Aspergillus fumigatus protects itself from antimycotics and the immune defence by biofilm. But the cancer drug Imatinib can prevent the compartmentalisation: When immunocompromised people breathe in the spores of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, this can trigger aspergillosis. This infection is particularly difficult to treat because the fungus surrounds itself with a biofilm and thus protects itself from attacks by the immune system and especially against anti-fungal drugs. The team led by Prof. Routier (RESIST project C3) from the MHH Institute of Clinical Biochemistry has now succeeded in preventing the formation of such an Aspergillus biofilm with the help of a drug from cancer chemotherapy. The study was supported by RESIST and has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
The detailed press release of the Hannover Medical School can be found on the MHH homepage, which you can reach via this link.
The original research paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences can be accessed via this link.
The photo shows Prof. Dr. Françoise Routier (right) and her Patricia Zarnovican. They are looking at the Aspergillus biofilm. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH