BACKGROUND Aspergillus fumigatus is frequently encountered in sputum samples of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), which traditionally has been interpreted as saprophytic airway colonization. However, this mere bystander role has been challenged by recent data. There is now evidence that Aspergillus fumigatus accelerates the decline of pulmonary function. (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) and galactomann...

Aspergillus fumigatus is an enigmatic pathogen.

Taxonomic identification of three newly isolated Antarctic fungal strains by their 18S rDNA sequences revealed their affiliation with Aspergillus fumigatus. Phenol (0.5 g/l) as the sole carbon source was completely degraded by all strains within less than two weeks. Intracellular activities of three key enzymes involved in the phenol catabolism were determined. Activities of phenol hydroxylase ...

We present two cases of pulmonary aspergillosis in which calcium oxalate crystals in the sputum proved to be a useful diagnostic clue. In case 1, Aspergillus hyphae was not identified; however, calcium oxalate crystals were present, and chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis was diagnosed. In case 2, calcium oxalate was detected and Aspergillus fumigatus was identified later. Thus, the pre...

We investigated the antifungal activities of itraconazole and voriconazole on Aspergillus species by time kill studies, and the results were compared with those obtained for Candida species. Exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia to varying concentrations (1.25 to 10 microg/ml) of itraconazole and voriconazole resulted in cellular death; the cytocidal effect was time and concentration depend...

Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging public health concern. Recently, a novel fungicide-driven mutation in the cyp51A gene and its promoter, TR46/Y121F/T289A, leading to high-level resistance to voriconazole has been identified in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Tanzania, and India in both clinical and environmental samples. Here we report the first description o...

Purification and biochemical characterization of pectinase produced by Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from soil decomposing plant materialsRaphael Emuebie Okonji, Babamotemi Oluwasola Itakorode, Julius Ovie Ovumedia, Odunayo Selimot Adedeji

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is believed to represent a hypersensitivity reaction to fungal antigens. The pathophysiology of AFS is still not clearly understood. It is believed that it is not a true fungal infection, but an allergic response to fungal organisms that have colonized the sinus mucosa and secondarily cause a hypersensitivity reaction in the host. However, some patients with AFS ...

Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes cholesterol esterification and plays an important role in the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, hepatic production of lipoproteins, and accumulation of cholesteryl ester within cells. During the course of screening to find ACAT inhibitors from microbial sources, the present authors isolated pyripyropene A from Penicillium griseof...