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Aspergilloma and Marijuana Smoking
Smoking (tobacco and marijuana) is commonly associated with the formation of air filled lung cavities (bullae) but this is the first report of these cavities containing fungal balls (aspergilloma) and of CPA in marijuana smokers. An understanding of the full health risk in smoking marjuana is difficult to assess since the lack of disclosure by patients of their smoking habits - for fear of legal issues - does not permit clinicians to fully assess the results of smoking this drug. Latest News and ArticlesThe Fungal Research Trust is 20 years old this year and are in the early stages of planning a meeting in London on 18th June 2011 to celebrate this anniversary. The meeting will include the first meeting for patients in London. More details to follow when available. Reports from Mumbai, India found that 15-20% of all patients suffering from breathing difficulties during a recent period prolonged of heavy smog. Authorities blame the prevailing weather conditions which have been cool but humid (ideal for fungal growth) combined with record levels of particulates (dust, soot, spores etc.) over the last 5 days. Patients who did not respond to standard treatment were tested for fungal infection. Articles: There have been 80 additions to the Articles section (76 full papers), of which 11 are reviews and 14 historical. We have picked out a few of the highlights here: Selective C-Rel Activation via Malt1 Controls Anti-Fungal T(H)-17 Immunity by Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 and Dectin-1 diversifies Aspergillus fumigatus-specific T cell responses by inhibiting T helper type 1 CD4 T cell differentiation Two papers that add a further piece each to the jigsaw of immune response to infection by Aspergillus. The first paper identifies Malt1 as a key intermediate in the activation of adaptive immunity to fungi by dendritic cells via c-Rel. The second paper uses a mouse knockout strain lacking Dectin-1 to demonstrate the changes to the mutant compared with wild-type immune reponse when challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus pulmonary infection. Dectin-1 is the major receptor in myeloid cells (part of our immune system) for the fungal cell wall component b-Glucan. It is this protein that directly recognises the presence of a fungus and initiates our immune system's response. The gene for Dectin-1 has many naturally ocurring variations in its sequence (polymorphism) and it has been observed that the polymorphism named Y238X which occurs in humans susceptible to fungal infection. This paper set out to test if patients that carry Y238X are more susceptible to fungal infection during a bone marrow transplant procedure. The surprising result was that they didn't seem to be more susceptible. Comparative genomics allowed the identification of drug targets against human fungal pathogens Genomic sequencing of all organisms is now relatively quick & cheap and as a consequence is being performed on many different fungal species and strains. Comparing the DNA sequences of these fungi reveals which genes are present in all fungi and thus by inference which genes are most important to the fungus. These genes are thus amongst the most highly prized target to develop drugs to kill the fungus. Stop any one of them working and the fungus is not likely to survive. Septins have a well established role in the development of fungal septa - the cell walls that separate one fungal cell compartment from another. This family of genes have never been studied in detail in Aspergillus fumigatus. This paper looks at the localisation of septins in the fungal hyphae and finds that septins may have a role in pathogenicity. ReviewsUpdate on the laboratory diagnosis of invasive fungal infections An assessment of the newer diagnostic techniques for the detection of invasive aspergillosis. Management of invasive fungal infections: a role for polyenes This older class of antifungal drug can receive less attention now we have the choice of several effective new drugs for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI's) e.g. azoles, but polyenes are still very effective and the drug of choice in some circumstances. This review highlights important issues in the treatment of IFI's for consideration by clinicians. Laboratory ProtocolsProtocol for homogenisation of Cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum samples in preparation for Aspergillus fungal DNA extraction. Research DirectoryApplications are invited by The Gilead UK and Ireland Fellowship Programme with proposals for "Projects for improving the journey of patients with invasive fungal disease through changes to practice and service delivery both inside and outside of the hospital setting." More Conference AbstractsThe following have been added to our Conference Abstracts:
Conferences - coming up26th Fungal Genetics Conference at Asilomar March 15th-20th 2011 Highlights of ASH in China April 2-3 2011 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the BSMM April 17-19 2011 PatientsWhat are fungal infections?: An easy to read summary of what fungal infections are and why some people become infected whereas most don't. Help the National Aspergillosis Centre carry out research. We are trying to contact patients willing to try to get their GP practice involved in some research with us on prevelence of ABPA and SAFS - we need details of respiration function of all asthma patients. The GP practice must be within 2 hours drive of Manchester. All you will have to do is hand over our documentation to the practice which will explain everything. If you want to help out please contact us at admin@aspergillus.org.uk. Himalayan 100 mile stage race
Please donate in memory of Steph and in appreciation of this huge effort by Lewis & Aaron. Don't forget to order your weekly shopping through our buy.at store - there are dozens of High Street stores to choose from and you will be donating to the Fungal Research Trust at no cost to yourselves!
Fungal Research Trust 20th AnniversaryThe Fungal Research Trust are going to hold a second meeting for patients outside of Manchester in London on 18th June 2011. If you are interested in attending as a patient or carer suffering from aspergillosis please let us know Email A patient volunteer is making & selling handmade cards for birthdays in aid of the Fungal Research Trust. 6 cards for £6 and 75% of that goes to the FRT. Order here. There is a newly designed Patients website now entitled 'Aspergillosis Patient Support'. Much more comprehensive than before and easier to navigate but with the same successful support group (850 members) and Q & A board JobsFourteen jobs are currently being advertised:
Advertise your vacancy free of charge on the Aspergillus Website here. *Optional donation to the Fungal Research Trust to cover costs incurred in providing this newsletter. Courses and WorkshopsWe keep a listing of courses and workshops including 'one off' events and courses that repeat regularly. Course subjects are wide ranging and include medical mycology, lab ID, young scientists symposia and much more. Those coming up next are:
And certainly don't miss ESCMID Postgraduate Technical Workshop. Aspergillosis: from Allergy to Invasive Disease. Manchester, UK. 25 – 26 May 2011 Link If you know of a course that should be added to this list please add it by contacting us here VeterinaryAccurate species diagnosis in cases of fungal pneumonia may be hampered by environmental contamination and colonization resulting in false-positive results. Our novel approach for fungal species diagnostics combines fluorescent staining of mounted cryosections with the optical brightener Blankophor, laser capture microdissection and PCR amplification with subsequent sequencing of the first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1). Using clinical specimens from infected birds, we show that the procedure is suitable for species identification from single hyphae of intralesional filamentous fungi. Our data also suggest that multiple Aspergillus fumigatus strain infections may occur frequently in pulmonary aspergillosis of birds. NB Vets in the UK in need of assistance with acquiring antifungals please contact us here Blog
Latest BooksMycotoxins and Their Metabolites in Humans and Animals by Martin Weidenbörner (Hardcover - 3 Feb 2011) . The incidence of a mycotoxin in humans and/or animals (natural or artificial incidence) Microbes and Microbial Technology: Agricultural and Environmental Applications [Hardcover - 9 Feb 2011] Iqbal Ahmad (Editor), Farah Ahmad (Editor), John Pichtel (Editor). This book focuses on successful application of microbial biotechnology in areas such as medicine, agriculture, environment and human health. Antibiotic Resistance: Understanding and Responding to an Emerging Crisis[Hardcover - 8 Feb 2011] Karl S. Drlica (Author), David S. Perlin (Author). Two leading investigators explain what resistance is, how it emerges, which human activities contribute, and how to strengthen our defenses. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats [Hardcover - 22 Jan 2011] Etienne Cote DVM DACVIM(Cardiology and Small Animal Internal Medicine) (Author). A quick reference covering the diagnosis and treatment of hundreds of diseases in dogs and cats. Lipids and Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents [Hardcover - 21 Jan 2011] Halldor Thormar (Editor). Lipids and essential oils have strong antimicrobial properties — they kill or inhibit the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. NB Use these links to support the Fungal Research Trust
Latest Theses
Aspects of pH regulation in Aspergillus nidulans by Tatiana Munera Huertas, Imperial College London (University of London) . View Development of a Non-Mammalian Host to Investigate Virulence and Gene Expression of Aspergillus fumigatus and Efficacy of Antifungal Drugs by Joanne L. Slater, University of Manchester. View Azole resistance in clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus by Ahmed Albarrag, University of Manchester. View Comparative analysis of Protein Kinase A homologues in the growth and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus by Fuller, Kevin K., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, 2010. View DonationsBuy.at. Give to the Fungal Research Trust while you shop - at no cost to yourselves. If everyone put their weekly supermarket bill through this service then the Fungal Research Trust would benefit by hundreds of pounds a week. See our donations page. If you have donated please check our list of donators for your name. Laboratory ProtocolsWe are always looking for more for our collection - please send your suggestions here Technical TipsOur discussion group (email and/or website) designed to promote discussion on technical issues for laboratory workers. Searching for Aspergillus Information
RSSDownload our updates and articles automatically every time we add to those pages- no need to wait for the next newsletter. 40 000 pages accesses per month. Use RSS. You can now receive notification of updates to the Aspergillus Website on your mobile phone via SMS texting free of charge. Go to http://twitter.com/AspergillusWeb and open a Twitter account. Follow AspergillusWeb. 105 already follow AspergillusWeb. If your network does not support Twitter SMS and you have a smartphone you can still monitor our messages over 3G or Wifi via free software and apps installed on your phone Facebook CausesThe Fungal Research Trust have a Facebook Causes page. Give your support to the cause here. Join the Aspergillus & Aspergillosis group to get in touch and keep in touch with your professional colleagues working in this field. All free of charge. Thanks for reading!Visit our website again soon. The Aspergillus Team. |
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This month sees a 
A recordings of the live webcast run at the latest Aspergillosis Patients meeting at the National Aspergillosis Centre (NAC)is available to watch 
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