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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that is diagnosed by visualizing the fungus in clinical samples or by other methods, like serological techniques....
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that is diagnosed by visualizing the fungus in clinical samples or by other methods, like serological techniques. However, all PCM diagnostic methods have limitations. The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic tool for PCM based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A total of 224 serum samples were included: 132 from PCM patients and 92 constituting the control group (50 from healthy blood donors and 42 from patients with other systemic mycoses). Samples were analyzed by attenuated total reflection (ATR) and a -test was performed to find differences in the spectra of the two groups. The wavenumbers that had < 0.05 had their diagnostic potential evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The spectral region with the lowest value was used for variable selection through principal component analysis (PCA). The selected variables were used in a linear discriminant analysis (LDA). In univariate analysis, the ROC curves with the best performance were obtained in the region 1551-1095 cm. The wavenumber that had the highest AUC value was 1264 cm, achieving a sensitivity of 97.73%, specificity of 76.01%, and accuracy of 94.22%. The total separation of groups was obtained in the PCA performed with a spectral range of 1551-1095 cm. LDA performed with the eight wavenumbers with the greatest weight from the group discrimination in the PCA obtained 100% accuracy. The methodology proposed here is simple, fast, and highly accurate, proving its potential to be applied in the diagnosis of PCM. The proposed method is more accurate than the currently known diagnostic methods, which is particularly relevant for a neglected tropical mycosis such as paracoccidioidomycosis.
PubMed: 38392819
DOI: 10.3390/jof10020147 -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Mar 2024Data published on Panamanian fungal disease are scarce, mostly case reports. To date, there is no paper that compiles the burden of fungal disease Here we estimate for...
Data published on Panamanian fungal disease are scarce, mostly case reports. To date, there is no paper that compiles the burden of fungal disease Here we estimate for the first time the incidence and prevalence of fungal diseases in Panama. Data on fungal disease were obtained from different search engines: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scielo and Lilacs. For population and at risk diseases, we used statistics from worldometer, UNAIDS, and WHO. Incidence, prevalence, and absolute numbers were calculated based on the population at risk. Panamanian population in 2022 was 4,429,739. We estimated that 85,530 (1.93 %) people suffer from fungal diseases. The most frequent fungal infection was recurrent Candida vaginitis (3285/100,000). There are 31,000 HIV-infected people in Panama and based on the number of cases not receiving anti-retroviral therapy (14,570), and previous reports of prevalence of opportunistic infections, we estimated annual incidences of 4.0/100,000 for cryptococcal meningitis, 29.5/100,000 for oral candidiasis, 23.1/100,000 for esophageal candidiasis, 29.5/100,000 for Pneumocystis pneumonia, 15.1/100,000, and for histoplasmosis. For chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) and fungal asthma we used data from Guatemala and Colombia to estimate COPD and asthma prevalence and WHO report for tuberculosis. We estimated annual incidences of 6.1/100,000 for invasive aspergillosis and prevalence of 31.5/100,000 for CPA, 60.2/100,000 for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and 79.5/100,000 for severe asthma with fungal sensitisation. Other incidence estimates were 5.0/100,000 for candidaemia, 0.20/100,000 for mucormycosis, and 4.97/100,000 for fungal keratitis. Even though this report on burden of fungal disease is a forward step, more epidemiological studies to validate these estimates are needed.
Topics: Female; Humans; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Aspergillosis; Candidiasis; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Asthma; Candidemia; Incidence; Prevalence
PubMed: 38382172
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2024.101466 -
Current Opinion in Pediatrics Apr 2024Invasive fungal infection (IFI) in children is a growing problem with crescent morbidity and mortality, well recognized in developed countries, affecting mainly... (Review)
Review
Overview of invasive fungal infections in children in South America - the threat of resistant Candida species and the role of climate change in the new geographic distribution of endemic systemic mycosis.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Invasive fungal infection (IFI) in children is a growing problem with crescent morbidity and mortality, well recognized in developed countries, affecting mainly immunocompromised children, including neonates and children in intensive care units. The burden of IFI in South American children is less well comprehended. In addition, the current epidemiology of endemic systemic mycoses in children may have changed over time.
RECENT FINDINGS
Candida spp. infections are very prevalent in South America hospitalized children, especially in neonates, in a rate far superior compared to developed countries. C. auris, has already been responsible for outbreaks in neonates and children in Venezuela and Colombia. Sporotrichosis is well established as an urban zoonosis in impoverish families. Paracoccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis are affecting new areas of Brazil, probably due to climate change, deforestation, and human migration.
SUMMARY
This review aims to unveil the real dimension of these infections in South American children. Hopefully, the awareness brought by this review will help healthcare professionals to recognize IFI more easily and it will provide support for getting more resources for IFI treatment and prevention.
Topics: Child; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Candida; Climate Change; Mycoses; Invasive Fungal Infections; South America
PubMed: 38299979
DOI: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000001327 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Jan 2024
Topics: Humans; Paracoccidioidomycosis
PubMed: 38265647
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2308775 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Mar 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection with the potential for environmental dissemination, especially in regions of hot and humid climate, where human cases have been...
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection with the potential for environmental dissemination, especially in regions of hot and humid climate, where human cases have been recorded in the Southwestern Amazon of Brazil, specifically in the state of Acre. Despite studies providing information about the presence of these fungi in soil and animal samples, such as armadillos, further investigations are still needed to determine the epidemiological distribution of the genus Paracoccidioides. The aim of this study was to detect the occurrence of Paracoccidioides fungi in the Southwestern Amazon. To achieve this, 60 soil samples were collected from armadillo burrows on rural properties in the in the municipalities of Acrelândia, Bujari, Plácido de Castro, Rio Branco, Sena Madureira, and Senador Guiomard, located in the state of Acre, Brazil. Fungal DNA was extracted from these samples using the DNEASY® PowerSoil kit-Quiagen, followed by Nested PCR technique with ITS4 and ITS5 as external primers, and PBITS-E and PBITS-R as internal primers. DNA amplification products of about 380 bp compatible with Paracoccidioides spp. were detected in six samples (10%), being sequenced and identified as P. brasiliensis. These findings indicate that the soils of the Acre state could be considered a potential source for Paracoccidioides spp., suggesting that local infections are likely.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Paracoccidioides; Soil Microbiology; Fungi; Soil; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Brazil
PubMed: 38238556
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01256-7 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Mar 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. The interaction mediated by the presence of adhesins on the fungal surface and...
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. The interaction mediated by the presence of adhesins on the fungal surface and receptors in the extracellular matrix of the host, as well as the biofilm formation, is essential in its pathogenesis. Adhesins such as gp43, enolase, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), and 14-3-3 have been demonstrated in the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18) strain and recognized as necessary in the fungus-host interaction. The Pb 18 strain silenced to 14-3-3 showed changes in morphology, virulence, and adhesion capacity. The study aimed to evaluate the role of adhesin 14-3-3 in P. brasiliensis biofilm formation and the differential expression of genes related to adhesins, comparing planktonic and biofilm forms. The presence of biofilm was also verified in sutures in vitro and in vivo. The silenced strain (Pb14-3-3 aRNA) was compared with the wild type Pb18, determining the differential metabolic activity between the strains by the XTT reduction assay; the biomass by violet crystal and the polysaccharides by safranin, even as morphological differences by microscopic techniques. Differential gene expression for adhesins was also analyzed, comparing the relative expression of these in planktonic and biofilm forms at different times. The results suggested that the silencing of 14-3-3 protein altered the ability to form biofilm and its metabolism. The quantity of biomass was similar in both strains; however, the formation of exopolymeric substances and polysaccharide material was lower in the silenced strain. Our results showed increased expression of enolase, GAPDH, and 14-3-3 genes in the first periods of biofilm formation in the Pb18 strain. In contrast, the silenced strain showed a lower expression of these genes, indicating that gene silencing can influence the expression of other genes and be involved in the biofilm formation of P. brasiliensis. In vitro and in vivo assays using sutures confirmed this yeast's ability to form biofilm and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis.
Topics: Paracoccidioidomycosis; Paracoccidioides; 14-3-3 Proteins; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; Biofilms; Adhesins, Bacterial; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
PubMed: 38211834
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106537 -
Revista Do Instituto de Medicina... Jan 2024[This corrects the article doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946202365057].
[This corrects the article doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946202365057].
PubMed: 38198379
DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946202466057err -
Revista Do Instituto de Medicina... 2023Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic fungal infection caused by Paracoccidioides spp. It can occur as an acute/subacute form (A/SAF), a chronic form (CF) and...
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic fungal infection caused by Paracoccidioides spp. It can occur as an acute/subacute form (A/SAF), a chronic form (CF) and rarely as a mixed form combining the features of the two aforementioned forms in an immunocompromised patient. Here, we report a 56-year-old male patient with CF-PCM who presented with atypical manifestations, including the development of an initial esophageal ulcer, followed by central nervous system (CNS) lesions and cervical and abdominal lymphatic involvement concomitant with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. He was HIV-negative and had no other signs of previous immunodeficiency. Biopsy of the ulcer confirmed its mycotic etiology. He was hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 and required supplemental oxygen in the intensive unit. The patient recovered without the need for invasive ventilatory support. Investigation of the extent of disease during hospitalization revealed severe lymphatic involvement typical of A/SAF, although the patient`s long history of high-risk exposure to PCM, and lung involvement typical of the CF. Esophageal involvement is rare in non-immunosuppressed PCM patients. CNS involvement is also rare. We suggest that the immunological imbalance caused by the severe COVID-19 infection may have contributed to the patient developing atypical severe CF, which resembles the PCM mixed form of immunosuppressed patients. Severe COVID-19 infection is known to impair the cell-mediated immune response, including the antiviral response, through T-lymphopenia, decreased NK cell counts and T-cell exhaustion. We hypothesize that these alterations would also impair antifungal defenses. Our case highlights the potential influence of COVID-19 on the course of PCM. Fortunately, the patient was timely treated for both diseases, evolving favorably.
Topics: Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Ulcer; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Antifungal Agents; Paracoccidioides
PubMed: 38055375
DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946202365057 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023spp. is the etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic disease with wide distribution in Latin America. Macrophages are very important cells during the...
spp. is the etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic disease with wide distribution in Latin America. Macrophages are very important cells during the response to infection by . In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis to evaluate the consequences of yeast cells on the human THP-1 macrophage proteome. We have identified 443 and 2247 upregulated or downregulated proteins, respectively, in macrophages co-cultured with yeast cells of in comparison to control macrophages unexposed to the fungus. Proteomic analysis revealed that interaction with caused metabolic changes in macrophages that drastically affected energy production pathways. In addition, these macrophages presented regulated many factors related to epigenetic modifications and gene transcription as well as a decrease of many proteins associated to the immune system activity. This is the first human macrophage proteome derived from interactions with , which contributes to elucidating the changes that occur during the host response to this fungus. Furthermore, it highlights proteins that may be targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches to PCM.
Topics: Humans; Paracoccidioides; Proteome; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Proteomics; Macrophages
PubMed: 38045758
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1275954 -
Future Medicinal Chemistry Dec 2023Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic infection caused by spp. (). PCM can be associated or clinically confused with tuberculosis (TB), another pulmonary...
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic infection caused by spp. (). PCM can be associated or clinically confused with tuberculosis (TB), another pulmonary infection, caused by (). Futhermore, the long treatment time of TB and PCM and the cases of TB drug resistance impose difficulties for the cure of these diseases. New 1,3,4-oxadiazoles containing the 4-methoxynaphthalene ring were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated against and . The derivative (with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl subunit) is the most promising of the series. The 1,3,4-oxadiazole can be used as a prototype drug candidate, with anti- and anti- activities, showing a broad-spectrum profile for the treatment of both pulmonary infections.
Topics: Humans; Oxadiazoles; Lead; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38014535
DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0153