In October 2022, Mucorales fungi were listed in the "High Priority Group" on the first-ever list of fungal priority pathogens by the World Health Organization. As the causative agent of mucormycosis, Mucorales have become of great clinical and public health importance with growing mucormycosis numbers, notably with the exponential rise of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis cases. Despite the dire need, there are limited therapeutic options to treat mucormycosis. Our research fills in critical gaps of knowledge about how Mucorales fungi evade the host immune system. Specifically, we offer evidence that Mucorales block nitric oxide production, which is a key mediator and signaling molecule of the mammalian innate immune response to microbial pathogens. Our work offers new insight into immune evasion mechanisms by Mucorales fungi.
Keywords: Cunninghamella; Mucor; Mucorales; Rhizopus; macrophages; mucormycosis; nitric oxide.