1. Introduction
In recent years, systemic fungal disease incidence has rapidly
increased, especially in immunocompromised patients [1]. This
presents a significant problem, as these diseases are associated with
high mortality (ranging from 40 to 67% for candidiasis and over 88%
for invasive aspergillosis) [2,3], and new fungal strains resistant to
multiple antifungal agents are being encountered in the ICU setting
[4]. These facts underscore the need to better understand the pathophysiology
of different fungal infections, which could help reveal
new targets of drug therapy and lead to the development of new antifungal
agents.
The murine model is one of the most commonly used models for
studying fungal infection because of the similarity of murine and
human physiology and immune systems.However, ethical and logistical
constraints associatedwith the use ofmice in such experiments slowthe
evolution of our understanding in the field of mycology, which must
progress more rapidly if we wish to hinder the ever-growing resistance
of fungal pathogens to antimicrobial compounds.
This emerging need for an easier and fastermethod of in vivo experiments
on fungal pathogenesis can be addressed by using invertebrate
model hosts. Many studies have shown that, although invertebrates
are separated by millions of years of evolution frommammals, many aspects
of the innate immune system are conserved between the species
[5]. Additionally, their low cost, simplicity of use and short life span
make invertebrates ideal candidates for large-scale studies. Finally,
there are no ethical constraints in the use of invertebrates, which further
facilitates their use for in vivo experimentation. The purpose of
this review is to elucidate the characteristics of different invertebrate
model hosts that have been used to study fungal diseases, as well as
the relative advantages and potential drawbacks associated with each.