Microbiology 6: Immunity to fungal infections

Question 1

What are the 3 key examples of pathogenic fungi you need to know?

Answer 1

Aspergillus
Cryptococcomas
Candida albicans

Question 2

Where is the initial interaction of aspergillus?

Answer 2

Lung

Question 3

Where is the initial interaction of cryptococcomas?

Answer 3

Lung

Question 4

What sort of disease is caused by cryptococcomas?

Answer 4

Can cause meningits

Question 5

What sort of disease is caused by candida albicans?

Answer 5

Thrush

Question 6

Where is the initial interaction of candida albicans?

Answer 6

Gut

Question 7

How are fungi detected by the immune system?

Answer 7

PRRs

Question 8

What is the most important signalling pathway in the immune response to fungi?

Answer 8

Toll

Question 9

Recall 3 approaches to treatment of fungal disease

Answer 9

IFN gamma
Adoptive immunotherapy
Gene therapy

Question 10

How is adoptive immunotherapy used to fight fungal infection?

Answer 10

Create T cells that can respond to fungal epitopes

Question 11

How can gene therapy be used to help the immune response to aspergillus?

Answer 11

Restore ability of neutrophils to produce NETs

Question 12

What is ABPA?

Answer 12

Asthma + fungal sensitisation to aspergillus

Question 13

Recall 3 signs of ABPA that can be seen on a blood test

Answer 13

Raised IgE
Raised IgG directed against neutrophils
Eosinophilia

Question 14

What are the 2 approaches of treatment for ABPA?

Answer 14

Oral corticosteroids

Anti-IgE monoclonal

Question 15

How can ABPA be excluded in aspergillus rhinosinusitis diagnosis?

Answer 15

No radiological features

Question 16

What is another name for pneumonitis?

Answer 16

Cell-mediated DTH reaction

Question 17

Why are transplant patients more susceptible to fungal infection?

Answer 17

TNF alpha response is defective

Question 18

Why are leukaemia patients more susceptible to fungal infection?

Answer 18

Neutropenic