Aspergillus infections in CF patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Aspergillus infections in Cystic Fibrosis patients: exploring specific host-fungus interactions.
IRAS ID
152710
Contact name
Adilia Warris
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Cystic fibrosis is the most common genetically inherited fatal disease in Western population. Although survival of CF-patients is improving, median age of death is still 28-29 years. The lungs of CF-patients contain many microorganisms causing an inflammatory reaction leading to lung damage. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common fungus encountered and leads to an increased risk of hospital admission due to exacerbation of lung disease. Previous research focused on bacterial infections demonstrates that CF-patients are less able to kill bacteria. However, limited research has been done on fungal infections having a major impact on the chronic inflammation of the lungs. It remains unclear why A. fumigatus is able to reside in the lungs of CF-patients and how it can cause progressive lung disease. This research project will investigate the immune response of CF-patients to A. fumigatus, in particular the influence of the defective CFTR-protein in CF-phagocytes on effective antifungal effector mechanisms and the inflammatory response. Secondly, we will investigate the effect of CFTR-modulators, by restoring ion fluxes and pH-regulation on the antifungal immune responses. Understanding these mechanisms will improve the development of new management strategies to ultimately improve the quality of life and the life expectancy of CF-patients.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
14/NS/1072
Date of REC Opinion
7 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion