Abstract
Infections with mould pathogens have emerged as an increasing risk faced by patients under sustained immunosuppression. Species of the Aspergillus family account for most of these infections and in particular Aspergillus fumigatus can be regarded as the most important airborne-pathogenic fungus. The improvement in transplant medicine and the therapy of hematological malignancies is often complicated by the threat of invasive aspergillosis. Specific diagnostics are still limited, as are the possibilities of therapeutic intervention. Hence, invasive aspergillosis is still associated with a high mortality rate that ranges from 30 % to 90 %. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetics of A. fumigatus and molecular techniques for the manipulation of the fungus have been developed. Molecular genetics offers not only approaches for the detailed characterization of gene products that appear to be key components of the infection process but also selection strategies that combine classical genetics and molecular biology to identify virulence determinants of A. fumigatus. The review discusses aspects of the current knowledge of the infection process, mechanisms of protection of the fungus against immune effector cells, and virulence determinants of A. fumigatus.
Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus, virulence determinants, host defense, alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, polyketide synthase, cAMP signal transduction, iron acquisition
Current Drug Targets
Title: Systemic Fungal Infections Caused by Aspergillus Species: Epidemiology, Infection Process and Virulence Determinants
Volume: 6 Issue: 8
Author(s): Axel A. Brakhage
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus, virulence determinants, host defense, alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, polyketide synthase, cAMP signal transduction, iron acquisition
Abstract: Infections with mould pathogens have emerged as an increasing risk faced by patients under sustained immunosuppression. Species of the Aspergillus family account for most of these infections and in particular Aspergillus fumigatus can be regarded as the most important airborne-pathogenic fungus. The improvement in transplant medicine and the therapy of hematological malignancies is often complicated by the threat of invasive aspergillosis. Specific diagnostics are still limited, as are the possibilities of therapeutic intervention. Hence, invasive aspergillosis is still associated with a high mortality rate that ranges from 30 % to 90 %. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetics of A. fumigatus and molecular techniques for the manipulation of the fungus have been developed. Molecular genetics offers not only approaches for the detailed characterization of gene products that appear to be key components of the infection process but also selection strategies that combine classical genetics and molecular biology to identify virulence determinants of A. fumigatus. The review discusses aspects of the current knowledge of the infection process, mechanisms of protection of the fungus against immune effector cells, and virulence determinants of A. fumigatus.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Brakhage A. Axel, Systemic Fungal Infections Caused by Aspergillus Species: Epidemiology, Infection Process and Virulence Determinants, Current Drug Targets 2005; 6 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945005774912717
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945005774912717 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Fluoroquinolones in Pediatrics
Current Drug Therapy Erythropoietin Signaling and Neuroprotection
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Dendritic Cells in Colorectal Cancer and a Potential for their Use in Therapeutic Approaches
Current Pharmaceutical Design Safety and Efficacy of Intracoronary Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment for Very Old Patients with Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion
Current Pharmaceutical Design Expression, Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Toxins Consisting of Truncated Gastrin 17 and Pseudomonas Exotoxin
Protein & Peptide Letters Development of personalized molecular therapy for acute myeloid leukemia
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Proteasome Inhibition in Transplantation-Focusing on the Experience with Bortezomib
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Rationale of Targeting Neutrophils with Dapsone during Glioblastoma Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Detection of Clonal Immunoglobulin and T-Cell Receptor Gene Recombination in Hematological Malignancies: Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Towards Cure of CML: Why We Need to Know More About CML Stem Cells?
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Carcinogenesis and Integrative Therapy of Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Heat Shock Protein Inhibitors for the Treatment of Fungal Infections
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Novel Anticancer Agents and Targets: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Exploiting HPV-Induced Carcinogenesis for a Rational Drug Development in Cervical Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets New Strategies in the Management of Children and Adolescents with Proliferative Lupus Nephritis
Current Rheumatology Reviews Pleural Fluid Analysis for Evaluating Pleural Effusions
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Stem Cells and the Side Population Theory: A Critical Review
Current Tissue Engineering (Discontinued) Physiology of Folic Acid in Health and Disease
Current Drug Metabolism Epidemiology and Prevention of Viral Infections in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Drug Target Discovery Through Analysis of Laccase Regulatory Networks of Cryptococccus neoformans
Current Enzyme Inhibition