• Question: How does fungi cause desease from your reasearch

    Asked by zzzape3 to Donna on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Donna MacCallum

      Donna MacCallum answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Fungi can cause disease in many different ways.
      In my research though, I am looking at fungi that can cause life-threatening bloodstream infections. We think (and are researching just now) that the fungus does not mean to kill the host. The fungus bascially over stimulates the host immune system, which then causes damage to the host cells itself. Too much damage means that the host no longer functions properly and death can occur.
      It’s really difficult to diagnose and treat these infections just now!

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