Although the progression of invasive aspergillosis (IA) shares some risk factors in the development of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), however, the prevalence of IA in suspected PTB remains unclear. During a period of 1 year (from January 2016 to December 2016), consecutive patients with suspected PTB were included in a referral TB hospital. Data, including demographic information and underlying diseases, were collected from medical records. PTB were all confirmed by mycobacterial culture (Lowenstein–Jensen medium). IA were diagnosed as proven or probable according to the criteria of the 2008 EORTC/MSG definitions. A descriptive analysis was performed to estimate the corresponding prevalence. During the study year, 1507 patients have a positive mycobacterial culture, with a mean age of 45.6 (s.d. 19.9) years old and a female:male ratio of 1:4. Among the 82 patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases, two patients (2.44%, 95% CI 0.67–8.46%) were diagnosed as IA (one proven and one probable); two probable IA patients (0.15%, 95% CI 0.04–0.55%) were diagnosed in PTB patients (n = 1315), and all were retreatment cases. In addition, all four IA patients (100%) exhibited cavities in both lobes on radiograph. In China, the prevalence of IA is low in active PTB patients. However, when high-risk factors for IA are encountered in PTB patients, further investigations are required and empirically treatment for IA might be warranted.

We report a rare case of pulmonary prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Aspergillus fumigatus, associated with septic pulmonary embolism and secondary pulmonary hypertension, in a 4-year-old boy with surgically corrected tetralogy of Fallot. The diagnosis and treatment of Aspergillus endocarditis remains highly challenging. The best therapeutic option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension due to an infectious thromboembolic event is highly debatable and the results are poor.

Fungal pathogens pose a major threat to human health worldwide. They infect billions of people each year, leading to at least 1·5 million deaths. Treatment of fungal infections is difficult due to the limited number of clinically useful antifungal drugs, and the emergence of drug resistance. A promising new strategy to enhance the efficacy of antifungal drugs and block the evolution of drug resistance is to target the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Pharmacological inhibitors of Hsp90 function that are in development as anticancer agents have potential to be repurposed as agents for combination antifungal therapy for some applications, such as biofilm infections. For systemic infections, however, effective combination therapy regimens may require Hsp90 inhibitors that can selectively target Hsp90 in the pathogen, or alternate strategies to compromise function of the Hsp90 chaperone machine. Selectively impairing Hsp90 function in the pathogen could in principle be achieved by targeting Hsp90 co-chaperones or regulators of Hsp90 function that are more divergent between pathogen and host than Hsp90. Antifungal combination therapies could also exploit downstream effectors of Hsp90 that are critical for fungal drug resistance and virulence. Here, we discuss the progress and prospects for establishing Hsp90 as an important therapeutic target for life-threatening fungal infections.

The present study was conducted to show that dietary supplementation with a fungus, Aspergillus awamori, modifies muscle fatty acid profiles in broiler chickens. A total of thirty chicks, selected from a group of 100 chicks aged 15 d, were divided into a control group and two treatment groups (ten birds per treatment). The control group was fed a basal diet, and the treatment groups were fed basal diets supplemented with A. awamori at levels of 0·05 and 0·2 %. From the start of the study at 15 d, the birds were raised for an additional 12 d, and growth and the muscle fatty acid profile were evaluated. Although feed intake was decreased by the fungus, body-weight gain and breast muscle weight were increased, and thus, feed efficiency was improved. Abdominal fat and plasma cholesterol and TAG were decreased, while plasma HDL-cholesterol and breast muscle fat content were increased. Interestingly, muscle α-tocopherol content was increased and muscle thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were decreased by A. awamori. Furthermore, there was an observed decrease in SFA and an increase in unsaturated fatty acids in the muscle fat due to the fungus feeding. The mRNA of fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and Δ-6 desaturase in the muscle were all increased, while the mRNA of 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A were decreased by the fungus. In conclusion, the present study clearly shows that the muscle lipid profile could be modified by the addition of A. awamori to the diet.

Invasive fungal mastoiditis is a rare entity, seen almost entirely in immunocompromized patients. It has been reported primarily in patients with leukaemia and more recently with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A literature search revealed only a few reports in diabetic patients, in whom the invasive fungus was identified as mucormycosis in all cases. We report the first case in the English literature of invasive septate fungal mastoiditis in a diabetic patient with intact tympanic membranes.

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common and life-threatening aerial fungal pathogen, especially among immunocompromised hosts. Understanding the pathobiology of this pathogen requires investigations both to characterise the immunosuppressive status of the phagocytic cells that usually kill the fungus in the immunocompetent host, and to identify fungal virulence factors that either promote the resistance of conidia to innate immunity or stimulate mycelial growth in the lung parenchyma. Recent findings are presented in this review and show how little we know of the interactions between host and pathogen. Now the genome of A. fumigatus has been sequenced, transcriptome/ proteome-based studies should disclose the multiple facets of A. fumigatus pathogenicity.

The authors report a prospective study in which the aim was to analyse the usefulness of different criteria in optimizing the diagnosis of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. From 1995 to 1998, 165 patients were operated on for chronic rhinosinusitis. Investigations used in this study for the diagnosis of allergic Aspergillus rhinosinusitis consisted of an analysis of clinical, radiological, immuno-allergic criteria. Fourteen patients presented with allergic Aspergillus rhinosinusitis. One hundred and fifty-one patients did not present any of the necessary criteria for the diagnosis of allergic Aspergillus rhinosinusitis. The results show that the characteristic macroscopic appearance, the maxillary sinus localization, and the presence of positive specific IgE to Aspergillus fumigatus are arguments that reinforce the diagnostic certitude of allergic fungal sinusitis. No specific clinical or radiological criteria orients a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis toward that of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. The other immuno-allergic tests do not contribute to the diagnosis of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. pathological, mycological, and

Aspergillus sp. sinusitis is not uncommon in immunocompromised patients but is unusual in patients who are not immunocompromised. The disease may occur as a saprophytic condition, as an allergic sinusitis or as a potentially lethal invasive disease. The differentiation between non-invasive and invasive Aspergillus sp. sinusitis is crucial and this distinction is fully discussed. The treatment options are also considered. Invasive disease requires aggressive treatment with long-term antifungal agents in sufficient doses combined with wide surgical excision.

We present a patient who presented with invasive Aspergillus fumigatus sinusitis and subsequently developed cranial neuropathies and skull base osteitis. She was initially treated with oral itraconazole (400 mg daily) for 18 months but due to lack of response this was changed to a new experimental oral azole (voriconazole) which was continued for a further 14 months. She has since remained well for the last five years.

We have used a pulsed u.v. laser to ablate the cell wall of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger van Tiegh., and expose the plasma membrane at defined points along the hypha. Using the patch clamp technique, giga ohm seals (up to 20 GΩ) and recordings of plasma membrane ion channels were obtained. We describe, for the first time in fungi, a 43 pS plasma membrane anion efflux channel. Its potential role in cell signalling and pH homeostasis is discussed.

The effective management of paranasal sinus aspergillosis requires early diagnosis, histological classification, surgery and where appropriate, chemotherapy. Fungal sinusitis may be easily missed unless a high index of suspicion is maintained and specific culture and histology requested. The disease is classified into invasive and noninvasive types, each being divided into two subgroups: invasive aspergillosis may be either fulminant or indolent and noninvasive disease localized or allergic. The literature is reviewed and an algorithmic approach to aspergillus sinusitis proposed. The importance of histologically differentiating invasive from noninvasive aspergillosis prior to selecting the appropriate treatment options is stressed. CT scan should precede definitive surgery, and be used in follow-up. Close and prolonged follow-up is essential.

Six genera of bacteria: Serratia, Providencia, Enterobacter, Aeromonas, Cedecea and Bacillus were isolated from field-collected G. pallidipes. Four genera: Serratia, Providencia, Enterobacter and Aeromonas were isolated from insectary-reared Glossina morsitans morsitans. All bacteria except, Bacillus spp. and Providencia alcalifaciens were pathogenic for teneral G. m. morsitans. Bacteria isolated from insectary-reared tsetse were more pathogenic than those isolated from the field. Fungi of three genera were also isolated from field-collected adult G. pallidipes, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium. Five genera, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Trichoderma were isolated from field-collected G. pallidipes pupae. The fungi, however, were only mildly pathogenic for adult tsetse and were not pathogenic for pupae.

A method for steady production of Chilo partellus has been established. An efficient simple and easy method of collection of first instar larvae from incubation chambers has been developed. It has been established that pupae of Chilo partellus can be held at a chilling temperature between 5 and 15°C without any adverse effect on the emergence of adults. This finding has been used in synchronizing the emergence of males and females for mating or longer storage of the pupae.

Studies on the effect of high and low humidities on egg development have shown that low humidities affect the hatchability of Chilo partellus egg but did not effect the actual development of the embryo adversely. It has also been shown that Chilo partellus oviposits best under high humidity.