MRC CMM Contributes to Global Guidelines

MRC CMM has contributed to several different global guidelines for diagnosing and managing rare mould infections, invasive aspergillosis in neonates and children, aspergillus diseases, cryptococcosis and candidiasis, working with leading international mycology societies to improve care for serious fungal diseases. For example, cryptococcosis, especially cryptococcal meningitis, is a life-threatening infection causing significant global mortality and morbidity, particularly in resource-limited settings. These evidence-based guidelines address diverse clinical presentations and resource disparities, providing practical recommendations on screening, diagnosis, management and follow-up and incorporate insights from clinical trials to optimize patient outcomes worldwide.

Further reading: Chang et al., 2024, The Lancet Infectious Dis.

The FAILSAFE project, led by the University of Exeter’s MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) and funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), aims to tackle the growing threat of fungal antimicrobial resistance (fungal AMR). This innovative initiative seeks to reduce the burden of fungal diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the impact of AFR is most severe. 

Research themes II, IV and V

Candida infections cause over half a billion vaginal infections annually, resulting in significant economic losses, including an estimated £700 million in the UK alone. The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis (VVC) are driven by a hyper-inflammatory response to Candida. Researchers Drs. Elena Roselletti and Duncan Wilson have identified that this response is linked to zinc limitation in the vagina. Candida albicans releases a zinc-binding protein called Pra1, which triggers inflammation. Crucially, zinc supplementation can prevent Pra1 production, leading to a clinical trial aimed at evaluating its effectiveness in preventing recurrent VVC in affected women.​

Further reading: Roselletti et al., 2023, Sci Transl Med.​

Research themes I, II and V

As the WHO identifies Mucorales as high-priority fungal pathogens, the MRC  CMM has made significant advances in diagnosing mucormycosis, a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, including those with diabetes, blood cancers, or those on immunosuppressive medications. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving survival rates but until now detection methods have been limited. Researchers worked with ISCA Diagnostics to translate research findings into practical diagnostic tools to improve patient outcomes. They developed a test targeting a specific antigen present during active fungal growth allowing differentiation between invasive infection and colonising fungi. This innovation enables early, accurate detection of invasive infections, offering new hope for timely treatment and reduced mortality rates.​

 Further reading: Hudson et al. 2024, J. Infectious Dis.

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Research themes I, II, III, IV and V

​A new consortium called Fungi-CARE (Combinations Against Resistance Emergence), led by Professor Elaine Bignell at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, unites scientists, clinicians and pharmacologists from St. George’s University Hospital London and the University of Liverpool to combat antifungal resistance. ​

With a focus on Candida species, which can cause fatal infections in immunocompromised patients, the programme seeks innovative strategies to optimize antifungal use. As Candida species increasingly resist limited antifungal drugs, the initiative addresses this urgent public health threat flagged by the WHO, particularly invasive candidiasis, which affects thousands annually in the UK, with patients in intensive care units particularly susceptible.​

Read the full press release at £3.2 million boost from Medical Research Council to preserve antifungal drugs - News

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