Vaccinate against aspergillosis! A call to arms of the immune system.
Invasive aspergillosis is a devastating and increasingly common disease, seen almost exclusively in immunosuppressed patients. Immunizing an immunocompromised host would seem to be a formidable task; however, virulence factors and immunogens of the pathogen have now been identified and could be targeted, mapping of the genome sequence of the pathogen will soon be completed, and the protective host immune responses and cytokine networking are better understood. These facts, together with recent advances in vaccine science, make consideration of such an approach now possible. Some populations that are at risk for aspergillosis might be likely candidates for receiving the first vaccinations against aspergillosis, or vaccination of a stem cell donor might be considered in some circumstances. Successful immunizations have been demonstrated in turkeys and mice.
Stevens
David A
DA
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California 95128-2699, USA. stevens@stanford.edu
D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007107:Immune System; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014422:Turkeys; D014611:Vaccination
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005657:Fungal Vaccines