Iron acquisition mechanisms of human skin-associated fungi.

Fungi on human skin utilize diverse, yet poorly understood, iron acquisition strategies crucial for survival in the iron-restricted cutaneous environment.

• Why it matters: Understanding these mechanisms is vital because skin fungi must compete for limited iron sources, influencing their roles as commensals or pathogens and affecting disease outcomes.
• What they did: The review summarizes current knowledge on iron uptake systems in key skin-associated fungi, including Malassezia, Candida albicans, Candida auris, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and dermatophytes, highlighting gaps in mechanistic understanding.
• The result: Elucidating these iron acquisition pathways will advance insights into fungal adaptation, colonization, and pathogenicity on human skin, informing potential therapeutic strategies.