EFFECTS OF ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS AND ALTERNARIA-ALTERNATA ON HUMAN CILIATED EPITHELIUM IN-VITRO

Fungi represent the etiologic agent in a large number of patients with chronic sinusitis. Despite this, no study has examined the effects of fungi on ciliated epithelium. This study evaluates the effects of cul tures and filtrates of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in vitro. CBF was recorded after expos ure to either a control or experimental solution, A statistical compar ison of control and experimental values was performed to determine sig nificance at P < 0.05. A statistically significant inhibition of CBF i n cultures and filtrates of A fumigatus and A alternata was demonstrat ed. We conclude that a soluble metabolite produced by clinical isolate s of both A fumigatus and A alternata causes inhibition of CBF and may represent one virulence factor involved in the development of fungal sinusitis.