Antibodies

Abstract

Generation of antibodies against fungal antigens is one of the hallmarks of the host/fungus interaction, and antibodies are important contributors to host immunity during these fastidious infections. Many studies have examined the role of antibody production as a prerequisite for protective immunity to different pathogenic fungi, both in vivo and in vitro. Surprisingly, this has proved a problematic issue to definitively determine, mainly because fungal infections have been traditionally associated with defects in cell mediated immunity and because of the heterogeneity of antibodies in polyclonal sera. However, in the recent years there has been a growing body of evidence for the protective role of antibodies and a revival on the interest and potential use of antibodies in novel, immune-based approaches for the management (diagnosis, prevention and treatment) of fungal infections