Grant: Operating Grant

The mold Aspergillus fumigatus colonizes the lungs of up to half of patients with cystic fibrosis, whose lung function then worsens. Antifungal therapy is rarely successful in eradicating the fungus, suggesting a need for new therapies for this condition. We have found that galactosaminogalactan (or GAG), a molecule on the surface of Aspergillus, can induce the activation of mast cells, a type of white blood cell found in the lung. This activation results in the release of inflammatory substances which actually promote fungal growth and increase inflammation in the lung. In this proposal, we will determine how mast cells worsen Aspergillus airways disease, and test the ability of new therapies that target mast cell-fungal interactions.