Fungi are ubiquitous outdoors and indoors. Exposure, sensitization, or both to fungi are
strongly associated with development of asthma and allergic airway diseases. Furthermore,
global climate change will likely increase the prevalence of fungi and enhance their
antigenicity. Major progress has been made during the past several years regarding our
understanding of antifungal immunity. Fungi contain cell-wall molecules, such as β-glucan
and chitin, and secrete biologically active proteases and glycosidases. Airway epithelial …