TrIFIC AT A GLANCE

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus found in the sputum of half of people with cystic fibrosis by the time they reach adulthood. A third of these individuals go on to develop Aspergillus bronchitis, a severe airway infection, while 15% experience allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis, an airway allergy to Aspergillus fumigatus. These problems can lead to increased lung inflammation, accelerated lung function decline, and can stop individuals being eligible for lung transplant. Treatment options usually include anti-fungal medicines, however these medicines do not always work well, and some fungal infections are now resistant. Medicines known as immunotherapies have been used successfully for severe fungal infections, and are currently revolutionising treatment for cancer and asthma due to their ability to change the immune response to inflammation. Several immunotherapies have been used successfully in patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Aspergillus infection, and a number are now in development to target airway inflammation. We are a UK CF Trust Strategic Research Centre that investigates whether these immunotherapies are useful during Aspergillus infection and which individuals with CF are most likely to benefit from these. The investigation will lead to better identification of, and more personalised treatments for, the problems arising from A.fumigatus infection in people with Cystic Fibrosis.