Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

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

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis

Published on: January 9, 2013

Innate antifungal immunity: the key role of phagocytes

Gordon D Brown1

  • 1Aberdeen Fungal Group, Section of Immunology and Infection, Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, United Kingdom. gordon.brown@abdn.ac.uk

Annual Review of Immunology
|October 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Phagocytic cells are crucial for fighting fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Understanding their role in antifungal immunity is key to developing new treatments against invasive fungal diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fungal infections cause significant illness and death, particularly in vulnerable populations.
  • Host resistance mechanisms against fungi are increasingly understood.
  • Phagocytic cells play a vital role in antifungal defense.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functions of phagocytes in innate antifungal immunity.
  • To highlight fungal strategies for evading host defenses.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on phagocyte function in antifungal immunity.
  • Analysis of mechanisms employed by fungal pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Phagocytes are essential for controlling fungal infections.
  • Defects in phagocytic cells impair the host's ability to resist fungi.
  • Fungal pathogens have evolved strategies to subvert phagocytic defenses.

Conclusions:

  • Phagocyte function is central to innate antifungal immunity.
  • Understanding these interactions is critical for combating fungal diseases.

More Related Videos

Assessing Anti-fungal Activity of Isolated Alveolar Macrophages by Confocal Microscopy09:04

Assessing Anti-fungal Activity of Isolated Alveolar Macrophages by Confocal Microscopy

Published on: July 9, 2014

Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans11:07

Macrophage Cholesterol Depletion and Its Effect on the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans

Published on: December 19, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune 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...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.