The Aspergillus Website

INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspflavlogo2.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET

The Aspergillus website is a worldwide comprehensive resource providing a wide range of information about the fungus Aspergillus and the diseases - such as Aspergillosis that it can cause.This site is free to use and provides an encyclopaedia of Aspergillus for doctors, scientists, patients and their relatives. Some parts of the site for example the image bank require free registration.

What is aspergillus?

Aspergillus is a fungus whose spores are present in the air we breathe, but does not normally cause illness. However an individual with a weakened immune status may be susceptible to aspergillus infection.

The Aspergillus Website

INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspflavlogo2.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET

The Aspergillus website is a worldwide comprehensive resource providing a wide range of information about the fungus Aspergillus and the diseases - such as Aspergillosis that it can cause.This site is free to use and provides an encyclopaedia of Aspergillus for doctors, scientists, patients and their relatives. Some parts of the site for example the image bank require free registration.

What is aspergillus?

Aspergillus is a fungus whose spores are present in the air we breathe, but does not normally cause illness. However an individual with a weakened immune status may be susceptible to aspergillus infection.

HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspergillosisframeset.html" Aspergillosis is a group of diseases which can result from aspergillus infection and includes HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspergillosisframeset.html" invasive aspergillosis, HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/abpaframeset.html" ABPA, HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspergillomaframeset.html" CPA and HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/aspergillomaframeset.html" aspergilloma. Some asthma patients with very severe asthma may also be sensitised to fungi like aspergillus HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/safsframeset.html" (SAFS). There is a section devoted to the needs of HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/newpatients/" patients, friends and family suffering from the effects of Aspergillosis. The UK's HYPERLINK "http://www.nationalaspergillosiscentre.org.uk" National Aspergillosis Centre opened on May 1st 2009 - the HYPERLINK "http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/nac/webpages/NAC.php" opening meeting can be viewed.

Aspergillosis may affect patients whose immune system may be compromised - including those with leukaemia, chemotherapy patients or those on steroids, transplant patients, cystic fibrosis, HIV or AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), severe asthma with fungal sensitivity (SAFS) and many others.

Aspergillus does not solely affect humans; birds and animals can also develop aspergillosis, and some plant diseases and food spoilage may be due to aspergillus infection.

Risk factors?

Sources of increased risk include - dirty air conditioning units, compost heaps and damp or flood- damaged housing, all of which can yield higher numbers of aspergillus spores. But immune suppression of an individual is the most important factor.