A mouse ear skin model to study the dynamics of innate immune responses against the microsporidian .

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites related to fungi that cause severe infections in immunocompromised individuals. is a microsporidian species capable of infecting mammals, including human and rodents. In response to microsporidian infection, innate immune system serves as the first line of defense and allows a partial clearance of the parasite via the innate immune cells, namely macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and Natural Killer cells.