Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Immunotherapies against human bacterial and fungal infectious diseases: A review
Hafsa Qadri1, Abdul Haseeb Shah1, Mustfa Alkhanani2
1Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Abstract:
Nations' ongoing struggles with a number of novel and reemerging infectious diseases, including the ongoing global health issue, the SARS-Co-V2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) outbreak, serve as proof that infectious diseases constitute a serious threat to the global public health. Moreover, the fatality rate in humans is rising as a result of the development of severe infectious diseases brought about by multiple drug-tolerant pathogenic microorganisms. The widespread use of traditional antimicrobial drugs, immunosuppressive medications, and other related factors led to the establishment of such drug resistant pathogenic microbial species. To overcome the difficulties commonly encountered by current infectious disease management and control processes, like inadequate effectiveness, toxicities, and the evolution of drug tolerance, new treatment solutions are required. Fortunately, immunotherapies already hold great potential for reducing these restrictions while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of healthcare and medicine, as shown by the latest discoveries and the success of drugs including monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), vaccinations, etc. Immunotherapies comprise methods for treating diseases that specifically target or affect the body's immune system and such immunological procedures/therapies strengthen the host's defenses to fight those infections. The immunotherapy-based treatments control the host's innate and adaptive immune responses, which are effective in treating different pathogenic microbial infections. As a result, diverse immunotherapeutic strategies are being researched more and more as alternative treatments for infectious diseases, leading to substantial improvements in our comprehension of the associations between pathogens and host immune system. In this review we will explore different immunotherapies and their usage for the assistance of a broad spectrum of infectious ailments caused by various human bacterial and fungal pathogenic microbes. We will discuss about the recent developments in the therapeutics against the growing human pathogenic microbial diseases and focus on the present and future of using immunotherapies to overcome these diseases. Graphical AbstractThe graphical abstract shows the therapeutic potential of different types of immunotherapies like vaccines, monoclonal antibodies-based therapies, etc., against different kinds of human Bacterial and Fungal microbial infections.
Insights
Immunotherapies offer new hope against drug-resistant infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2. These treatments harness the immune system to combat bacterial and fungal pathogens, overcoming limitations of traditional antimicrobial drugs.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, pose significant global health threats.
- Rising fatality rates are linked to drug-tolerant pathogenic microorganisms, driven by factors like widespread antimicrobial drug use.
- Current infectious disease management faces challenges including limited effectiveness, toxicity, and evolving drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review immunotherapeutic strategies as alternative treatments for infectious diseases.
- To explore the potential of immunotherapies in overcoming limitations of conventional treatments.
- To discuss recent advancements and future prospects of immunotherapy against bacterial and fungal infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on immunotherapies for infectious diseases.
- Analysis of therapeutic approaches including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).
- Exploration of host-pathogen interactions and immune system modulation.
Main Results:
- Immunotherapies demonstrate significant potential in combating infectious diseases by modulating host immune responses.
- Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies show promise as effective therapeutic interventions.
- Research into immunotherapy is advancing the understanding of host-pathogen dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Immunotherapies represent a promising frontier for treating a wide range of infectious diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens.
- These approaches offer a viable alternative to overcome drug resistance and enhance treatment efficacy.
- Continued research and development in immunotherapy are crucial for future infectious disease management.
Related Concept Videos
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Tumor Immunotherapy
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
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...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...

