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Immune Interactions with Pathogenic and Commensal Fungi: A Two-Way Street

David M Underhill1, Eric Pearlman2

  • 1F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, and the Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.

Immunity
|November 21, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Host immunity effectively combats fungal infections using innate and adaptive immune responses. This review explores current research on antifungal immunity, focusing on Candida and Aspergillus, and the gut microbiome

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Microbiome research

Background:

  • Fungal exposure encompasses harmless, commensal, and pathogenic species.
  • Host immunity to fungi is less understood than immunity to bacteria and viruses.
  • Effective defense against fungal pathogens like Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus requires both innate and adaptive immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current themes and controversies in antifungal immunity research.
  • To examine the role of fungi in the gut microbiome.
  • To focus on host responses to Candida and Aspergillus infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on antifungal immunity.
  • Analysis of host-fungus interactions.
  • Exploration of emerging research on the gut mycobiome.

Main Results:

  • Specific immune responses correlate with different types of fungal infections (mucocutaneous vs. systemic).
  • Ongoing research highlights key areas of investigation and debate in antifungal immunity.
  • The gut microbiome's role in fungal interactions is an expanding field.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding host antifungal immunity is crucial for managing fungal diseases.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate complex immune mechanisms against fungi.
  • The gut microbiome presents a novel frontier in antifungal research.

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