Understanding Fungi Recognition and Immune Response Activation

🍄 Recognition of fungi and activation of immune response are the initial steps in antifungal host defenses.

🌬️ Airborne fungi like Aspergillus and Zygomycetes can be encountered in the respiratory tract, while Candida is found in cutaneous, mucosal, and gastrointestinal sites.

💉 Fungi can invade the bloodstream and other body parts through various means, such as catheter insertion sites and mucosal injury.

🔍 Recognition of fungi is facilitated by pattern recognition and opsonic receptors.

🔬 Fungi and fungal particles bind to macrophages and dendritic cells, activating intracellular signaling.

🌪️ Cytokines and chemokines are synthesized and released, activating immune cells and recruiting them to infected tissue.