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Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2002, p. 21-57, Vol. 15, No. 1
0893-8512/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.1.21-57.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Immunology of Diseases Associated with Malassezia Species

H. Ruth Ashbee* and E. Glyn V. Evans

Mycology Reference Centre, Division of Microbiology, University of Leeds and Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom

Malassezia species are members of the human cutaneous commensal flora, in addition to causing a wide range of cutaneous and systemic diseases in suitably predisposed individuals. Studies examining cellular and humoral immune responses specific to Malassezia species in patients with Malassezia-associated diseases and healthy controls have generally been unable to define significant differences in their immune response. The use of varied antigenic preparations and strains from different Malassezia classifications may partly be responsible for this, although these problems can now be overcome by using techniques based on recent work defining some important antigens and also a new taxonomy for the genus. The finding that the genus Malassezia is immunomodulatory is important in understanding its ability to cause disease. Stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system and activation of the complement cascade contrasts with its ability to suppress cytokine release and downregulate phagocytic uptake and killing. The lipid-rich layer around the yeast appears to be pivotal in this alteration of phenotype. Defining the nonspecific immune response to Malassezia species and the way in which the organisms modulate it may well be the key to understanding how Malassezia species can exist as both commensals and pathogens.

* Corresponding author: Mailing address: Mycology Reference Centre, Division of Microbiology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. Phone: (44 113) 233 5598. Fax: (44 113) 233 5640. E-mail: h.r.ashbee{at}leeds.ac.uk.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2002, p. 21-57, Vol. 15, No. 1
0893-8512/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.1.21-57.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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Copyright © 2002 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.