Microbial Pathogenesis & Infectious Diseases

Fungal pathogenesis

A review of fungal pathogenesis mechanisms must first define the important yet controversial terms “virulence” and “pathogenesis.” The microbial pathogenesis literature is rich with debate on the definitions of these often misused terms. Yet, a clear understanding of how these terms are utilized by individuals is important for gaining an understanding of fungal pathogenesis mechanisms. A full discourse on the complicated history of these terms is not appropriate here and the reader is referred to recent articles discussing the history of “virulence” and “pathogenesis” for more in-depth analyses of these terms. Here, we briefly discuss our preferred use of these terms, how they relate to human fungal pathogenesis, and why correct use of these terms is critical to our understanding of human fungal pathogenesis mechanisms.