Scientists find fungi clue for asthma care

Researchers from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine have uncovered large numbers of fungi in healthy lungs which they found differed significantly in those with asthma.

Hugo van Woerden, of the university’s Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, who led the work published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases, said: “Historically, the lungs were thought to be sterile.

“Our analysis found that there are large numbers of fungi present in healthy human lungs. The study also demonstrates that asthma patients have a large number of fungi in their lungs and that the species of fungi are quite different to those present in the lungs of healthy individuals.”

The experts said the work could lead to new lines of research and eventually better treatments for sufferers. Evidence already suggests removing fungi from homes can improve asthma symptoms.

“Establishing the presence of fungi in the lungs of patients with asthma could potentially open up a new field of research which brings together molecular techniques for detecting fungi and developing treatments for asthma,” said Dr van Woerden.

“In the future it is conceivable that individual patients may have their sputum tested for fungi and their treatment adjusted accordingly.”