Serbian medical doctors discover fungus gene responsible for resistance to medicines against infections – Aiming for quick and accurate diagnoses

A team of Serbian medical doctors are carrying out research the result of which should help in the treatment of respiratory and fungal infections, which affect patients with a weakened immune system at a greater rate. The aim is to prevent the lethal outcome that those infections can lead to in only 24 hours through quicker and more accurate diagnoses.

Among the causes of such infections is the Aspergillus fungus, which has become resistant to azoles, one of the biggest and most important groups of anti-fungal agents, Aleksandra Barac says for Tanjug.

This young doctor from the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Clinical Center of Serbia is taking part in the research.

– A part of the research has already been carried out and we have discovered that the cyp51A gene is responsible for it becoming resistant. The idea is to develop cheap and quick methods for each lab to carry out this diagnostics, which is of special importance in clinical conditions – Barac clarifies.

She added that it was very important for doctors to know at the very beginning of the treatment whether the isolated fungus is resistant to azoles or whether it has a gene that has the potential to make it resistant and to then use some other anti-fungal agents that this microorganism is sensitive to, thereby enabling a timely and adequate therapy for patients whose lives are in danger.

She explains that his new and quick diagnostics would increase the chances of recovery of patients with invasive fungal infections, especially patients with compromised immunity, who are more susceptible to such infections.

Klinički centar Srbije Beograd

Clinical Center of Serbia

Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Aleksandra Barac

respiratory infections

fungal infections

Aspergillus

azoles

anti fungal medicines

cyp51A gene

resistance to treatment

patients with compromised immunity