Calgary Doctors Research How To Minimize Complications From Cryptococcus Infecti

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Calgary Doctors Research How To Minimize Complications From Cryptococcus

Infection

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses

Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience

Article Date: 06 May 2010 - 0:00 PDT

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/187750.php

Cryptococcus disease is a rare but serious infection resulting from inhaling a

toxic fungus often found in fir trees. Approximately 250 people have been

infected with the disease in British Columbia since its emergence in 1999. The

disease can cause meningitis, pneumonia and in 10 per cent of cases it can lead

to death.

Little is known about how the fungus leaves the bloodstream and enters the

brain; however, researchers at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine

have made a key observation. Using a mouse model, Drs. Meiqing Shi and

Mody and their team noticed that a class of therapeutic drugs

already approved for other medical uses could stop the fungus from crossing the

brain blood barrier and therefore reduce brain infection. The finding was

published this week in the May edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

" We would love to partner with someone and study this further, " says Mody, a

member of the Snyder Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation and

senior author on the study " While the therapy was tested in mice we do think it

could ultimately transition to humans. The class of drugs we used in the study

is already approved for use in humans for other conditions. "

If this new treatment is approved for Cryptococcus infection for humans it could

prevent further spread to the brain but it would not replace current therapies,

which include an aggressive treatment of two-drugs taken for a period of many

months.

Cryptococcus first appeared on Vancouver Island in 1999, and has spread into the

B.C. lower mainland as well as down the Pacific coast into Washington and

Oregon. It can take several months for respiratory symptoms to appear and

fortunately not many people exposed to the fungus become ill.

" The type of Cryptococcus on Vancouver Island comes from warm climates such as

Northern Australia and is particularly dangerous even in healthy people so it is

very important to study the emergence of this infectious disease, " says

Kubes, PhD, a co-author on this study and Director of the Snyder Institute for

Infection, Immunity and Inflammation .

There are 37 different species of Cryptococcus and various strains have been

affecting people in Africa and Australia. Vancouver Island has only recently

been infected with the fungus and has one of the highest rates of infection in

the world.

This research was funded by the Lung Association of Alberta & NWT as well as

Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions (funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation

for Medical Research Endowment Fund).

Source:

Marta

University of Calgary