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Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Jan 2020Our objective was to characterize the fungal microbiota on normal ocular surface of humans with the culture-based method and high-throughput sequencing approach.
OBJECTIVES
Our objective was to characterize the fungal microbiota on normal ocular surface of humans with the culture-based method and high-throughput sequencing approach.
METHODS
A total of 45 adults were recruited from an urban community, and 90 conjunctival swabs were obtained, one from each eye of each participant. One of the two swabs from each participant was randomly chosen and allocated to internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, and the other was subjected to conventional fungal cultivation.
RESULTS
Four filamentous fungi were isolated from the 45 samples using the culture-based method, Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus niger, Phialophora and Trichoderma. In the other 45 samples, 18 samples were positive for PCR amplification and sent for subsequent ITS sequencing. A total of 518 703 valid reads were generated and assigned into 467 operational taxonomic units. Overall, 4 phyla and 94 genera were identified. Two phyla, Basidiomycota (78.67%) and Ascomycota (19.54%), and five genera, Malassezia (74.65%), Rhodotorula (1.93%), Davidiella (1.89%), Aspergillus (1.25%) and Alternaria (0.61%), which accounted for >80% of the fungal microbiome and presented in >80% of the individuals tested, constituted the possible 'core fungal taxa' on normal ocular surface.
CONCLUSIONS
The fungal microbiome on normal ocular surface of humans was identified using the high-throughput sequencing method, providing a basis for further investigations on the potential role of the fungal microbiota in ocular health and disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; DNA, Intergenic; Eye; Female; Fungi; Healthy Volunteers; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobiome; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 31128284
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.05.011 -
Cureus Nov 2018Chromoblastomycosis is an implantation mycosis occurring among adults working in farms or with soil in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. is the most important...
Chromoblastomycosis is an implantation mycosis occurring among adults working in farms or with soil in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. is the most important agent in the tropical areas, while , although not a predominant agent, is found in the lowlands under the same conditions as the species. We present the case of a 10-year-old aboriginal boy, belonging to a soil worker family, with a history of extensive leg lesions and lymphedema secondary to a snake bite five years earlier. He was admitted to the National Children's Hospital (part of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social: the social security system in Costa Rica) with multiple verrucous confluent lesions on the ankle, some with dark coloration, and no other symptoms. Clinical suspicion of chromoblastomycosis was made and later confirmed by culture. Itraconazole was started showing clinical improvement. Chromomycosis, especially in the population with skin lesions or chronic tissue compromise, associated with the location and macroscopic findings, must be a part of our differential diagnosis. The story of an exposed pediatric patient to soil work and the history of an important leg swelling and skin disruption as sequelae of snake bite envenomation made this case unique. To our knowledge, there are no pediatric reports of Chromoblastomycosis in Latin America.
PubMed: 30656078
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3574 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Mar 2019Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis, is caused by dematiaceous fungi, the most frequently implicated are and We report a woman who was...
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis, is caused by dematiaceous fungi, the most frequently implicated are and We report a woman who was treated before with mycological cure, but she experience a relapse requiring treatment again. Direct microscopic examination and skin biopsy with culture were necessary to identify a Exophiala psychrophila, and for our knowledge this is the first case reported.
PubMed: 30533349
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2018.10.001 -
Medical Mycology Journal 2018Our group has continuously studied the epidemiology of visceral mycoses (VM) among autopsy cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS
Our group has continuously studied the epidemiology of visceral mycoses (VM) among autopsy cases in Japan from 1989 to 2013.
RESULTS
First, from a total of 11,149 autopsied cases, 571 (5.1%) cases of VM were observed in 2013. It was significantly higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier. Notably, incidence of cases with mucormycetes (Muc) in 2013 was higher than that of 1997 and earlier (p < 0.001), especially in leukemia cases. Muc cases also showed higher rate of "severe infection" compared with other cases (p < .0001). Emerging diseases were also observed. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases showed high incidence of VM as a complication. In addition, we observed cases with the rare mycoses caused by Phialopohra verrucosa and Rhodotorula spp. in our analysis. Moreover, the predominant fungal agent of central nervous system infections changed from Cryptococcus spp. to Aspergillus spp. in 2013. This may be considered a breakthrough infection.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of VM in 2013 became higher than those of 2005 (p < 0.05) and earlier, with a notable increase of incidence in cases with Muc. The occurrence of breakthrough VM and emerging mycoses deserve attention.
Topics: Adult; Age Distribution; Aspergillus; Autopsy; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections; Cryptococcus; Female; Humans; Incidence; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Phialophora; Prevalence; Rhodotorula; Time Factors; Viscera
PubMed: 30504616
DOI: 10.3314/mmj.18-00003 -
Allergologie Select 2018Allergic skin and respiratory diseases range among the most frequent afflictions in industrialized countries. Due to this fact the importance of indoor mold pollution... (Review)
Review
Allergic skin and respiratory diseases range among the most frequent afflictions in industrialized countries. Due to this fact the importance of indoor mold pollution based on dampness is discussed. In a sentinel health study of the State Health Agency (LGA) children attending of 4th grade of a primary school were tested by an in-vitro allergy screening (UniCap 100/Phadia) for the mold allergens mx1 (Penicillium chrysogenum m1, Cladosporium herbarum m2, Aspergillus fumigatus m3 and Alternaria alternata m6). Primarily about 5% of the children were sensitized against molds which are associated with the ambient air. The investigations showed that most of the children were sensitized against Alternaria alternata and concerning the IgE-concentration (kU/l) Alternaria alternata had the highest concentration among the tested allergens. Commonly children with sensitization against molds were polysensitized. It is unclear if the allergy screening against mold mx1 includes molds with indication for indoor mold pollution such as Acremonium spp., Aspergillus penicillioides, Aspergillus restrictus, Aspergillus versicolor, Chaetomium spp., Phialophora spp., Stachybotrys chartarum, Tritirachium (Engyodontium) album und Trichoderma spp. by means of crossreaction. Therefore, such investigations do not admit any conclusion about health problems as a result of indoor mold pollution. At the present state of knowledge exposure measurements of indoor mold pollutions are not possible, at most a semiquantitative assessment. Although it is generally accepted that dwellings with moisture and mold represent a health risk, knowledge about indoor mold pollution and the related health problems is lacking.
PubMed: 31826039
DOI: 10.5414/ALX01296E -
Journal of Clinical Immunology Aug 2018Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency underlies life-threatening, invasive fungal infections in otherwise healthy individuals normally resistant to other infectious... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency underlies life-threatening, invasive fungal infections in otherwise healthy individuals normally resistant to other infectious agents. In less than 10 years, 58 patients from 39 kindreds have been reported in 14 countries from four continents. The patients are homozygous (n = 49; 31 kindreds) or compound heterozygous (n = 9; 8 kindreds) for 22 different CARD9 mutations. Six mutations are recurrent, probably due to founder effects. Paradoxically, none of the mutant alleles has been experimentally demonstrated to be loss-of-function. CARD9 is expressed principally in myeloid cells, downstream from C-type lectin receptors that can recognize fungal components. Patients with CARD9 deficiency present impaired cytokine and chemokine production by macrophages, dendritic cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and defective killing of some fungi by neutrophils in vitro. Neutrophil recruitment to sites of infection is impaired in vivo. The proportion of Th17 cells is low in most, but not all, patients tested. Up to 52 patients suffering from invasive fungal diseases (IFD) have been reported, with ages at onset of 3.5 to 52 years. Twenty of these patients also displayed superficial fungal infections. Six patients had only mucocutaneous candidiasis or superficial dermatophytosis at their last follow-up visit, at the age of 19 to 50 years. Remarkably, for 50 of the 52 patients with IFD, a single fungus was involved; only two patients had IFDs due to two different fungi. IFD recurred in 44 of 45 patients who responded to treatment, and a different fungal infection occurred in the remaining patient. Ten patients died from IFD, between the ages of 12 and 39 years, whereas another patient died at the age of 91 years, from an unrelated cause. At the most recent scheduled follow-up visit, 81% of the patients were still alive and aged from 6.5 to 75 years. Strikingly, all the causal fungi belonged to the phylum Ascomycota: commensal Candida and saprophytic Trychophyton, Aspergillus, Phialophora, Exophiala, Corynesprora, Aureobasidium, and Ochroconis. Human CARD9 is essential for protective systemic immunity to a subset of fungi from this phylum but seems to be otherwise redundant. Previously healthy patients with unexplained invasive fungal infection, at any age, should be tested for inherited CARD9 deficiency.
KEY POINTS
• Inherited CARD9 deficiency (OMIM #212050) is an AR PID due to mutations that may be present in a homozygous or compound heterozygous state. • CARD9 is expressed principally in myeloid cells and transduces signals downstream from CLR activation by fungal ligands. • Endogenous mutant CARD9 levels differ between alleles (from full-length normal protein to an absence of normal protein). • The functional impacts of CARD9 mutations involve impaired cytokine production in response to fungal ligands, impaired neutrophil killing and/or recruitment to infection sites, and defects of Th17 immunity. • The key clinical manifestations in patients are fungal infections, including CMC, invasive (in the CNS in particular) Candida infections, extensive/deep dermatophytosis, subcutaneous and invasive phaeohyphomycosis, and extrapulmonary aspergillosis. • The clinical penetrance of CARD9 deficiency is complete, but penetrance is incomplete for each of the fungi concerned. • Age at onset is highly heterogeneous, ranging from childhood to adulthood for the same fungal disease. • All patients with unexplained IFD should be tested for CARD9 mutations. Familial screening and genetic counseling should be proposed. • The treatment of patients with CARD9 mutations is empirical and based on antifungal therapies and the surgical removal of fungal masses. Patients with persistent/relapsing Candida infections of the CNS could be considered for adjuvant GM-CSF/G-CSF therapy. The potential value of HSCT for CARD9-deficient patients remains unclear.
Topics: Adult; Alleles; Animals; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Child; Computational Biology; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Frequency; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity; Mice; Mononuclear Phagocyte System; Mutation; Phenotype
PubMed: 30136218
DOI: 10.1007/s10875-018-0539-2 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Aug 2018We report a rare case of Phialophora verrucosa fungal keratitis, which required various types of treatment according to the intractable natural history of the disease.
BACKGROUND
We report a rare case of Phialophora verrucosa fungal keratitis, which required various types of treatment according to the intractable natural history of the disease.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 51-year-old Thai man with poorly controlled diabetes received a bamboo branch injury and developed a perforated corneal lesion on his left eye. A pathological study from therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty showed fungal hyphae. This was later identified as Phialophora verrucosa by polymerase chain reaction. This organism was aggressive and recalcitrant because it relapsed with two corneal grafts and was resistant to amphotericin B, natamycin, and itraconazole. However, we found that the efficacy of voriconazole was promising for treating Phialophora verrucosa. We also used corneal cross-linking to establish corneal integrity after the infection was under control.
CONCLUSIONS
Because of the chronic nature of Phialophora verrucosa, a patient's first visit may occur many years after trauma, and sometimes clinical presentation might not appear to indicate fungal infection. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed in this situation. Voriconazole showed good results in our case. Instead of using a more invasive keratoplasty, we used corneal cross-linking to strengthen the corneal biomechanics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case showing the benefit of corneal cross-linking to improve corneal biomechanics in resolved Phialophora verrucosa keratitis.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Corneal Diseases; Corneal Injuries; Eye Infections, Fungal; Humans; Keratitis; Male; Middle Aged; Phialophora; Voriconazole
PubMed: 30121073
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-018-1765-1 -
IMA Fungus Jun 2018Draft genomes of the species (syn. , two strains, , , and are presented Both mating types (MAT1-1 and MAT1-2) of are included. Two strains of that produce...
Draft genomes of the species (syn. , two strains, , , and are presented Both mating types (MAT1-1 and MAT1-2) of are included. Two strains of that produce sulfated homotyrosine echinocandin variants, FR209602, FR220897 and FR220899 are presented. The sequencing of , and cf has enabled mapping of the gene clusters encoding the chemical diversity from the echinocandin pathways, providing data that reveals the complexity of secondary metabolism in these different species. Overall these genomes provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular processes underlying pathogenicity (in some cases), biology and toxin production of these economically important fungi.
PubMed: 30018880
DOI: 10.5598/imafungus.2018.09.01.13 -
Molecular Plant-microbe Interactions :... Oct 2018Brown stem rot, caused by the fungus Phialophora gregata, reduces soybean yield by up to 38%. Although three dominant resistance loci have been identified (Rbs1 to...
Brown stem rot, caused by the fungus Phialophora gregata, reduces soybean yield by up to 38%. Although three dominant resistance loci have been identified (Rbs1 to Rbs3), the gene networks responsible for pathogen recognition and defense remain unknown. Further, identification and characterization of resistant and susceptible germplasm remains difficult. We conducted RNA-Seq of infected and mock-infected leaf, stem, and root tissues of a resistant (PI 437970, Rbs3) and susceptible (Corsoy 79) genotype. Combining historical mapping data with genotype expression differences allowed us to identify a cluster of receptor-like proteins that are candidates for the Rbs3 resistance gene. Reads mapping to the Rbs3 locus were used to identify potential novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms within candidate genes that could improve phenotyping and breeding efficiency. Comparing responses to infection revealed little overlap in differential gene expression between genotypes or tissues. Gene networks associated with defense, DNA replication, and iron homeostasis are hallmarks of resistance to P. gregata. This novel research demonstrates the utility of combining contrasting genotypes, gene expression, and classical genetic studies to characterize complex disease resistance loci.
Topics: Base Sequence; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Phialophora; Plant Diseases; Plant Proteins; RNA, Plant; Glycine max
PubMed: 30004290
DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0009-R -
Nature Jul 2018The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a highly selective calcium channel and a major route of calcium entry into mitochondria. How the channel catalyses ion...
The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a highly selective calcium channel and a major route of calcium entry into mitochondria. How the channel catalyses ion permeation and achieves ion selectivity are not well understood, partly because MCU is thought to have a distinct architecture in comparison to other cellular channels. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of MCU channels from zebrafish and Cyphellophora europaea at 8.5 Å and 3.2 Å resolutions, respectively. In contrast to a previous report of pentameric stoichiometry for MCU, both channels are tetramers. The atomic model of C. europaea MCU shows that a conserved WDXXEP signature sequence forms the selectivity filter, in which calcium ions are arranged in single file. Coiled-coil legs connect the pore to N-terminal domains in the mitochondrial matrix. In C. europaea MCU, the N-terminal domains assemble as a dimer of dimers; in zebrafish MCU, they form an asymmetric crescent. The structures define principles that underlie ion permeation and calcium selectivity in this unusual channel.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Ion Channel Gating; Models, Molecular; Phialophora; Protein Multimerization; Protein Subunits; Zebrafish
PubMed: 29995857
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0331-8