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Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Sep 2022Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of specific antifungal treatment are essential for improving the prognosis of mucormycosis. We aimed to assess the performance of...
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of specific antifungal treatment are essential for improving the prognosis of mucormycosis. We aimed to assess the performance of serum Mucorales quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the early diagnosis and follow-up of mucormycosis.
METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 232 patients with suspicion of invasive mold disease, evaluated using standard imaging and mycological procedures. Thirteen additional patients with proven or probable mucormycosis were included to analyze DNA load kinetics. Serum samples were collected twice-a-week for Mucorales qPCR tests targeting the Mucorales genera Lichtheimia, Rhizomucor, and Mucor/Rhizopus.
RESULTS
The sensitivity was 85.2%, specificity 89.8%, and positive and negative likelihood ratios 8.3 and 0.17, respectively in this prospective study. The first Mucorales qPCR-positive serum was observed a median of 4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 0-9) before sampling of the first mycological or histological positive specimen and a median of one day (IQR, -2 to 6) before the first imaging was performed. Negativity of Mucorales qPCR within seven days after liposomal-amphotericin B initiation was associated with an 85% lower 30-day mortality rate (adjusted hazard ratio = 0·15, 95% confidence interval [.03-.73], P = .02).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study argues for the inclusion of qPCR for the detection of circulating Mucorales DNA for mucormycosis diagnosis and follow-up after treatment initiation. Positive results should be added to the criteria for the consensual definitions from the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (EORTC/MSGERC), as already done for Aspergillus PCR.
Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34986227
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab1066 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2019Patients with extensive burns are an important group at risk for cutaneous mucormycosis. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of all reported mucormycosis... (Review)
Review
Patients with extensive burns are an important group at risk for cutaneous mucormycosis. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of all reported mucormycosis cases in burn patients from 1990 onward. A Medline search yielded identification of 7 case series, 3 outbreaks, and 25 individual cases reports. The prevalence reached 0.04%⁻0.6%. The median age was 42⁻48 in the case series and outbreaks, except for the studies from military centers (23.5⁻32.5) and in individual reports (29.5). The median total body surface area reached 42.5%⁻65%. Various skin lesions were described, none being pathognomonic: the diagnosis was mainly reached because of extensive necrotic lesions sometimes associated with sepsis. Most patients were treated with systemic amphotericin B or liposomal amphotericin B, and all underwent debridement and/or amputation. Mortality reached 33%⁻100% in the case series, 29%⁻62% during outbreaks, and 40% in individual cases. Most patients were diagnosed using histopathology and/or culture. Mucorales qPCR showed detection of circulating DNA 2⁻24 days before the standard diagnosis. Species included the main clinically relevant mucorales (i.e., , , , ) but also more uncommon mucorales such as or . Contact with soil was reported in most individual cases. Bandages were identified as the source of contamination in two nosocomial outbreaks.
PubMed: 30901836
DOI: 10.3390/jof5010025 -
Gastroenterology Research Oct 2023Mucormycosis is a devastating fungal infection that is usually seen in immunocompromised hosts. It is caused by fungi of the subphylum , order , with most cases caused... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis is a devastating fungal infection that is usually seen in immunocompromised hosts. It is caused by fungi of the subphylum , order , with most cases caused by , , or species. It can involve any organ system and can disseminate in severe cases. Lately, there has been an increased number of reports for mucormycosis infection in immunocompetent patients. Gastrointestinal system involvement is rare compared to other organ systems but has been increasingly reported in the literature. Mucormycosis can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and lead to different presentations depending on the area of involvement. Due to the paucity of the condition, there has been no specific guidelines on how to treat gastrointestinal mucormycosis. In this review, we discuss the risk factors of gastrointestinal mucormycosis, clinical presentation, approach to diagnosis, and most recent treatment modalities for gastrointestinal mucormycosis.
PubMed: 37937225
DOI: 10.14740/gr1662 -
Journal of Oleo Science 2015Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is amphiphilic substance, and possesses excellent physiological functions. In this study, LPC was prepared through ethanolysis of...
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is amphiphilic substance, and possesses excellent physiological functions. In this study, LPC was prepared through ethanolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in n-hexane or solvent free media catalyzed by Novozym 435 (from Candida antarctica), Lipozyme TLIM (from Thermomcyces lanuginosus) and Lipozyme RMIM (from Rhizomucor miehei). The results showed that three immobilized lipases from Candida Antarctica, Thermomcyces lanuginosus and Rhizomucor miehei could catalyze ethanolysis of PC efficiently. In n-hexane, the LPC conversions of ethanolysis of PC catalyzed by Novozyme 435, Lipozyme TLIM and Lipozyme RMIM could reach to 98.5 ± 1.6%, 94.6 ± 1.4% and 93.7 ± 1.8%, respectively. In solvent free media, the highest LPC conversions of ethanolysis of PC catalyzed by Novozyme 435, Lipozyme TL IM and Lipozyme RM IM were 97.7 ± 1.7%, 93.5 ± 1.2% and 93.8 ± 1.9%, respectively. The catalytic efficiencies of the three lipases were in the order of Novozyme 435 > Lipozyme TLIM > Lipozyme RMIM. Furthermore, their catalytic efficiencies in n-hexane were better than those in solvent free media.
Topics: Azo Compounds; Biocatalysis; Enzymes, Immobilized; Ethanol; Fungal Proteins; Hexanes; Lipase; Lysophosphatidylcholines; Naphthalenes; Phosphatidylcholines; Surface-Active Agents
PubMed: 25766935
DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess14246 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2019Fungi of the order Mucorales colonize all kinds of wet, organic materials and represent a permanent part of the human environment. They are economically important as... (Review)
Review
Fungi of the order Mucorales colonize all kinds of wet, organic materials and represent a permanent part of the human environment. They are economically important as fermenting agents of soybean products and producers of enzymes, but also as plant parasites and spoilage organisms. Several taxa cause life-threatening infections, predominantly in patients with impaired immunity. The order Mucorales has now been assigned to the phylum Mucoromycota and is comprised of 261 species in 55 genera. Of these accepted species, 38 have been reported to cause infections in humans, as a clinical entity known as mucormycosis. Due to molecular phylogenetic studies, the taxonomy of the order has changed widely during the last years. Characteristics such as homothallism, the shape of the suspensors, or the formation of sporangiola are shown to be not taxonomically relevant. Several genera including , , , , and have been amended and their revisions are summarized in this review. Medically important species that have been affected by recent changes include and The species concept of (syn. ) is still a matter of debate. Currently, species identification of the Mucorales is best performed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Ecologically, the Mucorales represent a diverse group but for the majority of taxa, the ecological role and the geographic distribution remain unknown. Understanding the biology of these opportunistic fungal pathogens is a prerequisite for the prevention of infections, and, consequently, studies on the ecology of the Mucorales are urgently needed.
PubMed: 31739583
DOI: 10.3390/jof5040106 -
Cureus Aug 2022An elderly female presented to the emergency department with a right-sided facial droop and headache for two weeks. Investigations revealed poorly controlled diabetes,...
An elderly female presented to the emergency department with a right-sided facial droop and headache for two weeks. Investigations revealed poorly controlled diabetes, and the patient was found to be in diabetic ketoacidosis. Maxillofacial computed tomography (CT) demonstrated right postseptal cellulitis with concern for acute invasive fungal sinusitis. The patient was taken to the operating room for orbital surgical exploration and antrostomy. Surgical pathology revealed broad hyphae consistent with species, and the patient was diagnosed with mucormycosis. Because the patient was not clinically improving, further imaging was obtained, which showed a large right retroantral phlegmon extending into the cranial fossa and right cavernous sinus, and the patient subsequently underwent surgical debridement. The following postoperative day, the patient was stroke-alerted due to altered mental status and inability to follow commands. She was found to have a small embolic infarct. Due to the poor prognosis of the patient, she was discharged with hospice. Mucormycosis is more commonly found in immunocompromised patients, such as those with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus but very rarely does it involve the cranium. This disease process is very important to recognize early due to high morbidity and mortality rates and devastating outcomes.
PubMed: 36158403
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28104 -
Cureus Sep 2023Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection caused by and associated with high mortality rates. Rhino-orbito-cerebral localization usually occurs in...
Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection caused by and associated with high mortality rates. Rhino-orbito-cerebral localization usually occurs in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. We report the case of a 41-year-old male, with previously undiagnosed diabetes, who presented with unilateral facial extensive black eschar and signs of diabetic ketoacidosis. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed left pansinusitis, left craniofacial edematous infiltrate, and left proptosis. A left internal temporal abscess was identified at an early pre-suppurative stage. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed total occlusion of the left intracranial internal carotid artery. A histopathological study of nasal mucosa biopsy suggested mucormycosis. According to the clinical presentation and the radiological and histopathological findings, rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis was presumed. Culture of nasal, ocular, and skin lesion specimens grew . and confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was treated with systemic liposomal amphotericin B. He died of multiple organ failure before surgical debridement was possible as he was in critical condition requiring stabilization before surgical treatment.
PubMed: 37809164
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44768 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Jan 2024Mucormycosis is a potentially lethal mycosis. We reviewed peer-reviewed publications on mucormycosis to assess therapeutic outcomes. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mucormycosis is a potentially lethal mycosis. We reviewed peer-reviewed publications on mucormycosis to assess therapeutic outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic literature search using the Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases identified manuscripts describing human mucormycosis diagnosed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group criteria with therapeutic outcomes published from 2000 to 2022.
RESULTS
In 126 articles, 10 335 patients were described, most from Asia (n = 6632, 66%). Diabetes was the most frequent underlying disease (n = 6188, 60%); 222 (2.1%) patients had no underlying diseases. The dominant clinical form was rhino-orbitocerebral (n = 7159, 69.3%), followed by pulmonary (n = 1062, 10.3%). Of 5364 patients with outcome data, amphotericin B monotherapy (n = 3749, mortality 31.5%) was most frequent, followed by amphotericin B + azole (n = 843, mortality 6.6%; < .0001), amphotericin B followed by azole (n = 357, mortality 13.7%; < .0001), posaconazole only (n = 250, mortality 17.2%; < .0001), and isavuconazole only (n = 65, mortality 24.6%; = .24). Duration and dose of antifungals varied widely. Documented outcomes from surgical resections in 149 patients found that 47 of 125 died (37.6%), compared with 16 of 24 (66.7%) patients who did not undergo surgery ( = .008).
CONCLUSIONS
Mucormycosis is more frequently reported in Asia than in Europe and is often linked to diabetes. Antifungal therapy, usually with surgery, is frequently effective for mucormycosis.
PubMed: 38288347
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad704 -
Polymers Sep 2022During the last few decades, polysaccharide hydrogels attract more and more attention as therapeutic protein delivery systems due to their biocompatibility and the...
During the last few decades, polysaccharide hydrogels attract more and more attention as therapeutic protein delivery systems due to their biocompatibility and the simplicity of the biodegradation of natural polymers. The protein retention by and release from the polysaccharide gel network is regulated by geometry and physical interactions of protein with the matrix. In the present work, we studied the molecular details of interactions between κ-carrageenan and three lipases, namely the lipases from , , and -which differ in their size and net charge-upon protein immobilization in microparticles of polysaccharide gel. The kinetics of protein release revealed the different capability of κ-carrageenan to retain lipases, which are generally negatively charged; that was shown to be in line with the energy of interactions between polysaccharides and positively charged epitopes on the protein surface. These data create a platform for the novel design of nanocarriers for biomedical probes of enzymatic origin.
PubMed: 36236018
DOI: 10.3390/polym14194071 -
Journal of Biotechnology Dec 2022Decomposition of lignocellulosic plant biomass by four filamentous fungi was carried out to facilitate subsequent anaerobic degradation and biogas formation....
Decomposition of lignocellulosic plant biomass by four filamentous fungi was carried out to facilitate subsequent anaerobic degradation and biogas formation. Agricultural side products, wheat straw and corn stover and forestry energy plant willow chips were selected as plant biomass sources. The substrates were confronted by pure cultures of Penicillium aurantiogriseum (new isolate from rumen), Trichoderma reesei (DSM768), Gilbertella persicaria (SZMC11086) and Rhizomucor miehei (SZMC11005). In addition to total cellulolytic filter paper degradation activity, the production of endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase enzymes were followed during the pretreatment period, which lasted for 10 days at 37 °C. The products of pretreatments were subsequently tested for mesophilic biogas production in batch reactors. All 4 strains effectively pretreated the lignocellulosic substrates albeit in varying degrees, which was related to the level of the tested hydrolytic enzyme activities. Penicillium aurantiogriseum showed outstanding hydrolytic enzyme production and highest biogas yield from the partially degraded substrates. Corn stover was the best substrate for biomass decomposition and biogas production. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the deep penetration of fungal hyphae into the lignocellulosic substrate in all cases.
Topics: Biofuels
PubMed: 36273669
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.10.013