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Enemy of the (immunosuppressed) state: an update on the pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus infection
Author(s) -
BenAmi Ronen,
Lewis Russell E.,
Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2010.08283.x
Subject(s) - aspergillus fumigatus , aspergillosis , pathogenesis , immunology , virulence , biology , immunosuppression , immune system , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , aspergillus , medicine , pathology , gene , genetics
Summary Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic filamentous fungus that is currently the most frequent cause of invasive fungal disease in immunosuppressed individuals. Recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of invasive aspergillosis have highlighted the multifactorial nature of A. fumigatus virulence and the complex interplay between host and microbial factors. In this review, we outline current concepts of immune recognition and evasion, angioinvasion and angiogenesis, secondary metabolism and the fungal stress response, and their respective roles in this often lethal infection.