Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Macrophage Immunometabolism Through Lentiviral Vector-Mediated Gene Manipulation
06:33

Author Spotlight: Exploring Macrophage Immunometabolism Through Lentiviral Vector-Mediated Gene Manipulation

Published on: February 16, 2024

1.9K

Tissue-Resident Macrophages in Fungal Infections

Shengjie Xu1, Mari L Shinohara1,2

  • 1Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.

Frontiers in Immunology
|January 10, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are crucial first responders against invasive fungal infections. This review explores their vital roles in defending various organs against fungal pathogens like Cryptococcus neoformans.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections cause significant illness and death.
  • Fungal pathogens target specific host organs based on infection route and species.
  • Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are key innate immune cells in various tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of TRM functions during major fungal infections.
  • To highlight the specific roles of TRMs in host defense against fungal pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on fungal infections and TRM responses.
  • Analysis of research on Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus fumigatus infections.
  • Examination of TRM roles in different organ systems.

Main Results:

  • TRMs act as the initial defense against fungal invasion.
  • TRMs are strategically positioned and programmed to manage fungal infections.
  • Specific fungal pathogens like C. neoformans, C. albicans, and A. fumigatus interact with TRMs in distinct ways.

Conclusions:

  • TRMs are essential for controlling fungal infections across different host organs.
  • Understanding TRM functions is critical for developing new therapeutic strategies against invasive fungal diseases.
Keywords:
AspergillusCandidaCryptococcusalveolar macrophagesfungal infectionsmicrogliatissue-resident macrophages

More Related Videos

Isolation and Culture of Resident Cardiac Macrophages from the Murine Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node08:43

Isolation and Culture of Resident Cardiac Macrophages from the Murine Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node

Published on: May 7, 2021

5.3K
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

11.9K

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
1.4K
Noncompartmental Analysis: Mean Residence Time01:05

Noncompartmental Analysis: Mean Residence Time

According to statistical moment theory, mean residence time (MRT) is an important measure in pharmacokinetics. MRT can be defined as the expected mean of a probability density function distribution. It provides valuable insights into drug disposition in the body.
After the administration of a drug through intravenous bolus injection, the drug molecules are distributed throughout the body and remain there for varying periods. The MRT represents the average time these drug molecules stay in the...
638
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
575
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
1.6K
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
1.3K
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
12.8K