Description:
Every day we inhale hundreds of fungal spores but these in healthy individuals are efficiently eliminated by specialist immune cells called phagocytes which engulf and kill them. However, some human illnesses interfere with this defence mechanism, increasing susceptibility to fungal diseases.
A specialist lung tissue called the epithelium is the first line of contact between the inhaled spores and us, the host. We are working to understand how the lung epithelium interacts with the spores of a common mould called Aspergillus fumigatus.
We have generated fluorescent Aspergillus and combined this with fungal and host specific dyes to directly visulaise this interaction. We have discovered that epithelial cells ingest fungal spores and kill them.
This might provide a critical defence mechanism which is acting while we breathe, and before even phagocytes arrive at the site of the infection.
We are now trying to work out how epithelial cells grab and ingest fungal spores, by using fluorescent fungal mutants and targeted elimination of host proteins.
Once we understand this process in detail we can design new therapies to assist a quicker elimination of the dangerous fungal spores we all inhale on a daily basis.
Dr Margherita Bertuzzi works in Dr Elaine Bignell’s lab at the University of Manchester
Medical and Patient education videos
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Title
Description
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Powerpoint presentation December 2009
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Published on 23 Apr 2014.
Wild Type A. fumigatus strain differences and antifungal susceptibility in Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
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Published on 18 Jun 2014 CT scan image of a dog with Nasal Aspergillosis
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Uploaded on 11 Feb 2012 Dr. Sunena Argo discusses the diagnosis and management of ABPA
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Uploaded on 12 Feb 2012 Dr. Heather Doss reviews the diagnosis and management of ABPA. Held on Oct 17, 2011.
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Published on 28 Dec 2012 Developed and produced for http://www.MechanismsinMedicine.com Animation Description: One of the most lethal complications of invasive aspergillosis is dissemination to the brain. The diagnosis is difficult and it has been associated with near 100% mortality, however aggressive antifungal therapy can improve outcomes. Watch this animation for more information.
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“With every breath you take, you are inhaling a potentially deadly pathogen. You can’t see this parasite floating into your nostrils and weaving its way down into your lungs. You probably breathe many of them right back out again, but some stick with every breath. If you’re a healthy non-smoker, have no fear, your immune system has an excellent chance of destroying the invaders before they can make you sick. If your lungs or immune system are compromised, you still have an excellent chance of escaping these frequent attacks unscathed. But, for the unlucky few among us, the fungal pathogen Aspergillus might just win. Let’s take a closer look and see what we could be in for.”
An online science educational resource – intended for students but is suitable for the layperson.
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