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Genome Announcements Nov 2015The black yeast Phialophora attae was isolated from the cuticle of tropical ant gynes. The ant-fungus association is sustained due to symbiotic evolutionary adaptations...
The black yeast Phialophora attae was isolated from the cuticle of tropical ant gynes. The ant-fungus association is sustained due to symbiotic evolutionary adaptations that allow fungal assimilation and tolerance of toxic compounds produced by the ant. The genome sequence of the first ant-associated fungus, P. attae, is presented here.
PubMed: 26586868
DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.01099-15 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2015Onychomycosis are caused by dermatophytes and Candida, but rarely by non- dermatophyte molds. These opportunistic agents are filamentous fungi found as soil and plant...
BACKGROUND
Onychomycosis are caused by dermatophytes and Candida, but rarely by non- dermatophyte molds. These opportunistic agents are filamentous fungi found as soil and plant pathogens.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the frequency of opportunistic molds in onychomycosis.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 4,220 cases with onychomycosis, diagnosed in a 39-month period at the Institute of Dermatology and Skin surgery "Prof. Dr. Fernando A. Cordero C." in Guatemala City, and confirmed with a positive KOH test and culture.
RESULTS
32 cases (0.76%) of onychomycosis caused by opportunistic molds were confirmed. The most affected age group ranged from 41 to 65 years (15 patients, 46.9%) and females were more commonly affected (21 cases, 65.6%) than males. Lateral and distal subungual onychomycosis (OSD-L) was detected in 20 cases (62.5%). The microscopic examination with KOH showed filaments in 19 cases (59.4%), dermatophytoma in 9 cases (28.1%), spores in 2 cases (6.25%), and filaments and spores in 2 cases (6.25%). Etiologic agents: Aspergillus sp., 11 cases (34.4%); Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, 8 cases (25.0%); Cladosporium sp., 3 cases (9.4%); Acremonium sp., 2 cases (6.25%); Paecilomyces sp., 2 cases (6.25%); Tritirachium oryzae, 2 cases (6.25%); Fusarium sp., Phialophora sp., Rhizopus sp. and Alternaria alternate, 1 case (3.1%) each.
CONCLUSIONS
We found onychomycosis by opportunistic molds in 0.76% of the cases and DLSO was present in 62.5%. The most frequent isolated etiological agents were: Aspergillus sp. and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Brazil; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fungi; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Onychomycosis; Opportunistic Infections; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Young Adult
PubMed: 26131862
DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153521 -
Hand (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2015Deep tissue fungal infections of the hand are exceedingly uncommon. We present a case of fungal tenosynovitis caused by Phialophora verrucosa that led to extensor tendon...
Deep tissue fungal infections of the hand are exceedingly uncommon. We present a case of fungal tenosynovitis caused by Phialophora verrucosa that led to extensor tendon rupture in a patient who was on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. Indolent fungal cysts can elude clinical diagnosis until excision is performed with definitive pathologic examination. In immunocompromised patients, antifungal therapy may be warranted after cyst excision even in the absence of acute infection to prevent subsequent progression to tenosynovitis.
PubMed: 26034457
DOI: 10.1007/s11552-014-9700-4 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Mar 2015Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis commonly caused by Fonsecaea, Phialophora, and Cladophialophora spp. Out of these, Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the most...
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis commonly caused by Fonsecaea, Phialophora, and Cladophialophora spp. Out of these, Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the most common etiological agent, implicated in 70%-90% of the cases reported worldwide. The histopathological diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis is based on visualization of medlar or sclerotic bodies in the tissue. These sclerotic bodies divide by planar division. Rarely, budding is seen in these sclerotic bodies. As this entity can be confused with phaeohyphomycosis, it is important to be aware of such a presentation also. We report two cases of chromoblastomycosis that showed budding sclerotic bodies.
Topics: Ascomycota; Chromoblastomycosis; Humans; Male; Microbiological Techniques; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Skin
PubMed: 25771474
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.5312 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Jun 2015Invasive infections of the central nervous system (CNS) or digestive tract caused by commensal fungi of the genus Candida are rare and life-threatening. The known risk...
BACKGROUND
Invasive infections of the central nervous system (CNS) or digestive tract caused by commensal fungi of the genus Candida are rare and life-threatening. The known risk factors include acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, with patients often displaying a history of multiple infections. Cases of meningoencephalitis, colitis, or both caused by Candida species remain unexplained.
OBJECTIVE
We studied 5 previously healthy children and adults with unexplained invasive disease of the CNS, digestive tract, or both caused by Candida species. The patients were aged 39, 7, 17, 37, and 26 years at the time of infection and were unrelated, but each was born to consanguineous parents of Turkish (2 patients), Iranian, Moroccan, or Pakistani origin. Meningoencephalitis was reported in 3 patients, meningoencephalitis associated with colitis was reported in a fourth patient, and the fifth patient had colitis only.
METHODS
Inherited caspase recruitment domain family, member 9 (CARD9) deficiency was recently reported in otherwise healthy patients with other forms of severe disease caused by Candida, Trichophyton, Phialophora, and Exophiala species, including meningoencephalitis but not colitis caused by Candida and Exophiala species. Therefore we sequenced CARD9 in the 5 patients.
RESULTS
All patients were found to be homozygous for rare and deleterious mutant CARD9 alleles: R70W and Q289* for the 3 patients with Candida albicans-induced meningoencephalitis, R35Q for the patient with meningoencephalitis and colitis caused by Candida glabrata, and Q295* for the patient with Candida albicans-induced colitis. Regardless of their levels of mutant CARD9 protein, the patients' monocyte-derived dendritic cells responded poorly to CARD9-dependent fungal agonists (curdlan, heat-killed C albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Exophiala dermatitidis).
CONCLUSION
Invasive infections of the CNS or digestive tract caused by Candida species in previously healthy children and even adults might be caused by inherited CARD9 deficiency.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Candida; Candidiasis, Invasive; Central Nervous System; Child; Colitis; Consanguinity; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract; Gene Expression; Genetic Loci; Genome-Wide Association Study; Homozygote; Humans; Male; Meningoencephalitis; Pedigree; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 25702837
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.12.1930 -
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii Oct 2014Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The infection usually results from a traumatic injury and inoculation of... (Review)
Review
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The infection usually results from a traumatic injury and inoculation of microorganism from a specific group of dematiaceous fungi (usually Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Phialophora verrucosa, Cladophialophora carrionii). In the tissues fungi produce characteristic sclerotic cells or muriform cells. Dermal lesions can range from small nodules to large papillary-like eruptions. The disease has been described worldwide but the prevalence is higher in rural populations in countries with a tropical or subtropical climate, such as Madagascar in Africa and Brazil in South America. Diagnostic techniques are based on direct examination, culture and histopathology. Despite a variety of treatment modalities, which include long courses of antifungals, surgical excision and destructive physical therapies, the disease remains one of the most difficult deep mycotic infections to eradicate.
PubMed: 25395928
DOI: 10.5114/pdia.2014.40949 -
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 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Sep 2014The in vitro activities of nine antifungal drugs and their combinations against 31 clinical and 15 environmental Phialophora verrucosa strains were tested. The MIC90/90%...
The in vitro activities of nine antifungal drugs and their combinations against 31 clinical and 15 environmental Phialophora verrucosa strains were tested. The MIC90/90% minimum effective concentration (MIC/MEC90) values (μg/ml) across all strains were as follows: for terbinafine, 0.25; for posaconazole, 0.5; for voriconazole, 1; for itraconazole, 2; for amphotericin B, 4; for caspofungin and micafungin, 16; and for fluconazole and flucytosine, 64. The highest synergy was shown by the combination of itraconazole plus caspofungin (with synergy against 100% of the 31 clinical strains), followed by amphotericin B plus flucytosine (45.2%) and itraconazole plus terbinafine or micafungin (25.8% or 12.9%, respectively).
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Chromoblastomycosis; Drug Combinations; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phialophora
PubMed: 24982078
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.02875-14