Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
4.7
Journals
JoF
Special Issues
Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition
share announcement

Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 7067

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Sandro Rogério de Almeida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: medical mycology; mycosis; fungal infection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungal infections were relatively rare until the late twentieth century, but with significant increases in the number of immunodeficient patients, fungal infections increased rapidly. Fungal infections cause more than two million infections and more than one million human deaths per year. Nevertheless, fungal diseases remain neglected. Of all microbial pathogens of humans, fungi are the least studied and understood. The increasing number of immunocompromised patients and climate change could significantly increase the prevalence of fungal diseases and the emergence of new fungal infections. That is why a new generation of young investigators in fungal infection is needed. This Special Issue will focus on the work in progress by the new generation of mycologists in the exciting field of medical mycology. Studies covering the immunology, host–parasite relationship, epidemiological aspects, antifungal resistance, clinical challenges, as well as new technologies for laboratory diagnosis will be welcome.

Prof. Dr. Sandro Rogério de Almeida
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mycology
  • immunology
  • infectious disease

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

22 pages, 7885 KiB  
Article
Extracellular Vesicles from Scedosporium apiospermum Mycelial Cells: Implication for Fungal-Host Interplays
by Ana Carolina Aor, Leandro S. Sangenito, Thaís P. Mello, Luna S. Joffe, Juliana Rizzo, Venício F. Veiga, Renata N. da Silva, Marcos D. Pereira, Beatriz B. Fonseca, Sonia Rozental, Rosa Maria T. Haido, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Marta H. Branquinha and André L. S. Santos
J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040277 - 09 Apr 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been implicated as an alternative transport mechanism for the passage of macromolecules through the fungal cell wall, a phenomenon widely reported in yeasts but poorly explored in mycelial cells. In the present work, we have purified [...] Read more.
The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been implicated as an alternative transport mechanism for the passage of macromolecules through the fungal cell wall, a phenomenon widely reported in yeasts but poorly explored in mycelial cells. In the present work, we have purified and characterized the EVs released by mycelia of the emerging, opportunistic, widespread and multidrug-resistant filamentous fungus Scedosporium apiospermum. Transmission electron microscopy images and light scattering measurements revealed the fungal EVs, which were observed individually or grouped with heterogeneous morphology, size and electron density. The mean diameter of the EVs, evaluated by the light scattering technique, was 179.7 nm. Overall, the structural stability of S. apiospermum EVs was preserved during incubation under various storage conditions. The lipid, carbohydrate and protein contents were quantified, and the EVs’ protein profile was evidenced by SDS-PAGE, revealing proteins with molecular masses ranging from 20 to 118 kDa. Through immunoblotting, ELISA and immunocytochemistry assays, antigenic molecules were evidenced in EVs using a polyclonal serum (called anti-secreted molecules) from a rabbit inoculated with conditioned cell-free supernatant obtained from S. apiospermum mycelial cells. By Western blotting, several antigenic proteins were identified. The ELISA assay confirmed that the anti-secreted molecules exhibited a positive reaction up to a serum dilution of 1:3200. Despite transporting immunogenic molecules, S. apiospermum EVs slightly induced an in vitro cytotoxicity effect after 48 h of contact with either macrophages or lung epithelial cells. Interestingly, the pretreatment of both mammalian cells with purified EVs significantly increased the association index with S. apiospermum conidia. Furthermore, EVs were highly toxic to Galleria mellonella, leading to larval death in a typically dose- and time-dependent manner. Collectively, the results represent the first report of detecting EVs in the S. apiospermum filamentous form, highlighting a possible implication in fungal pathogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 613 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Assessment and Risk Factors for Mortality of Bloodstream Infections by Candida sp. and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Era
by Jordana Machado Araujo, João Nóbrega de Almeida Junior, Marcello Mihailenko Chaves Magri, Silvia Figueiredo Costa and Thaís Guimarães
J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040268 - 03 Apr 2024
Viewed by 474
Abstract
Candidemia is one of the healthcare-associated infections that has high mortality. The risk factors that predispose a patient to develop this infection are mostly found in patients of greater severity and COVID-19 contributes to the risk of death. The aim of this study [...] Read more.
Candidemia is one of the healthcare-associated infections that has high mortality. The risk factors that predispose a patient to develop this infection are mostly found in patients of greater severity and COVID-19 contributes to the risk of death. The aim of this study is to evaluate epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with candidemia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic era. This is a retrospective study conducted at Instituto Central from 2016 to 2020 of patients with candidemia that were evaluated for demographic data, medical history, risk factors, microbiological data, therapeutic measures, complementary exams, device management, and outcome defined by 30-day mortality. A total of 170 episodes were included (58.2% males; mean age of 56 years). The overall incidence density of candidemia per 1000 admissions and per 1000 patient-days was 1.17 and 0.17, respectively, with an increase of 38% in the year 2020. The use of a central venous catheter was the most prevalent (93.5%) condition, followed by the previous use of antibiotics (91.1%). Corticosteroid use ranked seventh (56.4%). C. albicans was responsible for 71 (41.7%) of the isolates, followed by C. tropicalis and C. glabrata, with 34 (20%) isolates each. Echinocandin was prescribed in 60.1% of cases and fluconazole in 37%. Echocardiography resulted in six (5.08%) cases of endocarditis and fundoscopy resulting in two (2.4%) endophthalmitis. The 30-day mortality was 93/170 (54.7%). The risk factors associated with mortality were age (OR 1.03, CI 95% 1.01–1.06), heart disease (OR 7.51, CI 95% 1.48–37.9), hemodialysis (OR 3.68, CI 95% 1.28–10.57), and use of corticosteroids (OR 2.83, CI 95% 1.01–7.92). The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the increase incidence of candidemia. The persistently high mortality highlights the need for better management strategies, control of risk factors, and guarantee of adequate treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 865 KiB  
Article
Mucormycosis: A 14-Year Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon
by Fatima Allaw, Johnny Zakhour, Sarah B. Nahhal, Karim Koussa, Elio R. Bitar, Anthony Ghanem, Martine Elbejjani and Souha S. Kanj
J. Fungi 2023, 9(8), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9080824 - 03 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1316
Abstract
Mucormycosis (MCM) is a serious invasive fungal disease (IFD) that is associated with high mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. A global surge in MCM cases was reported with the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed all recorded cases of MCM at the American University of [...] Read more.
Mucormycosis (MCM) is a serious invasive fungal disease (IFD) that is associated with high mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. A global surge in MCM cases was reported with the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed all recorded cases of MCM at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), a tertiary care center in Lebanon, over 14 years. We aimed to identify the incidence, seasonal variation, clinical characteristics of the patients, and predictors of mortality. We conducted a retrospective chart review between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2023. All patients with proven or probable MCM were included in the study. Proven or probable MCM was defined by positive histopathology and/or positive cultures. A total of 43 patients were identified as having MCM. Their median age was 53 years, and the majority were males (58.1%). Most of the cases were diagnosed in the autumn season. In total, 67.4% of the patients had hematological malignancies (HMs), and 34.9% had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). The most common site of involvement was rhino-orbital-cerebral MCM (ROCM) (74%). The annual cases of MCM per 100,000 patient days increased markedly during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic (from 0 to 4.4 cases/100,000 patient days to 7.5 cases/100,000 during 2020 and 2021). Liposomal amphotericin (Ampho) B was used as a first-line agent in most of the patients (86%). The median duration of total in-hospital antifungal therapy was 21 days and 51.2% of the patients received step-down therapy with azoles. Surgical debridement and isolated ROCM were significantly associated with survival (p-value: 0.02 and <0.001, respectively). All-cause mortality was 46.7%, with chronic renal disease being significantly associated with mortality (p-value < 0.05). The incidence of MCM has been increasing at our institution, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Early diagnosis, treatment, and surgical debridement improve patient outcomes and overall survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 659 KiB  
Article
COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Intensive Care Unit Patients from Poland
by Magdalena Skóra, Mateusz Gajda, Magdalena Namysł, Jerzy Wordliczek, Joanna Zorska, Piotr Piekiełko, Barbara Żółtowska, Paweł Krzyściak, Piotr B. Heczko and Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach
J. Fungi 2023, 9(6), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9060666 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1598
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to be a favoring factor for aspergillosis, especially in a severe course requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of the study was to assess the morbidity of CAPA among ICU patients in [...] Read more.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to be a favoring factor for aspergillosis, especially in a severe course requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of the study was to assess the morbidity of CAPA among ICU patients in Poland and to analyze applied diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Medical documentation of patients hospitalized at the temporary COVID-19 dedicated ICU of the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, from May 2021 to January 2022 was analyzed. In the analyzed period, 17 cases of CAPA were reported with an incidence density rate of 9 per 10 000 patient days and an incidence rate of 1%. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were isolated from lower respiratory samples. Antifungal therapy was administered to 9 patients (52.9%). Seven patients (77.8%) received voriconazole. The CAPA fatality case rate was 76.5%. The results of the study indicate the need to increase the awareness of medical staff about the possibility of fungal co-infections in ICU patients with COVID-19 and to use the available diagnostic and therapeutic tools more effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 19721 KiB  
Article
Targeting the P10 Peptide in Maturing Dendritic Cells via the DEC205 Receptor In Vivo: A New Therapeutic Strategy against Paracoccidioidomycosis
by Suelen S. Santos, Eline Rampazo, Carlos P. Taborda, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Silvia B. Boscardin and Sandro R. Almeida
J. Fungi 2023, 9(5), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9050548 - 10 May 2023
Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermally dimorphic fungus, which is the most frequent endemic systemic mycosis in many Latin American countries, where ~10 million people are believed to be infected. In Brazil, it is ranked as [...] Read more.
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermally dimorphic fungus, which is the most frequent endemic systemic mycosis in many Latin American countries, where ~10 million people are believed to be infected. In Brazil, it is ranked as the tenth most common cause of death among chronic infectious diseases. Hence, vaccines are in development to combat this insidious pathogen. It is likely that effective vaccines will need to elicit strong T cell-mediated immune responses composed of IFNγ secreting CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes. To induce such responses, it would be valuable to harness the dendritic cell (DC) system of antigen-presenting cells. To assess the potential of targeting P10, which is a peptide derived from gp43 secreted by the fungus, directly to DCs, we cloned the P10 sequence in fusion with a monoclonal antibody to the DEC205 receptor, an endocytic receptor that is abundant on DCs in lymphoid tissues. We verified that a single injection of the αDEC/P10 antibody caused DCs to produce a large amount of IFNγ. Administration of the chimeric antibody to mice resulted in a significant increase in the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in lung tissue relative to control animals. In therapeutic assays, mice pretreated with αDEC/P10 had significantly lower fungal burdens compared to control infected mice, and the architecture of the pulmonary tissues of αDEC/P10 chimera-treated mice was largely normal. Altogether, the results obtained so far indicate that targeting P10 through a αDEC/P10 chimeric antibody in the presence of polyriboinosinic: polyribocytidylic acid is a promising strategy in vaccination and therapeutic protocols to combat PCM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

8 pages, 235 KiB  
Brief Report
Changing Epidemiology of Clinical Isolates of Candida Species during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Data Analysis from a Korean Tertiary Care Hospital for 6 Years (2017–2022)
by Eun Jeong Won, Heungsup Sung and Mi-Na Kim
J. Fungi 2024, 10(3), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10030193 - 02 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1020
Abstract
This study assessed the changes in Candida species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with a pre-pandemic period in Korea. We retrospectively investigated the specimen, species type, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates obtained between 2016 [...] Read more.
This study assessed the changes in Candida species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with a pre-pandemic period in Korea. We retrospectively investigated the specimen, species type, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates obtained between 2016 and 2022. Data between two periods were compared: 2016–2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2020–2022 (pandemic). We included 11,396 clinical isolates of Candida species (5137 isolates in the pre-pandemic and 6259 isolates in the pandemic). The most prevalent species was Candida albicans (50.4%), followed by Candida glabrata (22.7%), Candida tropicalis (12.5%), and Candida parapsilosis complex (12.5%). Their ranks were unchanged; however, their relative isolation ratios varied during the pandemic, exhibiting differences ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 across species. The incidence of candidemia increased during the pandemic (average 1.79 episodes per 10,000 patient days) compared with pre-pandemic levels (average 1.45 episodes per 10,000 patient days) in both intensive-care-unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients. Additionally, C. parapsilosis complex candidemia increased by 1.6-fold during the pandemic. During the pandemic, C. albicans and C. tropicalis candidemia significantly increased by 1.5- and 1.4-fold in ICU patients. In contrast, C. parapsilosis complex candidemia surged 2.1-fold in non-ICU patients. These species exhibited reduced resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin in the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic. This study underscores the heightened incidence of Candida-related infections during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of ongoing surveillance of Candida species epidemiology beyond the pandemic’s scope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Investigator in Fungal Infections, 2nd Edition)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop