Genetic Vaccination as a Flexible Tool to Overcome the Immunological Complexity of Invasive Fungal Infections

Laura Luberto; Bruna Neroni; Orietta Gandini; Ersilia Vita Fiscarelli; Giovanni Salvatori; Giuseppe Roscilli; Emanuele Marra

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.789774

Genetic Vaccination as a Flexible Tool to Overcome the Immunological Complexity of Invasive Fungal Infections

Front Microbiol. 2021 Dec 15:12:789774. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.789774. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Laura Luberto¹, Bruna Neroni², Orietta Gandini³, Ersilia Vita Fiscarelli², Giovanni Salvatori¹, Giuseppe Roscilli¹, Emanuele Marra¹

Affiliations

¹ Takis s.r.l., Rome, Italy.
² Cystic Fibrosis Diagnostic Section, U.O. Microbiology and Immunology Diagnostic, Department of Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù Organization IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted genetic vaccination as a powerful and cost-effective tool to counteract infectious diseases. Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a major challenge among immune compromised patients, particularly those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT) both presenting high morbidity and mortality rates. Candidiasis and Aspergillosis are the major fungal infections among these patients and the failure of current antifungal therapies call for new therapeutic aids. Vaccination represents a valid alternative, and proof of concept of the efficacy of this approach has been provided at clinical level. This review will analyze current understanding of antifungal immunology, with a particular focus on genetic vaccination as a suitable strategy to counteract these diseases.

Keywords: HSCT; SOT; anti-fungal; aspergillosis; genetic vaccination; immunotherapy; invasive fungal infections; vaccine.

Publication types

Review