AUTHOR=Zhou Yujie , Cheng Lei , Lei Yu L. , Ren Biao , Zhou Xuedong 

TITLE=The Interactions Between Candida albicans and Mucosal Immunity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.652725

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.652725

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Mucosa protects the body against external pathogen invasion. However, pathogen colonies on the mucosa can invade the mucosa when the immunosurveillance is compromised, causing mucosal infection and subsequent diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to timely and effectively monitor and control pathogenic microorganisms through mucosal immunity. <italic>Candida albicans</italic> is the most prevalent fungi on the mucosa. The <italic>C. albicans</italic> colonies proliferate and increase their virulence, causing severe infectious diseases and even death, especially in immunocompromised patients. The normal host mucosal immune defense inhibits pathogenic <italic>C. albicans</italic> through stepwise processes, such as pathogen recognition, cytokine production, and immune cell phagocytosis. Herein, the current advances in the interactions between <italic>C. albicans</italic> and host mucosal immune defenses have been summarized to improve understanding on the immune mechanisms against fungal infections.</p>