Sir, The national conference of the Society of Indian Human and Animal Mycologists (SIHAM 2016) was held in Shimla between 18-20 March 2016. This conference brought together medical microbiologists, clinicians, researchers, young scientists and students of medicine to one academic platform. A number of national and international faculty, whose passion for the subject was reflected by their pres...

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a benign, extramucosal, noninvasive fungal sinus disease representing an allergic/hypersensitivity response to extramucosal fungal pathogens in the sinus [1]. It occurs mainly in immunocompetent patients, in contrast to invasive fungal diseases that usually involve an immunocompromised host. The incidence of AFS in patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis a...

Fungal infections of the nose and paranasal sinuses represent a spectrum of diseases ranging from colonization to invasive rhinosinusitis. Clinical manifestations are largely dependent on the immune status of the host, and given the ubiquitous nature of these organisms, exposure is unavoidable. Noninvasive disease includes asymptomatic fungal colonization, fungus balls, and allergic fungal rhin...

Innate control of fungal infection requires the specific recognition of invariant fungal molecular structures by a variety of innate immune receptors, including Toll-like receptors. In addition to the role in inducing protective immune responses, Toll-like receptor engagement may paradoxically favor fungal infections, by inducing inflammatory pathology and impairing antifungal immunity. Althoug...

Fungal spores are continuously deposited on the leaf surfaces by wind impaction, sedimentation and rain wash-out from the atmosphere and splash-dispersal. They reside and act as asymptomatic mutualists, benign commensals or latent pathogens. A slight imbalance in this relation can lead to pathogenic phase of the fungi, resulting in a variety of symptoms on leaves viz. discoloration, blight, soo...

The die-back of pistachio is one of the most important diseases affecting pistachio trees reducing yield production. In commercial fields, sampling was done from nine different pistachio production areas in Mahvelat, Khorasan Razavi province during 2008-2010. In each orchard, samples were taken from tree branches with canker during spring and summer seasons. Fungal species were identified based...

Endothermy and homeothermy are mammalian characteristics whose evolutionary origins are poorly understood. Given that fungal species rapidly lose their capacity for growth above ambient temperatures, we have proposed that mammalian endothermy enhances fitness by creating exclusionary thermal zones that protect against fungal disease. According to this view, the relative paucity of invasive fung...

BACKGROUND Neutropenic patients with persistent fever despite antibiotic therapy are managed with empirical or pre-emptive antifungal therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current clinical use and efficacy of these two approaches in patients with high risk hematologic conditions. DESIGN AND METHODS An electronic medical record system, the "Hema e-Chart", was designed and i...

The ambient atmosphere is dominated with pollen and spores, which trigger allergic reactions and diseases and impact negatively on human health. A survey of pollen and fungal spores constituents of the atmosphere of Garki, Abuja (North-Central Nigeria) was carried out for 1 year (June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and abundance of pollen and fungal ...