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The Lancet. Infectious Diseases Aug 2021With increasing numbers of patients needing intensive care or who are immunosuppressed, infections caused by moulds other than Aspergillus spp or Mucorales are... (Review)
Review
Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of rare mould infections: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology and the American Society for Microbiology.
With increasing numbers of patients needing intensive care or who are immunosuppressed, infections caused by moulds other than Aspergillus spp or Mucorales are increasing. Although antifungal prophylaxis has shown effectiveness in preventing many invasive fungal infections, selective pressure has caused an increase of breakthrough infections caused by Fusarium, Lomentospora, and Scedosporium species, as well as by dematiaceous moulds, Rasamsonia, Schizophyllum, Scopulariopsis, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Talaromyces and Purpureocillium species. Guidance on the complex multidisciplinary management of infections caused by these pathogens has the potential to improve prognosis. Management routes depend on the availability of diagnostic and therapeutic options. The present recommendations are part of the One World-One Guideline initiative to incorporate regional differences in the epidemiology and management of rare mould infections. Experts from 24 countries contributed their knowledge and analysed published evidence on the diagnosis and treatment of rare mould infections. This consensus document intends to provide practical guidance in clinical decision making by engaging physicians and scientists involved in various aspects of clinical management. Moreover, we identify areas of uncertainty and constraints in optimising this management.
Topics: Animals; Disease Management; Fungi; Humans; Mycology; Mycoses; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 33606997
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30784-2 -
BMJ Case Reports Apr 2019A 54-year-old Caucasian woman presented with corneal ulcer of the right eye of 4 weeks duration after scratching her cornea while removing her contact lens and...
A 54-year-old Caucasian woman presented with corneal ulcer of the right eye of 4 weeks duration after scratching her cornea while removing her contact lens and artificial eye lashes. Her visual acuity was 20/32 (left eye) and finger counting (right eye). She had a 3x3 mm epithelial defect with underlying corneal oedema and hypopyon. Right eye cultures grew species. Topical and systemic antifungal agents were initiated. Due to the sight-threatening disease, the patient underwent surgical intervention with intrastromal injection of amphotericin B and a large conjunctival flap covering 75% of the right eye corneal ulcer. After 3 months of therapy, she had near-complete resolution of the corneal ulcer. Unfortunately, recurrence of the corneal ulcer occurred within 3 weeks of cessation of therapy, prompting reinitiation of ophthalmic and systemic antifungal agents. The patient was advised to continue therapy for 6 months with regular follow-up.
Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Corneal Edema; Corneal Ulcer; Eye Infections, Fungal; Female; Humans; Injections, Intraocular; Keratitis; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Paecilomyces; Recurrence; Surgical Flaps; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 31023737
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-229226 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Mar 2017Microbial keratitis is a sight-threatening ocular infection caused by bacteria, fungi, and protist pathogens. Epithelial defects and injuries are key predisposing... (Review)
Review
Microbial keratitis is a sight-threatening ocular infection caused by bacteria, fungi, and protist pathogens. Epithelial defects and injuries are key predisposing factors making the eye susceptible to corneal pathogens. Among bacterial pathogens, the most common agents responsible for keratitis include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia and Serratia species. Fungal agents of corneal infections include both filamentous as well as yeast, including Fusarium, Aspergillus, Phaeohyphomycetes, Curvularia, Paecilomyces, Scedosporium and Candida species, while in protists, Acanthamoeba spp. are responsible for causing ocular disease. Clinical features include redness, pain, tearing, blur vision and inflammation but symptoms vary depending on the causative agent. The underlying molecular mechanisms associated with microbial pathogenesis include virulence factors as well as the host factors that aid in the progression of keratitis, resulting in damage to the ocular tissue. The treatment therefore should focus not only on the elimination of the culprit but also on the neutralization of virulence factors to minimize the damage, in addition to repairing the damaged tissue. A complete understanding of the pathogenesis of microbial keratitis will lead to the rational development of therapeutic interventions. This is a timely review of our current understanding of the advances made in this field in a comprehensible manner. Coupled with the recently available genome sequence information and high throughput genomics technology, and the availability of innovative approaches, this will stimulate interest in this field.
Topics: Acanthamoeba; Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Fungi; Humans; Keratitis
PubMed: 27998732
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.12.013 -
Microorganisms Jul 2018spp. and spp. are heat-resistant fungi important to industry because they can cause food and beverage spoilage, incurring economic loss. The consequences of food or... (Review)
Review
spp. and spp. are heat-resistant fungi important to industry because they can cause food and beverage spoilage, incurring economic loss. The consequences of food or beverage fungal colonization is the loss of nutritional value, structure and taste, and the possibility of producing toxic secondary metabolites that may result in medical problems. Furthermore, these fungi can infect animals and humans and it is unknown if contaminated foods may be fomites. is the principal agent of food spoilage or contamination and it is most frequently associated with human hyalohyphomycosis with clinical manifestations including peritonitis, cutaneous and disseminated infections, among others. spp. had not been identified as a cause of systemic infection until the case of a dog with a fungal infection, after immunosuppressive therapy. has clinical importance because it causes severe infection in immunosuppressed patients and also because the number of immunocompetent infected patients is increasing. This review draws attention to the ability of these species to grow at high temperatures, to colonize food products, and to cause human disease.
PubMed: 29976858
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6030064 -
Archives of Microbiology Feb 2022Soft drinks are food matrices propitious to the growth of acidophilic bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi due to their pH, water activity, and the presence of...
Soft drinks are food matrices propitious to the growth of acidophilic bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi due to their pH, water activity, and the presence of nutrients. Off-flavor, clouding, and package stuffing are the only parameters producers have to detect spoilage when it is often too late for the brand's reputation. In this work, microbiological analyses were performed on non-alcoholic beverages of Brazilian and Bolivian brands. As a result, Gram-positive, Gram-negative, yeast, and filamentous fungi were isolated. Zygosaccharomyces bisporus yeast was isolated from different flavored stuffed products, and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens and Brevibacillus agri were isolated from packages without visible signs of deterioration. These microorganisms were identified by MALDI-TOF. For products with visible growth of filamentous fungi, microscopic identification keys identified Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium citrinum, Paecilomyces niveus, and Paecilomyces variotii. These work's findings reflect a failure to sanitize raw materials since the isolates' primary origin is the soil and the water, pointing to the lack of process control in soft drinks.
Topics: Carbonated Beverages; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Fungi; Yeasts
PubMed: 35217916
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02801-4 -
Mycology 2015Cordyceps, as a general term, describes a group of ascomycetous fungi growing on arthropods and other related fungi. Some cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese... (Review)
Review
Cordyceps, as a general term, describes a group of ascomycetous fungi growing on arthropods and other related fungi. Some cordyceps have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and cordyceps-derived products are currently a big industry in China. A number of medicinal and health products have been developed and extensively commercialized from natural Chinese cordyceps, its anamorphic fungus (), and other fungi known as Chinese cordyceps. The lack of a defined classification system for medicinal cordyceps fungi is a source of confusion in the industry and the public, and even among pharmaceutical scientists. This review summarizes the cordyceps fungi currently used in the industry in China with a special reference to clarify Chinese cordyceps and associated fungi. , and are well recognized and commercialized cordyceps fungi in China. Except the natural Chinese cordyceps and its anamorphic fungus, , , and isolated from natural Chinese cordyceps are classified as Chinese cordyceps-associated fungi. is a cordyceps fungus based on current phylogenetic analysis of Hypocreales, while is a fungus in the Zygomycetes and should only be treated as associated fungus of Chinese cordyceps. and belong to the Hypocreales and their relationship to cordyceps fungi should be further studied. The exploitation of the resources of cordyceps fungi and their quality control in the industry should be major topics for future studies. Cooperation between the industry and the research community will enhance the whole cordyceps industry.
PubMed: 30151320
DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2015.1043967 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2020Incorporating beneficial microorganisms in crop production is the most promising strategy for maintaining agricultural productivity and reducing the use of inorganic... (Review)
Review
Incorporating beneficial microorganisms in crop production is the most promising strategy for maintaining agricultural productivity and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Numerous microorganisms have been described in the literature as biological control agents for pests and diseases, although some have not yet been commercialised due to their lack of viability or efficacy in different crops. is a cosmopolitan fungus that is mainly known for its nematophagous capacity, but it has also been reported as an insect parasite and biological control agent of several fungi and phytopathogenic bacteria through different mechanisms of action. In addition, species of this genus have recently been described as biostimulants of plant growth and crop yield. This review includes all the information on the genus as a biological control agent for pests and diseases. Its growth rate and high spore production rate in numerous substrates ensures the production of viable, affordable, and efficient commercial formulations for agricultural use.
PubMed: 33321854
DOI: 10.3390/plants9121746 -
F1000Research 2017In the expanding population of immunocompromised patients and those treated in intensive care units, rare fungal infectious agents have emerged as important pathogens,... (Review)
Review
In the expanding population of immunocompromised patients and those treated in intensive care units, rare fungal infectious agents have emerged as important pathogens, causing invasive infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. These infections may present either as or as breakthrough invasive infections in high-risk patients with hematologic malignancies receiving prophylactic or empirical antifungal therapy or in patients with central venous catheters. Diagnosis and treatment are challenging. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion because early diagnosis is of paramount importance. Conventional diagnostic methods such as cultures and histopathology are still essential, but rapid and more specific molecular techniques for both detection and identification of the infecting pathogens are being developed and hopefully will lead to early targeted treatment. The management of invasive fungal infections is multimodal. Reversal of risk factors, if feasible, should be attempted. Surgical debridement is recommended in localized mold infections. The efficacy of various antifungal drugs is not uniform. Amphotericin B is active against most yeasts, except , as well as against , , and some species of and dimorphic fungi. The use of voriconazole is suggested for the treatment of trichosporonosis and scedosporiosis. Combination treatment, though recommended as salvage therapy in some infections, is controversial in most cases. Despite the use of available antifungals, mortality remains high. The optimization of molecular-based techniques, with expansion of reference libraries and the possibility for direct detection of resistance mechanisms, is awaited with great interest in the near future. Further research is necessary, however, in order to find the best ways to confront and destroy these lurking enemies.
PubMed: 29152230
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11124.1 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2020, a common saprobic filamentous fungus, not only plays an important role in biological control, but also has applications in medicine, food, and environmental... (Review)
Review
, a common saprobic filamentous fungus, not only plays an important role in biological control, but also has applications in medicine, food, and environmental protection. In this paper, 223 secondary metabolites and their bioactivities from 13 known species and various unidentified strains of are reviewed. Their structures can be described as polyketide, terpenoid, peptide, alkaloid, quinone, pyrone, sterol, and fatty acid. They have been demonstrated varying biological activities, including antimicrobial, antitumor, insecticidal, antiplasmodial, antimalarial, nematicidal, herbicidal, and enzyme-inhibiting. This review provides a comprehensive overview of secondary metabolites and their biological activities from strains of .
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Herbicides; Insecticides; Paecilomyces; Secondary Metabolism
PubMed: 33139652
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215077 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Apr 2018
Topics: Amphotericin B; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antifungal Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Diarrhea; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Minocycline; Paecilomyces
PubMed: 29553898
DOI: 10.2460/javma.252.7.813