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Virus-associated fungal infections and lost immune resistance

Nicole Sarden1, Bryan G Yipp1

  • 1Calvin, Phoebe, and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Trends in Immunology
|March 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Virus infections can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of invasive fungal infections. This study explores how B cells and neutrophils interact to fight fungi, offering new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) pose a growing global health risk.
  • Emerging IFIs are associated with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viral infections.
  • Host resistance to fungi involves innate, adaptive, and natural immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of viral infections on host susceptibility to IFIs.
  • To explore the roles of innate antibodies, B1 B cells, and B cell-neutrophil interactions in antifungal immunity.
  • To propose novel therapeutic strategies for IFIs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of emerging evidence on immune responses to fungal infections.
  • Analysis of the interplay between viral infections and immune cell functions.
  • Conceptual framework development for understanding acquired fungal susceptibilities.

Main Results:

  • Viral infections may compromise neutrophil and innate B cell-mediated resistance against fungi.
  • B cell-neutrophil crosstalk is identified as a key mechanism in antifungal host defense.
  • New insights into the collective roles of adaptive, innate, and natural immunity against fungi.

Conclusions:

  • Virus-associated IFIs highlight the need to understand complex immune interactions.
  • Restoring natural and humoral immunity, alongside boosting neutrophil function, are potential therapeutic avenues.
  • This research provides a foundation for developing novel antifungal therapeutics.
Keywords:
B cellsCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2aspergillosisfungihost defenseimmunityinflammationinfluenzanatural antibodyneutrophilspneumonia

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