Work of the University of Minho identifies genes that, if silenced, benefits vulnerable patients.
Infections by Candida More frequent appear in the digestive system, respiratory system, genitals and skin folds.
In patients with low immunity, this fungus can enter the bloodstream, infecting internal organs and causing invasive candidiasis, which affects about 1.5 million patients per year, and close to one million (63%) ends up dying.
Now, one that involves the University of Minho discovered as a fungus feeds when the intestine is fragilewhich can open doors to block it and infection.
After treatment with antibiotics, many bacteria present in the intestine are eliminated or significantly reduced, the university explains in a statement sent to ZAP.
But the fungus Candida albicans, that lives in our body, has 10 genes act that gives it an advantage for survival and expansion in this challenging environment. That is, these acts allow the fungus to use a nutrient called acetate, very abundant in the intestine, giving it advantage to multiply, colonize this environment and, in some cases, cause severe infections.
“We first show this capacity to adapt the fungus and, to the block yours genes Act, he Can’t install Stablely in the gastrointestinal tract, after the disturbance of bacterial flora, ”explains researcher Sandra Paiva.
“By identifying carriers essential to the survival of Candida, we opened the door to New Therapies that may prevent fungal colonization and reduce the risk of invasive infections, ”he continues.
The research analyzed the gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, cecon, colon) and the antibiotic -treated mice feces.
But investigators admit that Controlling Candida in the gut can help people who eat many antibioticsbut also that they have inflammatory diseases, have cancer, are immunosuppressed or have an advanced age, for example.
“The available antifungals are very limited and, as these fungi are quite similar to our own cells, it is difficult to develop drugs that are effective without causing toxic effects,” adds Rosana Alves, the first author of the study.
The study also involved scientists from the Catholic universities of Lovaina (Belgium) and Exeter (England).
