Dendritic cell-based vaccination against opportunistic fungi

Efficient responses to the different forms of fungi require different mechanisms of immunity. Dendritic cells (DCs) are uniquely able to decode the fungus-associated information and translate it in qualitatively different T helper (Th) immune responses, in vitro and in vivo. DCs sense fungi in a morphotype-specific manner, through the engagement of distinct recognition receptors ultimately affecting cytokine production and costimulation. Adoptive transfer of different types of DCs activates protective and non-protective Th cells as well as regulatory T cells and affects the outcome of the infections. DCs transfected with fungal RNA also restore antifungal resistance in hematopoietic transplantation. Thus, the remarkable functional plasticity of DCs in response to fungi can be exploited for the deliberate targeting of cells and pathways of cell-mediated immunity in response to fungal vaccines.