Title: "Neuroimmune responses to fungal infections of the brain"

Abstract: Cryptococcal meningitis is a highly invasive and deadly fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) which predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals although it also affects patients with no history of immunosuppression. Cryptococcal infections kill almost 300 000 people annually, 75% of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the current drugs used for treating cryptococcal meningitis are ineffective and mostly inaccessible to those affected, leading to a high mortality and long-term neurological damage in survivors. Cryptococcosis is caused by the ubiquitous basidiomycetes Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gatii which have a predilection for the CNS and are associated with a fatal form of meningoencephalitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is characterised by debilitating long-term neurological damage of an inflammatory origin but the neuroinflammatory response to cryptococcal infections is not adequately described. This talk will review models and methods used for studying neuroinflammation in fungal infections and how these could be useful for identifying novel molecular targets in the management of cryptococcosis of the brain. We will also briefly discuss recently developed scientific technologies that have the potential to revolutionise the field of neuroinflammation and advance the development of antifungal therapies.

 

Research Profile: Rachael DANGAREMBIZI | Lecturer | PhD | University of Cape Town, Cape Town | UCT | Neuroscience Institute (researchgate.net)

 

A 'Tea with the Speaker' will follow this seminar, where Pathway 2/PGR staff and students are warmly encouraged to join in an informal discussion with the speaker following their talk. 

 

 

Dr Rachael Dangarembizi