Abstract
The Trends in Microbiology article by Romani and Puccetti [ 1 Romani L. Puccetti P. Protective tolerance to fungi: the role of IL-10 and tryptophan catabolism. Trends Microbiol. 2006; 14: 183-189 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (119) Google Scholar ] on the role of interleukin (IL)-10 in fungal infections emphasized the excellent research that their group has done on the immune response to the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. However, we recommend caution in generalizing their observations to all fungal infections. C. albicans is a commensal organism in humans and symptomatic mucosal infections of this fungus are primarily caused by disturbances of the normal bacterial flora, which can occur after treatment with antibiotics, or in individuals with T cell deficiencies, such as those with AIDS or chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Invasive Candida infections are almost always iatrogenic or caused by neutropenia or congenital disorders of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function and are not a result of problems with T cell-mediated immunity. This is also true of invasive infections caused by the nearly ubiquitous environmental fungus, A. fumigatus.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
