| Autor: |
Höft MA; CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK., Duvenage L; CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK., Hoving JC; CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.; MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK. |
| Abstrakt: |
Exposure to fungal pathogens from the environment is inevitable and with the number of at-risk populations increasing, the prevalence of invasive fungal infection is on the rise. An interesting group of fungal organisms known as thermally dimorphic fungi predominantly infects immunocompromised individuals. These potential pathogens are intriguing in that they survive in the environment in one form, mycelial phase, but when entering the host, they are triggered by the change in temperature to switch to a new pathogenic form. Considering the growing prevalence of infection and the need for improved diagnostic and treatment approaches, studies identifying key components of fungal recognition and the innate immune response to these pathogens will significantly contribute to our understanding of disease progression. This review focuses on key endemic dimorphic fungal pathogens that significantly contribute to disease, including Histoplasma , Coccidioides and Talaromyces species. We briefly describe their prevalence, route of infection and clinical presentation. Importantly, we have reviewed the major fungal cell wall components of these dimorphic fungi, the host pattern recognition receptors responsible for recognition and important innate immune responses supporting adaptive immunity and fungal clearance or the failure thereof. |
