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Interactions Between Fungi And DC

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Interactions between Fungi and DC: How DC can be used to develop vaccines? Like mentioned previously, DC initiates activation of different types of cells based on type of molecules/antigens at site of infection. Hence different forms of fungi initiate different mechanisms of immunity. When DC pulsed with fungus are introduced into mice, they can initiate specific immune response against that antigen by activating CD4+ Th cells. The analysis of antigen specific proliferation and cytokine production from CD4+ Th cells was done. These cells were collected from draining from lymph nodes and spleens of mice, in which fungus pulsed DCs were introduced. Results showed in mice immunized with conidia or yeast pulsed DCs, levels of IFN-ᵞ were higher …show more content…

DCs pulsed with inactive yeast cells were not able to induce maturation of DC in vitro and hence these cells were unable to develop Th1 response in vivo. Because of this, memory cells responsible for anticandidal protective immunity cannot be developed. Not only yeast or hyphae of fungus, but fungal RNA too was able to develop such protective immune response in vivo. In this case, fungal RNA from yeast or conidia could do so, but not from hyphae. DCs pulsed with fungal RNA from yeast (Candida) or conidia (Aspergillus) could develop resistance for infections for respective species only. One more species of fungus showed similar results for developing resistance against infection. DCs pulsed with Cryptococcus neoformans RNA could develop resistance for pulmonary cryptococcosis in murine model. Th1 cells producing IFN-ᵞ were increased and cells producing IL-4 were decreased in numbers in mice showing resistance to the disease [Fig (4)]. This indicates that the antifungal resistance is Th1 dependent. This suggests DCs can be a potential target for developing vaccines against fungal infections. Conclusion and future prospective: As it is well known that DCs play important role in developing immune response, they can used as a potential target for vaccine development. More species of fungal pathogens

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