(1,3)-beta-D-glucan (BDG)

(1,3)-beta-D-glucan is a major structural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of most pathogenic fungi, including Candida, Aspergillus, and Pneumocystis species (PubMed: 18460404). It plays a vital role in maintaining the osmotic stability and mechanical strength of the fungal cell wall (StatPearls: Echinocandins). In the human body, it acts as a potent pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that is recognized by the C-type lectin receptor Dectin-1 on myeloid cells, initiating an innate immune response (UniProt: Q9BXN2). Clinically, the detection of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan in the blood serves as a highly sensitive biomarker for the early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (PubMed: 26431030). The synthesis of this molecule is the specific target of the echinocandin class of antifungal drugs, which inhibit the enzyme 1,3-beta-glucan synthase (NCBI: NBK560543). By disrupting the production of this essential component, these drugs cause cell wall depletion, leading to fungal cell lysis.

Other names

1,3-beta-glucanBeta-D-glucanFungal cell wall beta-glucanBeta-1,3-D-glucanZymosanCurdlanLaminarin

Non-competitive inhibition of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase (by echinocandins); Agonism of Dectin-1 and Complement Receptor 3 (CR3) (as an immunomodulator).