<i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments
For individuals who are immunocompromised, the opportunistic fungal pathogen <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> is capable of causing life-threatening pneumonia as the causative agent of <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia (PCP). PCP remains an acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS)-d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/2/236 |
| _version_ | 1797395997397090304 |
|---|---|
| author | Aaron D. Gingerich Karen A. Norris Jarrod J. Mousa |
| author_facet | Aaron D. Gingerich Karen A. Norris Jarrod J. Mousa |
| author_sort | Aaron D. Gingerich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For individuals who are immunocompromised, the opportunistic fungal pathogen <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> is capable of causing life-threatening pneumonia as the causative agent of <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia (PCP). PCP remains an acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS)-defining illness in the era of antiretroviral therapy. In addition, a rise in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated PCP has been observed due to increased usage of immunosuppressive and immunomodulating therapies. With the persistence of HIV-related PCP cases and associated morbidity and mortality, as well as difficult to diagnose non-HIV-related PCP cases, an improvement over current treatment and prevention standards is warranted. Current therapeutic strategies have primarily focused on the administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which is effective at disease prevention. However, current treatments are inadequate for treatment of PCP and prevention of PCP-related death, as evidenced by consistently high mortality rates for those hospitalized with PCP. There are no vaccines in clinical trials for the prevention of PCP, and significant obstacles exist that have slowed development, including host range specificity, and the inability to culture <i>Pneumocystis</i> spp. in vitro. In this review, we overview the immune response to <i>Pneumocystis</i> spp., and discuss current progress on novel vaccines and therapies currently in the preclinical and clinical pipeline. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:43:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a45c9538d2e845d2a9479296452a9d76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:43:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-a45c9538d2e845d2a9479296452a9d762023-12-11T17:39:36ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-02-0110223610.3390/pathogens10020236<i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and TreatmentsAaron D. Gingerich0Karen A. Norris1Jarrod J. Mousa2Center for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USACenter for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USACenter for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USAFor individuals who are immunocompromised, the opportunistic fungal pathogen <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> is capable of causing life-threatening pneumonia as the causative agent of <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia (PCP). PCP remains an acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS)-defining illness in the era of antiretroviral therapy. In addition, a rise in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated PCP has been observed due to increased usage of immunosuppressive and immunomodulating therapies. With the persistence of HIV-related PCP cases and associated morbidity and mortality, as well as difficult to diagnose non-HIV-related PCP cases, an improvement over current treatment and prevention standards is warranted. Current therapeutic strategies have primarily focused on the administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which is effective at disease prevention. However, current treatments are inadequate for treatment of PCP and prevention of PCP-related death, as evidenced by consistently high mortality rates for those hospitalized with PCP. There are no vaccines in clinical trials for the prevention of PCP, and significant obstacles exist that have slowed development, including host range specificity, and the inability to culture <i>Pneumocystis</i> spp. in vitro. In this review, we overview the immune response to <i>Pneumocystis</i> spp., and discuss current progress on novel vaccines and therapies currently in the preclinical and clinical pipeline.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/2/236<i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i><i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumoniafungal vaccines |
| spellingShingle | Aaron D. Gingerich Karen A. Norris Jarrod J. Mousa <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments Pathogens <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia fungal vaccines |
| title | <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments |
| title_full | <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments |
| title_fullStr | <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments |
| title_short | <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia: Immunity, Vaccines, and Treatments |
| title_sort | i pneumocystis i pneumonia immunity vaccines and treatments |
| topic | <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia fungal vaccines |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/2/236 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aarondgingerich ipneumocystisipneumoniaimmunityvaccinesandtreatments AT karenanorris ipneumocystisipneumoniaimmunityvaccinesandtreatments AT jarrodjmousa ipneumocystisipneumoniaimmunityvaccinesandtreatments |