ANTIBODY AND OR CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY, PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS IN FUNGAL DISEASE - AN ONGOING DILEMMA OR AN UNNECESSARY DISPUTE/

Historically there has been controversy on the relative importance of antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses in the protection against fungal pathogens. The controversy was fuelled by the difficulties enc ountered in obtaining consistent results with polyclonal antibody expe riments and I inducing long-lasting immune protection by vaccinations with induce stron cell-mediated responses. Recent studies indicate tha t both antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses can contribute to host protection against Candida albicans and C. neoformans. At the pre sent time the major issue is not the relative importance of antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses but rather, the mechanisms by which the two arms of the immune system function and cooperate.