Polysaccharide-containing conjugate vaccines for fungal diseases

The recognition that antibodies are effective against fungal pathogens has spawned interest in developing vaccines that elicit antibody-mediated protection. Recently, a novel polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine that uses the algal antigen laminarin was shown to elicit antibodies to beta-glucan in fungal cell walls and to mediate protection against both experimental candidiasis and aspergillosis. Remarkably, vaccine-induced antibodies manifested direct antifungal effects, suggesting that vaccine efficacy might not require cellular or other components of the immune system. The description of a vaccine that could protect against various fungal pathogens opens exciting new dimensions in the search for approaches to control fungal diseases.