Commander-in-chief: monocytes rally the troops for defense against aspergillosis

Abstract

The detrimental impact of fungal infections to human health has steadily increased over the past decades. In October of 2022, the World Health Organization published the first ever fungal-pathogen priority list highlighting increased awareness of this problem, and the need for more research in this area. There were four distinct fungal pathogens identified as critical priority groups with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) being the only mold. Af is a common environmental fungus responsible for over 90% of invasive aspergillosis cases worldwide. Pulmonary protection against Af is critically dependent on innate effector cells with essential roles played by neutrophils and monocytes. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding of how monocytes help orchestrate antifungal defense against Af.