Fungal infections (mycoses) affect over a billion people per year. Approximately, two million of these infections are life-threatening, especially for patients with a compromised immune system. Fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Candida, Histoplasma and Cryptococcus are opportunistic pathogens that contribute to a substantial number of mycoses. To optimize the diagnosis and treatment of mycoses, we need to understand the complex fungal-host interplay during pathogenesis, the fungal attributes causing virulence and how the host resists infection via immunological defenses. In vitro models can be used to mimic fungal infections of various tissues and organs and the corresponding immune responses at near-physiological conditions. Furthermore, models can include fungal interactions with the host-microbiota to mimic the in vivo situation on skin and mucosal surfaces. This article reviews currently used in vitro models of fungal infections ranging from cell monolayers to microfluidic 3D organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms. We also discuss how OOC models can expand the toolbox for investigating interactions of fungi and their human hosts in the future.

中文翻译：

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研究真菌与宿主相互作用的体外感染模型。


真菌感染（真菌病）每年影响超过十亿人。大约有两百万感染者危及生命，特别是对于免疫系统受损的患者。曲霉属、念珠菌属、组织胞浆菌属和隐球菌属的真菌是导致大量真菌病的机会病原体。为了优化真菌病的诊断和治疗，我们需要了解发病机制中真菌与宿主之间复杂的相互作用、引起毒力的真菌属性以及宿主如何通过免疫防御来抵抗感染。体外模型可用于模拟各种组织和器官的真菌感染以及在接近生理条件下的相应免疫反应。此外，模型可以包括真菌与宿主微生物群的相互作用，以模拟皮肤和粘膜表面的体内情况。本文回顾了目前使用的真菌感染体外模型，范围从单层细胞到微流控 3D 器官芯片 (OOC) 平台。我们还讨论了 OOC 模型如何扩展未来研究真菌与其人类宿主相互作用的工具箱。