Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, the predominant etiological agents of
cryptococcosis, can cause life-threatening
infections of the central nervous system in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcal
meningoencephalitis is the most common
disseminated fungal infection in
AIDS patients, and C. neoformans remains the third most common
invasive fungal infection among organ transplant recipients. Current anti-fungal
drug therapies are oftentimes rendered ineffective due to
drug toxicity, the emergence of
drug resistant organisms, and/or the inability of the host's immune defenses to assist in eradication of the yeast. Therefore, there remains an urgent need for the development of immune-based
therapies and/or
vaccines to combat
cryptococcosis. Studies in animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of various vaccination strategies and immune
therapies to induce protection against
cryptococcosis. This review will summarize the lessons learned from animal models supporting the feasibility of developing immunotherapeutics and
vaccines to prevent
cryptococcosis.