Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Shuai Jiang
Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
ABSTR ACT: Fungal diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality among the immunocompromised, including HIV-infected individuals and
patients with cancer. Individuals without a weakened immune system can also suffer from these infections. Not surprisingly, fungi are a major target for
the immune system, rendered visible to it by expression of pathogen-associated molecular patterns/signatures. We now appreciate the roles of both innate
and adaptive immunity in eliminating fungal infections, and how a disproportionate or inadequate immune response can diminish the hosts capacity to
eliminate fungi. This review focuses on our current understanding of the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in clearing common and emergent fungal
pathogens. A clearer understanding of how the hosts immune response tackles fungal infection may provide useful clues as to how we might develop new
agents to treat those diseases in the future.
KEY WORDS: innate immunity, adaptive immunity, fungal infection
CITATION: Jiang. Immunity Against Fungal Infections. Immunology and Immunogenetics
Insights 2016:8 36 doi:10.4137/III.S38707.
CORRESPONDENCE: luckysjiang@caltech.edu
PEER REVIEW: Four peer reviewers contributed to the peer review report. Reviewers
reports totaled 820 words, excluding any confidential comments to the academic editor.
Paper subject to independent expert single-blind peer review. All editorial decisions
made by independent academic editor. Upon submission manuscript was subject to
anti-plagiarism scanning. Prior to publication all authors have given signed confirmation
of agreement to article publication and compliance with all applicable ethical and legal
requirements, including the accuracy of author and contributor information, disclosure
of competing interests and funding sources, compliance with ethical requirements
relating to human and animal study participants, and compliance with any copyright
requirements of third parties. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication
Ethics (COPE).
TYPE: Review
RECEIVED: April 27, 2016. RESUBMITTED: June 11, 2016. ACCEPTED FOR
PUBLICATION: June 24, 2016.
ACADEMIC EDITOR: Jennifer Nyland, Editor in Chief
Introduction
Jiang
Figure 1. Immunity against fungal pathogens. Fungi usually infect their host via epithelial or endothelial cells, invading both the mucosal and endothelial
surfaces. Cells in both the innate and adaptive wings of the immune system are activated by fungal infection, which subsequently generate different
antifungal effectors. Upon initial fungal infection, innate immune cells (including macrophages, neutrophils, and DCs) release cytokines such as IL-12,
IL-10, and IL-18. Cellular players in the adaptive immune response then secrete various cytokines against fungal infection: Th1 cells produce IFN- and
TNF-; Th2 cells produce IL-4 and IL-5; Th17 cells generate IL-17 and IL-22; and TReg cells produce TGF- and IL-10. B-cells also secrete antibodies to
target fungal pathogens.
Author Contributions
Jiang
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