EsCAPE-CF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the clinical and inflammatory impact of Co-culture of Aspergillus Fumigatus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (EsCAPE-CF).
IRAS ID
275545
Contact name
Damian Downey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
B19/45, Applicant/organisations own reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder with multiorgan involvement. Progressive lung damage driven by the triad of thick mucus, infection and inflammation is the greatest contributor to the disease burden and mortality. We are beginning to understand that there is a rich, diverse ecosystem within CF airways, comprising of bacterial, fungal and viral species. These organisms which co-inhabit the airways, which are likely to act together in orchestrating infection, rather than acting in isolation and therefore will have developed means of inter-species and inter-kingdom communication mechanisms.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (PA) and Aspergillus Fumigatus (Asp) are the most common bacterial and fungal species respectively isolated in CF respiratory cultures. It has been shown that in people with CF who isolate both of these organisms, clinical outcomes are worse, and there is more rapid progression of lung disease. However, our understanding of how these species interact and influence infection is poorly understood.
In this study, we aim to interrogate the clinical, microbiological and inflammatory implications of this co-infection, with the aim of better understanding of how they interact to cause more progressive disease, and to identify potential biomarkers which may inform the discovery of novel, targeted therapies.
We will examine biological specimens (Sputum and blood) from people with CF who have chronic infection with these organisms to evaluate differences in their microbiological and inflammatory profiles, immune responses to bacterial and fungal infections and examine their disease progression through retrospective longitudinal data analysis.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0173
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion