Detection of fungi by mannose-based recognition receptors

Fungi characteristically display mannose groups on the surface of their cell wall. These mannose residues are crucial for cell wall integrity and fungal viability. They constitute Pathogen-Associated-Molecular-Patterns (PAMPs) that can be detected by specific recognition receptors expressed by mammalian antigen-presenting cells. Fungal mannosylation, the mammalian membrane receptors that have evolved to detect fungal mannose groups and the immune responses resulting from fungal recognition by these receptors are the topics of this chapter. It consists of four parts. First, we give an introduction into fungal mannosylation to lay the ground for understanding mannose-based fungal recognition receptors. In the second part of the chapter we describe common features of mannose receptors. We then focus on two membranous mannose-receptors for which fungal binding has been demonstrated, the dendritic cell specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin receptor (DC-SIGN) and the classic Mannose Receptor (MR).