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Antifungal innate immunity: recognition and inflammatory networks

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Abstract

A large variety of fungi are present in the environment, among which a proportion colonizes the human body, usually without causing any harm. However, depending on the host immune status, commensals can become opportunistic pathogens that induce diseases ranging from superficial non-harmful infection to life-threatening systemic disease. The interplay between the host and the fungal commensal flora is being orchestrated by an efficient recognition of the microorganisms, which in turn ensures a proper balance between tolerance of the normal fungal flora and induction of immune defense mechanisms when invasion occurs. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a significant role in maintaining this balance due to their capacity to sense fungi and induce host responses such as the induction of proinflammatory cytokines involved in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. In the present review, we will discuss the most recent findings regarding the recognition of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus and the different types of immune cells that play a role in antifungal host defense.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the AllFUN EU-FP7 grant. M.G.N. was partly supported by a Vici Grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. F.vd.V. was partly supported by a Veni Grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI), Geert Grooteplein Zuid 8, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Katharina L. Becker, Daniela C. Ifrim, Jessica Quintin, Mihai G. Netea & Frank L. van de Veerdonk

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  1. Katharina L. Becker
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  2. Daniela C. Ifrim
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  3. Jessica Quintin
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  4. Mihai G. Netea
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  5. Frank L. van de Veerdonk
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Correspondence to Frank L. van de Veerdonk.

Additional information

This article is a contribution to the special issue on Immunopathology of Fungal Diseases - Guest Editor: Jean-Paul Latge

Katharina L. Becker and Daniela C. Ifrim contributed equally to this work.

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Becker, K.L., Ifrim, D.C., Quintin, J. et al. Antifungal innate immunity: recognition and inflammatory networks. Semin Immunopathol 37, 107–116 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-014-0467-z

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