Abstract
The rate of invasive fungal infections has risen drastically over the last decade and continues to carry devastatingly high mortality rates. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines and limited antifungal agents in clinical trials for fungal-mediated diseases. The limited effectiveness of FDA-approved antifungal medications against invasive fungal infections and the lack of mechanistic understanding of how these infections manifest pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Therefore, understanding the molecular details of the host-fungal interactions has never been more urgent. Here, we examine the role of fungal melanin as a virulence factor through its immunomodulatory effects during respiratory infections. Although previous literature on fungal pathogenicity has touched briefly on fungal pigments, they are incomplete in discussing how melanin dysregulates essential functions of the innate immune system. To provide a contemporary perspective, literature on melanized fungal species commonly associated with infections via the respiratory tract has been reviewed to detail holistic mechanisms by which melanin subverts the immune system and manipulates the respiratory epithelium.