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Current Opinion in Microbiology Aug 2021The allergic airway diseases chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis/aspergillosis (ABPM/A), and... (Review)
Review
The allergic airway diseases chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis/aspergillosis (ABPM/A), and cystic fibrosis (CF) share a common immunological signature marked by T2 and T17 cell predominant immune responses, the production of IgE antibody, and a typical inflammatory cell infiltrate that includes eosinophils and other innate immune effector cells. Severe forms of these disorders have long been recognized as being related to hypersensitivity reactions to environmental fungi. Increasingly however,environmental fungi are assuming a more primary role in the etiology of these disorders, with airway mycosis, a type of non-invasive airway fungal infection, recognized as an essential driving factor in at least severe subsets of allergic airway diseases. In this review, we consider recent progress made in understanding the immune mechanisms that drive airway mycosis-related diseases, improvements in immune-based diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic approaches that target key immune pathways.
Topics: Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Humans; Immunity; Mycoses; Respiratory System; Sinusitis
PubMed: 34052540
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.04.009 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2016Yeasts are unicellular organisms that reproduce mostly by budding and less often by fission. Most medically important yeasts originate from Ascomycota or Basidiomycota.... (Review)
Review
Yeasts are unicellular organisms that reproduce mostly by budding and less often by fission. Most medically important yeasts originate from Ascomycota or Basidiomycota. Here, we review taxonomy, epidemiology, disease spectrum, antifungal drug susceptibility patterns of medically important yeast, laboratory diagnosis, and diagnostic strategies.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans; Mycoses; Yeasts
PubMed: 27726781
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0030-2016 -
The Lancet. Global Health Dec 2022
Topics: Humans; Mycoses; Global Health
PubMed: 36400070
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00478-8 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Jan 2024While rare, the likelihood of encountering a case of a pulmonary endemic mycosis (PEM) in the UK is increasing. Diagnosis may be challenging, often leading to... (Review)
Review
While rare, the likelihood of encountering a case of a pulmonary endemic mycosis (PEM) in the UK is increasing. Diagnosis may be challenging, often leading to considerable delay to appropriate treatment. Clinical suspicion must be present for respiratory disease, particularly in the immunocompromised or in those not responding to empiric treatment approaches, and an extended travel history should be obtained. This article summarises the epidemiology of PEM, key clinical features, diagnostic strategies and management.
Topics: Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Mycoses; Lung Diseases, Fungal
PubMed: 38382182
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinme.2024.100014 -
Annals of the American Thoracic Society Nov 2018Asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and related incurable allergic afflictions of the upper and lower airways are medically important because of their association with the... (Review)
Review
Asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and related incurable allergic afflictions of the upper and lower airways are medically important because of their association with the disabling symptom of dyspnea and, at least for asthma, the potential to cause fatal asphyxiation. Extensive research over the past two decades has uncovered both the physiological basis of airway obstruction in asthma and key governing molecular pathways. Exaggerated airway constriction in response to diverse provocative stimuli, termed airway hyperresponsiveness, is mediated through the cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13 and the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6). Overproduction of mucus has long been known to be an essential second component of airway obstruction and is also mediated in part through the IL-4/IL-13/STAT6 pathway. In this review, we discuss a second major signaling pathway which underlies mucus production that is mediated through proteinase-cleaved fibrinogen signaling through Toll-like receptor 4. Unexpectedly, our analysis of human sputum and paranasal sinus fluid indicates that in most cases of severe allergic airway disease, a unique type of airway fungal infection, termed airway mycosis, is pathogenically linked to these conditions. We further discuss how fungal and endogenous proteinases mediate the fibrinogenolysis that is essential to both Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and fibrin deposition that, together with mucus, contribute to airway obstruction.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Fibrinogen; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Mucus; Mycoses; Peptide Hydrolases; Toll-Like Receptor 4
PubMed: 30431347
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201803-154AW -
Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Jun 2023Invasive fungal infections are an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality. We provide a summary of important changes in the epidemiology of invasive... (Review)
Review
Invasive fungal infections are an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality. We provide a summary of important changes in the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections, citing examples of new emerging pathogens, expanding populations who are at-risk, and increasing antifungal resistance. We review how human activity and climate change may play a role in some of these changes. Finally, we discuss how these changes create the need for advances in fungal diagnostics. The limitations of existing fungal diagnostic testing emphasize the critically important role of histopathology in the early recognition of fungal disease.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Mycoses; Invasive Fungal Infections
PubMed: 37059227
DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100187 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022Respiratory mycosis is a major health concern, due to the expanding population of immunosuppressed and immunocompromised patients and the increasing resistance to... (Review)
Review
Respiratory mycosis is a major health concern, due to the expanding population of immunosuppressed and immunocompromised patients and the increasing resistance to conventional antifungals and their undesired side-effects, thus justifying the development of new therapeutic strategies. Plant metabolites, namely essential oils, represent promising preventive/therapeutic strategies due to their widely reported antifungal potential. However, regarding fungal infections of the respiratory tract, information is disperse and no updated compilation on current knowledge is available. Therefore, the present review aims to gather and systematize relevant information on the antifungal effects of several essential oils and volatile compounds against the main type of respiratory mycosis that impact health care systems. Particular attention is paid to , the main pathogen involved in aspergillosis, , currently emerging as a major pathogen in certain parts of the world, and , one of the main pathogens involved in pulmonary cryptococcosis. Furthermore, the main mechanisms of action underlying essential oils' antifungal effects and current limitations in clinical translation are presented. Overall, essential oils rich in phenolic compounds seem to be very effective but clinical translation requires more comprehensive in vivo studies and human trials to assess the efficacy and tolerability of these compounds in respiratory mycosis.
Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Humans; Mycoses; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Respiration Disorders
PubMed: 35807386
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134140 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... Nov 2022Advances in medicine have led to a growing number of people with compromised or suppressed immune systems who are susceptible to invasive fungal infections. In...
Advances in medicine have led to a growing number of people with compromised or suppressed immune systems who are susceptible to invasive fungal infections. In particular, severe fungal infections are becoming increasingly common in ICUs, affecting people within and outside of traditional risk groups alike. This is exemplified by the emergence of severe viral pneumonia as a significant risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and the recognition of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and, more recently, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. The treatment landscape for haematological malignancies has changed considerably in recent years, and some recently introduced targeted agents, such as ibrutinib, are increasing the risk of invasive fungal infections. Consideration must also be given to the risk of drug-drug interactions between mould-active azoles and small-molecule kinase inhibitors. At the same time, infections caused by rare moulds and yeasts are increasing, and diagnosis continues to be challenging. There is growing concern about azole resistance among both moulds and yeasts, mandating continuous surveillance and personalized treatment strategies. It is anticipated that the epidemiology of fungal infections will continue to change and that new populations will be at risk. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain the most important predictors of survival, and broad-spectrum antifungal agents will become increasingly important. Liposomal amphotericin B will remain an essential therapeutic agent in the armamentarium needed to manage future challenges, given its broad antifungal spectrum, low level of acquired resistance and limited potential for drug-drug interactions.
Topics: Humans; Mycoses; Antifungal Agents; Invasive Fungal Infections; Azoles; Fungi; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 36426674
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac353 -
Open Veterinary Journal Apr 2019Fungus is well capable of producing reproductive failures in bovines. As fungus is an opportunistic pathogen, there are more chances for fungus to cause infection in the... (Review)
Review
Fungus is well capable of producing reproductive failures in bovines. As fungus is an opportunistic pathogen, there are more chances for fungus to cause infection in the uterus when certain predisposing factors like prolonged intra-uterine antibiotic therapy, persistent endometritis, presence of necrotic foci, immunosuppression, and pneumovagina are available. Various authors have reported the incidence of fungal endometritis in repeat breeder endometritic cows and buffaloes. Uterine culture along with the cytological examination of the uterine secretions considered being best way to diagnose this condition; however, endometrial biopsy can be used to access the efficacy of treatment to invasive yeast. Intra-uterine treatment with antiseptic solutions and Lugol's iodine had been found effective in bovines..
Topics: Animals; Buffaloes; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Endometritis; Female; Mycoses
PubMed: 31086773
DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v9i1.16 -
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica 2013Diabetes mellitus is one of the main risk factors of fungal infections of oral cavity, lower part of gastrointestinal tract, skin, foot, urogenital system and blood.... (Review)
Review
Diabetes mellitus is one of the main risk factors of fungal infections of oral cavity, lower part of gastrointestinal tract, skin, foot, urogenital system and blood. Mycosis is a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem and cause of mortality in diabetes. Fungal infections are also an important problem among hemodialysis patients with diabetes or diabetic patients after pancreas or kidney transplantation This work briefly describes the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and ways of prophylaxis and treatment of mycosis in diabetic population. There is also emphasized the great connection between effective treatment of mycosis and glycemic control.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Diabetes Complications; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycoses; Pancreas Transplantation; Renal Dialysis; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23923382
DOI: No ID Found