Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Models to Investigate the Epithelial Barrier in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
03:23

Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Models to Investigate the Epithelial Barrier in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Published on: May 10, 2024

Role of fungus in eosinophilic sinusitis

Jan Gosepath1, Wolf J Mann

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mainz, School of Medicine, Mainz, Germany. gosepath@hno.klinik.uni-mainz.de

Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
|January 18, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fungal organisms may play a role in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). While fungi are common in nasal passages, CRS patients show immune responses to fungi not seen in healthy individuals, suggesting a potential link.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) presents diverse diagnostic and etiologic challenges.
  • Fungal organisms are hypothesized as a common factor initiating and sustaining CRS.
  • Understanding the fungal role in CRS pathophysiology is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current data on the role of fungi in CRS pathophysiology.
  • To analyze novel findings regarding fungal involvement in CRS.
  • To discuss emerging questions in fungal-related CRS.

Main Methods:

  • Review of available scientific literature.
  • Analysis of recent findings on fungal detection in nasal mucin.
  • Examination of immunologic responses to fungi in CRS patients versus controls.

Main Results:

  • Highly sensitive methods detect fungi in nearly 100% of CRS patients and healthy controls.
  • CRS patients, unlike controls, exhibit cytokine production in lymphocytes upon fungal exposure.
  • The precise percentage of CRS cases caused by fungi and the presentation of fungal antigens remain unclear.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal organisms are implicated in the etiology of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis.
  • Further research is needed to understand the immune response to fungi in CRS.
  • Questions regarding systemic involvement and treatment efficacy require investigation.

More Related Videos

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways10:06

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways

Published on: December 13, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...