Phylogeny as a basis for molecular identification of pathogenic fungi

Funded Activity Summary

Pathogenic fungi are becoming increasingly important in causing potentially life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised hosts (e.g. AIDS, transplant patients). Many of the emerging fungal pathogens are inherently resistent to triazole antifungal drugs and clinical responses to established drugs remain suboptimal, despite apparent sensitivity in the laboratory. Current techniques of fungal identification are insensitive, unspecific, slow, labour-intensive and require skilled personnel for the ID of less common fungi. To improve clinical outcomes by prompt selection-initiation of the best antifungal regimes, and to truncate the interval from initiation of therapy to cure, early, accurate identification of the causative agent is crucial, making a fast identification to the species level after culture or direct from clinical specimens a necessity. A correct fungal identification can only be achieved if the phylogenetic relationships between the pathogenic organisms and their taxonomy is resolved. Gene detection is more reproducible than detection of morphological and biochemical differences. The proposal focuses on the establishment of an accurate phylogenetic system of pathogenic fungi, which will form the basis of a universally applicable molecular identification system and to develop a molecular reference database for human pathogenic fungi. This project will contribute sequence data of pathogenic fungi to the Tree of Life project. This project unites expertise in classical mycology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and infectious diseases, to develop an accurate phylogeny of medically important fungi, providing a unique opportunity to establish a quality controlled reference database accessible via the world-wide-web. This will provide a faster and more accurate ID of pathogenic fungi, which will lead to better clinical treatment.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2007

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $440,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical Microbiology not elsewhere classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life | Diagnostic methods | Fungal infections | Immunosuppreessed patients | Molecular identification system | Opportunistic fungal infections | Pathogenic fungi | Phylogeny and Taxonomy of pathogenic fungi | Sequence analysis | Systemic mycoses

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