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Immunity to Commensal Fungi: Detente and Disease

Matthew L Wheeler1, Jose J Limon1, David M Underhill1,2

  • 1F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute, and Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048; email: David.Underhill@csmc.edu , Matthew.Wheeler@cshs.org , Jose.Limon-Tello@cshs.org.

Annual Review of Pathology
|January 10, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Our immune system protects us from dangerous fungi, even though we host many fungi daily. This review explores how the immune system interacts with common fungi in health and disease.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Fungi are widespread environmental organisms.
  • A robust immune system is crucial for defense against fungal infections.
  • Fungal infections range from superficial to life-threatening invasive diseases, with high mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on host-fungus interactions.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of immune system engagement with common fungi.
  • To understand fungal colonization and immune response in health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on fungal immunology.
  • Synthesis of information on immune system interactions with fungi.
  • Analysis of mechanisms in health and disease contexts.

Main Results:

  • The immune system actively interacts with fungi in both health and disease states.
  • Understanding these interactions is rapidly advancing.
  • Common fungi can colonize hosts without causing disease due to immune surveillance.

Conclusions:

  • The immune system plays a critical role in managing ubiquitous fungi.
  • Further research is expanding our knowledge of immune responses to fungal pathogens.
  • Effective immune interaction is key to preventing severe fungal diseases.
Keywords:
AspergillusCandidaDectin-1Malasseziainnate immunitymicrobiomemycobiome

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