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BMJ Case Reports May 2022A man in mid-50s presented with progressive blurred vision in his left eye for over 6 weeks. He was a known diabetic with history of COVID-19 pneumonia treated with...
A man in mid-50s presented with progressive blurred vision in his left eye for over 6 weeks. He was a known diabetic with history of COVID-19 pneumonia treated with steroids and remdesivir. He had pyelonephritis and urinary culture grown He was referred as a case of non-resolving vitreous haemorrhage. Visual acuity (VA) was hand movements with fundus showing dense vitritis. He underwent pars plana vitrectomy, vitreous biopsy with intraocular antibiotics (imipenem) suspecting as a case of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis. Vitreous biopsy did not yield organisms on the smear/culture. The patient's condition worsened with perception of light and fundus showing dense vitritis with discrete yellowish white deposits on the surface of the retina. A repeat vitreous biopsy done along with intravitreal injection of voriconazole (suspecting fungal aetiology) grown fungal colonies and the organism was identified as At 4-month follow-up, the VA improved to 6/24.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Basidiomycota; COVID-19; Endophthalmitis; Eye Infections, Bacterial; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Vitrectomy
PubMed: 35545307
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-246637 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Jun 2019Fungi of the genus Cryptococcus are cosmopolitan and may be agents of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised and sometimes immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcus...
INTRODUCTION
Fungi of the genus Cryptococcus are cosmopolitan and may be agents of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised and sometimes immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcus species are frequently isolated from trees and bird excreta in the environment and infection occurs by inhalation of propagules dispersed in the air. The aim was to investigate Cryptococcus species in bird excreta and tree hollows located in a university hospital area and in an academic area of a university campus.
METHODOLOGY
A total of 40 samples of bird excreta and 41 samples of tree hollows were collected. The identification of the isolates was done by classical methodology and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
RESULTS
Twenty (62.5%) isolates of Cryptococcus were found in bird excreta and 12 (37.5%) in tree hollows. C. laurentii (currently Papiliotrema laurentii) was the most frequent species in both samples, being found in 5 samples of excreta and in 8 tree hollows. The diversity of species found in excreta (C. laurentii, C. albidus [currently Naganishia albida], C. liquefaciens [currently N. liquefaciens], C. friedmanii [currently N. friedmannii] and others) was higher than in tree hollows (C. laurentii, C. flavescens [currently Papiliotrema flavescens], and other yeasts).
CONCLUSION
Many Cryptococcus species were isolated from excreta and tree hollows, and this fact is important for understanding the environmental epidemiology of those emerging pathogens for public health, as a way to implement surveillance actions and control of cryptococcosis.
Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Animals; Birds; Cryptococcus; Environmental Microbiology; Feces; Hospitals, University
PubMed: 32058990
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.10849 -
Microorganisms Aug 2020Some soil microorganisms, especially bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, play a role in the promotion of plant growth. However, plant growth promotion involving yeasts in...
Some soil microorganisms, especially bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, play a role in the promotion of plant growth. However, plant growth promotion involving yeasts in soil has not yet been extensively investigated. This study aimed to isolate and identify yeast strains obtained from soils of the Assam tea plant ( var. ) in northern Thailand and to investigate their plant growth promoting capabilities. A total of 42 yeast strains were obtained and identified by analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene. We identified 35 strains of six species belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, namely , , and and six species were determined to belong to the phylum Basidiomycota, namely , , , and . Seven strains were representative of potential new species and belonged to the genera Galactomyces and Wickerhamomyces. A total of 28 strains were found to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in a range of 2.12 to 37.32 mg/L, with the highest amount of IAA produced by . SDBR-CMU-S1-03. All yeast strains were positive in terms of ammonia production, and only eight strains were positive for siderophore production. Two yeast species, and , were able to solubilize the insoluble form of calcium and zinc. The ability to produce amylase, endogulcanase, lipase, pectinase, protease and xylanase was dependent upon the yeast species and strain involved.
PubMed: 32752164
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081168 -
PloS One 2020Secondary peat swamp forest (PSF) arise by degradation of primary PSF as a result of fire and human activities. Yeasts diversity of Kuan Kreng (KK) and Rayong Botanical...
Secondary peat swamp forest (PSF) arise by degradation of primary PSF as a result of fire and human activities. Yeasts diversity of Kuan Kreng (KK) and Rayong Botanical Garden (RBG) PSF, which are two secondary PSF in southern and in eastern Thailand, respectively, were investigated. Yeasts were isolated from soil and peat soil by the dilution plate and enrichment techniques. From six samples collected from KK PSF, 35 strains were obtained, and they were identified based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene 13 species in 12 genera, and one potential new species of the genus Galactomyces were detected. Thirty-two strains were obtained from six samples collected from RBG PSF and 26 strains were identified as 13 known yeast species in 11 genera, whereas six strains were found to represent two potential new species of the genera Papiliotrema and Moesziomyces. Among yeast strains isolated from KK PSF, the number of strains in the phylum Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were equal, whereas there were slightly fewer strains in Ascomycota than in Basidiomycota among the strains obtained from RBG PSF. The yeast strains were evaluated for their antagonistic activities against fungal pathogens which cause rice diseases (Fusarium moniliforme, Helminthosporium oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Curvularia lunata and Pyricularia grisea) and postharvest disease of fruits (Phytophthora palmivora, Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). Twelve strains of seven species were found to be antagonistic yeast strains. Starmerella kuoi DMKU-SPS13-6, Hanseniaspora lindneri DMKU ESS10-9 and Piskurozyma taiwanensis DMKU-SPS12-2 capable to inhibit R. solani by 70.1-76.2%, Wickerhamomyces anomalus DMKU SPS6-1 and three Rhodotorula taiwanensis strains (DMKU SPS8-1, DMKU ESS9-3, DMKU SPS9-2) inhibited C. lunata by 69.8-71.9%, Hanseniaspora lindneri DMKU ESS10-9 and Scheffersomyces spartinae DMKU SPS9-3 inhibited P. grisea by 81.9-84.4% and four Papiliotrema laurentii strains (DMKU-SPS15-1, DMKU-ESS11-2, DMKU-ESS8-2, DMKU-ESS6-4) inhibited P. palmivora by 53.2-59.5%.
Topics: Forests; Fruit; Geography; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Thailand; Wetlands; Yeasts
PubMed: 32176885
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230269 -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2024Previously considered saprobe and non-pathogenic, the fungus Papiliotrema laurentii (formerly known as Cryptococcus laurentii), is rarely associated with human...
Previously considered saprobe and non-pathogenic, the fungus Papiliotrema laurentii (formerly known as Cryptococcus laurentii), is rarely associated with human infection. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in reported infections by non-neoformans cryptococci. After a literature search on the Cochrane Library, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PMC (PubMed Central) databases, we conclude that this is the first case report of fungemia and probable meningitis caused by Papiliotrema laurentii in a previously immunocompetent host with associated COVID-19.
Topics: Humans; Fungemia; Cryptococcosis; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Cryptococcus; Basidiomycota
PubMed: 38324809
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0480-2024 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Sep 2020Ephemeral microbial communities usually undergo priority effect and result in higher diversity with a few representatives of each species. Community structure of yeasts...
Ephemeral microbial communities usually undergo priority effect and result in higher diversity with a few representatives of each species. Community structure of yeasts in bromeliad tanks was compared between two rupestrian savanna (Cerrado) areas in Brazil and to yeasts isolated from water holes in the same areas. Water samples were collected from 60 tanks of bromeliads Bromelia karatas and Encholirium sp. and rock holes at the Karstic Area of Aurora, Tocantins State and 60 tanks of Vriesea minarum (Bromeliaceae) and Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae) at Serra do Cipó National Park, Minas Gerais State in Brazil. The yeast diversity comprised 90 species from which 60% are basidiomycetous yeasts usually associated with phylloplane, soils, and aquatic habitats. The species Papiliotrema laurentii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Pa. nemorosus, and Pseudozyma hubeiensis were the most frequent species associated with bromeliads. Eighteen yeast species, two ascomycetous and 16 basidiomycetous, were consistently isolated from the substrates in both areas and may represent a core community in bromeliads in rupestrian fields. Singlets occurred in 38 to 69% of samples, and 32 species were isolated only once. Our findings reinforce the ephemeral nature of the yeast communities associated with tank-forming plants in which individual phytotelmata act as patches or aquatic islands prone to rapid colonization-extinction rates receiving inocula from plant and soil debris. Ephemeral rock holes also represent a transitory habitat for yeast species associated with plants and soil.
Topics: Biodiversity; Brazil; Bromeliaceae; Ecosystem; Eriocaulaceae; Mycobiome; Phylogeny; Soil Microbiology; Yeasts
PubMed: 32385836
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-020-00286-1 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Oct 2023Infections caused by non-neoformans Cryptococcus spp., including Cryptococcus laurentii, previously thought to be saprophyte and non-pathogenic, have become more common...
Infections caused by non-neoformans Cryptococcus spp., including Cryptococcus laurentii, previously thought to be saprophyte and non-pathogenic, have become more common during the past few years, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. To the best of our knowledge here, we present the first case of meningitis in an immunocompromised patient due to a fungus that has never been reported in Pakistan. Our patient, a 40-year old male, who had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed as Cryptococcus laurentti meningitis, with a rare neurological manifestation i.e., cryptococcomas and lepto-meningitis. We presume that exposure to pigeon droppings and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were the risk factors for this case report. He was treated with liposomal Amphotericin (LAMB) and fluconazole but unfortunately, he rapidly deteriorated and ultimately succumbed to the infection. This case underscores the significance of prompt diagnosis and vigorous treatment of Cryptococcus laurentii meningitis, as well as the need for continued surveillance in immunocompromised individuals.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus; Meningitis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Antifungal Agents
PubMed: 37876081
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.8582