[Strategies of Histoplasma capsulatum for evading the cytocidal mechanisms of phagocytes].

Although proliferation of Histoplasma capsulatum within the macrophage is restricted by cell mediated immunity and, that there is no apparent deficiency in the fungicidal power of the macrophage, H. capsulatum can prosper in this intracellular microenvironment in some circumstances, which provides special nutritional advantages to intracellular growth for H. capsulatum, and access to other organs via the bloodstream and lymphatics. Nevertheless the environment within professional phagocytes is complex and generally hostile to microorganisms. Intracellular pathogens must avoid or overcome a series of obstacles in order to prevent their destruction. We present the strategies used by H. capsulatum to escape the host cell aggressiveness from the moment it reaches the cell surface up to its survival inside the phagocyte. Our aim is to discuss the advances on the escape mechanisms used by H. capsulatum to survive in the intracellular environment.