Coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioidomycosis coccidiomycosis) is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. It is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and northwestern Mexico.C. immitis resides in the soil in certain parts of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and parts of Central and South America [http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/valley-fever/DS00695/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print]. It is dormant during long dry spells, then develops as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when the rains come. The spores, known as arthroconidia, are swept into the air by disruption of the soil, such as during construction or farming. Infection is caused by inhalation of the particles. The disease is not transmitted from person to person. C. immitis is a dimorphic saprophytic organism that grows as a mycelium in the soil and produces a spherule form in the host organism. The disease is usually mild, with flu-like symptoms and rashes, and the Mayo Clinic estimates that half the population in some affected areas have suffered from the disease. On occasion, those particularly susceptible, including pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and those of Asian, Hispanic and African descent, may develop a serious or even fatal illness from valley fever. Serious complications include severe pneumonia, lung nodules, and disseminated disease, where the fungus spreads throughout the body. The disseminated form of valley fever can devastate the body, causing skin ulcers and abscesses to bone lesions, severe joint pain, heart inflammation, urinary tract problems, meningitis, and death.It has been known to infect humans, dogs, cattle, livestock, llamas, apes, monkeys, kangaroos, wallabies, tigers, bears, badgers, otters and marine mammals. Symptomatic infection usually presents as an influenza-like illness with fever, cough, headaches, rash, and myalgia . Some patients fail to recover and develop chronic pulmonary infection or widespread disseminated infection . Severe pulmonary disease may develop in HIV-infected persons. The disease can be fatal. (From the Wikpedia article Coccidioidomycosis.)

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Recent Publications on Coccidioidomycosis:
Fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome in a patient with paracoccidioidomycosis: first case report. Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis that is usually acquired...	13th November, 2009	Laboratory of Dermatology and Immunodeficiencies, and Laboratory of	Med Mycol. 2009 Nov 12.
Polyfunctional T lymphocytes are in the peripheral blood of donors naturally immune to coccidioidomycosis and are not induced by dendritic cells. Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection of the southwestern...	11th November, 2009	From the Department of Immunobiology, the Department of Medicine, and the	Infect Immun. 2009 Nov 9. DOI Direct Link
Outcomes among Inmates Treated for Coccidioidomycosis at a Correctional Institution during a Community Outbreak, Kern County, California, 2004. Background. Treatment of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is typically limited...	6th November, 2009	Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development,	Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Nov 3. DOI Direct Link
Refractory disseminated coccidioidomycosis and mycobacteriosis in interferon-gamma receptor 1 deficiency. Severe coccidioidomycosis is rare, and specific genetic susceptibility to...	6th November, 2009	Immunopathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases,	Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Sep 15;49(6):e62-5. DOI Direct Link
Expert opinion: what to do when there is Coccidioides exposure in a laboratory. Inadvertent exposure to Coccidioides species by laboratory staff and...	6th November, 2009	Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose,	Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Sep 15;49(6):919-23. DOI Direct Link
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BioNews Results for Coccidioidomycosis:
Itraconazole Treatment of Nonmeningeal Coccidioidomycosis in Children: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature	MDLinx:  Nov 4 2009 9:49AM Matching: coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioidomycosis Clinical Trials:
Risk of Coccidioidomycosis in Patients Receiving Anti-TNF and Other Biologic Agents for an Inflammatory Arthritis

Coccidioidomycosis Patents:
US Patent No.	Title
7439333	Vascular endothelial growth factor 2
7491743	Inhibitors of cellular necrosis
7494979	Method for treating congestive heart failure and other disorders
7498027	Methods of treatment using human tumor necrosis factor receptor TR17 antibodies
7501123	Human G-protein chemokine receptor (CCR5) HDGNR10
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Companies working in the area of Coccidioidomycosis from Bioportfolio's Biocorporate database :
Company Name
Immuno Mycologics, Inc. 2003 The Company IMMY was founded in 1979 to produce fungal diagnostic products. IMMY then attracted a staff of knowledgable, qualified people who remain dedicated to quality and innovation. The company... www.immy.com/        View full profile

BioPortfolio Ltd. offers e-mail and postal lists for Coccidioidomycosis scientists - we have details of around 248 individuals working on Coccidioidomycosis .