Researchers studied a specific gene called Sec2p in a dangerous fungus that causes serious lung infections in people with weak immune systems. By removing this gene, they found the fungus grew much slower, was less deadly to mice, and the infected animals survived longer. This discovery could lead to new treatments for fungal infections by targeting the Sec2p gene.
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.
Researchers studied lung fluid samples from cancer patients with a serious fungal lung infection called invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. They found that blood cell counts in the lungs correlated with blood cell counts overall, but surprisingly, the cell composition in lung fluid did not predict patient survival. The study highlights that doctors need better ways to assess the lung’s immune response to this serious fungal infection beyond just counting cells.
This research reveals that disabling certain cell division checkpoint proteins in the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus creates populations resistant to triazole antifungal drugs. The resistant fungal cells appear to have abnormal amounts of genetic material, suggesting that loss of these checkpoint controls allows cells with extra chromosomes to survive drug exposure. This discovery provides new insight into how dangerous fungal infections can develop resistance to our most important antifungal treatments.
Researchers in Thailand found that certain fungal infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus are becoming resistant to common antifungal medications like voriconazole. They identified a specific genetic mutation called TR34/L98H in one patient sample that makes the fungus resistant to azole drugs used to treat these serious infections. By analyzing the genetic makeup of these resistant fungi, scientists discovered additional changes beyond the known resistance gene, suggesting these organisms may adapt in multiple ways to survive treatment. This is the first time this particular resistance mutation has been detected in a clinical patient sample in Thailand, indicating that antifungal resistance in Aspergillus is spreading and requires closer monitoring and testing.
Researchers identified how a deadly fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus uses a special nutrient (GlcNAc) to survive and cause disease. They found that a protein called RonA controls this nutrient processing and also helps the fungus hide from the immune system by building a protective outer coating. When RonA is disabled, the fungus becomes much less dangerous because the immune system can recognize it better. This discovery suggests RonA could be a new target for developing antifungal drugs.
This study analyzed the global impact of fungal lung infections from 1990 to 2021, finding that about 5.6 million people were affected in 2021 with significant mortality rates. The burden of these infections is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries and affects older individuals more severely. The researchers project that deaths from fungal lung infections will double by 2044, emphasizing the need for better prevention strategies, vaccines, and international cooperation to address this growing health challenge.
This study analyzed over 50 years of research on Aspergillus fungi in Saudi Arabia by examining 520 scientific papers. Researchers found that five main Aspergillus species have been the focus of study, with A. niger being the most researched. The study shows that research has grown significantly since 2010, with Saudi universities leading the efforts, particularly King Saud University. The research is shifting from focusing mainly on medical problems to include agriculture, environment, and industrial applications.
A major European health agency report warns that widely-used fungicides sprayed on crops to prevent plant diseases may be creating resistant fungi that can infect humans and make medical treatments ineffective. The study found that about 10,000 tonnes of these azole fungicides are used in Europe annually, and their residues accumulate in the environment where they can cause harmful fungi to become resistant to the same medicines doctors use to treat patients. The report calls for urgent action to better monitor this problem and prevent resistance through smarter use and regulation of agricultural fungicides.
Scientists studied a gene called Sec2p in a harmful fungus that causes serious lung infections in people with weak immune systems. When they removed this gene, the fungus grew more slowly and was much less dangerous to infected mice, with 67% of mice surviving compared to only 22% with normal fungus. The gene controls how the fungus breaks down its own cell parts for nutrition and repairs its cell wall, so blocking it weakens the fungus significantly.