Royal Society - 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG
Fungi are everywhere, and a few species can cause very serious lethal infections. Fungal infections (mycoses) kill more people around the world than malaria. There are no vaccines to protect against fungal infections and we often diagnose them too late to save the patient. Our exhibit spotlights UK research that will help to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mycoses.
Across the UK, teams of scientists and doctors are working together to address the huge unmet need for better treatment of fungal infections. We now understand how fungi are recognised by our immune system; paving the way for treatments to boost immune effectiveness, or dampen the damaging inflammation caused by fungal infection. Designing fungus-specific antibiotics is challenging because fungi share many genetic properties with us. However, new drugs may selectively target features of fungi, such as the cell wall. And antibodies are being developed that can be used either for treatment or to assist in early diagnosis. This research is helping to inform and improve clinical options in the worldwide fight against fungal diseases.
Opening times vary by day – these and other details can be found on the ‘Visitor information’ page on the Royal Society website by clicking on the link below.
Twitter : https://twitter.com/killerfungus16
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/killerfungus16/