%0 Journal Article
%T Candida Immunity
%A Julian R. Naglik
%J New Journal of Science
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/390241
%X The human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans is the predominant cause of both superficial and invasive forms of candidiasis. C. albicans primarily infects immunocompromised individuals as a result of either immunodeficiency or intervention therapy, which highlights the importance of host immune defences in preventing fungal infections. The host defence system utilises a vast communication network of cells, proteins, and chemical signals distributed in blood and tissues, which constitute innate and adaptive immunity. Over the last decade the identity of many key molecules mediating host defence against C. albicans has been identified. This review will discuss how the host recognises this fungus, the events induced by fungal cells, and the host innate and adaptive immune defences that ultimately resolve C. albicans infections during health. 1. Introduction Current estimates indicate that there approximately 600,000 species of fungi on Earth [1]; however, only 0.1% (600 species) of these fungi are thought to be human pathogens [2, 3]. These range from mild infections of the skin and cutaneous tissues (e.g., dermatophytes, Malassezia species, and Sporothrix schenckii) to invasive life-threatening systemic infections (e.g., Candida species, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum) [4]. However, fungal infections only really became recognised as being of clinical importance in the second half of the 20th century with the onset of the AIDS epidemic. Together with advances in medical treatments such as cancer therapy and allogeneic transplantation, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of fungal infections over the past three decades. This is the combined result of reduction of the CD4+ lymphocyte population of the cell-mediated immune system and the use of immunosuppressive intervention therapies. This trend is likely to continue over the coming decades, particularly as further improvements are made in healthcare for immunocompromised patients. The predisposition of certain patient groups to opportunistic fungal infections led to a notable increase in research into pathogenic fungi, predominantly on Candida species, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus [5]. This resulted in the unravelling of many fundamental biological processes that take place during host-fungal interactions, particularly with regard to Candida species. Candida species are one of the most common fungal pathogens of humans and the causative agents of superficial and invasive candidiasis, giving rise to severe morbidity and
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/njos/2014/390241/