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Human Fungal Pathogens pp 141–160Cite as

8 Visualizing Immune Responses in Fungal Infections: Established and Novel Methods

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Part of the book series: The Mycota ((MYCOTA,volume 12))

Abstract

Fungal infections are among the most dangerous threats to human health. A thorough understanding of the host response to a microbiological threat is thus very important because it helps to comprehend how the body normally defends itself and also which mechanisms fail in the case of successful infection. In addition, clinicians need fast, convenient, and safe tools to unequivocally diagnose an infection in risk patients. For all these issues, modern imaging approaches have enormous power to solve existing problems. In this chapter, we will discuss all major imaging technologies that are available today for experimental and clinical imaging of fungal infections. We will discuss the more established methods but also very recent developments like intravital 2-photon microscopy or high-resolution nanoscopy. Clinical imaging today centers around X-ray/CT and MRI, but here also novel developments in molecular imaging have enormous potential to enhance our capability for specific diagnosis in the future. All methods will be introduced by brief technology primers, followed by examples of their use, and concluding with a discussion of their pros and cons. The chapter closes with a table summarizing all key facts, which should help interested readers to choose their own approach with more confidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany

    Mike Hasenberg & Matthias Gunzer

  2. Microbiology Institute – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital of Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstrasse 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Sven Krappmann

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  1. Mike Hasenberg
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  2. Sven Krappmann
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  3. Matthias Gunzer
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Correspondence to Matthias Gunzer .

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  1. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany

    Oliver Kurzai

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Hasenberg, M., Krappmann, S., Gunzer, M. (2014). 8 Visualizing Immune Responses in Fungal Infections: Established and Novel Methods. In: Kurzai, O. (eds) Human Fungal Pathogens. The Mycota, vol 12. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39432-4_8

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