Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, the predominant etiological agent
of cryptococcosis, can cause life-threatening infections of the
central nervous system in immunocompromised and immunocompetent
individuals. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis
is the most common disseminated fungal infection in AIDS
patients, and remains the third most common invasive fungal
infection among organ transplant recipients. The administration
of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has
result
ed in a decrease in the number of cases of AIDS-related
cryptococcosis in developed countries, but in developing
countries where HAART is not readily available, Cryptococcus
is still a major concern. Therefore, there is an urgent
need for the development of novel therapies and/or vaccines
to combat cryptococcosis. Understanding the protective immune
responses against Cryptococcus is critical for development
of vaccines and immunotherapies to combat cryptococcosis.
Consequently, this review focuses on our current
knowledge of protective immune responses to C. neoformans,
with an emphasis on innate immune responses.
Citations
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