For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term Aspergillosis, it is “a group of illnesses caused by a certain type of mold. These illnesses usually affect the respiratory system. The mold that triggers the illnesses, aspergillus, occurs widely indoors and outdoors. Most strains of this mold are harmless. But a few can cause serious illnesses when their spores are inhaled by people with a weakened immune system, underlying lung disease or asthma.
In some people, the spores trigger an allergic reaction. Other people develop mild to serious lung infections. The most serious form of aspergillosis — invasive aspergillosis — occurs when the infection spreads to blood vessels and beyond.” (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergillosis/DS00950)
Given the severity of the fungal infection, imagine there is a way to keep the infection ‘at bay’ using a simple bakers yeast. The following article explains new research about just that possibility!
The article is titled “Baker’s yeast protects against fatal diseases“ IANS Aug 10, 2011, 04.14pm IST
Simple baker’s yeast can keep at bay fatal fungal infection like aspergillosis which can cause kidney and liver failure, says a new study.
Aspergillosis is the leading fungal killer that attacks the lungs and can migrate to the brain.
Mice injected thrice with dead baker’s yeast one week apart, were able to survive high doses of Aspergillus — the fungus that causes aspergillosis.
They also showed a reduced infection load in their organs, the Journal of Medical Microbiology reports.
David A. Stevens, of Santa Clara Valley Medical Centre, in whose lab the studies were conducted, said: “The simple preparation… also protect(s) against infection due to three other fungi that cause human diseases – Candida, Cryptococcus and Coccidioides,” Stevens added.
“Research to date, including our study, supports the development of a yeast vaccine against all pathogenic fungi that infect humans,” said Stevens.
The finding opens the way to developing a human vaccine that protects immunodeficiency against a range of fungal infections.
Immunodeficiency implies a defective immune response which renders people less capable of battling infections.
The complete article can be found at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-10/health/29871803_1_yeast-fungi-infection