Mechanisms of Fungal Immunopathology

The 2019 Gordon Research Conference the Immunology of Fungal Infections focuses on leading advances in our understanding of the challenges that fungi impose on the immune system. This meeting – the 5th in its series – has become the must-attend venue for immunologists and medical mycologists to discuss how the immune system response to the challenge of fungal pathogens as well as how the fungus responds to the assault of innate and adaptive immune responses. In this meeting we include focus on investigations using of NextGen sequencing and big data approaches, state of the art advances in fundamental immune processes controlling fungal infections and development of new strategies for immunotherapeutic control of these pathogens in humans. Other sessions will focus on important current issues regarding mechanisms of fungal immunity, including: innate fungal recognition; pathogen-associated molecular patterns and corresponding pattern recognition receptors; adaptive immune responses and their regulation; impact of immunodeficiency and immunomodulation on fungal pathogenesis and susceptibility; how the host microbiome and metabolic states drive immunity; human immunogenetics, immunopharmacology and translational immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells) and vaccination strategies. We have also added a new session focusing on the microbiology of different fungal microbes, which will help bring together microbiologists and immunologists attending the meeting. We will also have a session to highlight the “next generation" of promising young investigators in the field. This meeting has become a melting pot for perspectives gained from researchers from different traditions with a common interest in fungal infections.