New Perspectives on Fungal Immunology

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1933

Special Issue Editor

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
Interests: fungal energy metabolism and mitochondria-driven pathogenesis; antifungal resistance mechanisms in Candida spp., Fusarium spp., and Mucor spp.; signal transduction pathways in fungal pathogenesis; antifungal drug development and efficacy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antifungal resistance presents a major challenge in managing fungal infections, particularly invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals. A thorough understanding of host immune mechanisms at the site of infection and during invasive fungemia is crucial in developing new immunotherapeutic strategies. To further develop this critical research area, we invite contributions to this Special Issue, “New Perspectives on Fungal Immunology.

This Special Issue will explore the latest advancements in host–fungus interactions, immune evasion mechanisms, and novel therapeutic approaches. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives on topics such as innate and adaptive immune responses to fungal pathogens, microbiome-driven immune response, immunomodulatory interventions, and emerging diagnostic and treatment strategies. By bringing together cutting-edge studies, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of fungal immunology and its clinical implications. We encourage submissions that offer innovative insights and multidisciplinary approaches in this evolving field.

Dr. Dongmei Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antifungal immunity
  • host–fungus interaction
  • biological
  • microbiome-driven immune response
  • diagnostic invention
  • antifungal vaccine

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

13 pages, 1059 KiB  
Review
Response to Oxidative Stress in Sporothrix schenckii
by Estela Ruiz-Baca, Pablo Jaciel Adame-Soto, Carlos Antonio Alba-Fierro, Ana Lilia Martínez-Rocha, Armando Pérez-Torres, Angélica López-Rodríguez and Yolanda Romo-Lozano
J. Fungi 2025, 11(6), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11060440 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 863
Abstract
Oxidative stress is key in immune defense against fungal infections, such as those caused by Sporothrix schenckii, the dimorphic fungus responsible for sporotrichosis. Phagocytic cells utilize oxidative stress as a crucial mechanism to control pathogen spread. During S. schenckii infection, phagocytic cells [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress is key in immune defense against fungal infections, such as those caused by Sporothrix schenckii, the dimorphic fungus responsible for sporotrichosis. Phagocytic cells utilize oxidative stress as a crucial mechanism to control pathogen spread. During S. schenckii infection, phagocytic cells recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on their surface through conserved transmembrane or soluble receptors, known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). This recognition triggers a cascade of immune responses, including the generation reactive oxygen species (ROS) essential for pathogen elimination. However, S. schenckii has developed sophisticated mechanisms to evade and counteract this response, contributing to its persistence in the host. These mechanisms include the production of antioxidant enzymes, alterations to its cell wall (CW), and the production of melanin, which helps neutralize oxidative stress. In addition, S. schenckii modulates the production of other proteins, such as moonlighting proteins, suggested to have roles in immune evasion and stress response, helping its survival in the host. These strategies, along with the modulation of gene expression, allow the fungus to survive and persist inside the immune system’s hostile environment, facilitating the progression of the infection. Understanding these interactions between phagocytic cells and S. schenckii is key to developing more effective therapeutic strategies to combat sporotrichosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Immunology)
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14 pages, 785 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Diagnosing Talaromycosis: Exploring Novel Strategies and Emerging Technologies
by Yihui Wang, Xiaoyue Wang, Liyan Xi and Sha Lu
J. Fungi 2025, 11(6), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11060434 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 882
Abstract
Talaromycosis (TM) is an invasive fungal infection caused by Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei). It has high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among immunocompromised people. Globally, approximately 17,300 cases and 4900 deaths are reported annually. TM often has vague clinical signs with [...] Read more.
Talaromycosis (TM) is an invasive fungal infection caused by Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei). It has high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among immunocompromised people. Globally, approximately 17,300 cases and 4900 deaths are reported annually. TM often has vague clinical signs with limited current tests, leading to misdiagnosis, incorrect treatments, or the long-term use of expensive antifungal drugs, which raises healthcare costs and patient risks. Although accurate diagnosis is key for starting the right antifungal therapy and improving outcomes, there are not enough reliable and fast tests. Recent progress with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have high specificity for antigens may boost diagnostic accuracy and cut misdiagnosis rates. This review explores current ways to diagnose TM, including culture, histopathology, and molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen detection. We also discuss the merits and weaknesses of each method and highlight how mAbs may help diagnose TM. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language papers (1990—1 January 2025) using “Talaromycosis” OR “Talaromyces marneffei” plus diagnostic terms (‘diagnosis’, ‘molecular diagnostics’, ‘monoclonal antibody’, ‘lateral flow’, ‘antigen detection’, and ‘fungal diagnosis’). After deduplication and relevance screening, studies with original data or substantive discussion on T. marneffei diagnostics or mAb development were retained to inform this narrative review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Immunology)
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