Articles tagged with Fungal Infections
A new fungus has been discovered that is killing frogs and toads worldwide, with 10 species affected in Australia and seven in Panama. The fungus, thought to be suffocating the animals by coating their skin and legs, may be a major factor behind the decline of amphibian populations reported globally.
A breakthrough in taxol production has been made by Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc. and MSU, moving the technology closer to manufacture and use. The sublicense agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb aims to develop microbial fermentation of taxol, a renewable source for the potent drug.
Sorghum ergot is a serious fungal disease affecting hybrid seed production, causing significant losses in crop yields and food insecurity. Global cooperation among scientists and agencies is underway to develop strategies for fungicidal control, host-plant resistance, and ecology of ergot.
A new, aggressive strain of the late blight fungus, US-8, is devastating potato fields in the US and Canada, resistant to metalaxyl, a commonly used fungicide. The fungus reproduces rapidly, producing massive numbers of spores that can infect stored potatoes, leading to widespread crop loss.
A University of Delaware scientist has identified a critical dispatcher gene NDR1 that coordinates the defense response in Arabidopsis thaliana against a broad range of attackers. The gene may ultimately help researchers design hardier, more disease-resistant crops.
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that dedicated PET scanners are significantly more accurate than dual-head coincidence cameras in detecting cancer. They also showed that PET can diagnose infections in just an hour or less, compared to days with conventional tests.
A new study has uncovered the genetic wiring diagram underlying Candida's infectiousness, revealing two parallel genetic pathways that account for its ability to filament. Inactivating both pathways renders Candida harmless to macrophages and mice, offering new avenues for treating fungal infections.
A recent study reveals that the potato famine fungus has resurfaced 150 years after its devastating impact on Ireland, with virulent and fungicide-resistant strains causing widespread damage. Researchers have identified several options for managing the blight, including DNA fingerprinting and simplified enzyme assays.
Duke researchers found an existing class of drugs, cyclosporin and FK506, effectively stops the growth of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The compounds are now being tested in animals with fungal infections.
Researchers have discovered crucial proteins called septins in filamentous fungi, which could serve as a target for antifungal agents. The finding may help develop new treatments for fungal diseases, which have dramatically increased in recent years.
Scientists at Indiana University have identified a new potential target for treating parasitic diseases in human cells. The discovery suggests that chloroplast-like plastids, which are found in single-celled parasites, may play an important role in the cell and could be targets for drug therapies.
A new, potentially serious disease known as White Pox has been discovered on coral reefs near Key West, Florida, causing extensive damage and killing up to 80% of elkhorn coral. The cause of the disease remains unknown, but researchers are studying it to understand its origins and potential impact on the marine ecosystem.