T cell responses in fungal infections

Abstract

Fungal diseases represent an important immunological paradigm because they can result from either defective immune recognition or overreacting inflammatory responses. The ever-growing number of patients suffering from life-threatening fungal diseases as a consequence of advances in medical care has created a pressing need to clarify both the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence as well as the mechanisms of host and fungal adaptation underlying immune homeostasis. Understanding the dynamics of the host-fungus interaction is central to the design of novel antifungal therapies and provides the foundation for successful vaccination strategies. This chapter reviews recent advances in the knowledge of adaptive immunity to fungi, positioning them within the conceptual framework of resistance-based versus tolerance-based antifungal responses, and how these mechanisms can be exploited for improved management of severe fungal infections and diseases.