Figure 1.

Inhalation of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) conidia leads to the initial recognition of infection by lung epithelial cells and tissue-resident innate cells including alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells. This immediate response results in the production of chemokines that promote the rapid recruitment of neutrophils followed by the subsequent arrival of monocytes, pDCs, mast cells, eosinophils and NK cells. All of these innate cells cooperate in the elimination of fungal conidia by producing a combination of cytokines and protective factors. ROS, reactive oxygen species; NETs, neutrophil extracellular traps; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IFN, interferon; pDCs, plasmacytoid dendritic cells. We would like to thank Servier Medical Art (http://www.servier.com) for figure graphics of immune cells.