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Mechanisms of immune evasion in fungal pathogens

John R Collette1, Michael C Lorenz

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, United States.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|September 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Fungal infections are rising, especially in immunocompromised patients. This review explores how fungi actively manipulate host immune cells and interactions to evade detection and establish infections.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Pathogen-Host Interactions

Background:

  • Life-threatening fungal infections are increasing, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Phagocyte-pathogen interaction is crucial in fungal infection establishment.
  • Fungal responses to phagocytosis can actively modulate host immune cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent discoveries on how fungi manipulate host-pathogen interactions.
  • To elucidate the complex mechanisms fungi employ to evade immune responses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of genome-scale approaches and recent literature.
  • Analysis of fungal strategies for immune evasion and manipulation.

Main Results:

  • Fungal pathogens mask pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and downregulate complement.
  • Fungi interfere with phagocytosis, intracellular trafficking, and nitric oxide (NO) production.
  • Molecular mechanisms behind these fungal manipulation strategies are largely unknown.

Conclusions:

  • Fungi possess sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate host immune responses.
  • Understanding these fungal strategies is critical for combating invasive fungal infections.

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