| Abstrakt: |
Candida spp. are members of the human mucosal microbiota that can cause opportunistic diseases ranging from superficial infections to life-threatening invasive candidiasis. In humans, the most common infection caused by Candida spp. is vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which affects >70% of women at least once in their lifetime. Of those women, ∼5%–10% develop recurrent VVC (RVVC). In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the host and fungal factors that contribute to susceptibility to VVC and RVVC. We synthesize key findings that support the notion that disease symptoms are driven by neutrophil-associated dysfunction and immunopathology and describe how antifungal immune mechanisms in the vagina are distinct from other mucosal barrier sites. Finally, we highlight key, unanswered research areas within the field that can help us better understand the immunopathogenesis of this infection and facilitate the development of novel preventive, therapeutic, and/or vaccination strategies to combat these common, poorly understood diseases. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the most common fungal disease in humans. MacAlpine and Lionakis synthesize the host, microbiome, and fungal factors that alter susceptibility to acute and recurrent vaginal yeast infections. They highlight recent advancements in antifungal treatment and vaccination and offer an outlook for the field of vaginal fungal immunology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
