Fungal Immunology: Value of Animal Models versus Clinical Studies

5/19/2003 8:00:00 AM-10:30 AM

The goal of this session is to present data regarding host response to several medically important fungi from both animal models and clinical studies in an effort to determine the value of the animal models to understanding the clinical realities (pathogenesis, host response, organism virulence, etc). The fungal organisms to be covered include: Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, and Histoplasma. The specialty area for this session includes medical mycology and immunology. The session is appropriate for basic science researchers and infectious disease clinicians.

Presentations:

Paul L. Fidel -- Convener

Neil Ampel -- Convener

Neil Ampel -- Coccidioidomycosis - Comparison of Animal and Human Models of Cellular Immunity

Francoise Dromer -- Relevance of the Murine Model for the Study of Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in Humans

Paul L. Fidel -- Host Defense Against Vaginal Candidiasis: Animal Models vs. Clinical Realities

George S. Deepe -- T Cell Receptor Repertoire to Histoplasma capsulatum

Viswanath Kurup -- Immunoregulation in Allergic Aspergillosis

Diagnostic Mycology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

5/20/2003 2:30:00 PM-5:00 PM

Serious fungal infections are on the rise among all patient populations, and their laboratory diagnoses still present unique challenges. With few exceptions, elaborate morphological and physiological tests are needed for fungal identification. These are the mainstay of clinical diagnostics and the full range of these tests is limited in availability to large, reference facilities, with few options available for point of care testing, and for automation. However, technological advances for diagnostic mycology are emerging as a result of molecular investigations of fungal pathogenesis, and genome sequencing. The topics and speakers in this session will provide the state of the art of the field, as well as a look into the near future. The session will be useful for clinical laboratory personnel (MT, PhD, MD) at all levels, and physicians/researchers (MD and/or PhD) who are interested in learning more about clinical fungal diagnostics.

Presentations:

Vishnu Chaturvedi -- Convener

Annette W. Fothergill -- Convener

Arvind A Padhye -- Classical Clinical Mycology

Richard Summerbell -- Problematic and Unusual Fungal Pathogens

Glenn D. Roberts -- The State of the Art of Diagnostic Mycology

Kent A. Sepkowitz -- A Clinical Perspective on Fungal Diganostics

Vishnu Chaturvedi -- Diagnostic Mycology in the Future

Fungal Mating and Virulence

5/21/2003 8:00:00 AM-10:30 AM

Essential to the virulence of fungal pathogens is their ability to regulate expression of a variety of genes and cellular characteristics. This session will focus on fungal virulence, examining the intersection of sexual mating type and virulence in the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, where virulence is preferentially associated with the alpha mating type and in Candida, where transcription factors as well as signal transduction pathways, known to regulate mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been adopted to regulate diverse aspects of virulence. This session is directed toward researchers (B.S, M.S, Ph.D.) and clinicians (MD/Ph.D.) with a background in molecular biology and with an interest in the evolution and regulation of virulence.

Presentations:

Brendan Cormack -- Convener

Alexander Johnson -- Convener

Jim E. Cutler -- Thirty-years of Research on Candidiasis and This is All I Have?

June Kwon Chung -- The Uniqueness of Mating System in Cryptococcus neoformans

Bernard Dujon -- Candida glabrata: Genomic Studies and Mating Type

Alexander Johnson -- Molecular Biology of Candida albicans

Antifungal Drugs in Combination: From Test Tube to Patient

5/19/2003 2:30:00 PM-5:00 PM

The objective of this symposium is to update the participants in the current understanding of drug combinations in antifungal therapy. Synergy and antagonism will be explored with a variety of antifungal drugs, including azoles, candins, amphotericin B and other ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors. The symposium will explore drug combinations in vitro, in animal models and in patients, with additional discussions of immunomodulators in drug combinations, and antifungal drug resistance as it relates to combination therapy. After attending this symposium, participants will have an understanding of the central issues involved in combination therapy at several levels, from basic research to patient care. This symposium is intended for persons interested in both basic research (B.S, M.S., Ph.D., M.D) and clinical research (M.T., Ph.D., MD).

Presentations:

Ted White -- Convener

Caroline B. Moore -- Convener

Caroline B. Moore -- In Vitro Combination Work: New Drugs and Old

Ted White -- Drug Resistance: Is it Real?

Cameron M. Douglas -- Animal Models of Drug Trials: Are They Useful?