title: Host immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: Cryptococcosis is caused by the fungal genus Cryptococcus. Cryptococcosis, predominantly meningoencephalitis, emerged with the HIV pandemic, primarily afflicting HIV-infected patients with profound T-cell deficiency. Where in use, combination antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced the incidence of and risk for disease, but cryptococcosis continues to afflict those without access to therapy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. However, cryptococcosis also occurs in solid organ transplant recipients and patients with other immunodeficiencies as well as those with no known immunodeficiency. This article reviews innate and adaptive immune responses to C. neoformans, with an emphasis on recent studies on the role of B cells, natural IgM and Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms in resistance to cryptococcosis.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors: Soma
authors: S
authors: Rohatgi
authors: Liise-Anne
authors: LA
authors: Pirofski
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D066027:Transplant Recipients
keywords: B cells; Cryptococcus neoformans; Fc receptors; T cells; acquired immunity; antibodies; cryptococcosis; host response; innate immunity; macrophages; polymorphism