Treatment of candidiasis: insights from host genetics

Abstract

Candida species are major causes of mucosal and invasive infections, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite the development of new classes of antifungal drugs, mortality in patients with systemic candidiasis remains high. Host–Candida interaction plays an important role in effective elimination of the pathogen. Genetic studies have rendered important insights into antifungal host defense and have identified potential targets for adjunctive therapy. In this article, the authors review the genetic variations in the host defense to Candida and their implications for the treatment of mucosal and systemic candidiasis.

Keywords::

• candidiasis
• C-type lectin receptors
• immunotherapy
• inflammasome
• NOD-like receptors
• single-nucleotide polymorphisms
• Toll-like receptors

Financial & competing interests disclosure

CE Delsing and MG Netea were supported by a Vici grant of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.