Scientists at the Tulane University School of Medicine have achieved a significant breakthrough in the study of a lung-infecting fungus, known for causing pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems and children.
This fungus, called Pneumocystis, has been a challenge for researchers due to its difficulty to grow in laboratory conditions.
The research team, led by Dr. Jay Kolls at Tulane, found a novel way to study this elusive fungus. They used precision-cut slices of lung tissue, a method that maintains the intricate structure and functionality of the lung.
This approach allows researchers to observe the fungus in conditions very similar to a living lung.
This fungus, Pneumocystis, is particularly important as it has been listed among the top 19 fungal priority pathogens by the World Health Organization.
One of the major challenges in treating infections caused by this fungus has been the lack of new antibiotics. For over 20 years, no new treatments have been developed, partly because of the difficulty in studying the pathogen outside a living organism.
The Tulane team’s model uses lung slices to cultivate two forms of Pneumocystis – the troph and ascus – for up to 14 days. They conducted tests to confirm that the fungus not only survives but also behaves similarly to how it would inside a living lung.
Dr. Kolls pointed out that this is the first time these two forms of Pneumocystis have been successfully maintained outside a mammalian host for an extended period.
An exciting aspect of this research is its potential for drug testing.
The team treated the fungus with common medications like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and echinocandins and observed reduced expression of Pneumocystis genes, suggesting these drugs were effectively targeting the fungus.
One of the standout features of the Tulane method is its efficiency. A single lung can yield many uniform samples for experiments, allowing for extensive testing.
This is a game-changer in terms of research capacity and could significantly speed up the development of new treatments.
The study also highlights the accomplishments of Ferris T. Munyonho, a Tulane Biomedical Sciences graduate student and Fulbright Scholarship recipient, originally from the University of Zimbabwe.
His involvement underscores the international collaboration and expertise driving this research.
Overall, the Tulane University’s new model presents a major advancement in fungal research. It not only offers a more effective way to study Pneumocystis but also opens up the possibility of developing new, much-needed treatments for this type of pneumonia.
This is a significant step forward in combating a pathogen that has been a longstanding challenge in medical science.
If you care about lung health, please read studies about marijuana’s effects on lung health, and why some non-smokers get lung disease and some heavy smokers do not.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
The research findings can be found in mBio.
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