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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis
08:52

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis

Published on: January 9, 2013

Fungal killing by mammalian phagocytic cells

André Moraes Nicola1, Arturo Casadevall, David L Goldman

  • 1Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. anicola@aecom.yu.edu

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|June 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Phagocytes are crucial for fighting fungal infections by recognizing, engulfing, and killing fungi. Recent discoveries reveal new mechanisms, including pattern recognition receptors and reactive species, for this vital immune process.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Phagocytes are key immune cells responsible for combating fungal infections.
  • Effective fungal clearance requires recognition, internalization, and intracellular killing by phagocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent breakthroughs in understanding phagocyte-mediated fungal killing mechanisms.
  • To highlight advances in innate immunity sensing and intracellular pathogen destruction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on phagocyte-fungal interactions.
  • Synthesis of recent findings on immune sensing and pathogen killing strategies.

Main Results:

  • Elucidation of pattern-recognition receptors in sensing fungal invaders.
  • Identification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species critical for fungal killing.
  • Discovery of novel fungal exit mechanisms and extracellular trap formations.

Conclusions:

  • Phagocyte function is central to antifungal immunity, employing diverse recognition and killing strategies.
  • Recent advances have significantly expanded our knowledge of the complex mechanisms underlying phagocyte-mediated fungal pathogen clearance.

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