Cutaneous defenses against dermatophytes and yeasts

Abstract

Predispositions to the superficial mycoses include warmth and moisture, natural or iatrogenic immunosuppression, and perhaps some degree of inherited susceptibility. Some of these infections elicit a greater inflammatory response than others, and the noninflammatory ones are generally more chronic. The immune system is involved in the defense against these infections, and cell-mediated immunity appears to be particularly important. The mechanisms involved in generating immunologic reactions in the skin are complex, with epidermal Langerhans cells, other dendritic cells, lymphocytes, microvascular endothelial cells, and the keratinocytes themselves all participating in one way or another. A variety of defects in the immunologic response to the superficial mycoses have been described. In some cases the defect may be preexistent, whereas in others the infection itself may interfere with protective cell-mediated immune responses against the organisms. A number of different mechanisms may underlie these immunologic defects and lead to the development of chronic superficial fungal infection in individual patients. Although the immunologic defects appear to be involved in the chronicity of certain types of cutaneous fungal infections, treatment of these defects remains experimental at the present time.

DC-SIGN mediates the binding of Aspergillus fumigatus and keratinophylic fungi by human dendritic cells

“…1C), as seen in immunofluorescence microscopy experiments. These results confirm the validity of the screening assay for the identification of fungal pathogens with potential DC-SIGN-interacting capacity, and demonstrate the ability of DC-SIGN to interact with keratinophylic fungi implicated in dermal and disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients (Wagner and Sohnle, 1995;Weitzman and Summerbell, 1995).…”

Low DEFB4 Copy Number and High Systemic hBD-2 and IL-22 Levels Are Associated with Dermatophytosis

“…Microbiological tests were performed at Fungus Laboratory, Department of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital. Patients were divided into subgroups according to clinical presentation (Wagner and Sohnle, 1995): tinea corporis (ringworm on the trunk); tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin); tinea pedis (athlete's foot); tinea unguium (onychomycosis and nail infections); and patients with lesions at multiple sites, such as tinea pedis and unguium, tinea pedis and manus/manuum, or tinea manus/ manuum with infected fingernails. Pooling subgroups together yielded the combined group of patients.…”

Comparative analysis of secreted enzymes between the anthropophilic–zoophilic sister species Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton equinum

“…These proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes facilitate nutrient acquisition (Apodaca & McKerrow 1989a, b) and, in live hosts, play a significant role in host specificity, immunogenicity and virulence Grappel & Blank 1972;Collins et al 1973;Wagner & Sohnle 1995;Mahmoud et al 1996;Nissen et al 1998;Mari et al 2003;Giddey et al 2007a). Given their importance in the pathogenesis of infections, an understanding of the differences in these genes at the structural and functional levels may help to elucidate how two, otherwise very closely related, organisms (e.g.…”