Proteome Analysis and Immunotherapy for Murine Aspergillosis

Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogenic fungus found in the Ascomycota Phylum. A. fumigatus causes more infections worldwide than any other mould. Four percent of all patients dying in tertiary care hospitals in Europe have invasive aspergillosis. The fungus causes allergic deseases in asthmatics and patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Invasive aspergillosis can occur in individuals with cavities caused by tuberculosis or other cystic lung diseases. In A. fumigatus, as in other pathogenic fungi, the cell wall is continuosly in contact with the host cells and proteins, and acts as a sieve and a reservoir for molecules such as antigens and enzymes having an active role during infection. This includes alteration and modulation of host immune responses. The increase in infection, combined with the reduced efficacy of the currently available drugs, highlights the need for new antifungal drugs and the immunotherapeutics that may suit better. The potential therapeutic application of MAbs created a tremendous interest in the medical and pharmaceutical community.Very few MAbs have been used in immunotherapy against experimental aspergillosis.