MANASP

Development of novel management strategies for invasive aspergillosis - Aspergillus species are a group of saprophytic moulds which can be found worldwide. However, only a few of these species are able cause illness in humans. This includes the species Aspergillus fumigatus which is by far the most frequent species, as well as A. flavus, A. niger, A.nidulans and A. terreus. In tissues, aspergilli may be seen as septated hyphae, dichotomously branched (resembling the divergence of fingers from one another), and may produce their characteristic conidia in tissues or artificial media. Several putative Aspergillus virulence factors have been identified, including melanin and secreted proteases, toxins and hemolysins. However, gene disruption studies have rarely identified prominent virulence factors, suggesting that the true virulence of A. fumigatus is likely multi-factorial and dependent on host immune conditions. Aspergillus aerosolizes conidia readily; while immunocompetent people..