Polysaccharide-containing conjugate vaccines for fungal diseases.
The recognition that antibodies are effective against fungal pathogens has spawned interest in developing vaccines that elicit antibody-mediated protection. Recently, a novel polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine that uses the algal antigen laminarin was shown to elicit antibodies to beta-glucan in fungal cell walls and to mediate protection against both experimental candidiasis and aspergillosis. Remarkably, vaccine-induced antibodies manifested direct antifungal effects, suggesting that vaccine efficacy might not require cellular or other components of the immune system. The description of a vaccine that could protect against various fungal pathogens opens exciting new dimensions in the search for approaches to control fungal diseases.
Casadevall
Arturo
A
Division of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. casadeva@aecom.yu.edu
Pirofski
Liise-Anne
LA
D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000494:pharmacology
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D011134:Polysaccharides; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate