Galectin-3 targeted antifungal prophylaxis (GALActIC)

The GALActIC project investigates ways to prevent life-threatening fungal infections in influenza patients in intensive care units. Many people who become severely ill from influenza, the seasonal flu, and require intensive medical care, also develop Aspergillosis a dangerous lung infection caused by mold. This infection is often life-threatening and doubles the risk of death. Therefore, the goal of GALActIC is to identify particularly vulnerable patients early and protect them from such fungal infections. GALActIC explores how genetic traits influence the risk of Aspergillosis in influenza patients. A specific gene, the LGALS3 gene, plays an important role in protecting against fungal infections. Certain variants of this gene could increase the risk of Aspergillosis in severely ill influenza patients. GALActIC investigates whether these genetic markers can be used as an early warning system to proactively treat high-risk patients upon their admission to the intensive care unit. For this purpose, the project combines retrospective data i.e., data from previously treated patients with newly collected prospective data, which will be gathered during the project period. In this way, a comprehensive database is created that allows reliable predictions of the risk of Aspergillosis. For critically ill patients, assessing the risk of additional infections such as Aspergillosis is often difficult and time-consuming. So far, preventive treatment for all potentially at-risk patients has often been considered. However, these medications often have side effects, burden the patients, and incur high costs. Therefore, targeted treatment of high-risk patients would be more efficient. GALActIC pursues the following main objectives: Genetic risk factors: Investigation of variants in the LGALS3 gene and their association with influenza- associated Aspergillosis. Impact on the immune response: Exploring genetic differences in immune defense against fungi. Development of clinical tests: Creating concepts for the rapid detection of genetic differences, enabling early targeted treatment. Social and economic evaluation: Assessing whether targeted prevention using genetic tests is feasible and more cost-effective in hospital practice than conventional approaches. GALActIC combines scientific, clinical, and social approaches to better understand the risk of Aspergillosis in influenza patients. A personalized approach could reduce the risk for many patients and improve their survival. If the genetic analysis proves reliable, this approach could be implemented in intensive care units across Europe and contribute to personalized medicine in the long term. If successful, this approach could possibly also be applied to other patient groups with similar risks.