The Known Unknowns of the Immune Response to <i>Coccidioides</i>

Coccidioidomycosis, otherwise known as Valley Fever, is caused by the dimorphic fungi <i>Coccidioides immitis</i> and <i>C. posadasii</i>. While most clinical cases present with self-limiting pulmonary infection, dissemination of <i>Coccidioides</i> spp. results i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rebecca A. Ward, George R. Thompson, Alexandra-Chloé Villani, Bo Li, Michael K. Mansour, Marcel Wuethrich, Jenny M. Tam, Bruce S. Klein, Jatin M. Vyas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/5/377
Description
Summary:Coccidioidomycosis, otherwise known as Valley Fever, is caused by the dimorphic fungi <i>Coccidioides immitis</i> and <i>C. posadasii</i>. While most clinical cases present with self-limiting pulmonary infection, dissemination of <i>Coccidioides</i> spp. results in prolonged treatment and portends higher mortality rates. While the structure, genome, and niches for <i>Coccidioides</i> have provided some insight into the pathogenesis of disease, the underlying immunological mechanisms of clearance or inability to contain the infection in the lung are poorly understood. This review focuses on the known innate and adaptive immune responses to <i>Coccidioides</i> and highlights three important areas of uncertainty and potential approaches to address them. Closing these gaps in knowledge may enable new preventative and therapeutic strategies to be pursued.
ISSN:2309-608X