Enzyme

Fungal pathogen

Role in pathogenesis

Elastase

Dermatophytes

Destruction of elastin in tissues

Coccidioides immitis

Destruction of elastin in lung and blood vessels

Collagenase

C. immitis

Break the peptide bonds in collagen.

Elastase-alkaline serine proteinase

Aspergillus fumigatus

Degradation of elastin in lung tissues

Keratinase

Dermatophytes

Damage of keratin in epidermis of the skin

Aspartic proteinase

Candida albicans C. tropicalis C. parapsilosis C. lusitaniae A. fumigatus Cryptococcus neoformans

Destroying cell membranes and degrading host surface molecules contributing host tissue invasion and dissemination

Phospholipase

Dermatophytes Aspergillus spp.

C. neoformans C. albicans Trichophyton rumrum Microsporum canis Fonsecaea pedrosoi

Cleavage of phosphodiester bond in membrane lipids for invasion

Lipase

Malassezia furfur F. pedrosoi Phialophora verrucosa Cladosporium carrionii Cladophialophora bantiana Exophiala jeanselmei

Degradation of lipids on the skin

Catalase

Aspergillus spp. Histoplasma capsulatum C. albicans

Protection from oxidative killing in macrophages

Superoxide dismutase

Aspergillus spp. C. albicans

Prevention from oxidative damage in macrophages

Urease

C. neoformans, F. pedrosoi P. verrucosa, C. carrionii C. bantiana, E. jeanselmei

Hydrolysis of urea to carbon dioxide and ammonia