This month
We have a new look front page. Take a look at the fresh design at www.aspergillus.org.uk
Abstracts for the 18th ECCMID conference are due very soon - on the 5th December. There is still time to submit online.
New Sponsor
Biocompare have joined us as a sponsor for a year. Many thanks to them for supporting our work.
If any other company would like to consoder sponsoring the Aspergillus website, please refer to the lower left of this Newsletter.
Summaries
We have written 4 new summary pages, one each for aspergillosis, aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and severe asthma with fungal sensitivity (SAFS). Professional and patient alike should find something useful in them.
Latest News and Articles
There have been 31 additions to the articles section, 16 additions to the diagnosis section. We have picked out a few of the highlights here:
Methylcitrate synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus is essential for manifestation of invasive aspergillosis
Methylcitrate synthase mutant of Aspergillus fumigatus has reduced virulance in a murine model and enhanced the ability of macrophages to kill the fungus in cell culture in the presence of propionate.
The suggestion is that the fungus utilises amino acids from the host during invasive infection and that blocking the ability of the fungus to do that would be an effective antifungal drug target,
Aspergillosis in children after liver
transplantation: Single center experience
277 children treated at a single centre are reviewed. All are treated with prophylactic Amphotericin B after transplant. Aspergillosis incidence was 3.6%.
In high risk patients incidence was reduced markedly from 6.9% to 0.6% when treated using liposomal amphotericin B.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Substantial review of this non-immunocompromised form of aspergillosis. Current research on cause, diagnosis, definition and treatment.
Germ-Fighting Inhaler Could Fend Off Bioterror Agents
Research carried out by University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center team exposed mice to an aerosolized formulation called Aerosolized Lung Innate Immune Stimulant (ALIIS), a soluble bacterial extract. It is claimed it provided protection against inhaled Aspergillus and others.
Enzymatic reduction of acrylamide formation using asparaginase from Aspergillus oryzae.
Acrylamide, a potent neurotoxin, can be formed when some food are cooked at hgh temperatures e.g. crisps, french fries. The addition of aspariginase to the food reduces the quantity produced, suggesting one solution to this problem..
Veterinary
We are still investigating the possibility we could source unused antifungal drugs for veterinary use. There has been a positive response from several vets since last month so we are assessing interest in local hospital pharmacies. We will keep readers of this newsletter posted as the situation develops. aspergillus@man.ac.uk
Diagnosis
More new papers added as we accumulate hundreds of seminal papers on this subject. A renewed diagnosis section is coming shortly to take advantage of this new resource, but they can all be accessed in the current section in the meantime.
Case Histories
A new case history added entitled: A new case of sinus aspergillosis in a 15 yr old following intensive chemotherapy for leukaemia has been added to the case history section.
Images
 New images of a chest X-ray and sputum sample from a patient with chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, also with an aspergilloma and haemoptysis.
Searching the website
We now have a dedicated Google Search Appliance for this website. This means you can search the Aspergillus website using Google and it will include nearly all documents on the website (pdf, doc, ppt, html, php etc). and will include parts of the secure sections and eventually index images - a big improvement on earlier search facilites. Try it out here.
HonCode
 Health on the Net Foundation (HonCode) are the formost accrediation service for health-oriented websites. The Aspergillus website has been accredited since 1999 and this has once again been reaffirmed after the latest review in August 2007
RSS
Another record month for our automatic update service. Our RSS pages were accessed 20000 times in September, nearly doubling the total from August.
Thanks for reading!
Visit our website again soon.
The Aspergillus Team. |
