Fungal Infection Leads to Brain Inflammation and Memory Impairment in Mice

The researchers report in the journal Nature Communications the unexpected finding that the common yeast Candida albicans, a type of fungus, can cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger an inflammatory response that results in the formation of granuloma-type structures and temporary mild memory impairments in mice. Interestingly, the granulomas share features with plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease, supporting future studies on the long-term neurological consequences of sustained C. albicans infection. “An increasing number of clinical observations by us and other groups indicates that fungi are becoming a more common cause of upper airway allergic diseases such as asthma, as well as other conditions such as sepsis, a potentially life-threatening disease caused by the body's response to an infection,” said corresponding author Dr. David B. Corry, professor of medicine-immunology, allergy and rheumatology and Fulbright Endowed Chair in Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/fungal-infection-leads-to-brain-infection-and-memory-impairment-313575?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=68781447&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--anjZ7VC9Y5SIEslE9xKOIUHcUVAHQTD-vP6iM9RCceNpSpKMdLXlTjDo-l9LvPZ3VElCHrG0rym7xnERCwP_flnJgqg&_hsmi=68781447