Genetic susceptibility to infections with Aspergillus fumigatus.
Infections with the opportunistic mold Aspergillus fumigatus show high morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for the development of invasive aspergillosis are neutropenia, T-cell depletion, CD34-selected stem cell products, corticosteroid therapy, and cytomegalovirus infections. Recently, a growing number of defined single nucleotide polymorphisms have been described that genetically determine susceptibility to A. fumigatus. This includes genes encoding for cytokines or chemokines and their receptors, toll-like receptor genes, and other genes involved in innate immunity. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the growing number of genetic markers and their relevance for the course and outcome of infections with A. fumigatus.
Mezger
Markus
M
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Medizinische Klinik & Poliklinik II, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
Einsele
Hermann
H
Loeffler
Juergen
J
D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic