How Fungal Infections Cause Blood Poisoning

(University of Bern, September 01, 2023)

Led by Stefan Freigang from the Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, researchers at the University of Bern have made a new discovery in the field of immune pathologies. They've identified the role of a specific protein, the Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra), in hastening the spread of Candida Albicans, a yeast fungus infamous for causing blood poisoning. The team achieved these findings through extensive experiments on genetically modified mice - mice lacking IL-1Ra production showed a potent arsenal of neutrophils, enabling successful infection combat. This stream of research, indicating the detrimental effect of IL-1Ra production on immune system resilience, marks a step towards new therapeutic strategies for yeast-induced blood poisoning and other invasive fungal afflictions.