attack in Human Blood”, investigates how neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) influence the interaction between the human immune system and the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.
The researchers found that extracellular vesicles released by neutrophils bind to the surface of C. albicans. Surprisingly, despite carrying antimicrobial proteins, this coating does not inhibit fungal growth. Instead, it reduces neutrophil phagocytosis and helps maintain a viable extracellular fungal population in human blood.
These findings reveal a previously unrecognized host-driven mechanism in which components of the immune response can paradoxically help C. albicans evade immune clearance, providing new insights into host–pathogen interactions during bloodstream infections.
Congratulations to all authors on this exciting collaborative work!