NewsBites: Confocal Laser Scanning used to Quantify Host/Fungus Interaction

Submitted by Aspergillus Administrator on 15 July 2011

Scientists in Switzerland have devised a method to automatically count the numbers of fungal conidia being engulfed by our immune system (macrophages). Aspergillus fumigatus mutants were analysed for ability to evade capture and thus continue to infect the host. Mutant pksP was particularly adept at avoiding capture and this technique also revealed other changes in how its conidia behaved when confronted by macrophages i.e. a greater tendency to clump together – not previously noted. This systematic technique shows promise for the further investigation of conidia/macrophage interaction and its effect on pathogenicity
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