Aspergillus fumigatus fungus (pictured) causes fungal pneumonia.Credit: Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library/Getty
Jiabin Li, a researcher at Anhui Medical University, is working to unravel the causes of fungal pneumonia. He led a team that explored the mechanism of gut microbiota acting on the lung’s immune responses to Klebsiella pneumonia, a common cause of pneumonia-derived sepsis. They found that gut microbiota could protect against bacterial pneumonia, suggesting a potential in targeting the gut microbiota to intervene.
Li also led research investigating early predictors of secondary invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). They found that B-type natriuretic peptide was essential for IPA occurrence in severe SFTS patients, suggesting its importance for early diagnosis.
Guanghe Fei is one of AHMU’s pulmonary experts, specializing in clinical, imaging and pathological management of pulmonary nodules. One of his papers is about microbiota changes in lungs, specifically the effect of microbiota imbalance on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He also investigated the role of the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-melatonin feedback loop in regulating allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model, in the hope of finding a new therapeutic avenue for asthma.