A comprehensive review of all known immune mechanisms for medically important fungal pathogens from the organ perspectives of the human body. This authoritative guide is organized by organ system, as one particular fungus can have several different effects.

This text covers all aspects of the immunology of fungal infection. Beyond the basics, coverage includes recent developments in innate and adaptive immunological mechanisms involved in the host response to fungal infection. The volume’s topical sections provide an immunological perspective on the cells, soluble factors and receptors involved in recognising and combating fungal infections. Discussion includes descriptions of immunity to specific pathogens, immune-escape mechanisms used by fungi, and therapeutic strategies.

This informative text is divided into eight chapters, each of which presents a comprehensive review of natural and acquired host defense mechanisms in a major mycotic disease. The chapters are written by distinguished scientists whose studies have contributed significantly to the understanding of the immunology of the mycoses. This text should provide a valuable reference for researchers, practicing clinicians, and new investigators entering this expanding field.

Fungi are found in virtually every environment, and comprise a significant portion of the normal microflora of healthy individuals. Some species of fungi are aeroallergen sources capable of inducing sensitization and causing exacerbation of asthma and respiratory allergy. Others are transmissible between hosts and may cause no symptoms in healthy individuals. However, immune suppressed individuals may develop invasive disease marked by tissue invasion with a potential for widespread dissemination. Existing therapies for patients consist of antifungal drugs, yet these require prolonged administration with the possibility of adverse side effects, and may be rendered ineffective by the emergence of antifungal-resistant strains. It is therefore of interest to increase our understanding of host-pathogen interactions in order to facilitate the development of new therapies for individuals suffering from fungal infection and disease. These early interactions are shaped by an array of constituent and secreted factors that stimulate or inhibit host immune responses toward protective or detrimental immunity. Likewise, an array of preformed factors and tissue-resident cells provide early protection from fungal infection and provide extracellular signals that result in localized recruitment of inflammatory cells and determine the character of subsequent adaptive antifungal immunity. This Research Topic explores the host and fungal pathways that program innate and adaptive immunity and the immune cells, molecules, and regulatory pathways that comprise protective or detrimental responses to fungal exposure or infection. Over 200 authors contributed reviews, opinions, or original research focusing on antifungal immunity in humans and in experimental models. We believe that the results of these efforts provide a benchmark for further advances and improved antifungal therapies.

This book illustrates, that the fungal cell wall is critical for the biology and ecology of all fungi and especially for human fungal pathogens. Readers will learn, that the composition of the fungal cell wall is a unique structure, which cannot be found in the human host. Consequently, the chapters outline, how the immune systems of both animals and humans have evolved to recognize conserved and unique elements of the fungal cell wall. As an application example, the authors also show, that the three-dimensional structures of the cell wall are excellent targets for the development of antifungal agents and chemotherapeutic strategies. With the combination of biological findings and medical outlooks, this volume is a fascinating read for scientists, clinicians and biomedical students.

This book provides up-to-date information on immunogenetics of fungal diseases in the context of primary and acquired immunodeficiencies. Different aspects of this emerging field are covered, including epidemiology of fungal diseases, innate and adaptive antifungal immunity, and the role of immunogenetics in defining susceptibility to fungal diseases in primary (CMC, CGD, etc.) immunodeficiencies and hematologic patients. The available information will also be discussed in the scope of new biomarker discovery and development of immunotherapeutic approaches for personalized diagnostics and therapy. The book addresses Professors, researchers and advanced students of Medicine, Immunology, Microbiology and Genetics.

Biomedical scientists widely acknowledge that individuals' immune respon siveness is important in resistance to infections by microorganisms, including fungi. Because of the devastating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, caused by the human immunodeficiency retrovirus, it is now accepted that suppressed immune responses, especially cellular immu nity, are important contributors to increased individual susceptibility to opportunistic infections-including infections caused by fungi which were at one time thought to be very lowly or nonpathogenic. Within the last few years, there has been an almost explosive increase in interest and studies concerning the nature and mechanisms of the immune response to fungal infections. Many immunologists who are not well versed in mycology have begun to study the nature and mechanisms of antifungal immunity using a wide variety of newer as well as more conventional immunologic technologies, both in vivo and in vitro. Up to the 1980s, however, there was little interest among basic immunologists concerning fungal immunity. This situation has changed dramatically in the past half decade, mainly because of AIDS.

This volume offers an overview of the various aspects involved in the ability of fungi to damage host cells, and discusses cutting-edge approaches to the study of fungal pathogenesis. The first chapter illustrate the key roles of glycans and pigments, the most abundant surface components in fungal cells, in their interactions with host cells. The connections between cellular physiology and fungal pathogenesis are then discussed in the following chapters. Physiology-related processes affecting pathogenesis include fungal secretion, morphological transitions, and response to light. In turn, the book illustrates mechanisms of damage to host cells using the Histoplasma capsulatum model of infection, and reviews the use of transcriptomic approaches to understand the mechanisms of interaction between fungal cells and host tissues. After a discussion of the immunological mechanisms underlying host susceptibility to fungal infections, the book’s closing contribution reviews the mechanisms of interaction between fungi and other microbes, and the impact of this association on fungal pathogenesis. Given its scope, the book will appeal to scientists in the fields of mycology, microbiology, infectious diseases, biology and medicine.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that are closely related to humans at cellular level. Human fungal pathogens belong to various classes of fungi, mainly zygo- cetes, ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and deuteromycetes. In recent years, fungal infections have dramatically increased as a result of improved diagnosis, high frequency of catheterization, instrumentation, etc. However, the main cause remains the increasing number of immunosuppressed patients, mostly because of HIV infection and indiscriminate usage of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics and prosthetic devices, and grafts in clinical settings. Presently available means of combating fungal infections are still weak and clumsy compared to control of bacterial infection. The present scenario of antifungal therapy is still based on two classes of antifungal drugs (polyenes and azoles). These drugs are effective in many cases, but display toxicity and limited spectrum of ef?cacy. The recent trend towards emergence of drug-resistant isolates in the clinic is an additional problem. In recent years, a few new antifungal drugs have entered the clinics, but they are expected to undergo same fate as the older antifungal drugs. The application of fungal genomics offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop novel antifungal drugs. However, it is too early to expect any novel drugs, as the antifungal drug discovery program is in the stage of infancy. Interestingly, several novel antifungal drug targets have been identi?ed and validated.

This volume aims to help new investigators to the field by providing them with the protocols needed to set up clinically relevant animal models of fungal infection, as well as methods for in vivo immunology.Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and methods, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Antifungal Immunity: Methods and Protocols aims to be comprehensive guide for researchers in the field