ABSTRACT
Invasive fungal infections typically occur in highly immunocompromised patients. Therefore, survival from these infections often requires that the patient’s immune system can ultimately clear the fungal pathogen. For example, this type of clearing immunity can occur when patients recover from chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Alternatively, immunosuppressive agents can sometimes be minimized in transplant patients with invasive mycoses. This chapter explores many novel efforts attempting to enhance immune clearance of fungal pathogens in the setting of infection. These early studies have not yet identified consistently beneficial immune-based therapies. However, they build a foundation for future adjunctive treatments, in combination with antifungal agents, to improve outcomes in patients with these life-threatening infections.
