The Aspergillus website has 35000 registered members (5% Vets, 27% Medical, 22% Science) and provides up to 9 million page requests per year.
29000 unique users (IP addresses) visit this website every month.
This Newsletter is sent out to 24000 members every month.
2000 websites link to the Aspergillus website.
We are always looking to increase our sponsorship. If you are interested in purchasing a sponsored link on the website (and a link on this mailing every month) Contact us
Website advertising
Prices for ads per page impression are outlined here.
CADRE has merged with the Aspergillus website, effectively taking over the old genomics section of the website which now becomes the 'Aspergillus Genomes' section.
CADRE contains the complete genome sequences of seven separate strains/species of Aspergillus - a staggering 256,692,138 base pairs or over a quarter of a billion base pairs, with more species to come soon!
This massive resource is fully annotated and searchable/analysable using ensemble software. This makes the Aspergillus Website the most comprehensive resource for Aspergillus genomic sequence data available.
This month
Latest statistics on usage of the Aspergillus Website show further marked increases of the website in our 10th Anniversary Year. 12 months ago we were supplying 3 million pages per year whereas the figures for march 2008 show a rate equivalent to nearly 9 million pages requests per year.
We are re-launching the 'Tech-tips' group for researchers in Aspergillus. The group is several years old but has always been quite a low activity group. The point about such a group is that once a large enough group of members is signed up there will be a pool of experience that can mutually support each other. The group currently has 70 members so that is a good start - please join up
We have also found some excellent videos of a dive team surveying the devastation of sea fan corals off the Florida Coast by Aspergillus sydowii - the same team that donated the still images of infected sea fans some years ago, led by Dr Kiho Kim
.
Latest News and Articles
There have been 28 additions to the articles section. We have picked out a few of the highlights here:
This device uses an Aspergillus specific monoclonal antibody to an epitope secreted by growing Aspergillus, and which is therefore found in the blood of infected people. The lateral flow device is similar to those used for early pregnancy testing and is very rapid, giving a result in 15 mins.
Testing of blood samples from a small number (12) of known or suspected invasive aspergillosis cases gave comparable or better clinical sensitivity to established galactomannan tests e.g. Platelia.
A review of CNS aspergillosis. Cases are getting more common as the immunocompromised population grows, and early diagnosis is important.
"The specific infectious risk posed by novel immune-modifying therapies can, in most
cases, be predicted on the basis of the immune target and medication timing. In
addition, major advances in noninvasive diagnostic tests (e.g. serum beta glucan and
galactomannan assays), and the recent introduction of more effective antifungal
therapies, have led to a dramatic improvement in clinical outcomes."
A recent news report recommended that owners of vehicles with air conditioning units run the units at least once per week to prevent a build up of mould in the system. This was inspired by the rising price in fuel around the world making it more likely that owners would leave air-con units switched off for long periods to save fuel.
A closer look at the situation in our blog suggests that people vulnerable to mould spores should leave their air-con switched off permanently.
Diagnosis
Revised Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) Consensus Group.
New definitions for invasive disease released by EORTC/MSG.
Aspergillus-associated Hypersensitivity Respiratory Disorders by Ashok Shah (Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi) looks at disorders such as ABPA and AAS and their changing inter-relationships. He also strongly features the rising important of fungi in asthma.
"The clinical spectrum of Aspergillus-associated hypersensitivity respiratory disorders includes
Aspergillus induced asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS) and
hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Inhalant allergens, in patients with allergic asthma, play a key role in bringing about the
inflammation present in the airways, and fungi are increasingly being recognised as important inhalant allergens. Aspergillus
is linked to asthma in more ways than one"
Treatment
Following the extensive update of our article on Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis, Adam Jeans has updated our article on thyroiditis in the Treatment section.
Conference Abstracts
Abstracts and posters are being added for 48th & 49th ASH
Air Quality
A short series of video's have been added. Produced by Rutgers University with the aid of the EPA in the US these educational video's are intended to provide advice on detecting poor indoor air quality, prevention and cure for the layperson.
A new support group for chronic granulomatous disorder has been initiated as a Yahoo group following the very successful model set out by the Aspergillus support group. To join the group, backed up by Marie Kirwan CGD Specialist Nurse, click on the link above.
Technical Tips
Our discussion group (email and/or website) designed to promote discussion on technical issues for laboratory workers.
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
Download our updates and articles automatically every time we add to those pages- no need to wait for the next newsletter. Use RSS.
What is RSS and how do I use it? Get help here.
CADRE has merged with the Aspergillus website, effectively taking over the old genomics section of the website which now becomes the '
A new 
Health on the Net Foundation (