A novel approach for diagnostic imaging of invasive fungal infections

International Conference and Exhibition on Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics

August 24-26, 2015 London, UK

Arkady Mustaev

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Mol Genet Med

Abstract :

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a major threat to human health. In particular, medical advances in the management of cancer
patients and hematopoietic stem cell and organ transplantation, in addition to immunocompromising diseases such as AIDS, have
increased the population at risk for IFI. Successful treatment of fungal infections relies on unequivocal diagnosis and rapid response.
In the case of mould infections due to Aspergillus species, diagnosis represents a significant challenge resulting in a mortality rate
of around 85% for patients in Europe and the USA. For IFI detection we suggest the approach based on using high-affinity and high
specificity labeled antifungal drugs as diagnostic molecules. As a result the fungal cells become labeled and therefore can be detected.
The exceptional diagnostic ability of our compounds relies of their high binding constants to targets, that are only present on fungi
and are not present in the host. In our preliminary studies we successfully validated this approach by imaging fungal infections in
vitro and in vivo in a murine model of candidiasis using fluorescently labeled drugs emitting in near-infrared spectral range, in which
body tissues are transparent for excitation and emission light. The power of this approach is not limited to fungal infections, but in
fact represents a broader platform useful for detection of other classes of human microbial pathogens.

Biography :

Arkady Mustaev graduated from Novosibirsk State University (Russia). He received his PhD degree from Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. His Postdoctoral
training was at Irkutsk Limnological Institute, Moscow Institute of Molecular Genetics, Columbia University, and Public Health Research Institute of New York City. Presently
he is Assistant Professor at PHRI Center, NJMS at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He has published over 90 papers in reputed journals. The main research
areas are: Catalytic mechanisms of transcription, bacterial and cancer drug development, in vivo detection of human microbial pathogens, bioorganic chemistry and
chemistry of natural compounds.