Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
06:03
Whole Blood Assay with Dual Co-Stimulation for Antigen-Specific Analysis of Host Immunity to Fungal and Viral Pathogens
Published on: September 20, 2024
The immune response in Coccidioidomycosis
Andrea T Borchers1, M Eric Gershwin
1Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
Autoimmunity Reviews
|August 24, 2010
Summary
Coccidiomycosis, or valley fever, is an endemic fungal infection prevalent in arid regions. While often asymptomatic, immunosuppression increases risk, necessitating a deeper understanding of the immune response for patient management.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Opportunistic infections are increasingly recognized with biologic use in rheumatology.
- Coccidiomycosis (valley fever) is endemic in the Southwestern US and parts of South America.
- Most Coccidioides infections are asymptomatic but can cause disease in immunosuppressed individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the immune response to Coccidiomycosis.
- To discuss recent data on antigenic analysis and bioinformatics of Coccidioides.
- To highlight the clinical relevance for managing patients on biologics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on lymphoid response.
- Analysis of recent data on Coccidioides antigenic properties.
- Bioinformatic approaches to Coccidioides characterization.
Main Results:
- The immune response to Coccidioides involves complex lymphoid mechanisms.
- Antigenic and bioinformatic analyses provide new insights into Coccidioides.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for disease management.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of the immune response to Coccidiomycosis is essential.
- Antigenic and bioinformatic data enhance our knowledge of the pathogen.
- This knowledge aids in managing patients, particularly those on immunosuppressive therapies like biologics.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Overview
01:20Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
01:23Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...