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Indian Dermatology Online Journal 2019Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative infective disorder of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and bones caused by the traumatic inoculation of either fungal (eumycotic) or...
CONTEXT
Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative infective disorder of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and bones caused by the traumatic inoculation of either fungal (eumycotic) or bacterial (actinomycotic) organisms present in the soil. Triad of tumefaction, discharging sinuses, and grains characterizes the disease.
AIMS
This study was undertaken to study the clinical spectrum and treatment response of mycetoma in central India.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN
It was a retrospective study of clinical and/or biopsy-proven and treated cases of mycetoma from November 2015 to October 2016.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Medical records of diagnosed and treated mycetoma patients were enrolled retrospectively during November 2015 and October 2016. Case records of patients were evaluated with respect to demographic, clinical, microbiological details, bone involvement, and treatment. Type of therapies and outcome, wherever available, were also assessed.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Statistical analysis was done using proportion, mean, and percentages.
RESULTS
Eleven cases (male = 8) were seen during the study period (seven actinomycetoma and four eumycetoma). Foot and lower extremity was the most common site (9/11), whereas upper extremity and forehead were involved in one case each. On culture, the organisms isolated were and . Modified Welsch regimen was started in six of seven patients with actinomycetoma, whereas one was started on sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid therapy. All four cases of eumycetoma were treated with itraconazole. On follow-up, six cases of actinomycetoma cases showed significant improvement. Two cases of eumycetoma showed mild to moderate improvement and one case required surgical intervention. One case each of actinomycetoma and eumycetoma were lost to follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Mycetoma has been recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization, recently. There are very few case reports from the central part of India. Prominent case detection in our study emphasizes the need of larger studies to know the extent of disease in this part of India.
PubMed: 31149567
DOI: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_358_18 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022Patients with chromoblastomycosis (CBM) suffer chronic tissue lesions that are hard to treat. Considering that biofilm is the main growth lifestyle of several pathogens...
Patients with chromoblastomycosis (CBM) suffer chronic tissue lesions that are hard to treat. Considering that biofilm is the main growth lifestyle of several pathogens and it is involved with both virulence and resistance to antimicrobial drugs, we have investigated the ability of CBM fungi to produce this complex, organized and multicellular structure. and conidial cells were able to adhere on a polystyrene abiotic substrate, differentiate into hyphae and produce a robust viable biomass containing extracellular matrix. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the tridimensional architecture of the mature biofilms, revealing a dense network of interconnected hyphae, inner channels and amorphous extracellular polymeric material. Interestingly, the co-culture of each fungus with THP-1 macrophage cells, used as a biotic substrate, induced the formation of a mycelial trap covering and damaging the macrophages. In addition, the biofilm-forming cells of and were more resistant to the conventional antifungal drugs than the planktonic-growing conidial cells. The efflux pump activities of and biofilms were significantly higher than those measured in conidia. Taken together, the data pointed out the biofilm formation by CBM fungi and brought up a discussion of the relevance of studies about their antifungal resistance mechanisms.
PubMed: 36135688
DOI: 10.3390/jof8090963 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022is a neotenic cave salamander, endemic to the Dinaric Karst and a symbol of world natural heritage. It is classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for...
is a neotenic cave salamander, endemic to the Dinaric Karst and a symbol of world natural heritage. It is classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is one of the EU priority species in need of strict protection. Due to inaccessibility of their natural underground habitat, scientific studies of the olm have been conducted mainly in captivity, where the amphibians are particularly susceptible to opportunistic microbial infections. In this report, we focused on the diversity of cultivable commensal fungi isolated from the skin of asymptomatic and symptomatic animals obtained from nature (20 specimens) and captivity (22 specimens), as well as from underground water of two karstic caves by direct water filtration and by exposure of keratin-based microbial baits and subsequent isolation from them. In total 244 fungal isolates were recovered from the animals and additional 153 isolates were obtained from water samples. Together, these isolates represented 87 genera and 166 species. Symptomatic animals were colonized by a variety of fungal species, most of them represented by a single isolate, including genera known for their involvement in chromomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and zygomycosis in amphibians: , , , , , , , and . One symptomatic specimen sampled from nature was infected by the oomycete , the known causative agent of saprolegniosis. This is the first comprehensive report on cultivable skin mycobiome of this unique amphibian in nature and in captivity, with an emphasis on potentially pathogenic fungi and oomycetes.
PubMed: 35910647
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.926558 -
Plant Disease Jun 2007Brown stem rot of soybean, caused by the soilborne fungus Phialophora gregata, is a common and widespread disease of soybean (Glycine max) in the midwestern United...
Brown stem rot of soybean, caused by the soilborne fungus Phialophora gregata, is a common and widespread disease of soybean (Glycine max) in the midwestern United States. This pathogen is challenging to study due to a long latent period and slow growth. A TaqMan probe-based quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed for sensitive and specific detection and quantification of genotypes A and B of P. gregata in plant and soil samples. It is sensitive with detection limits of 50 fg of pure genomic DNA, 100 copies of the target DNA sequence, and approximately 400 conidia. The qPCR assay is approximately 1,000 times more sensitive in detecting DNA and conidia of P. gregata, and is more rapid and less sensitive to PCR inhibitors from soybean stems than a standard PCR (sPCR) assay. Using this single-step qPCR assay, low levels of infection were detected in soybean stems at least 1 to 2 weeks prior to symptom development and before P. gregata was detected with sPCR. This assay also was used to detect the pathogen in field-grown plants and in naturally infested field soils. This new qPCR assay is a powerful tool for rapid, specific, and sensitive detection, diagnosis, and quantification of P. gregata in plants and soil, and for advancing studies of the ecology of P. gregata and its interactions with host plants.
PubMed: 30780483
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-91-6-0736 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology 2003Pears are highly perishable products, especially during the post-harvest phase, when considerable losses can occur. Among the fungal diseases, blue mold caused by... (Review)
Review
Pears are highly perishable products, especially during the post-harvest phase, when considerable losses can occur. Among the fungal diseases, blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum, grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea, Mucor rot caused by Mucor piriformis are common on pear fruits. Other (weak) pathogens like Phialophora malorum, Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium herbarum tend to infect wounds and senescent fruits. A post-harvest fungicide treatment can reduce decay but effectiveness decreases with the appearance of resistant strains. There is a clear need to develop new and alternative methods of controlling post-harvest diseases. The emerging technologies for the control of post-harvest fungal diseases are essentially threefold: application of antagonistic microorganisms, application of natural antimicrobial substances and application of sanitizing products. Two biological control products, Aspire (Candida oleophila I-182) (Ecogen, Langhorne, PA, USA) and Bio-Save 110 (Pseudomonas syringae) (EcoScience, Worcester, MA, USA; formerly Bio-Save 11) are currently registered in the USA for post-harvest application to pears. Other potential biocontrol agents have been isolated from fruit and shown to suppress post-harvest decay in pear. It is important that evaluation of these microorganisms be carried out in a product formulation because the formulation may improve or diminish antagonistic efficacy depending on the concentration of chemical product and the duration of exposure to the treatment. Plants produce a large number of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial effects on post-harvest pathogens. Detailed studies have been conducted on aromatic compounds, essential oils, volatile substances and isothiocyanates, with encouraging results. In particular, allyl-isothiocyanate used as a volatile substance, controls blue mould in 'Conference' and 'Kaiser' pear inoculated with a thiabendazole-resistant strain. Sanitizing products such as chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid and ozone have considerable fungicidal activity against P. expansum and M. piriformis, depending on the concentration of chemical product and the duration of exposure to the treatment. Sanitizing solutions can be integrated easily with current handling and storage practices; however, further research is required to define the effective procedures better.
Topics: Antibiosis; Food Microbiology; Food Preservation; Fruit; Fungicides, Industrial; Humans; Mycoses; Plant Diseases
PubMed: 12694440
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2003.01920.x -
Persoonia Jun 2023Black yeasts comprise a group of of the order with highly variable morphology, a great diversity of ecological niches and life cycles. Despite the ubiquity of these...
Black yeasts comprise a group of of the order with highly variable morphology, a great diversity of ecological niches and life cycles. Despite the ubiquity of these fungi, their diversity in freshwater sediments is still poorly understood. During a survey of culturable from river and stream sediments in various sampling sites in Spain, we obtained 47 isolates of black yeasts by using potato dextrose agar supplemented with cycloheximide. A preliminary morphological study and sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear rDNA revealed that most of the isolates belonged to the family . We have confidently identified 30 isolates representing the following species: , , , , , and . However, we encountered difficulty in assigning 17 cultures to any known species within . Combining phenotypic and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS, LSU, β-tubulin (2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (1-α) gene markers, we propose the new genus in the to accommodate the novel species . Other novel species in this family include , , , , , , and . The new species , closely related to , is described, and the phylogeny of the genus in the family is discussed. By utilizing these four markers, we were able to strengthen the phylogenetic resolution and provide more robust taxonomic assessments within the studied group. Our findings indicate that freshwater sediments may serve as a reservoir for intriguing black yeasts, which warrant further investigation to address gaps in phylogenetic relationships, particularly within . : Torres-Garcia D, García D, Réblová M, et al. 2023. Diversity and novel lineages of black yeasts in Chaetothyriales from freshwater sediments in Spain. Persoonia 51: 194-228. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.05.
PubMed: 38665982
DOI: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.05 -
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology Mar 2018Phaeohyphomycosis is a group of severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. We previously identified CARD9 deficiencies in four Chinese patients with...
Phaeohyphomycosis is a group of severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. We previously identified CARD9 deficiencies in four Chinese patients with phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa. In this study, we sought to identify the genetic and immunological mechanisms underlying rare dematiaceous fungal infections in three otherwise healthy patients with phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala spinifera, Ochroconis musae, and Corynespora cassiicola. CARD9 sequencing in these patients showed one mutation (p.S23X) that, to our knowledge, has not been characterized and two previously characterized mutations (p.D274fsX60 and p.L64fsX59) that led to lack of CARD9 protein expression. Patient-derived CARD9-deficient cells showed a selective impairment of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, NF-κB activation, and T helper type 22- and T helper type 17-associated responses upon fungus-specific stimulation, whereas phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production were intact. Consistently, Card9-knockout mice were highly susceptible to phaeohyphomycosis and exhibited immune deficiencies similar to those of patients, including diminished NF-κB and p38 MAPK activation in local and in vitro functional studies. This work clarifies the association between inherited CARD9 deficiencies and phaeohyphomycosis, and furthers current knowledge on the spectrum and pathophysiology of diseases resulting from CARD9 deficiencies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Chemokines; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Middle Aged; Mutation; NF-kappa B; Neutrophil Infiltration; Phaeohyphomycosis
PubMed: 29080677
DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.10.009 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Soybean () acreage is increasing dramatically, together with the use of soybean as a source of vegetable protein and oil. However, soybean production is affected by... (Review)
Review
Soybean () acreage is increasing dramatically, together with the use of soybean as a source of vegetable protein and oil. However, soybean production is affected by several diseases, especially diseases caused by fungal seed-borne pathogens. As infected seeds often appear symptomless, diagnosis by applying accurate detection techniques is essential to prevent propagation of pathogens. Seed incubation on culture media is the traditional method to detect such pathogens. This method is simple, but fungi have to develop axenically and expert mycologists are required for species identification. Even experts may not be able to provide reliable type level identification because of close similarities between species. Other pathogens are soil-borne. Here, traditional methods for detection and identification pose even greater problems. Recently, molecular methods, based on analyzing DNA, have been developed for sensitive and specific identification. Here, we provide an overview of available molecular assays to identify species of the genera , , , , , , , , , , , and causing soybean diseases. We also describe the basic steps in establishing PCR-based detection methods, and we discuss potentials and challenges in using such assays.
PubMed: 37233298
DOI: 10.3390/jof9050587 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Neutrophils are the first leukocytes recruited to the site of infection and are thought to be responsible for fungal elimination from the skin such as dermatophytes....
Neutrophils are the first leukocytes recruited to the site of infection and are thought to be responsible for fungal elimination from the skin such as dermatophytes. Neutrophils are able to secrete reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can kill different fungi, including , spp., , and . However, NET production in response to , the main etiologic agent of dermatophytosis, has yet to be studied. We demonstrated that human neutrophils produce NETs against different morphotypes of in a dose-dependent manner and NET formation is dependent on ROS production. In addition, ROS production by human neutrophils in response to is dependent on NADPH oxidase, but not on fungal viability. NETs mediated killing of Collectively, these results demonstrate that was able to trigger the production of NETs, suggesting that these extracellular structures may represent an important innate immune effector mechanism controlling physiological response to infection.
PubMed: 35205902
DOI: 10.3390/jof8020147 -
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