{
  "abstract": "Cellular-mediated immunity against invasive fungal infections is fundamentally governed by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) restriction, whereby T cells detect fungal invasion indirectly through peptide fragments displayed on host MHC molecules rather than by recognizing intact fungal pathogens. In contrast to B cells, which bind native microbial antigens, T lymphocytes monitor antigen-presenting cells for processed fungal peptides presented by MHC class I and class II molecules. This review examines the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal antigen processing and presentation, emphasizing the pivotal contributions of MHC class II-restricted CD4 T-helper (TH1/TH17) cells and cross-presented, MHC class I-restricted CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes to antifungal host defense. We also summarize key experimental approaches, including overlapping peptide libraries, ELISpot assays, and peptide–MHC multimers, for defining MHC function and identifying immunodominant fungal antigenic determinants. Evidence from representative pathogenic fungal antigens, including Asp f16, Crf1, Eng2, and the multivalent rCpa1 vaccine, highlights both the promise and complexity of achieving cross-protective cellular immunity. Importantly, amino acid sequence similarity alone is insufficient to predict T-cell cross-reactivity, indicating that computational prediction and experimental epitope mapping should be employed as complementary approaches for the accurate identification and validation of immunologically relevant epitopes. Finally, elucidating the molecular principles governing fungal peptide presentation establishes a rational foundation for the development of broadly protective epitope-based vaccines and next-generation immunotherapeutic strategies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand",
    "Department of Medical Science, Mahidol University Amnatcharoen Campus, Amnatcharoen 37000, Thailand",
    "Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand",
    "Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA",
    "Department of Food Industry, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "School of Medical Imaging, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China",
    "Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand",
    "Research Center for Microbiome, Systems Biology and Medical Innovation (MiSys Center), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fangyi Shu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nopawit Khamto"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Artid Amsri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Sirida Youngchim",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9013-0543"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Joshua D. Nosanchuk",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9905-5754"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Thinnaphop Chum-in"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Qingping Deng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Kritsada Pruksaphon",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1391-7163"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cgynh8zkr0p58.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27219533",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cgynh8zkr0p58",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9533",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|Antifungal resistance and susceptibility"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223986665",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-25",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cgynh8zkr0p58.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:57Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27219533",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9533"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|Antifungal resistance and susceptibility",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and Fungal Antigen Presentation: Immunological Mechanisms and Their Role in Anti-Fungal Immunity",
  "title_text": "Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and Fungal Antigen Presentation: Immunological Mechanisms and Their Role in Anti-Fungal Immunity",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cgynh8zkr0p58",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}