Inborn errors of immunity underlying fungal diseases in otherwise healthy individuals.

Inborn errors of immunity underlying fungal diseases in otherwise healthy individuals. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2017 Nov 09;40:46-57 Authors: Li J, Vinh DC, Casanova JL, Puel A Abstract It has been estimated that there are at least 1.5 million fungal species, mostly present in the environment, but only a few of these fungi cause human disease. Most fungal diseases are self-healing and benign, but some are chronic or life-threatening. Acquired and inherited defects of immunity, including breaches of mucocutaneous barriers and circulating leukocyte deficiencies, account for most severe modern-day mycoses. Other types of infection typically accompany these fungal infections. More rarely, severe fungal diseases can strike otherwise healthy individuals. Historical reports of fungi causing chronic peripheral infections (e.g. affecting the nails, skin, hair), and invasive diseases (e.g. brain, lungs, liver), in otherwise healthy patients, can be traced back to the mid-20(th) century. These fungi typically cause endemic, but not epidemic diseases, are more likely to underlie sporadic than familial cases, and only threaten a small proportion of infected individuals. The basis of this 'idiosyncratic' susceptibility has long remained unexplained, but it has recently become apparent that 'idiopathic' fungal diseases, in children, teenagers, and even adults, may be caused by single-gene inborn errors of immunity. The study of these unusual primary im...
Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Microbiol Source Type: research