AUTHOR=Nosanchuk Joshua D., Zancope-Oliveira Rosely M., Hamilton Andrew J., Guimaraes Allan J.

TITLE=Antibody Therapy for Histoplasmosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2012.00021

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2012.00021

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The endemic human pathogenic fungus <italic>Histoplasma capsulatum</italic> is a major fungal pathogen with a broad variety of clinical presentations, ranging from mild, focal pulmonary disease to life-threatening systemic infections. Although azoles, such as itraconazole and voriconazole, and amphotericin B have significant activity against <italic>H. capsulatum</italic>, about 1 in 10 patients hospitalized due to histoplasmosis die. Hence, new approaches for managing disease are being sought. Over the past 10 years, studies have demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can modify the pathogenesis of histoplasmosis. Disease has been shown to be impacted by mAbs targeting either fungal cell surface proteins or host co-stimulatory molecules. This review will detail our current knowledge regarding the impact of antibody therapy on histoplasmosis.</p>