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Immune responses to human fungal pathogens and therapeutic prospects

Michail S Lionakis1, Rebecca A Drummond2,3, Tobias M Hohl4,5,6,7

  • 1Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. lionakism@mail.nih.gov.

Nature Reviews. Immunology
|January 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic fungi cause severe infections in immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV/AIDS. Understanding mammalian antifungal immunity is crucial for developing new therapies against resistant fungal strains like Candida auris.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Pathogenic fungi are a growing threat, causing significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals (e.g., HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, transplant recipients).
  • Multidrug-resistant Candida auris outbreaks pose a serious global public health concern.
  • Advances in understanding inborn errors of immunity and animal models have improved insights into anti-fungal defense mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current knowledge on the cellular and molecular basis of mammalian antifungal immunity.
  • To highlight findings relevant to managing life-threatening fungal infections in vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on host-fungal interactions.
  • Synthesis of data on genetic predispositions to fungal diseases.
  • Analysis of findings from animal models of fungal infections.

Main Results:

  • Identification of key immune pathways involved in fungal recognition and clearance.
  • Characterization of genetic defects predisposing to fungal infections.
  • Understanding of adaptive immune responses against fungi.

Conclusions:

  • Current understanding of antifungal immunity offers potential for improved risk stratification, prognosis, prophylaxis, and treatment strategies.
  • Further research into host-pathogen interactions is vital for combating invasive fungal infections.

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