Genetic Vaccination as a Flexible Tool to Overcome the Immunological Complexity of Invasive Fungal Infections.

Laura Luberto,Giuseppe Roscilli,Bruna Neroni,Ersilia Vita Fiscarelli,Giovanni Salvatori,Emanuele Marra,Orietta Gandini

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.789774

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted genetic vaccination as a powerful and cost-effective tool to counteract infectious diseases. Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a major challenge among immune compromised patients, particularly those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT) both presenting high morbidity and mortality rates. Candidiasis and Aspergillosis are the major fungal infections among these patients and the failure of current antifungal therapies call for new therapeutic aids. Vaccination represents a valid alternative, and proof of concept of the efficacy of this approach has been provided at clinical level. This review will analyze current understanding of antifungal immunology, with a particular focus on genetic vaccination as a suitable strategy to counteract these diseases.

Highlights

A billion people are estimated to have skin, nail, and hair fungal infections and more than 150 million people have serious fungal diseases, which have a major impact on their lives or are fatal
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is globally estimated in 3,000,000 cases, ∼700,000 cases of invasive candidiasis, and ∼250,000 cases of invasive aspergillosis occur annually (Bongomin et al, 2017)
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common IFI encountered in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) population: Aspergillus accounted for 43% of infections and Candida accounted for 28%

Summary

Introduction

A billion people are estimated to have skin, nail, and hair fungal infections and more than 150 million people have serious fungal diseases, which have a major impact on their lives or are fatal. Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a major challenge among immune compromised patients, those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT) both presenting high morbidity and mortality rates.

Results

Conclusion