This book illustrates, that the fungal cell wall is critical for the biology and ecology of all fungi and especially for human fungal pathogens. Readers will learn, that the composition of the fungal cell wall is a unique structure, which cannot be found in the human host. Consequently, the chapters outline, how the immune systems of both animals and humans have evolved to recognize conserved and unique elements of the fungal cell wall. As an application example, the authors also show, that the three-dimensional structures of the cell wall are excellent targets for the development of antifungal agents and chemotherapeutic strategies.

With the combination of biological findings and medical outlooks, this volume is a fascinating read for scientists, clinicians and biomedical students.

JP Latgé has been the Head of the Aspergillus Unit at Institut Pasteur in Paris for the last 20 years and is now Professor at Institute of Molecular Biology and Technology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece. His research career has been focused on the study of the biology of the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus through genetic, biochemical and immunological approaches. More precisely, studies are concentrated on the biosynthesis of the cell wall and associated extracellular matrix and the role of the components of these fungal structures during the fungal development in the immunocompetent and immunocompromised host. He has authored > 300 publications indexed in Pub Med, he is expert for several French and international grant review panels including ERC and has been the recipient of honors and key note speaker in multiple events in the Medical Mycology and Glycobiology fields.