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Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2021species are wood-inhabiting fungi and emerging opportunistic pathogens causing phaeohyphomycosis. In this study, we isolated a dematiaceous fungus, HKU44, from the...
species are wood-inhabiting fungi and emerging opportunistic pathogens causing phaeohyphomycosis. In this study, we isolated a dematiaceous fungus, HKU44, from the subhepatic abscess pus and drain fluids of a liver transplant recipient with post-transplant biliary and hepatico-jejunostomy bypass strictures. Histology of the abscess wall biopsy showed abundant fungal hyphae. The patient survived after a second liver transplant and antifungal therapy. On SDA, HKU44 grew initially as white powdery colonies which turned beige upon maturation. Hyphae were septate and hyaline. Phialides were monophialidic and laterally located, generally closely associated to a cluster of conidia which were usually reniform. Phylogenetic analyses showed that HKU44 is most closely related to, but distinct from, and . These suggested that HKU44 is a novel species, for which the name sp. nov. is proposed. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that species possessed high MICs/MECs for fluconazole, 5-flucytosine and the echinocandins; whereas they exhibited a high strain-to-strain variability to the susceptibilities to the other triazoles. As for amphotericin B, ∼65% of the strains had low MICs (≤1 µg/mL). DNA sequencing should be performed to accurately identify fungi with -like morphologies, so is antifungal susceptibility testing for patients with infections.
Topics: Abscess; Aged; Antifungal Agents; Ascomycota; DNA, Fungal; Echinocandins; Fluconazole; Flucytosine; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phaeohyphomycosis; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 33337289
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1866955 -
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy :... Dec 2019Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal infection caused by certain dematiaceous fungi (usually Fonsecaea, Phialophora, or...
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal infection caused by certain dematiaceous fungi (usually Fonsecaea, Phialophora, or Cladophialophora). Histologically, CBM is characterized by the presence of medlar bodies. However, the diagnosis is difficult because of the rarity of these pathognomonic presentations and the wide variety of presentations. Treatment of these infections is challenging as it lacks standardization. Herein, we report a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Phialophora, in a 42-year-old immunocompetent male agriculturist from the humid and subtropical region of southern China. He had a 3-month history of pneumonia with intermittent fever, coughing, and expectoration. The infection subsequently spread to the bone and lymph nodes forming deep lesions and eventually resulting in osteolysis and lymphadenectasis. These subcutaneous nodules were observed after 9 months. Antifungal treatment was administered for 20 months leading to clinical improvement before the patient was lost to follow-up. This case is unique because such deep lesions are rare in immunocompetent individuals and because the initial onset was associated with pneumonia.
Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Administration, Oral; Adult; Antifungal Agents; Chromoblastomycosis; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fever; Humans; Lung; Lymph Nodes; Male; Osteolysis; Phialophora; Pneumonia; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Tibia; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31229375
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2019.05.002 -
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 2015We studied the protist grazers of Boiling Springs Lake (BSL), an acid geothermal feature in Lassen Volcanic National Park, using a combination of culture and genetic...
We studied the protist grazers of Boiling Springs Lake (BSL), an acid geothermal feature in Lassen Volcanic National Park, using a combination of culture and genetic approaches. The major predator in BSL is a vahlkampfiid ameba closely related (95% 18S+ITS rRNA identity) to Tetramitus thermacidophilus, a heterolobose ameboflagellate recently isolated from volcanic geothermal acidic sites in Europe and Russia, as well as an uncultured heterolobosean from the nearby Iron Mountain acid mine drainage site. Tetramitus thermacidophilus strain BSL is capable of surviving the physical extremes of BSL, with optimal growth at 38-50 °C and pH 2-5. This bacterivore also ingested conidiospores of the ascomycete Phialophora sp., but ultrastructural observations reveal the latter may not be readily digested, and conidia were not separable from the ameoboflagellate culture, suggesting a possible symbiosis. DGGE fingerprint transects studies showed the organism is restricted to near-lake environs, and we detected an average of ~500 viable cysts/cm(3) sediment on the shoreline. Other grazing protists were isolated from lakeshore environments, including the lobose amebae Acanthamoeba sp. and Hartmannella sp., and the kinetoplastid flagellate Bodo sp., but none could tolerate both low pH and high temperature. These appear to be restricted to cooler near lake geothermal features, which also contain other potential grazer morphotypes observed but not successfully cultured, including ciliates, euglenids, testate amebae, and possible cercozoans. We compare the food web of BSL with other acidic or geothermal sites, and discuss the impact of protists in this unique environment.
Topics: Biota; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Protozoan; DNA, Ribosomal; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Eukaryota; Food Chain; Hot Springs; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lakes; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Temperature
PubMed: 25382699
DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12193 -
JAAD Case Reports Oct 2022
PubMed: 36117779
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2022.07.047 -
Infection Control and Hospital... Aug 2014In 31 patients, Phaeoacremonium parasiticum was recovered from bronchoscopy specimens (biopsies and aspirates). The pseudo-outbreak was caused by contaminated ice used...
In 31 patients, Phaeoacremonium parasiticum was recovered from bronchoscopy specimens (biopsies and aspirates). The pseudo-outbreak was caused by contaminated ice used to control hemorrhage during bronchoscopy and was associated with deficiencies in equipment cleaning. The bronchoscopy technique was modified, the ice dispenser was disinfected, bronchoscope reprocessing was improved, and there were no recurrences.
Topics: Bronchoscopes; Bronchoscopy; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Equipment Contamination; Humans; Ice; Mycoses; Phialophora; Refrigeration
PubMed: 25026626
DOI: 10.1086/677150 -
PeerJ 2024Conventional biofilters, which rely on bacterial activity, face challenges in eliminating hydrophobic compounds, such as aromatic compounds. This is due to the low... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Conventional biofilters, which rely on bacterial activity, face challenges in eliminating hydrophobic compounds, such as aromatic compounds. This is due to the low solubility of these compounds in water, which makes them difficult to absorb by bacterial biofilms. Furthermore, biofilter operational stability is often hampered by acidification and drying out of the filter bed.
METHODS
Two bioreactors, a bacterial biofilter (B-BF) and a fungal-bacterial coupled biofilter (F&B-BF) were inoculated with activated sludge from the secondary sedimentation tank of the Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company wastewater treatment plant located in Nanjing, China. For approximately 6 months of operation, a F&B-BF was more effective than a B-BF in eliminating a gas-phase mixture containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and -xylene (BTE-X).
RESULTS
After operating for four months, the F&B-BF showed higher removal efficiencies for toluene (T), ethylbenzene (E), benzene (B), and -X (-Xylene), at 96.9%, 92.6%, 83.9%, and 83.8%, respectively, compared to those of the B-BF (90.1%, 78.7%, 64.8%, and 59.3%). The degradation activity order for B-BF and F&B-BF was T > E > B > -X. Similarly, the rates of mineralization for BTE-X in the F&B-BF were 74.9%, 66.5%, 55.3%, and 45.1%, respectively, which were higher than those in the B-BF (56.5%, 50.8%, 43.8%, and 30.5%). Additionally, the F&B-BF (2 days) exhibited faster recovery rates than the B-BF (5 days).
CONCLUSIONS
It was found that a starvation protocol was beneficial for the stable operation of both the B-BF and F&B-BF. Community structure analysis showed that the bacterial genus and the fungal genus were both important in the degradation of BTE-X. The fungal-bacterial consortia can enhance the biofiltration removal of BTE-X vapors.
Topics: Xylenes; Filtration; Fungi; Benzene Derivatives; Bioreactors; Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Toluene; Benzene; China; Biofilms
PubMed: 38903883
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17452 -
European Journal of Dermatology : EJD 2015
Topics: Aged; Antifungal Agents; Chromoblastomycosis; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Itraconazole; Male; Phialophora
PubMed: 26066414
DOI: 10.1684/ejd.2015.2581 -
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek Sep 2014Fungus-growing ants of the genus Atta are known for their leaf-cutting habit, a lifestyle they have maintained since their 50-million-year-old co-evolution with a...
Fungus-growing ants of the genus Atta are known for their leaf-cutting habit, a lifestyle they have maintained since their 50-million-year-old co-evolution with a mutualistic fungus, cultivated as food. Recent studies have highlighted that, in addition to the mutualistic fungus, nests of ants harbor a great diversity of microbial communities. Such microorganisms include the dematiaceous fungi, which are characterized by their melanized cell walls. In order to contribute to the knowledge of fungal ecology, as well as opportunistic strains that may be dispersed by these social insects, we isolated and identified fungi carried by gynes of Atta capiguara and Atta laevigata, collected from colonies located in Fazenda Santana, Botucatu (São Paulo, Brazil). The isolation was carried out using the oil flotation technique, which is suitable for the growth of black fungi. Inoculated plates were incubated at 25 and 35 °C until black cultures were visible (20-45 days). Isolates were identified based on microscopic and molecular characteristics. Some isolated genera were: Cladophialophora, Cladosporium, Exophiala, Ochroconis, Phaeococcomyces, Phialophora and Penidiella. Hyaline species were also found. The results obtained from this work showed that leaf-cutting gynes may contribute to the dispersal of opportunistic dematiaceous fungi. It is suggested that more attention should be paid to this still unexplored subject.
Topics: Animals; Ants; Biodiversity; Brazil; Fungi; Humans; Microbiological Techniques; Opportunistic Infections; Temperature
PubMed: 24969946
DOI: 10.1007/s10482-014-0215-3 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Apr 2015Exophiala species are mostly responsible for skin infections. Invasive Exophiala dermatitidis disease is a rare and frequently fatal infection, with 42 cases reported....
BACKGROUND
Exophiala species are mostly responsible for skin infections. Invasive Exophiala dermatitidis disease is a rare and frequently fatal infection, with 42 cases reported. About half of these cases had no known risk factors. Similarly, invasive Exophiala spinifera disease is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported, all in patients with no known immunodeficiency. Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency has recently been reported in otherwise healthy patients with severe fungal diseases caused by Candida species, dermatophytes, or Phialophora verrucosa.
METHODS
We investigated an 8-year-old girl from a nonconsanguineous Angolan kindred, who was born in France and developed disseminated E. dermatitidis disease and a 26 year-old woman from an Iranian consaguineous kindred, who was living in Iran and developed disseminated E. spinifera disease. Both patients were otherwise healthy.
RESULTS
We sequenced CARD9 and found both patients to be homozygous for loss-of-function mutations (R18W and E323del). The first patient had segmental uniparental disomy of chromosome 9, carrying 2 copies of the maternal CARD9 mutated allele.
CONCLUSIONS
These are the first 2 patients with inherited CARD9 deficiency and invasive Exophiala disease to be described. CARD9 deficiency should thus be considered in patients with unexplained invasive Exophiala species disease, even in the absence of other infections.
Topics: Adult; Alleles; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Child; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; Exophiala; Female; Homozygote; Humans; Mutation; Phaeohyphomycosis
PubMed: 25057046
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu412 -
Fungal Biology Dec 2016A total of 294 fungal endophytes were isolated from the corms of Crocus sativus at two stages of crocus life cycle collected from 14 different saffron growing sites in...
Molecular phylogeny, diversity, community structure, and plant growth promoting properties of fungal endophytes associated with the corms of saffron plant: An insight into the microbiome of Crocus sativus Linn.
A total of 294 fungal endophytes were isolated from the corms of Crocus sativus at two stages of crocus life cycle collected from 14 different saffron growing sites in Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) State, India. Molecular phylogeny assigned them into 36 distinct internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotypes which spread over 19 genera. The diversity of endophytes was higher at the dormant than at the vegetative stage. The Saffron microbiome was dominated by Phialophora mustea and Cadophora malorum, both are dark septate endophytes (DSEs). Some endophytes were found to possess antimicrobial properties that could be helpful for the host in evading the pathogens. These endophytes generally produced significant quantities of indole acetic acid (IAA) as well. However, thirteen of the endophytic taxa were found to cause corm rot in the host with different levels of severity under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. This is the first report of community structure and biological properties of fungal endophytes associated with C. sativus, which may eventually help us to develop agro-technologies, based on plant-endophyte interactions for sustainable cultivation of saffron. The endophytes preserved ex situ, in this study, may also yield bioactive natural products for pharmacological and industrial applications.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cluster Analysis; Crocus; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Endophytes; Genetic Variation; India; Indoleacetic Acids; Mycobiome; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Plant Growth Regulators; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 27890087
DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.07.011