A Review on Antifungal Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses

Yeast and filamentous forms are typical morphological classifications for fungi, which are heterotrophic eukaryotes. Inhaling spores or tiny yeast cells exposes individuals to most of the fungi found in the environment. Fungi are highly skilled in detecting their environment and reacting to signals that help them survive in shifting conditions. Therefore, they can form symbiotic, commensal, latent, or harmful partnerships with humans, animals, or plants in various ways. Fungal diseases are an essential paradigm in immunology since they can be due to either an overactive inflammatory response or a lack of detection by the immune system. The degree of cellular localization and receptor cooperativity, in addition to the relative degree of activation of each particular receptor, will determine the immunological response. Moreover, fungi produce numerous substances that are powerful modulators of the host inflammatory response. The ability of fungi to evade inflammation by disguising or manipulating the host’s detection systems also facilitates fungal adaptation and opportunism. In addition, the fungal cell wall is a dynamic structure that shapes immune recognition and is remodeled during growth and morphological changes. Accordingly, this review integrates current progress in fungal immunology with evolving perspectives on host-directed immunotherapy and immune dysregulation.