Research Keyword: innate immunity

Pathogenic mucorales: Deciphering their cell wall polysaccharidome and immunostimulatory potential

Scientists studied three types of dangerous fungi that cause serious infections in people with weak immune systems. They looked at the outer coating of these fungi cells, which is what the body’s immune system first encounters during infection. They found that this coating contains multiple types of sugar-like substances that trigger strong inflammatory responses in immune cells. Understanding these fungi better could help develop better treatments for these serious infections.

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Natural Ingredients to Improve Immunity

Many natural ingredients from plants, mushrooms, and other sources can boost your immune system and help fight infections. These include well-known items like garlic, ginger, and vitamin C, as well as lesser-known compounds like β-glucans from mushrooms and melatonin from plant sources. Proper nutrition with adequate vitamins and minerals is crucial for maintaining a strong immune system that protects you from disease without overreacting and causing autoimmune problems.

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Immunomodulatory function of chitosan is dependent on complement receptor 3

This study reveals how the human immune system recognizes chitosan, a natural component found in the walls of disease-causing fungi like Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. Researchers discovered that immune cells use a protein called CR3 on their surface to detect and respond to chitosan by producing inflammatory chemicals that help fight infection. When chitosan works together with fungal proteins, it can boost the immune system’s response even more effectively, suggesting new ways to enhance immunity against fungal infections.

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Surgical management of deep dermatophytosis in a patient with CARD9 deficiency

A 23-year-old man from North Africa with a genetic immune disorder (CARD9 deficiency) developed a serious fungal skin infection with deep tissue involvement. The infection caused multiple pus-filled pockets and hair loss on his scalp. Doctors treated him with both antifungal medications and surgery to drain the infected areas, resulting in complete healing after two weeks.

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Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

Researchers tested how well Pentraxin 3, a protein that helps detect fungal infections, stays stable when stored under different conditions. They found that this protein remains reliable when kept frozen at cold temperatures (like in a freezer) for up to several months or even years, but breaks down quickly when stored at body temperature. These findings help doctors and laboratories know how to properly store and test patient samples to accurately diagnose serious fungal infections.

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Strain-specific effects of Desulfovibrio on neurodegeneration and oxidative stress in a Caenorhabditis elegans PD model

This research shows that different strains of bacteria called Desulfovibrio have very different effects on brain health. When scientists exposed worms to six different strains, they found that environmental strains actually protected against Parkinson’s-like symptoms, while strains from human patients and animals caused more damage. The worms strongly preferred to eat the environmental strains, suggesting they could sense which bacteria were harmful. This highlights how the type of bacteria in our gut matters just as much as the total amount.

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Diversity and functions of fungal VOCs with special reference to the multiple bioactivities of the mushroom alcohol

Fungi release various volatile compounds (VOCs) that have different effects on organisms and the environment. The most notable fungal VOC is 1-octen-3-ol, also called mushroom alcohol, which gives mushrooms their distinctive smell. This compound can inhibit fungal growth, repel insects, and help control plant diseases, but at high concentrations it may be toxic to humans and trigger immune responses. Scientists use fruit flies as a model to study how these fungal compounds affect health.

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Aspergillus in Children and Young People with Cystic Fibrosis: A Narrative Review

Cystic fibrosis is a serious genetic disease affecting children that damages the lungs through chronic infections. Aspergillus, a common mold in the environment, colonizes the airways of CF patients and can cause additional lung damage. While new CFTR modulator medications have improved outcomes and reduced Aspergillus infections, more research is needed to better diagnose and treat fungal infections in children with CF.

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The P-type calcium pump Spf1 regulates immune response by maintenance of the endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contacts during Candida albicans systemic infection

A fungal pump protein called Spf1 helps Candida albicans secrete toxins that damage the immune system during infection. When researchers deleted the SPF1 gene, the fungus could not effectively release these toxins, triggering a much weaker immune response and allowing infected mice to survive better. This discovery suggests that controlling this calcium pump could be a new strategy for treating serious fungal infections.

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