Pathogenicity and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary infections caused by the mould pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Compromised lung defences arising from immunosuppression, chronic respiratory conditions or more recently, concomitant viral or bacterial pulmonary infections are recognised risks factors for the development of pulmonary aspergillosis. In this review, we will summarise our current knowledge of the mechanistic basis of pulmonary aspergillosis with a focus on emerging at-risk populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Aspergillus fumigatus
• Aspergillosis
• Virulence factors
• Pathogenicity
• at-risk factors

Disclosure statement

In the last 5 years SG received speaker fees from Gilead and research grants from Pfizer Ltd.

Additional information

Funding

This work and the authors were supported by a National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research PhD Studentship [NC/T001798/1] (studentship awarded to KE), a Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (218550/Z/19/Z) (awarded to P.C.C.), Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology and the University of Exeter (MR/ N006364/2) (including studentship awarded to DC), E3 Research England (studentship awarded to GV), Wellcome Trust [208396/Z/17/Z] (awarded to MB). SG was cofounded by NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, the Manchester Academy of Health Sciences, the Fungal Infection Trust and the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel trust.