Aspergillus Fumigatus Biology, Clinical Aspects, and Molecular Approaches to Pathogenicity

Aspergillus fumigatus has become one of the most important fungal human pathogens in industrialized countries. It causes different diseases like allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis depending on the underlying disease as well as the immunological status of the host. A. fumigatus is today one of the most threatening aerial fungal pathogens because nosocomially acquired invasive aspergillosis typically occurs in the treatment setting for hematological malignancy. With the increasing number of immuno-compromised individuals such as AIDS and cancer patients or transplant recipients, systemic Aspergillus infections are often life-threatening with a very high mortality rate even after anti-mycotic therapy. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the classical and molecular techniques used in the isolation, analysis, diagnosis, and the identification of potential virulence factors of A. fumigatus. The pathogenesis and clinical presentation, the epidemiology and the therapy of A. fumigatus infections are discussed extensively. Compiling the most up-to-date information available, this volume will be a useful reference source for both clinical investigators and basic research scientists.