title: Effects of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata on human ciliated epithelium in vitro.
abstract: Fungi represent the etiologic agent in a large number of patients with chronic sinusitis. Despite this, no study has examined the effects of fungi on ciliated epithelium. This study evaluates the effects of cultures and filtrates of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in vitro. CBF was recorded after exposure to either a control or experimental solution. A statistical comparison of control and experimental values was performed to determine significance at P < 0.05. A statistically significant inhibition of CBF in cultures and filtrates of A fumigatus and A alternata was demonstrated. We conclude that a soluble metabolite produced by clinical isolates of both A fumigatus and A alternata causes inhibition of CBF and may represent one virulence factor involved in the development of fungal sinusitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, U.S.A.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cody
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000528:Alternaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000382:microbiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology