Analysis of the respiratory mycobiome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of the respiratory mycobiome in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis
IRAS ID
218281
Contact name
Jennifer Ratner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation Department
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) are chronic diseases of the lung which have a significant impact on quality of life for patients. Although asthma and CF have different underlying causes, there is increasing evidence that fungi residing in the lung play a key role in both causing asthma and allergic reactions in CF and also triggering periods of worsening disease (exacerbations). Exacerbations can be life threatening and have the potential to lead to hospitalisation and even death in severe cases. Little is known about what triggers these and why some patients have more severe and frequent exacerbations than others. Also patients with asthma are often treated with antibiotics, despite a lack of evidence of bacterial infection. Increased use of antimicrobials contributes to the rising rate of antimicrobial resistance and this, along with the costs of hospital admissions during severe episodes of exacerbation, place a huge financial burden on the NHS. A further compounding factor is the difficulty in diagnosing fungal respiratory disease in asthma and CF due to the failure to detect significant organisms by standard laboratory procedures. Using cutting edge molecular techniques, this study plans to uncover the burden and diversity of fungi which reside in the asthmatic and CF lung and also how the body responds to these to determine their significance. There remains much to be elucidated about the best treatment approach for fungal disease in asthma and CF and a more detailed understanding of this will provide the opportunity to develop new ways to treat patients. This study will also provide a basis for future studies of the impact of the respiratory fungal flora on disease outcomes.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0068
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion