Royal Society: Killer Fungus

Submitted by GAtherton on 5 July 2016

On Monday 4th July – Sunday 10th July 2016 the Royal Society in London are presenting an exhibition designed to engage the public on the serious infections that are caused by fungi across the world. Many will be familiar with relatively minor infections such as athlete’s foot that can be cured with a simple course of antifungal cream and perhaps a small change in footwear & habit (i.e. dry between your toes after showering!) but far fewer will know about the millions of people who are seriously ill and are killed by fungal infection.

The exhibition houses many interactive exhibits but if you can’t make it there is also a hugely entertaining and informative website at www.killerfungus.org

Fungi are everywhere, and a few species can cause very serious lethal infections. Fungal infections (mycoses) kill more people around the world than malaria. There are no vaccines to protect against fungal infections and we often diagnose them too late to save the patient. Our exhibit spotlights UK research that will help to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mycoses.

Across the UK, teams of scientists and doctors are working together to address the huge unmet need for better treatment of fungal infections. We now understand how fungi are recognised by our immune system; paving the way for treatments to boost immune effectiveness, or dampen the damaging inflammation caused by fungal infection. Designing fungus-specific antibiotics is challenging because fungi share many genetic properties with us. However, new drugs may selectively target features of fungi, such as the cell wall. And antibodies are being developed that can be used either for treatment or to assist in early diagnosis. This research is helping to inform and improve clinical options in the worldwide fight against fungal diseases.