Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2024 | Viewed by 1251

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: medical mycology; mycosis; immunology of fungal infection
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing incidence of fungal infections and the growing problem of antifungal resistance underscore the need for enhanced immune defense mechanisms and innovative therapeutic strategies. The immune system protects the host against fungal infections, which range from mild superficial issues to severe systemic conditions. Immunosuppressed individuals, including those with HIV/AIDS, undergoing chemotherapy, or receiving organ transplants, are particularly vulnerable to these infections. Understanding the immune responses to fungal pathogens is critical for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This Special Issue will focus on immune defenses against fungal infections and explore emerging therapeutic approaches. Fungal infections present complex challenges due to their diverse nature and the ability of fungi to evade immune defenses. Enhancing our understanding of immune responses to fungal infections and developing innovative therapeutic strategies are critical for effectively managing these infections. Advances in immunotherapy, vaccine development, and novel antifungal agents hold promise for improving the outcomes of patients who are at risk for severe fungal diseases.

Prof. Dr. Sandro Rogério de Almeida
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fungal infection
  • immune response
  • immunotherapy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

14 pages, 1098 KiB  
Review
Novel Insights into Sporotrichosis and Diabetes
by Mariana de Araujo Oliveira, Sandro Rogério de Almeida and Joilson O. Martins
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080527 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1032
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a type of zoonotic subcutaneous mycosis caused by different species of dimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix, and it is the most common form of subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Sporotrichosis is generally restricted to cutaneous and lymphatic tissue (i.e., [...] Read more.
Sporotrichosis is a type of zoonotic subcutaneous mycosis caused by different species of dimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix, and it is the most common form of subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Sporotrichosis is generally restricted to cutaneous and lymphatic tissue (i.e., localized forms), and involvement in the viscera (i.e., disseminated or disseminated cutaneous form) is uncommon, especially in the central nervous system. However, immunosuppression in individuals with diabetes mellitus can lead to the disseminated form of the disease due to a failure to eliminate the pathogen and poor infection treatment outcomes. Possible correlations between patients with diabetes and their greater susceptibility to disseminated cases of sporotrichosis include a decreased cytokine response after stimulation, increased oxidative stress, decreased chemotaxis, phagocytic activity, adhesion and rolling of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, and increased macrophage/monocyte and polymorphonuclear cell apoptosis. Therefore, this review highlights novel insights into diabetes and sporotrichosis by investigating how chronic inflammation affects and aggravates the infection, the possible causes of the greater susceptibility of Sporothrix sp. to hematogenous dissemination in immunocompromised patients, and the main alterations that this dissemination can cause. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies)
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