Review
Infectious Diseases
Ruina Zhang, Yizhen Zhang, Wenjing Xu, Xiaomin Han, Junying Zhao
Summary: This case report presents a rare case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis in an immunocompetent woman following tattooing. The patient presented with erythematous papules, papulopustules, and a plaque on the lower limb which had been unresponsive to antihistamine treatment for over two years. Histological examination revealed spores in the corneous layer, a slightly thickened epidermis, and inflammatory cells around blood vessels in the superficial dermis. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated and identified in cultures. The lesions resolved completely after systemic antifungal treatment.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Patience Eschenhagen, Claudia Grehn, Carsten Schwarz
Summary: In this study, it was found that Af-specific IgG m3 could be a useful biomarker for acute ABPA and Af pneumonia in CF patients. The levels of Af-specific Gm3 were significantly higher in acute Af disease groups, with a calculated cut-off value of 78.05 mg/L to discriminate controls and patients with ABPA/pneumonia. Further studies with a larger multicenter cohort are needed to validate these results.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rajashri Shende, Sarah Sze Wah Wong, Heikrujam Thoihen Meitei, Girdhari Lal, Taruna Madan, Vishukumar Aimanianda, Jayanta Kumar Pal, Arvind Sahu
Summary: Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening fungal infection for immunocompromised hosts. The study found that complement deficiency increases susceptibility to systemic infection by Aspergillus fumigatus.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Enas M. Ali, Basem M. Abdallah
Summary: In this study, the antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized with Artemisia sieberi leaf extract (AS-AgNPs) against Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated. The AS-AgNPs showed significant antifungal activity and inhibited the growth of hyphae. They also exhibited low cytotoxicity on human lung cells. In a mouse model, AS-AgNPs effectively reduced lung tissue damage, suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased oxidative stress. The findings suggest that AS-AgNPs have therapeutic potential as an alternative treatment for aspergillosis.
Article
Microbiology
Chien-Wen Hsiao, Tsai-Hung Yen, Yen-Ching Wu, Jun-Peng Chen, Yun-Yu Chen, Wen-Nan Huang, Yi-Hsing Chen, Yi-Ming Chen
Summary: This study investigated the optimal cut-off values of Aspergillus-specific antibodies for diagnosing aspergillosis. Geographic differences in the antibody levels were observed, indicating the need for eco-climatic-specific references to accurately diagnose aspergillosis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Raffaella Parente, Valentina Possetti, Marco Erreni, Francesca D'Autilia, Barbara Bottazzi, Cecilia Garlanda, Alberto Mantovani, Antonio Inforzato, Andrea Doni
Summary: The ubiquitous mold Aspergillus fumigatus is the major cause of invasive aspergillosis, requiring coordinated action of cellular and humoral components of the innate immune system for effective disposal. The complement system and pentraxins form an integrated system with interactions, synergy, and regulation, playing a pivotal role in mounting antifungal immunity. Proteins like PTX3 and SAP target A. fumigatus through complement-dependent pathways, utilising different mechanisms of complement activation and receptor-mediated phagocytosis, adding complexity to the immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zhengtu Li, Mingdie Wang, Teng Xu, Yangqing Zhan, Fengyi Chen, Ye Lin, Shaoqiang Li, Jing Cheng, Feng Ye
Summary: A highly sensitive and specific method for the detection of A. fumigatus using the CRISPR/Cas13a system has been developed. The method shows a promising potential for clinical diagnosis with high specificity and sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Teresa Pelaez-Garcia de la Rasilla, Alvaro Mato-Lopez, Clara E. Pablos-Puertas, Ana Julia Gonzalez-Huerta, Alicia Gomez-Lopez, Emilia Mellado, Jorge Amich
Summary: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major concern for patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoieticcell transplantation, often resulting in high mortality rates. The failure of antifungal treatment for IA caused by azole-susceptible isolates is not well understood, but azole persistence may be a contributing factor. This study presents two case reports of treatment failure in haematological patients infected with susceptible isolates, suggesting that azole persistence should be considered in future studies.
Review
Microbiology
Kim Verburg, Jacq van Neer, Margherita Duca, Hans de Cock
Summary: Germination of conidia is a critical process in the Aspergillus life cycle and plays a major role in host infection. Targeting germination with novel antifungals could lead to early intervention and decreased fungal burden on patients.
Article
Microbiology
Zsuzsa Mathene Szigeti, Laszlo Talas, Adrienn Szeles, Zoltan Hargitai, Zsolt Laszlo Nagy, Miklos Nagy, Alexandra Kiss, Sandor Keki, Gabor Szeman-Nagy
Summary: This study tested the antifungal effects of ICAN derivatives on Aspergillus fumigatus, and found that the diisocyanide (DIN) showed the best results. However, its practical applicability is limited due to poor water solubility. Another derivative, 1-N, N-dimethylamino-5-isocyanonaphthalene (DIMICAN), also exhibited good antifungal effects and showed better results than amphotericin B in an animal model, suggesting its potential as a clinical drug candidate.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Bozza, Rossana Giulietta Iannitti, Marilena Pariano, Giorgia Renga, Claudio Costantini, Luigina Romani, Jagadeesh Bayry
Summary: The study assessed the potential therapeutic efficacy of a CCR4 small molecule antagonist against various settings of fungal infection, demonstrating effectiveness in different scenarios. The results suggest the need for developing novel compounds with potential for clinical trials in the field of CCR4 antagonism.
Article
Microbiology
Francois Danion, Norman van Rhijn, Alexandre C. Dufour, Rachel Legendre, Odile Sismeiro, Hugo Varet, Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, Isabelle Mouyna, Georgios Chamilos, Michael Bromley, Anne Beauvais, Jean-Paul Latge
Summary: The germination of Aspergillus fumigatus is shown to be asynchronous, regardless of the nutritional environment and extensive gene deletions. The reasons for this asynchrony remain unknown, but it is essential for the completion of the biological cycle of this filamentous fungus.
Article
Microbiology
Marina E. Kirkland, McKenzie Stannard, Caitlin H. Kowalski, Dallas Mould, Alayna Caffrey-Carr, Rachel M. Temple, Brandon S. Ross, Lotus A. Lofgren, Jason E. Stajich, Robert A. Cramer, Joshua J. Obar
Summary: This study investigates the genetic basis for A. fumigatus germination in the airways, revealing that SskA regulates fungal germination through the SakA pathway, driving disease initiation and inflammation in the lungs.
Article
Microbiology
Sung-Su Kim, Kwang-Soo Shin
Summary: The study revealed the role of the promoter region of SFTPD in fungal-infected cells, with the HSF1 transcription factor playing a crucial role in decreasing SFTPD expression. Inhibiting the binding of HSF1 to the promoter region of SFTPD is identified as an important step to prevent conidia infection.
Article
Immunology
Sarah Delliere, Magalie Duchateau, Sarah Sze Wah Wong, Quentin Giai Gianetto, Helene Guegan, Mariette Matondo, Jean-Pierre Gangneux, Vishukumar Aimanianda
Summary: The study identified several humoral immune components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid affected by Aspergillus fumigatus infection or colonization, indicating their potential as diagnostic markers for such conditions. These findings provide new insights into the complex interaction between host and Aspergillus, highlighting the importance of crosstalk between these humoral components in understanding the pathogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)