We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
History and update on host defense against vaginal candidiasis.
- Authors
Fidel, Paul L, Jr
- Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), caused by Candida albicans, remains a significant problem in women of childbearing age. While cell-mediated immunity is considered the predominant host defense mechanism against mucosal candidal infections, two decades of research from animal models and clinical studies have revealed a lack of a protective role for adaptive immunity against VVC caused by putative immunoregulatory mechanisms. Moreover, natural protective mechanisms and factors associated with susceptibility to infection have remained elusive. That is until recently, when through a live challenge model in humans, it was revealed that protection against vaginitis coincides with a non-inflammatory innate presence, whereas symptomatic infection correlates with a neutrophil infiltrate in the vaginal lumen and elevated fungal burden. Thus, instead of VVC being caused by a putative deficient adaptive immune response, it is now being considered that symptomatic vaginitis is caused by an aggressive innate response.
- Publication
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 2007, Vol 57, Issue 1, p2
- ISSN
1046-7408
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0897.2006.00450.x