Abstract

BackgroundMicroorganisms synthesize and release a large diversity of small molecules like volatile compounds, which allow them to relate and interact with their environment. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based compounds with low molecular weight and generally, high vapor pressure; because of their nature, they spread easily in the environment. Little is known about the role of VOCs in the interaction processes, and less is known about VOCs produced by Malassezia, a genus of yeasts that belongs to the human skin mycobiota. These yeasts have been associated with several dermatological diseases and currently, they are considered as emerging opportunistic yeasts. Research about secondary metabolites of these yeasts is limited. The pathogenic role and the molecular mechanisms involved in the infection processes of this genus are yet to be clarified. VOCs produced by Malassezia yeasts could play an important function in their metabolism; in addition, they might be involved in either beneficial or pathogenic host-interaction processes. Since these yeasts present differences in their nutritional requirements, like lipids to grow, it is possible that these variations of growth requirements also define differences in the volatile organic compounds produced in Malassezia species.Aim of reviewWe present a mini review about VOCs produced by microorganisms and Malassezia species, and hypothesize about their role in its metabolism, which would reveal clues about host-pathogen interaction.Key scientific concepts of reviewSince living organisms inhabit a similar environment, the interaction processes occur naturally; as a result, a signal and a response from participants of these processes become important in understanding several biological behaviors. The efforts to elucidate how living organisms interact has been studied from several perspectives. An important issue is that VOCs released by the microbiota plays a key role in the setup of relationships between living micro and macro organisms. The challenge is to determine what is the role of these VOCs produced by human microbiota in commensal/pathogenic scenarios, and how these allow understanding the species metabolism. Malassezia is part of the human mycobiota, and it is implicated in commensal and pathogenic processes. It is possible that their VOCs are involved in these behavioral changes, but the knowledge about this remains overlocked. For this reason, VOCs produced by microorganisms and Malassezia spp. and their role in several biological processes are the main topic in this review.

Highlights

  • Microorganisms synthesize and release a large diversity of small molecules like volatile compounds, which allow them to relate and interact with their environment

  • We present a compilation of the information about Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Malassezia spp. and other related microorganisms to understand the possible role of these compounds in the conversion from commensal to pathogenic behavior

  • Volatile organic compounds produced by microorganisms are important due to interactional processes carried out between them and because VOCs are mediating signals between other organisms related to the microbial host

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Summary

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Fungi are organisms with a dynamic metabolism and, just like bacteria, they produce many volatile compounds with a lot of possible applications which have a biological/ecological impact, as shown by previous studies. It has been suggested that VOCs induce alkylation (Alpha et al 2015) Another fungus which has antagonistic effects on bacteria and fungi is Ganoderma pfeifferi; its volatile compounds produce antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and antifungal effect against Candida albicans (Al-Fatimi et al 2016). Volatile organic compounds produced by microorganisms are important due to interactional processes carried out between them and because VOCs are mediating signals between other organisms related to the microbial host.

VOCs and human applications
Perspectives
Conclusion
Findings
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