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Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Jun 2014Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection worldwide, with devastating disease symptoms and diverse clinical manifestations. The most important underlying risk factors... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection worldwide, with devastating disease symptoms and diverse clinical manifestations. The most important underlying risk factors are immunosuppression, poorly controlled diabetes, iron overload and major trauma. The aetiological agents involved in the disease have been re-classified due to changes in taxonomy and nomenclature, which also led to appropriately naming the disease 'mucormycosis'. This article shortly explains the new nomenclature, clinical manifestations and risk factors and focuses on putative virulence traits associated with mucormycosis, mainly in the group of diabetic ketoacidotic patients.
Topics: Humans; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Risk Factors; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 24476149
DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12566 -
Current Biology : CB Apr 2021The pathogenesis of life-threatening infections caused by emerging fungal pathogens remains largely unexplored. A new study provides unprecedented evidence for the...
The pathogenesis of life-threatening infections caused by emerging fungal pathogens remains largely unexplored. A new study provides unprecedented evidence for the pivotal role of a new ricin-like protein toxin, named mucoricin, in causing organ necrosis and mortality in Mucorales infections.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Mycotoxins; Venoms
PubMed: 33905698
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.015 -
Genes Apr 2021Mucorales are the causal agents for the lethal disease known as mucormycosis. Mortality rates of mucormycosis can reach up to 90%, due to the mucoralean antifungal drug... (Review)
Review
Mucorales are the causal agents for the lethal disease known as mucormycosis. Mortality rates of mucormycosis can reach up to 90%, due to the mucoralean antifungal drug resistance and the lack of effective therapies. A concerning urgency among the medical and scientific community claims to find targets for the development of new treatments. Here, we reviewed different studies describing the role and machinery of a novel non-canonical RNAi pathway (NCRIP) only conserved in Mucorales. Its non-canonical features are the independence of Dicer and Argonaute proteins. Conversely, NCRIP relies on RNA-dependent RNA Polymerases (RdRP) and an atypical ribonuclease III (RNase III). NCRIP regulates the expression of mRNAs by degrading them in a specific manner. Its mechanism binds dsRNA but only cuts ssRNA. NCRIP exhibits a diversity of functional roles. It represses the epimutational pathway and the lack of NCRIP increases the generation of drug resistant strains. NCRIP also regulates the control of retrotransposons expression, playing an essential role in genome stability. Finally, NCRIP regulates the response during phagocytosis, affecting the multifactorial process of virulence. These critical NCRIP roles in virulence and antifungal drug resistance, along with its exclusive presence in Mucorales, mark this pathway as a promising target to fight against mucormycosis.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Mucorales; RNA Interference; RNA Stability; RNA, Fungal; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 33920552
DOI: 10.3390/genes12040586 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Recently, India witnessed an unprecedented surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases. In addition to patient management issues,...
INTRODUCTION
Recently, India witnessed an unprecedented surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases. In addition to patient management issues, environmental Mucorales contamination possibly contributed to the outbreak. A recent study evaluated environment contamination by Mucorales in the hospital setting. However, a considerable number of CAM patients were never admitted to a hospital before the development of the disease. The present study, therefore, planned to evaluate Mucorales contamination of patients' residences.
METHODS
The residential environment of 25 patients with CAM living in north India was surveyed. Air samples were collected from indoor and immediate outdoor vicinity of the patients' residence and cultured on Dichloran Rose-Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) agar with benomyl for selective isolation of Mucorales. Surface swab samples were also collected from the air coolers fitted in those residences and cultured on DRBC agar. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was employed to evaluate the genetic relatedness of the environmental and patients' clinical isolates.
RESULTS
The median spore count (mean ± SD, cfu/m) of Mucorales in the air of patients' bedrooms was significantly higher than in the air in other rooms in those residences (3.55 versus 1.5, p = 0.003) or the air collected directly from the front of the air cooler (p < 0.0001). The Mucorales spore count in the environment did not correlate with either ventilation of the room or hygiene level of the patients' residences. was isolated from the environment of all patients' residences (n = 25); other Mucorales species isolated were (n = 14), (n = 6), (n = 6), (n = 1), (n = 1), and (n = 1). Genetic relatedness was observed between 11 environmental isolates from the patients' bedrooms and respective clinical isolates from patients.
DISCUSSION
The study supported the view that the patients might have acquired Mucorales from the home environment during the post-COVID-19 convalescence period. Universal masking at home during patients' convalescence period and environmental decontamination could minimize exposure in those susceptible patients.
Topics: Agar; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; Benomyl; COVID-19; Chloramphenicol; Convalescence; Humans; Mucorales; Mucormycosis
PubMed: 36118044
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.953750 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) Mar 2022Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae), the Chinese chive root maggot, is a destructive pest of Allium vegetables and flowers that causes severe losses...
Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae), the Chinese chive root maggot, is a destructive pest of Allium vegetables and flowers that causes severe losses in northern China. Novel biological control technologies are needed for controlling this pest. We identified a new entomopathogenic fungus isolated from infected B. odoriphaga larvae and evaluated the susceptibility of the biological stages of B. odoriphaga and the effects of temperature on fungus growth and pathogenicity. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, the fungus was identified as Mucor hiemalis BO-1 (Mucorales: Mucorales). This fungus had the strongest virulence to B. odoriphaga larvae followed by eggs and pupae, while B. odoriphaga adults were not susceptible. A temperature range of 18-28°C was optimum for the growth and sporulation of M. hiemalis BO-1 and virulence to B. odoriphaga larvae. At 3 and 5 d after inoculation with 105 spores/ml at 23°C, the survival rates were 24.8% and 4.8% (2nd instar larvae), respectively, and 49.6% and 12.8% (4th instar larvae), respectively. The potted plant trials confirmed that M. hiemalis BO-1 exerted excellent control efficiency against B. odoriphaga larvae, and the control exceeded 80% within 5 d when the spore concentration applied exceeded 107 spores/ml. In conclusion, these findings supported the hypotheses that this fungus could serve as an effective control agent against B. odoriphaga larvae and is worth being further tested to determine its full potential as a biocontrol agent.
Topics: Animals; Diptera; Insecticides; Larva; Mucor; Mucorales; Ovum; Virulence
PubMed: 35303105
DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac010 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Oct 2021This review aimed to study molecular mechanisms for high incidence of life-threatening mucormycosis infection in COVID19 cases during second wave of SARS CoV2 pandemic... (Review)
Review
This review aimed to study molecular mechanisms for high incidence of life-threatening mucormycosis infection in COVID19 cases during second wave of SARS CoV2 pandemic in India. Hyperglycaemia, impaired immunity, acidosis, raised ferritin, glucocorticoid therapy, and COVID19 specific other factors have been implicated in pathogenesis of COVID19 associated mucormycosis (CAMM). Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone 'Glucose Related Protein 78' (GRP78), also involved in SARS CoV2 entry, is the host receptor for invasion by Mucorales. GRP78 is over-expressed by SARS CoV2, hyperglycaemia and ferritin. Delta variant of SARS CoV2 and indiscriminate use of steroids were distinguishing features of second wave and appear to upregulate GRP78 through intricate interplay between internal and external milieu. Common invasive fungal infections like candidiasis and aspergillosis, not utilizing GRP78 as receptor, were inconspicuous. Further molecular research to unravel mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of CAMM shall effectively complement existing strategies for its prevention and treatment.
Topics: COVID-19; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Humans; Mucormycosis; Rhizopus; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34538732
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.09.004 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Jun 2014Zygomycosis (mucormycosis) is being increasingly recognized as causing infection in recent years. National and multinational European surveys attempting to analyse the... (Review)
Review
Zygomycosis (mucormycosis) is being increasingly recognized as causing infection in recent years. National and multinational European surveys attempting to analyse the epidemiological parameters of this potentially devastating infection are very few. Although the exact incidence could not be defined due to the different methodologies used in these studies and the absence of a denominator, there were some useful observations made regarding the clinical presentation, sites of infection and diagnostic practices. Moreover, the importance for a prompt and accurate diagnosis has been stressed. As early diagnosis can significantly affect the initiation of treatment and decrease mortality, future research should focus on the development of an epidemiological risk assessment tool and novel diagnostic methods.
Topics: Comorbidity; Europe; Humans; Incidence; Mortality; Mucorales; Mucormycosis
PubMed: 24476100
DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12563 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jan 2023There has been significant increase in the use of molecular tools for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and mucormycosis. However, their range of detection...
There has been significant increase in the use of molecular tools for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and mucormycosis. However, their range of detection may be too limited as species diversity and coinfections are increasing. Here, we aimed to evaluate a molecular workflow based on a new multiplex PCR assay detecting the whole Aspergillus genus and the Mucorales order followed by a species-specific PCR or a DNA-sequencing approach for IA and/or mucormycosis diagnosis and species identification on serum. Performances of the MycoGENIE Aspergillus spp./Mucorales spp. duplex PCR kit were analyzed on a broad range of fungal strains and on sera from high-risk patients prospectively over a 12-month period. The kit allowed the detection of nine Aspergillus species and 10 Mucorales (eight genera) strains assessed. No cross-reactions between the two targets were observed. Sera from 744 patients were prospectively analyzed, including 35 IA, 16 mucormycosis, and four coinfections. Sensitivity varies from 85.7% (18/21) in probable/proven IA to 28.6% (4/14) in COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. PCR-positive samples corresponded to 21 A. fumigatus, one A. flavus, and one A. nidulans infections. All the disseminated mucormycosis were positive in serum (14/14), including the four Aspergillus coinfections, but sensitivity fell to 33.3% (2/6) in localized forms. DNA sequencing allowed Mucorales identification in serum in 15 patients. Remarkably, the most frequent species identified was (eight cases), whereas it is barely found in fungal culture. This molecular workflow is a promising approach to improve IA and mucormycosis diagnosis and epidemiology.
Topics: Humans; Mucormycosis; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Coinfection; Workflow; COVID-19; Aspergillosis; Mucorales; Invasive Fungal Infections; Aspergillus; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA; DNA, Fungal; COVID-19 Testing
PubMed: 36533925
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01409-22 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Oct 2009Zygomycetes are filamentous fungi with a worldwide distribution. This class of fungi encompasses two orders, i.e. the Mucorales and the Entomophthorales. Members of the... (Review)
Review
Zygomycetes are filamentous fungi with a worldwide distribution. This class of fungi encompasses two orders, i.e. the Mucorales and the Entomophthorales. Members of the latter are associated with chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous infections that are limited to the tropics and rarely disseminate to internal organs. The order Mucorales includes several species involved in rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal and other less frequent infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, and is characterized by a tendency to disseminate. Portals of entry of zygomycetes are usually the lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. A characteristic property of zygomycetes is their tendency to invade blood vessels and to cause thrombosis-processes that result in subsequent necrosis of involved tissues. Risk factors associated with zygomycosis include prolonged neutropenia and use of corticosteroids, solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, AIDS, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, iron chelation with deferoxamine, burns, wounds, malnutrition, extremes of age, and intravenous drug abuse. Recently, the widespread use of voriconazole for prophylaxis or treatment of aspergillosis in patients with haematological malignancies has been linked with a rise in the numbers of cases of invasive zygomycosis. As the symptoms, clinical signs and imaging findings of these infections are non-specific, a high index of suspicion is required for timely diagnosis. Early diagnosis, correction of the underlying predisposing factors, aggressive surgical debridement of all infected tissues and lengthy administration of antifungals are the only potentially curative options for this rare but emerging invasive fungal infection.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Debridement; Entomophthorales; Humans; Mucorales; Risk Factors; Zygomycosis
PubMed: 19754751
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02974.x -
Medecine Sciences : M/S Mar 2013Mucormycosis are deep infections caused by ubiquitous filamentous fungi of the order of Mucorales. The disease occurs mostly in immunocompromised, diabetic or solid... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis are deep infections caused by ubiquitous filamentous fungi of the order of Mucorales. The disease occurs mostly in immunocompromised, diabetic or solid organ transplant recipients. There are currently no specific diagnostic guidelines for mucormycosis. The histological examination and culture of the clinical sample remain the most useful approaches for diagnosis. Furthermore, alternative methods to the fungal culture are yet to be standardized. Here we review the current microbiological approaches used for the diagnosis and identification of Mucorales.
Topics: DNA, Fungal; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Organ Transplantation; Phenotype
PubMed: 23510520
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/201329s104