We provide our services to conduct studies on all aspects of mycological research, including dermatophytes, yeasts, molds, and infectious fungi like Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, etc.

We have grouped our services into these basic groups:

• Fungal Identification & Diagnosis
• Pre-clinical Evaluation of Antifungals
• Clinical Evaluation of Antifungals

For more information about these services, please click on the appropriate buttons on the left, or at the hyperlinks below.

Research at the CMM is devoted to the following main areas:

• A basic science area focusing on determination of virulence factors responsible for the pathogenesis of dermatophytes as well as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans infections.
• A clinical area concentrating on development of reference method for antifungal susceptibility testing.

• Studies of mechanism of action of antifungal agents of different antifungals.

In an effort to delineate the pathogenicity factors of fungi causing skin infections, we utilize the methods and approaches we developed in our previous investigations addressing the virulence of fungi causing systemic infections to research on dermatophytes. Additionally,  we have developed standard methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes. To date, both of these areas have received little or no attention even though infections with these agents are increasing and may cause devastating systemic infections in the immunocompromised host, especially in those whose neutrophil and macrophage functions is deficient.

Of particular relevance in the clinical laboratory area is the microdilution method we developed for determining the susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans. We have shown that this method is reproducible, easy to perform and has both intra- and inter-laboratory agreement. Critically, we demonstrated that cryptococcal susceptibility to fluconazole is an important predictor of treatment success for patients with acute AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis. This method was recently adopted as part of the NCCLS Reference Method for Antifungal Susceptibility Testing. Developing a susceptibility method for dermatophytes is currently being performed at CMM.

[ Home ] [ Diagnosis ] [ Pre-Clinical ] [ Clinical Trials ] [ SlideShows ] Contact CMM