Immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii during cryptococcosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2014.11.006Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii cause infection in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent respectively.

  • Compromised T cell immunity is the main predisposing factor for cryptococcal infection and cryptococcal meningitis.

  • Immunity to Cryptococcus relies on innate immune cells coordinating adaptive responses to stimulate fungal killing.

  • Differences in C. gattii immunity are not well studied but may result from differences in activation of inflammation.

Abstract

The vast majority of infection with cryptococcal species occurs with Cryptococcus neoformans in the severely immunocompromised. A significant exception to this is the infections of those with apparently normal immune systems by Cryptococcus gattii. Susceptibility to cryptococcosis can be broadly categorised as a defect in adaptive immune responses, especially in T cell immunity. However, innate immune cells such as macrophages play a key role and are likely the primary effector cell in the killing and ultimate clearance of cryptococcal infection. In this review we discuss the current state of our understanding of how the immune system responds to cryptococcal infection in health and disease, with reference to the work communicated at the 9th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC9). We have focussed on cell mediated responses, particularly early in infection, but with the aim of presenting a broad overview of our understanding of immunity to cryptococcal infection, highlighting some recent advances and offering some perspectives on future directions.

Keywords

Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus gattii
Cryptococcosis
Macrophages
T cells
Immunity

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