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New antifungal drug reviewed
Isavuconazole is available as an oral drug so will be convenient to administer (unlike amphotericin and currently available echinocandins). It has a longer half life compared with azoles currently in use and toxicities similar to those found on other azoles e.g. phototoxicity are absent or undetected so far. Overall the toxicity profile is similar to that of fluconazole. This MonthWe have been making extensive efforts to ensure all of our pages are properly indexed by Google & other search engines by updating and optimising our site maps so that they include the full depth of our site structure. This effort should enable more pages to be found using Google and our Google custom search engines, making access to all of our content easier and more efficient. Search the Aspergillus Website Latest News and Articles
Avoidance of the allergen is a fundamental part of improving the life of a sufferer but all to often the patient has no idea what this is - people who thought that they suffered from hay fever are often in fact suffering from allergies to quite different allergens e.g., several different moulds including Aspergillus, dust mite, cat Articles: There have been a 76 additions to the Articles section, of which 5 are reviews. NOTE we have rearranged the Articles index page to make it easier to look at recent articles as well as those that were added recently but were written some time ago. We have picked out a few of the highlights here: The function of a gene from the gliotoxin gene cluster (GliT1) responsible for the production of gliotoxin (an important virulence determinant of Aspergillus fumigatus) is elucidated. Gliotoxin provides A.fumigatus with at least 2 mechanisms of attack 1) Reactive oxygen species are formed via redox cycling with damage the host cells 2) Once inside the host cell gliotoxin can directly target host proteins essential for vital functions. A. fumigatus mutants of GliT1 are growth inhibited compared with wild-type strains when gliotoxin is added to the growth medium suggesting that this enzyme provides protection for A. fumigatus from gliotoxin The medical records of 85 children monitored regularly were analyzed from the first time they attended clinic. 8 developed ABPA and 18 AC. In univariate analysis, ABPA was significantly associated with RhDNase therapy, sensitization to Alternaria and Candida, and a low body mass index (BMI). Multivariate analysis identified an independent association between low BMI and ABPA and for the first time, between long-term azithromycin therapy and AC. A novel pathway for nicotine degradation by Aspergillus oryzae 112822 isolated from tobacco leaves An efficient nicotine-degrading fungus was isolated from tobacco leaves and identified as Aspergillus oryzae. This is the first elucidation of a pathway for nicotine degradation in fungi. NETs formed by human neutrophils inhibit growth of the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus "Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs - networks of extracellular fibres generated by neutrophils that bind pathogens) represent a distinct mechanism to control and eliminate microbial infections. Our results show that conidia and germ tubes of the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus are able to trigger the formation of NETs. Viable fungal cells are not essentially required for this host-pathogen interaction. In summary, our data provide evidence that NETs are not sufficient to kill A. fumigatus, but might be a valuable tool to confine infection" ReviewsInvasive aspergillosis in pediatric patients This case-based review examines the growing literature on critical issues related to the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric invasive aspergillosis. Invasive aspergillosis osteomyelitis in children - a case report and review of the literature "A multifocal osseous presentation has rarely been described in children and an overview of the literature is presented. Invasive aspergillosis is a rare complication to be considered in children with MRI-detected bony lesions of infarct-like appearance." SpeciesOriginal descriptions of 32 species from Raper and Fennell's "The Genus Aspergillus" have been added to the species database and to the historical papers database (NB they are easier to find in the latter). There are now nearly 350 original descriptions available in the database, roughly 50% of the total number of species we mention. HistoricalThe original, description of Aspergillus alternatus by the Reverend MJ Berkeley in 1838 has been added to the articles section.
PatientsDetails of the latest National Aspergillosis Centre monthly patient meeting are given here. We have included access to notes of the meeting, slides used for the talk given at the meeting and the clinic newsletter. Our first Patient's meeting outside of Manchester will take place in Edinburgh on Sunday morning 3rd October as part of the 'From Another Kingdom' exhibition - more details soon! 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 and Q & A board JobsAdvertise 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:
If you know of a course that should be added to this list please add it by contacting us here. VeterinaryChronic monolateral otomycosis in a dog caused by Aspergillus ochraceus Otomycosis due to Aspergillus spp. in a dog: case report and literature review Blog
DonationsWe have exceeded £5000 in donations in 2010 which is nearly 3 times our total for the whole of last year. See our donations page here. Many thanks to everyone who contributed. If you donated please check our list of donators for yourname. 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. 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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Isavuconazole
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